Air filter cartridges; air cleaner assemblies; housings; features; components; and, methods
According to the present disclosure, features, components and techniques useable for providing air cleaner arrangements are provided. Many of the features relate to an axial seal arrangement provided on a filter cartridge. A typical filter cartridge, for use with these features, is a filter cartridge having opposite flow ends. Example media arrangements that fit this characterization are described. Seal arrangements provided with an axial housing sealing engagement surface are shown. A seal arrangement is provided with variations therein, to advantage. These variations can be in either or both of an outer peripheral edge surface and a housing seal engagement surface. Also, air cleaner assemblies having advantageous features therein are provided. Further, air cleaner housings are described, with selected, preferred features for engagement with filter cartridges.
1. A filter cartridge comprising:
(a) a filter media pack comprising first and second, opposite, flow ends, with media extending therebetween;
(b) a pinch seal arrangement having first and second, opposite, pinch seal housing engagement surfaces;
(i) a second one of the first and second, opposite, pinch seal housing engagement surfaces being a contoured seal surface with at least one housing engagement projection/recess member therein; and,
(ii) the housing engagement projection/recess member comprising a projection arrangement positioned on a portion of the pinch seal arrangement and comprising at least a first step section having: a flat surface extending, without axial contouring in that first step section, over a peripheral distance of at least 20 mm; and, a contour of at least 2 mm from an adjacent portion of the pinch seal arrangement;
(c) a preformed shell surrounding the media and extending over at least a portion of an axial length of the media;
(i) the preformed shell including a pinch seal support; and,
(ii) a portion of the pinch seal arrangement being molded-in-place on the pinch seal support; and,
(d) the second pinch seal housing engagement surface being positioned on a portion of the pinch seal arrangement spaced from the media by a receiver space that extends completely, peripherally, around the media.
2. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the first step section has a flat surface extending, without contouring in that first step section, over a peripheral length of at least 30 mm.
3. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the projection arrangement includes a second step section, spaced peripherally from the first step section, and having: a flat surface extending, without axial contouring in that second step section, over a distance of at least 20 mm; and, a contour of at least 2 mm from an adjacent portion of the pinch seal arrangement.
4. A filter cartridge according to claim 3 wherein:
(a) the second step section has a flat surface extending, without contouring in that second step section, over a peripheral length of at least 30 mm.
5. A filter cartridge according to claim 3 wherein:
(a) the second pinch seal housing engagement surface is a contoured surface that has 180° symmetry in extension around a central axis.
6. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the first flow end is an inlet flow end;
(b) the second flow end is an outlet flow end; and,
(c) the second pinch seal housing engagement surface faces toward the outlet flow end and away from the inlet flow end.
7. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:
(a) a handle member including a central handle bridge positioned at the first flow end of the cartridge.
8. A filter cartridge according to claim 7 wherein:
(a) the handle member is secured to a remainder of the cartridge by a molded-in-place member that includes the pinch seal arrangement.
9. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:
(a) the preformed shell surrounding the media extends over at least 80% of an axial length of the media.
10. A filter cartridge according to claim 9 wherein:
(a) the preformed shell includes an end grid adjacent, and in at least partial extension across, the second flow end.
11. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the media has a non-circular outer periphery.
12. A filter cartridge according to claim 11 wherein:
(a) the media has a non-circular outer periphery with a cross-section having a ratio of a long dimension to a short dimension within the range of 1.3:1 to 5:1, inclusive.
13. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the pinch seal arrangement includes an outer peripheral perimeter edge surface having at least one recess that is at least 1 mm deep, in a direction toward the media.
14. A filter cartridge according to claim 13 wherein:
(a) an outer peripheral edge surface of the seal arrangement has a plurality of recesses, each at least 1 mm deep in a direction toward the media.
15. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the second pinch seal housing engagement surface includes first and second step transition regions;
(i) the flat surface of the first step section extending between the first and second step transition regions;
(ii) each step transition region extending at an angle within the range of 15° to 75°, inclusive, relative to a plane perpendicular to a direction between the flow ends.
16. A filter cartridge according to claim 15 wherein:
(a) the second pinch seal housing engagement surface includes first and second step transition regions;
(ii) each step transition region extending at an angle within the range of 30° to 60°, inclusive, relative to a plan perpendicular to a direction between the flow ends.
17. A filter cartridge according to claim 15 wherein:
(a) a radius of curvature where each transition section engages a non-contoured portion of the adjacent axial seal surface is within the range of 2-10 mm, inclusive.
18. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the media comprises fluted media secured to facing media.
19. A filter cartridge according to claim 18 wherein:
(a) the media comprises a coiled arrangement of fluted media secured to facing media.
20. An air cleaner assembly comprising:
(a) a housing having a first housing section and a second housing section; and,
(b) a filter cartridge according to claim 1 positioned within the housing with the second pinch seal housing engagement surface biased against one housing section by the other housing section.
21. A filter cartridge according to claim 19 wherein the media is a circular coiled arrangement.
22. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the media is a circular arrangement.