Patent ID: RE40051

Claim:
A self-venting drain valve for draining a contaminant liquid from a filter housing of a filter assembly, said filter housing having a valve receiving bore through which said liquid may drain and gas may simultaneously enter said filter housing, said valve comprising: an integral valve body for selectively permitting and preventing draining said contaminant liquid from said filter housing through said bore; said valve body having a substantially tubular stem portion positioned in said valve receiving bore within said filter housing, said tubular stem portion including a substantially tubular wall member defining in internal passageway and having at least one drain hole therethrough and at least one air vent opening therethrough both adapted to fluidly communicate said internal passageway to an ambient air; said valve body being selectively positionable within said bore between a closed position wherein said at least one drain hole is sealed for preventing the liquid and air movement through said bore and an open position wherein said at least one drain hole is unsealed and said at least one air vent opening is partially open to said ambient air for allowing both liquid and air movement along said internal passageway within said tubular stem portion of said valve body.