Patent ID: 9409104
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: B01D

Claim Text:
1. A filter element for purifying a fluid at risk of freezing, the filter element, comprising: an elongated annular filter body is a star-shaped filter bellows of filter media having a plurality of axially aligned folds, the filter media separating an unfiltered fluid side from a filtered fluid side; an elongated support body received within an interior of said annular filter body, said support body having walls of an elastomeric material defining and enclosing an axially extending compressible cavity within; wherein said filter body circumferentially surrounds said support body; wherein radially inner edges of said folds of said filter media are resting against and contacting onto radially exterior surfaces of said support body; wherein said fluid includes fluid components that expand in volume upon freezing , said freezing fluid applying a radial pressure load acting on said support body from an exterior to an interior of said support body; and wherein said cavity of said support body is not a passage for fluid flow entering or exiting the filter element; wherein support body walls surrounding the cavity are impermeable to fluid flow; wherein said support body radially inwardly compresses said cavity and elastically yields under said radial pressure load induced on said support body by said freezing expansion of said fluid volume.