Cover plate assembly for spin-on filters

A fluid filter assembly, comprising:

• a housing having a first end and a second end;
• a cover plate assembly sealably attached to the second end of the housing providing a closed area, wherein said cover plate assembly further comprises a retainer and a thread mounting plate, said retainer having at least one retainer fluid inlet port and a retainer fluid outlet port aligned with at least one plate inlet port and a plate outlet port, respectively;
• a perforated center tube, a first end of which communicates with the fluid outlet port, the other end of the center tube being closed;
• and
• an elongated cylindrical fluid filter element comprising filter media arranged within the closed area defined by the housing and the cover plate assembly,
• wherein the filter media is arranged around the center tube such that fluid flows into the closed area through said at least one retainer inlet port and plate inlet port, then flows through the filter media and into the center tube to pass out through the plate outlet port and retainer fluid outlet port;
• and
• wherein an external face of the retainer comprises a plurality of raised projections configured to interact with fluid prior to the fluid flowing through the at least one retainer fluid inlet port.