Patent ID: 7147110

Claim:
A filter element, comprising: a ring of filtration media having a first end and a second end and circumscribing a central cavity; a first imperforate end cap sealingly bonded to the first end of the media ring, the first end cap including a vent orifice into the central cavity of the media ring; a second imperforate end cap sealingly bonded to the second end of the media ring, the second end cap having an annular body portion defining a central opening; a support core disposed in the central cavity of the media ring between the first and second end caps and supporting an inner dimension of the media ring, the support core having a perforate frame allowing fluid flow passing radially through the media ring to pass radially through the core into the central cavity; a fluid passage in the support core from a first end in fluid communication with the vent orifice, to a second end, the fluid passage being separate and independent of the flow through the media and the frame of the core; and an annular resilient sealing device carried by the second end cap and bounding the central opening therein, the sealing device fluidly separating the fluid passage from the flow through the media ring and frame, and including at least one through-passage fluidly interconnecting the second end of the fluid passage with the central opening in the second end cap, and an intermediate portion of the sealing device between first and second circumferential portions, the at least one through-passage located in the intermediate portion of the sealing device.