Replaceable filter elements including plural filter media and related filtration systems, techniques and methods

A fuel filter, comprising:

• an inner filter media that defines an inner fluid chamber for filtered fuel;
• an outer filter media spaced radially apart from the inner filter media such that a radial gap exists between an inner surface area of the outer filter media and an outer surface area of the inner filter media;
• a first upper end cap connected with a first upper portion of the outer filter media, the first upper end cap including a base portion, a first flange extending from the base portion downwardly along an outer surface area of the outer filter media, and a second flange extending from the base portion downwardly along an inner surface area of the outer filter media;
• a second upper end cap connected with a second upper portion of the inner filter media, the second upper end cap including a fuel passageway communicating with the inner fluid chamber;
• a first lower end cap connected with a first lower portion of the outer filter media and second lower end cap connected with a second lower portion of the inner filter media, the second lower end cap including a section facing the inner fluid chamber, the section is devoid of fluid flow passages;
• an axial gap between the first lower portion of the outer filter media and the second lower portion of the inner filter media, and a plurality of fluid passageways between the first lower end cap and the second lower end cap to allow water to exit the radial gap between the inner filter media and the outer filter media and to exit the filter;
• an axial gap between the first upper portion of the outer filter media and the second upper portion of the inner filter media;
• and
• an upper cap member having a mid-section connected with the base portion of the first upper end cap, a downwardly extending flange extending from the mid-section and positioned along the second flange and in direct sealing engagement therewith, and an upwardly extending flange extending from the mid-section;
• the filter prevents fuel passing through the outer filter media from bypassing the inner filter media so that the fuel flows through and is filtered by the inner filter media and enters the inner fluid chamber defined by the inner filter media.

A filter element, comprising:

• a filter media for coalescing water in a flow of target fluid such that water is coalesced out of the flow of the target fluid, where the filter media comprises a first multi-layered filter media being comprised of multiple layers of different types of filtering media;
• a water separating filter media for separating water in the flow of the target fluid after leaving the filter media, where the water separating filter media comprises a second multi-layered filter media being comprised of multiple layers of different types of filtering media;
• the filter media is radially spaced apart from the water separating filter media to form a radial gap therebetween;
• an upper end cap connected with an upper portion of the filter media and the water separating filter media, the upper end cap being devoid of fluid passageways to prevent fluid from passing through the upper end cap;
• a lower end cap connected to a first lower portion of the filter media and a second lower portion of the water separating filter media, the lower end cap including an upwardly extending interior side wall that is aligned with an inner surface of the water separating filter media, the interior side wall defining an opening into a fluid cavity defined by an interior portion of the water separating filter media, and the lower end cap includes a plurality of openings therethrough at the location of the radial gap;
• a seal fixed to a surface of the interior side wall around the opening to permit sealing engagement with a fluid transfer tube that extends through the opening;
• and
• an axial gap between the first lower portion of the filter media for coalescing water and the second lower portion of the water separating filter media.

A filter element, comprising:

• an outer filter media stage operable to capture particulates entrained in a flow of target fluid;
• an inner filter media stage operable to further capture particulates entrained in the flow of the target fluid, wherein the inner filter media stage comprises multiple layers of different types of filtering media;
• an upper end cap and a lower end cap positioned between opposing ends of the outer filter media stage and the inner filter media stage and defining a gap between the outer filter media stage and the inner filter media stage, wherein the upper end cap includes a base portion connected with an upper surface of the outer filter media stage and an inner flange extending downwardly from the base portion into an interior space defined by the outer filter media stage, the inner flange is aligned with an interior surface of the outer filter media stage;
• a first centertube interfacing with an interior portion of the outer filter media stage and a second centertube interfacing with an interior portion of the inner filter media stage;
• and
• an upper cap member having a mid-section connected with the base portion of the first upper end cap, a downwardly extending flange extending from the mid-section and positioned along the inner flange and in direct sealing engagement therewith, and an upwardly extending flange extending from the mid-section.