Abstract: An air filter element for internal combustion engines includes a filter media having an inlet portion and an outlet portion positioned adjacent to one another, so that a single filter element may be used with an air filter assembly; the filter element having an inlet and an outlet openings in the same direction. The inlet and outlet portions of the filter element are sealed with a housing by a common peripheral gasket.

Abstract: A filter apparatus and method wherein successive layers of filter medium are spaced apart from each other a preselected distance to create a substantially direct, in-line through-flow void space therebetween evaluated upon the porosity and thickness of the successive filter mediums, pleated spacer/filter arrangements being employed to create a combined overall filter media with an included through-flow void space for fractionated distribution of particles between the successive layers of filter medium to maximize particulate holding capacity of the overall filter media.

Abstract: A filter insert. The filter insert includes an accordion fold pack that is made of a filter material and is joined to a filter frame. The material of the filter frame is injected in a flowable state into the folds of the accordion fold pack which are open in the on-coming flow direction of the medium to be filtered. The material is subsequently hardened during automatic claw fixation with the fold walls. The entire peripheral edge of the accordion fold pack sealingly overlaps the outer boundary surfaces of the filter frame, and is designed as a sealing device.

Abstract: An air filter for an for an air intake of an internal combustion engine. The filter includes a housing with a raw air inlet and a clean air outlet and an annular filter element having a pleated filter medium disposed therein. At least one buttressing element is provided to support the filter medium at the clean air side. The buttressing element has a knife-edge buttress disposed on the housing that extends to a position of maximum flexure of the filter element. The knife-edge buttress is further provided with a support shoe disposed thereon such that the shoe supports the filter element.

Abstract: The invention concerns a gas filter unit or cartridge type, including a filter material put together to form one or several filter bags, and a support frame of essentially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, including a web portion and two lateral leg members in adjoining relationship, the filter material closest to the mouths of the filter bags being clamped in position between said lateral leg members. In accordance with the invention, the frame includes profile sections of a flexible material, preferably a plastics material, at least one of said lateral leg members being hingedly interconnected with the web portion, in addition to which locking means are provided to retain the corresponding lateral leg member in its clamping position in which it is pivoted into engagement with the other lateral leg member.

Abstract: An air cleaner provided with a bellows-like air cleaning filter includes an air permeable and pliable strip-like mesh element (3), a plurality of rectangular plastic frames (4) arrayed side by side with a predetermined pitch on one or both surfaces and along the full length of the mesh element (3), the plastic frames (4) being injection-molded and provided at both end portions in the width-wise direction with angled protrusions (5) having an approximately triangular cross-section and hinge portions (7) formed by thinning or linearly grooving a joint portion of the frames (4) between neighboring plastic frames (4). The bellows-like air cleaning filter is employed by transforming it into a cylindrical shape and fitting end caps (9) thereto.

Abstract: A filter assembly is formed of an impervious elongated tubular housing and an elongated filter member positioned within the housing. In a first embodiment a barrier is interposed between a filter member first surface and the housing internal tubular surface adjacent the housing inlet end and another barrier is interposed between the filter member second surface and the housing internal tubular surface adjacent the housing outlet end. In a second embodiment, the filter member is formed of a pleated sheet, the pleats being folded at their ends, and the pleated sheet is formed into a frusto-conical shape with the conical base secured to the tubular housing interior surface. Air flowing into the housing inlet end passes through the filter member before exiting at the outlet end.

Abstract: A filter cartridge according to the present invention is provided having a unitary structure with a pleat pack formed securely about an interior screen. Opposite ends of the pleat pack and interior screen are integrally formed within a bottom end cap and an upper sleeve. The bottom end cap is constructed to follow the contour of the pleat pack to minimize the collection of dust about the bottom perimeter thereof. The upper sleeve is formed of a flexible material which may be manually deformed to pass through an opening in a tube sheet which retains the filter cartridge. The upper sleeve includes a lower lip extending along the interior of the inner screen to securely engage the inner screen. The lower lip is formed integrally with a radially extending ledge which is formed with an upwardly projecting funnel shaped side wall. The side wall includes an inner groove at its upper end which extends about a perimeter of the top sleeve.

