V-Panel Filters

• US 20140096493A1
• Filed: 10/02/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Kelmartin, Thomas P., Poon, Wal Sing, Briggs, Mark Duane, Gessner, Matthew Robert, Pingry, Ryder William, Riley, Shawn Patrick, Robb, Stephen, Zukor, Kenneth Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,205,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/482
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0001 Making filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0002 Casings; Housings; Frame constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0005 Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames B01D46/2422 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/121 V-type arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/58 connected in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/62 connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/10 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. casting around inserts or for coating articles coating a surface by casting in general B05D1/30, B29C39/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/052 with dust-separation devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A V-panel filter apparatus and method of construction are provided. The method includes flowing curable potting material into a recess portion of an end cap, positioning first end edge surfaces of first and second filter panels into the contained potting material, and curing the potting material with the first and second filter panels positioned to diverge away from the end cap to define a V-shaped configuration. The method may include flowing curable potting material into a recess portion of a first side plate, positioning edge surfaces of the first and second filter panels into the contained potting material, and curing the potting material. Such steps may be repeated in relation to a second side plate and a header member. By utilizing a pot-and-place sealing methodology, improved seal interfaces are realized. Stability and construction advantages may be provided by snap-fit features of the header member and first and second side plates.

Claims

1. A method of assembly of a V-panel filter apparatus, comprising:

flowing a curable potting material into at least one recess portion of an end cap, wherein said potting material is contained by said at least one recess portion of said end cap;

positioning a first end edge surface of each of a first filter panel and second filter panel into said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said end cap; and

,

curing said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said end cap to seal said first end edge surfaces of said first and second filter panels within said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said end cap, wherein said first and second filter panels are positioned to diverge away from said end cap to define a V-shaped configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

flowing a curable potting material into at least one recess portion of a header member, wherein said potting material is contained by said at least one recess portion of said header member;

positioning a second end edge surface of each of said first filter panel and second filter panel into said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said header member; and

,

curing said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said header member to seal said second end edge surfaces of said first and second filter panels within said at least one recess portion of said header member.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

flowing a curable potting material into at least one recess portion of a first side plate, wherein said potting material is contained by said at least one recess portion of said first side plate;

positioning a first side edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels into said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said first side plate; and

,

curing said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said first side plate to seal said first side edge surfaces of each of said first and second filter panels within said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said first side plate.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

flowing a curable potting material into at least one recess portion of a second side plate, wherein said potting material is contained by said at least one recess portion of said second side plate;

positioning a second side edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels into said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said second side plate; and

,

curing said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said second side plate to seal said second side edge surfaces of each of said first and second filter panels within said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said second side plate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said the steps of claims 3 and 4 are completed after the steps of claim 1, and wherein positioning step of claim 3 comprises:

locating a first end portion of said end cap within said at least one recess portion of said first side plate; and

,

wherein the positioning step of claim 4 comprises;

locating a second end portion of said end cap within said at least one recess portion of said second side plate.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

flowing a curable potting material into at least one recess portion of a header member, wherein said potting material is contained by said at least one recess portion of said header member;

positioning a second end edge surface of each of said first filter panel and second filter panel into said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said header member; and

,

curing said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said header member to seal said second end edge surfaces of said first and second filter panels within said potting material contained by said at least one recess portion of said header member.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a water tight interface is established between said edge surfaces of said first and second filter panels and corresponding ones of said end cap, said header member, said first side plate and said second side plate.

8. The method of claim 6, said positioning step of claim 6 further comprising:

interconnecting said first and second side plates to said header member via snap-fit engagement.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein prior to the steps of claim 6 the steps of claims 1, 3, and 4 are completed to define a V-shaped filter member, and wherein said V-shaped filter member is positionable as a single unit in said positioning step of claim 6.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said potting material of the steps of claims 1-4 and 6 has a viscosity of at least 150 centipoise.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of claims 1, 3, and 4 are completed a plurality of times to define a corresponding plurality of V-shaped filter members, and wherein for each said one of the plurality of V-shaped filter members the steps of claim 6 are completed after the steps of claims 1, 3, and 4 so that each said one of the plurality of V-shaped filter members is positionable as a single unit in said positioning step of claim 6.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein in the V-panel filter apparatus assembled according to claim 11, adjacent ones of the plurality of V-shaped filter members are engaged along at least a portion of their corresponding first side plates and corresponding second side plates.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said corresponding portions of said first side plates and said second side plates comprise U-shaped edge channels adapted for sliding, interlocking engagement.

14. A method for use of the V-panel filter apparatus assembled according to the method of claim 6, comprising:

supportably mounting said header member of said V-panel filter apparatus at an air intake site.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

supportably connecting a prefilter support frame to said mounted header member, wherein said prefilter support frame is adapted to supportably retain a prefilter filter, and wherein the prefilter support frame is selectively disconnectable from said header member.

