EP2386237B1 - Filter with use indicator, and vacuum cleaner with such a filter - Google Patents

Filter with use indicator, and vacuum cleaner with such a filter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2386237B1
EP2386237B1 EP11401061.4A EP11401061A EP2386237B1 EP 2386237 B1 EP2386237 B1 EP 2386237B1 EP 11401061 A EP11401061 A EP 11401061A EP 2386237 B1 EP2386237 B1 EP 2386237B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filter
air
vacuum cleaner
display device
air path
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EP11401061.4A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2386237A2 (en
EP2386237A3 (en
Inventor
Andre Bertram
Seyfettin Kara
Monika Seifert
Stefan Tiekötter
Cornelius Wolf
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Miele und Cie KG
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Miele und Cie KG
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Publication of EP2386237A2 publication Critical patent/EP2386237A2/en
Publication of EP2386237A3 publication Critical patent/EP2386237A3/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/19—Means for monitoring filtering operation
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/12—Dry filters
    • A47L9/122—Dry filters flat

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a filter, in particular a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter, with at least one filter medium, a filter inlet side and a filter outlet side, and with a display device, which is acted upon by the air to be filtered and is used in the filtered material as a display.
  • the display device is provided for displaying a degree of saturation of the filter.
  • the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with such a filter.
  • a filter is from the EP 0 396 803 A1 known.
  • Vacuum cleaners in particular electric vacuum cleaners in a version as a household vacuum cleaner, work almost exclusively with multi-stage particle filters.
  • a prefilter - preferably designed as a dust bag - and behind an exhaust filter for removing fine dust that still happens to the bag are usually in front of a vacuum cleaner fan provided.
  • the latter for example, still absorbs the abrasion of carbon brushes or the like of the drive motor of the blower.
  • Both filter stages must be replaced as consumables by the user of the vacuum cleaner.
  • a user must be reliably and conveniently signaled when the bag or the exhaust filter must be changed as a result of reaching an upper limit for a filling or saturation.
  • For the dust bag sensors are usually used, which operate on the differential pressure principle.
  • For the exhaust filter is known to use an operating time of the filter as a criterion for a required replacement.
  • a time counter is considered, which is reset manually after inserting the exhaust filter by the user and the expiration of a fixed operating time signals the necessary change of the filter.
  • the algorithm for this and necessary operating and display elements are implemented in a vacuum cleaner control or part of the vacuum cleaner control.
  • the DE 102 29 796 describes a filter with a temperature-dependent integrating consumption indicator. The color of the indicator changes depending on the temperature always when the vacuum cleaner is operated for a long time.
  • the DE 602 057 53 T describes time-dependent consumption indicators that must be activated by the user by opening a fluid store. A colored indicator liquid diffuses into an absorbent material in the consumption indicator, which then discolors over time and thus represents a measure of the useful life.
  • a filter of the type described here and below is a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter, that is, a filter which is arranged in the exhaust air flow of the suction fan of an electric vacuum cleaner, for example, acts as a particulate matter or hygiene filter and is sometimes referred to as blow-out or post-filter.
  • the display device is advantageously acted upon by the air to be filtered by the latter at least laterally adjoins the or each filter medium and extends from the filter input side to the filter output side, wherein the display device of a the filter input side outgoing air path, which is covered on the filter output side with a viewing window and wherein on the filter output side below the lens, a visible in the air path flow-through consumption indicator is visible.
  • the consumption indicator visible below the lens is used to collect the filtered material and thus as an indicator for a required filter change or as a fill level control of the filter.
  • the advantage of the invention is that filtered material itself is used to display the possibly necessary filter change or as level control of the filter.
  • the display device is charged with the air to be filtered, so that from the filtered air to be filtered material can be collected in or on the display device and displays the increasing degree of saturation of the filter with increasing amount of the filtered material.
  • the vacuum cleaner 10 comprises a control computer 28, which is in operative connection with a vacuum cleaner 10 arranged on the operating and display unit 30. About the signals of the control and display unit 30, the suction power of the blower 22 and thus a quantity of recordable dust 18 is set by the control computer 28 through the vacuum cleaner 10.
  • control and display unit 30 indicates a change of the vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 which becomes necessary as a function of z.
  • the present invention is based on the approach, a color change or other change of an optical property of a attached to the vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 or otherwise suitably combined with the vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 consumption indicator by one with the dust receptacle of the vacuum cleaner 10 and thus with the Dust entry in the vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 correlated size to control, so as to realize a consumption and use or saturation-dependent filter change display or level control of the filter.
  • FIG. 2 schematically simplified by the example of a designed as a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 a filter 40 according to the approach according to the invention.
  • the only partially visible filter 40 includes a display device 42, which is acted upon by the air to be filtered and is used in the filtered material as a display.
  • the filter 40 with display device 42 is shown enlarged.
  • the illustrated filter 40 comprises at least one filter medium, in this case a carbon filter 44 and a filter fleece 46, and with its geometry and its installation direction, the filter has a filter inlet side 48 and a filter outlet side 50.
  • the air to be filtered during operation of the filter 40 is represented by a plurality of parallel oriented and pointing in the direction of the filter 40 arrows.
  • the display device 42 adjoins the filter 40 or the or each filter medium at least on one side and extends from the filter input side 48 to the filter output side 50. It comprises an air path 52 emanating from the filter input side 48 and covered with a viewing window 54 on the filter output side 50 is.
  • a flow-through consumption indicator 56 is arranged below the viewing window 54 in the air path 52 in a position visible to a user.
  • Filtered material serves as an indication insofar as it is caught by the flow-through consumption indicator 56 and remains there, for example due to deviating optical properties visible.
  • the flow-through consumption indicator 56 for example, as a light, especially white fleece, is carried out, particulate matter, in particular abrasion of carbon brushes of the drive motor of the vacuum cleaner fan 22 is contrasting, so that the extent caused change in color of the surface of the flow through consumption indicator 56 as a measure of saturation of the filter 40 as a whole or as an indication of a possibly already reached saturation limit of the filter 40 functions.
  • the lens 54 during operation of the filter 40 for an air flow in the air path 52 acts as a diversion and indeed as a deflection by or in the consumption indicator 56.
  • the air path 52 ends in the region of the filter input side 48 in a parallel to the filter input side 48 oriented channel portion, so that with the end of the channel section a nozzle 58 directed towards the rest of the filter (venturi nozzle) yields.
  • the end of the channel section which acts as a venturi nozzle, effects a venturi effect and thus a negative pressure at the end of the air path 52, so that air to be filtered is sucked into the air path 52 due to this negative pressure.
