Self closing filter centerpost

A fluid filter comprising:

• an outer filter housing;
• a filtering element disposed within said housing;
• a closing endcap assembled to said filer housing;
• and
• a self-closing centerpost positioned within said filtering element and comprising:
• a centerpost body constructed and arranged with a hollow interior which provides a fluid passageway, said centerpost body including an outer wall defining a flow aperture therethrough, the flow aperture being in flow communication with said fluid passageway;
• a flow control valve positioned within said hollow interior, said flow control valve including a blocking portion disposed over said flow aperture so as to block the flow therethrough when the flow control valve is in a closed condition;
• and
• a biasing spring positioned within said hollow interior, the biasing spring acting to keep said flow control valve in a normally closed condition, said flow control valve including a plunger which extends through an opening in said centerpost body when said flow control valve is in said closed condition, said plunger is operable, when depressed into said hollow interior of said centerpost body, to overcome said biasing spring and move said blocking portion away from said flow aperture so as to place said flow control valve in an open condition and permit flow through said flow aperture.

A flow-control centerpost for a fluid filter comprising:

• a centerpost body having an upper wall and an integral and surrounding sidewall defining a hollow interior and a sidewall aperture which is in flow communication with the hollow interior;
• a movable, flow-control plunger located within said hollow interior and including a blocking portion positioned across said sidewall aperture in order to prevent fluid flow therethrough when said flow control plunger is in a closed condition;
• a biasing spring acting against said flow-control plunger to normally maintain said flow-control plunger in said closed condition;
• and
• means for moving said blocking portion away from said sidewall aperture in order to permit fluid flow therethrough into said hollow interior, thereby placing said flow-control plunger in an open conditions said upper wall of said centerpost body includes a clearance hole and said flow control plunger includes an upper stem extending through said clearance hole when said flow control plunger is in said closed condition.