# US 9,752,541 B2 · Filter media > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,541 B2 - Document ID: US9752541B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/561,530 - Filed: 2014-12-05 - Published: 2016-06-09 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-05 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Kevin Martin; Jason Jura; Bryant Morris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752541B2 ## CPC - F02M 35/0245: {Pleated, folded, corrugated filter elements, e.g. made of paper} - B01D 46/0041: {for feeding} - B01D 46/525: {which comprises flutes} - F02M 35/02416: {Fixing, mounting, supporting or arranging filter elements; Filter element cartridges} - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - 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) ## Abstract A filter media includes flutes, forward plugs, and aft plugs. Each of the flutes has a forward flute face, an aft flute face, and a flute body defining a flute conduit to convey the fluid. The forward plugs are disposed in alternating ones of the flutes. Each forward plug includes a plug base and an aerodynamic plug nose. The aerodynamic plug nose has a center axis and a nose surface tapering outwardly from the center axis towards the plug base. The plug nose is configured to aerodynamically redirect a flow of the fluid away from the center axis. The flutes that have forward plugs include a flute outlet disposed at the aft flute face. The aft plugs are disposed in the flutes adjacent to the flutes that have corresponding forward plugs. The flutes that have aft plugs include a flute inlet disposed at the forward flute face. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filter media to filter a fluid passing therethrough, comprising: a plurality of parallel flutes, each flute having: a forward flute face; an aft flute face; and a flute body positioned between the forward flute face and the aft flute face, the flute body defining a flute conduit to convey the fluid therethrough, the flute conduit having a flute wall defined by a filter substrate, wherein the fluid is filtered by passing through the filter substrate; the plurality of parallel flutes comprising a set of upstream flutes and a set of downstream flutes alternatively disposed, wherein each downstream flute of the set of downstream flutes is placed adjacent to an upstream flute of the set of upstream flutes, wherein each downstream flute of the set of downstream flutes comprises a forward plug including: a plug base configured to mate with a corresponding forward flute face; and an aerodynamic plug nose having a center axis and a nose surface tapering outwardly from the center axis towards the plug base, the plug nose being configured to aerodynamically redirect a flow of the fluid away from the center axis into the upstream flute placed adjacent to each downstream flute, wherein each downstream flute includes a flute outlet disposed at the aft flute face of each downstream flute, and wherein each upstream flute of the set of upstream flutes comprises an aft plug disposed on the aft flute face of each upstream flute, wherein each upstream flute includes a flute inlet disposed at the forward flute face, wherein at least one of the forward plug or the aft plug is formed of a material different than the filter substrate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The filter media according to claim 1, wherein the nose surface is a pyramidal surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The filter media according to claim 1, wherein the nose surface is an ogee surface rotated about the center axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The filter media according to claim 1, wherein the flute body is triangular in cross section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The filter media according to claim 1, wherein the flute body is square in cross section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The filter media according to claim 1, wherein the filter substrate is a felted fiberboard. ### Claim 7 A filter element to filter a fluid passing therethrough, comprising: a filter element body having an element inlet and an element outlet; and a filter media disposed within the filter element body, the filter media including: a plurality of parallel flutes, each flute having: a forward flute face; an aft flute face; and a flute body positioned between the forward flute face and the aft flute face, the flute body defining a flute conduit to convey the fluid therethrough, the flute conduit having a flute wall defined by a filter substrate, wherein the fluid is filtered by passing through the filter substrate, the plurality of parallel flutes comprising a set of upstream flutes and a set of downstream flutes alternatively disposed, wherein each downstream flute of the set of downstream flutes is placed adjacent to an upstream flute of the set of upstream flutes, wherein each downstream flute of the set of downstream flutes comprises a forward plug including: a plug base configured to mate with a corresponding forward flute face; and an aerodynamic plug nose having a center axis and a nose surface tapering outwardly from the center axis towards the plug base, the plug nose being configured to aerodynamically redirect a flow of the fluid away from the center axis into the upstream flute placed adjacent to each downstream flute, wherein each downstream flute includes a flute outlet disposed at the aft flute face of each downstream flute, and wherein each upstream flute of the set of upstream flutes comprises an aft plug disposed on the aft flute face of each upstream flute, wherein each upstream flute includes a flute inlet disposed at the forward flute face, wherein at least one of the forward plug or the aft plug is formed of a material different than the filter substrate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The filter element according to claim 7, wherein the nose surface is a pyramidal surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The filter element according to claim 7, wherein the nose surface is an ogee surface rotated about the center axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The filter element according to claim 7, wherein the flute body is triangular in cross section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The filter element according to claim 7, further comprising a forward element seal to seal the filter element in a filter housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The filter element according to claim 11, further comprising an aft element seal to seal the filter element in the filter housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The filter element according to claim 7, wherein the filter substrate is a felted fiberboard. ### Claim 14 A filter assembly to filter a fluid passing therethrough, comprising: a filter housing including: a housing inlet; a housing outlet; and a housing body having an internal volume; and a filter element disposed within the filter housing, the filter element including: a filter element body having an element inlet and an element outlet; and a filter media disposed within the filter element body, the filter media including: a plurality of parallel flutes, each flute having: a forward flute face; an aft flute face; and a flute body positioned between the forward flute face and the aft flute face, the flute body defining a flute conduit to convey the fluid therethrough, the flute conduit having a flute wall defined by a filter substrate, wherein the fluid is filtered by passing through the filter substrate, the plurality of parallel flutes comprising a set of upstream flutes and a set of downstream flutes alternatively disposed, wherein each downstream flute of the set of downstream flutes is placed adjacent to an upstream flute of the set of upstream flutes, wherein each downstream flute of the set of downstream flutes comprises a forward plug including: a plug base configured to mate with a corresponding forward flute face; and an aerodynamic plug nose having a center axis and a nose surface tapering outwardly from the center axis towards the plug base, the plug nose being configured to aerodynamically redirect a flow of the fluid away from the center axis into the upstream flute placed adjacent to each downstream flute, wherein each downstream flute includes a flute outlet disposed at the aft flute face of each downstream flute, and wherein each upstream flute of the set of upstream flutes comprises an aft plug disposed on the aft flute face of each upstream flute, wherein each upstream flute includes a flute inlet disposed at the forward flute face, wherein at least one of the forward plug or the aft plug is formed of a material different than the filter substrate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The filter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the nose surface is a pyramidal surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The filter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the nose surface is an ogee surface rotated about the center axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The filter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the flute body is triangular in cross section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The filter assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a forward element seal to seal the filter element in the filter housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The filter assembly according to claim 18, further comprising an aft element seal to seal the filter element in the filter housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The filter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the filter substrate is a felted fiberboard.