FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS WITH FILTER CLEANING SYSTEM This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 780,211, filed on March 8, 2006. Technical Field The present invention relates generally to the field of floor care equipment and, more particularly, with a vacuum cleaner, extractor or the like equipped with a solenoid driven mechanism to vibrate dirt and filter waste including, in particular, fine dust particles from the pores of the filter in order to Improve filter cleaning efficiency and prolong service filter life. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A vacuum cleaner is an electromechanical device used to effect dry removal of dust, dirt and other small trash from carpets, rugs, fabrics or other surfaces in domestic, commercial and industrial environments. In order to achieve the removal of dirt and dust desired, most vacuum cleaners incorporate a rotating agitator. The rotating agitator is provided to strike dust and debris from the carpet or carpet fuzz while a pressure drop or vacuum is used to force the air
trapped with this dust and garbage towards the vacuum cleaner nozzle. The air charged with particles is then attracted to a collection container of dirt. The air is then attracted through a filter before being directed through the suction generator motor to provide cooling. Finally, the air is filtered to remove any fine carbon particles from the brushes of that engine or other dirt that may remain in the airstream before being discharged back into the environment. Frequently the dust collection container is designed to produce cyclonic air flow by providing that container with a powder chamber having a cylindrical side wall and a tangentially directed air inlet. This arrangement forces the air to oscillate around the dust collection chamber in the manner of a cyclone. The centrifugal force that is produced causes the dirt and debris to move towards and against the cylindrical side wall of the chamber while relatively clean air can be drawn from the center of the chamber through the filter to the suction generator. Under most operating conditions, most or all dust and debris is removed from the airstream by the cyclonic airflow. Sometimes,
however, some dirt and debris remains trapped inside the airstream. Typically, that dirt and debris is relatively lightweight, lightweight dust particles that are not susceptible to the centrifugal separation force produced by the cyclonic airflow. Over time these fine particles can get trapped and fill the pores of the filter medium, thereby restricting the air flow and reducing the cleaning efficiency of the vacuum cleaner. Eventually, the cleaning efficiency of the vacuum cleaner is so damaged that it is necessary for the operator to clean or change the filter in order to achieve the desired cleaning level. The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, extractor or the like equipped with a filter cleaning mechanism more efficient and effective. Advantageously, the present invention allows one to quickly and conveniently clean the dirt and debris from a filter that particularly includes fine particles of the pores of the filter in situ. As a result, each filter has a longer service life and the apparatus can be operated at a higher cleaning efficiency during the full extension of that extended service life. Compendium of the Invention
In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, a floor cleaning apparatus is provided. The floor cleaning apparatus comprises a housing that carries a suction generator and a refuse collection container. A filter is carried in the dirt collection container and an adjuster engages the filter. further, a solenoid is provided to drive the adjuster and clean the filter. In a possible mode, the adjuster is a rotary adjuster. The rotary adjuster includes a pinion, a body and at least one elastic projection. A rack is attached to the solenoid and engages the pinion. In addition, the housing includes a nozzle assembly and a basket assembly. In a possible embodiment, the nozzle assembly and the basket assembly are connected together pivotally. In the following description several preferred embodiments of this invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of some of the most appropriate modes for carrying out the invention. As will be appreciated, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its various details are capable of modification in various obvious aspects all without abandoning the invention. Consequently, the drawings and descriptions will be considered
as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of this specification, illustrate various aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a partially broken away, perspective view of the floor cleaning apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view of the assembled grime collection container; Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of the dirt collection container, filter and flow control valve assembly of the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dirt collection container, filter and flow control valve assembly in the first position that allows normal vacuum operation; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 4, but illustrating the flow control valve assembly in the second position that allows cleaning of a section of the filter;
