Patent ID: 6843913

Claim:
A fuel filter assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising: a filter housing formed of first and second housing segments, said housing segments defining a filter chamber, a filter positioned in said filter chamber between said housing segments, said first housing segment having an inlet port, said second housing segment having an outlet port, a valve seat mounted to said first housing segment in fluid communication with said inlet port, a valve in said valve housing and movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat, a valve stem extending through a fuel passageway, a valve actuator in said filter chamber connected to said valve stem and extending toward engagement with said filter, said valve actuator configured to move said valve into closed relationship with said valve seat and block the spillage of fuel from said fuel filter assembly in response to said filter being removed from said filter chamber, said valve actuator being sized and shaped to open said valve away from said valve seat in response to said filter being placed in said filter chamber.