  • Fig. 3 shows in the same way as Fig. 2 and with otherwise identical components a filter 40 with a display device 42, in which the air path 52 leads through the flow-through consumption indicator 56 to the filter output side 50.
  • the visor 54 and the end of the air path 52 are then arranged together on the filter output side 50 forming surface of the display device 42.
  • an effective width of a filter inlet side inlet of the air path 52 is greater than an effective width of an outlet of the air path 52.
  • the practical size ratio is an inlet that is twice as large as the outlet, or a three or four times larger inlet, etc. into consideration.
  • Fig. 4 shows a particular embodiment of the display device 42 without a laterally adjoining or surrounding filter 40 (FIG. Fig. 2 ; Fig. 3 ).
  • This embodiment is characterized by a symmetrical, in particular mirror-symmetrical, arrangement of two air paths 52, each with one viewing window 54 and one respective throughflowable consumption indicator 56.
  • a common viewing window and / or a common consumption indicator may also be considered (not shown).
  • Between the at least two symmetrically arranged air paths 52 beyond (not shown) can still be a separation layer.
  • the dashed arrows show the flow path of the filter to be filtered Air, so that even in this configuration, the display device 42 is acted upon by the air to be filtered. As the air to be filtered flows through the or each consumption indicator 56 and collects this filtered material, filtered material also serves as an indication of a degree of saturation of the filter 40 combined with the display device in this configuration of the display device 42.
  • Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment for a display device 42 with an air path 52 leading from the filter input side 48 via the flow-through consumption indicator 56 to the filter output side 50.
  • the configuration is thus similar to FIG Fig. 3 and differs z. B. in terms of the arrangement of the flow-through consumption indicator 56, which is horizontally oriented here with its entire surface.
  • Fig. 6 shows in the upper and the lower view a schematically simplified three-dimensional view of a filter 40 with a laterally arranged display device 42, which is based on the principle according to the approach of the invention.
  • the display device 42 are in the combination combined with the filter 40 configuration only the outlet, so an exhaust port 60 at the end of the air path 52 (FIG. Fig. 2 ; Fig. 3 ; Fig. 4 ; Fig. 5 ) and the consumption indicator 56 located below a viewing window 54.
  • the filter 40 with the display device 42 is also accessible for visual inspection by the user, so that he is on the basis of the amount of material filtered by the consumption indicator 56 and the resulting change in color of the consumption indicator 56, the degree of saturation of the Detect filters 40 and may make or cause a filter change.
  • an electronic evaluation of the consumption indicator 56 comes into consideration, because with increasing amount of the filtered material and its optical properties, in particular its reflection properties, change, with an electronic sensors in the manner of a reflection light barrier or the like is evaluable.
  • a filter 40 in particular a filter 40 functioning as a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26, is provided with a display device 42 which is acted upon by the air to be filtered and which uses filtered material as an indicator, e.g. by this is reflected on acting as a consumption indicator 56, flow-through non-woven or the like and there is a discoloration of the consumption indicator 56 or causes, which can be evaluated by a user by optical inspection.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen Filter, insbesondere einen Staubsaugerabluftfilter, mit zumindest einem Filtermedium, einer Filtereingangsseite und einer Filterausgangsseite, und mit einer Anzeigevorrichtung, die mit der zu filternden Luft beaufschlagt wird und bei der gefiltertes Material als Anzeige dient. Die Anzeigevorrichtung ist zur Darstellung eines Sättigungsgrads des Filters vorgesehen. Weiter betrifft die Erfindung einen Staubsauger mit einem solchen Filter.
Ein solcher Filter ist aus der EP 0 396 803 A1 bekannt.
Staubsauger, insbesondere Elektrostaubsauger in einer Ausführung als Haushaltsstaubsauger, arbeiten fast ausschließlich mit mehrstufigen Partikelfiltern. So sind in der Regel vor einem Staubsaugergebläse ein Vorfilter - vorzugsweise als Staubbeutel ausgeführt - und dahinter ein Abluftfilter zur Beseitigung von Feinstaub, der den Beutel noch passiert, vorgesehen. Letzterer nimmt z.B. noch den Abrieb von Kohlebürsten oder dergleichen des Antriebsmotors des Gebläses auf. Beide Filterstufen müssen als Verbrauchsmaterial vom Benutzer des Staubsaugers ausgetauscht werden. Einem Benutzer muss dazu zuverlässig und gebrauchsgerecht signalisiert werden, wann der Beutel oder der Abluftfilter in Folge einer erreichten Obergrenze für eine Füllung oder Sättigung gewechselt werden muss. Für den Staubbeutel werden üblicherweise Sensoren verwendet, die nach dem Differenzdruckprinzip arbeiten. Für den Abluftfilter ist bekannt, eine Betriebszeit des Filters als Kriterium für einen erforderlichen Austausch heranzuziehen. Hierzu kommt ein Zeitzähler in Betracht, der nach dem Einlegen des Abluftfilters manuell durch den Benutzer zurückgesetzt wird und der nach Ablauf einer fest vorgegebenen Betriebszeit den notwendigen Wechsel des Filters signalisiert. Der Algorithmus hierfür sowie notwendige Bedien- und Anzeigeelemente sind in einer Staubsaugersteuerung implementiert bzw. Bestandteil der Staubsaugersteuerung.
Die DE 102 29 796 beschreibt einen Filter mit einem temperaturabhängig integrierenden Verbrauchsindikator. Die Farbe des Indikators ändert sich temperaturabhängig immer dann, wenn der Staubsauger längere Zeit betrieben wird. Die DE 602 057 53 T beschreibt zeitabhängige Verbrauchsindikatoren, die vom Benutzer durch Öffnen eines Flüssigkeitsspeichers aktiviert werden müssen. Eine farbige Indikatorflüssigkeit diffundiert in ein im Verbrauchsindikator befindliches saugfähiges Material, das sich dann zeitabhängig verfärbt und damit einen Maßstab für die Nutzungsdauer darstellt.The invention relates to a filter, in particular a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter, with at least one filter medium, a filter inlet side and a filter outlet side, and with a display device, which is acted upon by the air to be filtered and is used in the filtered material as a display. The display device is provided for displaying a degree of saturation of the filter. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with such a filter.
Such a filter is from the EP 0 396 803 A1 known.
Vacuum cleaners, in particular electric vacuum cleaners in a version as a household vacuum cleaner, work almost exclusively with multi-stage particle filters. Thus, a prefilter - preferably designed as a dust bag - and behind an exhaust filter for removing fine dust that still happens to the bag are usually in front of a vacuum cleaner fan provided. The latter, for example, still absorbs the abrasion of carbon brushes or the like of the drive motor of the blower. Both filter stages must be replaced as consumables by the user of the vacuum cleaner. A user must be reliably and conveniently signaled when the bag or the exhaust filter must be changed as a result of reaching an upper limit for a filling or saturation. For the dust bag sensors are usually used, which operate on the differential pressure principle. For the exhaust filter is known to use an operating time of the filter as a criterion for a required replacement. For this purpose, a time counter is considered, which is reset manually after inserting the exhaust filter by the user and the expiration of a fixed operating time signals the necessary change of the filter. The algorithm for this and necessary operating and display elements are implemented in a vacuum cleaner control or part of the vacuum cleaner control.
The DE 102 29 796 describes a filter with a temperature-dependent integrating consumption indicator. The color of the indicator changes depending on the temperature always when the vacuum cleaner is operated for a long time. The DE 602 057 53 T describes time-dependent consumption indicators that must be activated by the user by opening a fluid store. A colored indicator liquid diffuses into an absorbent material in the consumption indicator, which then discolors over time and thus represents a measure of the useful life.

