Patent ID: 7727390

Claim:
An oil filter device for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a support element with a first clean channel connecting piece; and a filter cartridge that is selectively connected to the support element, the filter cartridge cooperating with the support element to form a closed housing, the filter cartridge including a second clean channel connecting piece configured to be connected to the first clean channel connecting piece of the support element to remove cleaned oil from the housing, the filter cartridge further including a seal configured to contact a sealing surface of the support element when the filter cartridge is installed to the support element; wherein the filter cartridge and support cooperate to define an oil receiving space therebetween when the seal is in contact with the sealing surface of the support element, said oil receiving space being generally surrounded radially by the seal and an interface between the first and second clean channel connecting pieces; wherein the filter cartridge is arranged generally upright when the filter cartridge is installed to the support, wherein the support defines a ring-shaped drainage channel and an oil reservoir channel, the drainage channel generally surrounds the filter cartridge when the filter cartridge is installed to the support, the drainage channel being positioned radially outwardly from the oil receiving space and defining a portion of the oil reservoir channel such that fluid travels from the oil receiving space radially outwardly to the drainage channel and through the oil reservoir channel into an oil reservoir when the seal does not engage the sealing surface; and wherein the drainage channel is fluidically separated from an interior of the filter cartridge when the seal is engaged with the sealing surface, but is in fluid communication with the interior of the filter cartridge through the second clean channel connecting piece when the filter cartridge is partially installed to the support and the seal does not engage the sealing surface.