Fluid filter cartridge support housing

Claim 1

A fuel filter mounting support for connecting a filter cartridge to a fuel dispenser, said filter cartridge being of the type which includes in an upper wall a central, internally threaded tubular portion which provides egress for fuel filtered in said cartridge back into said mounting support and a plurality of openings in the upper wall surrounding said tubular portion which provide an entrance for fuel from said support into said cartridge, said support comprising: (a) a housing having means for attachment to a fuel conduit means and including an ingress port for the ingress of fuel to be filtered and egress port for delivering filtered fuel back to said conduit means; (b) a first passageway extending internally of said housing for providing communication for fuel between said ingress port and an outlet means on a lower surface of said housing which is operative communication with said plurality of openings; (c) a second passageway extending internally of said housing between a return inlet means for filtered fuel on the lower surface of said housing which is in operative communication with said central tubular portion and said egress port; (d) attachment means extending downwardly from a central portion of the lower surface of said housing at a point aligned with said central tubular portion for releasably connecting said filter cartridge to said housing in such a position that entering unfiltered fuel is passed through said first passageway downwardly through said plurality of openings into said fuel cartridge, through a filter media therein, and back up through said central tubular portion into said second passageway from whence it flows through said second passageway; (e) an annular ridge protruding downwardly from said lower surface along a path lying radially outward of said attachment means, said plurality of openings and said outlet means, against which said filter cartridge may be sealed when assembled; and (f) a peripheral skirt extending downwardly from said housing below the point at which the lower surface of said housing is engaged by an assembled fuel cartridge for diverting escaping fuel and vapors downwardly should said filter cartridge be inadvertently loosened if the fuel supply to the filter cartridge is pressurized.