Strainer

Abstract

A strainer for a liquid sucking device and adapted to be attached to the end of a flexible liquid sucking tube of the device. The strainer has an outlet tube adapted to be connected to the flexible liquid sucking tube of the device, a spherical shell integral with the outlet tube, a strainer element attached to the outer surface of the spherical shell and a weight accommodated by the internal cavity of the spherical shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A strainer comprising an outlet tube adapted to be connected to a flexible liquid sucking tube of a liquid sucking device; a perforated spherical shell integral with said outlet tube and having an internal cavity communicating with said liquid sucking tube; a strainer element attached to said spherical shell; and a ball-like weight .[.disposed and.]. supported by ribs .[.in.]. .Iadd.so that the weight is substantially entirely within .Iaddend.said cavity of said spherical shell. .Iadd. 
     
     
       2.  A strainer for removing impurities from a liquid being transferred from a body of the liquid to a liquid sucking device, said strainer comprising: a perforate shell having an inside surface defining an internal cavity and exposed surface means on the shell to facilitate free rolling of the outer surface of the shell in contact with a surface on a tank confining the body of liquid;   a single flexible liquid sucking tube means for delivering liquid to a liquid sucking device and for attaching the shell to a liquid sucking device so that the shell changes its posture readily in response to a change in posture of the liquid sucking device;   outlet means for communicating said cavity with the liquid sucking tube means;   a strainer element associated with the perforate shell to capture and thereby prevent impurities in a body of liquid from reaching said internal cavity;   a weight having an outer surface; and   means mounting the weight substantially entirely within the cavity and in spaced relationship to at least a portion of the inside surface of the shell and the outlet means for the cavity so that the outer surface of the weight and inside surface portion of the shell cooperatively establish a flow path through said cavity communicating with said outlet means for conducting strained liquid through the shell and to the sucking device. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       3.  The strainer according to claim 2 wherein said surface means comprises an outer surface that is at least partially spherical to facilitate rolling of the straining as the posture of an apparatus with a liquid sucking device changes to best situate the strainer for liquid sucking. .Iaddend. .Iadd.4. The strainer according to claim 2 wherein said shell has spherical outer and inner surfaces, the weight is ball-like, the outer surface of the weight is at least partially spherical and the means mounting the weight mount the weight in substantially centered relation to 
     
     
        the inner shell surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.5.  The strainer according to claim 2 wherein said shell comprises at least two joinable shell parts each having inner and outer surfaces which cooperatively define the internal cavity, the outer surfaces of each of the at least two joinable shell parts having an exposed portion defining said surface means and the means mounting the weight comprises at least one rib associated with the inner surface of at least one of the shell parts, whereby the weight can be placed and supported on the rib prior to joining the shell parts to 
     
     
        facilitate assembly of the strainer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6.  The strainer according to claim 5 wherein the means for communicating the cavity with the liquid sucking tube comprises an outlet tube having a portion integrally formed with at least one of the two shell parts. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.7.  The strainer according to claim 2 wherein the strainer element comprises gauze attached to the perforate shell to block the passage of 
     
     
        impurities in the liquid into the internal cavity. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8.  The strainer according to claim 7 wherein the gauze comprises metallic wire. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The strainer according to claim 7 wherein the gauze 
     
     
        comprises synthetic resin. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10.  The strainer according to claim 2 wherein the shell is made from a synthetic resin. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd. 1.  A strainer for removing impurities from a liquid being transferred from a body of the liquid to a liquid sucking device, said strainer comprising: a shell having a substantially fixed shape and defining an internal cavity, an inner surface, and exposed surface means on the shell for facilitating free rolling of the outer surface of the shell in contact with a surface of a tank containing a liquid supply to be sucked by a liquid sucking device;   flexible liquid sucking tube means for delivering liquid to a liquid sucking device and for attaching the shell to a liquid sucking device so that the shell changes its posture readily in response to a change in posture of the liquid sucking device;   means for communicating the internal cavity with the liquid sucking device;   means on the shell for admitting liquid from a supply into the cavity and for preventing impurities in the tank from reaching the internal cavity;   a weight having an outer surface; and   means mounting the weight so that the weight is substantially entirely within the cavity and so that at east a portion of the outer surface of the weight is in spaced relationship to the inner surface of the shell to establish a path between the weight outer surface and inner surface portion of the shell for communication of strained liquid through the   
     
     
        shell and to the sucking device. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12.  The strainer according to claim 11 wherein said means for admitting liquid comprises a gauze material defining at least a portion of the shell. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The strainer according to claim 12 wherein the gauze comprises metallic wire. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The strainer according to claim 12 
     
     
        wherein the gauze comprises a synthetic resin. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15.  The strainer according to claim 11 wherein the surface means comprises a spherical exposed outer surface on the shell to facilitate shifting of the strainer as the posture of an aperture with the liquid sucking device changes to best situate the strainer for liquid sucking. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  The strainer according to claim 11 wherein said shell comprises at least two joinable shell parts each having inner and outer surfaces which cooperatively define the internal cavity and the means mounting the weight comprises at least one rib associated with the inner surface of at least one of the shell parts, whereby the weight can be placed and supported on the rib prior to joining the shell parts to facilitate assembly of the strainer. .Iaddend.