Fuel filter

Claim 1

An improved fuel filter particularly adapted for use on sport and off-road internal combustion engine vehicles comprising: a housing formed of a first and second housing segment defining an inlet, an outlet and a filter element chamber disposed between said inlet and outlet; flange means formed on said housing adjacent to said inlet and outlet for connecting said housing to the fuel line of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle; a disposable tubular filter element sized to be received within said filter chamber and filter fuel flow between said inlet and outlet; and means designed, dimensioned, and arranged for providing quick replacement of and assuring a reliable seal for said filter element within said filter chamber under extremely dirty and hot conditions of extreme vibration, said means including an annular shoulder formed adjacent said inlet sized to be received within one end of said filter element to securely hold said filter element in a parallel orientation to the axis of said filter chamber and to sealingly engage said filter element to said first housing segment adjacent to said inlet to require fuel flow through said inlet to travel through said filter element prior to flow through said outlet, means for continuously biasing said filter element tightly against said annular shoulder and means for removably mounting said first and second housing segments together.