Patent ID: 7494017

Claim:
A filter assembly including a housing enclosing a filter element, the housing including a head and a container, the head having transverse inlet and outlet ports, the filter element including a ring of media defining a central cavity and circumscribing a central longitudinal axis, a first end cap sealingly attached to a first end of the media ring, and a second end cap sealing attached to a second end of the media ring, the first end cap including an elliptical, radially-outward projecting flange permanently fixed to the first end cap, and extending in a plane at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the filter element, at least a portion of the media ring extending entirely through the plane of the elliptical flange, the flange having an outer dimension larger than the outer dimension of the media ring, and outwardly surrounding a portion of the media ring, the first end cap further including a flat annular portion in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis and defining a central opening into the central cavity of the filter element, the annular portion intersecting the flange, and outer and inner imperforate cylindrical portions interconnecting the flange and the annular portion of the first end cap, the flange carrying a resilient sealing element, also at the oblique angle, and closely and sealingly received in the head of the filter housing to divide the head into inlet and outlet partitions, whereby the first end cap can direct fluid from the inlet port in the housing into an axial flow path into the central cavity of the filter element, where the fluid can flow radially outward through the media ring, and then out through the outlet port.