Reversible filter element

A filter element comprising:

• a cylindrical housing, said housing including a turned in edge portion extending circumferentially at a first longitudinal end of said housing;
• an annular filter medium in said housing, said filter medium separating a central fuel chamber from a peripheral fuel chamber in said housing;
• a ring shaded member, said ring shaped member in adjacent relation with said turned in edge portion interiorly of said housing, said ring shaped member extending intermediate of said filter medium and said turned in edge portion:
• said ring shaded member having an annularly threaded portion, whereby said element may be releasibly attached to a filter head or a collection bowl, said element further including a flow passageway not extending through said filter medium enabling fluid to pass between said peripheral chamber and said bowl or head, when attached, interiorly of said annular threaded portion;
• and further comprising:
• a further turned in edge portion at an opposed longitudinal end of said housing;
• a further ring shaped member in adjacent relation with said further turned in edge portion interiorly of said housing, said further ring shaped member extending intermediate of said further turned in edge portion and said filter medium, said further ring shaped member having a further annularly threaded portion threadably interchangeable with said other ring shaped member.

A filter element comprising:

• a generally cylindrical housing, said housing having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end;
• an annular filter media ring in said housing, said media ring dividing a central area bounded by said media ring from a peripheral chamber;
• a first threaded ring attached to said housing at said first longitudinal end and bounding a first end opening, and at least one first flow passage extending between said first end opening and said peripheral chamber externally of said media ring, and
• a second threaded ring attached to said housing at said second longitudinal end and bounding a second end opening, and at least one second flow passage extending between said second end opening and said peripheral chamber externally of said media ring.

A filter element comprising:

• a generally cylindrical housing;
• an annular filter media ring in said housing, said media ring dividing a central area bounded by said media ring from a peripheral chamber;
• a first end cap in fluid tight relation with said media ring at a first longitudinal end, said first end cap including a first central opening through said first end cap to said central area;
• a second end cap in fluid tight relation with said media ring at an opposed longitudinal end, said second end cap including a second central opening through said second end cap to said central area;
• a first threaded ring attached to said housing at said first longitudinal end and bounding a first end opening, and at least one second flow passage extending between said first end opening and said peripheral fuel chamber externally of said media ring;
• a second threaded ring attached to said housing at said opposed longitudinal end and bounding a second end opening, and at least one third flow passage extending between said second end opening and said peripheral fuel chamber externally of said media ring.

A replaceable, reversible filter element for use in a filter assembly, said filter assembly including:

• a filter head having a first fluid port and a second fluid port, and a head outer annular wall and a head inner annular wall, said head outer annular wall including a head threaded portion, said head inner annular wall dividing an inner head chamber from an outer head chamber within said head, said inner head chamber fluidly connected to said first port in said head, and said outer head chamber fluidly connected to said second port in said head;
• and a collection bowl having a bowl outer annular wall and a bowl inner annular wall, said bowl outer annular wall including a bowl threaded portion, said bowl inner annular wall surrounding a blind chamber, and said bowl outer annular wall and said inner annular wall bounding a contaminant collection chamber therebetween, wherein said contaminant collection chamber is fluidly separated from said blind chamber in said bowl;
• said filter element comprising:
• a housing;
• an annular filter media ring located in said housing dividing a central area interior to said media ring from a peripheral area located between said housing and said media ring;
• a pair of resilient annular gaskets, each said gaskets disposed at a longitudinal end of said central area of said media ring, each of said gaskets extending longitudinally outwardly and including an opening therethrough to said central area, said element further including a flow passage at each longitudinal end between an area disposed radially outward from said adjacent gasket and said peripheral fuel chamber, each said flow passage not extending through said media ring, whereby when said filter element is connected to said filter head or said collection bowl, said gasket adjacent said connected end may be engaged by said head inner annular wall of said filter head or said bowl inner annular wall of said collection bowl such that said central area may be fluidly separated from said adjacent flow passage within said head or bowl.