Air cleaner having anti-rotational arrangement and methods

Abstract

An air cleaner having a housing body and a removable cover and a filter element, in which the cover and the filter element rotationally interfere with each other by engagement between an inside surface of the cover and an outer radial periphery of the filter element. A filter element includes a pair of end caps, filter media, and an outer wall on the end cap circumscribing the filter media, in which the outer wall is non-circular. A method of installing a filter element into a housing includes orienting a cover over an element and a housing body by engaging an inside surface of the cover and an outer radial periphery of the filter element to rotationally interfere with each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of installing a filter element into a housing; the housing including a housing body and a removable cover; the cover having an inside surface; the filter element having an outer radial periphery; the method including operably orienting the filter element into the housing body and orienting the cover over the element and the housing body; the method including:
 the step of orienting the cover over the element and the housing body includes engaging the cover inside surface and the filter element outer radial periphery to rotationally interfere with each other, which includes engaging an end cap on the filter element having an outer wall with ribs projecting therefrom against the cover inside surface having a polygon shape and venting slots to receive the ribs.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of operably orienting the filter element into the housing body includes forming a radial seal between the filter element and the housing body. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of engaging the cover inside surface and the filter element outer radial periphery to rotationally interfere with each other includes engaging an end cap on the filter element having an outer wall with a regular polygon shape against the cover inside surface; the cover inside surface also having a regular polygon shape. 
     
     
         4 . A filter element comprising:
 a tubular extension of filter media defining an open filter interior; a first end cap secured to the tubular extension of filter media; the first end cap defining an opening in communication with the open filter interior; a second end cap secured to the tubular extension of filter media opposite of the first end cap;   the second end cap including an outer wall circumscribing the tubular extension of filter media; the outer wall being polygon-shaped and having a first section and a second section extending from the first section; the first section having a non-circular shape; and the second section having a circular shape.   the outer wall defining a plurality of apices;   the outer wall including a first plurality of ribs; and   the first plurality of ribs being fewer in number than the plurality of apices; each of the ribs being aligned with a respective one of the plurality of apices.   
     
     
         5 . A filter element according to  claim 4  wherein the second end cap includes an axial portion having a central region with a closed recess projecting into the open filter interior and a projection extending axially from said central region. 
     
     
         6 . A filter element according to  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) the first end cap defines a sealing portion; the sealing portion extending radially into the opening; 
 (b) the tubular extension of media comprises a cylindrical extension of pleated media; and 
 (c) the filter element further includes an inner liner and an outer liner with the cylindrical extension of pleated media therebetween. 
 
     
     
         7 . An air cleaner having a filter element according to  claim 4 ; the air cleaner comprising:
 a housing body and a separate cover removable from the housing body; the cover having an inside surface; the filter element operably mounted in the housing body; the filter element having an outer wall with an outer radial periphery; the cover being mounted over the body and the filter element;   the cover and the filter element interfering with each other by rotational engagement between the cover inside surface and the filter element outer radial periphery;   the cover inside surface defining a plurality of apices and the outer wall defining a plurality of apices; and   the cover inside surface defining at least one venting slot aligned with at least one of the plurality of apices in the cover inside surface.   
     
     
         8 . An air cleaner according to  claim 7  wherein:
 (a) the cover inside surface is non-circular. 
 
     
     
         9 . An air cleaner according to  claim 7  further comprising a safety element oriented in an interior of the filter element.