Filter cartridges; air cleaners; and methods

• US 7,537,631 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donaldson Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Donaldson Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Scott, James R., Schrage, Kevin, Gieseke, Steven Scott, Iddings, Douglas Lee, LaVallee, Gregory, Finnerty, Carolyn J., Juliar, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US11/210,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20060086075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 554/82, 554/591, 554/98, 555/02, 555/03, 555/21, 553/37, 555/01
• US Class Current: 55/498
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/021 Anti-rotational means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/028 Snap, latch or clip connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/06 Details of supporting structures for filtering material, e.g. cores
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0001 Making filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0004 Details of removable closures, lids, caps or filter heads
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2411 Filter cartridges

Abstract

The disclosure concern air cleaners. Preferred air cleaners are shown which include a housing and a removable and replacement primary filter cartridge. Optional and advantageous features are shown. The preferred primary filter cartridge is conical in shape. A preferred optional safety or secondary filter cartridge is shown. Preferred methods of assembly and use are provided.

Claims

1. An air filter cartridge comprising:

(a) first and second, opposite, ends;

(i) the first end having an air flow exit aperture therethrough;

(b) a conical extension of filter media extending between the first and second ends;

(c) a first, open, end cap adjacent the first end of the filter cartridge;

(i) the media being embedded in the first, open, end cap;

(ii) the first, open, end cap having a seal portion;

(d) a preform embedded in the first end cap;

(i) the preform having an imperforate axial shield portion extending axially along the media toward the media second end a distance of at least 5% of an axial length of the filter cartridge; and

,

(ii) the preform having a radial ring portion forming a dust shield extending radially outwardly therefrom and positioned adjacent the first end of the filter cartridge; and

,

(e) a second, closed, end cap adjacent the second end of the filter cartridge;

(i) the second, closed, end cap including a central projection extending inwardly of the filter cartridge.

2. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the preform embedded in the first end cap includes a first member of a non-continuously threaded, rotational engagement mechanism positioned adjacent the first end of the filter cartridge at a location between the dust shield and the seal portion.

3. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the seal portion of the first, open, end cap is an axial seal ring.

4. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the second end cap central projection extending inwardly of the filter cartridge extends inwardly a distance of at least 15 mm.

5. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the radial ring portion of the preform extends radially outwardly from an adjacent portion of the preform embedded in the first end cap a distance of 5-15 mm.

6. An air filter cartridge according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) the radial ring portion of the preform is positioned on the axial shield portion.

7. An air filter cartridge according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) the seal portion of the first, open, end cap is an outer, annular, radial seal portion positioned at a perimeter of the first, open, end cap.

8. An air filter cartridge according to claim 7 including:

(a) an outer liner extending between the first and second end caps;

(i) the radial ring portion of the preform surrounding the outer liner.

9. An air filter cartridge according to claim 8 wherein:

(a) the axial shield portion extends toward the second end a distance corresponding to less than a distance between the first and second end caps.

10. An air filter cartridge according to claim 9 including:

(a) a preform embedded in the second end cap having a central imperforate region with a central axial projection defining a recess therein;

(i) the preform embedded in the second end cap being a separate preform from the preform embedded in the first end cap.

11. An air filter cartridge according to claim 10 including:

(a) an inner liner extending between the first and second end caps.

12. An air filter cartridge according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) the imperforate axial shield portion extends at least 15% of an axial length of the filter cartridge.

13. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the preform includes an extension configured to extend between the first and second end caps and around the media;

(i) the extension including the imperforate axial shield portion and a perforate support region;

(A) the perforate support region extending;

(1) from the second end cap to the imperforate shield portion; and

,

(2) a distance corresponding to at least 50% of an axial length of the cartridge.

14. An air filter cartridge according to claim 13 wherein:

(a) the perforate support region extending from the second end cap to the imperforate shield portion extends a distance of at least 60% of an axial length of the cartridge.

15. An air filter cartridge according to claim 14 wherein:

(a) the preform further includes;

(i) a portion embedded in the second end cap having an outer imperforate region; and

(ii) the central projection.

16. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the cartridge includes no inner liner extending completely between the first and second end caps.

