Patent ID: 7712612

Claim:
A fluid filter used with an associated apparatus having a companion mounting flange, comprising: a filter housing having an internal space for receiving a filter element, a filter socket located at one end of the filter housing and having a mounting flange that can, in a sealing manner, be connected to the companion flange on the associated apparatus to form a flange connection, at least one first fluid duct in the filter housing for supplying fluid to be filtered from the apparatus to the fluid filter and one second fluid duct in the filter housing for discharging filtered fluid from the filter to the apparatus extending through said flange connection, the filter socket having an enlarged opening in the mounting flange leading to the first and second fluid ducts, a sealing plate formed separately from said filter socket and configured to be inserted into the enlarged opening in the filter socket mounting flange and arranged to close off at least one section of at least one of said fluid ducts, said sealing plate having at least one through opening that is sealed directly against the companion flange and being arranged flush with an apparatus-side fluid duct such that fluid flowing through said through opening is led immediately, directly and exclusively into the apparatus-side fluid duct, a surface area of said sealing plate, as seen on a plane of said flange connection, being smaller than a surface area of said mounting flange, and said sealing plate being inserted in said filter socket in a sealing manner by means of a separate sealing member extending around a perimeter of said sealing plate, such that said sealing plate forms a part of said filter socket.