Filter anti-drainback and relief valves

Claim 1

A fluid filter assembly for use with a housing and comprising a cover plate for said housing and having an outside for association with a filter mounting pad and a central internally extending tubular fluid outlet that is internally threaded for attachment to said pad and projects inwardly from the inside of the plate, said plate having formed through it a circular series of inlet ports surrounding said tubular outlet, a filter element with an end cap having an outside spaced opposite to the inside of said plate and a central tubular conduit projecting from its outside towards the inside of the plate, said conduit being longer than said outlet, the end portion of said conduit being telescoped partially over said outlet but leaving a length of the conduit free therefrom and extending to said end cap, said length having a circumferential series of fluid pressure relief ports formed through it, and an elastically deformable rubBer molding forming a tubular collar having a length superimposed inside of the conduit''s said length and normally covering said relief ports substantially fluid-tightly while being elastically displaceable radially inwardly by excessive fluid pressure on the outside of said tubular conduit applied to said collar through said relief ports, said tubular collar having an end portion interposed between the telescoped portions of said tubular conduit and tubular outlet, said portions being press fitted together so that said collar is held in position with said conduit held through said collar''s end portion by said tubular outlet and therefore holding said end cap in position.