Air filter element and method for producing same

Abstract

The invention pertains to an air filter element (100) comprising: a filter medium pack (110) comprising a filter medium, said filter medium pack having an optionally substantially planar first side (111) and an optionally substantially planar second side (112), said first side (111) and second side optionally being parallel (112); and a guiding rim (120) comprising a sealing surface having at least a radially oriented component, arranged on at least one of said first side (111) and said second side (112); wherein a circumference of the or each guiding rim comprises at least one convex portion and at least one concave portion; and wherein a contour of said filter medium pack (110) corresponds to said convex portion of said guiding rim and at least part of said concave portion. The invention also pertains to a method for producing an air filter element.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing an air filter element, the method comprising:
 a) rolling up at least one length of filter medium having a constant width, to produce a filter medium pack of a substantially tubular shape with a first side and second side; and   b) arranging a guiding rim comprising a sealing surface having at least a radial component on at least one of said first side and said second side, said sealing surface being configured to provide radial sealing when installed in a suitably shaped cavity;   c) wherein a circumference of the guiding rim comprises at least a convex portion and at least a concave portion; and   d) wherein a contour of said filter medium pack corresponds to said convex portion of said guiding rim and at least part of said concave portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of rolling up comprises rolling said length of filter medium around a core having a shape that is substantially geometrically similar to said circumference. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said contour is elongate and wherein at least one concave portion is present along a longitudinal side of said contour. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said rolling up comprises separately rolling up at least two rolled-up lengths of filter medium around respective cylindrical cores, and joining said two separately rolled-up lengths of filter medium being together by said arranging of said guiding rim. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said rolling up comprises rolling said length of filter medium around a core, the method further comprising removing said core from said filter medium pack and deforming said filter medium pack to obtain said contour. 
     
     
         16 . An air filter element comprising:
 a) a filter medium pack being formed from coiled fluted filter media, the filter medium pack having an outer circumference defining a convex portion and a concave portion;   b) a first guiding rim mounted to a first end of the filter medium pack, the first guiding rim defining a convex portion corresponding to the filter medium pack convex portion and defining a concave portion corresponding to the filter medium pack concave portion; and   c) a seal portion supported by the first guiding rim, the seal portion defining an outwardly directed radial sealing surface.   
     
     
         17 . The air filter element of  claim 16 , further including a second guiding rim mounted to a second end of the filter medium pack. 
     
     
         18 . The air filter element of  claim 16 , wherein the first guiding rim and the filter medium pack each have two convex portions and two concave portions. 
     
     
         19 . The air filter element of  claim 16 , wherein the filter medium pack further includes a central core. 
     
     
         20 . The air filter element of  claim 16 , wherein the filter medium pack has a cross-sectional shape characterized as one of a kidney-shape, a bean-shape, an 8-shape, an S-shape, and a W-shape. 
     
     
         21 . An air filter element comprising:
 a) a filter medium pack comprising a filter medium, said filter medium pack having a first side and a second side; and   b) a guiding rim comprising a sealing surface having at least a radially oriented component, arranged on at least one of said first side and said second side, said sealing surface being configured to provide radial sealing when installed in a suitably shaped cavity;   c) wherein said filter medium pack has a substantially tubular shape, comprising shapes obtained by one of rolling a length of filter medium, shapes obtained by arranging pleated filter media as a tube, and shapes obtained by combining multiple units that are substantially tubular; and   d) wherein a circumference of the guiding rim comprises at least one convex portion and at least one concave portion, and wherein a contour of said filter medium pack corresponds to said convex portion of said guiding rim and at least part of said concave portion.   
     
     
         22 . The air filter element according to  claim 21 , wherein said filter medium pack comprises a rolled-up length of filter medium having a tubular shape and a core that is substantially geometrically similar to said contour. 
     
     
         23 . The air filter element according to  claim 21 , wherein said filter medium pack comprises z-type filter media. 
     
     
         24 . The air filter element according to  claim 21 , wherein said filter medium pack comprises pleated filter media arranged in a tubular shape. 
     
     
         25 . The air filter element according  claim 21 , wherein said contour is elongate and wherein at least one concave portion is present along a longitudinal side of said contour. 
     
     
         26 . The air filter element according to  claim 21 , wherein said contour is essentially bean-shaped or kidney-shaped. 
     
     
         27 . The air filter element according to  claim 16 , wherein said filter medium pack comprises at least two separately rolled-up lengths of filter medium, said at least two separately rolled-up lengths of filter medium being held together by said guiding rim. 
     
     
         28 . The air filter element according to  claim 27 , wherein said contour is essentially 8-shaped. 
     
     
         29 . The air filter element according to  claim 21 , wherein said filter medium pack is rolled up such that the filter medium pack is without a hollow space at the center of the filter medium pack. 
     
     
         30 . An air filter system comprising a housing and an air filter element according to  claim 21 , said housing defining a cavity shaped so as to be able to hold said air filter element, whereby said sealing surface provides radial sealing against said housing, wherein said housing comprises an access window for inserting said air filter element into said cavity and removing said air filter element from said cavity, and wherein said access window is shaped and positioned in such a way that said air filter element can be inserted and removed by a movement that comprises a rotation.