EP1118303B1 - Method and device for dedusting the filter of a vacuum cleaner with partitioned filter chamber - Google Patents

Description

The subject of the present invention is a method and a device for the filter cleaning of a filter of a vacuum cleaner according to the preamble of claims 1 and 7.

Such a filter cleaning is, for example, with the subject of DE 41st 38 223 C1 became known. In the mentioned document is for control of Saugluftstrom and Fremdluftstrom a movable with a connecting rod Supply air duct used, which optionally one of the two openings of the filter covered and tightly connected to the external air flow. In addition, that is Switching element, which the Abreinigungsluft to different areas of the Filters deflected, relatively complicated.

This has the disadvantage that the filter by influx of foreign air a Cleaning experiences. It must therefore additional air from an additional unit be fed to clean the filter, creating additional funds for the Generation and supply of external air are needed. It has, however pointed out that filter used by a cleaning improved Cleaning effect on the filter can be achieved.

With DE 41 38 223 C1 is a vacuum cleaner with two distinct filters disclosed, wherein the filters depending on the control during operation be cleaned and the two filters are completely independent filters which is connected via a flexible hose mechanical device are connected and depending on the control state of the both filters are supplied with false air from the back of the filter and this in the Countercurrent cleans.

The main disadvantage of this invention is that here are two independent filters to clean and that to clean the filter a complex, mechanical Control device is necessary.

The invention is therefore based on the object, the subdivision of Filter range of a ring filter in at least two different, to be cleaned Design filter areas so that thereby a much simpler and improved operation is possible.

To solve the problem, the invention is characterized by the characterizing Features of claims 1 and 7.

The internal structure of the filter unit is designed so that in the interior the ring filter, a chamber-like separation device is arranged, which is a round circumferential, radial distance from the inner surface of the ring filter forms and which in the height cross-section about an electric machine anchor-shaped profile having two mirror-symmetrically arranged, circular chamber walls are opposite to each other through a central Partition are sealingly connected together. The chamber-like However, in a further embodiment, the separating device is such that the Chamber walls touch each other or merge into each other and about at the point at which in the first embodiment the interruption is one air opening is located in the closed wall. These Air opening is round or oval. The distance between the inside the ring filter and the outside of the chamber walls is at least twice so bridged by means of elastic sealing elements that at least form two separate chambers.

So it is a filter unit with housing, ring filter and Filter chamber and associated sealing elements, which are suitable, the Ring filter in two acted upon with different pressure areas too divide.

The core of the filter cleaning is so that you around the ring filter around two defined different chambers, wherein the one chamber of the Suction air flow is flowed through and the filter accordingly in the operation Condition the dust particles filters out, while the other by means of the filter chamber separate second chamber is intended to be blown in countercurrent to clear the filter in this area.

The radially outer space surrounding the chamber wall forms a radial outside annular space between the inside of the ring filter and the Outside of this chamber-like separation device, wherein in the area of this Annular space at least two opposing, inflatable Seals are arranged. These sealing elements are used for subdivision of the annular space, even if the distance of the ring filter to internal chamber-like separation device not the same size at each point is different in different places. The compensation for different distances is determined by the variable volume and Form change of the individual sealing elements achieved.

With this technical teaching, there is the significant advantage that now by Commissioning this vacuum cleaner automatically disconnects this Annular space on the outer circumference of the chamber-like separator by the in this space between the chamber-like separator and the Interior of the ring filter arranged, inflatable seals.

As soon as a pressure difference between the surrounding area of Seals and their interior is present, this will inflate when the Pressure in the interior is greater than the pressure in the surrounding area of this Seal, so that automatically so that the interior of the filter in two is divided into independent airspace, one of which is an airspace then to clean the ring filter and the other air space to intended operation of the ring filter as a filter material for depositing used by dirt particles from the airspace.

It does not depend on the way the pressure difference is generated regarding the inflatable seal. It is only essential that one Pressure difference is generated, which causes the inflation of the sealing units.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that alone by Applying a negative pressure in the surrounding area of the inflatable Sealing elements inflate this, while the interior with the Atmosphere communicates.

