# US 9,039,802 B2 · Air cleaner; replaceable filter cartridges; and, methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,802 B2 - Document ID: US9039802B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/257,539 - Filed: 2014-04-21 - Published: 2015-03-12 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2004-08-25 - Assignees: Donaldson Company, Inc. - Applicants: Donaldson Company, Inc. - Inventors: James R. Scott; Steven Gieseke; Douglas Iddings - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039802B2 ## CPC - B01D 46/2414: {End caps including additional functions or special forms} - B01D 46/0005: {Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames (B01D46/2422 takes precedence)} - B01D 46/521: {using folded, pleated material} - B01D 46/56: with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition (B01D46/12 takes precedence) - B29C 44/38: into a closed space, i.e. to make articles of definite length {(B29C44/365 and B29C44/367 take precedence)} - F02M 35/0201: {Housings; Casings; Frame constructions; Lids; Manufacturing or assembling thereof} - F02M 35/0245: {Pleated, folded, corrugated filter elements, e.g. made of paper} - B01D 2201/291: End caps - B01D 2275/201: Conical shape - B29K 2075/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29L 2031/14: Filters {(optical filters B29L2011/0066, sieves or screens B29L2031/737)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract The disclosure concerns 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. 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air filter cartridge comprising: (a) an extension of filter media: having first and second, opposite, ends; surrounding an open interior; and, defining a central cartridge axis; (b) a first, open, end cap adjacent one of the first and second ends of the filter media; (i) the first, open, end cap including a molded-in-place portion in which the media is embedded; (c) a second, closed, end cap adjacent a second one of the first and second ends of the filter cartridge; (i) the second, closed, end cap including a molded-in-place portion in which the media is embedded; (d) a preform having a perforate portion extending across at least one of the first and second, opposite, ends of the media; (i) the preform including a plurality of spaced extensions projecting in a direction across one of the media ends from an outer perimeter; (ii) the spaced extensions of the preform being embedded in molded-in-place material closing the same end of the media that the spaced extensions of the preform project in a direction across; (iii) the preform including an outer perimeter portion extending around the media adjacent the media end across which the spaced extensions are directed; (e) the first end cap having a continuous, circular, groove therein, at least 1.5 mm deep; and, (f) a housing seal arrangement comprising a molded-in-place portion of the first, open, end cap configured to form a radially directed housing seal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein: (a) the media is pleated and is conically tapered inwardly in extension from the open end cap to the closed end cap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein: (a) the extensions of the preform that extend in a direction across an end of the media comprise part of a perforate portion of the preform extending completely across the media from adjacent outer perimeter to adjacent an inner perimeter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An air filter cartridge according to claim 3 wherein: (a) the preform includes a liner section integral with the perforate portion extending across an end of the media; the liner section extending completely from the first end cap to the second end cap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An air filter cartridge according to claim 4 wherein: (a) the portion of the preform that extends completely from the first end cap to the second end cap is an outer liner section surrounding the media. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein: (a) the radially directed seal is a radially outwardly directed seal. ### Claim 7 An air cleaner comprising: (a) a housing defining an interior and including: a body section having open end; and, a removable access cover closing the open end; (i) the body section including an axial clean air outlet tube at an end opposite the access cover; (b) a main air filter cartridge removably positioned within the housing interior and comprising: (i) an extension of filter media having first and second, opposite, ends surrounding an open interior and defining a central cartridge axis; (ii) a first, open, end cap adjacent a first end of the filter media; (A) the first, open, end cap including a molded-in-place portion in which the media is embedded; (iii) a second, closed, end cap adjacent a second end of the filter cartridge; (B) the second, closed, end cap including a molded-in-place portion in which the media is embedded; (c) the first open end cap having a continuous, circular, groove therein, at least 1.5 mm deep; and, (d) the molded-in-place portion of the first open end cap defining a radially directed seal portion removably sealed to the housing at a location spaced, radially, from the outlet tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An air cleaner assembly according to claim 7 wherein: (a) the media is pleated and is conically tapered inwardly in extension from the open end cap to the closed end cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) An air cleaner assembly according to claim 7 including: (a) a preform having a perforate portion that extends across on an end of the media; the perforate portion being embedded in a molded-in-place portion of an end cap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An air cleaner assembly according to claim 9 wherein: (a) the preform includes a liner section integral with the portion extending across an end of the media; the liner section extending completely from the first end cap to the second end cap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An air filter air cleaner assembly according to claim 10 wherein: (a) the portion of the preform that extends completely from the first end cap to the second end cap is an outer liner section surrounding the media. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) An air cleaner assembly according to claim 7 wherein: (a) the radially directed seal is a radially outwardly directed seal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) An air cleaner assembly according to claim 7 wherein: (a) the first, open, end cap includes a continuous, circular, groove at least 1.5 mm deep, therein. ### Claim 14 An air cleaner assembly comprising: (a) a housing defining an interior and including: a body section including an open end; a removable access cover closing the open end; and, an axial air outlet tube; (b) a main air filter cartridge including media surrounding an open filter interior, the media having first and second opposite ends; (i) a first, open, end cap positioned adjacent a first end of the media; the first open end cap including molded-in-place material in which an end of the media is embedded; (A) the molded-in-place material of the first open end cap defining a housing seal member defining a radially directed housing seal; (ii) a closed end cap positioned adjacent the second end of the media; (A) the closed end cap includes molded-in-place material in which an end of the media is embedded; (B) the closed end cap having a central portion with an inner surface portion having a projection spaced from the media and directed toward the first end cap while surrounding and defining a receiver having a circular cross-section; (iii) the housing seal arrangement comprising a molded-in-place portion of the first end cap that defines a radial seal removably sealed to a surface of the housing spaced radially from the axial air outlet tube; (c) a safety filter cartridge removably positioned on the housing and comprising: (i) media having first and second ends; (ii) a closed end having a central projection thereon; and, (iii) an open end removably sealed to the housing with a radial seal; (iv) the safety filter cartridge being positioned: (A) with the media thereof surrounded by the media of the main air filter cartridge; (B) with the safety filter cartridge removably sealed to a housing portion separate from, and spaced radially inwardly from, a portion of the housing to which the main air filter cartridge is sealed; and, (C) with the central projection on the closed end of the safety cartridge projecting into the receiver on the closed end of the main filter cartridge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An air filter cartridge according to claim 14 wherein: (a) the media of the main filter cartridge is pleated and is conically tapered inwardly in extension from the open end cap to the closed end cap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) An air filter cartridge according to claim 14 wherein: (a) the radially directed seal of the main filter cartridge is a radially outwardly directed seal. ### Claim 17 An air filter cartridge comprising: (a) an extension of filter media having first and second, opposite, ends, surrounding an open interior and defining a central cartridge axis; (b) a first, open, end cap adjacent one of the first and second ends of the filter media; (i) the first, open, end cap including molded-in-place material in which an end of the media is embedded; (c) a second, closed, end cap adjacent a second one of the first and second ends of the filter cartridge; (i) the second, closed, end cap including molded-in-place material in which an end of the media is embedded; (d) a preform including a portion embedded in the molded-in-place material of the closed end cap; (i) the preform including a central projection portion surrounding and defining a receiver having a circular cross-sectional shape; the central projection portion projecting toward the first end cap at a location spaced radially inwardly from the media; and, (e) a housing seal arrangement comprising a molded-in-place portion of the first, open, end cap and including a portion configured to form a radially directed housing seal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An air filter cartridge according to claim 17 wherein: (a) the media is pleated and is conically tapered inwardly in extension from the open end cap to the closed end cap. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) An air filter cartridge according to claim 17 wherein: (a) the preform includes a liner section integral therewith; the liner section extending completely from the first end cap to the second end cap. ### Claim 20 An air filter cartridge comprising: (a) an extension of filter media: having first and second, opposite, ends; and, surrounding an open interior; (b) a first, open, end cap adjacent one of the first and second ends of the filter media; (i) the first, open, end cap including molded-in-place material in which an end of the media is embedded; (c) a second, closed, end cap adjacent a second one of the first and second ends of the filter cartridge; (i) the second, closed, end cap including molded-in-place material in which an end of the media is embedded; (d) a preform having a perforate portion embedded in one of the end caps and extending in a direction across at least one of the first and second, opposite, ends of the media; and, (e) a housing seal arrangement comprising a molded-in-place portion of the first, open, end cap including a portion configured to form a radially outwardly directed housing radial seal.