Dry change fuel filter system

A fuel filter assembly comprising:

• base means having an axis, an inlet and an outlet and comprising cavity defining means for defining a cavity in fluid communication with said inlet, said cavity defining means having a support surface, said base means comprising first and second conduit means in fluid communication with said cavity for providing generally axial fluid communication with said inlet and outlet, respectively, and plug means having generally axially spaced opposite first and second surfaces positioned in said cavity and said first surface engageable against said support surface, said plug means at least partially extending into said first conduit means, said plug means being formed of non-metallic material, said base means comprising cap means removably mountable and engageable against said second surface for capturing said plug means in said cavity;
• imperforate container means mountable to said base means wherein said container means includes an end portion positioned within said cavity and includes aperture means for receiving said first and second conduit means to provide fluid communication with said base means via said first and second conduit means, said container means having filtering means enclosed therein for filtering fuel which traverses a flow path through said filtering means, a pre-established volume of said plug means being disposed in said container means when said cartridge means is mounted to said base means;
• so that when said container means is axially dismounted from said base means, said plug means is withdrawn from said container means defining a free volume in said container means and fuel dischargeable from said base means under the force of gravity falls into said container means and occupies a portion of said free volume for retention thereby.

A fuel filter assembly comprising:

• base means having an axis and comprising an inlet and an outlet, said base means comprising cavity defining means for defining a cavity, and first and second conduit means in fluid communication with said cavity for providing generally axial fluid communication with said inlet and outlet, respectively;
• plug means positioned in said cavity and at least partially extending into said conduit means, said plug means comprising a positioning shoulder received by said base means and having a first side and an opposing second side, a central column projecting generally perpendicularly into said conduit means from said positioning shoulder second side, the second side of said positioning shoulder defining a groove extending generally radially relative to said column in fluid communication with said inlet;
• imperforate container means mountable to said base means wherein said imperforate container means includes an end portion positioned within said cavity and includes aperture means for receiving said first and second conduit means to provide fluid communication with said base means via said first and second conduit means, said container means having filtering means enclosed therein for filtering fuel which traverses a flow path through said filtering means, a pre-established volume of said plug means being disposed in said container means when said container means is mounted to said base means;
• so that when said container means is axially dismounted from said base means, said plug means is withdrawn from said container means defining a free volume in said container means and fuel dischargeable from said base means under the force of gravity falls into said container means and occupies a portion of said free volume for retention thereby.