Die Druckschrift US 2 897 604 A offenbart einen Staubsaugerfilter, auf dessen Anströmseite ein Logoemblem des Herstellers anordnenbar ist, welches die Beaufschlagung von Teilen des Filterelements mit zu filternden Material verhindert. Auf der Abströmseite des Filterelements prägt sich somit im Betrieb des Staubsaugers das Logoemblem des Herstellers durch das zu filternden Material im Filter heraus. Die Abströmseite des Filterelements ist dabei für den Benutzer über eine Sichtscheibe einsehbar.
Die Betriebszeit als Kriterium für einen erforderlichen Filterwechsel berücksichtigt allerdings nicht oder noch nicht optimal eine tatsächliche Belastungssituation des Filters, weil der reine, lineare Zeitablauf nicht das tatsächliche und über der Zeit variierende Benutzungsverhalten abzubilden vermag.
Eine Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung besteht entsprechend darin, einen Filter, insbesondere einen Staubsaugerabluftfilter, mit Mitteln zur Generierung eines verbrauchs- bzw. sättigungskonformen Filterwechsel- bzw. Füllstandssignals anzugeben.
Diese Aufgabe wird mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1 gelöst. Ein Filter der hier und nachfolgend beschriebenen Art ist ein Staubsaugerabluftfilter, also ein Filter, der im Abluftstrom des Sauggebläses eines Elektrostaubsaugers angeordnet ist, der z.B. als Feinstaub- oder Hygienefilter fungiert und mitunter auch als Ausblas- oder Nachfilter bezeichnet wird.
Bei einem Filter mit zumindest einem Filtermedium und einer Filtereingangs- sowie Filterausgangsseite wird die Anzeigevorrichtung vorteilhaft mit der zu filternden Luft beaufschlagt, indem diese zumindest einseitig seitlich an das oder jedes Filtermedium anschließt und sich von der Filtereingangsseite bis zur Filterausgangsseite erstreckt, wobei die Anzeigevorrichtung einen von der Filtereingangsseite ausgehenden Luftpfad umfasst, der auf der Filterausgangsseite mit einer Sichtscheibe abgedeckt ist und wobei an der Filterausgangsseite unterhalb der Sichtscheibe ein im Luftpfad angeordneter durchströmbarer Verbrauchsindikator sichtbar ist. Der unterhalb der Sichtscheibe sichtbare Verbrauchsindikator dient zur Sammlung des gefilterten Materials und damit als Anzeige für einen erforderlichen Filterwechsel oder als Füllstandskontrolle des Filters.
Der Vorteil der Erfindung besteht darin, dass gefiltertes Material selbst zur Anzeige des eventuell notwendigen Filterwechsels oder als Füllstandskontrolle des Filters herangezogen wird. Dazu wird die Anzeigevorrichtung mit der zu filternden Luft beaufschlagt, so dass aus der zu filternden Luft gefiltertes Material in oder an der Anzeigevorrichtung gesammelt werden kann und mit zunehmender Menge des gefilterten Materials den steigenden Sättigungsgrad des Filters anzeigt.The publication US Pat. No. 2,897,604 A discloses a vacuum cleaner filter, on the upstream side a logo emblem of the manufacturer can be arranged, which prevents the loading of parts of the filter element with material to be filtered. Thus, on the outflow side of the filter element, the logo emblem of the manufacturer is impressed by the material to be filtered in the filter during operation of the vacuum cleaner. The downstream side of the filter element is visible to the user via a viewing window.
The operating time as a criterion for a required filter change, however, does not take into account or not yet optimally an actual load situation of the filter, because the pure, linear time sequence is not able to represent the actual and over time varying usage behavior.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filter, in particular a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter, with means for generating a consumption or saturation-conforming filter change or fill level signal.
This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. A filter of the type described here and below is a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter, that is, a filter which is arranged in the exhaust air flow of the suction fan of an electric vacuum cleaner, for example, acts as a particulate matter or hygiene filter and is sometimes referred to as blow-out or post-filter.
In a filter having at least one filter medium and a filter inlet and filter outlet side, the display device is advantageously acted upon by the air to be filtered by the latter at least laterally adjoins the or each filter medium and extends from the filter input side to the filter output side, wherein the display device of a the filter input side outgoing air path, which is covered on the filter output side with a viewing window and wherein on the filter output side below the lens, a visible in the air path flow-through consumption indicator is visible. The consumption indicator visible below the lens is used to collect the filtered material and thus as an indicator for a required filter change or as a fill level control of the filter.
The advantage of the invention is that filtered material itself is used to display the possibly necessary filter change or as level control of the filter. For this purpose, the display device is charged with the air to be filtered, so that from the filtered air to be filtered material can be collected in or on the display device and displays the increasing degree of saturation of the filter with increasing amount of the filtered material.

Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung sind Gegenstand der Unteransprüche. Dabei verwendete Rückbeziehungen weisen auf die weitere Ausbildung des Gegenstands des Hauptanspruchs durch die Merkmale des jeweiligen Unteranspruchs hin. Sie können auch selbständige Erfindungen enthalten, die eine von den Gegenständen der vorhergehenden Unter-Ansprüche unabhängige Gestaltung aufweisen und sind nicht als ein Verzicht auf die Erzielung eines selbständigen, gegenständlichen Schutzes für deren Merkmale zu verstehen. Des Weiteren ist im Hinblick auf eine Auslegung der Ansprüche bei einer näheren Konkretisierung eines Merkmals in einem nachgeordneten Anspruch davon auszugehen, dass eine derartige Beschränkung in den jeweils vorangehenden Ansprüchen nicht vorhanden ist.
Die Sichtscheibe grenzt den Luftpfad der Anzeigevorrichtung bevorzugt von der Filterausgangsseite ab, so dass der Luftpfad in diesem Bereich geschlossen ist und keine zu filternde Luft, mit der die Anzeigevorrichtung beaufschlagt wird, unkontrolliert aus dem Filter und/oder der Anzeigevorrichtung austritt. Wenn die Sichtscheibe auch als Umlenkung für den Luftstrom im Luftpfad derart fungiert, dass der Luftstrom durch den Verbrauchsindikator geleitet wird, erfüllt die Sichtscheibe gleichzeitig zwei Funktionen, nämlich zum einen den Abschluss des Luftpfads zur Filterausgangsseite und sodann die Umlenkung des Luftstroms durch den Verbrauchsindikator. Aufgrund der Umlenkung des Luftstroms durch den Verbrauchsindikator wird die Anzeigevorrichtung, also der davon umfasste Verbrauchsindikator, mit der zu filternden Luft beaufschlagt. Indem sich der Verbrauchsindikator je nach Umfang des aufgenommenen gefilterten Materials verfärbt, dient dieses beim Niederschlag auf den Verbrauchsindikator als Anzeige für einen eventuell erforderlichen Filterwechsel oder als Füllstandskontrolle des Filters.
Wenn der Luftpfad von der Sichtscheibe über den durchströmbaren Verbrauchsindikator zur Filtereingangsseite führt, kann die durch den Luftpfad geführte zu filternde Luft auch noch wie die restliche Luft dem Filtermedium zugeführt werden, so dass sich ein gemeinsamer Ausgang für die direkt und indirekt durch das Filtermedium strömende Luft ergibt.
Wenn der Luftpfad im Bereich der Filtereingangsseite in einem parallel zur Filtereingangsseite ausgerichteten Kanalabschnitt endet, ergibt sich mit dem Ende des Kanalabschnitts eine zum restlichen Filter hin ausgerichtete Düse. Diese wirkt aufgrund der Anströmung durch die direkt in das Filtermedium eintretende Luft wie eine Venturi-Düse und es ergibt sich am Ausgang des Luftpfads ein Unterdruck. Aufgrund des Unterdrucks wird die zu filternde Luft in die Anzeigevorrichtung eingesaugt.
In einer alternativen Ausführungsform führt der Luftpfad über den Verbrauchsindikator zur Filterausgangsseite. Dabei ist bevorzugt vorgesehen, dass eine wirksame Weite eines filtereingangsseitigen Einlasses des Luftpfads größer als eine wirksame Weite eines Auslasses des Luftpfads ist, so dass eine ausreichende Menge zu filternder Luft mit dem zu filternden Medium in die Anzeigevorrichtung eintritt und diese beaufschlagt.
Eine Ausführungsform zeichnet sich dabei durch eine symmetrische, insbesondere spiegelsymmetrische Anordnung zweier Luftpfade mit jeweils einer oder einer gemeinsamen Sichtscheibe und jeweils einem oder einem gemeinsamen Verbrauchsindikator mit einer oder ohne eine Trennschicht zwischen den beiden Luftpfaden aus. Auch bei einer symmetrischen Anordnung zweier oder mehrerer Luftpfade kann eine wirksame Weite eines filtereingangsseitigen Einlasses eines Luftpfades erhöht werden. Zudem bietet eine symmetrische, insbesondere spiegelsymmetrische Anordnung zweier Luftpfade mit jeweils einer Sichtscheibe und jeweils einem Verbrauchsindikator günstige Verhältnisse für das Ablesen des oder jedes Verbrauchsindikators durch die vergrößerte Sichtscheibenfläche, wobei speziell auch ein Ablesen jeweils eines Verbrauchsindikators aus unterschiedlichen Blickrichtungen möglich ist. Dadurch erleichtert sich die Handhabung des Filters und der davon umfassten Anzeigevorrichtung.
Ebenfalls lässt sich die Ablesung des Verbrauchsindikators und damit die Handhabbarkeit des Filters/der Anzeigevorrichtung erleichtern, wenn die Sichtscheibe eine Linse aufweist, insbesondere eine Linse, die mit einem geeignet gewählten Brennpunkt eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Verbrauchsindikators bewirkt.
Der hier und nachfolgend beschriebene Filter kommt speziell für die Verwendung in einem Staubsauger, insbesondere einem Elektrostaubsauger, in Betracht, so dass die Erfindung auch einen solchen Staubsauger mit einem hier beschriebenen Filter betrifft. Für Elektrostaubsauger eignet sich der Filter besonders, weil durch diesen geringe Mengen an Graphit, die sich aufgrund eines Abriebs der Kohlebürsten des Gebläsemotors ergeben, zurückgehalten werden. Solches und sonstiges gefiltertes Material sammelt sich im Verlauf der Verwendung eines bisherigen Filters normalerweise auf dessen Filterunterseite und führt dort zu einer Verfärbung des Filters. Diese Verfärbung wird aber normalerweise vom Benutzer nicht wahrgenommen, da die Filterunterseite im eingebauten Zustand nicht sichtbar ist. Darüber hinaus kommt hinzu, dass die Filterunterseite normalerweise von einer dunklen aktivkohlehaltigen Schicht bedeckt ist, so dass Verunreinigungen optisch eher unauffällig sind. Speziell bei einem Filter mit einer einseitig an das Filtermedium anschließenden Anzeigevorrichtung und einem von der Anzeigevorrichtung umfassten Luftpfad, in dem ein durchströmbarer Verbrauchsindikator angeordnet ist, gelangen Graphitpartikel oder dergleichen in den Luftpfad und dort zu dem Verbrauchsindikator, der z.B. als Filtervlies, insbesondere als weißer Flächenfilter, ausgeführt ist, so dass sich dieser im Verlauf der Filterlebensdauer je nach Menge des sich dort niederschlagenden gefilterten Materials verfärbt. Diese Verfärbung kann der Benutzer optisch wahrnehmen und danach den Gebrauchszustand seines Filters ablesen und auf eine Notwendigkeit zum Filterwechsel rückschließen. Nachfolgend wird ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung anhand der Zeichnung näher erläutert. Einander entsprechende Gegenstände oder Elemente sind in allen Figuren mit den gleichen Bezugszeichen versehen. Das Ausführungsbeispiel ist nicht als Einschränkung der Erfindung zu verstehen. Vielmehr sind im Rahmen der vorliegenden Offenbarung zahlreiche Abänderungen und Modifikationen möglich, insbesondere solche Varianten, Elemente und Kombinationen, die zum Beispiel durch Kombination oder Abwandlung von einzelnen in Verbindung mit den in der allgemeinen Beschreibung, der Ausführungsform sowie den Ansprüchen beschriebenen und in den Zeichnungen enthaltenen Merkmalen bzw. Elementen oder Verfahrensschritten für den Fachmann im Hinblick auf die Lösung der Aufgabe entnehmbar sind und durch kombinierbare Merkmale zu einem neuen Gegenstand oder zu neuen Verfahrensschritten oder Verfahrensschrittfolgen führen.
Es zeigen

