Patent ID: 7384547

Claim:
An outside-in flow replaceable filter element ( 110 ) comprising: An axially extending annular filter media ( 24 ); A lower end cap ( 12 ) and an upper end cap ( 126 ) attached to opposed lower and upper ends, respectively, of the annular filter media, the upper end cap ( 126 ) allowing inflow to the radial outer side of the annular filter media ( 24 ) through an upper end cap first portion having openings ( 130 ) therein, and the upper end cap having an axially spaced second portion attached directly to the filter media ( 24 ), and the lower end cap ( 12 ) allowing out flow from a radial inner side of the annular filter media; At least retaining member ( 14 , 128 ) for each end cap ( 12 , 126 ) adapted to seal against a corresponding seating surface; A solid tube ( 34 ) attached to the lower end cap ( 12 ) and extending to and attached directly to the first portion of the upper end cap ( 126 ), the solid tube ( 34 ) spaced from the radial outer side of the annular filter media ( 24 ) forming an annular space ( 36 ), characterized in that the annular space ( 36 ) between the solid tube ( 34 ) and the annular filter media ( 24 ) forms an integral lateral outer trap for containing filtered out particulate matter in the outside-in flow replaceable filter element ( 110 ), and wherein the openings ( 130 ) in the first portion of the upper end cap ( 126 ) are spaced from an end of the filter media ( 24 ) adjacent the upper end cap ( 126 ) whereby at least a portion of the openings ( 130 ) overlap the filter media ( 24 ) in a plan view such that inflow through this overlapping portion of the openings ( 130 ) will pass through the openings ( 130 ) in the first portion of the upper end cap and impact the axially spaced second portion of the upper end cap which causes a radially outward flow in the space between the openings ( 130 ) in the first portion of the upper end cap and the filter media ( 24 ) into the annular space ( 36 ).