Fuel filter assembly with standpipe having valve element

A filter assembly, comprising:

• a filter housing including a pair of housing portions defining a filter cavity, one of said housing portions comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped body with a closed end and an opposite open end, and a longitudinally-extending standpipe extending upwardly into the filter cavity from the closed end of the body toward the open end, and the other of the housing portions comprising a cover for the open end of the cylindrical body;
• the standpipe including an internal flow passage and having a valve flow element along the standpipe, the valve flow element normally in a closed position preventing flow through the internal flow passage, the valve flow element accessible from an open distal end of the standpipe and moveable into an open position allowing flow through the internal flow passage;
• and
• a filter element disposed between the housing portions, the filter element including a continuous ring of filter media, said ring of filter media having an interior surface bounding an interior area and opposite ends, said filter element including a first end cap having a first annular cap portion and a central portion extending radially inward from said annular portion, the first annular cap portion being adhesively bonded in fluid-tight relation to one end of said filter media ring;
• and said filter element including a second end cap longitudinally disposed from said first end cap, said second end cap having a second annular cap portion adhesively bonded in fluid-tight relation to the other of the ends of the media ring, said second end cap having a central opening through which the standpipe projects longitudinally into said interior area;
• said central portion of the first end cap engaging the valve flow element and maintaining the valve flow element in the open position, wherein the central portion of the first end cap has a portion projecting through the open distal end of the standpipe to engage the valve flow element.

A filter assembly, comprising

• a filter housing including a pair of housing portions defining a filter cavity, one of said housing portions comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped body with a closed end and an opposite open end, and a longitudinally-extending standpipe extending upwardly into the filter cavity from the closed end of the body toward the open end, and the other of the housing portions comprising a cover for the open end of the cylindrical body;
• the standpipe including an internal flow passage and a flow opening into the internal passage, and having a valve flow element along the standpipe, the valve flow element normally in a closed position preventing flow through the internal flow passage, the valve flow element accessible from the distal end of the standpipe and moveable into an open position allowing flow through the internal flow passage;
• and
• a filter element disposed between the housing portions, the filter element including a continuous ring of filter media, said ring of filter media having an interior surface bounding an interior area and opposite ends, said filter element including a first end cap having a first annular cap portion and a central portion extending radially inward from said annular portion, the first annular cap portion being adhesively bonded in fluid-tight relation to one end of said filter media ring;
• and said filter element including a second end cap longitudinally disposed from said first end cap, said second end cap having a second annular cap portion adhesively bonded in fluid-tight relation to the other of the ends of the media ring, said second end cap having a central opening through which the standpipe projects longitudinally into said interior area;
• said central portion of the first end cap engaging the valve flow element and maintaining the valve flow element in the open position, wherein the valve element is biased by a spring toward the closed position blocking the flow opening, the spring being located between a lower end of the valve flow element and an upwardly-facing shoulder in the standpipe.

A filter assembly, comprising:

• a filter housing including a pair of housing portions defining a filter cavity, one of said housing portions comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped body with a closed end and an opposite open end, and a longitudinally-extending standpipe extending upwardly into the filter cavity from the closed end of the body toward the open end, and the other of the housing portions comprising a cover for the open end of the cylindrical body;
• the standpipe including an internal flow passage and having a valve flow element along the standpipe, the valve flow element normally in a closed position preventing flow through the internal flow passage, the valve flow element accessible from a distal end of the standpipe and moveable into an open position allowing flow through the internal flow passage;
• and
• a filter element disposed between the housing portions, the filter element including a continuous ring of filter media, said ring of filter media having an interior surface bounding an interior area and opposite ends, said filter element including a first end cap having a first annular cap portion and a central portion extending radially inward from said annular portion, the first annular cap portion being adhesively bonded in fluid-tight relation to one end of said filter media ring;
• and said filter element including a second end cap longitudinally disposed from said first end cap, said second end cap having a second annular cap portion adhesively bonded in fluid-tight relation to the other of the ends of the media ring, said second end cap having a central opening through which the standpipe projects longitudinally into said interior area;
• said central portion of the first end cap engaging the valve flow element and maintaining the valve flow element in the open position, wherein the central portion of the first end cap includes an imperforate well area defined by an axially-extending cylindrical wall and a radially-extending end wall, the central portion preventing fluid flow through the one end of the filter media ring.

A filter assembly, comprising:

• a filter housing including a pair of housing portions defining a filter cavity, one of said housing portions comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped body with a closed end and an opposite open end, and a longitudinally-extending standpipe extending upwardly into the filter cavity from the closed end of the body toward the open end, and the other of the housing portions comprising a cover for the open end of the cylindrical body;
• the standpipe including an internal flow passage and having a valve flow element along the standpipe, the valve flow element normally biased by a spring into a closed position preventing flow through the internal flow passage, the valve flow element accessible from a distal end of the standpipe and moveable into an open position allowing flow through the internal flow passage;
• and
• a filter element disposed between the housing portions, the filter element including a continuous ring of filter media, said ring of filter media having an interior surface bounding an interior area and opposite ends, said filter element including a first end cap having a first annular cap portion and a central portion extending radially inward from said annular portion, the first annular cap portion being adhesively bonded in fluid-tight relation to one end of said filter media ring;
• and said filter element including a second end cap longitudinally disposed from said first end cap, said second end cap having a second annular cap portion adhesively bonded in fluid-tight relation to the other of the ends of the media ring, said second end cap having a central opening through which the standpipe projects longitudinally into said interior area;
• said central portion of the first end cap engaging the valve flow element and maintaining the valve flow element in the open position, wherein the valve flow element includes a cylindrical portion with a first end engaged by the spring;
• a mid-portion with flow cavities allowing fluid to flow past the valve flow element, and a head portion engageable by the central portion of the first end cap.