Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
DISPOSABLE AIR CLEANER
Technical Field of the Invention
The invention is directed generally to the
10 field of air cleaners, and specifically cleaners having
integral filter elements which are disposable.
Backqround of the Invention
Engine air cleaners, and particularly those
intended for small engines, must be manufactured in a
15 multitude of sizes and shapes in order to accommodate
the specifications of different engine manufacturers.
Many such air cleaners are designed with removable and
replaceable filter elements which must also be stocked
in a large variety of sizes. In addition, removable
20 element filters may be subject to leakage as they con-
tain seals which are subject to misalignment and wear.
To eliminate air leakage and provide a single,
s inexpensive disposable air cleaner for use on a wide
; variety of machines, the air cleaner must be made of
25 inexpensive disposable materials and be adaptable for
attachment to machines having a wide variety of mounting
arrangements. Typically, however, cleaners made of
lightweight, inexpensive material such as simple
. plastics and paper are not strong enough to sustain high
~; 30 internal pressures encountered in use. It is necessary
;; to provide a filter means of high strength to maintain
` the cleaner integrity, however, the materials
appropriate for this function do not generally conform
s - to the requirements for cost, weight and disposability.
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In the present invention, we have solved theabove problems by creating a disposable air cleaner,
preferably made up of lightweight, inexpensive, dispo-
sable materials while creating a reusable adapter means
which is permanently mounted on the machine, or
attachable to a permanent mount, with the adapter means
supplying the structural support necessary for the
lighter weight disposable air cleaner.
Simultaneously, we have reduced the likelihood
of leakage in the air cleaner by eliminating all seals
except a single seal required to attach the filter to
the adapter assembly.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an air cleaner
produced with a tubular fluid permeable intake tube
comprising, a tubular filter element having first and
second ends and an inner aperture sized to receive the
intake tube, a first end cap affixed to and forming a
fluid-tight junction at the first end, a second end cap
affixed to and forming a fluid-tight junction at the
second end, the second cap having an aperture aligned
with the inner aperture and sized to receive the intake
tube, a tubular flange extending from the second cap at
the periphery of the inner aperture and means for
compressing the flange around the intake tubes so that a
fluid-tight seal is created therebetween.
Thus, there have been outlined rather broadly
the more important features of the invention in order
that the detailed description thereof as follows may be
better understood and in order that the present contri-
bution to the art may be better appreciated. There are,
of course, additional features of the invent;on that
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will be detailed hereinafter and will form the subject
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-, of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art
will appreciate that the conception upon which the
disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis
'~ 5 for the designing of other structures. It is important,
therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such
equivalent structures as do not depart from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
Brief Description of the Drawin~s
~, 10The specific embodiments of the invention have
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been chosen for the purposes of illustration and
- description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings
forming a part of the specification wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the present
invention affixed to a small engine;
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation with portions bro-
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"O ken away of the air cleaner in FIGURE 1 and different
orientation;
FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along
~, 20 line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is an alternate preferred embodiment
of the present invention shown on an engine;
FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the air cleaner
shown in FIGURE 4 with portions broken away;
~- 25FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken along
line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the
` third embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but
showing an alternate form of the third embodiment.
Description of one Preferred Embodiment
FIGURE 1 discloses generally a preferred embo-
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`; diment of the air cleaner 10 of the present invention
affixed to a small engine 12 by means of a tubular air
~ permeable intake tube and mounting means 14.
This embodiment is shown in greater detail on
FIGURE 2 of the drawings. In FIGURE 2 there can be seen
tube 14 having a solid portion 14a and an air permeable
portion 14b extending into the air cleaner 10. Portion
14b in the preferred embodiment is made fluid permeable
by a plurality of holes 16. In the preferred embodi-
ment, although optional, surrounding portion 14b is afluid permeable sheath or sock-like element 18 which
acts as a safety element. The element made of filter
- material is held in place by a band 15 preferably of
elastic material. As an alternative, a screen or mesh
material 19, shown in FIGURE 5, made of plastic, may be
employed. It is possible to affix this mesh 19 to the
intake tube or to the inner periphery of the filter ele-
ment. In the later case, the mesh would be disposed
~ of with the filter element.
s, 20 Coaxially aligned with portion 14b and sheath
; 18 is a filter element 20 shown more clearly in FIGURE 3
as a pleated element preferably made of a flexible,
non-woven material which typically is of insufficient
strength to be self supporting under the pressures
encountered during filtration. A cylindrical shell 22
is similarly coaxially aligned with tubular portion 14b
-: and filter 20.
Acting as an air seal and a structural end
member, is end member 24 which forms an airtight junc
30 tion with cylindrical shell 22, filter 20, sheath 18 and
intake tube 14 at one end. Although the end members may
be formed of any suitable lightweight material, a molded
uretnane material of 90 shore A durometer, which is
fairly rigid but flexible enough to maintain adequate
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seals is preferred.
Outer cylindrical wall 22 may be paper
~ impregnated with phenolic resin, or alternatively,
;~ plastic or steel, if desired. The remaining end member
26 is formed in similar fashion to that of member 24 and
creates an airtight seal between the cylindrical wall
22, and filter element 20. To permit intake 14 to be
inserted within the air cleaner, member 26 includes an
aperture 28.
