FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY

A fuel filter (2) comprising a manifold (4), a connector element (6), a filter bowl (8), a filter element (22), an inlet shutoff valve (74), an outlet shutoff valve (92), an inlet port (10), an inlet conduit (72), an outlet port (12), an outlet conduit (90) and a relief valve (45) is disclosed. The connector element (6) is fixed to the manifold (4), and the filter bowl (8) is reversibly fixed to the connector element (6). The connector element (6) is adapted to engage with the filter element (22). The filter bowl (8) is adapted to reversibly receive the filter element (22) and is so configured that when the filter element (22) is located within the filter bowl (8) and the filter bowl (8) is attached to the connection element (6) the filter element (22) divides the space defined by the connector element (6) and filter bowl (8) into an inlet filter chamber (24) and an outlet filter chamber (26). The inlet port (10) is incorporated in the manifold (4), and the inlet port (10) and inlet filter chamber (24) are in fluid communication via the inlet conduit (72). The outlet port (12) is incorporated in the manifold (4) and the outlet port (12) and outlet filter chamber (26) are in fluid communication via the outlet conduit (90). The inlet shutoff valve (74) is biased by a biasing means (86) into a closed configuration which prevents fuel flowing along the inlet conduit (72) when fuel in the inlet conduit (72) has a fuel pressure below a predetermined value, and the outlet shutoff valve (92) is biased by a biasing means (66) into a closed configuration which prevents fuel flowing along the outlet conduit (90) when fuel in the outlet filter chamber (26) has a fuel pressure below a predetermined value. The relief valve (45) is biased by a biasing means (66) into a closed configuration in which fuel flowing between the inlet filter chamber (24) and outlet filter chamber (26) passes through the filter element (22), and movement of the relief valve (45) into an open configuration allows fuel to flow between the inlet filter chamber (24) and the outlet filter chamber (26) via the relief valve (45) without the fuel passing through the filter element (22). The relief valve (45) is caused to move into its open configuration from its closed configuration when the difference between the fuel pressure in the filter inlet chamber (24) and the filter outlet chamber (26) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.