Method for producing a filter element provided with a sealing part

A method for molding a sealing part directly onto a filter element using a mold casting apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• providing the filter element (5) of a filter media having a flow face and an adjacent lateral side, the flow face is an inflow face or an outflow face;
• providing the mold casting apparatus (1) including:
• a first tundish part (2) of the mold casting apparatus, the first tundish part (2) arranged at or proximate to the filter media on the lateral side of the filter element during molding and having a tip portion projecting towards the flow face of the filter element and spaced outwardly away from the lateral side of the filter element forming an open gap therebetween;
• a second tundish part (3) of the mold casting apparatus, the second tundish part received directly against the filter media at the flow face of the filter element during molding, the second tundish part (3) spaced away from the first tundish part and spaced away from the lateral side of the filter element, wherein the flow face and sidewall of the filter element together with the spaced apart first and second tundish parts form a casting chamber (7) for receiving a sealing material;;
• wherein the filter element is placed such that a filter element edge portion of the lateral side and flow face forms wall portions of the casting chamber (7), such that the first tundish part (2), the second tundish part (3) with the filter element (5) define the casting chamber (7);
• wherein the tip portion of the first tundish part (2) in the casting chamber (7) defines a groove in the sealing part (6) having a bottom surface (11) in the groove;
• wherein the second tundish part (3) in the casting chamber (7) has a recess (12) for defining an opposing sealing surface (12) of the sealing part arranged opposite the bottom surface (11) of the groove;
• casting the sealing part (6) by steps of:
• introducing sealing material (7) in a non-cured state into the casting chamber (7);
• and
• curing of the sealing material (7) in the casting chamber (7), the curing connecting the sealing part (6) onto the edge portion of the filter element (5) and also forming the groove in the sealing part (6) having the bottom surface (11) and the opposing sealing surface (12) of the sealing part (6);
• wherein the casting chamber (7) is arranged so that the groove in the sealing part (6) having the bottom surface (11) and the opposing sealing surface (12) are formed on opposite chamber walls of the casting chamber (7).