Abstract: A filter includes a cylindrical filter element having a longitudinal axis, first and second end surfaces, and a plurality of longitudinal pleats. Each of the pleats has a pair of legs with first and second surfaces. The pleats are in a laid-over state in which the first surface of each leg is in intimate contact with the first surface of an adjoining leg and the second surface of each leg is in intimate contact with the second surface of an adjoining leg over substantially the entire height of each leg and over a continuous region extending for at least approximately 50% of the axial length of the filter element. An impervious end cap is connected to the first end surface of the filter element.

Abstract: The filter arrangement includes first end cap, second end cap, a cylindrical filter pack that has first and second ends and axially extending pleats disposed between the first and second ends, and a cylindrical non-perforated housing body that is disposed between the first and second end caps and about the cylindrical filter pack.

Abstract: A pleated, all poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) filter element (20) incorporating a poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) filter membrane (24) is shown and described. The membrane is supported by an all poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) paper (26) and (28), which permits filtrate to pass through the paper and across the poly(tetrafluoro ethylene) membrane. A sandwich is formed by placing a layer of poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) filter membrane (24) between the two layers of poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) support paper, (26) and (28), and the sandwich is then pleated prior to assembly around a core (14) and between end caps (12) and (18), which are bonded to the poly(tetra-fluoro ethylene) paper and poly(tetrafluoro ethylene) filter membrane by a hot-melt process.

Abstract: A filter kit for electronic equipment such as personal computers and stereo amplifiers. The kit includes frame material having a total length of at least two feet, a generally "U" shaped cross section and a width of less than 11/2 inches, at least one square foot of air filter material and material for attaching a frame made from the frame material around the air intake of the electronic equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the filter kit contains rubbery vinyl gasket material, filter material and double-sided tape. A filter frame large enough so that it fits around the air intake to the electronic device is made from the gasket material. The frame is then attached to the electronic device with doublesided tape or it may be glued in place. Finally, the filter material is inserted inside the frame. The rubbery nature of the frame permits filter replacement (even stiff filters) without removal of the frame from the electronic device.

Abstract: A dust collector includes a hollow housing having a bottom solids outlet, a top clean air outlet and an intermediate dust laden air inlet. A plurality of vertically elongated filter assemblies are mounted in spaced relation within the housing. Each filter assembly includes an open framework covered by a sheet of filter material in the form of a glove that converges downwardly from the open upper end to a closed end engaged by a tensioning nose bar which serves to stretch the glove over the framework. Dust laden air enters the inlet, passes downward to the bottom ends of the filter assemblies, thence upward to the filter assemblies where the dust and other particulates are collected on the outer side of the filter sheets and the air passes through the filter sheet and upward into the top clean air outlet. The particulates collected on the filter sheet periodically are released therefrom and gravitate downward into the bottom solids outlet for removal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter including a filter element having a sucession of inner connected pleats. The pleats have successive pleat tips which define an outer boundary of the filter element. Covering the entire outer boundary of the filter element is a permeable generally inelastic sheet which extends across successive pleat tips. The sheet is adhesively affixed to the pleat tips for maintaining spacing of the pleats. The sheet comprises of plurality of randomly arranged plastic filaments which are bonded to each other junctions between the filaments and define a plurality of randomly spaced and shaped opening for allowing substantially unrestricted flow of a fluid through the sheet.

Abstract: A removable debris filter for an air conditioning condensing unit. The filter preferably comprises a quantity of fiberglass screen material having a drawstring seam attached onto opposite ends thereof. The screen material is wrapped around all four vertical sides of the air conditioning condensing unit and is held in place thereon by pulling each drawstring tight and tying a knot. The fineness of the screen mesh is adequate to prevent most airborne debris from entering the condensing unit, and the drawstrings allow the filter to be easily removed from the condensing unit for cleaning.

