Side access filter support and sealing system
First Claim
1. Air flow filter apparatus including an air filter housing with interconnected panels forming sidewall boundaries of an air flow passage between an air flow inlet and an air flow outlet, one of the housing panels being intersected by an access opening for permitting the insertion one or more filter elements into the air flow passage and subsequent removal of filter elements therefrom;
- a filter track disposed adjacent the access opening for supporting an air filter element in an operative service position across the air flow passage; and
, a gasket assembly disposed within the air flow passage for engaging a filter element supported on the filter track in the operative service position, the gasket assembly comprising;
a gasket retainer frame extending across the air flow passage adjacent the filter track;
a gasket mounted on the gasket retainer frame, the gasket including a resilient flange strip projecting from the gasket retainer frame for yieldably engaging a filter element supported on the filter track in the operative service position;
the gasket retainer frame being intersected by a retainer slot; and
,the gasket including a base portion disposed in the retainer slot, and the resilient flange strip projecting transversely with respect to a filter element supported on the filter track in the operative service position.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air flow filter assembly of the side-loading type includes a filter guide track adjacent a side access opening for supporting multiple air filter elements in an operative position across the air flow passage. An internal closed loop seal assembly provides an effective, independent peripheral seal for each track-mounted filter element. A gasket retainer, mounted within the air flow passage adjacent the filter track, includes frame segments forming a rectangular gasket frame bordering one or more air flow windows or cells. A seal gasket is mounted on each gasket frame, with each seal gasket including a resilient flange portion extending in a closed loop around each air flow window or cell. The closed loop flange portion projects from the gasket frame for engaging and resiliently sealing along the face of a filter element supported on the filter track in air flow alignment with the air flow window or cell. According to this arrangement a continuous, positive seal is established around the border casing of each filter element. Each filter element is sealed independently of laterally adjoining or vertically adjoining filter elements in a multiple element filter array.
92 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Air flow filter apparatus including an air filter housing with interconnected panels forming sidewall boundaries of an air flow passage between an air flow inlet and an air flow outlet, one of the housing panels being intersected by an access opening for permitting the insertion one or more filter elements into the air flow passage and subsequent removal of filter elements therefrom;
- a filter track disposed adjacent the access opening for supporting an air filter element in an operative service position across the air flow passage; and
, a gasket assembly disposed within the air flow passage for engaging a filter element supported on the filter track in the operative service position, the gasket assembly comprising;a gasket retainer frame extending across the air flow passage adjacent the filter track; a gasket mounted on the gasket retainer frame, the gasket including a resilient flange strip projecting from the gasket retainer frame for yieldably engaging a filter element supported on the filter track in the operative service position; the gasket retainer frame being intersected by a retainer slot; and
,the gasket including a base portion disposed in the retainer slot, and the resilient flange strip projecting transversely with respect to a filter element supported on the filter track in the operative service position.
- a filter track disposed adjacent the access opening for supporting an air filter element in an operative service position across the air flow passage; and
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2. Air flow filter apparatus comprising an air flow housing including a side access opening, a guide track disposed adjacent the side access opening for supporting an air filter in an operative service position across an air flow passage within the air flow housing, and a gasket assembly for establishing a seal against an air filter supported on the guide track in the operative service position, the gasket assembly including a gasket retainer frame disposed adjacent the guide track, the gasket retainer frame forming a border around an air flow window or cell, and including a seal gasket mounted on the gasket retainer frame, the seal gasket including a resilient flange strip projecting from the gasket retainer frame and extending along a closed loop around the air flow window or cell for establishing a substantially continuous seal against a filter element supported in the operative service position on the guide track in air flow alignment with the air flow window or cell.
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3. Air flow filter apparatus including an air filter housing with interconnected panels forming sidewall boundaries of an air flow passage extending between an air flow inlet and an air flow outlet, one of the housing panels being intersected by an access opening for permitting the insertion and removal of at least one air filter element into and out of the air flow passage, a guide track disposed adjacent the access opening for supporting one or more air filter elements in an operative position across the air flow passage, and a gasket seal assembly disposed adjacent the guide track, the gasket seal assembly including a resilient flange strip extending in a closed loop for yieldably engaging and sealing against a filter element supported on the guide track in the operative service position.
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4. Air flow filter apparatus including an air filter housing and a gasket assembly for establishing a seal against a filter element that is supported on a guide track disposed in an operative service position across an air flow passage in the air filter housing, the gasket assembly including a gasket retainer frame mounted within the air flow passage adjacent the guide track and a flexible gasket mounted on the gasket retainer frame, the flexible gasket including a resilient flange strip projecting transversely from the gasket retainer frame for yieldably engaging a filter element supported on the guide track in the operative service position;
wherein the gasket retainer frame comprises frame segments forming a border around an air flow window or cell, and each frame segment being intersected by a longitudinal retainer slot, and the flexible gasket including a wedge strip integrally formed with the resilient flange strip, the wedge strip extending through the retainer slots and disposed in interlocking engagement with the retainer frame. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Air flow filter apparatus including an air filter housing with interconnected panels forming sidewall boundaries of an air flow passage;
- a filter track for supporting an air filter element in an operative service position across the air flow passage; and
, a gasket assembly disposed within the air flow passage for engaging a filter element supported on the filter track in the operative service position, the gasket assembly comprising;a gasket retainer frame extending across the air flow passage adjacent the filter track, the gasket retainer frame including segments forming a rectangular frame bordering an air flow window or cell; and
,a gasket mounted on the retainer frame segments, the gasket including a resilient seal member projecting from the gasket retainer frame and extending along a substantially closed loop around the air flow window or cell for yieldably engaging a filter element supported on the guide track in air flow alignment with the air flow window or cell.
- a filter track for supporting an air filter element in an operative service position across the air flow passage; and
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10. Air flow filter apparatus including an air filter housing and a gasket assembly for establishing a seal against a filter element that is supported on a guide track disposed in an operative service position across an air flow passage in the air filter housing, the gasket assembly including a gasket retainer frame extending across the air flow passage adjacent the guide track and a flexible gasket mounted on the gasket retainer frame, the flexible gasket including a resilient seal member extending along a substantially closed loop for yieldably engaging a filter element supported on the guide track in the operative service position.
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11. Air flow filter apparatus comprising an air flow housing, a guide track for supporting an air filter in an operative service position across an air flow passage within the air flow housing, and a gasket assembly for engaging an air filter supported on the guide track, the gasket assembly including a gasket retainer frame disposed adjacent the guide track, the gasket retainer frame forming the border of an air flow window or cell, and including a gasket mounted on the gasket retainer frame, the gasket including a resilient seal member projecting from the gasket retainer frame and forming a closed loop around the air flow window or cell for yieldably engaging the face of a filter element supported on the guide track in air flow alignment with the air flow window or cell.
- 12. Air flow filter apparatus comprising an air flow housing, a first guide track for supporting a first air filter in an operative service position across an air flow passage within the air flow housing, a second guide track for supporting a second air filter in air flow alignment with the first air filter, and a gasket assembly for simultaneously engaging and sealing against a first air filter and a second air filter supported in the operative service position on the first guide track and on the second guide track, respectively, the gasket assembly including a gasket retainer frame disposed intermediate the first guide track and the second guide track, the gasket retainer frame forming the border of an air flow window or cell, and including a gasket mounted on the gasket retainer frame, the gasket including a first resilient seal member projecting from the gasket retainer frame and extending around the air flow window or cell for yieldably engaging the face of the first filter element and the gasket including a second resilient seal member projecting from the gasket retainer frame and extending around the air flow window or cell for yieldably engaging the face of the second filter element.
Specification