Air cleaner; replaceable filter cartridges; and, methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11007462-B2
Application number	US-201715450625-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2017
Priority date	Oct 6, 2006
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

An air cleaner assembly, a main filter element, a safety element, combinations and methods for servicing an air cleaner assembly are provided according to the present invention. The air cleaner assembly includes an air cleaner housing and a main filter element. The air cleaner housing includes a safety liner that supports the main filter element, and can be configured to help reduce the tendency of the main filter element to rotate during use of the air cleaner assembly. A safety element having two open ends, for use with such an assembly is described.

First claim

We claim:

1. An air cleaner assembly comprising:
(a) an air cleaner housing comprising a main housing having: a housing interior, a first end with an air flow outlet; and, a second, open, end; and,
(i) a collar positioned on the main housing and having the air flow outlet extending therethrough;

(b) a service cover removably secured to the housing open end, the service cover comprising:
(i) an inner surface including an annular rim; and;
(ii) a plurality of bumps extending from the annular rim toward the housing interior; and,

(c) a safety liner secured to, and extending from, the main housing first end toward the service cover;
(i) the safety liner comprising: an open support structure; a closed end projecting toward the service cover; and, an open end opposite the closed end; and,
(ii) the safety liner including a plurality of projections having straight ends projecting from the open end of the safety liner into the collar at the air flow outlet;

(d) a main filter element located in the housing interior:
(i) the main filter element comprising: a first open end cap, a second closed end cap, and a main filtration media extending from the first open end cap to the second closed end cap;
(ii) a seal member located at the first open end cap; and
(iii) the second closed end cap including an annular rim periphery and a plurality of slots in the annular rim periphery, and wherein the plurality of bumps on the service cover engage the plurality of slots in the annular rim periphery; and

(e) the air cleaner housing including receivers positioned within the collar; each receiver comprising a pair of opposite sidewalls between which a straight end on one of the projections on the safety liner axially projects.

2. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the collar is snap fit to a portion of the main housing.

3. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the closed end of the safety liner includes a central cone extension surrounded by a shoulder area.

4. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the seal member comprises an axial seal member.

5. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 1 including:
(a) a safety filter element removably positioned over the safety liner;
(i) the safety filter element including filter media surrounding an interior.

6. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 5 wherein:
(a) an end of the safety filter opposite the air flow outlet includes an end piece with a central aperture therethrough.

7. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the seal member on the main filter element comprises a radial seal member.

8. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 7 wherein:
(a) the radial seal member comprises an outwardly directed radial seal member.

9. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the safety liner includes 4-8 projections projecting into the collar; and,
(b) the collar includes 4-8 receivers.

10. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 9 wherein:
(a) the collar is snap fit to a portion of the main housing.

11. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 10 wherein:
(a) the closed end of the safety liner includes a central cone extension surrounded by a shoulder area.

12. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 11 including:
(a) a safety filter element removably positioned over the safety liner;
(i) the safety filter element including filter media surrounding an interior.

13. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 12 wherein:
(a) the safety filter includes a housing seal member positioned on an end of the safety filter positioned adjacent the air flow outlet end of the housing;
(i) the housing seal member being removably sealed to a portion of the main housing.

14. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 13 wherein:
(a) the housing seal member is a radial seal.

15. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 12 wherein:
(a) an end of the safety filter opposite the air flow outlet includes an end piece with a central aperture therethrough.

16. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 15 wherein:
(a) the end piece of the end of the safety filter opposite the air flow outlet is molded-in-place with media of the safety filter embedded therein.

17. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 16 including:
(a) a main filter element removably positioned over the safety liner and safety filter;
the main filter element comprising:
(i) first and second opposite ends, wherein the first end has an air flow exit aperture therethrough;
(ii) an annular extension of filter media extending between the first and the second ends;
(iii) a first, open, end cap adjacent the first end of the main filter element, the media being embedded in the first, open end cap, and the first, open end cap having a radial seal thereon; and,
(iv) a second, closed, end cap adjacent the second end of the main filter element.

18. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 12 wherein:(a) the safety filter element includes a housing seal member positioned on an end of a filter media positioned adjacent the air flow outlet end of the housing; (i) the housing seal member being removably sealed to a portion of the main housing.

19. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 18 wherein:
(a) the housing seal member is a radial seal.

Assignees

• Donaldson Co Inc

Inventors

• Coulonvaux Paul
• Craessaerts Johnny

Classifications

• B01D46/64

  arranged concentrically or coaxially · CPC title

• B01D2265/028

  Snap, latch or clip connecting means · CPC title

• B01D46/0046

  provoking a tangential stream (B01D46/0045 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B01D2271/027

  Radial sealings · CPC title