Fig. 1
einen an sich bekannten Staubsauger,
Fig. 2
einen Filter mit einer Anzeigevorrichtung nach dem Prinzip gemäß der Erfindung, wobei der mit der Anzeigevorrichtung kombinierte Filter oder die Anzeigevorrichtung separat zur Verwendung in einem Staubsauger in Betracht kommen,
Fig. 3
eine erste alternative Ausführungsform des Filters mit Anzeigevorrichtung,
Fign. 4, 5
weitere Ausführungsvarianten der Anzeigevorrichtung und
Fig. 6
zwei schematisch vereinfachte perspektivische Ansichten eines Filters mit Anzeigevorrichtung.
Fig. 1 zeigt schematisch vereinfacht einen an sich bekannten Staubsauger 10, der einen Staubraum 12 mit dort anbringbarem Staubbeutel 14 aufweist. In dem Staubbeutel 14 wird über einen Saugschlauch 16 zugeführter Staub 18 gesammelt. Der Staub 18 wiederum wird vom Saugstrom 20 transportiert, den ein Gebläse 22 (Staubsaugergebläse) erzeugt. Der Staubraum 12 wird mittels eines Staubraumdeckels 24 verschlossen. Feinere Bestandteile des Staubs 18, die den Staubbeutel 14 passieren, gelangen über die Abluft oder den Saugstrom 20 des Gebläses 22 in einen Staubsaugerabluftfilter 26.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. Relationships used here point to the further development of the subject-matter of the main claim by the features of the respective sub-claim. They may also contain independent inventions having a design independent of the subject-matter of the preceding sub-claims and are not to be understood as a waiver of obtaining independent, objective protection of their characteristics. Furthermore, with a view to an interpretation of the claims in a closer specification of a feature in a subordinate claim, it is to be assumed that such a restriction does not exist in the respective preceding claims.
The viewing window preferably delimits the air path of the display device from the filter output side, so that the air path is closed in this area and no air to be filtered, with which the display device is acted, emerges uncontrollably from the filter and / or the display device. If the lens also acts as a diverter for the air flow in the air path, directing the air flow through the consumption indicator, the lens simultaneously performs two functions, namely, completing the air path to the filter outlet and then redirecting the air flow through the consumption indicator. Due to the deflection of the air flow through the consumption indicator, the display device, that is, the consumption indicator included therein, is acted upon by the air to be filtered. If the consumption indicator changes color depending on the amount of filtered material received, it will be used as an indication of any necessary filter replacement or level control of the filter when it is being dropped on the consumption indicator.
If the air path leads from the viewing window via the flow-through consumption indicator to the filter input side, the air to be filtered through the air path can also be supplied to the filter medium, like the remaining air, so that there is a common outlet for the air flowing directly and indirectly through the filter medium results.
When the air path in the area of the filter inlet side ends in a channel section aligned parallel to the filter inlet side, a nozzle directed towards the remaining filter results at the end of the channel section. This acts due to the flow through the air entering directly into the filter medium like a Venturi nozzle and there is a negative pressure at the exit of the air path. Due to the negative pressure, the air to be filtered is sucked into the display device.
In an alternative embodiment, the air path leads to the filter output side via the consumption indicator. It is preferably provided that an effective width of a filter inlet-side inlet of the air path is greater than an effective width of a Outlet of the air path is so that a sufficient amount of air to be filtered with the medium to be filtered enters the display device and this applied.
An embodiment is characterized by a symmetrical, in particular mirror-symmetrical arrangement of two air paths, each with one or a common lens and each one or a common consumption indicator with or without a separation layer between the two air paths. Even with a symmetrical arrangement of two or more air paths, an effective width of a filter inlet-side inlet of an air path can be increased. In addition, a symmetrical, in particular mirror-symmetrical arrangement of two air paths, each with a lens and a consumption indicator each favorable conditions for reading the or each consumption indicator through the enlarged lens surface, in particular, a reading of each consumption indicator from different directions is possible. This facilitates the handling of the filter and the display device covered thereby.
Also, the reading of the consumption indicator and thus the ease of handling of the filter / display device can be facilitated if the viewing window has a lens, in particular a lens which causes an enlarged representation of the consumption indicator with a suitably selected focal point.
The filter described here and below is specifically for use in a vacuum cleaner, in particular an electric vacuum cleaner, into consideration, so that the invention also relates to such a vacuum cleaner with a filter described herein. For electric vacuum cleaners, the filter is particularly suitable because they are retained by these small amounts of graphite, resulting from abrasion of the brushes of the blower motor. Such and other filtered material normally accumulates on the underside of the filter in the course of use of a previous filter, where it leads to discoloration of the filter. However, this discoloration is normally not perceived by the user since the filter underside is not visible when installed. In addition, the bottom of the filter is usually covered by a layer of activated charcoal, so that impurities are optically unobtrusive. Specifically, in a filter having a display device adjoining the filter medium on one side and an air path enclosed by the display device, in which a flow-through consumption indicator is arranged, graphite particles or the like enter the air path and there to the consumption indicator, for example as a filter fleece, in particular as a white surface filter , Is carried out so that it discolored in the course of filter life depending on the amount of precipitated there filtered material. This discoloration, the user can visually perceive and then the Read the state of use of its filter and infer a need for filter replacement. An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Corresponding objects or elements are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals. The embodiment is not to be understood as limiting the invention. Rather, numerous modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the present disclosure, in particular, such variants, elements, and combinations as, for example, by combination or modification of particular in connection with those described in the general description, the embodiment and the claims and included in the drawings Features or elements or process steps for the expert in terms of solving the problem can be removed and lead by combinable features to a new subject or to new process steps or process steps.
Show it
Fig. 1
a vacuum cleaner known per se,
Fig. 2
a filter with a display device according to the principle according to the invention, the filter combined with the display device or the display device being considered separately for use in a vacuum cleaner,
Fig. 3
A first alternative embodiment of the filter with display device,
FIGS. 4, 5
further embodiments of the display device and
Fig. 6
two schematically simplified perspective views of a filter with display device.
Fig. 1 schematically shows a simplified vacuum cleaner 10, which has a dust chamber 12 with there attachable dust bag 14. In the dust bag 14 16 supplied dust via a suction hose 16 is collected. The dust 18 in turn is transported by the suction flow 20, the blower 22 (vacuum cleaner fan) generated. The dust chamber 12 is closed by means of a dust chamber cover 24. Finer components of the dust 18 that pass through the dust bag 14, pass through the exhaust air or the suction flow 20 of the blower 22 in a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26th

Der Staubsauger 10 umfasst einen Steuerrechner 28, der mit einer am Staubsauger 10 angeordneten Bedien- und Anzeigeeinheit 30 in Wirkverbindung steht. Über die Signale der Bedien- und Anzeigeeinheit 30 wird vom Steuerrechner 28 die Saugleistung des Gebläses 22 und damit eine Menge aufnehmbaren Staubs 18 durch den Staubsauger 10 eingestellt.The vacuum cleaner 10 comprises a control computer 28, which is in operative connection with a vacuum cleaner 10 arranged on the operating and display unit 30. About the signals of the control and display unit 30, the suction power of the blower 22 and thus a quantity of recordable dust 18 is set by the control computer 28 through the vacuum cleaner 10.

