Patent ID: 8398735

Claim:
A filter element, comprising: a frame member defining an aperture for fluid flow therethrough; a pleated filter media secured to said frame member and fully covering said aperture; a support grid as a separate component from said frame member and positioned on a downstream side of said filter element and having a second fluid flow aperture aligned with said frame member fluid flow aperture, said support grid including a plurality of edge rails extending circumferentially around an outer boundary of said second aperture, wherein said edge rails are secured to said frame member; at least one comb member extending fully across said second fluid aperture and having opposing ends secured to edge rails of said support grid, said at least one comb member extending across said second fluid flow aperture, said at least one comb member arranged in a spaced parallel arrangement with each other on said support grid, and arranged adjacent to and contacting pleats of said filter media, each of said at least one comb member including a plurality of spaced apart tapered teeth protruding from said support grid towards and received into at least a portion of grooves between said pleats of said filter media; wherein said comb member teeth are sized and spaced to be received into at least a portion of grooves between said pleats of said filter media; wherein said at least one comb member is sufficiently rigid to support said filter media against forces induced on said filter media by said fluid flow without undue flexure; wherein said comb member teeth are spaced to regulate filter media pleat separation and spacing.