Strainer apparatus mounted within a tube

Claim 1

Strainer apparatus for insertion into a tube of an air conditioner having a medium flowing therethrough which comprises: a strainer element located within the tube for removal of unwanted particles from the medium flowing through the tube; and a unitary tubular member of resilient material, said tubular member having a first cylindrical portion (18) and a second cylindrical portion (20) coaxial with the first cylindrical portion, and said second cylindrical portion having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the first cylindrical portion, said first and second cylindrical portions being joined at their common ends to form an annular space therebetween such that the generally cylindrical end of the strainer element is secured between the first cylindrical portion (18) and the second cylindrical portion (20), and a frustroconical collar portion (16) integrally connected with the second cylindrical portion at the end of the second cylindrical portion distal from the end of the second cylindrical portion joined to the first cylindrical portion, said frustoconical portion being coaxial with the first and second cylindrical portions and being of greater inside diameter than the outside diameter of the second cylindrical portion and including a plurality of resiliently flexible segments extending outwardly such that openings are defined therebetween, whereby upon insertion of the strainer element and tubular member into the tube the flexible segments of the collar portion are compressed reducing the size of the openings and as a result thereof the segments engage the interior tube surfaces forming a tight seal therewith and simultaneously holding the tubular member and attached strainer element securely within the tube.