FILTER CARTRIDGES; FEATURES AND METHODS OF ASSEMLBY; AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLIES; AND, FILTER CARTRIDGE COMBINATIONS

1 . A filter cartridge comprising:

(a) an extension of media surrounding an open interior and having a first end and a second end;

(i) at the first end, the media having no pleat greater than 3 mm in depth; and,

(ii) at the second end, the media comprising a plurality of pleats each having a pleat depth of at least 10 mm.

2 . A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the extension of media surrounds a central axis;

the media being pleated adjacent the second end and defining a plurality of inner pleat tips extending at an acute angle, relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis, of no greater than 89°, in extension toward the first end; and,

(ii) the media being non-pleated at the first end.

3 . A filter cartridge according to claim 2 including:

(a) a housing radial seal member positioned at a location within 50 mm of the first end.

4 . A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the media surrounds and defines a central cartridge axis; and,

(b) the media includes a plurality of inner pleats having inner pleat tips extending at an acute angle within the range of 70°-88°, inclusive, relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis, in extension toward the first end.

5 . A filter cartridge according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) the media includes a plurality of outer pleats having outer pleat tips extending at an angle within the range of 88°-90°, inclusive, relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis, in extension from the second end toward the first end.

6 . A filter cartridge according to claim 1 :

(a) a radially directed housing seal member positioned at a location within 50 mm of the first end of the extension of media;

(i) the filter cartridge having a maximum, undistorted, radial width dimension, at a location in radial overlap with the media and the housing radial seal member, of at least 10 mm less than a maximum pleat depth of the extension of media adjacent the second end of the extension of media.

7 . A filter cartridge comprising:

(a) an extension of media surrounding an open interior and having a first end and a second end;

(i) the media, adjacent the second end, being pleated and comprising a plurality of outwardly directed pleats and a plurality of inwardly directed pleats; and,

(ii) each one of the plurality of outwardly directed pleats having a pleat tip with an outer perimeter tip shape,

(iii) an inner perimeter tip shape, of each pleat tip of the plurality of inwardly directed pleats, being narrower than the pleat tip shape of each one of the plurality of outwardly directed pleats;

(A) the outer pleat tips having an outer, perimeter, pleat shape at a location adjacent the second end with a radius of at least 4 mm.

8 . A filter cartridge according to claim 7 including:

(a) a radially directed housing seal member at a location within 40 mm of the first end of the media.

9 . A filter cartridge according to claim 8 therein:

(a) the radially directed housing seal member is positioned at a location within 15 mm of the first end of the media.

10 . A filter cartridge according to claim 9 including:

(a) the housing seal member is a radially outwardly directed housing seal member.

11 . A filter cartridge according to claim 7 including:

(a) a media support;

the media including a non-pleated, free, tip section adjacent the media first end that extends, axially, in a direction away from the second end, an axial distance of at least 0.5 mm beyond a nearest adjacent portion of the media support.

12 . A filter cartridge comprising:

(a) an extension of pleated media having a first end and a second end;

(i) the extension of media surrounding an open filter interior; and,

(b) a media support including a first, intermediate, outer pleat spacer positioned between the media first end and the media second end;

(i) the first, intermediate, outer pleat spacer defining an outer pleat engagement shape with an outer pleat radius of at least 4 mm; and,

(ii) the first, intermediate, outer pleat spacer having radial projections defining inner pleat engagement tips having an outer pleat angle of at least 30°.

13 . A filter cartridge according to claim 12 including:

(a) a plurality of intermediate outer pleat spacers positioned between the media first and second ends;

(i) axially spaced, adjacent, ones of the plurality of intermediate outer pleat spacers having different amounts of radial projection extension toward a central axis.

14 . A filter cartridge according to claim 12 including:

(a) the media support includes longitudinal ribs extending along, and secured to, outer pleat tips of the media in extension from the second end of the media toward the first end of the media, along at least 50% of a length of extension of the outer pleat tips.

15 . A filter cartridge comprising:

(a) media extending between first and second ends and surrounding and defining a central axis and open interior; and,

(b) an end piece adjacent the second end of the media;

(i) the end piece defining an outer perimeter of alternating radial outward projections and radial inward recesses; and,

(ii) adjacent ones of the outward projections being spaced by a radial gap of at least 30°.

16 . A filter cartridge according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the end piece radial inward recesses are open, in axial overlap with spaces between outer pleats, by a gap of at least 15 mm in maximum width at a location remote from inner pleat tips.

17 . A filter cartridge according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the end piece is adjacent to, and extends across, the second media end;

the end piece including: an outer surface directed away from the first media end;

and, an inner surface directed toward the first media end;

(i) the inner surface of the end piece having a central recess therein extending in a direction away from the first media end; and,

(b) a cushion member is positioned in the central recess.

18 . A filter cartridge according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) the central recess is defined by a projection extending away from the media first end having a wall surrounded by, and spaced from, the media;

(i) the projection having a tip, remote from the media first end, with an aperture therethrough.

19 . A gas filter assembly comprising:

(a) a housing defining an interior and a gas flow outlet;

(i) the housing including a housing base section and a removable access cover;

(ii) the housing including a central cartridge support in the housing base section directed toward the access cover;

(b) a safety filter cartridge positioned over the central cartridge support; the safety filter comprising media having first and second ends, surrounding a central axis and defining an open interior;

(i) at the first end, the media having no pleat greater than 3 mm in depth; and,

(ii) at the second end, the media comprising a plurality of pleats each having a pleat depth of at least 10 mm;

(c) a main filter cartridge comprising media surrounding a central axis and defining an open interior;

(i) the media being pleated in extension between first and second ends;

(ii) the media tapering inwardly in extension from the first end toward the second end;

(iii) the main filter cartridge including a first, open, end piece on the media first end;

(A) a radially inwardly directed housing seal being positioned on the first end piece; and,

(iv) the main filter cartridge including a closed end piece on the media second end;

(A) the closed end piece including a central projection extending toward the first end of the media to a location at least 15% of a distance between the media second end and the media first end.

20 . A gas filter assembly according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the closed end piece including a central projection extending toward the first end of the media to a location at least 20% of a distance between the media second end and the media first end.

21 . A gas filter assembly according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the closed end piece including a central projection extending toward the first end of the media to a location at least 25% of a distance between the media second end and the media first end.

22 . A gas filter assembly according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the central cartridge support includes a cartridge support end directed toward the access cover having a central projection with an end tip and a neck section;

(i) the neck section having a narrower cross-sectional dimension than a dimension of the central projection on the central cartridge support, adjacent the end tip.

23 . An air filter cartridge comprising:

(a) media surrounding a central axis and defining an open interior;

(i) the media being pleated in extension between first and second ends;

(ii) the media tapering inwardly in extension from the first end toward the second end;

(iii) the main filter cartridge including a first, open, end piece on the media first end;

(b) the main filter cartridge including a closed end piece on the media second end;

(i) the closed end piece including a central section extending toward the first end of the media to a location at least 20% of a distance between the media second end and the media first end; and,

(ii) the central section including a central projection thereon directed away from the first end piece and terminating at and end remote from the media first end at a location that is spaced, in a direction toward the media first end, from the media second end at least 15% of a distance from the media second end to the media first end;

(A) the central projection defining a receiver recess on an inner surface thereof.