Suction strainer and method of assembly

Claim 1

A suction strainer assembly comprising: housing means including a tee having a crossarm with a bore therein and a perpendicular branch with a bore therein intersecting said bore of said crossarm to define an intersection; said crossarm bore having a first end defining an inlet and a second end; seat means secured to said first end and extending partially into said crossarm bore and defining a flow path whereby all flow in said crossarm bore is directed through said flow path; first attachment means connected to said first end of said crossarm bore; second attachment means connected to said second end of said crossarm bore; third attachment means connected to said perpendicular branch; strainer means having a porous body portion with an open end and a closed end; said open end of said strainer means seating on said seat means; said seat means includes an outer cylindrical portion extending into said crossarm bore and into said first attachment means and an inner frustoconical portion located at least partially within said outer cylindrical portion and defining said flow path and said inner frustoconical portion having an outer surface upon which said open end of said strainer means seats; closure means coacting with said second attachment means and said closed end of said strainer means to seal said second end of said crossarm bore and to hold said strainer means seated on said seat means and spaced from said intersection and said crossarm bore whereby an annular space is formed between said strainer means and said crossarm bore and fluid entering said inlet serially passes through said flow path in said seat means, into said strainer means, through said porous body portion into said annular space and thence into said perpendicular branch bore.