Patent ID: 8277655
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A filter apparatus comprising: a main housing; a cavity and a filter element housing disposed within the main housing; an inlet disposed in the main housing, the inlet configured to introduce a flow of fluid containing a contaminant into the cavity outside of the filter element housing; a filter element disposed in the filter element housing, the filter element configured to allow the fluid to flow through the filter element while disallowing the contaminant from flowing through the filter element, resulting in the contaminant remaining on the filter element; a flow director configured to direct the flow of fluid from the cavity into the filter element housing to hydraulically remove the contaminant from the filter element, wherein the flow director provides a pathway that directs fluid to the filter element at approximately a top of the filter element; an annular space disposed between the filter element and the filter element housing; and a flange extending radially away from a bottom portion of the filter element housing to the main housing and configured to prevent unfiltered fluid from passing through the filter element without first passing through the flow director, the flange including a flange seal disposed on an end of the flange and configured to seal against the main housing.