Filter device

A filter device comprising:

• a filter housing including a cylindrical sidewall, an open top end of the cylindrical sidewall, a bottom plate closing a bottom end of the cylindrical sidewall, the bottom plate defining a suction opening, and a removable cover closing the open top end of the cylindrical sidewall, the removable cover defining a plurality of inlet openings for allowing water surrounding an exterior of the filter housing to flow into an interior within the filter housing;
• a partition plate that is substantially flat and that defines a plurality of flow passages in at least an edge area and in a center area of the partition plate being disposed within the filter housing for dividing the interior of the filter housing into:
• a filter chamber located above the partition plate and below the removable cover, and
• a suction-side pre-chamber located below the partition plate and above the bottom plate,
• wherein the suction-side pre-chamber is a cylindrical chamber and has a cross-sectional area that is wider in comparison to a cross-sectional area of the suction opening or the suction-side pre-chamber has a cross-sectional area that widens in a direction from the suction opening to the partition plate;
• filter media formed of a fibrous material filling the filter chamber, wherein no filter media is arranged in the suction-side pre-chamber;
• and
• a tubular outlet fitting connected to and extending downwardly from the bottom plate, the tubular outlet fitting having an internal bore that is axially aligned with and opens into the suction opening, wherein a cross-sectional area of the internal bore of the tubular outlet fitting is equal to the cross-sectional area of the suction opening, and wherein an exterior surface of the tubular outlet fitting is threaded to permit connection of the suction opening to a suction side of a pump,
• wherein the suction-side pre-chamber is configured so that a suction force applied to the suction opening applies a suction force to the plurality of inlet openings.