Automotive cooling system filter assembly

Claim 1

In combination with an automotive radiator having a liquid inlet tube extending rearwardly therefrom to which a resilient hose is connected, a filter assembly of the type that includes a conical filter screen having a base portion said filter assembly being characterized by including: a. a cylindrical rigid member that is snuggly and slidably insertable within said tube, said member having first and second ends; b. a forwardly and inwardly extending rigid flange that is an integral part of said member and extends forwardly from said first end thereof; c. a circumferentially extending lip that projects outwardly from said second end of said member and acts as a stop to prevent said member being moved forwardly beyond a predetermined position in said tube; d. a V-shaped wire handle that may be longitudinally disposed in said tube, said handle of such size as to extend around said screen, and said handle having two laterally spaced first ends; e. first means for securing said base portion of said screen to said flange; and f. second means for pivotally securing said first ends of said handle to said flange, said flange and handle cooperating to permit a longitudinal force to be exerted on said filter assembly to withdraw the same from said hose without any strain being placed on said screen during such withdrawal, with said screen when cooling liquid is discharged through said tube collecting foreign particles of solid material entrained with said liquid on the interior surface of said screen, and said collected solid particles due to the velocity of said liquid tending to move forwardly in said screen to accumulate as a compact body in the apex portion thereof where said particles define a minimum of resistance to the flow of said cooling liquid through said tube, with said cylindrical rigid member serving as dual support for said lip and said flange screen and handle.