Endplate with guide feature

Abstract

Various example embodiments relate to a filtration system. The filtration system comprises a housing having a first housing end and a second housing end. The housing defines a central compartment therein. The housing comprises a key slot disposed on the first housing end and a housing key element protruding from the first housing end toward the second housing end. The filtration system further comprises a filter element positioned within the central compartment of the housing. The filter element has a first filter end and a second filter end. The filter element includes filter media and an endplate disposed on the first filter end. The endplate includes a central endplate opening, a key element configured for engagement with the key slot, and an installation guidance element formed along the central endplate opening. The installation guidance element is configured for engagement with the housing key element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filtration system comprising:
 a housing having a first housing end and a second housing end, the housing defining a central compartment therein, the housing comprising a housing baseplate defining a key slot, the key slot being an outlet passage of the housing or being disposed on an outlet passage of the housing, the first housing end and the housing baseplate together defining an open cavity; and   a filter element positioned within the central compartment of the housing, the filter element having a first filter end and a second filter end, the filter element comprising:
 filter media; and 
 an endplate disposed on the first filter end, the endplate comprising:
 a key element configured for engagement with the key slot, the key element being an outlet passage of the filter element or being disposed on an outlet passage of the filter element, and 
 an installation guidance element separated from the filter media, the installation guidance element comprising a plurality of scallops; 
 
   wherein engagement of the first housing end and the second housing end occurs when the installation guidance element is disposed within the open cavity, and the engagement of the first housing end and the second housing end is prevented from occurring when the installation guidance element is not disposed within the open cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a housing key element extending from the second housing end axially upward towards the first housing end; and   the installation guidance element comprises an endplate key slot that is configured to receive the key slot.   
     
     
         3 . The filtration system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises a standpipe; and   the key slot is adjacent to the standpipe.   
     
     
         4 . The filtration system of  claim 3 , wherein the standpipe includes an internal hexagonal drive. 
     
     
         5 . The filtration system of  claim 2 , wherein the endplate key slot is coplanar with the key element. 
     
     
         6 . The filtration system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the installation guidance element comprises a central opening; and   each of the plurality of scallops is a half-circular opening contiguous with the central opening.   
     
     
         7 . The filtration system of  claim 6 , wherein the endplate key slot is contiguous with the central opening. 
     
     
         8 . The filtration system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the housing key element comprises a filter detection device; and   the installation guidance element comprises a filter identifier complementary to the filter detection device.   
     
     
         9 . The filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the endplate is a closed endplate. 
     
     
         10 . The filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the key element and the key slot are structured to form complementary seals with each other when the key element engages the key slot. 
     
     
         11 . A filtration system comprising:
 a housing having a first housing end and a second housing end, the housing defining a central compartment therein, the housing comprising a housing baseplate defining a key slot, the first housing end and the housing baseplate together defining an open cavity; and   a filter element positioned within the central compartment of the housing, the filter element having a first filter end and a second filter end, the filter element comprising:
 filter media; and 
 an endplate disposed on the first filter end, the endplate comprising:
 a key element configured for engagement with the key slot, the key element being an inlet passage of the filter element or being disposed on an inlet passage of the filter element, and 
 an installation guidance element separated from the filter media, the installation guidance element comprising a plurality of scallops; 
 
   wherein engagement of the first housing end and the second housing end occurs when the installation guidance element is disposed within the open cavity, and the engagement of the first housing end and the second housing end is prevented from occurring when the installation guidance element is not disposed within the open cavity.   
     
     
         12 . The filtration system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a housing key element extending from the second housing end axially upward towards the first housing end;   the installation guidance element comprises an endplate key slot that is configured to receive the key slot;   the housing further comprises a standpipe; and   the key slot is adjacent to the standpipe.   
     
     
         13 . The filtration system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the installation guidance element comprises a central opening; and   each of the plurality of scallops is a half-circular opening contiguous with the central opening.   
     
     
         14 . The filtration system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the housing key element comprises a filter detection device; and   the installation guidance element comprises a filter identifier complementary to the filter detection device.   
     
     
         15 . A filtration system comprising:
 a housing having a first housing end and a second housing end, the housing defining a central compartment therein, the housing comprising:
 a housing baseplate defining a key slot, the first housing end and the housing baseplate together defining an open cavity, and 
 a housing key element extending from the second housing end axially upward towards the first housing end; and 
   a filter element positioned within the central compartment of the housing, the filter element having a first filter end and a second filter end, the filter element comprising:
 filter media; and 
 an endplate disposed on the first filter end, the endplate comprising:
 a key element configured for engagement with the key slot, and 
 an installation guidance element separated from the filter media, the installation guidance element comprising a plurality of scallops and an endplate key slot that is configured to receive the key slot and is coplanar with the key element; 
 
   wherein engagement of the first housing end and the second housing end occurs when the installation guidance element is disposed within the open cavity, and the engagement of the first housing end and the second housing end is prevented from occurring when the installation guidance element is not disposed within the open cavity.   
     
     
         16 . The filtration system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises a standpipe; and   the key slot is adjacent to the standpipe.   
     
     
         17 . The filtration system of  claim 16 , wherein the standpipe includes an internal hexagonal drive. 
     
     
         18 . The filtration system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the housing key element comprises a filter detection device; and   the installation guidance element comprises a filter identifier complementary to the filter detection device.   
     
     
         19 . The filtration system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the endplate is a closed endplate; and   the key element and the key slot are structured to form complementary seals with each other when the key element engages the key slot.   
     
     
         20 . The filtration system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the housing key element comprises a filter detection device; and   the installation guidance element comprises a filter identifier complementary to the filter detection device.