Nippondenso Co., Ltd.

Satoshi Inukai

Hajime Akado

Yoshihiro Taki

Keizo Funae

Masanori Suzuki

Yoshimitsu Yamaguchi

Yasuo Hibi

Susumu Miyakawa

Atsushi Sakaida

Tetsuo Kato

Hitoshi Harada

Harukazu Matsuyama

An apparatus performing a filter from a material for a filter element automatically and quickly. The filter made by the present apparatus has a plurality of wavy portions which are provided in such a manner that a plurality of wavy portions forms a circle. The apparatus employs a contracting apparatus for contracting a continuously corrugated strip of material for a filter element in such a manner that a distance between adjacent ridges of the corrugated strip is reduced so that the corrugated strip becomes the wavy portion of the filter. The apparatus also employs a rounding apparatus for rounding the continuously corrugated strip in such a manner that both ends of the strip are connected to each other so that the wavy portions made from the corrugated strip form a circle. The apparatus further employs a shaping apparatus for shaping the rounded continuously corrugated strip so that the rounded strip becomes the filter.

Apparatus for making a filter from a material for a filter element

A filter element has a generally ring-like structure which basically comprises a plurality of generally radial sections circumferentially arranged to define a central space. Each radial section has a plurality of circumferentially zigzag pleats formed from a ribbon of a filtering sheet material. The radial sections are circumferentially connected such that radially inwardly open generally radial spaces and radially outwardly open generally radial spaces are defined. The radially inwardly open radial spaces are closed at the axially opposite ends by end walls. Fluid to be filtrated can enter the radially outwardly open radial spaces and then passes through the zigzag pleats into the radially inwardly open radial spaces and thus into the central space. The ring-like structure has many modifications.

Filter element with zig-zag pleats

The filter element of the present has a plurality of wavy portions which are so arranged that a plurality of wavy portions make a generally ring like structure. In order to reduce the pressure drop when the fluid flows through the filter element, the present filter element has a special shaped radial gaps. Namely, the width of a first radial gaps, which is formed within adjacent wavy portions and which connects with an inner space formed at the center of the generally ring like structure, increases from the outer end thereof to the inner end thereof. The width of a second radial gap, which is connected with outer atmosphere, decreases from the outer end thereof to the inner end thereof. Both axial ends of the wavy portions are covered with the adhesive sheet on which adhesive layer is cladded.

Zig zag filter element

Filter element

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Kariya, Japan

Satoshi Inukai