Ferner signalisiert bei einzelnen Ausführungsformen bekannter Staubsauger 10 die Bedien- und Anzeigeeinheit 30 einen notwendig werdenden Wechsel des Staubsaugerabluftfilters 26 in Abhängigkeit z. B. von einer vom Steuerrechner 28 ermittelten Betriebszeit des Staubsaugers 10. Bei einem Staubsauger 10 mit einer solchen Funktionalität wird nach erfolgtem Wechsel des Staubsaugerabluftfilters 26 über die Bedien- und Anzeigeeinheit 30 der Betriebszeitzähler zurückgesetzt.Further, in individual embodiments of the known vacuum cleaner 10, the control and display unit 30 indicates a change of the vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 which becomes necessary as a function of z. In a vacuum cleaner 10 with such functionality after the replacement of the vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 via the control and display unit 30 of the operating time counter is reset.

Die vorliegende Erfindung basiert auf dem Ansatz, einen Farbumschlag oder eine sonstige Änderung einer optischen Eigenschaft eines an dem Staubsaugerabluftfilter 26 angebrachten oder sonst in geeigneter Art und Weise mit dem Staubsaugerabluftfilter 26 kombinierten Verbrauchsindikators durch eine mit der Staubaufnahme des Staubsaugers 10 und somit mit einer mit dem Staubeintrag in den Staubsaugerabluftfilter 26 korrelierten Größe zu steuern, um so eine verbrauchs- und nutzungs- oder sättigungsabhängige Filterwechselanzeige oder Füllstandskontrolle des Filters zu realisieren.The present invention is based on the approach, a color change or other change of an optical property of a attached to the vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 or otherwise suitably combined with the vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 consumption indicator by one with the dust receptacle of the vacuum cleaner 10 and thus with the Dust entry in the vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 correlated size to control, so as to realize a consumption and use or saturation-dependent filter change display or level control of the filter.

Dazu zeigt Fig. 2 schematisch vereinfacht am Beispiel eines als HEPA-Filter ausgeführten Staubsaugerabluftfilters 26 einen Filter 40 nach dem Ansatz gemäß der Erfindung. Danach umfasst der nur teilweise sichtbare Filter 40 eine Anzeigevorrichtung 42, die mit der zu filternden Luft beaufschlagt wird und bei der gefiltertes Material als Anzeige dient. Im rechten Abschnitt der Darstellung ist der Filter 40 mit Anzeigevorrichtung 42 vergrößert gezeigt.In addition shows Fig. 2 schematically simplified by the example of a designed as a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26 a filter 40 according to the approach according to the invention. Thereafter, the only partially visible filter 40 includes a display device 42, which is acted upon by the air to be filtered and is used in the filtered material as a display. In the right section of the illustration, the filter 40 with display device 42 is shown enlarged.

Der dargestellte Filter 40 umfasst zumindest ein Filtermedium, hier einen Kohlefilter 44 und ein Filtervlies 46, und mit seiner Geometrie und seiner Einbaurichtung weist der Filter eine Filtereingangsseite 48 und eine Filterausgangsseite 50 auf. Auf der Filtereingangsseite 48 ist die im Betrieb des Filters 40 zu filternde Luft durch eine Mehrzahl parallel orientierter und in Richtung des Filters 40 zeigender Pfeile dargestellt. Die Anzeigevorrichtung 42 schließt zumindest einseitig seitlich an den Filter 40 oder das oder jedes Filtermedium an und erstreckt sich von der Filtereingangsseite 48 bis zur Filterausgangsseite 50. Sie umfasst einen von der Filtereingangsseite 48 ausgehenden Luftpfad 52, der auf der Filterausgangsseite 50 mit einer Sichtscheibe 54 abgedeckt ist. An der Filterausgangsseite 50 ist unterhalb der Sichtscheibe 54 im Luftpfad 52 ein durchströmbarer Verbrauchsindikator 56 in einer für einen Benutzer sichtbaren Position angeordnet. Gefiltertes Material dient dabei insofern als Anzeige, als es von dem durchströmbaren Verbrauchsindikator 56 aufgefangen wird und dort z.B. aufgrund abweichender optischer Eigenschaften sichtbar bleibt. Wenn der durchströmbare Verbrauchsindikator 56 z.B. als helles, insbesondere weißes Vlies, ausgeführt ist, zeichnet sich Feinstaub, insbesondere Abrieb von Kohlebürsten des Antriebsmotors des Staubsaugergebläses 22 darauf kontrastreich ab, so dass die insoweit bewirkte Änderung einer Farbe der Oberfläche des durchströmbaren Verbrauchsindikators 56 als Maß für eine Sättigung des Filters 40 insgesamt oder als Anhalt für eine eventuell bereits erreichte Sättigungsgrenze des Filters 40 fungiert.The illustrated filter 40 comprises at least one filter medium, in this case a carbon filter 44 and a filter fleece 46, and with its geometry and its installation direction, the filter has a filter inlet side 48 and a filter outlet side 50. On the filter input side 48, the air to be filtered during operation of the filter 40 is represented by a plurality of parallel oriented and pointing in the direction of the filter 40 arrows. The display device 42 adjoins the filter 40 or the or each filter medium at least on one side and extends from the filter input side 48 to the filter output side 50. It comprises an air path 52 emanating from the filter input side 48 and covered with a viewing window 54 on the filter output side 50 is. At the filter outlet side 50, a flow-through consumption indicator 56 is arranged below the viewing window 54 in the air path 52 in a position visible to a user. Filtered material serves as an indication insofar as it is caught by the flow-through consumption indicator 56 and remains there, for example due to deviating optical properties visible. If the flow-through consumption indicator 56, for example, as a light, especially white fleece, is carried out, particulate matter, in particular abrasion of carbon brushes of the drive motor of the vacuum cleaner fan 22 is contrasting, so that the extent caused change in color of the surface of the flow through consumption indicator 56 as a measure of saturation of the filter 40 as a whole or as an indication of a possibly already reached saturation limit of the filter 40 functions.