17. An air cleaner assembly comprising:

(a) a housing body having;

a first end with an axial air flow outlet therein; and

, a second, open end;

the housing body including;

(i) an inner, annular, primary filter cartridge sealing surface; and

,

(ii) a dust drop tube adjacent the first end; and

,

(b) a service cover secured to the housing open end;

the service cover including;

(i) a precleaner arrangement comprising a shield and a cyclonic ramp arrangement; and

,

(ii) a central projection;

(c) a primary filter cartridge operably positioned within the housing;

the primary filter cartridge having;

(i) a conical shape with a first, open, end having a first outside dimension and a second, closed, end having a second outside dimension;

the first outside dimension being larger than the second outside dimension;

(ii) a first open end cap at the first end with a perimeter having an outside radial seal surface sealed to the inner, annular, primary filter cartridge sealing surface of the housing body;

(iii) a second, closed, end cap at the second end having an inner projection recess into which the cover central projection extends; and

(iv) the primary filter cartridge being positioned with the end having the closed end cap surround by the shield of the precleaner.

18. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) the housing body includes a tangential air flow inlet adjacent the second end.

19. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 17 including:

(a) a conical safety filter element having an open end cap and a closed end cap;

(i) the open end cap defining a radial seal;

(ii) the safety filter element being operably positioned in the housing body with;

(A) the radial seal of the safety filter element sealed against a sealing flange in the housing body for the safety filter element; and

,

(B) the safety filter element surrounded by the primary filter cartridge.

20. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the second, closed end cap at the second end of the primary filter cartridge includes a reverse frusto-conical section which projects, axially, toward the service cover; and

(b) the closed end cap of the conical safety filter element includes a projection extending into the frusto-conical section of the closed end cap of the primary filter cartridge.

21. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 18 wherein:

(a) the primary filter cartridge includes a radial ring portion forming a dust shield extending radially outwardly from an adjacent portion of the primary filter cartridge; and

(b) the primary filter cartridge is positioned in the air cleaner with the radial ring portion forming a dust shield positioned adjacent a portion of the dust drop tube and between a remainder of the dust drop tube and the housing body axial air flow outlet.

23. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) the filter cartridge includes media having a first end and a second end; and

,

(b) the filter cartridge includes a preform having;

(i) an imperforate axial shield portion extending axially along the media toward the media second end a distance of at least 5% of an axial length of the filter cartridge; and

,

(ii) a radial ring forming a dust shield extending radially outwardly therefrom and positioned adjacent the first end of the filter cartridge.

22. A method of installing a filter cartridge in an air cleaner assembly, the method including steps of:

(a) inserting a primary filter cartridge into an air clear housing body;

(i) the housing body having a first end with an axial air flow outlet therein and a second, open, end;

(A) the housing body including;

(1) an inner primary filter cartridge sealing surface; and

(2) a dust drop tube adjacent the first end;

(ii) the primary filter cartridge having;

(A) a conical shape with a first, open, end having a first outside dimension and a second, closed, end having a second outside dimension;

the first outside dimension being larger than the second outside dimension;

(B) a first open end cap at the first end having a seal portion, and,

(C) a second, closed, end cap at the second end having an inner projection recess;

(iii) the step of inserting including positioning the primary filter cartridge with the first end cap adjacent the housing body first end and sealed to the housing body; and

,

(b) positioning a service cover on the second end of the housing body to close the housing body;

(i) the service cover including;

(A) a precleaner arrangement comprising a shield and a cyclonic ramp arrangement; and

(B) a central projection;

(ii) the step of positioning the service cover including positioning the service cover with;

(A) the service cover central projection extending into the inner projection of the closed end cap of the primary filter cartridge; and

,

(B) the shield of the service cover surrounding the second, closed, end cap of the primary filter cartridge.

24. An air filter cartridge comprising:

(a) first and second, opposite, ends;

(i) the first end having an air flow exit aperture theretbrough;

(b) a conical extension of filter media extending between the first and second ends;

(c) a first, open, end cap adjacent the first end of the filter cartridge;

(i) the media being embedded in the first, open, end cap; and

,

(ii) the first, open, end cap having a seal portion;

(d) a preform embedded in the first end cap;

(i) the preform having an imperforate axial shield portion extending axially along the media toward the media second end a distance of at least 5% of an axial length of the filter cartridge; and

,

(ii) the preform including an end embedded within a second end cap potting and including;

(A) a central, imperforate, end region; and

,

(B) an outer, annular, perforate region surrounding the central, imperforate end, region;

(1) the annular perforate region being embedded in, and closed by, the second end cap potting; and

,

(2) at least a central portion of the central, imp erforate, region not being embedded in the second end cap potting; and

,

(e) a second, closed, end cap adjacent the second end of the filter cartridge;

(i) the second closed end cap comprising the second end cap potting and the end of the preform embedded within the second end cap potting; and

,

(ii) the second, closed, end cap including a central projection extending inwardly of the filter cartridge.

25. An air filter cartridge according to claim 24 wherein:

(i) the media extends at a conical angle of at least 1°

.