16. The method of claim 15, said supportably connecting step of claim 12 further comprising:

interconnecting said prefilter support frame to said mounted header member via snap-fit engagement.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

positioning a prefilter filter in supported relation to said prefilter support frame connected to said mounted header member, wherein said prefilter filter is selectively removable from said prefilter support frame.

18. The method of claim, 14, wherein said positioning step of claim 17 locates said prefilter filter is disposed in spaced relation to said header member.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said positioning step of claim 17 further comprises:

interconnecting said prefilter filter to said prefilter support frame via snap-fit engagement.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

supportably mounting a safety filter at said air intake site, wherein said V-panel filter apparatus is removable from said air intake site without removal of said mounting safety filter.

21. A V-panel filter apparatus, comprising:

at least a first V-shaped filter member, including;

first and second filter panels each having a first end edge surface sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of an end cap, wherein the first and second filter panels diverge away from said end cap to define a V-shaped configuration;

a first side plate, wherein a first side edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels is sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of said first side plate;

a second side plate, wherein a second side edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels is sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of said second side plate; and

,

a header member, wherein for said at least a first V-shaped filter member, a second end edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels is sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of said header member.

22. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, wherein said header member and said first and second side plates are adapted for snap-fit engagement between said header member and each of said first and second side plates.

23. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, wherein said header member comprises first and second projection members elastically deformable for snap-fit engagement with complimentary surface portions comprising the first and second side plates, respectively.

24. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, wherein said header member comprises a channel-shaped recess portion on each side of at least a first opening, for containing said potting material and receiving said second end edge surfaces of said first and second filter panels.

25. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 24, wherein end portions of said first side plate and said second side plate are positioned within corresponding ones of said channel-shaped recess portions of said header member.

26. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, wherein said at least one recess portion of each of said first and second side plates is of a V-shaped configuration for containing said potting material and receiving said first and second side edge surfaces of said first and second filter panels therein, respectively.

27. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, wherein first and second end portions of said end cap are seated within corresponding regions of said at least one recess portion of said first and second side plates, respectively.

28. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, wherein a water tight interface is established between each of said edge surfaces of said first and second filter panels and corresponding ones of said end cap, said header member, said first side plate and said second side plate, by pot-and-place assembly.

29. The V-panel assembly of claim 21, wherein said at least a first V-shaped filter member is assembled as a single unit prior to assembly with said header member.

30. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of V-shaped filter members each separately including:

first and second filter panels each having a first end edge surface sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of an end cap, wherein the first and second filter panels diverge away from said end cap to define a V-shaped configuration;

a first side plate, wherein a first side edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels is sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of said first side plate; and

,

a second side plate, wherein a second side edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels is sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of said second side plate, wherein a second end edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels is sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of said header member;

wherein for each of said plurality of V-shaped filter members a corresponding second end edge surface of each of said corresponding first and second filter panels is disposed within said potting material contained by at least one corresponding recess portion of said header member.

31. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 30, wherein said header member and said first and second side plates of each of said plurality of V-shaped filter members are adapted for snap-fit engagement.

32. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 30, wherein each of said plurality of V-shaped filter members is assembled as a single unit prior to assembly with said header member.

33. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 30, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of V-shaped filter members are engaged along at least a portion of the corresponding first side plates and corresponding second side plates.

34. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 33, wherein said corresponding portions of said first side plates and second side plates comprise U-shaped edge channels adapted for sliding, interlocking engagement.

35. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

a prefilter support frame supportably connectable to and disconnectable from said header member, wherein said prefilter support frame is adapted to support a prefilter filter.

36. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 35, wherein said prefilter support frame comprises a plurality of projection members elastically deformable for supportable engagement with said header member.

37. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 35, wherein said prefilter support frame is provided to support a prefilter filter in spaced relation to said header member.

38. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 35, wherein said prefilter support frame comprises a plurality of projection members elastically deformable for selective interconnection and disconnection of a prefilter filter in relation thereto.

39. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a safety filter sized to receive said at least a first V-shaped filter member within an enclosed region thereof.

40. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of V-shaped filter members each separately including:

first and second filter panels each having a first end edge surface sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of an end cap, wherein the first and second filter panels diverge away from said end cap to define a V-shaped configuration;

a first side plate, wherein a first side edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels is sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of said first side plate;

a second side plate, wherein a second side edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels is sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of said second side plate; and

,

a header member, wherein a second end edge surface of each of said first and second filter panels is sealably disposed within potting material contained by at least one recess portion of said header member;

wherein said V-panel filter apparatus further comprises an adapter for separate interconnection to and disconnection from each of said plurality of V-shaped filter members.

41. The V-panel filter apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first and second filter panels comprise pleated, microporous membranes comprising at least one of the following materials:

expanded polytetrafluoroethylene;

polypropylene; and

polyethylene.