Filter arrangement; sealing system; and methods

Abstract

A filter pack includes a filter construction and a sealing system for sealing the construction within a duct or housing. The filter construction has first and second opposite flow faces and is configured for a straight-through flow. The sealing system includes a frame construction and a compressible seal member. The compressible seal member is molded around a portion of the frame construction. The compressible seal member is sufficiently compressible to form a radial seal between and against the frame construction and a surface of a housing when the filter pack is inserted within the housing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A filter element arrangement comprising:
 (a) a wound filter media construction having first and second, opposite, ends; a first flow face at the first end; a second flow face at the second end; a plurality of flutes, each of which extending from said first flow face to said second flow face;
 (i) said wound filter media construction having a cross-section including a pair of curved ends joined by a pair of segments; 
   (ii) said wound filter media construction comprising a non-round center winding member;   (b) a periphery layer wrapping the wound filter media construction;   (c) a sealing system extending around a periphery of the wound filter media construction and comprising a seal member having a pair of curved ends joined by a pair of segments and being oriented to form a releasable peripherally directed seal with a housing sealing surface as a result of insertion of the filter element arrangement into sealing engagement with the housing sealing surface.   
     
     
         2 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the periphery layer comprises a non-porous material that prevents fluid from passing through an outside periphery of the wound filter media construction. 
 
     
     
         3 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the periphery layer comprises a plastic material adhered to the wound filter media construction. 
 
     
     
         4 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the wound filter media construction has an oval profile. 
 
     
     
         5 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the wound filter media construction has a racetrack-shaped profile. 
 
     
     
         6 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the wound filter media construction includes a corrugated layer secured to a face sheet and rolled into the wound filter media construction. 
 
     
     
         7 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 6  wherein:
 (a) the corrugated layer and the face sheet are secured together with a sealant. 
 
     
     
         8 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the seal member comprises polyurethane. 
 
     
     
         9 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the seal member includes a sealing region having a cross-sectional configuration of a plurality of progressively larger steps. 
 
     
     
         10 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first flow face comprises an air inlet flow face, and the second flow face comprises an air outlet flow face; and 
 (b) the seal member is located closer to the outlet flow face than to the inlet flow face. 
 
     
     
         11 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first flow face and the second flow face are planar and parallel. 
 
     
     
         12 . An air cleaner comprising:
 (a) a housing having an airflow inlet, and airflow outlet, and a sidewall having a sealing surface for forming a radially directed seal with a filter element;   (b) a removable and replaceable filter element oriented in said housing; said filter element including:
 (i) a wound filter media construction having first and second, opposite, ends; a first flow face at the first end; a second flow face at the second end; 
 a plurality of flutes, each of which extending from said first flow face to said second flow face;
 (A) said wound filter media construction having a cross-section including a pair of curved ends joined by a pair of segments; 
 (B) said wound filter media construction comprising a non-round center winding member; 
 
 (ii) a periphery layer wrapping the wound filter media construction; and 
 (iii) a sealing system extending around a periphery of the wound filter media construction, the sealing system comprising a seal member having a pair of curved ends joined by a pair of segments and forming a releasable peripherally directed seal with the housing sealing surface. 
   
     
     
         13 . An air cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the periphery layer comprises a non-porous material that prevents fluid from passing through an outside periphery of the wound filter media construction. 
 
     
     
         14 . An air cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the periphery layer comprises plastic material adhered to the wound filter media construction. 
 
     
     
         15 . An air cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the wound filter media construction has an oval profile. 
 
     
     
         16 . An air cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the wound filter media construction has a racetrack-shaped profile. 
 
     
     
         17 . An air cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the wound filter media construction includes a corrugated layer secured to a face sheet and rolled into the wound filter media construction. 
 
     
     
         18 . An air cleaner according to  claim 17  wherein:
 (a) the corrugated layer and the face sheet are secured together with a sealant. 
 
     
     
         19 . An air cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the seal member comprises polyurethane. 
 
     
     
         20 . An air cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the seal member includes a sealing region having a cross-sectional configuration of a plurality of progressively larger steps. 
 
     
     
         21 . An air cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the first flow face comprises an air inlet flow face, and the second flow face comprises an air outlet flow face; and 
 (b) the seal member is located closer to the outlet flow face than to the inlet flow face. 
 
     
     
         22 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the first flow face and the second flow face are planar and parallel. 
 
     
     
         23 . A filter element arrangement comprising:
 (a) a wound filter media construction having first and second, opposite, ends; a first flow face at the first end; a second flow face at the second end; a plurality of flutes, each of which extending from said first flow face to said second flow face;
 (i) said wound filter media construction includes a corrugated sheet secured to a face sheet with a sealant; 
 (ii) said wound media construction comprising a non-round center winding member wherein the corrugated sheet secured to a face sheet is wound around the non-round center winding member and forming a filter media pack; 
 (iii) said wound filter media construction comprising a non-porous, plastic material wrapping an outer layer of the filter media pack, said periphery layer comprising a non-porous, plastic material adhered to the wound media construction; 
 (iv) said wound filter media construction having a cross-section including a pair of curved ends joined by a pair of segments; 
 (v) said first flow face and the second flow face are planar and parallel; 
   (b) a sealing system extending around a periphery of the wound media construction, the sealing system comprising a seal member having a pair of curved ends joined by a pair of segments and being oriented to form a releasable peripherally directed seal with a housing sealing surface as a result of insertion of the filter element arrangement into sealing engagement with the housing sealing surface.   
     
     
         24 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 23  wherein:
 (a) the wound media construction has an oval profile. 
 
     
     
         25 . A filter element arrangement according to  claim 23  wherein:
 (a) the wound media construction has a racetrack-shaped profile.