GAF Bag Filters and Filter Bags

GAF (General Aniline and Film Corporation) was founded in New York City in 1923 and was a manufacturer of dyes and chemicals for the emerging film industry. By the 1960’s bag filtration systems became recognized as a method of increasing filtration efficiency through support of higher flow rates and ease of use/maintenance. Sometime during the late 1960’s GAF developed an industrial bag filter product line and the ubiquitous “goose neck inlet” design was patented in 1975 (applied 1972) by Edward Smith on behalf of GAF Corp.

GAF also manufactured filter bags for their bag filter housings and notably invented what is now referred to as the SENTINEL® filter bag sealing ring, an innovative, chemically resistant and bypass free seal which significantly increased filtration efficiency. Building on that 1990 patent, they patented a multiple layered filter bag in 1994, now referred to as the PROGAF™ series which provides Beta 5000 (99.9%) filtration efficiency for particles as small as 1 micron.

We still receive inquiries for GAF brand filter housings, usually to repair, replace or duplicate an “original” GAF bag filter manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s. Due to current manufacturing techniques, identical “drop-in” replacements for the GAF bag filter housings do not exist. Instead, Eaton offers the “evolved” version of the GAF product line.

Housing Selection Guide:

• #3 and #4 GAF RBX Series: Refer to the Eaton MINILINE™ series.
• #1 and #2 GAF RB1-SE Series: Refer to the Eaton SIDELINE™ housings.
• "Gooseneck" GAF RB1 Model: Refer to the Eaton TOPLINE™ housings.
• Twin Chamber RB2-SL: Now provided as two combined TOPLINE units, referred to as the DOULINE™ series.

The multiple chamber bag filter housings GAF RB 2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12 C2L series is now referred to as the Eaton MAXILINE™ series. Whereas the GAF design had inlet and outlet nozzles protruding from the bottom, the Eaton design employs an upper side entry and a tangentially mounted outlet nozzle, which significantly reduces the housing height and improves ergonomics.

The GAF filter bags in the industry standard #1 - #4 sizes are still available under the Eaton brand. GAF’s SENTINEL, ACCUGAF, and DURAGAF are still referred to by their original names. Snap-ring seals and tie-on style bags remain available for legacy installations.

Eaton has also introduced modern safety accessories like the Splash Guard (pictured right), a cover for FLOWLINE housings designed to protect personnel by directing leakage away from the operator in the event of O-ring failure.

Spare Parts Availability: Components such as O-rings, swing bolts, and support baskets are often interchangeable. To ensure the correct fit for your specific GAF model, please provide us with the filter housing serial number.