US5501794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wave filter with flexible tensioning members
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1992-10-30
•
Granted: 1996-03-26
•
Expires: 2012-10-30
Abstract
Abstract The filter system including a filter element arranged in wave or zigzag shaped folds and having flat filter element portions and intermediate bending lines. The longitudinal edges of the filter element are connected to tensioning bands. When the filter element is stretched, these tensioning bands are tensioned and in their tensioned condition fulfill a holding function for holding the filter element portions in the stretched condition of the filter element. Thus, no spacers are required on the filter frame for maintaining the stability of shape of the filter element.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Van de Graaf
- 👤 Anton J. J. Horsten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:17
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D46/00; B01D46/10; B01D46/0002; B01D46/0005; B01D46/30; B01D46/52; B01D46/521; B60; B60H; B60H3/00; B60H3/06; B60H3/0658; B01D2265/00; B01D2265/02; B01D2265/028; B01D2275/00; B01D2275/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A filter for filtering fluids comprising a filter element (10) having longitudinal side edges and folded in a wave-shaped manner said filter element having bending lines (14) extending in a first transverse direction and substantially planar filter element folding portions (12) arranged therebetween where the successive folding portions (12) and bending lines define a wave-shape extending in a second longitudinal direction, the filter element (10) is able to be stretched and compressed in the second longitudinal direction, two flexible tensioning members are connected to the two side edges of the filter element extending in the second longitudinal direction which flexible tensioning members allow the filter element to be compressed, which flexible tensioning members when elongated under tension have a modulus sufficient to limit the stretching of the filter element (10) in the second longitudinal direction fixing said filter element folding portions (12) in the wave-shape, said flexible tensioning members comprising flexible tensioning bands (20) with their width being at least equal to the horizontal distance between two adjacent bending lines (14) with the flexible tensioning bands and said filter element formed of thermoplastic materials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A filter for filtering fluids comprising a filter element (10) having longitudinal side edges and folded in a wave-shaped manner said filter element having bending lines (14) extending in a first transverse direction and substantially planar filter element folding portions (12) arranged therebetween where the successive folding portions (12) and bending lines define a wave-shape extending in a second longitudinal direction, the filter element (10) is able to be stretched and compressed in the second longitudinal direction, two flexible tensioning members are connected to the two side edges of the filter element extending in the second longitudinal direction which flexible tensioning members allow the filter element to be compressed, which flexible tensioning members when elongated under tension have a modulus sufficient to limit the stretching of the filter element (10) in the second longitudinal direction fixing said filter element folding portions (12) in the wave-shape, said flexible tensioning members comprising flexible tensioning bands (20) with their width being at least equal to the horizontal distance between two adjacent bending lines (14) with the flexible tensioning bands and said filter element formed of thermoplastic materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The filter according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tensioning bands are welded to the filter element longitudinal side edges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The filter according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tensioning bands are glued to the filter element (10) longitudinal side edges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The filter according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tensioning bands are non-elastic and are made from fibrous material substantially resistant to stretching when under tension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The filter according to claim 4, wherein the flexible tensioning bands are strengthened non-woven web material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The filter according to claim 1 further comprising a filter frame (22) comprising a stretching means for stretching the filter element (10) and for holding the filter element (10) in the stretched condition thereof wherein the filter element (10) is adapted for insertion into the filter frame (22).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The filter according to claim 6, wherein the filter frame (22) comprises two holding members (34) extending in the first transverse direction for holding two outermost filter element folding portions, said outermost filter element folding portions (12) adapted to be mounted onto said holding members (34), and the filter element (10), when mounted on the holding members (34), already is partially stretched.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The filter according to claim 6, wherein the filter frame (22) comprises two holding members for holding two outermost filter element folding portions, and at least one of the two holding members can be moved away from the other holding member for stretching the filter element (10) and can be fixed for holding the filter element (10) in the stretched condition thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The filter according to claim 8, wherein said movable holding member is pivotally connected to the filter frame (22).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The filter according to claim 8, wherein the filter frame (22) has a locking means (40) provided thereon for locking the movable holding member in a position pivoted in a direction toward an inner face of the filter frame (22) for stretching the filter element (10) tensioning members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1289456A
Cited
US3243943A
Cited
DE2138412A1
Cited
DE2557444A1
Cited
US4142551A
Cited
US4042358A
Cited
US4135900A
Cited
US4227953A
Cited
GB2010120A
Cited
DE3439255A1
Cited
DE3529579A1
Cited
DE3534318A1
Cited
DE3716243A1
Cited
DE3815907A1
Cited
DE3903730A1
Cited
US4963171A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-26 | 1999-09-25 | 2000-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-26 | 2003-09-25 | 2004-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-26 | 2007-09-25 | 2008-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |