Apparatus for filtering a liquid

An apparatus for filtering a liquid including a pot-shaped filter housing (7) carrying a filter element (9) and a pump (4) driven by a motor (3), the improvement comprising:

• a unitary connecting piece (1) having on its front side a suction inlet (15) and a pressure outlet (16), the filter housing (7) and the pump (4) being coupled to the bottom side of said connecting piece (1);
• channel means, formed in said connecting piece (1), including a first channel (17, 18, 19) for connecting said suction inlet (15) with the suction side of the pump (4), a second channel (20, 21, 22) for connecting the pressure side of the pump with the filter housing (7) and a third channel (26, 27) for connecting the middle of the filter element with said pressure outlet (16);
• said first channel (17, 18, 19) comprising two interconnecting blind bores (17, 18);
• said second channel (20, 21, 22) comprising two interconnecting and intersecting blind bores (20, 21);
• said third channel (26, 27) comprising two interconnecting and intersecting blind bores (26, 27);
• a connecting bore (30) formed in said connecting piece between said first channel on the suction side of the pump (4) and said second channel on the pressure side of the pump (4), said connecting bore (30) having a valve (30') therein opening to the suction side of the pump (4);
• means (8, 15'), pivotally coupled to said connecting piece (1), for releasably coupling the filter element (9) and the filter housing (7) to said connecting piece (1);
• a carrying handle (2) coupled to the top side of said connecting piece (1), said handle (2) being coupled to an electric cable (35);
• and
• a support leg (6) coupled below said connecting piece (1) and the filter housing (7) to the pump (4).