Fuel filter assembly

A fuel filter comprising:

• a manifold;
• a connector element, wherein the connector element is fixed to the manifold;
• a filter bowl reversibly fixed to the connector element;
• a filter element;
• an inlet shutoff valve;
• an outlet shutoff valve;
• an inlet port incorporated in the manifold;
• an inlet conduit;
• an outlet port incorporated in the manifold;
• an outlet conduit;
• and
• a relief valve;
• wherein the connector element is adapted to engage with the filter element;
• wherein the filter bowl is adapted to reversibly receive the filter element and is so configured that when the filter element is located within the filter bowl and the filter bowl attached to the connection element the filter element divides the space defined by the connector element and filter bowl into an inlet filter chamber and an outlet filter chamber;
• wherein the inlet port and inlet filter chamber are in fluid communication via the inlet conduit;
• wherein the outlet port and outlet filter chamber are in fluid communication via the outlet conduit;
• wherein the inlet shutoff valve is biased by a first biasing means into a closed configuration which prevents fuel flowing along the inlet conduit when fuel in the inlet conduit has a fuel pressure below a predetermined value;
• the outlet shutoff valve is biased by a second biasing means into a closed configuration which prevents fuel flowing along the outlet conduit when fuel in the outlet filter chamber has a fuel pressure below a predetermined value;
• the relief valve is biased by the second biasing means into a closed configuration in which fuel flowing between the inlet filter chamber and outlet filter chamber passes through the filter element;
• and
• movement of the relief valve into an open configuration allows fuel to flow between the inlet filter chamber and the outlet filter chamber via the relief valve without the fuel passing through the filter element;
• and
• the relief valve is caused to move into its open configuration from its closed configuration when the difference between the fuel pressure in the filter inlet chamber and the filter outlet chamber is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.