Figure 6 is a detailed top perspective view of the filter assembly. Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of an additional filter cleaning feature that can be used to clean filter dust and debris in situ in the grime collection container.; and Figures 8a-8d are schematic illustrations of solenoid-driven adjuster arrangements for cleaning dirt and debris from a filter. Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawing. Detailed Description of the Invention Reference is now made to Figure 1 illustrating the floor cleaning apparatus 10 of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the floor cleaning apparatus 10 comprises a vertical vacuum cleaner. It should be appreciated, however, that the apparatus 10 can also be easily a basket vacuum, a manual vacuum cleaner or even an extractor. As illustrated, the apparatus 10 includes a housing 12 that includes both a nozzle assembly 14
as a basket set 16. The nozzle assembly 14 includes a suction inlet 18 through which air trapped with dirt and debris is drawn back to the vacuum 10. A rotary stirrer 20 is mounted to the nozzle assembly 14 and extends through the inlet 18. of suction. The basket assembly 16 includes a handle 22 having a handle 24. An actuator switch 26 for connecting and disconnecting the vacuum is provided adjacent to the handle. In addition, the basket assembly 16 includes a cavity or receiver 28 for receiving and retaining a container 30 for collecting dirt. A suction generator 32 is mounted in a compartment in the basket assembly 16. During normal operation, the rotating agitator 20 strikes the dirt and debris from the lint of the carpet or rug being cleaned. The suction generator 32 attracts air trapped with that dirt and debris through the suction inlet 18 to the refuse collection container 30. The dirt and debris are trapped in the dirt collecting container 30 and the relatively clean air now passes through and over the motor of the suction generator 32 to provide cooling before being discharged through a discharge port (not shown) again towards the environment. As best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the
The refuse collection container 30 comprises a section 36 of the dirt cup and a cover section 38. The groove cup section 36 comprises a side wall 35, a bottom wall 37 and a packing ring 39. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower wall 37 is a "draining door" connected by a link 31 to the side wall 35. A bracket 33 and fastener 29 complete the articulated connection. A fastener 150 secures the lower wall 37 in the closed position. A slide fastener release 152 moves downward to release the fastener 150 and open the bottom wall 37 in order to empty the dirt and debris from the refuse collection container in a manner described in greater detail in the co-pending EÜA patent application. Serial No. 11/104, 711, filed on April 13, 2005. The lid section 38 comprises a first element 40, a second element 42 and a third element 43. The first element 40 includes a first inlet 44 of dirty air and a chamber or cavity 46. of filter. The second element 42 includes a clean air outlet 48. The third element 43 receives a pivoting handle 51 for conveniently carrying the garbage collection container 30. The first element 40 is connected to the side wall 35 by means of the
screws 160. The third element 43 is connected to the second element 42 by the screws 162. A filter, generally designated by the reference number 52, is received in the filter cavity 46 of the first element 40. The filter 52 includes a wall 54 lateral, a cube 56 and multiple divisions 58 extending between the hub and the side wall (see also Figure 6). The divisions 58 serve to divide the filter into multiple sections 60. A filter means 62, of a type well known in the art, extends between the side wall 54, the cube 56 and divisions 58 defining each section 60. The packages 166 and 168 provide a seal between the hub 56 and the side wall 54 of the filter 52 and the support cap member 40. A prefilter 66 and an internal support 64 extend downwardly in the dirt cup section 36 from the first element 40 to the bottom wall 37. A package 164 provides an air tight seal between the support 64 and the bottom wall 37. The prefilter 66 includes a series of intake openings 68 that allow air flow in a manner that will be described in more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the refuse collection container 30 is designed to produce flow of
cyclonic air and thus use centrifugal force to improve the efficiency with which dirt and debris are removed from the air stream. More specifically, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3, the dirt cup section 36, the cover section 38, the internal support 64, the prefilter 66 and the filter 52 are all substantially cylindrical in shape. As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the internal support 64 and the prefilter 66 are received concentrically in the side wall 35 of the cup section 36. The filter 52 is concentrically received in the filter cavity 46 of the first element 40 of the lid section 38. The dirty air inlet 44 is directed tangentially to the annular space formed between (a) the first element 40 and the side wall 35 on the outside and (b) the internal support 64 and the prefilter 66 therein. The air stream flows around the annular space or grime collection chamber in a circular or vortex pattern that generates centrifugal force which causes the dirt and debris in the air stream to move outward towards the side wall, causing This way the dirt and garbage are collected in section 36 of the dirt cup. Simultaneously, relatively clean air is attracted through the intake openings 68 provided in the
