Non-cylindrical filter element and side entry air cleaner incorporating the same

Abstract

A filter element is provided that is preferably a side entry air filter having an air filter media pack, a housing seal and a frame that has a clamping projection, a pivot projection and/or guide members. The clamping projection can define a non-linear bearing surface that may be chevron shaped to provide for interface and potential alignment benefits. The housing seal may be a wave seal that undulates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filter element, comprising:
 a filter media pack having an inlet end, an outlet end and an outer periphery extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the inlet end and the outlet end being separated along a central axis;   a frame supporting the filter media pack, the frame including a pivot projection and a clamp projection in spaced apart relationship, the pivot projection and the clamp projection projecting outwardly away from the outer periphery,   a housing seal supported by the frame surrounding the central axis;   wherein the clamp projection defines a non-linear bearing surface extending in a direction transverse to the central axis, with the nonlinear bearing surface being arranged relative to the pivot projection to cooperate for receiving forces in an axial direction of the central axis.   
     
     
         2 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is quadrilateral including a pair of first sidewalls on opposed sides, and a pair of second sidewalls on opposed sides and extending transversely between the first sidewalls, the pivot projection and the clamping projecting from the second sidewalls respectively on opposed sides. 
     
     
         3 . The filter element of  claim 2 , wherein the frame is rectangular with the first sidewalls being longer than the second sidewalls. 
     
     
         4 . The filter element of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one guide projection projecting outwardly away from the outer periphery along at least one of the first sidewalls, the at least one guide projection being located closer to the pivot projection than the clamp projection, being arranged to provide for pivot projection guidance. 
     
     
         5 . The filter element of  claim 2 , wherein the at least guide projection comprises a pair of guide projections projecting outwardly away from the outer periphery along opposed sides of the first sidewalls, the guide projections being in the form of slide followers located to be adapted to slide along a housing rail surface. 
     
     
         6 . The filter element of  claim 2 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of corner regions that extend fully between the inlet end and the outlet end, and recessed saddle regions between corner regions; and wherein the frame defines a continuous quadrilateral border region proximate the housing seal. 
     
     
         7 . The filter element of  claim 2 , wherein the frame comprises a seal support flange projecting radially outward from the first and second sidewalls in surrounding relation of the filter media pack. 
     
     
         8 . The filter element of  claim 7 , wherein the seal support flange and the housing seal are undulating in a direction along the first sidewalls, and are linear in a direction along the second sidewalls. 
     
     
         9 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media pack is quadrilateral and the frame is quadrilateral to include a quadrilateral border region, and further comprising a quadrilateral filter pack seal sealing between the filter media pack and the quadrilateral border region. 
     
     
         10 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media pack is permanently bonded to the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein the non-linear bearing surface comprises a centering notch formed centrally and facing toward one of the inlet end and the outlet end, and wherein the centering notch projects away from the housing seal. 
     
     
         12 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the clamp projection and the pivot projection are located on opposite sides of the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp projection comprises a block member defining and undercut to provide a handle structure configured for grasping. 
     
     
         14 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein clamp projection comprises a block member defining a central recess configured for receiving a center camming projection and first and second wings on opposed sides defining portions of the nonlinear bearing surface. 
     
     
         15 . The filter element of  claim 14 , wherein the non-linear bearing surface extends continuously through the recess and first and second wings. 
     
     
         16 . The filter element of  claim 14 , wherein the frame defines a peripheral sidewall surrounding the filter media pack, and wherein the block member defines an outer plate portion spaced from the sidewall and connecting plate portions extending radially and connecting between the outer plate portion and the peripheral sidewall, the outer plate portion defining the non-linear bearing surface and defining a centering notch formed centrally and facing toward one of the inlet end and the outlet end, and projecting away from the housing seal to provide the central recess. 
     
     
         17 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is a plastic member, the housing seal is a compressible elastomeric material for forming an axial seal, and the filter media pack is at least one of a fluted construction and a pleated construction to provide a direct inline flow filter in the direction of the central axis. 
     
     
         18 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein the non-linear bearing surface is chevron shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The filter element of  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is configured for use with an air cleaner housing having a pivot receptacle in a housing base and a clamping cam surface on a pivotable housing lid, the filter element further comprising:
 wherein the pivot projection is configured and arranged for engagement with the pivot receptacle, and wherein the clamp projection is configured and arranged for engagement with the clamping cam surface, such that the filter element is configured to for developing axial clamping force along the central axis for axial sealing of the housing seal, the housing seal being an axial seal.   
     
     
         20 . An air cleaner assembly including the filter element of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 an air cleaner housing including a housing base and a housing lid pivotably connected to the housing base, the housing base defining a filter cavity, an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the filter cavity in fluid series between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, and a side-entry filter install window defined along an open side of the housing base that opens to the filter cavity, the housing lid being openable and closeable over the inlet opening;   the housing base comprising a housing sealing seat and a pivot receptacle, the pivot receptacle being along a closed side of the housing based opposite the open side, the housing seal seat along the filter cavity and surrounding the central axis when the filter element is installed in the housing base;   the housing lid defining a clamping cam surface arranged opposite the pivot receptacle;   the filter element including an installed position within the filter cavity with the pivot projection inserted in the pivot receptacle, and with the housing lid in closed position over the filter element wherein the clamping cam surface is axially engaging the clamp projection along the non-linear bearing surface axially compressing the housing seal against the housing seat.   
     
