Reusable oil filter assembly

Abstract

A filter assembly includes a housing having a cylindrical side wall and a first and second end walls at either end of the cylindrical side wall. The first end wall has a fluid inlet port for receiving fluid to be filtered and at least one fluid outlet port for discharging the filtered fluid. The second end wall is easily removable from the housing, and includes a pressure-activated sensing device preferably extending centrally within filter media to an outlet. The filter media can comprise either a single filter element or a pair of nested filter elements, and is supported between the upper and lower end walls. The pressure-activated sensing device includes a piston assembly which is responsive to a pressure drop across the filter media. A first flow path is provided to the upstream side of the piston assembly from the inlet to the filter assembly, while a second flow path is provided to the downstream side of the piston assembly from the downstream side of the filter media. When the fluid pressure the filter media increases, the piston assembly moves to an open position which can provide a signal to an operator that the filter media is clogged with particulate matter. Alternatively, or in addition, the pressure-activated sensing device can include a bypass valve which allows fluid to flow through the piston assembly. Further, the pressure-activated sensing device can also be located transversely to the axis of the housing and exterior to the lower end wall, but still integral therewith.