Patent ID: 7648563

Claim:
A method of assembling a baghouse bag filter tensioning assembly, said method comprising: providing a compressible spring including at least one straight spring portion and at least one conical spring portion, the at least one straight spring portion and the at least one conical spring portion are formed as a continuous spring member having a substantially constant gauge thickness, wherein the gauge thickness of the at least one straight spring portion is substantially equal to the gauge thickness of the at least one conical spring portion, the at least one straight spring portion having a substantially linear spring rate that induces a first tension in the bag filter during a filtration mode, and the at least one conical spring portion having a substantially progressively increasing spring rate that induces a second tension in the bag filter during a reverse flow mode; coupling the spring to a bag filter support frame and a bag filter; compressing the spring into a pretensioned condition; coupling a bag filter to a baghouse floor; and decompressing the spring such that the first tension is induced in the bag filter, wherein the at least one straight spring portion is generally engaged during the filtration mode and the at least one conical spring portion is generally engaged during the reverse flow mode.