Filter for gasoline and other liquids

Filter apparatus for connecting to a machine to filter liquid under pressure, said apparatus comprising:

• a filter can having an open end,
• a filter element, said inner filter element comprising filtration material disposed within two faceplates, at least one of said faceplates having an opening for the flow of fuel, said filter element being disposed within said filter can, a first one of said faceplates being disposed substantially at the open end of the can, said first one of said faceplates substantially conforming in shape and size to said open end such that said faceplate prevents flow of liquid between said faceplate and said filter can when said liquid is not pressurized during operation of the machine, and valve means, for closing said opening in said faceplates in response to removal of said can from said machine to thereby prevent spillage of said liquid through opening, said valve means comprising a shaft disposed longitudinally within said filter element for substantially the entire length thereof, said shaft being slidable in the longitudinal direction and being biased to slide in a direction that prevents flow of fluid when said filter can is removed from a machine to which it is connected and to allow said flow of fluid when said filter can is connected for operation with said machine said shaft being limited in its slidable movement by the two faceplates.

A filter comprising:

• a filter can having spring means;
• and
• a filter element having a channel extending longitudinally through said filter element, said channel having a shaft longitudinally extending substantially entirely therethrough, said shaft being slidable longitudinally and being biased by said spring in a direction away from said spring, said shaft being formed integrally with said filter element such that when said filter element is removed for replacement, said shaft is also removed.

A filter element comprising two faceplates, each of said faceplates being disposed at an opposite end of a longitudinal channel, each of said faceplates including an opening therethrough,

• valving means slidably disposed within said longitudinal channel such that the opening in one of said faceplates is closed when said valving means is slid to contact said first faceplate and open when said valving means is slid to contact said second faceplate.

A filter comprising a filter can and a filter element disposed therein, the filter can comprising an open threaded end and a closed end, the filter can including a spring and a stub connected to said closed end, the filter element including a slidable shaft that connects to said stub and causes the entire filter element to remain within said filter an when said filter can is removed from a machine to which it may be connected.

A filter comprising a filter element disposed within a filter can, the filter element having a longitudinal channel extending therethrough, the longitudinal channel having a first opening at an end thereof, the opening having solid portions thereof and;

• biased plate means disposed within said channel and biased toward said first opening such that said plate means contacts said solid portions as a result of said bias to prevent fluid flow but is forced away from said portions to thereby allow fluid flow through said first opening when said filter is attached to a machine with which said filter is used the shaft having fingers at the bottom thereof for gripping a stub such that when said fingers grip said stub, said filter element remains within the outer can.

A filter for liquids and for attachment to a machine comprising:

• an outer filter can being open at one end thereof and having a stub and a spring at the other end thereof;
• a filter element comprising two faceplates, a central member, filtration material wrapped around said central member and disposed between said faceplates, and a valving shaft slidably disposed within said central member, said faceplates limiting the movement of said valving shaft and maintaining said valving shaft within said filter element, said valving shaft comprising a plurality of fingers for gripping said stub, said valving shaft being connected to the remainder of said filter element such that when said fingers grip said stub and maintain said valving shaft within said filter can as said filter can is removed from the machine to which it is connected, said filter element is entirely maintained within said filter can.