Patent ID: 8574430

Claim:
A fluid filter assembly for filtering a fluid, comprising: An upright housing having a base portion and a cover that cooperate to define an interior space of the upright housing, the base portion having a fluid inlet for communicating the fluid into the upright housing and a fluid outlet for communicating the fluid downstream of the upright housing, and the cover allowing viewing of the level of fluid in the upright housing; A filter element having an exterior in communication with the fluid inlet and an interior in communication with the fluid outlet, the filter element having a filter media for filtering the fluid as it passes from the exterior of the filter element to the interior of the filter element, a bottom end cap fixed to the filter media and removably connected to the fluid outlet, a one-piece top end cap fixed to the filter media and positioned above the bottom end cap, the top end cap including an integrally formed mounting member having a vent passage extending therethrough for fluid communication between the interior of the filter element and the exterior of the filter element; An interface structure that is connected to the cover of the upright housing, wherein the mounting member of the filter element is receivable within the interface structure, and the interface structure is removably engageable with the mounting member of the filter element, the interface structure including an interface housing having an upper interior portion in communication with the exterior of the filter element and a lower interior portion that is in communication with the interior of the filter element and sealed with respect to the filter element; and A pressure relief valve in communication with the upper interior portion and the lower interior portion of the interface housing of the interface structure for selectively allowing the fluid and/or air/vapor to pass through the vent passage of the filter element valve when the pressure across the filter element reaches a predetermined level wherein the passage of fluid and/or air/vapor through the pressure relief valve raises the level of the fluid within the upright housing.