Multi-stage air filter

Claim 1

In combination, an engine including a blower housing having circulating airflow therethrough, a carburetor having an inlet, and an air cleaner assembly, comprising: a duct having an inlet and an outlet, said duct inlet being angularly disposed through said blower housing; an air cleaner housing having side walls; a bottom wall; an interior wall upstanding from said bottom wall and dividing said air cleaner housing into two chambers, a first one of said chambers having an inlet in one of said side walls, said duct and said first chamber communicating through said duct outlet and said first chamber inlet, and a second one of said chambers having an outlet in its bottom wall; an outlet chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet chamber communicating with said second chamber through said outlet chamber inlet and said second chamber outlet, and said outlet chamber outlet communicating with said carburetor inlet; a first means removably fitted within said first chamber for filtering airflow passing upwardly therethrough; a second means removably fitted within said second chamber for filtering airflow passing downwardly therethrough; and a cover having side walls and a top wall, and being removably attached to said air cleaner housing, said top wall being spaced above said first and second filtering means and said interior wall thereby defining with said first and second filtering means a passageway providing communication between said first and second chambers, whereby airflow passes through said duct outlet and is directed upwardly by said first chamber, the airflow then being redirected generally horizontally by said passageway, and thereafter being redirected downwardly by said second chamber.