CORELESS NON-METALLIC FILTER ELEMENT

摘要

A coreless filter element (10) for a filter housing includes cylindrical filter media (20) having longitudinally-extending pleats extending from one end cap (22) on the filter media to another end cap (24) on the filter media. The filter media (20) is preferably a multi-layered structure with an outer support mesh layer attached to an inner prefiltratio n layer by an intermediate adhesive web layer. An inner wrap (64) of a porous fibrous filter media is provided within the central cylindrical cavity (58) of the pleated filter media (20). The wrap (64) has a cylindrical form with an outer surface which is joined to the inner pleat peaks of the media such as with adhesive applied in one or more beads, or as a continuous layer applied to the outer surface of the support wrap. The filter element (10) with inner support wrap (64) can be easily located over the metal support core (18) integral with th e filter housing, and provides structural integrity for the pleats of the filter media. According to another embodiment, a series of circumferential bands formed from porous or imperforate material can be provided within the central cylindrical cavity (58) and joined by the adhesi ve to the inner pleat peaks of the filter media.