In der rechtsseitigen, vergrößerten Darstellung eines Ausschnitts des Filters 40 mit der Anzeigevorrichtung 42 ist erkennbar, dass die Sichtscheibe 54 beim Betrieb des Filters 40 für einen Luftstrom im Luftpfad 52 als Umlenkung fungiert und zwar als Umlenkung durch oder in den Verbrauchsindikator 56. Bei der in Fig. 2 dargestellten Geometrie des Luftpfads 52 führt dieser von der Sichtscheibe 54 über den durchströmbaren Verbrauchsindikator 56 zur Filtereingangsseite 48. Speziell endet der Luftpfad 52 im dargestellten Beispiel im Bereich der Filtereingangsseite 48 in einem parallel zur Filtereingangsseite 48 ausgerichteten Kanalabschnitt, so dass sich mit dem Ende des Kanalabschnitts eine zum restlichen Filter hin ausgerichtete Düse 58 (Venturi-Düse) ergibt. Im Betrieb bewirkt das als Venturi-Düse fungierende Ende des parallel zur Filtereingangsseite 48 ausgerichteten Kanalabschnitts einen Venturi-Effekt und damit einen Unterdruck am Ende des Luftpfads 52, so dass aufgrund dieses Unterdrucks zu filternde Luft in den Luftpfad 52 gesaugt wird.In the right-hand, enlarged view of a section of the filter 40 with the display device 42 can be seen that the lens 54 during operation of the filter 40 for an air flow in the air path 52 acts as a diversion and indeed as a deflection by or in the consumption indicator 56. In the in Fig. 2 In the illustrated example, the air path 52 ends in the region of the filter input side 48 in a parallel to the filter input side 48 oriented channel portion, so that with the end of the channel section a nozzle 58 directed towards the rest of the filter (venturi nozzle) yields. During operation, the end of the channel section, which acts as a venturi nozzle, effects a venturi effect and thus a negative pressure at the end of the air path 52, so that air to be filtered is sucked into the air path 52 due to this negative pressure.

Fig. 3 zeigt in gleicher Art wie Fig. 2 und mit ansonsten gleichen Komponenten einen Filter 40 mit einer Anzeigevorrichtung 42, bei der der Luftpfad 52 über den durchströmbaren Verbrauchsindikator 56 zur Filterausgangsseite 50 führt. Die Sichtscheibe 54 und das Ende des Luftpfads 52 sind dann gemeinsam auf der die Filterausgangsseite 50 bildenden Oberfläche der Anzeigevorrichtung 42 angeordnet. Bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform ist eine wirksame Weite eines filtereingangsseitigen Einlasses des Luftpfads 52 größer als eine wirksame Weite eines Auslasses des Luftpfads 52. Als praxistaugliches Größenverhältnis kommen ein im Vergleich zum Auslass doppelt so großer Einlass oder ein drei- oder vierfach so großer Einlass, usw. in Betracht. Fig. 3 shows in the same way as Fig. 2 and with otherwise identical components a filter 40 with a display device 42, in which the air path 52 leads through the flow-through consumption indicator 56 to the filter output side 50. The visor 54 and the end of the air path 52 are then arranged together on the filter output side 50 forming surface of the display device 42. In the illustrated embodiment, an effective width of a filter inlet side inlet of the air path 52 is greater than an effective width of an outlet of the air path 52. The practical size ratio is an inlet that is twice as large as the outlet, or a three or four times larger inlet, etc. into consideration.

Fig. 4 zeigt eine besondere Ausführungsform der Anzeigevorrichtung 42 ohne einen seitlich anschließenden oder umgebenden Filter 40 (Fig. 2; Fig. 3). Diese Ausführungsform zeichnet sich durch eine symmetrische, insbesondere spiegelsymmetrische, Anordnung zweier Luftpfade 52 mit jeweils einer Sichtscheibe 54 und jeweils einem durchströmbaren Verbrauchsindikator 56 aus. Anstelle mehrerer Sichtscheiben 54 und mehreren durchströmbaren Verbrauchsindikatoren 56 für jeden der symmetrisch angeordneten Luftpfade 52 kommen auch eine gemeinsame Sichtscheibe und/oder ein gemeinsamer Verbrauchsindikator in Betracht (nicht gezeigt). Zwischen den mindestens zwei symmetrisch angeordneten Luftpfaden 52 kann sich darüber hinaus (nicht dargestellt) noch eine Trennschicht befinden. Die gestrichelten Pfeile zeigen den Strömungsweg der zu filternden Luft, so dass auch bei dieser Konfiguration die Anzeigevorrichtung 42 mit der zu filternden Luft beaufschlagt wird. Indem die zu filternde Luft den oder jeden Verbrauchsindikator 56 durchströmt und dieser gefiltertes Material auffängt, dient auch bei dieser Konfiguration der Anzeigevorrichtung 42 gefiltertes Material als Anzeige für einen Sättigungsgrad des mit der Anzeigevorrichtung kombinierten Filters 40. Fig. 4 shows a particular embodiment of the display device 42 without a laterally adjoining or surrounding filter 40 (FIG. Fig. 2 ; Fig. 3 ). This embodiment is characterized by a symmetrical, in particular mirror-symmetrical, arrangement of two air paths 52, each with one viewing window 54 and one respective throughflowable consumption indicator 56. Instead of a plurality of viewing windows 54 and a plurality of flow-through consumption indicators 56 for each of the symmetrically arranged air paths 52, a common viewing window and / or a common consumption indicator may also be considered (not shown). Between the at least two symmetrically arranged air paths 52 beyond (not shown) can still be a separation layer. The dashed arrows show the flow path of the filter to be filtered Air, so that even in this configuration, the display device 42 is acted upon by the air to be filtered. As the air to be filtered flows through the or each consumption indicator 56 and collects this filtered material, filtered material also serves as an indication of a degree of saturation of the filter 40 combined with the display device in this configuration of the display device 42.

Fig. 5 zeigt eine alternative Ausführungsform für eine Anzeigevorrichtung 42 mit einem von der Filtereingangsseite 48 über den durchströmbaren Verbrauchsindikator 56 zur Filterausgangsseite 50 führenden Luftpfad 52. Die Konfiguration ist damit ähnlich wie in Fig. 3 und unterscheidet sich z. B. hinsichtlich der Anordnung des durchströmbaren Verbrauchsindikators 56, der hier mit seiner gesamten Fläche horizontal orientiert ist. Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment for a display device 42 with an air path 52 leading from the filter input side 48 via the flow-through consumption indicator 56 to the filter output side 50. The configuration is thus similar to FIG Fig. 3 and differs z. B. in terms of the arrangement of the flow-through consumption indicator 56, which is horizontally oriented here with its entire surface.

