Patent ID: 8641896

Claim:
A filter device comprising: a filter housing defining an interior housing space to receive a flow of medium, a heater to heat the flow of medium, the heater being disposed in the interior housing space, the heater including a hollow cylindrical housing having (i) an inside surface defining an interior heater space, and (ii) an outside surface facing the filter housing, a housing cap having an inlet to direct the medium to the interior housing space and an outlet to direct the medium away from the interior housing space; and a filter element disposed at least partially in the interior heater space to filter the flow of medium in the interior housing space, wherein the heater is arranged in the interior housing space between the housing cap and the filter housing so that both the inside surface and the outside surface of the hollow cylindrical housing are bathed by the flow of medium in the interior housing space, and wherein the heater includes at least one electrical contact.