Filter assembly with vented filter element

A filter element, comprising:

• a ring of filtration media having a first end and a second end and circumscribing a central cavity;
• a first imperforate end cap sealingly bonded to the first end of the media ring, the first end cap including a vent orifice into the central cavity of the media ring;
• a second imperforate end cap sealingly bonded to the second end of the media ring, the second end cap having an annular body portion defining a central opening;
• a cylindrical support core disposed in the central cavity of the media ring and supporting an inner dimension of the media ring, the support core interconnecting the first and second end caps, and having a perforate frame allowing fluid flow passing radially through die media ring to pass radially through the core into the central cavity;
• a tubular fluid passage integral with the support core and extending from the first end of the support core in fluid communication with die vent orifice, to the second end of the support core, the fluid passage being separate and independent of the flow through die media and the frame of die core;
• and
• an annular resilient sealing device carried by the second end cap and hounding die central opening therein, the sealing device fluidly separating the fluid passage of die core from die flow through the media ring and frame, and including at least one through-passage fluidly interconnecting the tubular fluid passage with the central opening in the second end cap, the sealing device having i) a radially-enlarged first circumferential portion at a first, outer end supported by the second end cap;
• ii), a radially-reduced second circumferential portion at a second, inner end, received within the core;
• and iii) an intermediate portion between the first and second circumferential portions, the at least one through-passage located in die intermediate portion of the sealing device, the first circumferential portion having an exposed inner cylindrical surface capable of sealing against a first cylindrical housing portion received internally of the first circumferential portion;
• and the second circumferential portion having an exposed inner cylindrical surface capable of sealing against a second cylindrical housing portion received internally of die second circumferential portion.

A filter assembly comprising:

• a housing including a canister with a closed end and an open end and an inlet port to direct fluid to be filtered into the housing;
• a cover for the open end of the canister and together therewith defining an internal chamber;
• and
• a filter element disposed within the internal chamber of the housing;
• a standpipe assembly including a standpipe member projecting away from the closed end of the canister toward the open end, and a pair of fluidly-separate flow channels defined through the standpipe assembly, a first of the flow channels opening to a distal end of the standpipe member and extending through the standpipe member to an outlet port in the housing for directing filtered fluid from the housing;
• and the second of the flow channels opening along the standpipe assembly and extending to a drain port in the housing;
• the filter element including a ring of filtration media having an upper end and a lower end and circumscribing a central cavity;
• a first imperforate end cap sealingly bonded to the upper end of the media ring, the first end cap including a vent orifice;
• a second imperforate end cap sealingly bonded to the lower end of the media ring, the second end cap having an annular body portion defining a central opening;
• a central core disposed in the central cavity of the media ring allowing flow through the media ring into the central cavity of the element and into and through the first channel of the standpipe member to the outlet port, means defining a separate and independent fluid passage from the upper end cap in fluid communication with the vent orifice, to the second end cap;
• and a resilient annular sealing member carried by the second end cap and bounding the central opening therein, the sealing device receiving and sealing to the standpipe member in the housing, and fluidly separating the second flow channel from the flow of fluid through the media ring and core to the first flow channel by the outlet port, the sealing member including at least one through-passage fluidly interconnecting the second flow channel with the drain port in the housing to allow air in the housing to pass through the vent orifice in the first end cap, through the second flow channel, and through the at least one through-passage to the drain port, and an intermediate portion of the sealing member between first and second circumferential portions, the at least one through-passage located in the intermediate portion of the sealing member.

A filter assembly comprising;

• a housing including a canister with a closed end and an open end and an inlet port to direct fluid to be filtered into the housing;
• a cover for the open end of the canister and together therewith defining an internal chamber;
• and
• a filter element disposed within the internal chamber of the housing;
• a standpipe assembly means projecting away from the closed end of the canister toward the open end, and a pair of fluidly-separate flow channels defined through the standpipe assembly means, a first of the flow channels opening to a distal end of the stand pipe assembly means and extending through the standpipe assembly means to an outlet port in the housing for directing filtered fluid from the housing;
• and a second of the flow channels extending from a second opening in the standpipe assembly means to a drain port in the housing;
• the filter element including a ring of filtration media having an upper end and a lower end and circumscribing a central cavity;
• a first imperforate end cap sealingly bonded to the upper end of the media ring, the first end cap including an opening into the central cavity;
• a second imperforate end cap sealingly bonded to the lower end of the media ring, the second end cap having an annular body portion defining a central opening;
• a central core disposed in the central cavity of the media ring allowing flow through the media ring into the central cavity of the element and into and through the first channel of the standpipe assembly means to the outlet port, means defining a separate and independent fluid passage from the upper end cap in fluid communication with the opening therein, to the second end cap;
• and a resilient annular sealing means carried by the second end cap and bounding the central opening therein, the sealing means receiving and sealing to the standpipe assembly means in the housing, and fluidly separating the fluid passage means from the flow of fluid through the media ring, the sealing means including at least one through-passage fluidly interconnecting the fluid passage means with the second opening in the standpipe assembly means into the second flow channel to allow air in the housing to pass through the opening in the upper end cap, through the fluid passage means, through the at least one through-passage in the sealing means, and through the second flow channel to the drain port and an intermediate portion of the sealing means between first and second circumferential portions, the at least one through-passage located in the intermediate portion of the sealing means.