prefilter 66 along the inner wall of the annular space where it is then directed upwards through the filter 52. Specifically, air passes through the filter medium 62 where any dirt and fine debris that remains in the flow air is stopped while clean air passes through the medium through the clean air outlet 48 and the suction generator 32. The direction of air flow during normal vacuum operation when the flow control valve assembly is in the rest position is illustrated by the action arrows in Figure 4. The flow control valve assembly of the present invention it will now be described in detail. The flow control valve assembly includes an actuator such as a drive motor 70 which is connected to a first drive gear 72. The first drive gear 72 is meshed with a second drive gear 74 carried in the cover 38. The second drive gear 74 is connected to a rotating air guide 76 by the screws 75. The air guide 76 has a concavity 78 which retains a clean air inlet valve comprising a valve body 80 and a deflection spring 82. When in the normal home or operating position illustrated
in Figure 4, the valve body 80 engages and closes the second clean air inlet 50 provided in the element 42 and further defined by the central opening in the second drive gear 74. As illustrated further in the figures of the drawing, the air guide 76 includes an air guide passage 84 defining an arc of A °. The flow control valve assembly also includes a static air guide 86 which is retained in the cover 38 remaining on the filter 52. A seal 167 is provided between the air guide and the filter 52. The static air guide 86 it includes a central opening 88 and a series of radially disposed partitions 90 defining a series of air paths that also have an arc of A °. As noted above, the filter 52 includes divisions 58 that divide the filter into equal sections 60 each having an arc of A °. It should be appreciated that the partitions 90 in the static air guide 86 are aligned with the partitions 58 in the filter 52. Consequently, the air paths or air guide sections 92 in the static air guide 86 are each aligned with a single section 60 of the filter 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter 52 includes eight divisions 58 which divide the filter 52 into eight
equal sections 60, each expanding in a 45 ° arc. Similarly, the static air guide 86 includes eight divisions 90 that divide the guide into eight air paths 92 each expanding in an arc of 45 °. In addition, the air guide passage 84 in the air guide 76 also expands an arc of 45 °. As will be described in more detail below the air guide 76 is rotated accurately to bring the air guide passage 84 in perfect alignment with a single air path 92 of the static air guide 86 and thus a single section 60 of filter 52 during each movement of the filter cleaning cycle. As further illustrated, the air guide 76 includes a first cam 94 projecting from the bottom wall thereof. The cam 94 includes eight cam profiles, one for each section 60 of the filter 52. The cam 94 couples a cam follower 96 (also with eight matching profiles) which is connected by means of a telescopic arrow to the control valve 100. flow. More specifically, the telescopic arrow 98 comprises a first section 102 connected to the cam follower 96 and a second section 104 having a bore 106 which telescopically receives the first section 102. A compression spring 108 received at
the perforation 106 engages the first section 102 of the arrow and deflects the telescopic arrow 98 towards an extended position. A second compression spring 110 is received in the hub 112 of the element 40. This compression spring 110 engages the bottom of the cam follower 96 and biases the cam follower 96 toward engagement with the cam 94. A lid seal 170 and expander 172 are sealed around arrow 98 and element 40 to prevent any air passage. The flow control valve 100 comprises a flexible tubular diaphragm 114 supported at a first or upper end by a first guide air opening aiberta and a second or lower end by a second open air guide 118. The air guide 116 is secured to the element 40 and is static. In contrast, the second open air guide 118 is attached to the distal end of the second section 104 of the telescope arrow 98. During normal vacuum operation when the flow control valve assembly is in the house position, the rotary stirrer 20 operates to hit the dirt and debris from the lint of the underlying carpet being cleaned. That dirt and debris is then attracted by the suction generator 32 through the inlet 44 to the
container 30 for collecting dirt. As the air stream flows cyclonicly around the sidewall 35, the dirt and debris are collected in the refuse collection container 30. The relatively clean air is then attracted through the openings 68 in the prefilter 66 (see the action arrow A in Figure 4) up through the filter 52. The filter means 62 allows the passage of clean air but prevents the passage of any relatively fine dust particles that could remain in the air stream. The now clean air passes out through the static air guide 86 (note the action arrow B) and then passes through the air outlet 48. The air then travels through a conduit to the suction generator 32. Hence, clean air passes over the motor of the suction generator 32 to provide cooling before being discharged into the environment through a final filter and discharge port (not shown) back into the environment. As the vacuum cleaner 10 operates, fine dust particles not removed from the air stream by the cyclonic action in the dirt cup section 36 are separated from the air stream and trapped by the filter filter medium 62. 52. Over time, these fine particles
