Oil filter I

An oil filter comprising:

• a housing opened at one end thereof;
• a first separator unit disposed in said housing for removing solid contaminants from the oil introduced into said housing, said first separator unit including a cylindrical primary filter element and a cylindrical secondary filter element aligned with each other, said secondary filter element being finer than said primary filter element;
• a second separator unit for removing gaseous contaminants from the oil that has passed through said primary filter element, said second separator unit being accommodated within the space defined by inner peripheries of said primary and secondary filter elements, said second separator unit including a chamber having means for generating a vortical flow of the oil introduced therein to thereby separate gas-rich oil which gathers in an axially central portion of said chamber;
• a first outlet passage means for discharging outside said housing said gas-rich oil and the oil that has passed through said secondary filter element;
• and
• a second outlet passage means for leading the oil containing little gaseous contaminants outside said housing;
• said first and second outlet passage means extending into said housing from the open end thereof.