Support structure for pleated filter media and methods

A filter element comprising:

• (a) a tubular construction of pleated filter media defining an interior volume;
• (b) first and second opposite end caps secured to opposite ends of the filter media;
• and
• (c) a semi-rigid pleated screen supporting the pleated filter media and operably oriented in the interior volume, wherein the semi-rigid pleated screen is oriented between and against opposing faces of the pleated filter media,
• wherein the semi-rigid pleated screen has pleats extending in a direction non-parallel and angled relative to a direction of pleats of the pleated filter media;
• and
• wherein the semi-rigid pleated screen extends less than a complete length between the first and second end caps.

A filter element comprising:

• (a) a tubular construction of pleated filter media defining an interior volume;
• (b) first and second opposite end caps secured to opposite ends of the filter media;
• and
• (c) a semi-rigid pleated screen supporting the pleated filter media and operably oriented in the interior volume, wherein the semi-rigid pleated screen is oriented between and against opposing faces of the pleated filter media,
• wherein the semi-rigid pleated screen has pleats extending in a direction non-parallel and angled relative to a direction of pleats of the pleated filter media;
• and
• wherein the semi-rigid pleated screen has opposite first and second ends, and the pleats of the semi-rigid pleated screen decrease in pleat depth as the semi-rigid pleated screen extends from the first end to the second end.