Extending outwardly from member 26 generally
at aperture 28, is flange member 30 which is preferably
molded in a single piece with member 26. To maintain an
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airtight seal between the air cleaner and intake 14,
compression or securing means are employed against the
flexible material used in flange 30. In the preferred
embodiment, a worm drive band clamp 32 is employed.
To provide a source of intake air for the air cleaner
; 10, at least one aperture is formed in one of the end
members. Preferably, four curved slots 36 are formed in
20 member 26 shown in FIGURE 3 where slots 36 are located
so as to allow air to enter within the space 23 defined
between cylindrical wall 22, filter 20 and end member
24. Slot 36 may alternatively be located in member 24
so long as the filter is not oriented such that dirt
~ 25 will have a tendency to fall into the filter by gravita-
,i, tional force.
,~. OPeration
In use, intake tube 14 having a flange 15 may
be affixed to a machine 12, the flange being designed
accordir.g to the specific requirments of the machine.
Once the proper intake tube has been installed, and it
is expected that a number of different sizes will be
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available, a single size air cleaner 10 may be used for
many applications. Because air cleaner 10 is intended
to be fully disposable, it is preferably made of
inexpensive, lightweight materials. To prevent interior
collapse of the filter, the air permeable portion 14b of
intake tube 14, which is received within aperture 28, is
intended to provide the interior mechanical support.
The intake tube is, of course, reusable so that the
heavier, more expensive parts of the system are
!~ 10 retained.
; Second Preferred Embodiment
-; FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 show an alternative pre-
: ferred embodiment of the present invention.
To the extent the air cleaner 110 in FIGURE 4
: 15 includes the same elements as air cleaner 10 in FIGURE
1, such like elements will be designated with the same
numeral increased by the number 100 and will only differ
' from their counterpart to the extent mention is made
thereof.
In FIGURE 4, there can be seen that intake tube
114, which corresponds to tube 14, is straight rather
than having a right angle.
Turning to FIGURE 5, a screen 19 is used in
place of sheath 18, although the alternative is
s 25 acceptable. End member 124 differs from end member 24
in that a passage 150 is formed to allow a passageway
between space 123 and space 152, which is defined bet-
i~ ween end member 124 and a removable end cap dust collec-
. tor 154. Filter 110 is intended to be oriented so that
passageway 150 tends to be toward the top side of the
filter for purposes as will be explained hereinafter.
Cap 154 is preferably made of a relatively hard
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plastic material having a snap fit by means of a hook
member 156 which engages a lip 158 formed in end member
12~ at that end. The hook and lip means are formed
around the circumference of both the end member 124 and
cap 154. The slight flexibility in cap 154 permits the
user to disengage the hook and lip at some point around
the circumference and remove the cap entirely from the
air cleaner.
Interposed within space 123 preferably toward
end 126 are a series of radially outwardly air deflect-
ing projecting blades contacting cylindrical wall 122
and affixed to cylindrical support member 162. Blades
160 are of the type described in V. S. Patent No.
3,078,650, issued to Anderson et al
OPeration
Except for the following, this embodiment
operates in a manner similar to that of the first pre-
ferred embodiment explained above. The addition of bla-
des 160 permit centrifugal separation of heavier
particulate matter from the intake air so as to prevent
their entrainment on the filter medium. The air
entering intake passage 136 as shown by arrow 170 enters
space 123. The air will pass through blades 160 causing
the heavier particles to be centrifugally separated and
carried in the direction of arrow 172 into dust collec-
tor cap 154, where they are deposited. Passage 150 must
be oriented toward the top side of the filter so that
particulate matter will be trapped within dust collector
cap 154.
Third Preferred Embodiment
FIGURES 7 and 8 show a third preferred embodi-
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ment of the present invention in two forms.
To the extent air cleaner 210 in FIGURE 7
includes the same elements as air cleaner 10 in FIGURE
1, such elements will be designated with the same
numeral increased by the number 200 and will only diffee
from their counterpart to the extent mention is made
thereof.
. Most significantly, FIGURE 7 differs from
FIGURE 2 in that the outer element 22 is preferably
nonemployed leaving filter element 20 directly exposed
to uncleaned air. Preferably, an outer screen 221 will
be located around the outer peripheral edge of element
220 so as to increase the rigidity thereof and protect
= it from flying objects. This additional screen,
however, is not essential.
Additionally, tube 214 can be as shown, as a
straight pipe, itself attachable to another intake pipe
which is affixed to the machine or, alternatively, of
; the type 14 as shown in FIGURE 2.
The device shown in FIGURE 7 has no separate
housing and the filter element 220 is affixed to tube 214
through the use of worm clamp 232 on flexible neck 230.
As an alternative in all embodiments, it is
possible to truncate tube 14 such that it extends only a
25 short distance into the filters 10, 110, or 210. Such
an arrangement is shown in FIGURE 8 where, as in FIGURE
7, like parts are shown with numbers in the 300 series.
This distance may be up to the end of end member 226.
Such a structure would be useful in filters which are
short in length and do not require the structural
strength added by member 214 (314 in FIGURE 8). With
this truncated tube, apertures 16, 216 are not required
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as the filter would be completely open on its inside
surfaces. A safety screen 319 may be provided as shown
and should preferably be rigid enough to support itself
so that it will not collapse into the intake tube 314.
While we have shown certain preferred
.- embodiments, it will be understood that the same is
capable of modification without departure from the scope
and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.
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