FILTER ELEMENT HAVING AN ENCAPSULATED GASKET END CAP ASSEMBLY.

Abstract

This description relates to a filter element for use in a fluid filter system. The filter element comprises a filter medium having a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, and an end cap assembly attached to the first end of the filter medium. The end cap assembly includes a first end cap aligned with the longitudinal axis and adjacent to the first end of the filter medium; a first member concentric with and arranged radially away from the first end cap and the filter medium and axially between the first end cap and the second end of the filter medium; and a plurality of arms connecting the first end cap to the first member, each arm configured to align the filter element with respect to the receptacle and base plate by absorbing alignment discrepancies between at least the base plate and the receptacle.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION This description refers to filters and, more specifically, to fluid filter systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cartridge-style fluid filters, such as fuel or lubricant filters associated with an engine, typically include a replaceable filter element contained within a canister that is threaded onto the engine. Unfiltered fluid, such as fuel or lubricant, is received by the filter through an inlet port. Particulates are removed from the unfiltered fluid by the filter element, and the filtered fluid is delivered to the engine through an outlet port. The filter element often includes a generally cylindrical filter medium, such as cloth or other porous material, held within the canister by one or more end caps, so that the unfiltered fluid flows through the filter medium in a generally radial direction. An end cap typically supports and / or positions the filter medium within the canister and relative to the inlet and outlet ports.Fluid filters often also include one or more seals that create a sealed separation between the fluids. Ref. 329296 Inlet and outlet ports to reduce or eliminate the possibility of fluid bypassing the filter medium. Typically, filter elements in fluid filters are replaced frequently to reduce pressure drop across the filter media, prevent seal deterioration, and / or otherwise ensure the fluid filter operates as desired. To replace a filter element, the canister is often unscrewed from the motor, the seals between the inlet and outlet flows are removed, the old filter element is removed from the canister, a new filter element is inserted, and the canister is re-screwed onto the motor. An operator replacing a filter cartridge might prime the canister with fluid to prevent and / or reduce trapped air within the fluid system. This priming fluid is often pre-used, and / or the unfiltered fluid and priming fluid in the canister may require extra care to prevent the priming fluid from being placed on the downstream (filtered fluid) side of the filter media.Additionally, proper reseating of the seals, whether old or new, during filter cartridge replacement is desirable to provide sufficient sealing between the inlet and outlet ports, thereby reducing unfiltered fluid without bypassing the filter media. Unfiltered and / or priming fluid downstream of the filter media, whether due to insufficient sealing and / or operator priming, can result in damage to one or more engine components during operation. United States Patent No. 6,626,299 (the 299th patent) granted to Brown et al. describes a filter cartridge for use in a filter system. A pleated paper filter medium is formed on a cylinder, and end caps at the axial end of the cylinder maintain the filter's shape. Sealing gaskets are associated with the end caps. At least one side has a radial seal formed on the outer periphery of the filter cartridge to protect the associated end cap from a region of higher pressure at the outer periphery. The other axial end may have a similar radial filter in some applications or, in other applications where flow at that end of the filter is undesirable, may use a specially configured axial seal to protect the associated end cap from the higher pressure at the outer periphery.Maintaining the lowest pressure on the respective end caps places the axial loads on the filter under tension, and thus prevents the application of axial crushing loads on the filter cartridge. The present description is aimed at overcoming one or more of the problems discovered by the inventors. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This document describes a filter element for use in a fluid filter system. The filter element comprises a filter medium having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and at least one end cap assembly fixedly coupled to at least one end of the filter medium.The end cap assembly(es) include an end cap having a first toroidal shape with a filter element outlet aligned with the longitudinal axis and close to the end(s) of the filter medium; a first member having a second toroidal shape concentric with the end cap about the longitudinal axis, the first member arranged radially from the end cap and the filter medium and arranged axially between the end cap and the other end of the filter medium; and a plurality of arms connecting the end cap to the first member, each arm comprising a first portion extending from the end cap to an intersection portion and a second portion extending from the intersection portion to the first member, the second portion being angularly offset from the first portion. In another aspect, a replaceable filter element for use in a machine fluid filter system is described herein. The fluid filter system comprises a receptacle and a base plate for housing the filter element within a filter element chamber between them. The filter element comprises a filter medium having a first end and a second end axially opposite the first end and arranged to filter unfiltered fluid, surrounding the filter medium an inner space arranged to receive filtered fluid from the filter medium; a first end cap coupled to the first end of the filter medium and aligned with the inner space, the first cap arranged to deliver the filtered fluid to the machine;a first member concentric with the first end cap and formed radially away from the first end cap and the filter medium and axially offset from the first end cap towards the second end of the filter medium, the first member comprising a sealing means configured to lock into the base plate and the receptacle formed to seal the fluid filter system; and an alignment means comprising a plurality of arms connecting the first end cap to the first member and configured to at least one fold, flex, elongate, compress, or a combination thereof to align the filter element with respect to the receptacle and the base plate by absorbing absorption discrepancies between at least the base plate and the receptacle. In other respects, a fluid filter system is described herein. The fluid filter system comprises a receptacle having a back wall and an outer wall connecting the back wall to a lip forming a receptacle cavity, the receptacle having a first longitudinal axis between the back wall and the receptacle cavity; a base plate having a base plate cavity aligned along the first longitudinal axis and adjacent to the receptacle cavity, the base plate comprising a top wall opposite the base plate cavity and connected to a base plate side wall, the base plate coupled to the receptacle forming a chamber between them; and a filter element positioned and housed within the chamber.The filter element comprises a filter medium having a first end adjacent to the rear wall of the receptacle, a second end adjacent to the base plate, a second longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, and an end cap assembly fixedly coupled to the first end of the filter medium. The end cap assembly includes a first end cap having an outlet of the filter element aligned with the second longitudinal axis and close to the first end of the filter medium; a first member concentric with the first end cap about the second longitudinal axis and between the side wall of the base plate and the lip of the receptacle; a first member radially separated from the first end cap and the filter medium and axially arranged between the first end cap and the second end of the filter medium; and a plurality of arms comprising an elastomeric material. ML / a / ZUZ 1 / Ul ozuo connecting the first end cap to the first member, each arm comprising a first portion extending axially from the first end cap to an intersection portion and a second portion extending radially from the intersection portion to the first member, the second portion being angularly deflected from the first portion, wherein the plurality of arms is configured to align the filter element with respect to the base plate and the receptacle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The details of the modalities described herein, both in their structure and operation, can be partly deduced by studying the accompanying figures, in which equal reference numbers refer to equal parts and in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid filter system according to the present description; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid filter system of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid filter system of FIG. 1 taken along a transverse plane A; FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of an exemplary joint of the fluid filter system of FIG. 1 with the receptacle and base plate removed; FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the fluid filter system of FIG. 1 taken along cross-sectional planes A and B; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a filter element removed from the receptacle and base plate of the fluid filter system of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are enlarged perspective views of exemplary filter elements of the fluid filter system of FIG. 1 with the receptacle and base plate removed; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid filter system of FIG. 1 taken along a transverse plane B that has another exemplary gasket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The detailed description set forth below, in conjunction with the accompanying figures, is intended as a description of several modalities and is not meant to represent the only modalities in which the description may be applied. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the modalities. However, it will be evident that those skilled in the art will be able to understand the description without these specific details. In some cases, well-known structures and components are shown in a simplified form for the sake of brevity. Some surfaces have been omitted or exaggerated for clarity and ease of explanation. As used herein, the term toroidal refers to a surface that basically or completely encloses a central or longitudinal axis and has a hole (referred to herein as an opening, outlet, space, etc.) forming a solid body. That is, a toroidal shape as used herein may refer to a torus or ring-like structure, a toroid (i.e., any geometric surface rotated about the longitudinal axis forming a solid body), and / or a toroidal polyhedron (i.e., a ring-like shape that has a planar polygonal view when viewed from a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis). Geometric shapes that can form a toroid may include, but are not limited to, squares, rectangles, pentagons, etc.Furthermore, toroidal shapes can be cylindrical or tubular and can have any flat view shape, such as, but not limited to, circular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagon-shaped, etc. As used herein, the term concentric may be used to refer to any of one or more shapes or structures that have a common center such that a larger structure basically or completely surrounds the smaller structure. Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a fluid filter system 100 for use on a machine (e.g., an engine). The fluid filter system 100 may include a base plate 500, a receptacle 700, and an end cap assembly 150 aligned by a longitudinal axis 110. The description may refer to an upper end or top surface or a lower end or bottom surface. In general, references to the upper end and top surface are toward an upper wall 515 of the base plate 500. In general, references to the lower end and bottom surface are toward the rear wall 720 of the receptacle 700. Figure 1 also illustrates an exemplary cross-plane A and a plane B having an angle α between them.The angle between them is selected for illustrative purposes only for the modalities illustrated herein, and may be different for different implementations within the scope of this description. The Fluid Filter System 100 can be one of several components within a fluid system (not shown) and can be configured to receive unfiltered fluid from one or more upstream components of the fluid system, trap suspended particles within the unfiltered fluid (i.e., filter the fluid), and provide filtered fluid to one or more downstream components of the fluid system. The fluid system can include any type of fluid system, such as a fuel delivery system, a lubrication system, and / or a coolant system, and may or may not be operationally associated with an engine (not shown). Additionally, the Fluid Filter System 100 can be configured to filter any type of fluid, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, lubricating oil, water, coolant, and / or any other type of fluid.It is assumed that the fluid in the fluid system may or may not be pressurized, and if so, it may be at any pressure. FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the 100 fluid filter system. As in FIG. 1. The fluid filter system 100 may include a receptacle 700 and a base plate 500. The fluid filter system 100 may also include a filter element 200 and an outlet partition 600 aligned along the longitudinal axis 110 and housed between the base plate 500 and the receptacle 700. A lip 719 of the outer wall 715 engages with the side wall 524 of the base plate 500, with at least a portion of the lid assembly 150 between them, to fluidly (e.g., hermetically) seal the fluid filter system 100. Furthermore, the receptacle 700 may include a drain projection 740 in the rear wall 720 adapted to receive a drain plug 800. The drain projection 740 may be hermetically sealed using one or more of the first bull seal member 830. and the second member of the 840 bull seal, positioned ML / a / ZUZ 1 / Ul ozuo each within the first sealing groove 824 and the second sealing groove 822, respectively, of the drain plug 800. The filter element 200 may include a first filter medium 210 having an internal space 218 that houses a sleeve 220. The filter medium 210 and internal space 218 are positioned between the end cap assembly 150 and a second end cap 240 at the first end and second end, respectively. The end cap assembly 150 comprises a first end cap 400 adjacent to the base plate 500 and formed in an encapsulated gasket 300, with the gasket 300 positioned between the first end cap 400 and the filter medium 210. Each of the fluid filter system components 100 may have a respective longitudinal axis that is aligned along the longitudinal axis 110. FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the fluid filter system 100 taken along the transverse planes A shown in FIG. 1. The base plate 500 may include a side wall 524, a top wall 515, and an open section 540 opposite the top wall 515, forming a base plate cavity 540 between them. The side wall 524 may be generally toroidal in shape and may include a recessed mating interface 560 adapted to mate with a seat interface 350 included in the gasket 300, thereby providing a means for sealing the fluid filter system 100. The base plate wiA / a / zuzi / un οζυο 500 may further comprise an inlet port 510 in the side wall 524 and an outlet port 520 in the top wall 515. The inlet port 510 and outlet port 520 may be configured to connect the fluid filter system 100 to, for example, an engine via one or more bolt holes (not referenced). In some embodiments, the inlet port 510 and outlet port 520 may each comprise internal threads adapted to receive a corresponding engine port or component so that the fluid filter system 100 is seamlessly connected to the engine. The inlet port 510 may be configured to receive unfiltered fluid from one or more upstream components of the fluid system and may be configured to direct the unfiltered fluid to the filter element 200 via the inlet chamber 530.Specifically, the entrance chamber 530 may include a generally annular space surrounded by the side wall 524 and the top wall 515 and with respect to the longitudinal axis 110. The outlet port 520 may be seamlessly connected to the outlet partition 600. The outlet partition 600 may include a side wall 620, a back wall 640, and an opening 605 opposite the back wall 640. The outlet partition 600 may include a generally annular space surrounded by the side wall 620 and the back wall 640 with respect to the longitudinal axis 110. The annular space may be arranged as an outlet chamber 630 configured to seamlessly connect the filter element to the outlet port 520. That is, the outlet port 520 may be arranged to receive filtered fluid from the filter element 200 through the outlet chamber 630 and adapted to direct the filtered fluid to one or more downstream components of the fluid system. The side wall 620 may include a toroidal surface 650 extruded perpendicular to the longitudinal axis around the opening 605.The toroidal surface 650 can be coupled with the upper wall 515 of the base plate 500 to hermetically seal the outlet chamber 630 from the inlet chamber 530. For example, the toroidal surface 650 can have one or more evenly spaced radial through-holes 655 through which fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets, etc.) can couple the outlet partition 600 to the base plate 500. Alternatively, an adhesive can couple the outlet partition 600 to the base plate 500, either alone or in combination. It is envisaged that the inlet and outlet chambers 530 and 630 can each define a space within the base plate 500 that has any shape and / or contour, e.g., multifaceted, at least in part based on the outlet partition 600 and base plate 500. The 600 outlet partition may also include a 610 outlet overhang that extrudes from the back wall 640 moving away from the outlet chamber 630. The outlet projection 610 may be adapted to interconnect with the end cap assembly 150, for example, by fitting within the outlet of the filter element 405 (for example, opening that smoothly connects the interior 118 to the outlet chamber 630) of the first end cap 400. In some embodiments, the outlet projection 610 is adapted to form a seal within the outlet of the filter element 405 to hermetically seal the passage of the filtered fluid to the downstream component(s) of the fluid system. As shown in FIG. 3, the base plate 500 includes a drain projection 553 adapted to receive a drain plug 800. The drain projection 5x53 extends from the top wall 515 into, and in some embodiments, into, the outlet chamber 630. The drain projection 553 includes a recess 550 arranged to receive a drain plug 800. In several embodiments, the recess 550 includes a threaded portion 555 having internal threads. The receptacle 700 may include an outer wall 715 having a lip 710 and a back wall 720 forming a receptacle cavity 730 between them. The outer wall 715 may be generally toroidal in shape around the receptacle cavity 730 adjacent to the base plate 500 and may be adapted to interconnect and / or otherwise mate with the gasket 300 via the seating interface 350 in the lip 710. The back wall 720 may be disposed at one end of the outer wall 715 opposite the receptacle cavity 730. When coupled, the receptacle cavity 730 and the base plate cavity 540 may generally define an internal chamber (for example, a filter element chamber 750) configured to accommodate the filter element 200. The receptacle 700 may include a drain port that can be configured to facilitate fluid drainage from the receptacle 700 and / or may include any relief valve (not shown) to limit fluid pressure in the fluid system. For example, the receptacle 700 includes a drain protrusion 740 implemented as a drain port and adapted to receive a drain plug 800 through the smoothed-wall drain hole 745. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary drain plug 800. The drain plug 800 includes a stem 850 having a threaded portion 810 at the end 812 adapted to engage the complementary threaded portion 555 of the recess 550 and an opposite end 812 of the head end 820 arranged to seal the drain hole 745. The drain plug 800 also includes a plurality of smooth-walled portions 805 and 827 of different diameters arranged to interconnect with the drain hole 745 and the filter element hole 227 of a projection of the filter element 222, respectively. A shoulder 809 is located between and connects the smooth-wall portions 805 and 827, in which the filter element hole 227 is received. The diameter of the smooth-wall portion 827 may be larger than the diameter of the smooth-wall portion 805. The smooth-wall portion 827 may also be surrounded by the second end cap 240 within the opening 245. In some embodiments, the smooth-wall portion 827 may have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the opening 245. The drain plug 800 also includes a first sealing groove 824 and a second sealing groove 822. The first sealing groove 824 receives the first bull seal member 830, and the second sealing groove 822 receives the second bull seal member 840, such as an O-ring seal. The first bull seal member 830 is configured to provide a fluid seal between the drain plug 800 and the filter element hole 227.The second bull seal member 840 is configured to provide a fluid seal between the drain plug 800 and the drain hole 745. The drain plug 800 can be unscrewed from the recess 550 and removed from the fluid filter system 100. The first bull seal member 830 and the second bull seal member 840 emerge from the filter element hole 227 and drain hole 745, respectively, so that fluid flows through the drain hole 745 out of the filter system 100, thus facilitating fluid removal. The filter element 200 may include an end cap assembly 150, a second end cap 240, and a filter medium 210 between them. The end cap assembly 150 may be arranged adjacent to the base plate 500 and may be configured to support the filter medium 210 within and with respect to the receptacle 700, and to provide seals between the base plate 500 and the receptacle 700 and between the inlet chamber 530 and the outlet chamber 630, respectively. The filter medium 210 may be configured to trap particulates and / or other suspended particles within a fluid and may include a generally toroidal (e.g., cylindrical) shape arranged around and extending along the longitudinal axis 110. The filter element 200 may also include a sleeve 220.The sleeve 220 may include a generally toroidal tube arranged radially within the inner space 218 or radially outside the filter medium 210 and may include one or more perforations 226 therein configured to allow fluid to flow through it, for example, from the filter medium 210 to the inner space 218. A first end 212 of the filter medium 210, arranged adjacent to the base plate 500, may be coupled with, for example, a contact end cap assembly 150, and a second end 214 of the filter medium 210, arranged adjacent to a rear wall 720 of the receptacle 700, may be coupled with, for example, the second contact end cap 240. The second end of the sleeve 220 may comprise a projection of the filter element 222 having therein the filter element hole 227 coupled with the smoothed-wall surface 827 of the drain plug 800.The second end cap 240 may be arranged adjacent to the rear wall 720 of the receptacle 700 and may be configured to support the filter medium 210 within and relative to the receptacle 700. The second end cap 240 comprises an opening 245 through which the drain plug stem 850 passes. The filter medium 210 may include any material and / or filter medium known in the art, such as, for example, fabric or other porous material, and may or may not be pleated. Furthermore, the second end cap 240 and sleeve 220 may be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, a polymer or other plastic, and may be injection molded. The perforations 226 may be of any shape, size, and / or quantity, and the sleeve 220 may be selectively omitted. Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a joint embodiment 300 having a partial cross-sectional view of the seating interface 350. The joint 300 may have a body comprising a plurality of members (e.g., members 310, 320, and 330) that are concentric and radially separated from one another and have a common radial center aligned by the longitudinal axis 390. Each member basically or completely surrounds the perimeter of each smaller member therein. A first, more concentric outer member may comprise a second toroidal shape or structure that complements and mates with the receptacle 700 and the base plate 500, and surrounds or basically surrounds the perimeter, viewed from a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 110, of the filter medium 210. At least two concentric members are axially separated along the longitudinal axis by a distance H toward the second end 214 of the filter medium 210.The distance H may depend, for example, on the dimensions of the filter element; the dimensions of the receptacle, lid, and other components of the fluid filter system; and / or a given intended use of the filter element (for example, a filter element for use in lubricant-based fluid filter systems may be larger than a filter element for use in fuel-based fluid filter systems). The gasket body 300 also comprises a plurality of arms (for example, arms 340a-f, collectively referred to herein as arm 340) arranged progressively around and extending radially from the longitudinal axis 390. The plurality of arms may be positioned at radially equidistant increments around the longitudinal axis 390 and connected to the plurality of concentric members forming an integral body.Each arm 340 may comprise a first portion 342 extending radially from at least one second member 310 in a first direction toward at least one first member 320, and a second portion 344 extending axially from the first member 320 toward the second member 310 in a second direction angularly deviated (e.g., angle θ) from the first direction and in contact with the first portion 344 at an intersection portion 346 (e.g., a bend, a curve, etc.). While in some embodiments the angle θ may be an obtuse angle, in several embodiments the angle θ may be approximately 90 degrees. At least one of the concentric members comprises a seat interface 350; for example, the outermost member (e.g., the first member 320) relative to the longitudinal axis 390 may comprise the seat interface 350.The 300 gasket body may be made of any flexible elastomeric material capable of withstanding continuous exposure to the fluid the filter element is designed to filter (e.g., it does not deteriorate in response to exposure to the filtered fluid). In several embodiments, the 300 gasket body may be made of a material with elastomeric properties, such as a viscoelastic polymer (e.g., an elastomer), for example, nitrile rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), rubber copolymers, fluoroelastomers (FKM), fluorosilicone, or fluorovinylmethylsiloxane rubber (FVMQ), and similar materials. Specifically, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the joint 300 may include a second member 310 (which may also be referred to herein as a centering member) generally toroidal in shape having a second opening 312 and adjacent to the longitudinal axis 390, a first member 320 generally toroidal in shape (which may also be referred to herein as an external seal member) disposed on a radially external edge of the joint 300, and a third member 330 generally toroidal in shape disposed between the centering member 310 and the external seal member 320. In the illustrated embodiment, the centering member and third member 310, 330 have similar toroidal shapes of different radii (e.g., radii R310 and R330, respectively), where R330 is greater than R310.The dimensions of the various radii can be based on the size and shape of the resulting filter element 200, which in turn can be based on the desired application and the dimensions of the fluid filter system. However, the centering member and the third member 310, 330 can have different shapes. The third member 330 can be formed in planar alignment with the centering member 310; for example, one or more of the surfaces of members 310 and 330 can share a common surface plane or a common center of mass of the centering member 310, and the third member 330 can be aligned in a common plane (e.g., coplanar alignment). The external seal member 320 is adjacent to the third member 330, opposite the centering member 330, and positioned a lateral distance