they begin to close the pores in the filter medium 62 thus restricting the air flow. This not only causes the motor of the suction generator 32 to run warmer and at a lower efficiency, it also reduces the air flow, thus adversely affecting the cleaning efficiency of the vacuum 10. Consequently, the air flow may be restricted in order to prevent the vacuum cleaner from cleaning properly. Before this occurs, it is then necessary either to clean or replace the filter 52. The present invention allows the filter 52 to be cleaned in situ in a very convenient and efficient manner before any substantial loss of cleaning power or efficiency occurs. . Specifically, the motor 70 is activated to rotate the air guide 76 through a 45 ° arc by means of the gear gears 72, 74. Precise rotation can be provided by a stepper motor or a permanent magnet direct current motor in combination with a sensor or sensor target such as a magnet 120 clamped to or retained in a cavity in the drive gear 74. An annular bearing 122 and cooperating bearing plate 124 ensure free rotation of the drive gear 74. As the rotation is
complete, the air guide passage 84 in the air guide 76 is aligned with one of the air paths 92 in the static air guide 86 and, consequently, one of the sections 60 of the filter 52. The rotation of the gear 74 drive simultaneously causes the cam 94 at the bottom of the air guide 76 to rotate from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5. As this occurs, the cam follower 96 follows the cam 94 causing the telescopic arrow 98 to move downward. This in turn causes the second open air guide 118 of the flow control valve 100 to engage the upper part of the support 64. As this occurs, the diaphragm 114 expands and the air path for normal operation illustrated by the action arrow A in Figure 4 is interrupted (compare Figure 5 with Figure 4). In this way, the first flow control valve 80 and the second flow control valve 100 are placed in the filter cleaning position. The telescopic arrow 98 accommodates any discrepancy that may exist in the height of the cam 94 and the distance in which the second open air guide 118 moves to engage the upper part of the support 64. When the valve 100 closes the path of
Normal air flow, no air can be attracted by the suction generator through the prefilter 66 or the suction inlet 18. As the negative pressure builds up, the biasing force of the spring 82 is exceeded and the valve body 80 is displaced to open the clean air inlet 50 in the element 42 and the drive gear 74. As a consequence, clean air is attracted through the inlet 50 beyond the valve body 80. The clean air then passes through the air guide passage 84 in the air guide 76 and the air path 92 aligned in the static air guide 86 (see action arrow C in Figure 5). The clean air is then attracted through the single section 60 of the filter 52 in a direction reverse to the normal flow so as to remove the fine dust particles from the pores of the filter medium 62. As a result of a pressure drop, those fine dust particles settle to the bottom of the support 64 (note action arrow D) while the air stream moves again through the other sections 62 of the non-aligned filter 52 with passage 84 of air guide 76 (note action arrow E). The air stream then moves again through the air paths 92 of the static air guide 86 (ie, those not aligned with the air guide 86).
air guide passage 84) before passing out of the dirt collecting container 30 through the outlet 48. the air stream is then drawn through the suction generator 32 before being discharged back into the environment. During a cleaning cycle, the sections 60 of the filter 52 are cleaned in sequence in the manner described above as the air guide 76 is rotated in alignment with each air path 92 and each filter section 60. The cleaning cycle may last, for example, from about one to about 30 seconds and more typically from about 3 to about 15 seconds. After the air guide 76 is rotated precisely through 360 °, the drive motor 70 is stopped and the flow control valve 100 is opened as illustrated in Figure 4. When this occurs, the air flow is restores to the suction inlet 18 and the spring 82 biases the valve body 80 so as to close the clean air inlet 50 and restore the air flow for normal vacuum operation 8 i.e., the first flow control valve 80 and the second flow control valve 100 is returned to the house position). The motor 7y0 is activated by means of an activator
300 as illustrated schematically in Figure 3. Activator 300 can assume a number of forms. In a possible modality, the activator 300 is a timer that timing the operation of the suction generator 32 of the vacuum cleaner 10. After the suction generator 32 is operated for a predetermined period of time, such as for example 15 minutes, the timer 300 activates the engine 70 to start the filter cleaning cycle. In another possible mode, the activator 300 is a position sensor. In this embodiment, the position sensor 300 detects the position of the handle 22. Upon detecting the return of the handle 22 to the storage position, vertical from the use position, recessed, the position sensor activates the motor 70 to start the filter cleaning cycle. In yet another embodiment, a stopwatch is added to the position sensor so that activator 300 only functions to initiate the cleaning cycle when handle 22 is returned to the vertical position after a predetermined operating time elapsed since the last filter cleaning. In yet another embodiment, the activator 300 is an operating sensor. The operating sensor 300,
