Oil filter and element

A filter element for lubricating oil in an I.C. engine comprises a cylindrical cannister 11 enclosing a roll of paper 21 round a central tube 15. The cannister is open at the top to form an inlet from which oil flows axially through the roll and then radially inwards through layers 18, 19 of porous gauze which space the lower ends of the roll and tube 15 from the base of the cannister. The element is located in a housing through which oil flows from lower inlet 38, up space 56, down through roll 21 into tube 15 and then into perforate mounting tube 41 to outlet 44. The element is mounted on tube 41 between compressed spring 49 and screwed knob 46, prior to screwing tube 41 into outlet 44. Housing lid 36 is then secured by handle 53 which screws on to the top of tube 41. Cannister 11 may have circumferential ribs to inhibit bypassing (Fig. 2).