Air filter arrangement; assembly; and, methods

1. An air filter cartridge comprising:

(a) a media arrangement comprising filter media;

(b) first and second, opposite, molded side pieces having the media extending therebetween;

(c) a perimeter housing seal comprising an axial pinch seal;

(i) the perimeter housing seal having a first sealing surface, for sealing engagement with a housing during use;

(d) the air filter cartridge: including an inlet flow end and an outlet flow end; and, having a rectangular cross-section, at an intermediate location between the flow ends, in a direction perpendicular to a direction between the inlet and outlet flow ends;

(i) the first and second, opposite, side pieces each having a downstream edge adjacent the outlet flow end that does not extend perpendicular to a direction of air flow through the filter cartridge during filtering; and,

(ii) the first sealing surface faces in a direction toward the outlet flow end;

(A) the first sealing surface having a portion, extending across the first molded side piece, that extends non-parallel to the downstream edge of the first molded side piece; and,

(B) the first sealing surface having a portion, extending across the second molded side piece, that extends non-parallel to the downstream edge of the second molded side piece.

2. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the filter media extends, in a direction between the flow ends, at least 6 inches.

3. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the filter media extends, in a direction between the flow ends, 6-10 inches.

4. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the first sealing surface extends, in a direction of extension between the first and second end pieces, along a direction perpendicular to a flow direction between the inlet and outlet flow ends.

5. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the media at the intermediate portion has a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a height of no more than 50% of a width; the width being in a direction between the first and second end pieces and the height being perpendicular to the width.

6. An air filter cartridge according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) the media intermediate portion has a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a height of no more than 35% of the width.

7. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the first and second, opposite, molded side pieces are molded with media embedded therein.

8. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the axial pinch seal is molded-in-place.

9. An air filter cartridge according to claim 8 wherein:

(a) the axial pinch seal is molded-in-place on a seal support that extends around the media.

10. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the cartridge includes planar inlet and outlet flow ends.

11. An air filter cartridge according to claim 10 wherein:

(a) the planar inlet and outlet flow ends extend parallel to one another.

12. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the inlet and outlet flow ends extend parallel to one another.

13. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the perimeter housing seal arrangement is an intermediate axial pinch seal.

14. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the first and second, opposite, molded side pieces are spaced from, and separately molded from, one another.

15. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:

(a) a grid arrangement extending across the outlet flow end.

16. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the media arrangement comprises flutes extending in a direction between the inlet flow end and the outlet flow end.

17. An air filter cartridge according to claim 16 wherein:

(a) the media arrangement comprises a stack of strips of filter media; each strip comprising fluted media secured to facing media.

18. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the stack of strips comprises a slanted stack having a parallelogram shape with an acute slant angle.

19. An air filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the perimeter housing seal is a slanted seal arrangement extending at an acute slant angle, to an axial direction between the opposite flow faces, within the range of 30° to 80° inclusive.

20. An air cleaner arrangement comprising:

(a) a housing defining an interior and first and second separable sections;

(i) the first section comprising an air flow inlet section having an air flow inlet therein; and,

(ii) the second section comprising an air flow outlet section having an air flow outlet therein;

(b) an air filter cartridge operably positioned within the housing; the air filter cartridge comprising:

(i) a media arrangement comprising filter media;

(ii) first and second, opposite, molded side pieces having the media extending therebetween;

(A) a perimeter housing seal comprising an axial pinch seal;

(1) the perimeter housing seal having a first sealing surface, for sealing engagement with a housing during use;

(iii) the air filter cartridge: including an inlet flow end and an outlet flow end; and, having a rectangular cross-section, at an intermediate location between the flow ends, in a direction perpendicular to a direction between the inlet and outlet flow ends;

(A) the first and second, opposite, side pieces each having a downstream edge adjacent the outlet flow end that does not extend perpendicular to a direction of air flow through the filter cartridge during filtering; and,

(B) the first sealing surface faces in a direction toward the outlet flow end;

(1) the first sealing surface having a portion, extending across the first molded side piece, that extends non-parallel to the downstream edge of the first molded side piece; and,

(2) the first sealing surface having a portion, extending across the second molded side piece, that extends non-parallel to the downstream edge of the second molded side piece.