Patent ID: 7799110

Claim:
A filter apparatus comprising a filter element configured as a tubular filter, said filter element having a filter wall which radially separates an unfiltered fluid side of the filter from a filtered fluid side of the filter; said tubular filter being releasably mounted in a carrier tube such that an annular space for fluid flow is formed between an outer surface of the tubular filter and an inner surface of the carrier tube; wherein a first one of said tubular filter installed in said carrier tube is releasably connectable to a second one of said tubular filter, said releasable connection engageable to enable installation of said second tubular filter into a first end of said carrier tube by pulling said first tubular filter our of an opposing end of said carrier tube; wherein after said second tubular filter is installed to replace said first tubular filter, said connection between said first and second filter tubes is released to disengage said first tubular filter, thereby separating from said carrier tube.