Patent ID: 6994784

Claim:
A liquid filter/heat exchanger unit comprising: a liquid filter comprising a filter element arranged in a filter housing to divide an unfiltered liquid area from a filtered liquid area; a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet for a liquid; said outlet communicating with the unfiltered liquid area of the liquid filter; a heat exchanger bypass which comprises an opening in the filter housing and connects the inlet of the heat exchanger directly to the unfiltered liquid area of the liquid filter; and a plate-shaped switching element for controlling liquid flow through said bypass; and a baffle plate constructed and arranged upstream of the bimetal element such that the baffle plate prevents the bimetal element in the open position from being entrained by the liquid flow and inadvertently moved into a closed position; wherein said switching element comprises a bimetal element which permits liquid flow through said bypass at temperatures at or below a switching temperature and blocks liquid flow through said bypass at temperatures above said switching temperature.