초록 ▼

A filter cartridge comprises a length-adjustable end cap attached to an end of a filter body. The end cap includes an annular seal, a spacer coaxially positioned in spaced relationship with the seal, and a connection member including a cylindrical neck in moveable sealing contact within the seal and

A filter cartridge comprises a length-adjustable end cap attached to an end of a filter body. The end cap includes an annular seal, a spacer coaxially positioned in spaced relationship with the seal, and a connection member including a cylindrical neck in moveable sealing contact within the seal and in a snug sliding fit within the spacer and an imperforate flange including a seal on a radial outer region thereof. A method of joining an end cap to an end of a generally cylindrical filtration medium comprises positioning an annular spacer ring in a recess of a connection flange of an end cap; melting an exposed portion of the connection flange; contacting the melted exposed portion of the flange and an end of a filter body; and allowing the melted exposed portion to cool and bond the filter body to the end cap.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A filter cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical filter body having an interior and a fluid-filtration media, and at least one length-adjustable end cap, wherein said end cap comprises a stationary ring member which is attached to an end of said filter body and includes

What is claimed is: 1. A filter cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical filter body having an interior and a fluid-filtration media, and at least one length-adjustable end cap, wherein said end cap comprises a stationary ring member which is attached to an end of said filter body and includes an interior opening and an annular seal, a spacer coaxially positioned in spaced relationship with the seal, and a moveable connection member which includes a cylindrical neck portion and flange portion, wherein the spacer is joined to the stationary ring member around the interior opening and is positioned below the seal, wherein the cylindrical neck portion is slideably received within the interior opening of said stationary ring member and extends downwardly in moveable sealing contact within said seal and in a sliding fit within said spacer into the interior of the filter body, the cylindrical neck portion defining an opening which fluidly communicates with the interior of the filter body, and wherein the flange portion extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical neck portion to a radially outer region which includes a sealing arrangement, the flange portion being imperforate and having a larger outer diameter than the outer diameters of the cylindrical filter body and the stationary ring member. 2. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a seal. 3. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the seal of the stationary ring member comprises a lip seal. 4. The filter cartridge of claim 3, wherein said lip seal is a segment of a conical surface. 5. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the outer region of the flange portion comprises an edge region. 6. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein said filter body includes a non-woven mass of melt-blown polymeric fibers, wherein said stationary ring member includes an annular connection flange, and wherein an end of said filter body is thermally melded to an adjacent portion of said connection flange so as to be integrally embedded within a corresponding depth portion thereof. 7. The filter cartridge of claim 6, wherein said connection flange of said stationary ring member defines an annular recess concentric with, but spaced from, said seal, and wherein said spacer further includes an annular spacer ring received within said recess. 8. The filter cartridge of claim 7, wherein said spacer ring is thermally melded with an adjacent portion of said connection flange. 9. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein said stationary ring member includes a connection flange which defines an annular recess concentric with, but spaced from, said seal, and wherein said spacer includes an annular spacer ring received within said recess. 10. The filter cartridge of claim 9, wherein said spacer ring is thermally melded with an adjacent portion of said connection flange. 11. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein said neck portion has a terminal beveled end opposite the flange portion. 12. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sealing arrangement of the movable connector member comprises a seal and the outer region of the flange portion comprises an edge region and wherein the seal of the stationary ring member comprises a lip seal unitarily formed with the stationary ring member. 