US 12,053,731 B2 · Panel filter element

Abstract

Panel filter elements having a pleat block and a seal member are described. The panel filter elements are arranged such that the seal members and pleat blocks can have curved and/or angled elements. The seal member of a filter element may be curved, angled, twisted, and/or has a varying cross-section. The inlet and outlet faces of the pleat block of the filter element may be curved and/or twisted instead of planar. In some arrangements, both the seal member of the filter element and the faces of the pleat blocks can be curved and/or twisted. The described filter elements may be may be flexible, such that the shape of the filter element and/or seal can conform to the shape of a filter housing, or rigid, such that the shape of the filter element remains substantially the same before and after installation into a filter housing.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for forming a curvilinear filter element, comprising:

providing a substantially flat filter media, the filter media comprising an inlet face, an outlet face, and a side face extending between the inlet face and the outlet face;
depositing a polymeric layer in a mold cavity of a mold, the mold cavity comprising a curvilinear mold cavity surface having a curvilinear profile, the polymeric layer deposited on the curvilinear mold cavity surface;
positioning the side face of the filter media on the polymeric layer within a predetermined time after disposing the polymeric layer in the mold cavity such that the side face conforms to the curvilinear mold cavity surface causing the filter media to bend;
and
removing the filter media with the polymeric layer attached to the side face of the filter media from the mold cavity, wherein the polymeric layer retains the curvilinear profile of the curvilinear mold cavity surface.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Panel filter element

Life of this patent

Panel filter element

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19