Filter element and seal therefor
A filter cell element for use in a housing to form a filtering assembly. The filter element has a media pack having an interior and a separator element having a passage therein for radial fluid communication between the media pack interior and an edge of the media pack. An overmold seal at the media pack edge seals the media pack to the separator element. Methods of making the filter element and methods of using are also disclosed.
1. A filter element comprising:
a preformed separator element with a central core having a plurality of passages, a first washer on a first side of the preformed separator element, a second washer on a second side of the preformed separator element, and a plurality of radially extending ribs from the central core, and the plurality of radially extending ribs extending from the central core between the first and the second washers;
a first filter layer in contact with the first washer and a second filter layer in contact with the second washer, the plurality of radially extending ribs disposed in an interior between the first and second filter layers;
the first filter layer and the second filter layer extending between an outer seal and a hub arrangement;
the hub arrangement comprising an inner seal portion covering both the first filter layer and the second filter layer, and a core portion; the inner seal portion and the core portion integral with each other forming the hub arrangement and the hub arrangement formed from a polymeric injection mold material overmolded over the first and second filter layers such that inner seal portion seals the first and second filter layers together and to the preformed separator element.
2. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the first washer and the second washer both comprise apertures.
3. The filter element of claim 2 wherein the inner seal portion comprises a plurality of pockets.
4. The filter element of claim 3 wherein the plurality of pockets are distributed in the inner seal portion around the core portion.
5. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the inner seal portion comprises a plurality of pockets.
6. The filter element of claim 5 wherein the plurality of pockets are distributed in the inner seal portion around the core portion.
7. The filter element of claim 1 where the outer seal is a polymeric molded seal.
8. The filter element of claim 1 wherein the preformed separator element has channels that flow radially inward/outward.
9. A method of making the filter element of claim 1 comprising:
providing the preformed separator element;
cutting the first filter layer in an annular shape and cutting the second filter layer into an annular shape;
placing the first filter layer in contact with the first washer and placing the second filter layer in contact with the second washer;
placing the first filter layer, the preformed separator element, and the second filter layer into a mold and forming the outer seal by injection molding;
clamping the first filter layer to the first washer and clamping the second filter layer to the second washer in a mold; and
applying polymeric material to form the hub arrangement having the inner seal portion and the core portion integral with each other.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein clamping the first filter layer to the first washer and clamping the second filter layer to the second washer in the mold forms the plurality of pockets in the inner seal portion.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first filter layer or the second filter layer expand to at least partially fill the plurality of pockets.