Filter assembly with an expandable shell

A filter assembly for removing one or more substances from a fluid flowing through the filter assembly, the filter assembly comprising:

• a generally cylindrical shell having an axis and first and second end portions, at least one end portion having a continuously decreasing outside diameter along the axis of the shell;
• first and second end caps sealingly disposed at the first and second end portions of the shell, respectively;
• a porous filter element disposed within the shell adjacent to the first end cap, the filter element including upstream and dowmstream surfaces and means for directing fluid from the upstream surface to the downstream surface;
• inlet and outlet means for channeling the fluid into the shell to the upstream surface of the filter element and for channeling the fluid from the downstream surface of the filter element out of the shell, respectively;
• and
• a rigid casing coaxially disposed about the shell and having first and second end portions cooperatively arranged with the first and second end portions, respectively, of the shell wherein the end portion of the casing cooperatively arranged with the end portion of the shell which has the continuously decreasing outside diameter has a correspondingly continuously decreasing inside diameter and wherein at least one end portion of the casing has an opening communicating with the exterior of the casing.