H along the longitudinal axis 390 from the centering member 310.As illustrated, the outer seal member 320 can be radially wider than the centering and / or third member 310, 330. However, other configurations are possible, for example, each member can have the same width or different widths. Arms 340a-340f extend radially from centering member 310 and physically connect centering member 310 to external sealing member 320. Arms 340af are arranged radially at generally equal increments around the longitudinal axis; for example, where there are six arms 340 as in FIG. 4, the arms may be positioned every 60 degrees. However, the joint 300 may comprise more or fewer arms 340, for example, two, three, four, seven, eight, etc.Each arm 340 includes a first portion 342 extending radially from the centering member 310, in a direction basically parallel to the centering member 310 (e.g., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 390), towards the external seal member 320, and a second portion 344 extending axially from the external seal member 320 towards the centering member 310 in a direction angularly deviated (e.g., angle θ) from the first portion 342. The first and second portions 342, 344 intersect at the intersecting portion 346. The angle θ can be either a right angle or an obtuse angle with respect to the first portion 342.In some embodiments, the angle Θ may be approximately 90 degrees, or very close to 90 degrees within manufacturing tolerances, allowing the arms 340 to extend beyond the first end cap 400 without increasing the overall diameter of the filter element 200 in which the gasket 300 is included, as detailed herein. Each arm 340 may be coupled to the external sealing member 320 at a respective mating interface 360. The mating interface 360 ​​may have an interlocking surface 361 and an arm intersection 362, one or both of which are formed from a surface 363 opposite the interlocking surface 361 and an upper surface 364. The intersection 362 may generally be centered between two fillet ends 365 and 366 that connect surface 363 to the interlocking surface 361.The mating surface 360 ​​can be adapted to physically and permanently connect to the external sealing member 320 with the arms 340. Each mating interface 360, for example, at least the interconnecting surface 361, can be wider along a plane intersecting the longitudinal axis 390 than the respective arm 340 to prevent tearing, breakage, or other separation of the arm 340 from the external sealing member 320 during use of the gasket 300. When the third member 330 is present, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the arms 340 can intersect with the third member 330, for example, at the first portion 342 at the intersection 348 as illustrated. In some embodiments, the third member 330 may be arranged laterally along the longitudinal axis 390 of the centering member, and the arms 340 may then intersect the third member 330 in the second portion 344.The 340 arms can comprise any geometric shape, length and / or quantity. The outer sealing member 320, the third member 330, and the arms 340 may encompass a plurality of first openings 322, including any shape, length, and / or quantity, between and adjacent to them. Similarly, the centering member 310, the third member 330, and the arms 340 may encompass a plurality of third openings 332, including any shape, length, and / or quantity, between and adjacent to them. The external sealing member 320 has a toroidal shape based on the shape and configuration of the seat interface 350. That is, the external sealing member 320 has a toroidal shape based on the rotating cross-sectional shape of the seat interface 350 (for example, as shown in the partial cross-section of FIG. 3). The seat interface 350 can be adapted, for example, by locking into the corresponding interfaces of the base plate 500 and / or receptacle 700 to hermetically seal the fluid filter system 100. FIG.Figure 4 illustrates a non-limiting example of a seat interface 350 comprising a first mating interface 352 (also referred to herein as a protruding mating interface 352) on an upper surface 355 of the outer seal member 320 centered on a radius R352 and a second mating interface 354 (also referred to herein as a recessed mating interface 354) opposite the protruding mating interface 352 (e.g., on the lower surface 357) centered on a radius R354 between the first side wall 356 and the second side wall 358. As stated above in connection with Figure 4.3. The seat interface 350 can be coupled to the base plate 500 via the protruding coupling interface 352 and corresponding recessed coupling interface 560 and couples to the receptacle 700 via the recessed coupling interface 354 arranged to receive the lip 710 of the outer wall 715 between the side walls 356 and 358. The coupling of the threaded portion 810 of the drain plug 800 into the recess 550 causes the base plate 500 and receptacle 700 to be restricted in the outer sealing member. 320, held in place through the seat interface 350, to hermetically seal the fluid filter system 100. Although an exemplary seat interface 350 is illustrated in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that other configurations are possible without departing from the scope of the present description as long as the gasket 300 is arranged to hermetically seal the fluid filter system 100 through the seat interface 350. While the seating interface 350 is illustrated as corresponding (e.g., arranged) along the entire length of the outer member 320, it will be appreciated that other configurations are possible. For example, the seating interface 350 may comprise a plurality of sections positioned progressively (equally spaced or irregularly spaced) along the upper surface 355 and / or lower surface 357. Similarly, the protruding mating interface 352 and the recessed mating interface 354 need not overlap and may be arranged as desired for a particular application. The gasket 300 also comprises a plurality of raised surfaces 370 arranged on a top surface of the gasket 300. For example, a plurality of raised surfaces 370 may project from any one or more surfaces of the gasket 300 and may be equally spaced radially around the longitudinal axis 390. Figure 4 illustrates six raised surfaces 370 equally spaced radially and projecting from the centering member 310 of the external sealing member 320. However, in some embodiments, the raised surfaces 370 may have any shape, configuration, translational or radial spacing, and / or quantity. For example, the raised surfaces 370 need not be equally spaced and may be randomly arranged around the gasket 300.The raised surfaces 370 can be formed on the centering member 310, the external sealing member 320, the third member 330, and / or one or more arms 340 as desired. Furthermore, the raised surfaces 370 can generally be box-shaped, generally dome-shaped (e.g., a partial sphere or oval), generally pyramidal, etc. Although the preceding description is made with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that other configurations are possible. For example, each member 310, 320, 330 can have any desired geometric shape, for example, a generally toroidal shape (e.g., ring-shaped) having a rectangular cross-section with an edge parallel to the longitudinal axis 390, forming a solid body around the longitudinal axis 390, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Whereas, in other embodiments, one or more of the members can have a generally torus shape. Furthermore, when viewed along the longitudinal axis 390, the centering member, the external seal member, and the third member 310, 320, 330 can be concentric circles of the same or different types (as illustrated in FIG. 4), concentric polygons of the same or different types (e.g., concentric squares, concentric pentagons, concentric hexagons, etc.), or any combination thereof. Moreover, the plurality of members can comprise any number of members. For example, while FIG. 4 illustrates three members, the joint 300 may comprise only the centering member and the external seal member 310, 320, or it may comprise additional members beyond the centering member, external seal member, and third member 310-330. Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the fluid filter system 100 taken along the transverse planes A and B shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 shows transverse planes A and B with an angle α between them. Plane A is used to illustrate the cross-section along a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis 110 and set between the raised surface 370 and the longitudinal axis 110. Similarly, plane B is used to illustrate the cross-section along a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis 110 and set along the center of mass of an arm 340. Therefore, since there are six illustrative raised surfaces 370 and six illustrative arms 340, the angle between planes A and B in this example is 150 degrees. Other illustrative arrangements are possible. As described in connection with FIG. 2, the terminal cap assembly 150 can be adjacent to the filter medium 210 and between the filter medium 210 and the base plate 500, and more particularly, between the filter medium 210 and the outlet partition 600. The terminal cap assembly 150 can be coupled with, in contact with, or otherwise coupled to a first end of the filter medium 210. The end cap assembly 150 may comprise the gasket 300 and the first end cap 400. The gasket 300 may be at least partially encapsulated in the first end cap 400. The first end cap 400 comprises a first surface 410 coupled with, for example, in contact with, the filter medium 210 and a second surface 420 opposite the first surface 410. The first