Air filter arrangement; assembly; and methods
An air filter arrangement is ( 300 ) disclosed. The air filter arrangement includes strips of media comprising corrugated sheets secured to facing sheets and forming inlet and outlet flutes secured to one another in a stack. Media pack arrangements including such stacked media with a molding arrangement to secure and seal opposite side edges of the media strips, are described. Also described are filter cartridges including such media pack ( 301 ) and air cleaners including the filter cartridges. Methods of assembly and use are also provided. Also, systems of use are described.
1. A filter cartridge arrangement comprising:
(a) a filter media pack comprising a stacked construction of individual strips of media each comprising a fluted sheet secured to facing sheet to define inlet and outlet flow channels extending between first and second, opposite, flow surfaces;
(b) a molded side panel arrangement comprising at least first and second, opposite, molded panels molded directly to, and in sealing coverage over, a first set of two opposite sides of the media pack defined by lead ends and tail ends of the strips of media; and,
(c) a housing seal arrangement molded in place on the filter cartridge arrangement;
(d) the filter media pack having a second set of two opposites sides each of which is at least partially not covered by the molded side panel arrangement.
2. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the filter media pack second set of two opposite sides is such that each is at least 50% not covered by molded the side panel arrangement.
3. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 2 wherein:
(a) each media pack side of the second set of two opposite sides is covered by a pre-form sidewall section.
4. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the housing seal arrangement is an integrally molded portion of the molded side panel arrangement.
5. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the housing seal arrangement is not an integrally molded portion of the molded side panel arrangement.
6. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the media pack is a blocked, stacked, construction.
7. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the media pack is a slanted, stacked, construction defining at least one oblique parallelogram cross-section.
8. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the housing seal arrangement comprises a single, integrally molded, perimeter seal extension.
9. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the housing seal arrangement comprises a plurality of separately molded seal sections.
10. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the molded side panel arrangement comprises two, opposite, molded panels each defining a first edge adjacent the first flow face and a second edge adjacent the second flow face; and,
(b) the housing seal arrangement comprises a housing seal perimeter extension recessed from alignment with each edge.
11. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 10 wherein:
(a) the first and second edges of the two, opposite, molded panels define a projection/recess contour.
12. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 11 wherein:
(a) the first and second edges each comprise a plurality of projections.
13. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the housing seal arrangement is an axial pinch seal; and,
(b) the housing seal arrangement and the molded side panel arrangement each comprise polyurethane.
14. A filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the housing seal arrangement and the molded side panel arrangement each comprise foamed polyurethane having an as-molded density of no greater than 30 lbs/cu.ft.
15. An air cleaner comprising:
(a) a housing having an inlet section and an outer section; and,
(b) a filter cartridge arrangement comprising:
(i) a filter media pack comprising a stacked construction of individual strips of media each comprising a fluted sheet secured to facing sheet to define inlet and outlet flow channels extending between first and second, opposite, flow surfaces;
(ii) a molded side panel arrangement comprising at least first and second, opposite, molded panels molded directly to, and in sealing coverage over, a first set of two opposite sides of the media pack defined by lead ends and tail ends of the strips of media; and,
(iii) a housing seal arrangement molded-in-place on the filter cartridge arrangement;
(iv) the filter media pack having a second set of two opposite sides each of which is at least partially not covered by the molded side panel arrangement.
16. An air cleaner according to claim 15 wherein:
(a) the outlet section is selectively rotationally pivotable relative to the inlet section to release sealing pressure on the housing seal arrangement.
17. An air cleaner according to claim 15 wherein:
(a) the filter cartridge is removably positioned within a preformed cassette; and,
(b) the filter cartridge and cassette are positioned within the housing with the housing seal member pinched between a flange on the cassette and a portion of the housing.
18. A filter cartridge arrangement comprising:
(a) a filter media pack comprising a stacked construction of individual strips of media each comprising a fluted sheet secured to facing sheet to define inlet and outlet flow channels extending between first and second, opposite, flow surfaces;
(b) a molded side panel arrangement comprising at least first and second, opposite, molded panels molded directly to, and in sealing coverage over, a first set of two opposite sides of the media pack defined by lead ends and tail ends of the strips of media;
(i) the molded side panel arrangement comprising two, opposite, molded panels each defining a first edge adjacent the first flow face and a second edge adjacent the second flow face; and,
(ii) the first and second edges of the two, opposite, molded panels defining a projection/recess contour; and,
(c) a housing seal arrangement molded in place on the filter cartridge arrangement;
(i) the housing seal arrangement comprising a housing seal perimeter extension recessed from alignment with each edge.