Filter system

• US 6,090,184 A
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HMI Industries, Inc. (1670255 Ontario, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HMI Industries, Inc. (1670255 Ontario, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cartellone, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US09/032,589
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 55/357, 55/486, 55/521, 55/524, 55/323, 55/332, 55/337, 55/372, 55/376, 55/471, 55/DIG. 2, 55/DIG. 3, 55/DIG. 39, 15/347, 15/348, 15/353, 96/61, 96/63, 96/57, 96/58, 96/55, 95/268, 95/271, 95/285-287, 95/63, 95/69, 95/70, 95/78
• US Class Current: 95/69
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/125 funnel-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/90 Odorous compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/708
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2275/10 Multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2275/201 Conical shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/55 for cleaning appliances, e.g. suction cleaners suction cleaners comprising filters A47L9/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/1623 of synthetic origin
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0036 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2403 characterised by the physical shape or structure of the filtering element
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/20 Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0446 Means for feeding or distributing gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a reduced velocity chamber with a high velocity air inlet, an electric motor, a rotary mechanism driven by the motor for creating a vacuum in the chamber, an outlet for exhausting air from the chamber, which air flows in a selected path from the air inlet, through the chamber and out the air exhaust outlet and a disposable porous sheet filter layer in the chamber for removing large solid particles from the air. The vacuum cleaner also has an improved filter, wherein the improved filter includes a layer of material to remove very fine air particles and a layer of material to remove odors from the air.

Claims

1. In a vacuum cleaner or air cleaner comprising a reduced velocity chamber with a high velocity air inlet, an electric motor, a rotary means driven by said motor for creating a vacuum in said chamber, an outlet for exhausting air from said chamber, said air flows in a selected path from said air inlet, through said chamber and out said air exhaust outlet, the improvement comprising a generally conically shaped filter positioned between said air inlet and said motor, said filter including gas removal means for removing gasses in said air and particle removal means for removing at least 99% of particles at least two microns in size in said air, said filter including first and second filter sections and attacher to connect together said first filter section and said second filter section, said first filter section including gas absorption means, said second filter section including means for removing at least 99% of said particles greater than 2 microns in said air.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said attacher including a bonding agent.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein said bonding agent comprising of a hot melt adhesive.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein said bonding agent being applied in a spaced matrix dot pattern on said first and second filter sections.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein said bonding agent being laminated on said first and second filter sections.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said first filter section exposed to said particles in said air prior to said second filter section.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 4, wherein said first filter section exposed to said particles in said air prior to said second filter section.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said second filter including at least two layers, said first layer being connected to said first filter section, said second layer being comprised of a durable abrasion and tear resistant material, said second layer including a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, cotton, nylon and mixtures thereof.

9. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said second filter section including at least two layers, said first layer being connected to said first filter section, said second layer being comprised of a durable abrasion and tear resistant material, said second layer including a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, cotton, nylon and mixtures thereof.

10. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said first filter section including non-woven fibers and a gas absorbing agent bonded to said fibers.

11. The improvement as defined in claim 9, wherein said first filter section including non-woven fibers and a gas absorbing agent bonded to said fibers.

12. The improvement as defined in claim 1, including an arrangement to releasably support said filter means.

13. The improvement as defined in claim 1, including tab means positioned on an edge of said filter.

14. The improvement as defined in claim 11, including tab means positioned on an edge of said filter.

15. A method of cleaning air by use of a canister vacuum cleaner including the steps of:

(a) drawing air through a high velocity air inlet into a low velocity chamber;

(b) centrifuging the air in the low velocity chamber to remove solid particles;

(c) passing said air through a first filter to remove large particles;

(d) passing said filtered air through a particle and gas removing filter to remove gasses and small particles, said particle and gas removing filter including a gas removal section, a particle removal section and an attacher to connect together said gas removal section and said particle removal section, said gas removal section having a gas absorption means, said particle removal section removing at least 99% of said particles greater than 2 microns in said air; and

(e) forcing said cleaned air past a motor and out an air outlet.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said attacher includes a bonding agent.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said bonding agent applied in a spaced matrix dot pattern or laminated on said gas removal section and said particle removal section.

18. A method as defined in claim 15, including the step of exposing said particle removal section to said air prior to said gas removal section.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, including the step of exposing said particle removal section to said air prior to said gas removal section.

20. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said particle and gas removing filter being substantially conical in shape.

21. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein said particle and gas removing filter being substantially conical in shape.

22. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said particle removal section mechanically and/or chemically removes particles from said air.

23. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein said particle removal section mechanically and/or chemically removes particles from said air.

24. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said gas removal section mechanically and/or electrically removes particles from said air.

25. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein said gas removal section mechanically and/or electrically removes particles from said air.

26. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said particle removal section includes non-woven fibers and a gas absorbing agent bonded to said fibers.

27. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein said particle removal section includes non-woven fibers and a gas absorbing agent bonded to said fibers.

28. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said particle and gas removal filter includes a tab to position in and/or remove said particle and gas removal filter from said chamber.

29. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein said particle and gas removal filter includes a tab to position in and/or remove said particle and gas removal filter from said chamber.