So it comes by inflating the sealing elements to a automatic application of these sealing elements to the chamber wall on the one hand and to the interior of the ring filter on the other hand, as soon as the vacuum cleaner is turned on.

It is only important that the seals their sealing effect only during the operation of the vacuum cleaner, because this is for the Dividing the ring filter into two distinct areas is an essential one Role play.

During the standstill of the nipple so the seals are in itself coincide and form a circumferential ring filter area. Shortly after When the vacuum cleaner is switched on, the gaskets will blow inside a few fractions of a second and then make the desired subdivision of the ring filter in two different ring filter areas available.

It is therefore important that the elastic sealing elements by volume change deform in such a way that they divide the filter unit into at least one subarea, which serves for the purification of the polluted air, and in at least one Subdivision, which is cleaned by the supplied false air, divide.

The volume change of the approximately bag-shaped sealing elements takes place a lower air pressure in the outer environment of the sealing elements against the air pressure in its inner area. This is achieved by that the pressure difference between the outer and the inner region of Sealing elements by generating a negative pressure in the interior of the Ring filter against the normal air pressure takes place.

The negative pressure in the inner region of the ring filter is through the implementation an air flow through it.

The sealing elements resemble by their elastic volume change Distance differences between ring filter and chamber walls, which on Reason not centered positioning of the ring filter in the housing arise. she denote the distance between these two units even though if the distance has greater differences. This has the advantage that the Ring filter when inserting no longer needs to be centered exactly. Incidentally, can For filtering a commercial filter can be used, which no Additional elements required.

The sealing elements are in the operating state both on the inside of the Ring filter as well as on the outer sides of the chamber-like separator on. With their underside they stand on the bottom surface of the chamber-like Separator in connection.

The chamber-like separation device is by means of an approximately centrally located within the annular chamber wall region arranged partition wall for air flow in divided into two subareas. This results in two partial air flows. Of the Saugluftstrom, so the air flow to be cleaned by means of the ring filter, and the false air flow, which by means of the same turbine as the suction air flow is generated, but by means of a second, separate air guide system to a Control unit is guided. From this control unit, the false air flow in Dependency of certain parameters in one or the other inner area fed to the chamber-like separator, which is within this Chamber forms an overpressure of one of the two partial air flows in the Represents filter unit. This partial air flow now penetrates from the inside of the Ring filter through this and thereby cleans the with deposits contaminated and poorly permeable outside of this filter area while the other area of the ring filter cleans the suction air stream. Since that Ring filter is placed in a sealed housing drops the cleaned dust on the housing bottom while the false air flow with the suction air stream united and through the cleaning filter area of the ring filter into the other part of the chamber-like separator penetrates and from there again is blown off.

However, the control of the false air flow is not an issue of the present invention but only mentioned for the sake of completeness.
For a more detailed explanation of the invention, a more detailed description is given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figur 1:

eine Schnittdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Filters,

Figur 2:

eine Teildraufsicht auf einen Schnitt in der Darstellung nach Fig. 1,

Figuren 3 und 4:

eine weitere Ausführungsform nach den Figuren 1 und 2.

Show it:

FIG. 1:

a sectional view of the filter according to the invention,

FIG. 2:

a partial plan view of a section in the illustration of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3 and 4:

a further embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 shows an illustration of the present invention in vertical Sectional view through the filter unit 1 with schematically arranged Control for the air guidance of the false air for the cleaning of the respective Filter sections. By controlling the false air is also at the same time cleansing air forced.

In the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2 of the invention is in this case a Ring filter 2 by means of a filter clamping disc 9 against an upper, fixed Support plate 5 sealingly clamped in the vacuum cleaner.

The support plate 5 forms an outer seal over a Container seal 4 with the vacuum cleaner tank 10. This has in itself known manner, a hose connection 11 for the vacuum cleaner hose on, so that so the sucked dirt into the interior 8 of the container 10th is sucked in and directed from outside to inside the ring filter contaminated air is applied.

