Pleated panel fluid filter

1. A filter for filtering fluid flowing along an axial flow direction comprising at least one panel of a pleated filter element, said filter element having a plurality of pleats defined by wall segments extending along a transverse direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at first and second sets of axially extending bend lines, said transverse direction being perpendicular to said axial direction, said panel extending along a lateral direction perpendicular to said axial direction and perpendicular to said transverse direction, said wall segments extending axially between upstream and downstream ends, said wall segments defining axial flow channels therebetween, said upstream ends of said wall segments being alternately sealed to each other to define a first set of flow channels having open upstream ends, and a second set of flow channels interdigitated with said first set of flow channels and having closed upstream ends, said downstream ends of said wall segments being alternately sealed to each other such that said first set of flow channels have closed downstream ends, and said second set of flow channels have open downstream ends, such that fluid to be filtered flows substantially directly axially through said filter, through said open upstream ends of said first set of flow channels then through said wall segments then through said open downstream ends of said second set of flow channels, said wall segments having progressively increasing separation therebetween along said lateral direction as said wall segments progress axially toward one of said upstream and downstream ends, to provide progressively increasing flow channel width along said lateral direction.

2. The filter according to claim 1 wherein:

said panel has an upstream width along said lateral direction at said upstream end equal to cumulative flow channel widths along said lateral direction thereat;

said panel has a downstream width along said lateral direction at said downstream end equal to cumulative flow channel widths along said lateral direction thereat;

one of said upstream and downstream widths along said lateral direction is greater than the other of said upstream and downstream widths along said lateral direction.

3. A filter for filtering fluid flowing along an axial flow direction comprising at least first and second panels of respective first and second pleated filter elements, said first element having a plurality of pleats defined by wall segments extending along a first transverse direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at first and second sets of axially extending bend lines, said first transverse direction being perpendicular to said axial direction, said first panel extending along a first lateral direction perpendicular to said axial direction and transverse to said first transverse direction, said wall segments of said first filter element extending axially between upstream and downstream ends, said wall segments of said first filter element defining axial flow channels therebetween, said upstream ends of said wall segments of said first filter element being alternately sealed to each other to define a first set of flow channels having open upstream ends, and a second set of flow channels interdigitated with said first set of flow channels and having closed upstream ends, said downstream ends of said wall segments of said first filter element being alternately sealed to each other such that said first set of flow channels have closed downstream ends, and said second set of flow channels have open downstream ends, such that fluid to be filtered flows substantially directly axially through said first filter element, through said open upstream ends of said first set of flow channels then through said wall segments of said first filter element then through said open downstream ends of said second set of flow channels, said second filter element having a plurality of pleats defined by wall segments extending along a second transverse direction between third and fourth sets of pleat tips at third and fourth sets of axially extending bend lines, said second transverse direction being perpendicular to said axial direction, said second panel extending along a second lateral direction perpendicular to said axial direction and transverse to said second transverse direction, said wall segments of said second filter element extending axially between upstream and downstream ends, said wall segments of said second filter element defining axial flow channels therebetween, said upstream ends of said wall segments of said second filter element being alternately sealed to each other to define a third set of flow channels having open upstream ends, and a fourth set of flow channels interdigitated with said third set of flow channels and having closed upstream ends, said downstream ends of said wall segments of said second filter being alternately sealed to each other such that said third set of flow channels have closed downstream ends, and said fourth set of flow channels have open downstream ends, such that fluid to be filtered flows substantially directly axially through said second filter element, through said open upstream ends of said third set of flow channels then through said wall segments of said second filter element then through said open downstream ends of said fourth set of flow channels, said first and second transverse directions extending along respective first and second skewed projection lines intersecting each other at an apex and forming a V-shape therefrom.

4. The filter according to claim 3 wherein said V-shape is an inverted V-shape with an upper said apex and a pair of sides angled downwardly therefrom.

5. The filter according to claim 4 wherein:

said pleat tips of said first set of pleat tips are at higher vertical levels than respective said pleat tips of said second set of pleat tips such that said wall segments of said first filter element slant downwardly from said first set of pleat tips to said second set of pleat tips at an angle greater than or equal to a friction angle of removed contaminant such that contaminant slides along said wall segments of said first filter element and then drops to a collection zone at a bottom of a filter housing;

said pleat tips of said third set of pleat tips are at higher vertical levels than respective pleat tips of said fourth set of pleat tips such that said wall segments of said second filter element slant downwardly from said third set of pleat tips to said fourth set of pleat tips at an angle greater than or equal to a friction angle of removed contaminant such that contaminant slides downwardly along said wall segments of said second filter element and falls to said collection zone.

6. The filter according to claim 3 wherein said first and second lateral directions are parallel to each other.