FILTER CARTRIDGE HAVING BYPASS FEATURE

摘要

The present invention is directed to a filter cartridge (10) having a filter media chamber and a substantially hollow neck (18) defining a distal end portion (24), an elongated portion (22) and a proximal end portion (20) for mating with the filter media chamber and connecting with a filter head (44; 46; 48; 146) having an inlet and outlet conduit. A tubular member (34) is disposed axially in the neck which defines an inner axial passage (30) and a radially outer axial passage (32) bounded by the periphery of the tubular member and inner surface of the neck, so that the inner axial passage and the outer axial passage provide independent conduits for fluid flow through the neck. The tubular member has an opening (40) in the distal end portion of the neck and the outer axial passage has an opening (38) in the elongated portion of the neck. In addition, a bypass opening (42) to the outer axial passage (32) is located in the distal end portion (24) of the neck. The neck includes radial seals (26; 28) disposed along the outer periphery of the elongated portion (22) for providing a substantially water-tight engagement between the neck and the receiving core which helps maintain the integrity of fluid communication between the filter head inlet conduit and the outer axial passage opening, and between the filter head outlet conduit and the tubular opening and the bypass outer axial passage opening, respectively, when the neck is installed in the filter head.