Multi-element filter with multiple pleat channel height

• US 20070045167A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Filtration Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Filtration Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Verdegan, Barry, Jaroszczyk, Tadeusz, Janikowski, Eric, Schwartz, Scott, Terres, Mark, Moy, Jerald, Christianson, Caryn, Morgan, Jeffrey, Schukar, Murray, Heckel, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,323,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/337
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2275/201 Conical shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2275/208 Oval shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/12 in multiple arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/121 V-type arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2411 Filter cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/521 using folded, pleated material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/60 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/70 by acting counter-currently on the filtering surface, e.g. by flushing on the non-cake side of the filter

Abstract

A filter has multiple pleated filter elements having axially extending channels having a transverse pleat channel height and a lateral channel width. The pleated filter elements have different channel heights.

Claims

1. A filter comprising a plurality of pleated filter elements pleated along axially extending bend lines to form axially extending channels extending axially along an axial direction from an upstream end to a downstream end, each channel having a channel height extending transversely along a transverse direction perpendicular to said axial direction, each channel having a channel width extending laterally along a lateral direction perpendicular to said transverse direction and perpendicular to said axial direction, said channels being alternately sealed at said upstream and downstream ends to provide a first set of flow channels open at their upstream ends and closed at their downstream ends, and a second set of flow channels closed at their upstream ends and open at their downstream ends, a first and a second of said filter elements having a transverse gap therebetween at one of said upstream and downstream ends, and being sealed to each other at the other of said upstream and downstream ends, said gap providing additional fluid flow axially therethrough, the channel height of said first filter element being different than the channel height of said second filter element.

2. The filter according to claim 1 wherein said first and second filter elements comprise concentric annuli, with said second filter element surrounding said first filter element and having a greater said channel height.

3. The filter according to claim 2 wherein said first and second filter elements are housed in a housing, and comprising an annular spacer ring extending transversely between said housing and said second filter element.

4. The filter according to claim 3 wherein said spacer ring is at the other of said upstream and downstream ends, and wherein said spacer ring passes fluid flow axially therethrough.

5. The filter according to claim 2 wherein said concentric annuli are selected from the group consisting of a circle, an oval, a racetrack shape, an obround shape, and other closed-loop shapes.

14. The filter according to claim 1 wherein said first and second filter elements are angled with respect to each other as they extend axially from upstream to downstream to provide said transverse gap therebetween of changing transverse width.

15. The filter according to claim 14 wherein said gap tapers from a first transverse width at said one of said upstream and downstream ends to a second transverse width at the other of said upstream and downstream ends, one of said first and second transverse widths being greater than the other of said first and second transverse widths.

16. The filter according to claim 15 wherein one of said first and second transverse widths is sealed by a sealing member extending transversely between said first and second filter elements.

17. The filter according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said axially extending bend lines along a portion thereof at at least one of said upstream and downstream ends are flattened transversely along said transverse direction into respective said channels such that the respective axially extending bend lines bifurcate in a Y-shape and branch along diverging diagonally extending bend lines at said one of said upstream and downstream ends.

18. The filter according to claim 17 wherein said filter elements at said one of said upstream and downstream ends have respective triangular shaped portions defined by and bounded by diverging bend lines of said Y-shapes.

19. The filter according to claim 18 wherein said filter is mounted in a housing having a sidewall sealing surface, and said triangular portions bounded by said Y-shapes mate with said sidewall sealing surface.

20. The filter according to claim 18 wherein said first and second filter elements each have said axially extending bend lines which bifurcate in a Y-shape and branch along diverging diagonally extending bend lines at one of said upstream and downstream ends, each of said first and second filter elements at said one of said upstream and downstream ends having respective triangular shaped portions defined by and bounded by respective said diverging bend lines of said Y-shapes, said triangular shaped portions of said first and second filter elements bounded by respective said Y-shapes mating with each other.

6. A filter comprising a plurality of pleated filter elements pleated along axially extending bend lines to form axially extending channels extending axially along an axial direction from an upstream to a downstream, each channel having a channel height extending transversely along a transverse direction perpendicular to said axial direction, each channel having a channel width extending laterally along a lateral direction perpendicular to said transverse direction and perpendicular to said axial direction, said channels being alternately sealed at said upstream and downstream ends to provide a first set of flow channels open at their upstream ends and closed at their downstream ends, and a second set of flow channels closed at their upstream ends and open at their downstream ends, a first and a second of said filter elements having a first transverse gap therebetween at one of said upstream and downstream ends, and being sealed to each other at the other of said upstream and downstream ends, said first gap providing additional fluid flow axially therethrough, said second and a third of said filter elements having a second transverse gap therebetween at said other of said upstream and downstream ends, and being sealed to each other at said one of said upstream and downstream ends, said second gap providing additional fluid flow axially therethrough, the channel height of said first filter element being different than the channel height of at least one of said second and third filter elements.

7. The filter according to claim 6 wherein the channel height of said first filter element is different than the channel height of each of said second and third filter elements.

8. The filter according to claim 7 wherein the channel height of said second filter element is different than the channel height of said third filter element.

9. The filter according to claim 6 wherein said first, second and third filter elements comprise concentric annuli.

10. The filter according to claim 9 wherein:

said third filter element surrounds said second filter element and has a greater said channel height than said second filter element; and

said second filter element surrounds said first filter element and has a greater said channel height than said first filter element.

11. The filter according to claim 9 wherein said first, second and third filter elements are housed in a housing, and comprising an annular spacer ring extending transversely between said housing and said third filter element.

12. The filter according to claim 11 wherein said spacer ring is at said one of said upstream and downstream ends, and wherein said spacer ring passes fluid flow axially therethrough.

13. The filter according to claim 6 wherein said concentric annuli have a shape selected from the group consisting of a circular shape, an oval shape, a racetrack shape, an obround shape, and other closed-loop shapes.