Performance air filtration cartridge

1. An air filtration cartridge comprising annular filter media having a hollow interior and extending axially between first and second distally opposite end caps, said first end cap being an outlet end cap having flow straightening structure integrally formed therewith and spanning said hollow interior, such that air flows from said hollow interior axially through said flow straightening structure of said first end cap of said air filtration cartridge for reducing variability of outlet air flow velocity profile.

2. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said air filtration cartridge is an embedded air filtration cartridge having an injection molded plastic said first end cap including plastic said flow straightening structure integrally molded therewith.

3. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 2 wherein said filter media has an axial end face extending radially between inner and outer perimeters, said first end cap has an integral radial flange extending radially along said axial end face, and an integral axial flange extending axially along said inner perimeter, and wherein said flow straightening structure extends across said hollow interior integrally from at least one of said radial flange and said axial flange.

4. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said radial and axial flanges intersect at an interface junction, and wherein said flow straightening structure extends across said hollow interior integrally from said junction.

5. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 4 wherein said flow straightening structure comprises a plastic grid having an outer perimeter integrally extending from said junction.

6. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 5 wherein said junction has a T-shape, namely an axially extending trunk provided by said axial flange, and a pair of arms extending oppositely radially therefrom, a first of said arms provided by said radial flange, a second of said arms provided by said outer perimeter of said grid, said trunk and said arms meeting at said junction in said T-shape.

7. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said flow straightening structure comprises a grid having grid segments having a cross-sectional aerodynamic shape.

8. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 7 wherein said aerodynamic shape of said grid segments is a tear-drop shape.

9. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said flow straightening structure comprises a grid having grid segments comprising a plurality of guide vanes guiding said air flow axially through said first end cap of said air filtration cartridge.

10. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 9 wherein said guide vanes comprise first and second sets of guide vanes extending transversely to each other.

11. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 10 wherein said guide vanes of said first set extend arcuately relative to the axis of said axial flow, and said guide vanes of said second set extend radially relative to said axis.

12. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 10 wherein said guide vanes of each of said first and second sets extend tangentially relative to said axial flow.

13. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 9 wherein said guide vanes have a configured axial extension such that said first end cap of said air filtration cartridge has an outer conical profile pointing along the axis of said axial flow.

14. An air filtration cartridge comprising annular filter media having a hollow interior and extending axially between first and second end caps, said first end cap being an outlet end cap, said second end cap being a closed end cap having an interior face facing said hollow interior and having quarter wave resonators formed by blind holes therein.

15. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 14 wherein said air filtration cartridge is an embedded air filtration cartridge having an injection molded plastic said second end cap including said blind holes therein forming said quarter wave resonators.

16. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 14 wherein said interior face of said second end cap has a first area of a first density of said quarter wave resonator blind holes, and has a second area of a second density of quarter wave resonator blind holes, said second density being less than said first density.

17. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 16 wherein said second area is radially outward of said first area.

18. The air filtration cartridge according claim 14 wherein said quarter wave resonator blind holes have an axial depth in the range of about 5 to 8 mm.

19. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 18 wherein said quarter wave resonator blind holes have a radial width in the range of about 2 to 3 mm.

20. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 14 wherein said interior face of said second end cap has a first set of one or more quarter wave resonator blind holes of a first axial depth, and one or more additional sets of one or more quarter wave resonator blind holes of a different axial depth, for attenuation of different frequencies.

21. An air filtration cartridge comprising in combination annular filter media having a hollow interior and extending axially between first and second distally opposite end caps, said first end cap being an outlet end cap having flow straightening structure integrally formed therewith and spanning said hollow interior, such that air flows from said hollow interior axially through said flow straightening structure of said first end cap for reducing variability of outlet air flow velocity profile, said second end cap being a closed end cap having an interior face facing said hollow interior and having quarter wave resonators formed by blind holes therein.

22. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 21 wherein said air filtration cartridge is an embedded air filtration cartridge having an injection molded plastic said first end cap including plastic said flow straightening structure integrally molded therewith, and an injection molded said second end cap including said blind holes therein forming said quarter wave resonators.

23. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 22 wherein said filter media has an axial end face extending radially between inner and outer perimeters, said first end cap has an integral radial flange extending radially along said axial end face, and an integral axial flange extending axially along said inner perimeter, and wherein said flow straightening structure extends across said hollow interior integrally from at least one of said radial flange and said axial flange, and wherein said quarter wave resonator blind holes have an axial depth in the range of about 5 to 8 mm.

24. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 23 wherein said radial and axial flanges intersect at an interface junction, and wherein said flow straightening structure extends across said hollow interior integrally from said junction, said flow straightening structure comprises a plastic grid having an outer perimeter integrally extending from said junction, and said junction has a T-shape, namely an axially extending trunk provided by said axial flange, and a pair of arms extending oppositely radially therefrom, a first of said arms provided by said radial flange, a second of said arms provided by said outer perimeter of said grid, said trunk and said arms meeting at said junction in said T-shape.

25. The air filtration cartridge according to claim 21 wherein said interior face of said second end cap has a first area of a first density of said quarter wave resonator blind holes, and has a second area of a second density of quarter wave resonator blind holes, said second density being less than said first density, and wherein said quarter wave resonator blind holes have a radial width in the range of about 2 to 3 mm.