end cap 400 may be formed (for example, coupled, clamped, connected, attached) at the first end 212 of the filter medium 210, as described below. The first end cap 400 comprises an internal sealing surface 430 that engages with the outlet projection 610 within the second opening 312 to provide a fluid seal between the inlet chamber 530 and the outlet chamber 630, providing a sealed fluid flow for the filtered fluid through the inner space 118 to the outlet chamber 630.Specifically, the first end cap 400 may include a body that is generally toroidal in shape, like a stadium, having the inner sealing surface 430 adjacent to the longitudinal axis 110 and the outer surface 440 connected to it via the first and second surfaces 410, 420. The inner sealing surface 430 may have a radius R430 that is essentially the same as, or even smaller than, a radius R610 of the outlet projection 610, so that upon coupling the outlet projection 610 applies radial pressure to the inner sealing surface, thereby fluidly sealing the inlet chamber 530 from the outlet chamber 630.The dimensions of various radii can be based on the size or shape of the resulting filter element 200, which can be based on the desired application and the dimensions of the fluid filter system (for example, radii R430 and R610 are configured so that the outlet projection 610 fits within the inner sealing surface 430 to fluidly seal the filter element 200). In various embodiments, the first end cap 400 can be formed from a solid-cure resin, for example, polymer, urethane, polyurethane, silicone, etc. The first end cap 400 can essentially encapsulate (for example, surround, encompass, or otherwise contain) at least a portion of the gasket 300. That is, at least a portion of the gasket 300 can be essentially within a material of the first end cap 400 such that the portion of the gasket is encapsulated between surfaces 410-440 of the first end cap 400. For example, the centering member 310 can be positioned adjacent to the first end 212 of the filter medium 210. In some embodiments, the lower surface of the centering member 310 can be in contact with the filter medium 210, while in others there can be a gap between them. The first end cap 400 can be formed around the centering member 310, as described below, thereby essentially encapsulating the centering member 310.Therefore, when the centering member 310 is in contact with the filter medium 210, the material of the first end cap 400 may not contain the contact area (e.g., the surface of the centering member 310 in contact with the filter medium 210 may be coplanar with the second surface 420). In some embodiments, the third member 330 may also be in contact with the filter medium (or separate) in line with the centering member 310, such that the third member 330 is similarly encapsulated by the first end cap 400. Furthermore, the first portion 342 of the arms 340 may be similarly encapsulated by the first end cap 400, and in some embodiments, a portion of the intersection portion 346 and / or a portion of the second portion 344 may be within the first end cap 400. The amount of arm 340 therein is based on the designed shape of the joint 300. The end cap assembly 150 includes the gasket 300 with the longitudinal axis 390 aligned with the longitudinal axis 110. The gasket 300 includes the external sealing member 320 interconnected with the base plate 500 and the receptacle 700, providing a fluid seal between the base plate 500 and the receptacle 700, as previously described. For example, the recessed mating interface 354 receives the lip 710 of the outer wall 715 at a distal end around the cavity of the receptacle 730. The recessed mating interface 354 comprises a radius R354 that is essentially equal to and aligned with the radius R715 of the outer wall 715. The first side wall 356 and the second side wall 358 project from the base plate 500 into the rear wall 720 of the receptacle and overlap with the received portion of the outer wall 715.Similarly to, and opposite to, the recessed coupling interface 354, the protruding coupling interface 352 is received by the recessed coupling interface 560 on the side wall 524 of the base plate 500. Therefore, the recessed coupling interface 560 comprises a radius R560 that is essentially equal to and aligned with the radius R352 of the protruding coupling interface 352. As described above, the coupling of the drain plug 800 in the recess 550 causes the base plate 500 to be drawn into the receptacle 700 and vice versa, so that the side wall 524 and the outer wall 715 exert a clamping or compressive force on the outer sealing member 320, thus fluidly or hermetically sealing the fluid filter system 100. The center of mass of the external seal member 320 may be positioned laterally with respect to the center of mass of the centering member 310 along the longitudinal axis 110 at a distance H. As described above, the arms 340 couple the external seal member 320 to the centering member 310, and thus to the first end cap 400. Therefore, the first end cap 400 and the gasket 300 may form an inseparable end cap assembly 150. In some embodiments, the external seal member is separated from the filter medium 210, with a portion of the filter medium 210 positioned in the first openings 322. The first openings 322 fluidly connect the inlet chamber 530 to the receptacle cavity 730 to allow the filter medium 210 to receive unfiltered fluid from the inlet chamber 530. Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of a filter element 200 without the receptacle 700, base plate 500, outlet partition 600, and drain plug 800. As described herein, the filter element 200 comprises the filter medium 210, sleeve 220, terminal cap assembly 150, and a second terminal cap 240. In various embodiments, the filter element 200 is permanently formed into an integral body comprising at least the filter medium 210 and the terminal cap assembly 150. In further embodiments, the filter medium 210, sleeve 220, terminal cap assembly 150, and the second terminal cap 240 are integrally formed. The filter medium 210 may comprise a plurality of radially arranged fins 216 extending axially along the longitudinal length of the filter medium 210.The fins 216 can be attached to a plurality of support rings 215 arranged progressively along the longitudinal length of the filter medium 210, which provides structural support for the fins. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the filter element 200 comprises the filter medium 210 having a first end 212 and a second end 214 opposite the first end 212 along the vertical axis (e.g., longitudinal 390). The end cap assembly 150 is fixedly attached and / or coupled to the first end 212 of the filter medium 210 and includes the first end cap 400 having a first toroidal shape with the outlet of the filter element 405 aligned with the longitudinal axis 390 and close to the first end 212 of the filter medium 210 (e.g., aligned with the inner space 218). The end cap assembly 150 also includes at least the first member 320 concentric with the first end cap 400 and formed radially away from the first end cap 400 and the filter medium 210 and axially offset from the first end cap 400 towards the second end 214 of the filter medium. filter. The first member 320 may include the seat interface 350.The first member 320 may essentially surround and overlap the perimeter of the filter medium 210 when viewed along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 390 and formed between the first end cap 400 and the second end 214. The plurality of arms 340 may be formed by connecting the first end cap 400 to the first member 320. Each arm 240 may have a first portion 342 extending radially from the first end cap 400 to an intersecting portion 346 and a second portion 344 extending from the intersecting portion to the first member 320, such that the second portion 344 is angularly offset from the first portion 342. In some embodiments, the arms 240 and the first member 320 may be included as part of the joint 300, for example, with a plurality of members as described herein. The filter element 200 can be manufactured using any number of processes, and a non-limiting example of these is provided herein. The gasket 300 can be formed, for example, by injection molding using a material with elastomeric properties (e.g., NBR, HNBR, ML / a / zuzi / un rubber copolymers and the like injected into a projection mold for the gasket 300 (e.g., a complementary and inverse shape to the gasket 300). The molded gasket 300 can then be placed in a projection mold for the end cap 400. In some embodiments, the mold for the end cap 400 can be a urethane mold (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene). The mold comprises the protrusion of an inverted outlet of the filter element 405 (hereinafter referred to as the outlet projection) surrounding the inverse shape of the first desired end cap 400 (hereinafter referred to as the end cap projection). The gasket 300 can be positioned within the projection of the end cap by aligning the second opening 312 with the outlet reversal protrusion of the filter element 405 and generally by aligning the longitudinal axis 390 of the gasket 300 with the outlet protrusion.The raised surfaces 370 can be in contact with the molding surface to provide proper axial alignment between the gasket 300 and the first end cap 400. A liquid material (e.g., solid-curing resin, such as, but not limited to, a polymer, urethane, polyurethane, silicone, etc.) for the first end cap 400 can then be encapsulated (e.g., poured) into the mold encapsulating the gasket 300. Once encapsulated, the filter medium 210 can be positioned in the mold so that the outlet protrusion is within