Air Cleaner with Endcap Cover

• US 20120060453A1
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Filtration Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Filtration Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Holzmann, Mark V., Detra, Kelly Ann, Alonzo, Jim L., Dhiman, Rejeev, Moret, Guy J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,828,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/480
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/021 Anti-rotational means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/025 making use of ramps or cams
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/026 with means for avoiding false mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/028 Snap, latch or clip connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0005 Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames B01D46/2422 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2414 End caps including additional functions or special forms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/4272 Special valve constructions adapted to filters or filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/48 Removing dust other than cleaning filters , e.g. by using collecting trays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An air cleaner includes a housing and an air filter element. An endcap of the air filter element provides a removable cover for the housing. The endcap includes removal, insertion, orientation, and retention structure and methods for same. A clamping arrangement is provided with minimal space requirements.

Claims

1. An air cleaner comprising a housing extending axially along an axis and having an annular sidewall extending axially between first and second axial ends, said sidewall having an inlet receiving dirty incoming air, said first axial end having an outlet discharging clean filtered air, said second axial end being closable by a removable cover, said second axial end having a closed state when closed by said cover, said second axial end having an open state upon removal of said cover, an annular air filter element axially insertable into said housing through said second axial end in said open state, said air filter element having an outer peripheral surface spaced inwardly of an interior surface of said sidewall and defining an annular dirty air inlet plenum therebetween receiving dirty air from said inlet, said air filter element having an inner peripheral surface defining a hollow interior providing a clean air outlet plenum supplying clean filtered air to said outlet, said air filter element comprising annular filter media extending axially between first and second axial endcaps, said first endcap facing said outlet, said second endcap being said cover.

2. The air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said sidewall has a dust ejection opening therethrough, and comprising a dust ejection valve extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said sidewall and receiving dust through said opening from said inlet plenum.

3. The air cleaner according to claim 2 wherein said second endcap comprises a dust collection tab extending along said interior surface of said sidewall to said dust ejection opening.

4. The air cleaner according to claim 3 wherein said dust collection tab defines a dust ejection outlet port from said inlet plenum through said dust ejection opening to said dust ejection valve.

5. The air cleaner according to claim 4 wherein said dust collection tab has chamfered edges providing said dust ejection outlet port.

6. The air cleaner according to claim 4 wherein said dust collection tab has an opening therethrough aligned with said dust ejection opening through said sidewall, said opening through said dust collection tab providing said dust ejection outlet port from said inlet plenum.

7. The air cleaner according to claim 6 wherein said opening through said dust collection tab is formed by an aperture through said dust collection tab.

8. The air cleaner according to claim 2 wherein said dust ejection opening is formed by an aperture through said sidewall.

9. The air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said air filter element is inserted into said housing in a first axial direction toward said first axial end, said sidewall has at least one retention-stop surface facing axially in said first axial direction, said second endcap comprises at least one clamp tab having a retention-engagement surface facing axially in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction, wherein said retention-engagement surface engages said retention-stop surface in latching relation upon insertion of said air filter element into said housing and clamps said second endcap to said sidewall and maintains said second axial end in said closed state.

10. The air cleaner according to claim 9 wherein said clamp tab of said second endcap extends along said interior surface of said sidewall to said retention-stop surface.

11. The air cleaner according to claim 10 wherein said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab is released from latching engagement with said retention-stop surface of said sidewall by pushing said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab radially inwardly into said inlet plenum.

12. The air cleaner according to claim 11 wherein said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab engages said retention-stop surface of said sidewall in snap-fit relation.

13. The air cleaner according to claim 12 wherein during axial insertion of said air filter element into said housing along said first axial direction, said clamp tab slides axially along said interior surface of said sidewall, and said retention-engagement surface snaps radially outwardly into interference fit engagement with said retention-stop surface of said sidewall.

14. The air cleaner according to claim 9 wherein said retention-stop surface is formed by a retention aperture through said sidewall.

15. The air cleaner according to claim 9 wherein said second endcap comprises two said clamp tabs each having a respective said retention-engagement surface.

16. The air cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said air filter element is inserted into said housing in a first axial direction toward said first axial end, said second endcap extends axially along said filter media along said outer peripheral surface of said air filter element and has at least one cam surface facing axially in said first axial direction.

