Patent ID: 7628280

Claim:
A liquid filter arrangement comprising: (a) a filter head including: (i) a first head portion including a liquid flow inlet and a liquid flow outlet; (ii) a second head portion comprising an outer ring having an outer surface with a first threaded section and a second seal surface; (A) the first threaded section being positioned between the second seal surface and the first head portion; (b) a seal adapter having: a first, upper, mounting portion; a second, lower, seal ring; and, a conduit region; (i) the first, upper, mounting portion having a threaded outer region and a liquid outlet flow aperture therethrough; (A) the threaded outer region having a first, outer, diameter and the liquid outlet flow aperture in the first, upper, mounting portion having a first, inner, diameter; (ii) the second, lower, seal ring defining a radially inwardly directed seal surface; (A) the radially inwardly directed seal surface of the second, lower, seal ring having a diameter greater than each of: the first, outer, diameter of the threaded outer region; and, the first inner diameter of the first, upper, mounting portion; (iii) the conduit region having an internal conduit surface with an inverted funnel shape; (A) the internal conduit surface being configured to funnel filtered liquid flow from a filter cartridge into the liquid outlet flow aperture of the first, upper, mounting portion of the seal adapter; and, (iv) the first region of the seal adapter being threadably mounted on the filter head in a position with at least a portion of the seal adapter surrounded by, and spaced inwardly from, the second head portion; and, (c) a liquid filter member removably mounted on the filter head and sealed to both the second seal portion of the second head portion and the seal ring of the seal adapter; the liquid flow member comprising: (i) an outer shell having a sidewall defining an interior and an open end; (A) the outer shell being removably threadably mounted on the filter head with a seal member positioned between the liquid filter member and the second seal surface of the second head portion; (B) the outer shell being removable from the filter head by unthreading the liquid filter member therefrom; and, (ii) a filter cartridge positioned within the interior of the outer shell; (A) the filter cartridge comprising media: extending between first and second end caps; and, surrounding an open interior; (B) the first end cap being an open end cap with a central aperture and including an axially outwardly projecting seal mount thereon, (C) the filter cartridge including a seal mounted on the axially outwardly projecting seal mount and sealed against the radially inwardly directed cartridge seal surface of the second lower seal ring, of the seal adapter; and, (iii) a top plate having an inwardly threaded region for securing the outer shell to the filter head; (A) the filter cartridge not being sealed by a seal member to the top plate.