According to the invention, there are at least two opposing ones Sealing elements 3 are provided, which are arranged inflatable. Each sealing element consists of a balloon-like elastomeric material which is bag-like is open, so that it is closed circumferentially and only an upper Opening for accessing the atmospheric pressure in the interior of the Has sealing element 3.

In the interior of the ring filter 2 is otherwise a chamber-like separator 12 arranged, which essentially in profile an electric machine anchor equivalent.

Two mutually mirror-symmetrically arranged, part-annular chamber walls 19,20 are opposite each other and are through a central partition wall 18th connected with each other.

Moreover, the chamber-like separator 12 also has one through bottom surface 21.

The housing walls of the chamber-like separator 12 are impermeable to air and between the chamber walls 19,20 becomes a first Air opening 6 and an opposite air opening 14 defined.

In this area, so the chamber walls 19,20 are interrupted.

It is a general switching device 23 is provided with which alternatively air from the outside in the direction of arrow 13 on the outside of the ring filter is passed and - when switching the switching device 23 - the air from Interior of the filter is directed against the inner surface, so that the filter cleaned from the inside to the outside.

This is shown in the direction of arrow 15 in FIG.

The switching device 23 is shown only schematically. It can only be seen that it is a switching valve 22, for example, with a pressure-controlled flap, so that either selectively via the inlet 24, the air is directed in the upper half of the ring filter of Figure 2 for the purpose of cleaning and via the outlet 25th the purified from the ring filter air flows out in the lower area in the direction of arrow 15 and is fed again in the direction of arrow the opposite side.
In the left half of the illustration in Figure 2, the sealing element 3 'is shown in the non-inflated state, while on the right side of the illustration, the sealing element is shown in the inflated state.

During operation of the vacuum cleaner, therefore, an upper region 16 formed by the sealed-fitting two sealing elements 3, 3 'and a separate lower area 17.

It is schematically shown in Figure 1, the turbine 26, which the Air flow generated by the ring filter 2.

In the illustrated position in FIG. 2, therefore, the area under the ring filter is used for the separation of dirt particles from the teat stream, while the lower Part of the ring filter is cleaned.

If the switching device 23 is switched, then the analog apply Conditions reversed, i. E. the upper part of the ring filter is cleaned and the upper portion of the ring filter is used for the separation of dirt particles from the teat stream.

Instead of two opposing sealing elements 3 can also several Sealing elements are arranged so that not only two each other opposite different regions 16,17 defined on the ring filter but more than two such areas.

The shape of the sealing element (oval, round, square or the like) is indifferent. It is only important that the sealing element 3 is able to inflate upon application of a pressure difference between the interior and the external environment and sealingly apply both to the chamber wall 19 and 20 and to the inner wall of the ring filter 2.
The sealing element 3 applies in this case to some folds of the ring filter 2, so that it can even be provided that the sealing element with its outer contour corresponds approximately to the fold contour of the ring filter to provide an even better sealing contact surface on the ring filter.

Moreover, it does not depend on the nature and design of the ring filter 2; other types of filters may also be used, e.g. not from consist of folded filter paper.

It is also possible to use porous filter materials. It is only essential that just by the inflatable sealing elements at least two areas on Ring filter are defined, which has a range for the deposition of Represent dirt particles from the teat stream, while the other area in return is being cleaned just during this time.

About the opening 27 here is the respective sealing element 3 in conjunction with the atmosphere.

The opening 27 may in this case via a channel not shown with the Be connected to the atmosphere.

Moreover, it can also be provided that the two sealing elements are interconnected by air conduction and only the one sealing element Opening 27, while the other sealing element completely closed is.

The sealing element must, moreover, also sealingly on the support plate 5 and also rest against the ring filter, as shown in Figure 1.

