Patent ID: 7708797

Claim:
An air filter cartridge comprising: (a) a media pack having an inlet flow face and an opposite outlet flow face; (i) the media pack comprising a coiled strip of fluted filter media secured to facing filter media defining a plurality of inlet flutes and outlet flutes extending between the inlet and outlet faces; (ii) the media pack being closed to passage of unfiltered air therethrough, between the inlet flow face and the outlet flow face; and (iii) the media pack having a perimeter shape with two opposite curved ends with opposite sides extending therebetween; (b) a housing seal member mounted on the media pack adjacent the outlet flow face and including a radially outwardly radial seal member; and, (c) a preform support positioned on the media pack adjacent the inlet flow face; (i) the preform support including a handle arrangement thereon positioned overlapping one of the curved ends of the media pack; (ii) the preform support including first and second opposite side spacer projections overlapping opposite sides of the media pack; (A) each one of the first and second side spacer projections having a length of extension corresponding to 5% to 40% of a maximum width of the media pack between the first and second curved ends; (B) each one of the first and second side spacer projections having a radial outward projection of 3 to 15 mm, relative to adjacent portions of the preform support; (C) each one of the first and second side spacer projections having an axial thickness of at least 6 mm; and, (b) a housing seal arrangement mounted on the media pack adjacent the outlet flow face and including a radially outwardly directed radial seal member; (i) the housing seal arrangement comprising a support projecting outwardly from the outlet flow face in a direction opposite the inlet flow face; (ii) the housing seal arrangement including grid work extending across the outlet flow face; and, (c) a preform support positioned on the media pack adjacent the inlet flow face and spaced from, and separate from, the housing seal arrangement; (i) the preform support completely surrounding an end of the media pack and including first and second, opposite, sides extending between first and second, opposite, curved ends; (ii) the preform support including a handle arrangement thereon positioned overlapping one of the curved ends of the media pack and projecting away from the media pack; (A) the handle projection having at least one edge positioned so that fingers can be pushed at least partially beneath it, to facilitate manipulation of the cartridge; and, (iii) the preform support including housing engagement projections on the first and second, opposite, sides; (A) the housing engagement projections being spaced from the handle projection; (B) the housing engagement projections being spaced from the inlet flow face; and, (C) the housing engagement projections being formed integral with a remainder of the preform support.