Patent ID: 8216335

Claim:
An air filter cartridge suitable for removable installation in a housing body having an annular seal surface; the air filter comprising: (a) first and second, opposite, ends; (i) the first end having an air flow exit aperture therethrough; (b) a conical extension of filter media extending between the first and second ends and around a central cartridge axis; (c) a first, open, end cap adjacent the first end of the filter cartridge; (i) the media being embedded in the first, open, end cap; (ii) the first, open, end cap having a perimeter with an outer, annular, radial seal thereat, for sealing with the annular surface in a housing, directed radially outwardly away from the cartridge central axis and around an end of the media to form an outer peripheral portion of the first, open, end cap; (d) a preform embedded in the first end cap; (i) the preform having a radial ring portion extending radially outwardly therefrom away from the cartridge central axis to a location further radially outwardly then the outer, annular, radial seal on the first, open, end cap; (ii) the preform having an axial shield portion extending axially away from the first end cap along the media toward the filter cartridge second end a distance of at least 5% of an axial length of the filter cartridge; and, (e) a second, closed, end cap adjacent the second end of the filter cartridge; (i) the second end cap including a central projection extending inwardly of the filter cartridge a distance of at least 15 mm.