Robert L Widerski

US Patent:

20090229458, Sep 17, 2009

Filed:

Mar 11, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/045888

Inventors:

Terrance D. Feddersen - Belle Plaine MN, US
Fred H. Wahlquist - Bloomington MN, US
Robert Paul Widerski - Saint Paul MN, US

International Classification:

B01D 46/46

US Classification:

95 19, 55311

Abstract:

A filter element includes a panel construction of filter media; a filter frame holds a periphery of the panel construction; and a bypass arrangement is adjacent to the panel construction. The bypass arrangement includes a door moveable between a closed position and an open position, and a force member holding the door in the closed position until restriction across the filter media reaches a predetermined amount to allow the door to move to the open position. An example force member is a magnet arrangement or a spring. The element is installable in an air cleaner assembly. A method of filtering air directs a flow of air into a housing holding a panel filter element, and prevents bypassing of the filter element by having a bypass door remain closed by exerting a first closing force on the bypass door. The method further includes a step of opening the bypass door, when the restriction across the panel filter element causes a second force that exceeds the first closing force, to allow air flow to bypass the panel filter element and flow through an opening exposed by the door.