Dana Corporation

Bruce Edward Coffey

Paul Jennings Carawan

Roland Vann Lanier, Jr

In order to prevent the formation of flash and air bubbles on a gasket used to seal a filter element when the filter element is mounted in a housing to filter a fluid, a molding apparatus comprises first and second mold components cooperating to define a mold cavity positioned around the filter media formed by their respective mold surfaces and adapted to receive an expandable material forming the sealing gasket. The mold cavity includes a substantially semi-spherical ridge portion having an apex. The ridge portion of the mold cavity is formed by both the first and second mold components abutting each other at the apex of the ridge portion of the mold cavity along a mold line oriented at an angle to a central axis of symmetry of the mold apparatus. Moreover, mold surfaces of the mold components have upwardly sloping ramp surfaces for preventing trapped air bubbles.

Molding apparatus for minimizing flash on sealing filter gasket

The capacity and efficiency of a filter element having pleated filter media is increased by utilizing a baffle across the upstream front area of the filter media. The baffle is preferably a web of material that is adhered to the peaks of the filter media. Preferably, the baffle is laterally offset and has a width which is in the range of 20-75% of the width of the filter media. Utilizing the baffle does not increase restriction to an unacceptable range.

Fluid filter with baffle

In order to facilitate removal of an air filter from a housing, the air filter has a flexible tab which provides a finger grip. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible tab is disposed between a molded gasket and an expanded metal screen which covers the downstream area or dirty side of a pleated filter media.

Growing community of inventors

Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Bruce Edward Coffey