Liquid filtration media containing melt-blown fibers

Abstract

A filter and filter media configured and arranged for placement in a fuel stream is disclosed. The filter and filter media allow for filtering of liquid fuels, such as diesel fuel. In certain embodiments the filter media includes a media fiber, such as melt blown polyester; and a scaffold fiber, also such as such as melt blown polyester, having a larger diameter than the media fiber. The media and scaffold fibers combine to create a media structure having low solidity and relatively low compressibility, and which contain a pore structure that avoids premature fouling of the filter by fuel degradation products.

1 . A filter for filtering liquid fuels, the filter comprising:
 filter media configured and arranged for placement in a liquid fuel stream, the filter media comprising:   a) media fiber; and   b) scaffold fiber having an average diameter greater than the media fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the media fiber and scaffold fiber comprise a melt blown fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 1 , wherein both of the media fiber and scaffold fiber comprise a melt blown fiber. 
     
     
         4 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 1 , wherein the scaffold fiber comprises bicomponent fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 1 , wherein the media fiber has an average diameter of less than 5 microns. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The filter for filtering liquids  claim 1 , wherein the filter media has a Compressibility Solidity Factor of less than 600. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The filter for filtering liquids of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media has a solidity of less than 12 percent. 
     
     
         11 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media has a compressibility of less than 40 percent at a pressure of 1.24 kg/cm2. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media has a max flow pore size at least 200 percent greater than the mean flow pore size. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media has a mode flow pore of at least 20 microns. 
     
     
         17 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media has an upstream portion and a downstream portion, and wherein the upstream portion has a pore size mode greater than the pore size mode of the downstream portion. 
     
     
         18 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 1 , further comprising a second filter media, the second filter media comprising cellulose fibers, and the second filter media positioned downstream from the filter media comprising a media fiber and a scaffold fiber. 
     
     
         19 . A filter for filtering liquid fuels, the filter comprising:
 filter media configured and arranged for placement in a liquid fuel stream, the filter media comprising:   a) first fiber; and   b) a second fiber having an average diameter greater than the first fiber;   wherein the filter media has a solidity of less than 12 percent, and a compressibility of less than 40 percent at a pressure of 1.24 kg/cm 2 .   
     
     
         20 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 19 , wherein the first fiber comprises a melt blown fiber. 
     
     
         21 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A filter for filtering liquid fuels, the filter comprising:
 A first filter media configured and arranged for placement in a liquid fuel stream, the first filter media comprising:   a) a first fiber, and   b) a second fiber having an average diameter greater than the first fiber; and   a second filter media, the second filter media comprising cellulose;   wherein the first filter media is arranged upstream of the second filter media in the flow of liquid fuels during filtration.   
     
     
         27 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of  claim 26 , wherein the first fiber in the first filter media comprises glass fiber, melt blown fiber, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A filter for filtering liquid fuels comprising:
 filter media configured and arranged for placement in a liquid stream, the filter media comprising an upstream media portion and a downstream media portion, wherein:   a) a first portion containing fiber having an average diameter of less than 15 microns; and   b) a second portion containing fiber having an average diameter different than the average diameter of the media fiber in the first portion;
 wherein the mode pore size of the first portion is at least 20 percent greater than the mode pore size of the second portion; and 
   wherein the mean flow pore size of the media in the first portion is less than 90 percent of the mean pore flow size of the media in the second portion.   
     
     
         34 . The filter for filtering liquid fuels of any  claim 33 , wherein the fiber of the first portion comprises melt blown fiber and the fiber of the second portion comprises cellulose. 
     
     
         35 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A filter for filtering liquid fuels, the filter comprising:
 A first filter media configured and arranged for placement in a liquid fuel stream, the first filter media comprising:   a) media fiber, and   b) scaffold fiber;   wherein the first filter media has a pore size distribution geometric standard deviation of greater than 2.5.   
     
     
         41 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The filter for filtering liquids of  claim 40 , further comprising s second filter media, wherein the second filter comprises cellulose. 
     
     
         45 - 48 . (canceled)