Patent ID: 7758666

Claim:
An agricultural filter element for separating particles from a particle-laden unfiltered gas flow exiting an animal stable or shed, including: a first filter wall having a plurality of first through-flow openings for entry of contaminated unfiltered gas; a second filter wall disposed downstream of the first filter wall in the flow direction, and having a plurality of second through-flow openings for the exit of clean gas; and wherein one of the first and second filter walls is constructed from an extruded plastic material; an intermediate flow space disposed between the first and the second filter walls, wherein the second through-flow openings are arranged in a displaced relationship with the first through-flow openings in the flow direction; the second filter wall has at least one impingement wall region arranged so that particles passing through the first through-flow openings at least partially impinge thereon and are deflected thereby; and at least one of the first and second filter walls has folds which extend alternately inward and outward relative to the intermediate flow space and has increased deformability in relation to the rest of the wall at least portions of the folds having a wall thickness which is reduced relative to the rest of the wall region whereby said filter element can be shifted between a collapsed configuration for storage, transport and disposal, and an expanded configuration for gas flow filtration; and wherein the entire surfaces of the first and second filter walls are liquid-resistant which facilitates removing accumulated particles therefrom for reuse of said filter element, yet permits said filter element to be readily shifted between said collapsed and expanded configurations; and wherein the filter element is configured to withstand high pressure cleaning with water in the expanded configuration; a plurality of the filter elements arranged in a mutually juxtaposed relationship; wherein the filter elements are arranged in a mutually superposed relationship, and are connected together by a connecting profile, including: an upper receiving region for receiving an upper one of the filter elements; a lower receiving region for receiving a lower one of the filter elements; a particle collecting region arranged between the two receiving regions; and at least one opening arranged between the upper receiving region and the particle collecting region and through which the particles can drop out of the upper filter element into the particle collecting region.