Filter apparatus with cleaning function

A fluid filter apparatus which comprises:

• a housing forming an enclosed space and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening,
• a filter element in said enclosed space of hollow cylindrical form with a projecting sleeve at both ends defining an inner wall of an annular groove which surrounds the opening at both ends, at least one sleeve having a notch therein,
• a gasket positioned in each groove,
• a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and passing therethrough and located at the axis of the filter,
• a partition within the housing separating the inlet and the outlet openings and directing fluid from the inlet opening to the exterior of the filter element, said partition having an opening therethrough which communicates with an end opening of the filter element so fluid from the hollow interior flows to the outlet opening,
• an annular bearing element of a material of construction which is non-galling relative to the material of construction of the partition and which is disposed between the partition at its opening and the gasket at the communicating end opening of the filter element,
• said material of construction of said bearing element also being frictionally drivable by the material of construction of said gasket when said shaft is rotated and frictionlessly bearing on the partition to form a relatively free slippage area between them,
• and key means between the shaft and said notch in the projecting sleeve of the filter element to positively rotate the latter by the shaft.