Air filter arrangement; assembly; and, methods
An air filter arrangement is disclosed. The air filter arrangement includes media comprising corrugated media secured to facing media and defining a media pack having opposite flow faces. Media pack arrangements including such media are described. Also described are filter cartridges including such media packs and air cleaners including the filter cartridges. Advantageous housing seal arrangements having a pinch seal member and forming a trough are described. Methods of assembly and use are also provided. Also, systems of use are described.
1. An air filter cartridge arrangement comprising:
(a) filter media having first and second, opposite, flow faces; and,
(b) a housing seal arrangement positioned in extension around the media;
(i) the housing seal arrangement including a pinch seal member with a seal surface oriented to be pressed against a surface of an air cleaner, in use;
(c) the housing seal arrangement including: a molded portion positioned on, and extending around, the cartridge and supporting the pinch seal member, the molded portion that extends around the media including a taper portion shaped to taper downwardly in thickness, in a direction of extension away from the pinch seal member and toward one of the flow faces; and, a receiver positioned between at least a portion of the seal surface and the filter media;
(A) the receiver being open in a direction toward a selected one of the opposite flow faces; and,
(B) the receiver being configured to receive a portion of an air cleaner assembly projecting therein, during use.
2. An air cleaner cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the filter media comprises a media pack of fluted media secured to facing media and defining inlet and outlet flow channels extending between the opposite flow faces;
(i) the filter media being closed to airflow therethrough, from the first flow face to the opposite second flow face, without filtering flow through the media.
3. An air cleaner cartridge arrangement according to claim 2 wherein:
(a) the filter media comprises a stacked construction of individual strips of media comprising fluted media secured to facing media and defining the inlet and outlet flow channels extending between the opposite flow faces.
4. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 3 wherein:
(a) the first and second flow faces are planar.
5. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 4 wherein:
(a) the media has a first set of two opposite sides; and,
(b) the cartridge arrangement comprises a molded side panel arrangement including first and second molded panels molded directly to, and in sealing arrangement over, the first set of two opposite sides.
6. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 5 wherein:
(a) the media comprises a media pack having a parallelogram shape.
7. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 6 wherein:
(a) the media comprises a blocked, stacked, media pack.
8. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 7 wherein:
(a) the media has a second pair of opposite sides extending between the first pair of opposite sides; and, the cartridge arrangement includes:
(i) a first protective sheet positioned over a first one of the second pair of opposite sides; and,
(ii) a second protective sheet positioned over a second one of the second pair of opposite sides.
9. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 8 wherein:
(a) each one of the first and second protective sheets is secured in place by the molded side panel arrangement.
10. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 9 wherein:
(a) each one of the first and second protective sheets is a plastic sheet.
11. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 8 wherein:
(a) the pinch seal member is in plane parallel to the inlet flow face.
12. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the housing seal surface includes a portion molded to the media.
13. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:
(a) the receiver comprises a trough extending completely around the media.
14. An air filter cartridge arrangement comprising:
(a) filter media having first and second, opposite, flow faces; and,
(i) the filter media comprising a blocked, stacked, media pack of fluted media secured to facing media and defining inlet and outlet flow channels extending between the opposite flow faces;
(A) the filter media being closed to airflow therethrough, from the first flow face to the opposite second flow face, without filtering flow through the media; and
(ii) the blocked, stacked, media pack having a first set of two opposite sides; and
(b) the cartridge arrangement comprises a molded side panel arrangement including first and second molded panels molded directly to, and in sealing arrangement over, the first set of two opposite sides;
(c) a housing seal arrangement positioned in extension around the media;
(i) the housing seal arrangement including a pinch seal member with a seal surface oriented to be pressed against a surface of an air cleaner, in use;
(d) the housing seal arrangement including:
(i) a portion molded in place on, and extending around, the cartridge and supporting the pinch seal member;
(ii) a receiver positioned between at least a portion of the seal surface and the filter media;
(A) the receiver being open in a direction toward a selected one of the opposite flow faces; and,
(B) the receiver being configured to receive a portion of an air cleaner assembly projecting therein, during use.
15. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 14 wherein:
(a) the pinch seal member is in plane parallel to the inlet flow face.
16. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 14 wherein:
(a) the media has a second pair of opposite sides extending between the first pair of opposite sides; and,
(b) the cartridge arrangement including:
(i) a first protective sheet positioned over a first one of the second pair of opposite sides; and,
(ii) a second protective sheet positioned over a second one of the second pair of opposite sides.
17. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 14 wherein:
(a) the pinch seal member and the portion molded in place on, and extending around, the cartridge and supporting the pinch seal member are molded at the same time.
18. An air filter cartridge arrangement comprising:
(a) a filter media pack: comprising a combination of fluted media and facing media defining first and second, opposite, planar flow surfaces; and, having an outer perimeter; and,
(b) a housing seal arrangement extending around the outer perimeter of the filter media pack; the housing seal arrangement comprising:
(i) a pinch seal member configured to be pinched between seal flanges on a housing, when the air filter cartridge is installed for use;
(ii) an attachment portion extending from the pinch seal member toward the media pack; and,
(iii) the pinch seal member and attachment portion being molded integral with one another; and,
(c) a portion molded to the media pack that: comprises the same material as the pinch seal member and that includes an edge having at least first and second, spaced, projections thereon extending in a direction generally corresponding to a flow direction between the first and second flow surfaces.
19. An air filter cartridge arrangement according to claim 18 wherein:
(a) the pinch seal member is in a plane parallel to the inlet flow face.