Breather assembly for electrical enclosures

A breather apparatus for an enclosed electrical system comprising:

• a housing having an exterior surface and first and second end portions, said first end portion being opened and said second end portion being closed;
• said housing having a central chamber;
• oppositely disposed openings in said housing communicating said external surface with said chamber;
• an insert in said chamber, said insert having two converging openings where each wide portion of said converging openings are in communication with respective ones of said housing openings;
• a first generally longitudinally directed opening in said insert forming a junction with narrow ends of said converging openings;
• a lateral space in communication with said first longitudinal opening;
• a second generally longitudinally directed opening spaced from said first longitudinal opening;
• a porous metal disc positioned in said chamber between said insert and said first open end portion of said housing;
• a plurality of small closely packed objects positioned between said insert and said first opened end portion of said housing;
• a restraining spacer positioned adjacent said small closely packed objects;
• and
• a washer partially enclosing said open first end portion of said housing whereby an air passageway is formed in said chamber between said open first end portion of said housing and said oppositely disposed openings through said housing.

A method for forming a breather apparatus for an enclosed electrical system comprising the steps of:

• forming a housing having an air passageway for communicating with an enclosed electrical system;
• forming a converging opening in said housing as part of said air passageway, said converging opening for creating a low pressure to prevent liquid from an environment external to said apparatus from entering said enclosed electrical system through said air passageway;
• and
• forming an insert for said apparatus, said insert having said converging opening disposed in one direction and a second opening disposed in a generally perpendicular direction relative to said converging opening, said second opening meeting said converging opening at a junction including a narrow end of said converging opening.