the interior space 218 (e.g., aligned with the longitudinal axis 110). The first end 212 is brought into contact with the liquid material within the mold, forming an interface between them. In some embodiments, as described above, the filter medium 210 can also come into contact with the gasket 300.The liquid material can then be cured using known methods to solidify and set the liquid material, thus forming the first end cap 400. Consequently, the first end cap 400 is fixedly attached (e.g., coupled) to the first end 212 of the filter medium 210 at the contact interface, and the molded gasket 300 is encapsulated within the material of the first end cap 400. By virtue of the curing process, the gasket 300 is integrally encapsulated within the end cap assembly 150 and integrally connected to the filter medium 210, to form an integral body of the filter element 200 that can remain inseparable during use and replacement. In some embodiments, the second end cap 240 can be similarly encapsulated at the second end 214 of the filter medium 210 using the same or a different liquid material, without the gasket 300.Whereas in other modalities, the second terminal cover 240 may be formed by other processes. While filter element 200 is shown in FIG. 6 having end cap assembly 150 on the first end 212 of the filter medium 210, other configurations are possible. For example, FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged perspective views of exemplary filter elements 250 and 260 used in the fluid filter system of FIG. 1. Filter elements 250 and 260 can be basically similar to filter element 200, except that the configuration of end cap assembly 150 and the second end cap 240 can be different. Figure 7 illustrates an end cap assembly 152 formed at the second end 214 of the filter medium 210. That is, in certain embodiments, the end cap assembly 152 may comprise the gasket 300 encapsulated within the second end cap 240 fixedly attached to the second end 214 of the filter medium 210 in a manner basically similar to that described above.In this configuration, the first openings 322 may not be part of the primary fluid flow path (e.g., receiving unfiltered fluid from the inlet chamber) and instead allow fluid to drain through the openings 322 during replacement. In the illustrated example, the external seal member 320 may be axially positioned between the second end cap 240 and the first end 212 of the filter media. Figure 8 illustrates another exemplary filter element 260 having a first end cap assembly, such as end cap assembly 150, and a second end cap assembly, such as end cap assembly 152, formed at the first end 212 and the second end 214 of the filter medium 210, respectively. That is, in certain embodiments, the first end cap assembly 150 may be as described herein, and the second end cap assembly 152 may be as described above in connection with Figure 7. Although illustrative examples are provided herein, it will be appreciated that filter elements 200, 250, and 260 are not mutually exclusive, and configurations of each may be possible.For example, in any of the preceding embodiments, the gasket 300 can be inverted vertically so that the external sealing member 320 can be arranged axially so as not to overlap with the filter medium 210 (for example, not between the second end cap 240 and the first end 214), i.e., away from the second end 214 and the first end 212 of the filter medium. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid filter system of Figure 1 taken along a transverse plane B, which includes an additional embodiment of gasket 900. Gasket 900 may be basically similar to gasket 300, except that the configuration of the arms 940 is different from the arms 340 of gasket 300. Accordingly, gasket 900 may comprise the same parts and part numbers as used in connection with gasket 300, except as provided herein. That is, for example, gasket 900 includes the external sealing member 310 having the seating interface 350 and the centering member 320 concentric with the external sealing member 310 about the longitudinal axis 390. Gasket 900 also includes a plurality of arms 940, each comprising a first portion 942 and a second portion 944.The first portion 944 may extend axially from the first surface 410 of the first end cap 400 into the external sealing member 320 at an intersection portion 946. The second portion 944 may extend radially from the external sealing member 320 into the first end cap 400 and contact the first portion 944 at the intersection portion 946 (e.g., a fold, a bend, etc.). In some embodiments, the second portion 944 may be formed to be essentially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 390 of the joint 900. In some embodiments, alone or in combination, the first portion 942 may be formed to be essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis 390. Therefore, the first portion 942 and the second portion 944 may be angularly offset by an angle of approximately 90 degrees.However, because the arms are made of a flexible material, their relative orientations may change after installation within the fluid filter system 100 to accommodate tolerance discrepancies and variations between different components. In some embodiments, the angular offset between the second portion 944 and the first portion 942 may be an obtuse angle, such that the first portion 944 extends at a relative angle of 90 degrees toward the external seal member 320. The joint 900 also includes a third portion 945 encapsulated within the first end cap 400 that extends radially from the centering member 310 (e.g., similar to the first portion 342 of the joint 300) toward the external sealing member 320, intersects the third member 330 at an intersection 348, and contacts the first portion 942 at an intersection portion 949. In various embodiments, the first portion 942 may be angularly offset from the third portion 945 at an angle of approximately 90 degrees, while in other embodiments the angular offset may be an obtuse angle toward the external sealing member 320. Industrial application The fluid filter system described can be used to filter any type of fluid and can provide a seal between an unfiltered fluid flow and a filtered fluid flow without requiring numerous complexly shaped components and / or components requiring tight manufacturing tolerances. The operation of the 100 fluid filter system is explained below. With reference to FIG. 1 the fluid filter system The inlet port 510 and inlet chamber 530 can receive unfiltered fluid from one or more upstream components of a fluid system. The unfiltered fluid can flow radially outward from the inlet chamber 530 and can be directed by an end cap assembly 150 to flow into the receptacle 700 through the first openings 322. The unfiltered fluid can flow through one or more first openings 322 in, for example, a basically axial direction through the first openings 322 and 922 and into the radial space between the receptacle 700 and the filter medium 210. The unfiltered fluid can then generally flow radially into the filter medium 210, and the filter medium 210 can trap suspended particles within the unfiltered fluid to filter the fluid. The filtered fluid can then flow through the perforations 226 and then through the sleeve 220 and into the interior space 218.The filtered fluid can flow from the interior space 218 to downstream components, for example, through the filter element outlet 405 of the end cap assembly 150, and through the outlet protrusion 610 of the outlet partition 600 into the outlet chamber 630. The filtered fluid can additionally flow through the outlet port 520 and into one or more downstream components of the fluid system. It may be desirable to replace the filter element 200 because the filter medium 210 may be saturated with trapped particles, the external sealing member 320, 920 or the gasket 300, 900 in general may be deteriorated, a maintenance period has elapsed and / or due to any other grounds known in the art. An operator can unscrew the drain plug 800 from the base plate 500, separate the base plate 500 from the receptacle 700, remove the old or used filter element 200 from inside the receptacle 700, and insert a new or unused filter element 200 into the receptacle 700. Consequently, the lip 710 and the recessed mating interface 560 can be removed and / or uncoupled from the seat interface 350, 950 of the external sealing member 320, 920 as the old end cap assembly 150 is removed with the old filter element 200.The operator can insert a new filter element 200 into the receptacle 700 by seating the recessed mating interface 354, 945 on the lip 710 and mating the recessed mating interface 560 of the base plate 500 with the protruding mating interface 352, 952 of the gasket 300, 900. The operator can then insert the drain plug 800 into the drain hole 745 and rethread the end 812 to the base plate 500 through the gap 550. Consequently, the external sealing member 320, 920 can be compressed through clamping between the base plate 500 and the receptacle 700, as can the new end cap assembly 150 between the base plate 500 and the receptacle 700. It is envisaged that the operator can remove some or all of the retained fluid within the receptacle 700. together with and / or after removing an old filter element 200, for example, through the drain hole 745 or receptacle cavity 730.In several configurations, the old terminal cover assembly 150 is removed together with the old filter element 200 due to the fixed interconnection joint between them, as described above. However, variations and discrepancies in tolerances between components of the 100 fluid filter system (e.g., receptacle 700, base plate 500, outlet partition 600, drain plug 800, filter