Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A filter element comprising a sheet of comparatively rigid material formed with apertures distributed substantially uniformly over its entire area and forming a total of open areas that is at least 30% of the total area of said sheet, a unitary mass of amorphously arranged fibres, said sheet being embedded within said mass with portions of said mass of fibres passing through said apertures from one side of said sheet to the other side of said sheet, said fibres including coatings of a synthetic resin bonding material applied to the entire mass to bond said fibres to one another, including those fibres which are located within said apertures, and also to bond said apertured sheet to the fibres of said mass adjacent to said sheet, said mass being formed with opposed outer surfaces substantially parallel to said sheet, the quantity of said synthetic resin bonding material applied to said fibres being sufficient to effect said bonding while leaving said mass pervious to fluid passing therethrough between said faces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A filter element comprising a sheet of comparatively rigid material formed with apertures distributed substantially uniformly over its entire area and forming a total of open areas that is at least 30% of the total area of said sheet, a unitary mass of amorphously arranged fibres, said sheet being embedded within said mass with portions of said mass of fibres passing through said apertures from one side of said sheet to the other side of said sheet, said fibres including coatings of a synthetic resin bonding material applied to the entire mass to bond said fibres to one another, including those fibres which are located within said apertures, and also to bond said apertured sheet to the fibres of said mass adjacent to said sheet, said mass being formed with opposed outer surfaces substantially parallel to said sheet, the quantity of said synthetic resin bonding material applied to said fibres being sufficient to effect said bonding while leaving said mass pervious to fluid passing therethrough between said faces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A filter element according to claim 1, in which said perforated sheet consists of expanded metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A filter element according to claim 1, in which said synthetic resin is a silicone resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A filter element according to claim 1, in which said synthetic resin is polyurethane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A filter element according to claim 1, in which said supporting sheet is located centrally between and parallel to said faces of said mass of fibres.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A filter element according to claim 1, in which said supporting sheet is located closer to one of said faces of said mass of fibres than to the other said face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A filter element according to claim 1, in which one of said faces of said mass of fibres is formed with grooves to increase the capacity of the filter element to hold trapped particles, the depth of said grooves being less than the spacing between said face and said sheet of supporting material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A filter element according to claim 1, including end caps, one of said end caps being formed with a central aperture, whereby the filter element may be mounted in a filter assembly for directing the fluid through said mass of fibres and through said central aperture, said end caps being respectively formed with circular tapered recesses and the edges of said cylinder being tapered to fit in fluid-tight fashion in said tapered recesses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A filter element according to claim 1 in which said sheet is formed as a cylinder and said mass is a unitary cylinder in which the cylindrical sheet is immersed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A filter element according to claim 1 in which said apertures form a total of open areas greater than 50% of the total area of said sheet.