Aerosol separator assembly; components; and methods

1. A filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream and for use in filtering the gas stream; the filter cartridge comprising:

(a) a media pack comprising filtration media surrounding an open interior and including first and second, opposite, ends;

(b) a first end piece adjacent the first end of the media pack; the first end piece having a first, outer, end surface on an opposite side of the first end piece from the media pack;

(i) the first end piece including a perimeter housing seal arrangement thereon; the perimeter housing seal arrangement comprising a seal member configured to form a larger perimeter than the media pack and configured to form a releasable seal with a housing, when the filter cartridge is installed in a housing, for use;

(ii) the first end piece including a central flow aperture arrangement projecting therethrough in communication with the open interior of the media pack; and

(iii) the first end piece including a non-circular projection positioned around the central flow aperture arrangement and projecting from the first end piece in a direction axially opposite the media pack; the non-circular projection being positioned spaced from an outer perimeter of the first end piece.

2. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the non-circular projection is non-continuous and includes a liquid drain gap arrangement therethrough.

3. A filter cartridge according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) the non-circular projection defines an outer perimeter with a first straight side portion and an opposite curved side portion.

4. A filter cartridge according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) the drain gap arrangement comprises a gap in the first straight side portion.

5. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:

(a) a handle member positioned on the first end piece and projecting in a direction away from the media pack;

(i) the handle member being non-collapsible and including a handle bridge section forming a handle opening thereunder between the handle bridge section and an adjacent portion of the first end piece; the handle opening being sized to permit at least a portion of a person's hand to project therethrough.

6. A filter cartridge according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) the handle member comprises a perimeter handle member positioned adjacent the outer perimeter of the first end piece.

7. A filter cartridge according to claim 6 wherein:

(a) the perimeter handle member is radially positioned with the handle opening aligned with, and directed toward, a first straight side of the non-circular projection.

8. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:

(a) the first end piece includes a peripheral rim projection extending in a direction away from the media pack;

(i) the peripheral rim projection surrounding a recessed surface portion of the first end piece; the recessed surface portion extending between the peripheral rim projection and the non-circular projection.

9. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the first end piece includes a first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement comprising a first radial projection spaced from a first locator shoulder to define a first locator receiver gap therebetween.

10. A filter cartridge according to claim 9 wherein:

(a) the first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement includes a second radial projection spaced from a second locator shoulder to define a second locator receiving gap therebetween;

(i) the first and second locator gaps being radially spaced, on center, a smallest radial amount of less than 180°.

11. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:

(a) a second end piece positioned spaced from the first end piece with the media pack positioned therebetween.

12. A filter cartridge according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) the second end piece and the first end piece are positioned at opposite ends of a central, tubular, media support extending through the open interior of the media pack.

13. A filter cartridge according to claim 12 wherein:

(a) the second end piece includes: (i) a closed central portion overlapping, and closing, an end of the open interior of the media pack; and, (ii) an outer perimeter section comprising a plurality of spaced projections and a plurality of drain regions between the spaced projections; each drain region being at least in part, in direct drain overlap with an end of media in the media pack at a location adjacent the second end piece.

14. A filter cartridge according to claim 13 wherein:

(a) the closed central portion of the second end piece is positioned projecting into the end of the open interior of the media pack; and,

(b) the second end piece includes a closed transition portion between the closed central portion and the outer perimeter section.

15. A filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream and for use in filtering the gas stream; the filter cartridge comprising:

(a) a media pack comprising filtration media surrounding an open interior and including first and second, opposite, ends;

(b) a first end piece adjacent the first end of the media pack; the first end piece having a first, outer, end surface on an opposite side of the first end piece from the media pack;

(i) the first end piece including a perimeter housing seal arrangement thereon;

(ii) the first end piece including a central flow aperture arrangement projecting therethrough in communication with the open interior of the media pack; and

(iii) the first end piece including a non-circular projection positioned around the central flow aperture arrangement and projecting from the first end piece in a direction axially opposite the media pack; the non-circular projection being positioned spaced from an outer perimeter of the first end piece;

(A) the non-circular projection being non-continuous and including a liquid drain gap arrangement therethrough; and,

(B) the non-circular projection defining an outer perimeter with a first straight side portion and an opposite curved side portion.

16. A filter cartridge according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the drain gap arrangement comprises a gap in the first straight side portion.

17. A filter cartridge according to claim 15 including:

(a) a handle member positioned on the first end piece and projecting in a direction away from the media pack;

(i) the handle member being non-collapsible and including a handle bridge section forming a handle opening thereunder between the handle bridge section and an adjacent portion of the first end piece; the handle opening being sized to permit at least a portion of a person's hand to project therethrough.

18. A filter cartridge according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the first end piece includes a peripheral rim projection extending in a direction away from the media pack;

(i) the peripheral rim projection surrounding a recessed surface portion of the first end piece; the recessed surface portion extending between the peripheral rim projection and the non-circular projection.

19. A filter cartridge according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the first end piece includes a first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement comprising a first radial projection spaced from a first locator shoulder to define a first locator receiver gap therebetween.

20. A filter cartridge according to claim 15 including:

(a) a second end piece positioned spaced from the first end piece with the media pack positioned therebetween;

(i) the second end piece and the first end piece being positioned at opposite ends of a central, tubular, media support extending through the open interior of the media pack; and,

(ii) the second end piece including: (i) a closed central portion overlapping, and closing, an end of the open interior of the media pack; and, (ii) an outer perimeter section comprising a plurality of spaced projections and a plurality of drain regions between the spaced projections; each drain region being, at least in part, in direct drain overlap with an end of media in the media pack at a location adjacent the second end piece.