Patent ID: 8714142

Claim:
A crankcase ventilation filter assembly comprising: (a) a housing defining an interior and including an air flow inlet and an air flow outlet; (i) the housing including a cover assembly including: an air flow outlet tube, including an inner section; an internal flange; and, an external flange; and, (ii) the housing including a housing bottom section defining an interior and being releasably secured to the cover assembly; the bottom section including a bottom with a liquid drain surrounded by an internal seal flange; and, (b) a filter cartridge separate from the housing and removably positioned within the housing interior; the filter cartridge comprising: a media pack surrounding an open filter interior; first and second, opposite, end pieces; and, first and second seal members; (i) the first end piece having a first axial projection thereon, on an opposite side of the first end piece from the media pack; (A) the first axial projection including a first seal support thereon, with the first seal member mounted on the first seal support and positioned in sealing engagement with the internal flange of the cover assembly; and, (B) the first axial projection including a framework extending from the first seal support in a direction away from the media pack; the framework including an upper rail supported by spaced supports; the upper rail being positioned at a location above a lower most portion of the inner section of the outlet tube; and, (ii) the second end piece having a second axial projection thereon, on an opposite side of the second end piece from the media pack; (A) the second axial projection including a second seal support thereon, with the second seal member mounted on the second seal support and positioned in sealing engagement with the internal sealing flange in the housing bottom section; (c) the housing and filter cartridge being configured such that: (i) crankcase ventilation gases directed into air flow inlet are directed: into an annular region inside the housing and around the filter cartridge; then through the media to the central interior; then outwardly from the filter cartridge through the first end piece; then into the inlet section of the outlet tube; and then outwardly from the assembly; and, (ii) liquid coalesced within the media pack can drain to the liquid drain through the liquid drain and outwardly from the filter assembly.