Filter arrangements; housings; assemblies; and, methods

1. An air filter cartridge arrangement removeably installable in an air cleaner housing during use; the air filter cartridge arrangement comprising:

(a) a main filter media pack having:

(i) an inlet flow end and an opposite outlet flow end;

(ii) a plurality of inlet flow flutes open at the inlet flow end and closed to passage of unfiltered air from the outlet flow end;

(iii) a plurality of outlet flow flutes closed to passage of unfiltered air therein and open to outlet flow at the outlet flow end; and,

(iv) a non-circular cross-sectional shape comprising an oval shape with two, opposite, straight sides and two, opposite, curved ends; and,

(b) an arrangement surrounding the main filter media pack including at least a first oval radially outwardly projecting ribs thereon;

(i) the arrangement surrounding the media pack including a handle member under which at least a portion of a person's fingers can fit, between the handle member and a portion of the arrangement surrounding the media pack, at a location in overlap with a curved end of the oval shape; and,

the first rib being positioned: between the portion of the handle member under which at least a portion of a person's finger can fit and the outlet flow end; and, spaced from the outlet flow end toward the inlet flow end; and,

(c) an arrangement positioned on the media pack including a portion surrounding the media pack adjacent the outlet flow end; and, including a portion in axial overlap with the outlet flow end of the media pack.

2. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the first rib is continuous in extension completely around the media pack.

3. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the media pack comprises a coiled arrangement of fluted media secured to facing media.

4. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) each one of the inlet flow end and the outlet flow end of the media pack is generally flat.

5. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) the arrangement surrounding the media pack, and having the handle member thereon, includes an end portion projecting beyond a flow end of the media pack in a direction away from an opposite flow end of the media pack.

6. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) the arrangement surrounding the media pack, and having the handle member thereon, is a member manually separable from the media pack.

7. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) the arrangement surrounding the media pack, and having the handle member thereon, includes a portion in overlap with an end of the media pack.

8. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the arrangement surrounding the media pack, and having a handle member thereon, includes a ramp-engageable portion.

9. An air filter cartridge according to claim 8 wherein:

(a) the arrangement surrounding the media pack, and having a handle member thereon, includes a ramp-engageable portion projecting from the media pack inlet end in a direction away from the media pack outlet end.

10. An air filter cartridge according to claim 9 including:

(a) a housing seal arrangement secured to the media pack and including a seal member having a radially directed seal surface.

11. An air filter cartridge according to claim 10 wherein:

(a) the seal surface is a radially outwardly directed seal surface.

12. An air filter cartridge according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) the housing seal arrangement comprises a seal member surrounding a support.

13. An air filter cartridge according to claim 12 wherein:

(a) the arrangement surrounding the media pack, and having the handle member thereon, is a member manually separable from the media pack.

14. An air filter cartridge according to claim 13 wherein:

(a) the arrangement surrounding the main filter media pack, and having the handle member thereon, comprises a plurality of spaced ribs.

15. An air filter cartridge according to claim 8 wherein:

(a) the media pack comprises a coiled arrangement of fluted media secured to facing media; and,

(b) each one of the inlet flow end and the outlet flow end of the media pack is generally flat.

16. An air filter cartridge according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the arrangement surrounding the main filter media pack, and having the handle member thereon, comprises a plurality of spaced ribs.

17. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the arrangement surrounding the media pack, and having the handle member thereon, is a member manually separable from the media pack.

18. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 removably positioned in an air cleaner assembly; the air cleaner assembly comprising:

(a) a housing including: a main filter cartridge arrangement receiving section; and an access cover;

(i) the housing including an inlet and an outlet; and,

(ii) the main filter cartridge arrangement receiving section including: opposite first and second ends; opposite sides; and, a first sidewall section extending between the opposite sides; a portion of the main filter cartridge arrangement receiving section that is opposite the first sidewall section being open, unless closed by the access cover; and,

(b) a main filter cartridge arrangement removably positioned in the main filter cartridge arrangement receiving section between the opposite sides; the main filter cartridge arrangement comprising:

(i) a main filter media pack having:

(A) an inlet flow end and an opposite outlet flow end;

(B) a plurality of inlet flutes open at the inlet flow end and closed to passage of unfiltered air from the outlet flow end;

(C) a plurality of outlet flow flutes closed to passage of unfiltered air therein and open to outlet flow at the outlet flow end; and,

(D) a non-circular cross-sectional shape comprising an oval shape with two, opposite, straight sides and two, opposite, curved ends; and,

(ii) an arrangement surrounding the main filter media pack including at least a first oval radially outwardly projecting rib thereon;

(A) the arrangement surrounding the media pack including a handle member under which at least a portion of a person's fingers can fit, between the handle member and a portion of the arrangement surrounding the media pack, at a location in overlap with a curved end of the oval shape; and,

the first rib being positioned: between the portion of the handle member under which at least a portion of a person's finger can fit and the outlet flow end; and, spaced from the outlet flow end toward the inlet flow end; and,

(iii) an arrangement positioned on the media pack including: a portion surrounding the media pack adjacent the outlet flow end; and, including a portion in axial overlap with the outlet flow end of the media pack;

(c) the main filter cartridge arrangement being removably positioned in the housing;

(i) the main filter cartridge arrangement being oriented with: the inlet flow end directed toward one of the first and second ends of the main cartridge receiving section.

19. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 18 wherein:

(a) the central main filter cartridge receiving section includes a loading ramp arrangement positioned to be to engaged by the air filter cartridge during installation of the air filter cartridge in the housing; and,

(b) the main filter cartridge includes a ramp engaging end portion.

20. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 18 wherein:

(a) the access cover includes an interior surface with an outwardly projecting cartridge handle recess therein; and,

(b) the main air filter cartridge is positioned with the handle member projecting into the cartridge handle recess.