Abstract: A transformable and collapsible filter frame which can support various air intake filtering media for internal combustion engines. One form of the filter frame corresponds generally to the shape of a carousel. The frame facilitates replacement of reusable filtering medium to be applied over its surface. The filtering media may be a polyurethane foam. The carousel filter frame structure includes expandable and adjustable parts, rings and struts which, when integrated are used as supporting members. The rings and struts include connecting members and can be easily disassembled and reassembled. The carousel filter body structure can be easily transformed into various configurations and sizes with the adaptable filter frame parts as desired to form other different types of filter shapes or forms. One shape of the carousel can be split to form various shapes of filter frames such as a circle, cylinder, shield, cone, oval, square, rectangle and various combinations thereof.

Abstract: In a filter element, such as an air filter element used for filtering engine air or cabin air in vehicles, a pleated filter media is disposed within a plastic frame and retained therein by the same material which is used to form a gasket for sealing with a housing in which the filter element is mounted. The gasket is formed of polyurethane foam or any other flexible sealing material such as plastisol or silicone and is cast molded around the outer periphery of the frame over a plurality of interlocking tabs. The seal is therefore mechanically locked to the frame as well as being adhered to the frame.

Abstract: A filter device inserts into a duct having flow passing from upstream to downstream. The filter device includes fluted filter media having flutes formed therein inserting into a housing. The filter media is stacked and placed at an angle to the prevailing flow direction.

Abstract: A filter support assembly (12) has a base (26) with a mounting surface (28), a rim member (34) with a flat surface (38) and post members (32) connecting the rim member to the base. Apertures (40) and the area surrounding by the rim member (34) provide air passages. One element (46) of a hook and loop connector (20) is attached to the mounting surface (28) on the base (26) by an adhesive. The other element (48) of the hook and loop connection (20) is secured to the wall (22) by an adhesive and surrounds the air inlet (50) to the housing (24). When the elements (46) and (48) are in engagement with each other, the filter support assembly (12) is secured to the housing (24) and a seal is formed between the base (26) and the wall (22) of the housing (24). A primary filter element (14) is removably secured to the surface (38) on the rim member (34). A side filter element (16) is removably secured to the support assembly (12) in a position covering the apertures (40).

Abstract: A filter assembly is formed of an impervious elongated tubular housing and an elongated filter member positioned within the housing. In a first embodiment a barrier is interposed between a filter member first surface and the housing internal tubular surface adjacent the housing inlet end and another barrier is interposed between the filter member second surface and the housing internal tubular surface adjacent the housing outlet end. In a second embodiment, the filter member is formed of a pleated sheet, the pleats being folded at their ends, and the pleated sheet is formed into a frusto-conical shape with the conical base secured to the tubular housing interior surface. Air flowing into the housing inlet end passes through the filter member before exiting at the outlet end.

Abstract: A filter element includes a cylindrical support tube, pleated filter material surrounding the support tube, and end caps at either end of the filter material. The filter material has pleat sidewalls along the opposed side edges of the material which are located in surface-to-surface contact with each other. A mass of adhesive is disposed axially along the filter element in the pleat cavities defined in part by the adjacent pleat sidewalls. The adhesive entirely fills the cavities and encapsulates the pleat sidewalls along the side edges to retain the side edges together. Color and/or alpha-numeric character(s) representing a structural or functional characteristic of the filter element (e.g., efficiency, chemical resistivity, model number, trade name, etc.) are included with the mass of adhesive. The color can be introduced into the adhesive as a dye or pigment before curing, or can be applied as a dye or a paint to the exterior surface of the adhesive after the adhesive is cured.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separation-type air conditioner capable of increasing the heat exchanging area of a compact indoor unit and of effecting high-performance heat exchange, and particularly employable as a high-performance yet compact indoor unit whose height is low. A front heat exchanger having a configuration in which an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion are respectively made to recede is disposed in an indoor unit. In addition, a rear heat exchanger separate from the front heat exchanger is disposed on the rear surface side of the front heat exchanger. Consequently, it is possible to increase the heat exchanging area in an indoor unit having the same height, and improve the heat exchanging capacity.

