Means for emptying a filter box

• US 5,254,146 A
• Filed: 12/28/1992
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Beaufoy, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hart, Charles
• Application Number:
  US07/997,331
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 55/354, 55/304, 55/305, 55/432, 55/320, 55/321, 15/340.1, 15/340.3, 15/340.4
• US Class Current: 55/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0004 Details of removable closures, lids, caps or filter heads
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/48 Removing dust other than cleaning filters , e.g. by using collecting trays
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0854 Apparatus in which the mechanically dislodged dirt is partially sucked-off, e.g. dislodging- sweeping apparatus with dirt collector in brush housing or dirt container mechanical dislodging machines with independent suction nozzles E01H1/0827; combined with blowing and suction E01H1/0872

Abstract

An improved means is provided for emptying dust and debris accumulated in the air filter box of a surface maintenance machine having vacuumized dust control.

Claims

1. In a surface maintenance machine having a vacuumized dust control system, an air filter in a filter box, means for moving said filter box between an operating position wherein dust and debris accumulate in the bottom of the box and a tilted position wherein accumulated dust and debris are emptied out of the box, said filter box being provided with an opening in one of its walls through which dust and debris may be emptied when the box is moved to said tilted position, characterized by a gravity operated closure which covers said opening when the filter box is in its operating position and uncovers said opening when said filter box is in its tilted position, said gravity operated closure having a weight attached thereto and positioned offset from the center of gravity of the closure.

2. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said gravity operated closure includes a weight generally adjacent one end thereof.

3. The surface maintenance machine of claim 1 further characterized in that said closure is a flexible flap.

4. A surface maintenance machine having a vacuumized dust control system which includes a filter box having an air filter therein, a dust collecting area in said filter box beneath said air filter, means for moving said filter box between a normal dust collecting position and a discharge position, an opening in said filter box for discharging dust from said dust collecting area, and a door for said opening, said door having a weight attached thereto and offset from the center of gravity of said door for maintaining said door in a closed position when said filter box is in a normal dust collecting position and for assisting said door in opening when said filter box moves to a discharge position.

5. The surface maintenance machine of claim 4 further characterized in that said weight is positioned adjacent the bottom of said door.

6. The surface maintenance machine of claim 5 further characterized in that said door is a flexible flap.

7. The surface maintenance machine of claim 4 further characterized in that said vacuumized dust control system includes a precleaner positioned in said dust control system upstream of said filter.

8. The surface maintenance machine of claim 7 further characterized in that said door is adjacent and beneath said precleaner.

9. The surface maintenance machine of claim 8 further characterized in that said door is generally vertical when said filter box is in a dust collecting position.

10. The surface maintenance machine of claim 9 further characterized in that said dust collecting area is the bottom of said filter box.

11. The surface maintenance machine of claim 4 further characterized by and including a deflector extending along a lower surface of said filter box directly adjacent said door to deflect airborne debris to prevent accidental opening of said door and thereby unwanted discharge of dust from said dust collecting area.

12. A surface maintenance machine having a vacuumized dust control system which includes a filter box having an air filter therein, a dust collecting area in said filter box beneath said air filter, a precleaner positioned in said dust control system upstream of said filter, means for moving said filter box between a normal dust collecting position and a discharge position, an opening in said filter box for discharging dust from said dust collecting area, a door for said opening adjacent and beneath said precleaner, said door being generally vertical when said filter box is in a dust collecting position, said door being provided with means for maintaining said door in a closed position when said filter box is in the normal dust collecting position and for assisting said door in opening when said filter box moves to the discharge position.