Patent ID: 8900452

Claim:
An apparatus having a self-centering element, comprising: a housing including an interior wall; an aperture in said wall, said aperture having a rod extending from its center; a cylindrical element forming at least one of a filter, coalescer and separator, and having a self-centering element; wherein said cylindrical element has a central axis and is adapted for placement with an open end over and in communication with the aperture; and wherein said self-centering element comprises: a notched member having an open side adapted for lateral capture of said rod, a holding structure for holding said notched member in position proximate said central axis, said holding structure including a connector for connection of said self-centering element to the cylindrical element, and wherein said holding structure includes a dividing member adapted to divide the open end of said cylindrical element into portions in communication with the open side and portions not in communication with said open side.