Disclosed is a fuel pre-filter module for pre-filtering fuel for internal combustion engines, including but not limited to internal combustion engines for light trucks, buses, construction, and agricultural machines. Also disclosed is a filter element for use in the fuel pre-filter module.

The present invention relates to a filter element comprising an oil filter port adapted to be in fluid communication with an oil port of an engine the oil filter port includes threads for attaching the filter element in the oil port of the engine. Thus, the inventors realized that by providing the oil port with threads, the oil port of the filter element may be tightened in the oil port of the engine to in this way ensure axial locking of the filter element in the engine. The present invention also relation to a corresponding filter housing.

A rotary vessel for a filter assembly is rotatably mountable in a housing of the filter assembly and has a body having an open end, a cover receivable on the body to close the open end, and a releasable locking device that is manually operable to selectively lock and unlock the cover relative to the body.

An integrated seal member includes an at least partially annular body defining a longitudinal axis, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The at least partially annular body includes a top annular mounting portion, a sealing portion including at least one top sealing feature and at least one bottom sealing feature, and a connecting portion that extends at least radially outwardly from the top annular mounting portion to the sealing portion.

A filter cartridge includes a threaded sleeve having a seal holder recess and seal member. The filter cartridge is for removably threading onto a filter head that includes threads for connection to the filter cartridge by way of the threaded sleeve. The filter head includes a ramp that engages the seal member to form a seal. The force needed to make the seal is a torque of less than 10 N-m.

A rotary vessel for a filter assembly is rotatably mountable in a housing of the filter assembly and has a body having an open end, a cover receivable on the body to close the open end, and a releasable locking device that is manually operable to selectively lock and unlock the cover relative to the body.

A filter arrangement for threadably securing to a filter head includes a housing having a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, an open mouth providing access to the interior volume and an end opposite of the open mouth. The surrounding wall has an exterior and an interior. A filter media construction is operably held within the interior volume. A sleeve, distinct from the housing, is secured to the exterior of the surrounding wall adjacent to the housing mouth and extending partially along the surrounding wall. The sleeve has an exterior and an interior. The exterior of the sleeve defines mounting threads constructed and arranged to removably mount with the filter head, when the filter arrangement is secured to the filter head. The interior of the sleeve is against the exterior of the surrounding wall. A first seal member is oriented against the sleeve to create a seal with a filter head, when the filter arrangement is secured to the filter head. A filter assembly includes a filter arrangement and a filter head. The filter arrangement is removably secured to the filter head by a threaded connection between the sleeve and the filter head. A system includes an engine utilizing a liquid and a filter assembly in fluid communication with the engine to filter the liquid. Methods of making filter arrangements include utilizing structures characterized above.

A filter element includes a first end cap, a second end cap, and an intermediate end cap disposed between the first end cap and the second end cap. A ring of first filter media circumscribing a first central cavity is disposed between the first end cap and the intermediate end cap. A ring of second filter media is disposed between the intermediate end cap and the second end cap. The filter element also includes an air-bleed conduit axially extending through the first central cavity and comprising a first portion integrally formed with the first end cap and a second portion integrally formed with the intermediate end cap and configured to connect to the first portion thereby forming a conduit for transmitting fluid.

A filter assembly comprising a housing, a filter, a heater, hose fittings, a heat bridge, and insulators. The housing defines interior and exterior regions communicating through apertures. The filter separate the housing into a region upstream of the filter comprising an aperture, and a region downstream of the filter comprising an aperture. The heater extends into the interior region. The hose fittings are each coincident with an aperture and are formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity. The heat bridge is formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity and thermally connects the heater to the hose fittings. The insulators each are formed of a material having a low thermal conductivity, and each at least partially cover a hose fitting.

A filtration system comprises a housing and a shell housing removably coupled to the housing. A valve comprise a valve housing and a plunger. The plunger comprises a seal member structured to seal an opening in the valve housing. The plunger is axially movable between a closed position, in which the seal member seals the opening, and an open position, in which the seal member does not seal the opening, thereby permitting fluid to flow through the valve housing. A filter element comprises filter media and an endcap. The endcap comprises an alignment tab configured to rotationally secure the filter element with respect to the shell housing when the shell housing is received in the housing. The endcap comprise a valve interaction projection structured to transfer rotation of the filter element and the shell housing to the plunger during installation of the filter element.