Patent ID: 7879125

Claim:
A filter for filtering fluid flowing along a flow path having first and second segments, said first segment being a filtering path segment, said second segment being an axial flow path segment extending axially along an axial direction along an axis, said first segment being normal to said second segment, said filter comprising an annular filter element extending axially along said axis along said axial direction, said filter element comprising a pair of panels mating to form a closed-loop annulus, a first of said pair of panels comprising a first pleated filter media sheet having a plurality of pleats defined by wall segments extending along a transverse direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at first and second sets of axially extending bend lines, said transverse direction being normal to said axis, said wall segments extending axially between first and second axial ends, said first panel spanning laterally along a lateral span along a lateral direction from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, said lateral direction being normal to said transverse direction and normal to said axial direction, said wall segments having a pleat depth along said transverse direction between said first and second sets of pleat tips, said pleat depth of said wall segments varying as said first panel spans laterally along said lateral span from said first lateral end to said second lateral end, a second of said pair of panels comprising a second pleated filter media sheet having a plurality of pleats defined by wall segments extending along said transverse direction between third and fourth sets of pleat tips at third and fourth sets of axially extending bend lines, said wall segments of said second panel extending axially between third and fourth axial ends, said second panel spanning laterally along a lateral span along said lateral direction from a third lateral end to a fourth lateral end, said wall segments of said second panel having a pleat depth along said transverse direction between said third and fourth sets of pleat tips, said pleat depth of said wall segments of said second panel varying as said second panel spans laterally along said lateral direction from said third lateral end to said fourth lateral end.