Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
A method of making a pre-filter-coalescing filter assembly having a rigid perforated retaining tube over said coalescing layer, including the steps of a mixing a slurry of glass fibers, water and emulsion binder of suitable composition to form a pre-filter layer, placing the slurry into a forming tank, providing a forming fixture connected to a vacuum source and lowering said forming fixture into said forming tank, applying a vacuum to the forming fixture pre-filter layer having a pore size of 6-40 microns absolute (liquid) is formed, withdrawing said forming fixture from said forming tank, drying the formed pre-filter under vacuum for a period of time, shutting off said vacuum, applying a clamshell over said forming fixture and said pre-filter tube, and extracting said pre-filter from said forming fixture, removing the clamshell from the pre-filter, placing the pre-filter to air dry, dipping the pre-filter in an epoxy dip, removing the pre-filter from the epoxy dip, placing the pre-filter to air dry, and curing the pre-filter, placing the pre-filter previously made on the forming fixture a second time, lowering the fixture into a second forming tank having a slurry formed of glass fibers, water and emulsion binder for forming a coalescing filter layer thereon and applying a vacuum to the forming fixture, until a filter layer having a pore size of 4-8 microns absolute (liquid) is formed, removing the forming fixture from the second forming tank, air drying the formed combination under vacuum for a period of time, placing an outer rigid perforated retaining tube over the pre-filter-coalescing filter assembly, shutting off said vacuum, removing the assembly comprising the pre-filter, the coalescing filter, and the rigid perforated retaining tube from the fixture, air drying said assembly, dipping said assembly in an epoxy dip, again air drying said assembly, and oven curing said assembly to form a finished pre-filter-coalescing filter assembly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
308 words
A method of making a pre-filter-coalescing filter assembly having a rigid perforated retaining tube over said coalescing layer, including the steps of a mixing a slurry of glass fibers, water and emulsion binder of suitable composition to form a pre-filter layer, placing the slurry into a forming tank, providing a forming fixture connected to a vacuum source and lowering said forming fixture into said forming tank, applying a vacuum to the forming fixture pre-filter layer having a pore size of 6-40 microns absolute (liquid) is formed, withdrawing said forming fixture from said forming tank, drying the formed pre-filter under vacuum for a period of time, shutting off said vacuum, applying a clamshell over said forming fixture and said pre-filter tube, and extracting said pre-filter from said forming fixture, removing the clamshell from the pre-filter, placing the pre-filter to air dry, dipping the pre-filter in an epoxy dip, removing the pre-filter from the epoxy dip, placing the pre-filter to air dry, and curing the pre-filter, placing the pre-filter previously made on the forming fixture a second time, lowering the fixture into a second forming tank having a slurry formed of glass fibers, water and emulsion binder for forming a coalescing filter layer thereon and applying a vacuum to the forming fixture, until a filter layer having a pore size of 4-8 microns absolute (liquid) is formed, removing the forming fixture from the second forming tank, air drying the formed combination under vacuum for a period of time, placing an outer rigid perforated retaining tube over the pre-filter-coalescing filter assembly, shutting off said vacuum, removing the assembly comprising the pre-filter, the coalescing filter, and the rigid perforated retaining tube from the fixture, air drying said assembly, dipping said assembly in an epoxy dip, again air drying said assembly, and oven curing said assembly to form a finished pre-filter-coalescing filter assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as described in claim 1, and including the step of applying a positive pressure through the forming fixture to aid in separating said pre-filter-coalescing filter from said forming fixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein the slurry for the second forming operation is of a composition of approximately 0.1 to 2.0% by weight of glass fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein the air drying operations take place at temperatures of from 180° to 350° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of defined in claim 4, wherein said perforated rigid retainer tube is made of plastic and the epoxy curing operation takes place at a temperature of 250° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 4, wherein said perforated rigid retaining tube is made out of metal and the epoxy curing operation takes place at a temperature of 300° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 5, and including the step of adding a foam rubber sleeve over said plastic tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 6, and including the step of adding a foam rubber sleeve over said metal tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method define in claim 5, and including the step of adding a fiber felt layer over said plastic tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 6, and including the step of adding a fiber felt layer over said metal tube.