SUPPORT AND DRAINAGE MATERIAL, FILTER, AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20200129892A1
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pall Corporation (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pall Corporation (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: BAIR, James A., SORENSEN, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,688,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0407 Perforated supports on both sides of the filtering element
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0415 Details of supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/12 Pleated filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/127 with means for keeping the spacing between the pleats
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/32 Flow characteristics of the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/60 Shape of non-cylindrical filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0618 Non-woven
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0654 Support layers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/06 Details of supporting structures for filtering material, e.g. cores
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2275/50 Stabilised filter material, stabilised by, e.g. structuring, calendering
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/14 Specific spacers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/05 supported
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/21 with corrugated, folded or wound sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/56 in series connection
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/523 with means for maintaining spacing between the pleats or folds

Abstract

Support and drainage materials, filter including the materials, and methods of use are disclosed.

Claims

1. A support and drainage material comprising:

a first element comprising a mesh or a non-woven fabric having a first end and a second end, and at least a first section and a second section,

the first section having a first major surface extending from the first end to the second end, and a second major surface extending from the first end to the second end;

the second section having a first major surface extending a distance from the first end toward the second end, wherein the distance is less than a distance from the first end to the second end, and a second major surface extending a distance from the first end toward the second end, wherein the distance is less than the distance from the first end to the second end;

and,

a bulk through the element, extending between the first major surface of the second section and the second major surface of the first section, the bulk having a thickness extending from the first end to the second end;

the bulk having a greater thickness at the first end and a lesser thickness at the second end.

2. The support and drainage material of claim 1, further comprising:

a second element comprising a mesh or a non-woven fabric having a first end and a second end, and at least a second element first section and a second element second section,

the second element first section having a first major surface extending from the first end to the second end, and a second major surface extending from the first end to the second end;

the second element second section having a first major surface extending a distance from the first end toward the second end, wherein the distance is less than a distance from the first end to the second end, and a second major surface extending a distance from the first end toward the second end, wherein the distance is less than the distance from the first end to the second end;

and,

a bulk through the second element, extending between the first major surface of the second section and the second major surface of the first section, the bulk having a thickness extending from the first end to the second end;

the bulk having a greater thickness at the first end and a lesser thickness at the second end;

wherein the second element is interposed between the first section and the second section of the first element, such that the second element second section is interposed between the first element second section and the second element first section, and the second element first section is interposed between the second element second section and the first element first section.

3. The support and drainage material of claim 1, comprising a folded mesh or non-woven fabric, wherein folding the mesh or non-woven fabric provides the first and second sections.

4. The support and drainage material of claim 2, comprising a folded mesh or non-woven fabric, wherein folding the mesh or non-woven fabric provides the first and second sections of both the first element and the second element.

5. The support and drainage material of claim 1, including at least one flexible hinge.

6. The support and drainage material of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the bulk at the first end of the first element is at least twice the thickness of the bulk at the second end of the first element.

7. The support and drainage material of claim 2, wherein the thickness of the bulk at the first end of the first element is at least twice the thickness of the bulk at the second end of the first element, and the thickness of the bulk at the first end of the second element is at least twice the thickness of the bulk at the second end of the second element.

8. The support and drainage material of claim 7, wherein, when the second element is interposed between the first section and the second section of the first element, the material has a combined bulk of the first element and the second element, and the combined bulk has a thickness at the first end of the material that is at least twice the thickness of the bulk at the second end of the material.

9. The support and drainage material of claim 1, comprising at least 2 steps having a different bulk thickness.

10. The support and drainage material of claim 8, comprising at least 4 steps having a different bulk thickness.

13. A filter arrangement comprising:

a pleated porous filter having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, the upstream surface having a first upstream end and a second upstream end, and the downstream surface having a first downstream end and a second downstream end; and

the support and drainage material of claim 10, arranged to contact the upstream surface of the pleated porous filter, or to contact the downstream surface of the pleated porous filter.

19. The support and drainage material of claim 2, comprising a folded mesh or non-woven fabric, wherein folding the mesh or non-woven fabric provides the first and second sections.

