Method and apparatus for winding a filter element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9757676-B2
Application number	US-63464706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2006
Priority date	Dec 6, 2006
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A filter apparatus and method utilize a filter element, defining a longitudinal axis and an axial end thereof, and having a central winding structure and a length of fluted filter material wound about the winding structure with the flutes of the media oriented to provide for filtration of fluid passing axially through the filter element. An edge of filter media defines the axial end of the filter element when the media is wound about the winding structure. An axial end of the winding structure is disposed adjacent the axial end of the filter element. A winding feature extends substantially axially outward from the axial end of the winding structure to a distal end of the winding feature. The filter media is wrapped about the winding structure such that the axial end of the filter element is disposed substantially flush with the distal end of the winding feature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filter element, comprising, a length of filter media wound about a winding structure, wherein, the filter element defines a longitudinal axis and two axial ends of the filter element, the length of filter media having two axial edges, the winding structure having two axial ends thereof, each axial end of the winding structure disposed adjacent to, and recessed axially inward from, the axial edges of the filter media, the winding structure including winding features on each axial end of the winding structure, each winding feature extending axially outward away from its respective axial end of the winding structure to a distal end of the winding feature, and the length of filter media being wrapped about the winding structure in such a manner that each axial edge of the filter media extends axially beyond a corresponding end of the winding structure and is disposed flush with or beyond the distal end of the winding feature such that no portion of the winding structure extends beyond either axial edge.

2. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein each of the winding features of the winding structure comprises, one or more lugs forming at least one guide surface extending substantially parallel with a width of the winding structure, for applying a winding force to the width of the winding structure for generating a winding torque applied to the winding structure, the width being perpendicular to a thickness of the winding structure, and the width being greater than the thickness, and wherein the one or more lugs are spaced such that the one or more lugs are configured to engage one or more similarly spaced lugs on a winding tool.

3. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein each of the winding features of the winding structure comprises a slotted member, each slot configured to accept a mating projection on a winding tool, wherein each slot includes a surface extending substantially parallel with a width of the winding structure, for applying a winding force to the width of the winding structure for generating a winding torque applied to the winding structure.

4. The filter element of claim 3 , wherein one end of each slot is open-ended, and wherein each slot includes a stop for positioning the winding tool with respect to the winding structure.

5. The filter element of claim 2 , wherein each of the winding features of the winding structure further defines a stop for positioning the winding structure transversely with respect to the winding axis.

6. The filter element of claim 2 , wherein: the winding structure defines a width thereof and a thickness thereof disposed substantially orthogonally from one another and the axis of the filter element; and the winding feature comprises at least two lugs spaced from one another across the thickness of the winding structure to define a pair of guide surfaces extending substantially along the width of the winding structure.

7. The filter element of claim 6 , wherein, the winding feature comprises at least three lugs offset along the width of the winding structure from one another with two of the lugs being aligned to define a first guide surface of the pair of guide surfaces and the remaining lug of the at least three lugs at least partly defining the other guide surface of the pair of guide surfaces.

8. The filter element of claim 6 , wherein, the winding feature of the winding structure further defines a stop for positioning the winding structure transversely with respect to the winding axis.

9. The filter element of claim 8 , wherein, one of the lugs is configured to comprise the stop.

10. A filter element defining a longitudinal axis and first and second axial ends of the filter element, the filter element comprising:
a winding structure, and a length of fluted filter media, having first and second axial ends, wound about the winding structure with the flutes of the media oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, to thereby provide for filtration of a flow of fluid passing substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis through the filter element;
the winding structure defining a winding structure axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter element, and oppositely facing axial ends of the winding structure disposed at opposite ends of the winding structure along the winding structure axis adjacent and axially inward from the corresponding first and second axial ends of the fluted filter media;
the winding structure having a length, width and thickness thereof, with the length extending substantially along the winding structure axis between the first and second axial ends of the winding structure, the width extending substantially orthogonally to the winding structure axis, and the thickness extending substantially orthogonally to both the winding structure axis and the width of the winding structure;
the winding structure also including a winding feature extending substantially axially outward beyond at least one of the axial ends of the winding structure, the winding feature being flush or below an axial end of the fluted filter media such that no portion of the winding structure extends beyond either axial end of the fluted filter;
the winding feature being configured for receiving a winding torque, applied to the winding structure, for rotation of the winding structure about a winding axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter element, as the media is wound onto the winding structure; and
wherein, the winding feature comprises at least two lugs spaced from one another across the thickness of the winding structure to define a pair of guide surfaces extending substantially along the width of the winding structure.

11. The filter element of claim 10 , wherein, the winding structure defines first and second oppositely facing axial ends thereof, and the filter element further comprises, a winding feature extending substantially axially outward from each of the first and second axial ends of the winding structure.

12. The filter element of claim 10 , wherein, the winding structure defines a body thereof having first and second longitudinally extending edges thereof joined in a transversely spaced relationship to one another and the winding structure axis.

13. The filter element of claim 12 , wherein the winding structure thickness has a substantially oval cross section, having a maximum sectional thickness between the edges and converging to a lesser sectional thickness at each edge.

14. The filter element of claim 13 , wherein the cross section defines a substantially smooth outer peripheral surface having opposed central sections of large radius disposed between the edges, joined by straight sections to small radius sections forming outer longitudinally extending surfaces of the edges.

15. The filter element of claim 14 , wherein, the length of fluted filter media defines a series of alternating peaks and valleys forming the flutes, and the small radius sections of the outer peripheral surface of the winding structure are configured to be closely embraced and gripped by the peaks of two or more adjacent flutes of a first layer of the filter media lying against the small radius sections of the outer peripheral surface of the winding structure.

16. The filter element of claim 14 , wherein, winding structure is joined to the filter media by a layer of adhesive/sealant, to thereby preclude fluid communication between the axial ends of the filter element along the juncture of the media with the peripheral surface of the winding structure.

17. The filter elem

Assignees

• Merritt Steven J
• Swanson Kyle
• Baldwin Filters Inc

Inventors

• Merritt Steven J
• Swanson Kyle

Classifications

• B01D2265/06

  Details of supporting structures for filtering material, e.g. cores · CPC title

• B01D46/0001

  Making filtering elements · CPC title

• B01D25/24

  Cell-type roll filters · CPC title

• B01D25/001

  Making filtering elements not provided for elsewhere · CPC title

• B01D46/527 Primary

  in wound arrangement · CPC title