medium 210, etc.) during manufacturing can cause misalignments within the 100 fluid filter system. For example, the drain lug 740 and recess 550 may not be precisely aligned along the longitudinal axis 110, the lip 710 or the radially oriented surface of the sidewall 524 may not be precisely aligned with each other or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 110, the sidewall 620 may be axially longer than anticipated, or numerous other misalignments may be present.As another example, in conventional filter systems, if a top end cap is not positioned at a right angle to the filter element (e.g., outside of 90 degrees), then a rigid connection between a receptacle and a base plate can cause the lower end of the filter element to shift and fail to align with the receptacle's longitudinal axis. This can result in improper sealing and fluid leakage at both the top and bottom end caps. The end cap assembly 150 is provided with elastomeric properties (e.g., elasticity, tensile strength, elongation, resilience, etc.) to allow axial and radial movement for self-centering of the end cap assembly 150 (and the filter element 200 attached thereto) with respect to the various components of the fluid filter system 100, for example, during replacement and insertion of the new filter element 200. Specifically, the external sealing member 320, 920 and / or the arms 340, 940 can flex, bend, compress, elongate, etc., according to their material properties, to accommodate variations in tolerances between the interconnecting components of the fluid filter system 100, thereby providing a means for aligning and self-centering the filter element 200 with respect to the fluid filter system 100.This allows the 300, 900 gasket to permit axial and radial adjustment of the position and orientation of the 200 filter element relative to the other components during installation. For example, with reference to FIGS. and 7, after removing the old or used filter element 200, the new filter element 200 can be inserted into the receptacle 700 by coupling the second end 214 of the filter element 200 to the receptacle 700 adjacent to the back wall 720. The external sealing member 320, 920 of the terminal cap assembly 150 can be interconnected with the outer wall 715 through the coupling of the seat interface 350, 950 and the lip 710, which can provide approximate alignment of the filter element 200 within the receptacle 700 and maintain the filter element 200 in approximate alignment during replacement. The base plate 500 (and / or outlet partition 600) can be installed in the receptacle cavity 730 of the receptacle 700, joining the filter element 200 therein, and, due to the tolerance discrepancy, can exert an axial and / or radial force on the filter element 200 to fit properly.The 300, 900 gasket then allows the filter element 200 to absorb these axial and radial forces and shift the filter element 200 with respect to the receptacle 700 and / or the base plate 500 to align it appropriately (e.g., self-center it) and install it within both components. For example, the drain plug 800 can be threaded into the recess 550 by pulling the base plate 500 into the receptacle 700 along the longitudinal axis 110. The axial movement pulls the outlet projection 610 into position relative to the outlet of the filter element 405 and can exert axial pressure on the filter element 200 toward the back wall 720. The elastomeric properties of the seal 300, 900, for example, compression of the arms 340, 940 and / or outlet member 320, 920, allow the filter element 200 to be moved into a desired position as required.The arms 340, 940 can also be compressed, bent and / or elongated in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 110 (e.g., radially around the longitudinal axis 110, outwards from it or inwards towards it) to facilitate self-centering of the filter element 200 with respect to the longitudinal axis 110. Similarly, the outer member 320, 920 can be compressed, elongated or deformed as necessary to ensure proper fit between the base plate 500 and the receptacle 700.Accordingly, in another example, even if a first end cap 400 or second end cap 240 is not positioned at a right angle to the filter element 200 (e.g., outside of 90 degrees), the gasket 300, 900 through the arms 340, 940 and / or external seal member 320, 920 can absorb the discrepancies between them and facilitate the alignment of the filter element 200 along the longitudinal axis 110 and ensure proper sealing within the fluid filter assembly 100. As the receptacle 700 and filter element 200 are interconnected with the base plate 500, the external sealing member 320 can form a seal between the base plate 500 and the receptacle 700, for example, between the fluid filter system 100 and the environment, and the first end cap 400 and the second end cap 240 can form a seal between the inlet chamber 530 and the chamber 630, for example, between the unfiltered and filtered fluid flows. For example, the external sealing member 320, 920 may be positioned above the external wall 715 in the upper portion 710 and between the external wall 715 and the base plate 500. The external sealing member 320, 920 may be compressed between them as a function of the drain plug 800 being threaded to the base plate 500 at the end 812, for example, the recess 550, while the head end 820 of the drain plug 800 is coupled to the drain projection 740 on the rear wall 720.The compression of the external sealing member 320, 920 between the receptacle 700 and the base plate 500 can establish one or more axially oriented sealing interfaces, for example, a seal against an axially oriented surface of the receptacle 700 and / or base plate 500 (for example, an axially oriented surface of the recessed mating interface 560). The external sealing member 320, 920 can also be compressed against either or both of the receptacle 700 or the base plate 500, and the sealing member 320, 920 can additionally and / or alternatively establish a radially oriented sealing interface with respect to either or both of the receptacle 700 (for example, a surface on the lip 710) or the base plate 500 (for example, an axially oriented surface of the recessed mating interface 560).Additionally, the outlet protrusion 610 can be aligned with the internal sealing surface 430 and can be inserted into it, passing as the first surface 410 (for example, the interface between the filter medium 210 and the first end cap 400). The insertion of the outlet protrusion 610 can radially compress the first end cap 400 as a function of the distance between the axially oriented internal sealing surface 430 and the axially oriented surface of the outlet protrusion 610, and can, for example, establish an axially oriented sealing interface, such as a face seal against the axial surface of the internal sealing surface 430. Because the gasket 300, 900 can be integrated with the first end cap 400, the receptacle 700 and filter element 200 can be sealed with respect to the base plate 500, and the fluid filter system 100 can include a less complex fluid filter system. Furthermore, the integral filter element 200 is provided to absorb the tolerance discrepancy between the components of the fluid filter system 100 and to ensure the self-centering of the fluid filter element 200 with respect to these components. Although this invention has been shown and described with regard to detailed embodiments and examples thereof, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes may be made to the form and details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, the preceding detailed description is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the invention or its applications and uses. In particular, the described embodiments are not limited to use in conjunction with a particular type of motor. For example, the described embodiments may be applied to generators, motors, machinery, equipment, or any variant thereof. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in any preceding section.It is also understood that illustrations may include exaggerated dimensions and graphic representation to better illustrate the referenced items shown, and are not considered limiting unless expressly stated as such. It will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one modality or to several modalities. It will be appreciated that the characteristics shown or described in one modality or example may be combined with other characteristics shown or described in other modalities and examples. The modalities are not limited to those that solve any or all of the stated problems or to those that have any or all of the stated benefits and advantages. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. A filter element characterized in that it comprises: a filter medium having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end;and at least one end cap assembly fixedly attached to at least one end of the filter medium, including the end cap assembly(es): an end cap having a first toroidal shape with a filter element outlet aligned with the longitudinal axis and close to the end(s) of the filter medium, a first member having a second toroidal shape concentric with the end cap with respect to the longitudinal axis, the first member arranged radially away from the end cap and the filter medium and arranged axially between the end cap and the other end of the filter medium, and a plurality of arms connecting the end cap to the first member, each arm comprising a first portion extending from the end cap to an intersection portion and a second portion extending from the intersection portion to the first member, the second portion being angularly offset from the first portion.

