Abstract: The present invention provides a bag filter comprising a melt-blown fibrous nonwoven web formed into a bag configuration with a closed end, an open end, an inside surface, and an outside surface. The bag filter is constructed such that (a) the fibrous nonwoven web comprises fibers such that 90% of the fibers have a diameter ranging from a minimum fiber diameter to a maximum fiber diameter which is no more than about three times the minimum fiber diameter, (b) the fibrous nonwoven web as oriented in the bag filter has a tensile strength in the circumferential direction at least about 1.5 times the tensile strength in the longitudinal direction, and/or (c) there is no side seam and an injection-molded thermoplastic elastomer end closure. The present invention also provides a method of treating a fluid by passing the fluid through such a bag filter.

Abstract: A novel sealing connector is provided for sealing a stack of filter units in a filter housing. The sealing connector has a base portion, a compression generating member, and an attachment member for selectively attaching the base portion to the end of a filter unit. The attachment member and the connecting portion of the end connector resiliently cooperate to permit latch members of the attachment member and the end connector to slide past each other and overlap in a radial direction when an axial force is exerted on the aligned latch members for integrally attaching the sealing connector to the end connector. In one illustrated embodiment, the sealing connector has a female attachment member for attaching to a male connecting portion of a male end connector.

Abstract: A filter for filtering a highly viscous material comprises a filter element including a glass fiber filter medium, preferably resin-bonded, having upstream and downstream sides and a polymeric mesh situated on at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of the filter medium, and preferably on both sides of the filer medium. A non-woven sheet, such as a cellulose paper sheet, may be disposed between the downstream side of the filter medium and the downstream polymeric mesh. The filter element is typically cylindrical and longitudinally pleated to maximize the filtration area in as small a volume as possible. Also provided is a method of filtering a highly viscous material, particularly magnetic coating mixes.

Abstract: An end connector system for connecting a plurality of filter units in series has first and second end connectors secured to the ends of filter units. Each end connector has a base with a sealing surface and a connecting portion for engagement with the connecting portion of another end connector. The connecting portions have overlapping surfaces that overlap in the radial direction of the bases when the connecting portions are engaged with one another. A seal member is disposed between the first and second end connectors and is pressed into sealing contact with the sealing surfaces of the bases by a compression-generating member such as a tie rod. When the sealing surfaces are in sealing contact with the seal member, the overlapping surfaces of the connecting portions are separated from one another. As a result, all forces for producing a liquid-tight seal between the end connectors are generated by the compression-generating member and not by the end connectors themselves.