Patent ID: 7056432

Claim:
In a vehicle having a frame supporting an engine, a transmission case having upper and lower portions, an oil reservoir carried within the lower portion of said case, an hydraulic pump with an inlet and outlet, said pump adapted to provide a vacuum at its inlet, an hydraulic oil line having first and second ends with the first end being coupled with the inlet of the pump, a filter housing included in the lower portion of the case in communication with the oil reservoir, said housing having an opening; an oil filter assembly receivable and removable through the opening as the housing remains within the transmission case, said filter assembly including a filtering element with an oil inlet area and an oil outlet area, said outlet area being in fluid communication with the second end of the oil line, a strainer element received within the filtering element and having an oil inlet area operatively connected with the inlet area of the filtering element and an oil outlet area operatively connected with the oil outlet of the filtering element and a bypass valve housed within the strainer element and having an open position directing oil from the inlet area into the strainer element and a closed position blocking oil from the inlet area into the strainer element.