Patent ID: 8372278

Claim:
In a fuel tank, the improvement comprising: a liquid fuel strainer assembly including: a filter body of filtration media having a first wall and an opposing second wall together defining an enclosed interior space therebetween; a fitting secured to one of the first wall or the second wall for attachment to a fuel pump and for providing fluid communication from the enclosed interior space of the filter body to the fuel pump; and at least two flexible tubes disposed within the enclosed interior space of the filter body, said flexible tubes having substantially solid sidewalls with spaced perforations through sidewalls thereof, wherein the at least two flexible tubes are not attached to either the fitting or the filter body, and are freely moveable within the interior space of the filter body relative to the first wall and the second wall, said flexible tubes preventing the first wall and the second wall from collapsing toward each other to allow fuel to flow through the enclosed interior space toward the fitting.