DUST FILTER AND VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING SUCH A FILTER

• US 20090183338A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Versuni Holding BV
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Raalte, Margarita Zwanette, Van Wolferen, Paulus Hermanus, Wolters, Akko, Geusebroek-Oskam, Thelma Fernandina
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/352
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/127 tube- or sleeve-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/20 Means for cleaning filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2411 Filter cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/521 using folded, pleated material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/76 involving vibrations

Abstract

A dust filter for filtering dust out of an air stream has a filter membrane (2) pleated into a row of pleats. A pleat deflector (3A, 3B) is movably suspended for movability along the row of pleats, for cleaning the filter membrane (2). The deflector (3A, 3B) has a free end (9A, 9B) extending between the pleats when the deflector (3A, 3B) and the pleats are in undeflected condition, such that when the deflector (3A, 3H) is moved along the row of pleats, the pleats are deflected and released in succession along the row. The deflector (3A, 3H) is or comprises a flexible plate (10A, 10B) of which at least a portion between the suspension (4) and the free end (9A, 9B) has a width transverse to the direction of movability of the deflector (3A, 3B), which decreases with the distance to the suspension (4). Thereby, a deflector of increased stiffness is obtained which is advantageous for effective dust removal.

Claims

1. A dust filter for filtering dust out of an air stream in a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a filter membrane (2;

112) pleated into a row of pleats (8); and

a pleat deflector (3A, 3B;

113) movably suspended for movability along the row of pleats (8), for cleaning the filter membrane (2;

112), said deflector (3A, 3B;

113) projecting from a suspension (4) to the pleats (8) and having a free end (9A, 9B) extending between the pleats (8) when the deflector (3A, 3B) and the pleats (8) are in undeflected condition, such that when the deflector (3A, 3B;

113) is moved along the row of pleats (8), the pleats (8) are deflected and released in succession along the row,

wherein the deflector (3A, 3B;

113) is or comprises a flexible plate (10A, 10B) of which at least a portion between the suspension (4) and the free end (9A, 9B) has a width transverse to the direction of movability (25) of the deflector (3A, 3B;

113), which decreases with the distance to the suspension (4).

2. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the flexible plate (10A, 10B) is of a flat sheet material with a substantially constant thickness.

3. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter membrane (2) has a first end and a second end joined to the first end and extends around an inflow or outflow space.

4. A filter according to claim 3, wherein the filter membrane (2) is in the form of a pleated, circumferential cylinder wall and the deflector (3A, 3B) is suspended from a shaft (4) coaxial with the filter membrane (2).

5. A filter according to claim 4, comprising at least two of said deflectors (3A, 3B), the flexible plates (10A, 10B) of said deflectors (3A, 3B) being in the form of a common plate member mounted to said shaft (4) and projecting from said shaft (4) on opposite sides of said shaft (4).

6. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the deflector (3A, 3B) is movable along the pleats in a direction or sense of movability and wherein the deflector (3A, 3B) is at least partially pre-bent backward relative to said direction or sense of movability.

7. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the deflector (3A, 3B) is suspended and dimensioned such that, when the deflector (3A, 3B) is moved along the row of pleats (8) starting from a substantially flat configuration in unloaded condition, the flexible plate (10A, 10B) is plastically deformed into a shape at least partially pre-bent backward relative to the direction or sense of the movement.

8. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the deflector has a free end having an at least partially curved contour.

9. A filter according to claim 8, wherein the radius of curvature of said contour is larger in a central portion of said free end than at side portions of said free end.

10. A vacuum cleaner comprising a filter (1) according to claim 1.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, further comprising a drive for driving movement of the deflector (3A, 3B) along the row of pleats (8) with a speed relative to the pleat tip of at least 0.3 m/s, and preferably at least 0.5 m/s.