Fig. 6 zeigt in der oberen und der unteren Darstellung eine schematisch vereinfachte dreidimensionale Ansicht eines Filters 40 mit einer seitlich angeordneten Anzeigevorrichtung 42, die auf dem Prinzip gemäß dem Ansatz der Erfindung basiert. Von der Anzeigevorrichtung 42 sind allerdings in der mit dem Filter 40 kombinierten Konfiguration nur der Auslass, also eine Abluftöffnung 60 am Ende des Luftpfads 52 (Fig. 2; Fig. 3; Fig. 4; Fig. 5) und der unterhalb einer Sichtscheibe 54 befindliche Verbrauchsindikator 56 sichtbar. In dieser Konfiguration ist der Filter 40 mit der Anzeigevorrichtung 42 auch für eine optische Inaugenscheinnahme durch den Benutzer zugänglich, so dass dieser anhand der Menge des vom Verbrauchsindikator 56 gefilterten Materials und anhand der dadurch bewirkten Farbänderung des Verbrauchsindikators 56 in der Lage ist, den Sättigungsgrad des Filters 40 zu erkennen und ggf. einen Filterwechsel vornehmen oder veranlassen kann. Fig. 6 shows in the upper and the lower view a schematically simplified three-dimensional view of a filter 40 with a laterally arranged display device 42, which is based on the principle according to the approach of the invention. Of the display device 42, however, are in the combination combined with the filter 40 configuration only the outlet, so an exhaust port 60 at the end of the air path 52 (FIG. Fig. 2 ; Fig. 3 ; Fig. 4 ; Fig. 5 ) and the consumption indicator 56 located below a viewing window 54. In this configuration, the filter 40 with the display device 42 is also accessible for visual inspection by the user, so that he is on the basis of the amount of material filtered by the consumption indicator 56 and the resulting change in color of the consumption indicator 56, the degree of saturation of the Detect filters 40 and may make or cause a filter change.

Alternativ oder zusätzlich zu einer optischen Inaugenscheinnahme durch einen Benutzer kommt auch eine elektronische Auswertung des Verbrauchsindikators 56 in Betracht, weil sich mit zunehmender Menge des gefilterten Materials auch dessen optische Eigenschaften, insbesondere dessen Reflexionseigenschaften, ändern, die mit einer elektronischen Sensorik nach Art einer Reflexionslichtschranke oder dergleichen auswertbar ist.Alternatively, or in addition to a visual inspection by a user, an electronic evaluation of the consumption indicator 56 comes into consideration, because with increasing amount of the filtered material and its optical properties, in particular its reflection properties, change, with an electronic sensors in the manner of a reflection light barrier or the like is evaluable.

Zusammenfassend lässt sich die vorliegende Erfindung kurz wie folgt beschreiben: Es wird ein Filter 40, insbesondere ein als Staubsaugerabluftfilter 26 fungierender Filter 40, mit einer Anzeigevorrichtung 42 angegeben, die mit der zu filternden Luft beaufschlagt wird und bei der gefiltertes Material als Anzeige dient, z.B. indem dieses sich auf einem als Verbrauchsindikator 56 fungierenden, durchströmbaren Vlies oder dergleichen niederschlägt und dort eine Verfärbung des Verbrauchsindikators 56 darstellt oder bewirkt, die von einem Benutzer durch optische Inaugenscheinnahme auswertbar ist.In summary, the present invention can be briefly described as follows: A filter 40, in particular a filter 40 functioning as a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter 26, is provided with a display device 42 which is acted upon by the air to be filtered and which uses filtered material as an indicator, e.g. by this is reflected on acting as a consumption indicator 56, flow-through non-woven or the like and there is a discoloration of the consumption indicator 56 or causes, which can be evaluated by a user by optical inspection.

Claims (8)

  1. Filter (40), in particular a vacuum cleaner exhaust air filter (26), comprising at least one filter medium (44, 46), a filter inlet side (48) and a filter outlet side (50), and comprising a display device (42) which is supplied with the air to be filtered and in which filtered material is used as a display, characterised in that the display device (42) laterally connects to the or each filter medium (44, 46) at least on one side and extends from the filter inlet side (48) to the filter outlet side (50), the display device (42) comprising an air path (52) which starts from the filter inlet side (48) and is covered with a viewing window (54) on the filter outlet side (50), and a permeable use indicator (56) that is arranged in the air path (52) being visible on the filter outlet side (50) underneath the viewing window (54).
  2. Filter (40) according to claim 1, wherein the viewing window (54) functions so as to deflect air flowing in the air path (52) through the use indicator (56) when the filter (40) is in operation.
  3. Filter (40) according to claim 2, wherein the air path (52) extends from the viewing window (54) to the filter inlet side (48) via the permeable use indicator (56).
  4. Filter (40) according to claim 3, wherein the air path (52), in the region of the filter inlet side (48), ends in a channel portion oriented in parallel with the filter inlet side (48).
  5. Filter (40) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the air path (52) extends to the filter outlet side (50) via the use indicator (56).
  6. Filter (40) according to any of claims 1 to 5, comprising a symmetrical, in particular mirror-symmetric, arrangement of two air paths (52) which each have one or have a common viewing window (54) and which each have one or have a common use indicator (56) comprising or not comprising a separating layer between the two air paths (52).
  7. Filter (40) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the viewing window (54) comprises a lens.
  8. Vacuum cleaner (10), in particular an electric vacuum cleaner, comprising a filter (40) according to any of the preceding claims.
EP11401061.4A 2010-05-05 2011-04-13 Filter with use indicator, and vacuum cleaner with such a filter Active EP2386237B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102010016788A DE102010016788B4 (en) 2010-05-05 2010-05-05 Filter, vacuum cleaner with such a filter and use of such a filter as a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter

Publications (3)

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EP2386237A2 EP2386237A2 (en) 2011-11-16
EP2386237A3 EP2386237A3 (en) 2014-05-21
EP2386237B1 true EP2386237B1 (en) 2019-03-20

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US9492580B2 (en) * 2014-07-24 2016-11-15 Eliyahu DAVID System and method for the safe provision of ozone
CH715633A2 (en) * 2018-12-12 2020-06-15 Kemaro Ag Device and method for automatically performing an activity, in particular for cleaning dirty surfaces.

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Publication number Publication date
DE102010016788A1 (en) 2011-11-10
DE102010016788B4 (en) 2012-01-19
US20110271479A1 (en) 2011-11-10
US8539638B2 (en) 2013-09-24
EP2386237A2 (en) 2011-11-16
EP2386237A3 (en) 2014-05-21

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