17. The air cleaner according to claim 16 wherein said interior surface of said sidewall has at least one alignment guide surface facing in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction and engageable by said cam surface of said second endcap during insertion of said air filter element into said housing in said first axial direction to cammingly rotate said air filter element about said axis during said insertion to a designated rotational orientation of said air filter element in said housing about said axis.

18. The air cleaner according to claim 17 wherein said second endcap has a scalloped terminating end facing axially in said first axial direction and having peaks and valleys with ramped surfaces therebetween, said ramped surfaces providing a plurality of said cam surfaces.

19. An air filter element for an air cleaner having a housing extending axially along an axis and having an annular sidewall extending axially between first and second axial ends, said sidewall having an inlet receiving dirty incoming air, said first axial end having an outlet discharging clean filtered air, said second axial end being closeable by a removable cover, said second axial end having a closed state when closed by said cover, said second axial end having an open state upon removal of said cover, said air filter element comprising an annular air filter element axially insertable into said housing through said second axial end in said open state, said air filter element having an outer peripheral surface spaced inwardly of an interior surface of said sidewall and defining an annular dirty air inlet plenum therebetween receiving dirty air from said inlet, said air filter element having an inner peripheral surface defining a hollow interior providing a clean air outlet plenum supplying clean filtered air to said outlet, said air filter element comprising annular filter media extending axially between first and second axial endcaps, said first endcap facing said outlet, said second endcap being said cover.

20. The air filter element according to claim 19 wherein said sidewall has a dust ejection opening therethrough, and a dust ejection valve extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said sidewall and receiving dust through said opening from said inlet plenum, and wherein said air filter element at said second endcap comprises a dust collection tab extending along said interior surface of said sidewall to said dust ejection opening.

21. The air filter element according to claim 20 wherein said dust collection tab defines a dust ejection outlet port from said inlet plenum through said dust ejection opening to said dust ejection valve.

22. The air filter element according to claim 21 wherein said dust collection tab of said second endcap of said air filter element has chamfered edges providing said dust ejection outlet port.

23. The air filter element according to claim 21 wherein said dust collection tab of said second endcap of said air filter element has an opening therethrough aligned with said dust ejection opening through said sidewall, said opening through said dust collection tab providing said dust ejection outlet port from said inlet plenum.

24. The air filter element according to claim 23 wherein said opening of said dust collection tab of said second endcap of said air filter element is formed by an aperture through said dust collection tab.

25. The air filter element according to claim 19 wherein said air filter element is inserted into said housing in a first axial direction toward said first axial end, said sidewall has at least one retention-stop surface facing axially in said first axial direction, said second endcap of said air filter element comprises at least one clamp tab having a retention-engagement surface facing axially in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction, wherein said retention-engagement surfaces engages said retention-stop surface in latching relation upon insertion of said air filter element into said housing and clamps said second endcap to said sidewall and maintains said second axial end in said closed state.

26. The air filter element according to claim 25 wherein said clamp tab of said second endcap of said air filter element extends along said interior surface of said sidewall to said retention-stop surface.

27. The air filter element according to claim 26 wherein said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab of said second endcap of said air filter element is released from latching engagement with said retention-stop surface by pushing said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab of said air filter element radially inwardly into said inlet plenum.

28. The air filter element according to claim 27 wherein said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab of said second endcap of said air filter element engages said retention-stop surface in snap-fit relation.

29. The air filter element according to claim 28 wherein during axial insertion of said air filter element into said housing along said first axial direction, said clamp tab of said second endcap of said air filter element slides axially along said interior surface of said sidewall, and said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab of said second endcap of said air filter element snaps radially outwardly into interference fit engagement with said retention-stop surface.

30. The air filter element according to claim 25 wherein said second endcap comprises two said clamp tabs each having a respective said retention-engagement surface.

31. The air filter element according to claim 19 wherein said air filter element is inserted into said housing in a first axial direction toward said first axial end, said second endcap of said air filter element extends axially along said filter media along said outer peripheral surface of said air filter element and has at least one cam surface facing axially in said first axial direction.

32. The air filter element according to claim 31 wherein said interior surface of said sidewall has at least one alignment guide surface facing in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction and engageable by said cam surface of said second endcap of said air filter element during insertion of said air filter element into said housing in said first axial direction to cammingly rotate said air filter element about said axis during said insertion to a designated rotational orientation of said air filter element in said housing about said axis.

33. The air filter element according to claim 32 wherein said second endcap of said air filter element has a scalloped terminating end facing axially in said first axial direction and having peaks and valleys with ramped surfaces therebetween, said ramped surfaces providing a plurality of said cam surfaces.

