Patent ID: 8147578

Claim:
A filter comprising a housing, a filter element in said housing, said filter element having an axially extending sidewall circumscribing an inner plenum radially inwardly thereof, said housing circumscribing said filter element and defining an outer plenum between said housing and said filter element, said housing having an inlet to one of said plenums, and an outlet from the other of said plenums, such that dirty fluid enters said inlet and then flows radially through said axially extending sidewall of said filter element and then exits said outlet, said sidewall having a differential axial length as it circumscribes said inner plenum, wherein said sidewall has a first section of a first axial length, and a second section of a second axial length, said first axial length being greater than said second axial length, wherein said first section of said sidewall has an axial end facing in a first axial direction and lying in a first lateral plane, said second section of said sidewall has an axial end facing in said first axial direction and lying in a second lateral plane, wherein said first and second lateral planes are offset from each other, and wherein said axial ends of said first and second sections of said sidewall lie along an oblique projection line extending obliquely relative to each of said first and second lateral planes.