13. A filter cartridge comprising: a filter body which defines a generally cylindrical interior space; a length-adjustable top end cap attached to an upper end of said filter body; a bottom end cap attached to a lower end of said filter body so as to close said interior space thereat; wherein said length-adjustable top end cap includes: (i) a stationary ring member having an annular connection flange integrally joined at one end to said upper end of said filter body; and (ii) a moveable member having a generally transverse annular support flange and a cylindrical neck member integrally depending from said support flange and defining an opening to allow fluid-communication with said interior space of said filter body, the support flange being imperforate, extending radially outwardly from the neck member to a radially outer region which includes a sealing arrangement, and having a larger outer diameter than the outer diameters of the filter body and the stationary ring member, wherein (iii) said stationary ring member includes a unitary annular lip seal and a spacer coaxially positioned in spaced relationship below the lip seal and joined around the interior of the annular connection flange; and wherein (iv) said neck member is slideably received within said stationary ring member so as to be in sealing contact within said lip seal and in a sliding fit within said spacer of said stationary ring member and to extend into the interior space of the filter body. 14. The filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein said lip seal is a segment of a conical surface. 15. The filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein said moveable connection member includes a cross support. 16. The filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein said filter body includes a non-woven mass of melt-blown polymeric fibers. 17. The filter cartridge of claim 16, wherein said upper end of said filter body is thermally melded to an adjacent portion of said connection flange so as to be integrally embedded within a corresponding depth portion thereof. 18. The filter cartridge of claim 17, wherein said connection flange of said stationary ring member defines an annular recess concentric with, but spaced from, said lip seal, and wherein said spacer includes an annular spacer ring received within said recess. 19. The filter cartridge of claim 18, wherein said spacer ring is thermally melded with an adjacent portion of said connection flange. 20. The filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein said connection flange of said stationary ring member defines an annular recess concentric with, but spaced from, said lip seal, and wherein said spacer includes an annular spacer ring received within said recess. 21. The filter cartridge of claim 20, wherein said spacer ring is thermally melded with an adjacent depth portion of said connection flange. 22. The filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein the outer portion of the support flange comprises an edge region. 23. The filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a seal. 24. A length-adjustable end cap for a filter cartridge comprising a stationary ring member which includes an annular connection flange capable of being bonded to an end of a filter body, an annular seal, and a spacer coaxially positioned in spaced relationship below the seal and fitted around the interior of the annular connection flange, and a moveable connection member which includes a hollow cylindrical neck portion and a flange portion, wherein the hollow cylindrical neck portion is in moveable sealing contact within said seal and in a sliding fit within the spacer, the hollow cylindrical neck portion defining an opening and extending through the end cap and into the interior of the filter body, and wherein the flange portion is imperforate, extends radially outwardly from one end of the hollow cylindrical neck portion to a radially outer region which includes a sealing arrangement, and has a larger outer diameter than the outer diameter of the stationary ring member. 25. The end cap of claim 24, wherein the seal of the stationary ring member comprises a lip seal. 26. The end cap of claim 24, wherein the sealing arrangement of the flange portion of the moveable connection member includes a seal. 27. The end cap of claim 24, wherein said annular connection flange defines an annular recess concentric with, but spaced from, said seal, and wherein said spacer includes an annular spacer ring received within said recess. 28. The end cap of claim 24, wherein the outer region of the flange portion of the moveable connection member comprises an edge region. 29. A filter cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical filter body having an interior and at least one length-adjustable end cap, wherein the filter body includes a fluid filtration media and an end and wherein the length-adjustable end cap includes a stationary ring member and a movable connection member, the stationary ring member including an annular connection flange attached to the end of the filter body, an annular seal, and a spacer coaxially positioned in spaced relationship below the seal and joined around the interior of the annular connection flange and the movable connection member including a cylindrical neck portion and a flange portion, wherein the cylindrical neck portion defines an opening which fluidly communicates with the interior of the filter body, is slideably received within the annular seal and the spacer, is in movable sealing contact with the seal, has a sliding fit with the spacer, and extends into the interior of the filter body and wherein the flange portion is imperforate, extends radially outwardly from one end of the cylindrical neck portion to a radially outer region which includes a sealing arrangement, and has a larger outer diameter than the outer diameters of the filter body and the stationary ring member. 30. The filter cartridge of claim 29 wherein the annular seal of the stationary ring member includes a lip seal. 31. The filter cartridge of claim 29 wherein the sealing arrangement of the moveable connection member includes a seal. 32. The filter cartridge of claim 29 wherein the spacer comprises a spacer ring bonded within a recess in the stationary ring member.