at least about three times the maximum outer dimension of sidewall portion 40 in the embodiment illustrated this maximum dimension is the outer diameter of the portion 40 as also clearly apparent in fig3 the outer surfaces 48 50 of the sidewall portion 40 and end portion 42 are spaced inwardly from the inner surface 17 of casing body 16 so as to present a continuous annular fluid zone 52 about both portions 40 and 42 and within the confines of body 16 advantageously the minimum total cross sectional area i e perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the element 14 of the zone 52 outboard of the exterior surfaces 48 50 of the element 14 is greater than the maximum cross sectional area of the element 14 again taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof the outlet end fitting 24 in the embodiment of fig1 3 includes a secondary sintered bronze filtering disc 54 generally the disc 54 would be of smaller porosity than that of the filtering element 14 and is held in place within fitting 24 by means of snap ring 56 in the use of filter assembly 10 appropriate fluid inlet and outlet lines not shown are threadably affixed.