Patent ID: 6936161

Claim:
A fluid filter apparatus comprising a filter housing formed to include a filter chamber, an inlet passageway arranged to conduct fluid into the filter chamber, and a first outlet passageway arranged to conduct fluid out of the filter chamber, the filter housing including an interior wall formed to include one of the inlet passageway and the first outlet passageway, a filter element positioned to lie in the filter chamber, the filter element including an exterior portion located in the filter chamber to contact fluid admitted into the filter chamber through the inlet passageway, the filter element being formed to include an interior portion defining a filtered-fluid region located in the filter element to receive fluid in the filter element that has passed through the filter element from the exterior portion to the interior portion, a first valve unit including a first fluid flow controller and first retainer means for retaining the first fluid flow controller in the one of the inlet passageway and the first outlet passageway, wherein the first retainer means is a container that mates against the interior wall and is formed to include a first interior region containing the first fluid flow controller, an inlet arranged to admit fluid into the first interior region, and an outlet arranged to discharge fluid from the first interior region, the first fluid flow controller includes a flow-control valve and a spring, the flow-control valve is arranged for movement in the first interior region relative to the container between a closed position blocking flow of fluid from the inlet through the first interior region to the outlet and an opened position allowing flow of fluid from the inlet through the first interior region to the outlet, and the spring engages the flow-control valve and the container and biases the flow-control valve toward the closed position.