Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a filter apparatus for use in removing impurities contained in a fluid that includes a housing, a full flow filter contained in the housing, the housing and the full flow filter arranged such that the entirety of the fluid to be filtered by the filter apparatus passes through the full flow filter, a bypass filter, and a conduit which contains a pressure reduction section. The full flow filter, bypass filter, and conduit positioned within the housing such that the bypass filter is positioned downstream of the full flow filter and the pressure reduction section is arranged to create a pressure differential across the bypass filter such that a predetermined portion of the fluid to be filtered by the filter apparatus passes through the bypass filter. The invention further provides a method of removing impurities contained in a fluid by filtration by introducing a fluid to a filtering apparatus including a full flow filter and a bypass filter; filtering 100% of the fluid with the full flow filter; creating a pressure differential across the bypass filter whereby a predetermined portion of the fluid filtered by the full flow filter is drawn through the bypass filter, thereby filtering the predetermined portion of the fluid a second time.

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First Claim