Abstract: A replaceable filter cartridge for use in a fluid filter assembly includes a substantially cylindrical filter element including a pair of oppositely disposed filter element ends. A first endplate is bonded to one of the filter element ends so as to close the end and prevent fluid leakage therethrough. A second endplate is bonded to the opposite filter element end so as to close the opposite end and prevent fluid leakage therethrough. The second endplate includes an outer annular wall which is sized so as to create a noticeable distance of separation between the second endplate outer wall and the outer surface of the filter element and thereby define an annular clearance space therebetween. The outer wall of the second endplate is annular and substantially concentric with the filter element and provides a lip or free edge for the snap-on assembly of a closing lid member.

Abstract: A high-efficiency air filtering apparatus for cleaning and circulating air in a closed room is in the shape of a vertical cylinder and includes a semi-cylindrical housing and a semi-cylindrical filtering chamber, both enclosing a centrifugal blower configured to suck filtered air out of the apparatus through the filter and to blow it into the room. The apparatus is characterized by that the filtering chamber contains a closely pleated filter sheet of HEPA-filter which is covered on top and bottom by flat panels and is air-tightly pressed onto the semi-cylindrical housing, thus making the apparatus completely air tight. The filtering chamber is urged onto the contour of the filtering chamber and is releasably fastened to the top and bottom of the housing, permitting replacement of the filter after clogging.

Abstract: A pleated filter medium arrangement including a sheet of pleated porous filtering media nestingly engaged between adjacent pleats by a pleated sheet of thermobondable plastic screening with preselected facing opposite portions of the screening being heat bonded together.

Abstract: A filter device with a preferably hollow-cylindrical, pleated filter element which is arranged concentrically around a cylinder axis and through which a medium to be filtered passes. Seals are necessary on the filter device so that the medium to be filtered will not be able to leak out and so that the filter element, which typically is constructed of filter paper, must be fixed in place together with its pleats. Advantageously, an elastic composition can be disposed as a seal on at least one of the ends of the filter element, and after curing the elastic composition will fix the pleats of the filter element and will have sufficient residual elasticity to seal the filter element with respect to a central mounting tube on which it is to be mounted.

Abstract: A filter element has a support member with a support tube which can abut a filter mat and which is provided with apertures for the passage of a filtered medium. The apertures are formed by the axial spaces between individual rings of the support member. The rings are supported by support walls dividing the interior of the support tube into individual chambers. Since the support member is rendered compression-stiff, it exclusively supports the filter mat when the medium flows through. The respective support wall is directly connected to the rings. Each ring with its closed annular shape surrounds the support walls on the exterior. The filtration capacity of filter elements can be improved and the weight and cost simultaneously reduced owing to the highly stable and compression-stiff support member.

Abstract: A filter element for use in a filter holder having a sealing surface and method of making a filter. The filter being made of a folded material of manufacture having a circumferential sealing rim and having a spacer to keep open the folded areas. The spaced being formed by at least one cover layer folded with the filter. The sealing rim being formed to be received in the sealing surface and with the folds formed by at least one cover layer and the filter material both along and transverse to the folds around the circumference of the at least one cover layer and filter material being pressed into said sealing rim at a temperature above the softening temperature of at least a thermoplastic resin provided in at least one of the layers of the cover and filter material.

