Patent ID: 8197686

Claim:
A filter assembly, comprising: a filter housing defining a housing cavity; a valve assembly within the housing cavity, the valve assembly including: a central standpipe defining a central flow passage including a flow port; a flow control valve including a valve portion surrounding the standpipe and axially movable therealong between a closed position wherein the valve portion covers the flow port preventing fluid flow therethrough and an open position wherein the valve portion is positioned to uncover the flow port and permit fluid flow therethrough; a filter element within the housing cavity of the filter housing, the filter element engaging the flow control valve and maintaining the flow control valve in the open position, the filter element including: a tube of filter media extending between opposed first and second ends and surrounding a longitudinal axis; a first end cap sealingly connected to the first end of the tube of filter media; a second end cap having an inner and outer face, the inner face sealingly connected to the second end of the tube of filter media, the first end cap, second end cap and filter media defining a central cavity therebetween, the second end cap including a disc portion including a central opening surrounding the longitudinal axis and opening to the central cavity; a first plurality of keys located on the outer face and axially projecting from the outer face in a direction extending away from the filter media, the first keys being arranged in a first annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis, and the first keys being axially spaced from the filter media, the keys acting upon the valve assembly and the filter element maintaining the flow control valve in the open position, the first keys extending radially outward beyond an inner diameter of the tube of filter media.