     
         21 . The air cleaner assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the filter element includes a released position within the filter cavity when the housing lid is pivoted open from the closed position releasing axial compression of the housing seal relative to the installed position, and wherein the pivot projection is inserted in the pivot receptacle with the filter element pivoted away from the housing sealing seat relative to the installed position. 
     
     
         22 . The air cleaner assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the filter element includes a pair of guide projections projecting outwardly away from the outer periphery along opposite sides thereof, and the housing base defines a pair of guide track channels extending at least partially between the open end and the closed end, the guide track channels defining housing rail surfaces, respectively that extend obliquely relative to the central axis such that during installation of the filter element through the side-entry filter install window the guide projections slide along the housing rail surfaces, respectively, to guide the pivot projection into the pivot receptacle. 
     
     
         23 . A method of using the air filter element of  claim 1 , comprising:
 installing the filter element into a side entry window of a housing base so that the pivot projection is received into a pivot receptacle of a housing base;   pivoting the filter element into sealing engagement with the housing base by closing a lid over the side entry window which drives the filter element axially by engaging the clamp projection with the lid in clamping cooperation with the pivot projection; and   sealing the filter element axially against a housing seating surface defined by the housing base.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising guiding the installing via cooperating guide structures on the housing base and the filter element respectively. 
     
     
         25 . A filter element, comprising:
 a filter media pack having an inlet end, an outlet end and an outer periphery extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the inlet end and the outlet end being separated along a central axis;   a housing seal connected to the filter media pack in surrounding relation of the central axis;   a clamp projection connected to the filter media pack, the clamp projection defines a continuous or non-continuous non-linear bearing surface extending in a direction transverse to the central axis, wherein the non-linear bearing surface is chevron shaped.   
     
     
         26 . The filter element of  claim 25 , wherein the non-linear bearing surface comprises a centering notch formed centrally and facing toward one of the inlet end and the outlet end, and projecting away from the housing seal. 
     
     
         27 . The filter element of  claim 25 , further comprising means spaced away from the clamp projection for cooperating with the clamping notch to facilitating axial compression of the housing seal. 
     
     
         28 . The filter element of  claim 25 , wherein the clamp projection comprises a block member defining and undercut to provide a handle structure configured for grasping. 
     
     
         29 . The filter element of  claim 25 , wherein clamp projection comprises a block member defining a central recess configured for receiving a center camming projection and first and second wings on opposed sides defining portions of the nonlinear bearing surface. 
     
     
         30 . The filter element of  claim 29 , wherein the non-linear bearing surface extends continuously through the recess and first and second wings, thereby providing the chevron shape. 
     
     
         31 . The filter element of  claim 25 , further comprising a molded plastic frame member in surrounding relation of the filter media pack and integrally providing the clamp projection. 
     
     
         32 . A filter element, configured for use with an air cleaner housing having a pivot receptacle in a housing base, with the housing based providing a pair of guide track channels extending at least partially between an open end defining a side-entry window and the closed end, the guide track channels defining housing rail surfaces, the filter element comprising:
 a filter media pack having an inlet end, an outlet end and an outer periphery extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the inlet end and the outlet end being separated along a central axis;   a frame supporting the filter media pack to provide a filter element size that is receivable into the side-entry window, the frame including (a) a pivot projection and (b) a pair of guide projections in spaced relation to the pivot projection, the guides projections configured to engage the housing rail surfaces, the pivot projection configured to engage the pivot receptacle; and   a housing seal extending around to the filter media pack.   
     
     
         33 . The filter element of  claim 32 , further comprising a clamp projection connected to the filter media pack via the frame, the clamp projection being defined by the frame, the clamp projection defining a non-linear bearing surface extending in a direction transverse to the central axis. 
     
     
         34 . The filter element of  claim 33 , wherein the non-linear bearing surface is chevron shaped and configured to interact with a corresponding chevron shaped cam surface of a housing lid. 
     
     
         35 . A filter element comprising:
 a filter media pack having an inlet end, an outlet end and an outer periphery extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the inlet end and the outlet end being separated along a central axis;   a frame supporting the filter media pack, wherein the frame is quadrilateral including a pair of first sidewalls on opposed sides, and a pair of second sidewalls on opposed sides and extending transversely between the first sidewalls.   a housing seal arranged about the filter media pack, wherein the housing seal has an axial seal surface for forming an axial seal that undulates axially over at least a portion of the housing seal.   
     
     
         36 . The filter element of  claim 35 , wherein the frame comprises a seal support flange projecting radially outward from the first and second sidewalls in surrounding relation of the filter media pack, the housing seal in axial abutment contact with the seal support flange. 
     
     
         37 . The filter element of  claim 35 , wherein the axial seal surface is undulating in a first direction extending along the first sidewalls, and are linear in a second direction along the second sidewalls. 
     
     
         38 . The filter element of  claim 37 , wherein the housing seal is molded to the frame and to the filter media pack and includes axially extending walls of seal material along the outer periphery of the filter media pack along valleys of the axial seal surface in undulated valley regions. 
     
     
         39 . The filter element of  claim 35 , wherein the housing seal is secured to the frame and further comprising an additional seal material separately sealing internally between the frame and the filter media pack.