Top loading filter canister system

A top loading filter canister system (10) for filtering fluids and featuring ready servicing of the system, the system comprising, in combination:

• a housing (14) having a vertically extending cylindrical side wall (16) with a lower end (18) below and an open upper end (20) above and with a length there between, the housing having a cylindrical chamber (22) with an enlarged upper region (24) and with a length equal to between 10 and 25 percent of the length of the housing, the lower end of the housing having a lower passage (26) with internal threads to accept a drain valve;
• a basket (30) positioned within the chamber supported at the lower end of the housing, the basket having radially interior, upwardly extending, resilient pins (32), the basket also having a radially exterior annular fluid passage (34), the basket also having an intermediate annular raised ridge (36);
• a filter (40) formed with a central cylinder (42) coaxial with the side wall and with outwardly extending filtering surfaces (44), the filter being removably received within the chamber and sealingly supported upon the raised ridge of the basket, the filter having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the filter removably receiving the resilient pins of the basket;
• a stationary cap (48) coaxial with the side wall attached to the upper end of the housing, the stationary cap having an upper end with a threaded aperture (50), the stationary cap having a radially extending input passage (52) extending from exterior of the system, a fluid channel (54) between the input passage and the enlarged upper region of the chamber, the stationary cap having a radially extending exit passage (56) extending to exterior of the system;
• and
• a filter cap (60) having a threaded exterior surface (62) removably received in the threaded aperture of the stationary cap, the threaded exterior surface having a diameter less than the diameter of the upper region of the housing and a diameter greater than the diameter of the housing beneath the enlarged upper region, the filter cap having o-rings (64) beneath the threaded exterior surface positionable against the stationary cap, the filter cap formed with a hexagonal raised section (66) to assist in the removal of the filter cap from the stationary cap, an L-shaped flow discharge passage (68) with a lower end formed as a flange (70) positioned within the filter and with an upper end, an annular flow cavity (72) between the flow discharge passage and the exit passage, the filter cap when removed adapted to provide access to the housing for service to the system including the changing of the filter.