Filter

• US 7,886,752 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Jerg, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge; Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US10/603,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,792 Days
• Field of Search: 210/108, 210/355, 210/356, 210/354, 210/103, 210/359, 210/477, 210/106, 210/149, 210/209, 210/263, 210/348, 210/391, 210/397, 210/407, 210/483, 210/498, 210/499, 210/175, 210/184, 137/104.1, 137/109, 137/110, 298/966, 298/966.2, 299/02, 134109-111, 134/105, 134/56.D, 134/57.D, 134/58.D, 134/166.R, 134/198
• US Class Current: 134/110
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4208 Arrangements to prevent clogging of the filters, e.g. self-cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/184 Special form, dimension of the openings, pores of the filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/03 self-supporting

Abstract

A filter having a filter body with a plurality of filter openings, each having a passage cross-section which varies automatically in response to a characteristic inherent to a medium flowing through the openings to filter the medium.

Claims

1. A filter, comprising:

a filter body having a plurality of filter openings for filtering a medium flowing through said openings; and

each of said openings being screened or covered by elements whose state relative to said filter openings vary under the influence of the heat of said medium flowing through said openings.

2. The filter according to claim 1, including said elements are punched out of said filter body in the shape of tongues positioned in said filter openings.

3. The filter according to claim 2, including said tongue shaped elements are formed from a shape memory alloy material.

4. The filter according to claim 2, including said tongue shaped elements are formed from a bimetal material.

5. The filter according to claim 1, including said elements configured as clips, with said clips, in one state thereof, being positioned in said filter openings and lying in a plane of said filter body, whereupon said filter openings are screened by said clips, and, in another state thereof wherein said clips have been subjected the influence of the heat of said medium flowing through said openings, said clips have been moved by a selected one of bending and pivoting out of said plane of said filter body, whereupon said filter openings are no longer completely screened by said clips.

6. A dishwashing machine, the machine including a water medium utilized in the machine, comprising:

a filter for filtering the water medium in said machine;

said filter including a filter body having a plurality of filter openings for filtering the medium flowing through said openings; and

each of said openings having a passage cross-section which varies automatically in response to a characteristic inherent to said medium flowing through said openings, including said filter openings being screened or covered by elements whose state relative to said filter openings vary under the influence of the heat of said medium flowing through said openings.

7. The dishwashing machine according to claim 6, including said elements are punched out of said filter body in the shape of tongues positioned in said filter openings.

8. The dishwashing machine according to claim 7, including said tongue shaped elements are formed from a shape memory alloy material.

9. The dishwashing machine according to claim 7, including said tongue shaped elements are formed from a bimetal material.

10. The dishwashing machine according to claim 6, including said filter openings being screened or covered by flap-like elements, said flap-like elements having a first substantially covering position by a force effect of said medium flowing through said openings and can be adjusted to a second increased passage opening by an increased flow rate of said medium flowing through said openings.