Filter element having inner support and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11167235-B2
Application number	US-202016989360-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 2, 2016
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A filter element includes a construction of pleated filter media defining an interior volume. First and second opposite end caps are secured to opposite ends of the filter media. A support structure supports the filter media and is operably oriented in the interior volume. The support structure extends from the first opposing interior face to the second opposing interior face. The support structure is provided to extend less than a full extension between the first end cap and second end cap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filter element comprising:
(a) a construction of pleated filter media defining an interior volume;
(b) first and second opposite end caps molded or potted to opposite ends of the filter media;
(c) a support structure supporting the filter media operably oriented in the interior volume;
(i) the support structure extending less than a full extension between the first end cap and second end cap and less than a full extension of the filter media; and

(d) at least a first rail fixed to the first end cap and slidably extending through the second end cap.

2. The filter element of claim 1 further including:
(a) a second rail, spaced from the first rail, fixed to the first end cap and slidably extending through the second end cap.

3. The filter element of claim 2 wherein the support structure includes a first section secured to the first end cap, a second section secured to the second end cap, and the element is free of support structure in a region between the first section and second section.

4. A filter element according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the support structure comprises a pleated construction.

5. The filter element of claim 4 wherein:
(a) the pleated construction has pleats extending about parallel to the direction of pleats of the pleated filter media.

6. The filter element of claim 4 wherein:
(a) the pleated construction comprises a semi-rigid pleated screen.

7. The filter element of claim 4 wherein:
(a) the pleated construction includes a perforated facing on opposite sides thereof.

8. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the support structure is non-metal.

9. The filter element of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the support structure is an extruded construction comprising a plurality of spaced, porous columns connected together with a plurality of cross braces.

10. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the first end cap is an open end cap in communication with the interior volume.

11. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the second end cap is a closed end cap.

12. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the support structure is unsecured and free of both the first end cap and second end cap.

13. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the pleated filter media is racetrack shaped, having a pair of parallel sides joined by a pair of rounded ends.

14. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the pleated filter media is cylindrical in shape with a circular cross-section.

15. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the pleated media is attachment-free relative to the support structure.

16. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the pleated media is free of restrictions along an outer portion, whereby allowing the pleated media to bow outwardly during pulse cleaning.

17. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the filter element is free of inner and outer liners.

18. A filter element comprising:
(a) a construction of pleated filter media defining an interior volume;
(b) first and second opposite end caps molded or potted to opposite ends of the filter media; and
(c) a support structure supporting the filter media operably oriented in the interior volume;
(i) the support structure extending less than a full extension between the first end cap and second end cap and less than a full extension of the filter media.

19. A dust collector comprising:
(a) a housing having a dirty air inlet, a dirty air plenum, a clean air outlet, and clean air plenum, and a tubesheet separating the dirty air plenum from the clean air plenum; and
(b) a plurality of filter elements according to claim 18 removably mounted in the tubesheet.

20. A method of filtering comprising:
(a) providing a dust collector according to claim 19 ;
(b) directing fluid to flow through the pleated filter media and into the interior volume;
(c) while the fluid is flowing through the pleated filter media, supporting the filter media to prevent the filter media from collapsing together by using the support structure; and
(d) periodically emitting a pulse of gas into the interior volumes of the filter elements and allowing the pleated filter media to expand and the filter elements to axially contract.

Assignees

• Donaldson Co Inc
• Ifil Usa Llc

Inventors

• Johnson Philip Edward
• Parsons Jonathan G
• Falk Iii John K

Classifications

• B01D46/58

  connected in parallel · CPC title

• B01D46/71

  with pressurised gas, e.g. pulsed air · CPC title

• B01D46/521 Primary

  using folded, pleated material · CPC title

• B01D46/72

  with backwash arms, shoes or nozzles · CPC title

• B01D46/56 Primary

  with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition (B01D46/12 takes precedence) · CPC title