Coreless non-metallic filter element

A filter assembly, comprising:

• a fluid conduit,
• a cylindrical perforated metal support core fixed to said fluid conduit and extending longitudinally therefrom,
• a cylindrical filter element circumscribing a central axis and removably received over said support core, said filter element including filter media having longitudinally-extending pleats extending from one end of the filter element to another end of the filter element, said pleats having radially-inner pleat peaks, radially-outer pleat peaks, and opposing sidewalls extending between respective inner and outer pleat peaks which define outwardly-opening pleat cavities around the filter element, a radially-inner surface of the inner pleat peaks bounding a central, longitudinally-extending imaginary cylindrical cavity within the filter media,
• an inner cylindrical support wrap formed from a layer of porous, fibrous filter media disposed within the central cavity between said radially inner pleat peaks and the support core, and having a radially outer surface adhesively joined to the radially-inner surface of the inner pleat peaks, said support wrap being the inner-most layer in the filter element and forming a cylindrical cavity to closely receive the support core, the support wrap preventing damage to the pleats when the filter element is received over and removed from the support core, and
• an end cap with an annular cap portion bonded to each end of the filter media, at least one of said end caps having a central circular opening receiving the support core, said central circular opening of said at least one end cap having an inner diameter that is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the support wrap.

A coreless filter element removeably positionable within a housing including a perforated rigid support core, said filter element comprising:

• cylindrical filter media circumscribing a central axis and having longitudinally-extending pleats extending from one end of the filter media to another end of the filter media, said pleats having inner pleat peaks, outer pleat peaks, and opposing sidewalls extending between respective inner pleat peaks and outer pleat peaks which define outwardly-opening pleat cavities around the filter element, a radially-inner surface of the inner pleat peaks bounding a central, longitudinally-extending imaginary cylindrical cavity within the filter media, and
• inner flexible cylindrical support means of a porous fibrous filter media disposed within the cylindrical cavity of the filter media as the innermost layer of the filter element, and having a radially outer surface adhesively joined to the radially-inner surface of the inner pleat peaks for providing structural integrity for the pleats and preventing the inner pleat peaks from moving with respect to one another, said support means enabling said filter element to be located over the rigid support core for filtering fluid passing through the housing, and removed from the support core when the filter element is spent without damage to the pleats, and
• an end cap with an annular cap portion bonded to each end of the filter media, at least one of said end caps having a central circular opening enabling the support core to be inserted into and removed from the cylindrical cavity of the filter media, said central circular opening of said at least one of said end caps having an inner diameter that is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the support means.

A filter assembly, comprising:

• a fluid conduit,
• a cylindrical perforated metal support core removeably attached to said fluid conduit and extending longitudinally therefrom, said support core including an end portion which receives the fluid conduit of the housing in surrounding relation thereto, said metal support core including a radially inward facing groove, and an O-ring is disposed in the groove for fluidly-sealing against an outer surface of said fluid conduit,
• a cylindrical filter element circumscribing a central axis and removably received over said support core, said filter element including filter media having longitudinally-extending pleats extending from one end of the filter element to another end of the filter element, said pleats having radially-inner pleat peaks, radially-outer pleat peaks, and opposing sidewalls extending between respective inner and outer pleat peaks which define outwardly-opening pleat cavities around the filter element, a radially-inner surface of the inner pleat peaks bounding a central, longitudinally-extending imaginary cylindrical cavity within the filter media, and
• an inner cylindrical support wrap formed from a layer of porous, fibrous filter media disposed within the central cavity between said inner pleat peaks and the support core, and having a radially outer surface joined to the radially-inner surface of the inner pleat peaks.

A filter assembly, comprising:

• a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, said second fluid conduit spaced longitudinally from said first fluid conduit and disposed co-axial with said first fluid conduit,
• a cylindrical perforated metal support core attached to said first fluid conduit in surrounding relation to said first fluid conduit and extending longitudinally toward said second fluid conduit, said support core being longitudinally spaced apart from said second fluid conduit,
• a cylindrical filter element circumscribing a central axis and removably received over said support core, said filter element including filter media having longitudinally-extending pleats extending from one end of the filter element to another end of the filter element, said pleats having radially-inner pleat peaks, radially outer pleat peaks, and opposing sidewalls extending between respective inner and outer pleat peaks which define outwardly-opening pleat cavities around the filter element, a radially-inner surface of the inner pleat peaks bounding a central, longitudinally-extending imaginary cylindrical cavity within the filter media, and
• an inner cylindrical support wrap formed from a layer of porous, fibrous filter media disposed within the central cavity between said inner pleat peaks and the support core, and having a radially outer surface joined to the radially-inner surface of the inner pleat peaks, and
• an end cap with an annular cap portion bonded to each end of the filter media, at least one of said end caps having a central circular opening enabling the support core to be inserted into and removed from the cylindrical cavity of the filter media, said central circular opening of said at least one of said end caps having an inner diameter that is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the support wrap.