Piston paint pump filter

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGS.
1 and 2, a prior art filter apparatus 10 may be seen.
In such a prior art filter apparatus 10, a cylindrical filter element 12 is utilized to block particles entering at inlet 20 from progressing through the remainder of the painting equipment, typically a paint spray gun (not shown) connected to the filter base outlet 22 via a flexible hose (also not shown).
Element 12 is preferably retained in a cylindrical housing 14.
Housing 14 is threadedly received in a base 16.
Base 16 has an inlet port 17 receiving a right angle fitting 20 and in communication with the interior 23 of element 12.
One or more outlet ports 22 in base 16 are in communication with the exterior 26 of element 12.
Element 12 has exterior annular recesses 25, through holes 27, and axial grooves 29 through and along which paint can flow to traverse element 12.
Referring now to FIGS.
3 and 4, the improved filter of the present invention includes a base 18 as part of an apparatus 30 which includes a cylindrical filter assembly 32 carried in a filter housing 34.
Filter assembly 32 preferably includes a cylindrical filter element 38 supported by a helical spring 40.
Housing 34 is preferably secured to base 18 by interengaging threads 52 and sealed to base 18 by an O-ring 42 or other conventional seal.
It is to be understood that various mesh filter elements may be used in the practice of the present invention to remove particulates from the paint supply line which particulates could otherwise plug metering orifices in a spray gun (not shown) connected to the apparatus 30.
In FIG.
3 a single layer element 38 is shown, which preferably is a 20 mesh or sieve size.
In FIG.
4, element 38 is preferably a 24 mesh element provided to support a finer mesh element layer 39.
Layer 39 may be a 50, 100, 200 or other mesh or sieve size to filter finer particulates, as desired.
Referring now also to FIGS.
5-7, features of base 18 relating to apparatus 30 may be seen in more detail.
Referring first most particularly to FIGS