초록 ▼

The end caps of a filter element are formed on the element by dispensing a photo-initiated polymer in a transparent mold, setting the end of the filter media array in the mold, exposing the mold to ultraviolet light for a time sufficient to cure the polymer, and then stripping the mold from the fini

The end caps of a filter element are formed on the element by dispensing a photo-initiated polymer in a transparent mold, setting the end of the filter media array in the mold, exposing the mold to ultraviolet light for a time sufficient to cure the polymer, and then stripping the mold from the finished end cap. Accordingly, the time of 60-75 seconds required to cure prior art Plastisol end caps is reduced to a few seconds necessary to cure the end caps made from the photo-initiated polymer. The end caps have been designed with reinforcing ribs to minimize the amount of polymer required while still maintaining necessary hoop strength to retain the media in place.

대표청구항 ▼

A filter comprising a circumferentially extending array of radially tapering pleats defining a filtering media, said array being formed into a cylinder, said cylinder having a pair of opposite ends defined by the ends of said pleats, and a pair of circumferentially extending sealing end caps extendi

A filter comprising a circumferentially extending array of radially tapering pleats defining a filtering media, said array being formed into a cylinder, said cylinder having a pair of opposite ends defined by the ends of said pleats, and a pair of circumferentially extending sealing end caps extending circumferentially around the ends of said cylinder to seal the ends of said pleats, characterized in that the material comprising at least one of said end caps is a photo-initiated polymer, said pleats extending between inner tips and outer tips, said inner tips cooperating to define an inner circumference of said array, a supporting perforated centertube circumscribing the inner circumference of said array to support the inner tips of said pleats, and a housing receiving the array with said centertube, said housing including a circumferentially extending wall circumscribing the outer tips of said pleats, said end caps including portions of greater and lesser thickness, said portions of greater thickness including reinforcing ribs extending across the ends of at least some of said pleats to increase the hoop strength of the corresponding end cap, said centertube including upper and lower ends coplanar with the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, at least one of the end caps including a portion of greater thickness defining a circumferentially extending reinforcing rib circumscribing a corresponding end of the centertube and extending radially from said corresponding end of the centertube to cover the portions of the corresponding end of said pleats adjacent to the end of the centertube.