A hydraulic system includes a storage tank, a cover assembly and a filter assembly
for filtering hydraulic fluid, gasses and air. The tank includes an opening and
an attachment ring bounding the opening. The cover assembly has an inlet port and
is removably connected to the attachment ring to support and enclose the filter
assembly in the tank. The filter assembly includes a filter element having a filter
media ring for filtering hydraulic fluid, and an annular breather filter surrounding
the filter media ring at one end of the ring for filtering vent gas and air. The
filter element is supported in a diffuser tube received in the tank opening. The
diffuser tube includes a stand-off ring with a convoluted groove or channel to
provide a vent path between the diffuser tube and the tank opening to direct vent
gasses and ambient air through or around the breather filter.
