Patent ID: 6939464

Claim:
A filter assembly, comprising: a housing defining a filter cartridge cavity; an inner post extending in said filter cartridge cavity, said inner post defining a fluid inlet passage; an outer post surrounding said inner post to define a fluid outlet passage; a filter cartridge received around said inner post and said outer post, said filter cartridge including a filter element received around said inner post to filter a fluid, said filter element having a first end and a second end, a first end plate attached to said first end of said filter element, said first end plate defining a first opening, a first seal received in said first opening to seal between said inner post and said first end plate, a second end plate attached to said second end of said filter element, said second end plate defining a second opening, a second seal received in said second opening to seal between said outer post and said second end plate, wherein said filter cartridge divides said filter cartridge cavity into an outer cavity and an inner cavity, said outer cavity being defined by said housing and said filter cartridge, said filter cartridge defining said inner cavity in which said inner post extends at least from said second end to said first end of said filter element, and wherein said fluid inlet passage of said inner post opens into said outer cavity at said first end to minimize back flushing of contaminants from the filter element; and wherein said first seal includes a floating seal assembly, said floating seal assembly including a retainer sealing around said post, said retainer having a flange extending from said retainer, a gasket sealing against said flange and said first end plate, and at least a pair of retainer clips extending from said retainer to secure said retainer to said first end plate.