Filter assembly

Claim 2

A filter cartridge adapted to remove contaminants from liquid fuel comprising: (a) a body; (b) filter means including at least a first filter media disposed within said body; (c) a first contaminant outlet disposed on a first side of said body, at least one second contaminant outlet disposed on said first side, and said first contaminant outlet is upstream of all of said filter means and said second contaminant outlet is upstream of at least a portion of said filter means; (d) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port disposed on a second side of said body, said second side opposite said first side; and (e) threads on said first side for removably attaching a collection bowl unit to said body to receive contaminants passed out through said first and second contaminant outlets; and wherein said first contaminant outlet is surrounded by a mating portion disposed on said first side, said mating portion adapted for mating to a wall on a collection bowl unit when said threads removably attach a collection bowl unit to said body, and wherein said second contaminant outlet is outside of said mating portion.

Claim 3

The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said body is cylindrical, said first filter media is annular, and said first contaminant outlet is centrally disposed on said first side.

Claim 4

The filter cartridge of claim 2 including a plurality of second contaminant outlets radially spaced from said first contaminant outlet.

Claim 5

The filter cartridge of claim 3 wherein said second contaminant outlets are downstream from said first filter media.

Claim 6

The filter cartridge of claim 4 wherein said filter means further includes an annular second filter media concentric with, and outside of, said first filter media.

Claim 7

The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said first contaminant outlet and said fuel inlet port are centrally disposed respectively on said first and second sides.

Claim 8

The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said threads are on said mating portion and are centrally located on said first side and said first contaminant outlet is within said threads and said second contaminant outlet is outside of said threads.

Claim 9

The filter cartridge of claim 1 further comprising threads on said second side and said fuel inlet port is within said second side threads and said fuel outlet port is outside of said second side threads, and said second side threads operable to removably attach said filter cartridge to a cap assembly.

Claim 10

The filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said filter means includes a second filter media; and wherein said first contaminant outlet is upstream of both said first and second filter media and said second contaminant outlet is downstream of said first filter media and upstream of said second filter media.

Claim 11

A filter cartridge adapted to remove contaminants from liquid fuel comprising: (a) a body; (b) filter means including at least a first filter media disposed within said body, and a second filter media disposed within said body, each of said first and second filter media being annular, said second filter media extending around said first filter media; (c) a first contaminant outlet disposed on a first side of said body, at least one second contaminant outlet disposed on said first side; and (d) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port disposed on a second side of said body, said second side opposite said first side; and wherein said first contaminant outlet is upstream of both said first and second filter media and said second contaminant outlet is downstream of said first filter media and upstream of said second filter media, said first contaminant outlet is surrounded by a mating portion disposed on said first side, said mating portion adapted for mating to a wall of a collection bowl unit when the collection bowl unit is attached to said body, and wherein said second contaminant outlet is outside of said mating portion.

Claim 12

A filter cartridge adapted to remove contaminants from liquid fuel comprising: (a) a body; (b) filter means including at least a first filter media disposed within said body, and a second filter media disposed within said body, each of said first and second filter media being annular, said second filter media extending around said first filter media; (c) a first contaminant outlet disposed on a first side of said body, at least one second contaminant outlet disposed on said first side; and (d) a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port disposed on a second side of said body, said second side opposite said first side; and wherein said first contaminant outlet is upstream of both said first and second filter media and said second contaminant outlet is downstream of said first filter media and upstream of said second filter media, said first contaminant outlet is surrounded by a mating portion disposed on said first side, said mating portion adapted for mating to a wall of a collection bowl unit when the collection bowl unit is attached to said body, and wherein said second contaminant outlet is outside of said mating portion.

Claim 13

The filter cartridge of claim 10 wherein said body is cylindrical and said first contaminant outlet is centrally disposed on said first side.

Claim 14

The filter cartridge of claim 11 including a plurality of second contaminant outlets radially spaced from said first contaminant outlet.

Claim 15

The filter cartridge of claim 12 wherein said first contaminant outlet and said fuel inlet port are centrally disposed respectively on said first and second sides.

Claim 16

An invention comprising a filter bowl unit adapted to be removably attached underneath a filter cartridge which uses radial flow through an annular filter media to separate contaminants from fuel, said bowl unit comprising: (a) a centrally located first contaminant collection zone for receiving contaminants from a first contaminant outlet in the filter cartridge; (b) second contaminant collection zone for receiving contaminants from at least one second contaminant outlet in the filter cartridge and disposed around said first contaminant zone; (c) a wall separating said first and second contaminant collection zones and, in operation, the bowl unit allowing communication between said first and second contaminant collection zones only by way of the first and second contaminant outlets; (d) threads on said bowl unit and operable to connect said bowl unit to mating threads on the filter cartridge; and (e) first and second drain ports associated respectively with said first and second contaminant collection zones and allowing drainage of the associated contaminant collection zones.

Claim 17

An invention comprising a filter bowl unit adapted to be removably attached underneath a filter cartridge which uses radial flow through an annular filter media to separate contaminants from fuel, said bowl unit comprising: (a) a centrally located first contaminant collection zone for receiving contaminants from a first contaminant outlet in the filter cartridge; (b) second contaminant collection zone for receiving contaminants from at least one second contaminant outlet in the filter cartridge and disposed around said first contaminant zone; (c) a wall separating said first and second contaminant collection zones and, in operation, the bowl unit allowing communication between said first and second contaminant collection zones only by way of the first and second contaminant outlets; (d) threads on said bowl unit and operable to connect said bowl unit to mating threads on the filter cartridge; and (e) first and second drain ports associated respectively with said first and second contaminant collection zones and allowing drainage of the associated contaminant collection zones.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 14 said threads on said bowl unit are disposed on said wall.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 14 wherein said second contaminant collection zone is annular.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 16 wherein said bowl unit is cylindrical and said wall is cylindrical.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 14 said bowl unit further comprises: means common to both said first and second contaminant collection zones for simultaneously draining contaminants from said first and second contaminant collection zones.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 14 wherein said bowl unit is threadably attached to a filter cartridge having a body and filter media disposed therein, said body having a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port and first and second contaminant outlets.

Claim 23

The invention of claim 19 wherein said first contaminant outlet is surrounded by a mating portion disposed on a first side of said body, said mating portion adapted for mating to said wall on said filter bowl unit, and wherein said second contaminant outlet is outside of said mating portion.