Patent ID: 7176771

Claim:
An improved filter assembly for a circuit breaker comprising: a filter housing having at least two filter mounting zones for receiving at least two filter assemblies, so as to define, in the aggregate, a filter assembly; and at least two filter assemblies configured for interfitting with said filter mounting zones of said filter housing, each said filter assembly comprising a filter body having a given peripheral configuration and a filter gasket configured for interfitting about a periphery of said filter body for sealingly engaging said filter body relative to said filter housing in response to forces encountered by said filter assembly both upon assembly and in operation; wherein each of said filter bodies has a peripheral recessed portion for positioning, mounting and bearing against a complementary edge portion of said filter gasket; and a small hole diffuser having a peripheral configuration similar to the peripheral configuration of said filter bodies, in the aggregate, when assembled with said filter housing and configured for interfitting within said filter housing, superimposed over said filter assemblies; a spacer interposed between said filters and said small hole diffuser; and a molded coarse hole diffuser, defining a combined diffuser and spacer integrally molded as a single, one-piece unit, said coarse hole diffuser including means for engaging and interfitting with said filter housing in close overlying engagement with said small hole diffuser.