Abstract: A vent assembly useful for venting bags containing radioactive waste material includes a base plate with a chamber projecting therefrom and a cap plate which has a center portion that snap fits over the chamber. The base plate and cap plate have flange portions which overlie the inner and outer surfaces of the bag to secure the vent to the bag by clamping against the wall of the bag. A ring is snap fitted into the chamber prior to snap fitting the cap plate to the base plate and a compressible mass of fibrous filter material is contained within the ring. The filter material may be selected from a number of filter materials such as spun polyester, activated carbon felt, fibrous cellulose or sintered stainless steel fibers. Preferably, the filter material is electrically charged, fibrous polymer material.

Abstract: A filter includes a cylindrical filter element having a longitudinal axis, first and second end surfaces, and a plurality of longitudinal pleats. Each of the pleats has a pair of legs with first and second surfaces. The pleats are in a laid-over state in which the first surface of each leg is in intimate contact with the first surface of an adjoining leg and the second surface of each leg is in intimate contact with the second surface of an adjoining leg over substantially the entire height of each leg and over a continuous region extending for at least approximately 50% of the axial length of the filter element. An impervious end cap is connected to the first end surface of the filter element.

Abstract: A filter is disposed so as to cross at right angle to an airflow from an inside air inlet and an outside air inlet to an inlet port. The filter is made of a filter element formed in a corrugated shape by folding and is deformable so that a width of the filter in the axis direction of said rotary door could be shortened. Thus, it is possible to shorten the width of the filter in the axial direction of the rotary shaft by deforming the outer shape of the filter, therefore, the filter is easily taken out from the inside air inlet. Furthermore, since the filter can be taken out from the inside air inlet, the filter can be attached or detached without disassembling the inside and outside air switching case and casing for a blower fan, the working efficiency for cleaning and changing the filter being thereby improved.

Abstract: The filter system comprises a filter element (10) arranged in wave- or zig-zag-shaped folds and having flat filter element portions (12) and intermediate bending lines (14). The longitudinal edges of the filter element (10) are connected to tensioning bands (20). When the filter element (10) is stretched, these tensioning bands (20) are tensioned and in their tensioned condition fulfill a holding function for holding the filter element portions (12) in the stretched condition of the filter element (10). Thus, no spacers are required on the filter frame (22) for maintaining the stability of shape of the filter element (10).

Abstract: A filter assembly is formed of an impervious elongated tubular housing and an elongated filter member positioned within the housing with its opposed longitudinal edges sealed to the housing internal tubular surface. A first barrier is interposed between the filter member first surface and the housing internal tubular surface adjacent the housing inlet end and a second barrier is interposed between the filter member second surface and the housing internal tubular surface adjacent the housing outlet end. Air flowing into the housing inlet end passes through the filter member before exiting at the outlet end.

Abstract: A filter cartridge according to the present invention is provided having a unitary structure with a pleat pack formed securely about an interior screen. Opposite ends of the pleat pack and interior screen are integrally formed within a bottom end cap and an upper sleeve. The bottom end cap is constructed to follow the couture of the pleat pack to minimize the collection of dust about the bottom perimeter thereof. The upper sleeve is formed of a flexible material which may be manually deformed to pass through an opening in a tube sheet which retains the filter cartridge. The top sleeve comprises a lower lip extending along the interior of the inner screen to securely engage the inner screen. The lower lip is formed integrally with a radially extending ledge which is formed with an upwardly projecting funnel shaped side wall. The side wall includes an inner grove at its upper end which extends about a perimeter of the top sleeve.

