Non-cylinderical filter elements; and, methods
A filter element that has at least two, planar, non-curved filtration panels. In a preferred embodiment, the filter element has three panels, providing a generally triangular filter element. The outlet aperture, from the filter element, generally follows the configuration of the filter. That is, a filter element having three filtration panels will have a generally three-sided outlet aperture. The outlet aperture preferably is not a true polygon, but rather, includes rounded or curved sides and/or corners. The filter element includes an outlet sealing configuration that may provide both axial and radial sealing to outlet ductwork.
1. A filter element comprising:
(a) filter media;
(b) support structure supporting the filter media;
(i) the support structure and media defining an open filter interior;
(ii) the support structure defining a first closed end; and,
(iii) the support structure defining a second end opposite the first end; the second end having a non-circular outlet aperture therethrough in communication with the open filter interior;
(c) a non-circular trough in the second end of the support structure and in extension around the non-circular outlet aperture in the second end of the support structure; and,
(d) a non-circular seal member positioned recessed in the non-circular trough from at least one side of the trough.
2. A filter element according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the trough is positioned between first and second, trough edges; and,
(b) the seal member is positioned between the first and second edges and recessed from each one of the first end second trough edges.
3. A filter element according to claim 1 wherein:
(c) the non-circular seal member has a perimeter with three, spaced, outwardly directed lobes positioned around the outlet aperture.
4. A filter element according to claim 3 wherein:
(a) the non-circular seal member has only three outwardly directed lobes.
5. A filter element according to claim 3 wherein:
(a) the non-circular seal member has a perimeter shape in which the spaced, outwardly directed lobes are separated by straight sections of seal material.
6. A filter element according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the filter media comprises at least one planar filtration panel.
7. A filter element according to claim 6 wherein:
(a) the filter media comprises at least two planar filtration panels.
8. A filter element according to claim 1 including:
(a) a first handle on the support structure at a location between the first and second ends of the support structure.
9. A filter element according to claim 8 wherein:
(a) the filter media includes media on opposite sides of a first recessed region in the support structure; the recessed region being positioned at a location between the first and second ends of the support structure; and,
(b) the first handle is positioned in the first recessed region in the support structure.
10. A filter element comprising:
(a) filter media;
(b) support structure supporting the filter media;
(i) the support structure and media defining an open filter interior;
(ii) the support structure defining a first, closed, end; and,
(iii) the support structure defining a second end opposite the first end; the second end having a non-circular outlet aperture therethrough in communication with the open filter interior; and,
(c) a non-circular seal member having a perimeter with at least three, spaced, outwardly directed lobes each having separate straight sections of equal length positioned around the outlet aperture.
11. A filter element according to claim 10 wherein:
(a) the non-circular seal member has only three, spaced, outwardly directed lobes.
12. A filter element according to claim 10 wherein:
(a) the support structure includes a trough that surrounds the non-circular outlet aperture in the second end; and,
(b) the seal member is positioned within the trough.
13. A filter element according to claim 12 wherein:
(a) the trough is positioned between first and second trough edges; and,
(b) the seal member is positioned between the first and second trough edges and recessed from at least one of the first end second trough edges.
14. A filter element according to claim 13 wherein:
(a) the seal member is recessed from each of the first and second trough edges.
15. A filter element according to claim 10 wherein:
(a) the non-circular seal member is triangular.
16. A filter element according to claim 10 wherein:
(a) the filter media comprises at least one planar filtration panel.
17. A filter element according to claim 16 wherein:
(a) the filter media comprises at least two planar filtration panels.
18. A filter element according to claim 16 wherein:
(a) the filter media comprises at least four filtration panels.
19. A filter element according to claim 10 including:
(a) a first mounting element positioned on the support structure.
20. A filter element according to claim 19 including:
(a) a second mounting element positioned on the support structure.
21. A filter element according to claim 10 including:
(a) a first handle is positioned on the support structure at a location between the first and second ends of the support structure.
22. A filter element according to claim 21 wherein:
(a) the filter media includes media on opposite sides of a first recessed region on the support structure; the recessed region being positioned at a location between the first and second ends of the support structure; and,
(b) the first handle is positioned in the first recessed region.
23. A filter element comprising:
(a) filter media;
(b) support structure; the support structure and media defining an open filter interior;
(c) the filter element having a first, closed, filter element end; and,
(d) the support structure being directly connected to a second filter element end opposite the first closed end; the second filter element end having an aperture therethrough in communication with the open filter interior;
(e) seal member positioned on the second end of the filter element and surrounding the aperture through the second end; the seal member being shaped to define a non-circular, radially directed, engagement with an outlet; the seal member having at least three, spaced, lobes.
24. A filter element according to claim 23 wherein:
(a) the seal member is configured to form a radially inwardly directed engagement with an outlet.
25. A filter element according to claim 24 wherein:
(a) the seal member is configured to seal around a duct.
26. A filter element according to claim 24 wherein:
(a) a band clamp is positioned around the seal member.
27. A filter element according to claim 24 wherein:
(a) the media is configured in a plurality of panels.
28. A filter element comprising:
(a) filter media;
(b) support structure supporting the filter media;
(i) the support structure and media defining an open filter interior;
(ii) the support structure defining a first, closed, end; and,
(iii) the support structure defining a second end opposite the first end; the second end having a non-circular outlet aperture therethrough in communication with the open filter interior; and,
(c) a non-circular seal member having a perimeter with at least three, spaced, outwardly directed lobes positioned around the outlet aperture; and,
(d) a first handle positioned on the support structure at a location between the first and second ends of the support structure;
(e) the filter media including media on opposite sides of a first recessed region on the support structure; the recessed region being positioned at a location between the first and second ends of the support structure; and,
(f) the first handle being positioned in the first recessed region.
29. A filter element comprising:
(a) filter media;
(b) support structure supporting the filter media;
(i) the support structure and media defining an open filter interior;
(ii) the support structure defining a first, closed, end; and,
(iii) the support structure defining a second end opposite the first end; the second end having a non-circular outlet aperture therethrough in communication with the open filter interior; and, (c) a non-circular seal member having a perimeter with only three, spaced, outwardly directed lobes positioned around the outlet aperture.