20. The support and drainage material of claim 2, wherein the thickness of the bulk at the first end of the first element is at least twice the thickness of the bulk at the second end of the first element.

11. A support and drainage material system comprising a first support and drainage material and a second separate support and drainage material;

(a) the first support and drainage material comprising a first element comprising a mesh or a non-woven fabric having a first end and a second end, and at least a first section and a second section,

the first section having a first major surface extending from the first end to the second end, and a second major surface extending from the first end to the second end;

the second section having a first major surface extending a distance from the first end toward the second end, wherein the distance is less than a distance from the first end to the second end, and a second major surface extending a distance from the first end toward the second end, wherein the distance is less than the distance from the first end to the second end;

and,

a bulk through the element, extending between the first major surface of the second section and the second major surface of the first section, the bulk having a thickness extending from the first end to the second end;

the bulk having a greater thickness at the first end and a lesser thickness at the second end; and

(b) the second support and drainage material comprising a second element comprising a mesh or a non-woven fabric having a first end and a second end, and at least a first section and a second section,

the first section having a first major surface extending from the first end to the second end, and a second major surface extending from the first end to the second end;

the second section having a first major surface extending a distance from the first end toward the second end, wherein the distance is less than a distance from the first end to the second end, and a second major surface extending a distance from the first end toward the second end, wherein the distance is less than the distance from the first end to the second end;

and,

a bulk through the element, extending between the first major surface of the second section and the second major surface of the first section, the bulk having a thickness extending from the first end to the second end;

the bulk having a greater thickness at the first end and a lesser thickness at the second end;

wherein the first support and drainage material and the second support and drainage material are suitable for arrangement on opposing sides of a pleated filter.

12. The support and drainage material system of claim 11, further comprising a third support and drainage material comprising a third element comprising a mesh or a non-woven fabric having a first end and a second end, and at least a first section and a second section, and a fourth separate support and drainage material comprising a fourth element comprising a mesh or a non-woven fabric having a first end and a second end, and at least a first section and a second section;

wherein the third support and drainage material is interposed between the first section and the second section of the first element; and

,

the fourth support and drainage material is interposed between the first section and the second section of the second element;

wherein the first support and drainage material with the interposed third support and drainage material and the second support and drainage material with the interposed fourth support and drainage material are suitable for arrangement on opposing sides of a pleated filter.

14. A filter system comprising:

a pleated porous filter having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, the upstream surface having a first upstream end and a second upstream end, and the downstream surface having a first downstream end and a second downstream end; and

the support and drainage material system of claim 11, wherein the pleated porous filter is arranged between the first support and drainage material and the second support and drainage material, and the first support and drainage material and the second support and drainage material are rotated 180 degrees with respect to each other.

15. A filter system comprising:

a pleated porous filter having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, the upstream surface having a first upstream end and a second upstream end, and the downstream surface having a first downstream end and a second downstream end; and

the support and drainage material system of claim 12, wherein the pleated porous filter is arranged between

(a) the first support and drainage material having the third support and drainage material interposed between the first section and the second section of the first element, providing a combined bulk of the first support and drainage material and the third support and drainage material, and the combined bulk has a thickness at the first end of the material that is at least twice the thickness of the bulk at the second end of the material;

and,

(b) the second support and drainage material having the fourth support and drainage material interposed between the first section and the second section of the second element, providing a combined bulk of the second support and drainage material and the fourth support and drainage material, and the combined bulk has a thickness at the first end of the material that is at least twice the thickness of the bulk at the second end of the material; and

the first support and drainage material and the second support and drainage material are rotated 180 degrees with respect to each other.

16. The filter system of claim 14, wherein the pleated porous filter comprises a laid-over-pleat filter.

17. The filter system of claim 14, further comprising an inner core and an outer cage.

18. A method of filtering fluid, the method comprising passing a fluid through the filter system of claim 14, including passing fluid through the first support and drainage material, the upstream surface of the pleated porous filter, the downstream surface of the pleated porous filter, and the second support and drainage material.