Air cleaner; replaceable filter cartridges; and, methods
AssigneeDonaldson Company, Inc.
InventorsJAMES SCOTT, Carolyn Finnerty, Steven Gieseke, Douglas Iddings, William Juliar, Gregory LaVallee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure concern air cleaners. Preferred air cleaners are shown which include a housing and a removable and replacement primary filter cartridge. Optional and advantageous features are shown. An optional mechanical interlock, operated with a non-threaded, movement of the cartridge, is provided between the primary filter cartridge and the housing. The preferred primary filter cartridge is conical in shape. A preferred optional safety or secondary filter cartridge is shown. Preferred methods of assembly and use are provided.
Claims20
An air filter cartridge comprising:
- (a) first and second, opposite, end caps;
- (i) the first end cap comprising a molded-in-place portion having an air flow exit aperture therethrough;
- and,
- (ii) the first end cap having a housing seal member integrally molded with the molded-in-place portion of the first end cap;
- (b) pleated filter media extending between the first and second end caps;
- (i) the pleated filter media having a tapered outer perimeter in extension between the first and second end caps, with a larger perimeter adjacent the first end cap;
- and,
- (ii) the second end cap comprising a molded-in-place portion having an end of the pleated media embedded therein;
- and,
- (c) a preform comprising:
- (i) a portion embedded in the molded-in-place portion of the second end cap;
- (ii) an inner portion surrounded by the pleated media and extending toward the first end cap;
- (iii) a central portion extending from the inner portion in a direction across the open interior surrounded by the media;
- and,
- (iv) a receiver recess formed by a portion of the preform projecting toward the first end cap from the central portion and the first end cap.
An air filter cartridge comprising:
- (a) first and second, opposite, end caps;
- (i) the first end cap comprising a molded-in-place portion having an air flow exit aperture therethrough;
- and,
- (ii) the first end cap having a housing seal member integrally molded with the molded-in-place portion of the first end cap;
- (b) pleated filter media extending between the first and second end caps;
- (i) the pleated filter media having a tapered outer perimeter in extension between the first and second end caps, with a larger perimeter adjacent the first end cap;
- and,
- (ii) the second end cap comprising a molded-in-place portion having an end of the pleated media embedded therein;
- and,
- (c) a preform comprising:
- (i) a portion embedded in the molded-in-place portion of the second end cap;
- (ii) an inner portion surrounded by the pleated media and projecting toward the first end cap;
- (iii) a receiver recess defined by a portion of the preform projecting toward the first end cap;
- and,
- (iv) a liner portion extending at a conical angle from the first end cap to the second end cap;
- (v) the preform comprising a single member formed from plastic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.