Patent ID: 7281904

Claim:
A pump and filter assembly comprising: a pump housing having a pump inlet bore and a fluid return passage; and a filter assembly including: a filter element; and a filter outlet portion located downstream of said filter element and partially extending into said pump inlet bore in said pump housing, said filter outlet portion further including: a terminal end defining a filter nozzle configured to form a nozzle passage between said filter nozzle and said pump inlet bore; an annular recess formed by said filter outlet portion, said annular recess disposed in fluid communication with said fluid return passage; and a filter outlet passage concentric with and radially inward of said annular recess and being in fluid communication between said filter element, said pump inlet bore, and said nozzle passage to decrease the fluid pressure level at said pump inlet bore to a value less than the pressure level at said filter thereby creating a pressure differential such that cavitation is prevented.