for example, it may be an air pressure sensor for sensing the air pressure between the dirt collecting container 30 and the suction generator 32 or a dirt volume sensor for detecting the level of dirt in the dirt cup. Upon reaching a predetermined pressure or level of grime, said activator 300 operates to activate the engine 70 and initiate the cleaning cycle. In still another alternative mode, the activator 300 is a switch. The switch 300 can operate to initiate the filter cleaning cycle when the vacuum cleaner 10 is first turned on or when the vacuum cleaner is disconnected. Still further, the vacuum cleaner 10 may include a manual trigger switch 300. The manual switch 300 can be coupled by the user at any desired time in order to start the cleaning cycle. Obviously, a manual switch of this nature can be provided in the vacuum cleaner in addition to any of the other activators previously discussed if it is desired to allow the user to overcome the automatic system to initiate the cleaning cycle. Reference is now made to Figure 7 which schematically illustrates an optional additional feature of the
present invention which can be provided to further improve the cleaning of the filter 52. An adjuster 130 can be provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjuster 130 includes an elongated mounting arm 131 which is retained in a short arrow 132 secured to the lid section 38. An elastic fin 134 is provided at each end of the arm 131. As illustrated, the tips of the fins 134 engage the medium 62 of the filter 52 between the side wall 54 and the hub 56. A drive motor 136 is provided. As illustrated in full line in Figure 7, the drive motor can be connected to the adjuster 130 and activated to rotate the adjuster with respect to the cover section 38 and the filter 52. As the adjuster 130 is rotated, the tips of the fins 134 engage the ridges of the flanged filter material 62, thereby vibrating the filter material and effectively loosening the dust and debris from the pores thereof. While vibration provides good cleaning action when used alone, it is particularly effective when used with the pneumatic cleaning mechanism previously described in this document. In an alternative embodiment also illustrated in Figure 7, the drive motor is connected to the filter 52 (note the dashed line in the drawing of Figure 7).
In this arrangement the filter 52 is rotated while the adjuster 130 and the lid section 38 remain stationary. The result is the same in that the tips of the fins 134 engage the crests of the flanged filter medium 62 as the filter is rotated, thereby vibrating the medium and loosening the dirt and debris therefrom. Figures 8a-8d schematically illustrate four possible alternative embodiments of a solenoid-driven adjuster arrangement for cleaning dirt and debris from a filter. In Figure 8a there is provided a solenoid 150 for driving an adjuster 152. More specifically, the adjuster 152 may take the form of a bumper. The solenoid 150 is used to urge the adjuster 152 from one side to the other in the direction of the reaction arrow G towards and away from engagement with the side of the filter 154. This serves to vibrate the filter 154 thereby loosening and cleaning the dirt. and garbage from it. In Figure 8b, a solenoid 160 is connected directly to the filter frame 162. The solenoid is used to drive the filter 162 from one side to the other as indicated by the direction arrow H so that the opposite side of the filter is carried to and out of engagement with the stationary bumper or adjuster 164 mounted to a
accommodation 166, for example, from the dirt cup. The contact between the filter 162 and the adjuster 164 creates vibration that loosens the dirt and debris and cleans the filter. Figure 8c shows yet another possible embodiment in which the adjuster 170 is fixed to the wall of the dirt cup. The adjuster 170 includes multiple resilient projections 172 that engage the filter means 62 extending between the hub 56 and the outer side wall 54 of the filter 52. As illustrated, the filter 52 also carries a pinion 174 fixed to the hub 56. A solenoid 176 is connected to a rack 178 which meshes with the pinion 174. The solenoid 176 functions to move the rack 178 from one side to the other in the direction of the action arrow I thereby causing the pinion 174 and the filter 52 fixed thereto to rotate from one side to the other. As this occurs, the projections 172 engage the medium 62 of the filter 52 thereby vibrating the filter material and effectively loosening the dirt and debris from the pores thereof. Figure 8d still describes another embodiment. In this embodiment a rotary adjuster 180 is provided. The rotary adjuster 180 includes two resilient, dependent projections 182 and a pinion 184. The projections 182 engage the filter means 62 which is stretched between the hub 56 and the
outer side wall 54 of the filter 52. A solenoid 186 is connected to a movable rack 188 that meshes with the pinion 184. The solenoid 186 functions to move the rack 188 from one side to the other as illustrated by the action arrow J. Since the rack 188 engages with the pinion 184 this causes the adjuster 180 to rotate from one side to the other with respect to the filter 52. As the adjuster 180 is rotated, the projections 182 engage the ridges of the filter material 62. beaded, thus vibrating the filter material to effectively loosen the dirt and debris from the pores thereof. The above description of preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described. Modifications or obvious variations are possible in the light of the previous teachings. The modalities were selected and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and their practical application in order to allow one of ordinary experience in the field to use the invention in various modalities and with various