Contoured layer channel flow filtration media
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsThomas I. Insley, Todd W. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A filtration media array is provided having at least one contoured polymeric film layer having surface structures. The film layers may be configured as a stack that has the contoured film layer defining a plurality of ordered inlet openings through a face of the stack and corresponding air pathways, thereby forming an open, porous volume. The air pathways may be defined by a plurality of flow channels formed by the contours of the structured contoured film layers.
Claims37
A filtration media array comprising at least one flow channel layer defined by a contoured polymeric film layer and an adjacent second layer, the contoured film layer having a first face and a second face, the contoured film layer having a series of peaks or ridges formed by the contoured film layer contours, at least one face of the contoured film layer defining flow channels wherein the second adjacent layer comprises a second polymeric film layer, a second contoured polymeric film layer or a further layer, which contoured film layer and adjacent second layer, at least in part define fluid pathways through the flow channels of the filtration media array and at least one of a contoured polymeric film layer or a second polymeric film layer have high aspect ratio surface structures over at least a portion of a film layer face wherein a structured film layer face at least in part defines at least some of the flow channels.
A method of forming a filtration media array comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a contoured film layer;
- (b) joining the contoured film layer to a second layer at at least one face of the contoured film layer so as to stabilize the contoured film layer and form flow channels;
- (c) electrostaticly charging the flow channel layer assembly of the contoured film layer and the second layer.
A method of forming a filtration media array comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a contoured film layer;
- (b) joining the contoured film layer to a second layer at at least one face of the contoured film layer so as to stabilize the contoured film layer and form a series of adjacent flow channels;
- (c) layering the flow channel layer assembly so as to create a filtration media array having multiple flow channel layers forming fluid pathways through the filtration media array;
- (d) slicing the filtration media array with a hot wire so as to fuse the adjacent layers forming the filtration media array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.