34. A method for cleaning air comprising providing a housing extending axially along an axis and having an annular sidewall extending axially between first and second axial ends, said sidewall having an inlet receiving dirty incoming air, said first axial end having an outlet discharging clean filtered air, said second axial end being closable by a removable cover, said second axial end having a closed state when closed by said cover, said second axial end having an open state upon removal of said cover, providing an annular air filter element axially insertable into said housing through said second axial end in said open state, said air filter element having an outer peripheral surface spaced inwardly of an interior surface of said sidewall and defining an annular dirty air inlet plenum therebetween receiving dirty air from said inlet, said air filter element having an inner peripheral surface defining a hollow interior providing a clean air outlet plenum supplying clean filtered air to said outlet, providing said air filter element with annular filter media extending axially between first and second axial endcaps, facing said first endcap toward said outlet, and providing said second endcap as said cover.

35. The method according to claim 34 further comprising in combination a method for ejecting dust comprising providing said sidewall with a dust ejection opening therethrough, providing a dust ejection valve extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said sidewall and receiving dust through said opening from said inlet plenum.

36. The method according to claim 35 comprising providing said second endcap with a dust collection tab and extending said dust collection tab along said interior surface of said sidewall to said dust ejection opening.

37. The method according to claim 36 comprising providing at said dust collection tab a dust ejection outlet port from said inlet plenum through said dust ejection opening to said dust ejection valve.

38. The method according to claim 37 comprising chamfering edges of said dust collection tab to provide said dust ejection outlet port.

39. The method according to claim 37 comprising providing an opening through said dust collection tab aligned with said dust ejection opening through said sidewall, and providing said dust ejection outlet port from said inlet plenum at said opening through said dust collection tab.

40. The method according to claim 39 comprising forming an aperture through said dust collection tab to provide said opening of said dust collection tab.

41. The method according to claim 35 comprising forming an aperture through said sidewall to provide said dust ejection opening.

42. The method according to claim 34 further comprising in combination a method for inserting said air filter element into said housing and clamping said air filter element to said housing with minimal space requirements around the exterior of said housing, comprising inserting said air filter element into said housing in a first axial direction toward said first axial end, providing said sidewall with at least one retention-stop surface facing axially in said first axial direction, providing said second endcap with at least one clamp tab having a retention-engagement surface facing axially in said second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction, engaging said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab of said second end cap with said retention-stop surface of said sidewall in latching relation upon insertion of said air filter element into said housing and clamping said second endcap to said sidewall and maintaining said second axial end in said closed state.

43. The method according to claim 42 comprising extending said clamp tab of said second endcap along said interior surface of said sidewall to said retention-stop surface.

44. The method according to claim 43 comprising releasing said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab from latching engagement with said retention-stop surface of said sidewall by pushing said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab radially inwardly into said inlet plenum.

45. The method according to claim 44 comprising engaging said retention-engagement surface of said clamp tab with said retention-stop surface of said sidewall in snap-fit relation.

46. The method according to claim 45 comprising, during axial insertion of said air filter element into said housing along said first axial direction, sliding said clamp tab axially along said interior surface of said sidewall, and snapping said retention-engagement surface radially outwardly into interference fit engagement with said retention-stop surface of said sidewall.

47. The method according to claim 42 comprising forming a retention aperture through said sidewall to provide said retention-stop surface.

48. The method according to claim 42 comprising providing said second endcap with two said clamp tabs each having a respective said retention-engagement surface.

49. The method according to claim 34 further comprising in combination a method for aligningly guiding axial insertion of said air filter element into said housing, comprising extending said second endcap axially along said filter media along said outer peripheral surface of said air filter element, providing said second endcap with at least one cam surface facing axially in said first axial direction, inserting said air filter element into said housing in a first axial direction toward said first axial end.

50. The method according to claim 49 comprising providing said interior surface of said sidewall with at least one alignment guide surface facing in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction, engaging said alignment guide surface by said cam surface of said second endcap during insertion of said air filter element into said housing in said first axial direction to cammingly rotate said air filter element about said axis during said insertion to a designated rotational orientation of said air filter element in said housing about said axis.

51. The method according to claim 50 comprising providing said second endcap with a scalloped terminating end facing axially in said first axial direction and having peaks and valleys with ramped surfaces therebetween, providing said ramped surfaces as a plurality of said cam surfaces.