Abstract: A filter assembly is formed of an impervious elongated tubular housing and an elongated filter member positioned within the housing. In a first embodiment a barrier is interposed between a filter member first surface and the housing internal tubular surface adjacent the housing inlet end and another barrier is interposed between the filter member second surface and the housing internal tubular surface adjacent the housing outlet end. In a second embodiment, the filter member is formed of a pleated sheet, the pleats being folded at their ends, and the pleated sheet is formed into a frusto-conical shape with the conical base secured to the tubular housing interior surface. Air flowing into the housing inlet end passes through the filter member before exiting at the outlet end.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for inflating an air bag comprises a housing (22) which includes a wall (84) having an inner surface defining a chamber (108). Ignitable gas generating material (122) is located in the chamber (108) and, upon ignition, provides combustion products including gas which flows from the housing to inflate the air bag and hot particles. A tubular filter (140) removes hot particles from the gas flow. The tubular filter (140) comprises a strip of material having a plurality of spaced openings (146) through which the gas can flow and two end portions (160, 162) which overlap. The strip of material also has a plurality of projections (142, 144) engaging the inner surface of the housing (22). The projections (142, 144) are located on the strip of material at spaced locations around the tubular filter (140). The projections (142, 144) space at least a portion (148, 150 or 152) of the tubular filter (140) away from the inner surface of the housing (22).

Abstract: A filter insert for the filtering of the fresh air supplied to a motor vehicle interior has an accordion-folded filter element which is self-supporting. Lateral strips coated with an adhesive are provided on the faces which extend on the left and on the right. On the faces which extend in parallel to the folding, angle strips are arranged whose first leg extends along at least three fold edges. The filter element is surrounded along the faces by a foamed-material sealing.

Abstract: In a process for the production of a filter medium in particular in the form of a pleated bellows for a filter cartridge for dust separation, at least one surface of the filter medium is provided with an embossed structure, consisting of a multitude of raised embossed elements, preferably in the form of burls or ribs. Furthermore such surfaces of the filter medium are subjected to an additional treatment in the area of the embossed spots by application of a layer of a curable, dryable coating mass and/or heat so that an added mechanical resistance/strength/abrasion resistance is obtained in the area of these treated embossed parts. Due to this process for the production of a filter medium it is possible to create a filter medium--in particular one consisting of mechanically sensitive materials, e.g.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes a disposable filter element and a reusable perforated supporting core, the filter element being removably mounted around the perforated core. The filter assembly may include first and second end caps and each end cap may include a first segment or adapter attached to one end of the filter element and a second segment or adapter attached to a corresponding end of the core. The first and second segments or adapters of each end may be detachably sealed to each other. The filter assembly may include a wrap having one or more strips wrapped at least once around the filter element.

Abstract: A filter cartridge has a pleated filter media rolled into a cylinder, a tubular core, moulded from plastic with alternate grooves and ridges provided at the outer surface and a collar with uniformly spaced teeth which envelopes the filter media to rigidly space the pleats. The collar is retained by friction and it may be displaced towards the end caps of the cartridge. The core may be withdrawn from the filter media of a waste cartridge and utilized in a new cartridge. The upper end cap has a handle with a hinge provided by a reduced section of the plastic material.

Abstract: A generally planar expanded metal filter media support structure is provided. The filter media support structure includes a first row of perforations mutually separated, one from another, by a perforation distance along a first axis parallel to the plane of the support structure and at least a second row of perforations parallel to the first row of perforations offset from the first row of perforations along the first axis by a first offset distance greater than zero and less than one-half the perforation distance and offset along a second orthogonal axis in the plane of the support structure by a second offset distance.

Abstract: A filter element of the present invention provides low pressure loss, superior filter performance and bonding of filtering material, and compactness. An inlet path of a nearly semicircular configuration which is formed in the width direction of a filter element is open at its upper side and closed at its lower side. An outlet path is closed at its upper side and open at its lower side. Corrugated filtering material has continuous mountain portions and valley portions. The mountain portions have a large radius of curvature R1, and the valley portions have a small radius of curvature R2. The valley portions are bonded to a flat filtering material. The open surface area of the inlet path is larger than the closed surface area of the outlet path 16. Preferably, R1/R2 is set so as to be within the range of 1.5 to 3.0.