2. The filter element according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one end cap assembly is an integral body, at least the first member and the plurality of arms comprise an elastomeric material and the end cap comprises a solid-curing resin material.

3. The filter element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end cap is permanently formed on the end(s) of the filter element.

4. The filter element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a gasket at least partially encapsulated within the end cap and including the first member and the plurality of arms.

5. The filter element according to claim 4, characterized in that the gasket comprises a plurality of members comprising at least the first member and a second member having a third toroidal shape concentric with the first member, the second member being between the first member and the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of arms connects the second member to the first member, each first portion of the plurality of arms originating from the second member and extending linearly to the intersecting portion.

6. The filter element according to claim 5, characterized in that the second member and at least a part of the first portion of each arm is encapsulated within the end cap.

7. The filter element according to any of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the plurality of members comprises at least a third member between the second member and the first member.

8. The filter element according to claim 7, characterized in that the second member and the third member are coplanar.

9. The filter element according to any of claims 5-8, characterized in that the second member comprises a plurality of raised surfaces spaced equidistantly around the longitudinal axis.

10. The filter element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first member comprises a first coupling interface on a first surface adjacent to the end(s) of the filter medium and a second coupling interface on a second surface opposite the first surface.

11. The filter element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first portion extends axially from the end cap to the first member, and the second portion extends radially from the intersection portion to the first member.

12. The filter element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first portion extends radially outward from the end cap, and the second portion extends axially from the intersection portion to the first member.

13. The filter element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a replaceable filter element for use in a fluid filter system of a machine, the fluid filter system comprising a receptacle and a base plate for housing the filter element within a filter element chamber between them, wherein the first member comprises a sealing means configured to lock into place with the base plate and the receptacle forming to seal the fluid filter system.

14. The filter element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a replaceable filter element for use in a fluid filter system of a machine, the fluid filter system comprising a receptacle and a base plate for housing the filter element within a filter element chamber between them, wherein the plurality of arms is configured to at least one fold, flex, elongate, compress, or a combination thereof to align the filter element with respect to the receptacle and the base plate by absorbing absorption discrepancies between at least the base plate and the receptacle.