Air cleaner, components thereof, and methods

Abstract

A filter cartridge includes a media pack having first and second opposite flow faces; the media pack comprising flutes extending in a direction between the inlet flow face and the outlet flow face; a frame mounted on the second flow face of the media pack; a seal support section extending from the base member; and first and second opposite and spaced blades extending from the base member and in a different direction from the base member as the seal support section. The first and second blades are embedded within the media pack through the second flow face. A seal member is oriented against the seal support section. The filter cartridge can be removably oriented in a cassette. The cassette and filter cartridge are removably oriented in an air cleaner housing. The cassette may include lugs to help position the cartridge in sealing engagement with the air cleaner housing. In another embodiment, the filter cartridge is cassette-free and includes a cartridge-handle projecting therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air filter cartridge comprising:
 (a) a media pack having first and second opposite flow faces; the media pack comprising a stack of strips of single facer filter media material, each strip including a fluted media sheet secured to a facing media sheet and oriented with flutes of each fluted sheet extending in a direction between the first and second, opposite, flow faces; a frame mounted on the second flow face of the media pack; the frame including:
 (i) a base member defining an airflow opening arrangement in communication with the second flow face; 
 (ii) a seal support section extending from the base member along a perimeter of the airflow opening arrangement; 
 (iii) a seal member oriented against the seal support section; 
 (iv) first and second opposite and spaced blades extending from the base member and in a different direction from the base member as the seal support section;
 (i) the first and second blades being embedded within the media pack through the second flow face; 
 (ii) the first blade extending from the base member into the media pack between adjacent strips of single facer media; and 
 (ii) the second blade extending from the base member into the media pack between adjacent strips of single facer media. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the media pack has first and second opposite sides extending between the first and second opposite flow faces; and 
 the cartridge further comprises: 
 (b) a first side panel secured to the first side of the media pack; 
 (c) a second side panel secured to the second side of the media pack; 
 
     
     
         3 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the base member of the frame has first and second opposite edges;
 (i) the first and second blades extend from the first and second edges of the base member; and 
 
 (b) the seal member includes a portion positioned against:
 (i) an exterior surface of the seal support section; 
 (ii) an exterior surface of the base member; 
 (iii) a portion of the first side panel; and 
 (iv) a portion of the second side panel. 
 
 
     
     
         4 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 3  wherein:
 (a) the seal member has a surface configured to from a radially outwardly directed seal with an air cleaner housing. 
 
     
     
         5 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 3  wherein:
 (a) the media pack further includes third and fourth opposite sides extending between the first and second opposite flow faces; and 
 (b) the seal member includes a portion positioned against the third and fourth sides of the media pack. 
 
     
     
         6 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the frame further includes a media face cross-piece arrangement in engagement with the base member. 
 
     
     
         7 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first and second blades are connected only by an intervening portion of the base member. 
 
     
     
         8 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first and second blades each has a length extending from the base member into the media pack of at least 5 mm and no greater than 30 mm; 
 (b) the first and second blades each has a cross-sectional thickness of no greater than 4 mm; 
 (c) each strip of single facer filter media material has a facing sheet that is non-fluted; 
 (d) the first flow face has a rectangular perimeter shape; 
 (e) the second flow face has a rectangular perimeter shape; 
 (f) the seal support section has an end tip; and 
 (g) a portion of the seal member is positioned over the end tip. 
 
     
     
         9 . An air filter cartridge comprising:
 (a) a media pack of filtration media having inlet and outlet opposite flow faces; the media pack comprising a media construction with inlets open at a region adjacent the inlet face and outlets adjacent the outlet face, the media pack being closed to air entering the inlet flow face and passing outwardly from the outlet flow face without filtering flow through media of the media pack;
 (i) the media pack having opposite first and second sides and opposite third and fourth sides therebetween; 
 (ii) the third and fourth sides are longer than the first and second sides; 
   (b) a shell secured to the media pack; the shell including a frame mounted against the outlet flow face and a seal support section;
 (i) the frame including a media face cross-piece arrangement extending across the outlet flow face; 
   (c) a seal member oriented against the seal support section; and   (d) a cartridge-handle secured to and projecting from the shell on the third side of the media pack.   
     
     
         10 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the seal member has a surface configured to from a radially outwardly directed seal with an air cleaner housing. 
 
     
     
         11 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the inlet flow face has a rectangular perimeter shape; and 
 (b) the outlet flow face has a rectangular perimeter shape. 
 
     
     
         12 . An air filter cartridge according to  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the seal support section has an end tip; and 
 (b) a portion of the seal member is positioned over the end tip. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of servicing an air cleaner; the method comprising:
 (a) grasping a cover of an air cleaner and pivoting the cover away from an air cleaner housing; the step of pivoting the cover away includes:
 (i) moving a projection arrangement extending from the cover from a position adjacent to a cassette-free filter cartridge; the projection arrangement including at least first and second legs extending from the interior surface of the cover; and 
 (ii) exposing a handle on the cassette-free filter cartridge from a receiver in the cover; 
   (b) grasping the handle on the filter cartridge and releasing a seal between the filter cartridge and the housing by removing the filter cartridge from the housing;   (c) providing a new filter cartridge, the new filter cartridge including a media pack, a seal member secured to the media pack, and a handle extending therefrom; the new filter cartridge being cassette-free;   (d) operably installing the new filter cartridge into the housing by forming a seal between the seal member and the housing;   (e) closing the cover to:
 (i) orient the projection arrangement on the cover between the inlet flow face and the housing; and 
 (ii) orient the receiver of the cover so that the handle of the new filter cartridge is within the receiver. 
   
     
     
         14 . A method of servicing according to  claim 13  wherein:
 (a) the step operably installing the new filter cartridge into the housing includes forming a radially outwardly directed seal with the housing. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of servicing according to  claim 14  wherein:
 (a) the step of providing a new filter cartridge includes providing a media pack having opposite inlet and outlet flow faces, a plurality of flutes extending in a direction between the inlet flow face and the outlet flow face and configured to provide the media pack to be closed to air entering the inlet flow face and passing outwardly from the outlet flow face without filtering flow through media of the media pack.