Abstract: A filter element, including a pair of filter plates that are each made of a nonwoven fabric or felt of a polymeric material shaped into a plate having a corrugated cross section and which are positioned in such a way that the grooves in one filter plate are opposed to those in the other filter plate, is reinforced with reinforcements that are placed across the width of the filter element. The reinforcements and the filter element are secured at their respective ends by means of bolts. The reinforcements are similar in cross-sectional shape so that they can circumscribe the corrugated cross section of the filter plates such that a pair of the reinforcements can hold the filter element therebetween.

Abstract: A filter includes a cylindrical filter element having a longitudinal axis, first and second end surfaces, and a plurality of longitudinal pleats. Each of the pleats has a pair of legs with first and second surfaces. The pleats are in a laid-over state in which the first surface of each leg is in intimate contact with the first surface of an adjoining leg and the second surface of each leg is in intimate contact with the second surface of an adjoining leg over substantially the entire height of each leg and over a continuous region extending for at least approximately 50% of the axial length of the filter element. An impervious end cap is connected to the first end surface of the filter element.

Abstract: There is provided a pleated zig-zag filter in a filter frame assembly. The filter frame has triangular shaped pleats stabilizing elements on two sidewalls with the pleat stabilizing elements forming a pleat retaining gap that frictionally engage with the filter pleat tips on one face of the filter holding the filter in the frame assembly. The pleat stabilizing elements engage the filter pleat tips on the second face.

Abstract: The filter device (10) has a filter element (12) including a filter medium (20) arranged in zig-zag shaped pleats. On its two longitudinal sides extending in the pleating direction (36), the filter medium (20) is provided with stabilizing strips (34) bonded thereto for stabilizing the zig-zag-shaped pleated configuration of the filter medium (20). During use of the filter device (10), the filter element (12) is arranged within a filter element holding frame (14) which is inserted in a holding members, e.g. in the air inlet shaft (18) of an air conditioning system. Due to a certain inherent stability of shape of the filter medium (20) and the stabilizing strips (34), the filter element (12) is sufficiently firm and has a self-supporting construction. The filter element (12) is easy to handle and can be inserted into the filter element holding frame (14) in a simple manner. Except for the actual filter medium (20), the filter element (12) requires little extra material, i.e.

Abstract: An improved filter unit suitable for use in a variety of clean air filtration applications is taught. The filter unit employs continuous microporous filtration membranes, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, to deliver exceptional filtration efficiencies on the order of 99.99999% at 0.1 .mu.m with minimal pressure drop produced across the filter. Additionally, the filter unit of the present invention has the further advantage of avoiding many previous deficiencies in HEPA and ULPA filter units, such as filter contamination from shedding particles and/or out-gassing, and limitations on chemicals to which the filter can be exposed without deterioration. As a result, the present invention provides a cleaner and more durable filter that can be used to address growing contamination problems in many different industries, such as electronics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: The filter element (10) includes a filter material layer (12) being held and supported by a support material layer (14). The support material layer (14) can be folded in zig-zag manner and has bending regions (16, 17) with folding portions (18) therebetween. The support material layer (14) has the region of its folding portions (18) provided with deformations (20) projecting from the planes of the folding portions (18). The filter material layer (12) is supported by the support material layer (14) through the boundary edges of the deformations (20).

Abstract: A paint arrestor for absorbing paint overspray comprises a series of layers of sheet material, each of the layers being slit and expanded to define an array of air spaces distributed in columns. The air spaces alternate in size from column to column and repeat in size in every other column. Means are provided for securing the layers in contiguous, overlying relationship with one another.

Abstract: A spiral-wound filtration cartridge, which renders the need for brine seals unnecessary, is disclosed. The spiral cartridges of the invention comprise a spirally-wound inner filtration assembly having an impermeable outer cylindrical surface, a housing having a cylindrical cavity formed therein for receiving the inner filtration assembly, and at least one continuous longitudinally-oriented fluid pathway disposed between the inner filtration assembly and the housing, the fluid pathway allowing for a portion of a fluid entering one end of the filtration cartridge to bypass the inner filtration assembly and proceed to the other end of the filtration cartridge.