Patent ID: 7008467

Claim:
An air cleaner comprising: (a) a housing including at least first and second portions; (b) a primary filter element operably installed within the housing; the primary filter element including a z-filter media construction having an inlet flow face and an outlet flow face; (i) the z-filter media construction including a plurality of flutes; each of said flutes having an upstream portion adjacent to said inlet flow face and a downstream portion adjacent to said outlet flow face; (A) selected ones of said flutes being open at said upstream portion and closed at said downstream portion; and selected ones of said flutes being closed at said upstream portion and open at said downstream portion; (ii) the primary filter element having a cross-sectional configuration including a pair of opposite curved ends joined by sides; (iii) the primary filter element including a seal member extending completely, peripherally around the z-filter media construction; (A) the seal member including first and second opposite sides and an outer annular surface; (B) the seal member being between the first and second portions of the housing to form an axial seal; (c) a precleaner upstream of the primary filter element; the precleaner including multiple centrifugal separators and an ejection tube; (i) each of the separators having a sidewall, an interior volume, and vanes within the interior volume; and (d) a safety element operably installed in the housing downstream of the primary filter element; (i) the safety element including a frame having an outer, surrounding band; a gasket mounted to the surrounding band; a region of pleated filter media within the frame; and a handle; (ii) the safety element having a cross-sectional configuration including a pair of opposite curved ends joined by sides.