In the illustrations in FIGS. 3 and 4, in comparison to the illustrations in FIG Figures 1 and 2 a modified embodiment recognizable. In this Embodiment, the air openings are formed so that they are not as oval Openings between the chamber walls 18 and 19 appear but they are executed as interruptions between the two chamber walls 18 and 19. This means in the plan view of a section in the axis A-B, as shown in FIG. 4 is the chamber-like separator 12 as an anchor-shaped structure about detect.

drawing Legend

1

filter unit

2

ring filter

3

Sealing element 3 '

4

container seal

5

support plate

6

air opening

7 8th

inner space

9

Filter adapter sleeve

10

container

11

hose connection

12

chamber-like separator

13

arrow

14

air opening

15

arrow

16

Area

17

Area

18

partition wall

19

chamber wall

20

chamber wall

21

floor area

22

switching valve

23

switchover

24

Inlet

25

outlet

26

turbine

27

opening

Claims (14)

1. Method for cleaning the filter of a vacuum cleaner with a filter chamber division, wherein the filter unit consists of a housing, in which an annular filter is arranged, wherein the housing is supplied, on the one hand, with the air to be cleaned by means of a hose connection and, on the other hand is provided with a connection for non-contaminated secondary air, which is supplied to clean the filter region to be cleaned, wherein the air in the housing is guided by means of a suitable control for air guidance in such a way that it cleans a part of the annular filter, characterised in that a chamber-like separating device and elastic sealing elements are arranged inside the annular filter, individual sealing elements being used to divide the filter unit into at least two sub-regions and the elastic sealing elements (3, 3') deforming owing to a change in volume such that they divide the filter unit (1) into at least one sub-region, which is used to clean the contaminated air, and into at least one sub-region, which is cleaned by the secondary air supplied.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the volume change in the approximately bag-shaped sealing elements (3, 3') is caused by a lower air pressure in the outer surrounding region of the sealing elements (3, 3') compared to the air pressure in the inner region.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the difference in pressure between the outer and the inner region of the sealing elements (3, 3') is achieved by means of producing a reduced pressure in the inner region of the annular filter (2) compared to the normal air pressure.
4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised, in that the reduced pressure is produced in the inner region of the annular filter (2) due to the conducting of an air flow through the latter.
5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, by means of their elastic change in volume, the sealing elements (3, 3') compensate in a sealing manner spacing differences between the annular filter (2) and chamber walls (19, 20), which arise owing to non-centred positioning of the annular filter in the housing.
6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a part of the annular filter (2) is cleaned by the secondary air supplied while a further part of the annular filter (2) cleans the contaminated suction air.
7. Vacuum cleaner with a filter unit and filter unit cleaning device for cleaning the filter of the filter unit, which is provided with a filter chamber division, wherein the filter unit consists of a housing in which an annular filter is arranged, the housing being supplied, on the one hand, with the air to be cleaned by means of a hose connection and, on the other hand, being provided with a connection for non-contaminated secondary air, which is supplied to clean the filter region to be cleaned, wherein the air in the housing is guided by means of a suitable control for air guidance such that it cleans a part of the annular filter, characterised in that the filter unit (1) has elastic sealing elements (3, 3') between the inside of an annular filter (2) and the outside (19, 20) of the chamber-like separating device (12) arranged inside the annular filter, and is thereby divided into at least two sub-regions sealed with respect to one another.
8. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, characterised in that the sealing elements (3, 3') are approximately bag-shaped.
9. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, characterised in that the interior of the sealing elements (3, 3') is connected to the ambient air via an opening (27).
10. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that, in the operating state, the sealing elements (3, 3') rest both on the inside of the annular filter (2) and on the outsides (19, 20) of the chamber-like separating device (12).
11. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the sealing elements (3, 3') are connected by their lower side to the bottom face of the chamber-like separating device (12).
12. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the chamber-like separating device (12) is divided into two sub-regions by means of a partition (18) arranged approximately centrally inside the annular chamber wall region (19, 20).
13. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, characterised in that the chamber wall regions (19, 20) have oval air openings approximately in the centre between the connecting points to the partition (18).
14. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, characterised in that the chamber wall regions (19, 20) are interrupted approximately in the centre between the connecting points to the partition (18).

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