INDICATOR DEVICE FOR A FILTER, VACUUM CLEANER, AND METHOD OF FILTERING A VACUUM CLEANER EXHAUST STREAM

• US 20110271832A1
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miele & CIE KG
• Original Assignee: Miele & CIE KG
• Inventors: Seifert, Monika, Wolf, Cornelius, Tiekoetter, Stefan, Kara, Seyfettin
• Granted Patent: US 8,647,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/25
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/19 Means for monitoring filtering operation

Abstract

An indicator device for a filter includes a filter replacement indicator that is actuatable by thermal expansion. The indicator device can be included in a filter. Also, a vacuum cleaner including a filter having the indicator device.

Claims

1. An indicator device for a filter comprising:

a filter replacement indicator that is actuatable by thermal expansion.

2. The indicator device recited in claim 1, further comprising an actuating member including a medium configured to thermally expand so as to actuate the filter replacement indicator.

3. The indicator device recited in claim 2, wherein the actuating member includes an actuating lever that is movable in response to the thermal expansion of the medium.

4. The indicator device recited in claim 2, wherein the medium includes wax.

5. The indicator device recited in claim 1, wherein the filter replacement indicator includes a counter.

6. The indicator device recited in claim 2, wherein the filter replacement indicator includes a counter configured to assume a first position based on a performing of a predetermined number of actuations by the actuating member.

7. A filter comprising an indicator device having a filter replacement indicator that is actuatable by thermal expansion.

8. The filter recited in claim 7, wherein the filter is configured as a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter.

9. The filter recited in claim 7, wherein the indicator device includes an actuating member including a medium configured to thermally expand so as to actuate the filter replacement indicator.

10. The filter recited in claim 9, wherein the actuating member includes an actuating lever that is movable in response to the thermal expansion of the medium.

11. The filter in claim 9, wherein the medium includes wax.

12. The filter recited in claim 7, wherein the filter replacement indicator includes a counter.

13. The filter recited in claim 9, wherein the filter replacement indicator includes a counter configured to assume a first position based on a performing of a predetermined number of actuations by the actuating member.

14. A vacuum cleaner comprising a filter including an indicator device having a filter replacement indicator that is actuatable by thermal expansion.

15. The vacuum cleaner recited in claim 14, further comprising a suction fan and an exhaust duct corresponding to the suction fan, wherein the filter is disposed in the exhaust duct as an exhaust filter so as to be subject to thermal expansion in response to an exhaust air stream from the suction fan.

16. The vacuum cleaner recited in claim 14, wherein the indicator device includes an actuating member including a medium configured to thermally expand so as to actuate the filter replacement indicator.

17. The vacuum cleaner recited in claim 16, wherein the actuating member includes an actuating lever that is movable in response to the thermal expansion of the medium.

18. The vacuum cleaner recited in claim 14, wherein the filter replacement indicator includes a counter.

19. The vacuum cleaner recited in claim 16, wherein the filter replacement indicator includes a counter configured to assume a first position based on a performing of a predetermined number of actuations by the actuating member

20. A method of filtering an exhaust air stream of a vacuum cleaner, the method comprising:

providing a filter including an indicator device having a filter replacement indicator that is actuatable by thermal expansion;

disposing the filter in a path of an exhaust air stream of a suction fan of an electric vacuum cleaner; and

operating the vacuum cleaner so as to provide the exhaust air stream so as to actuate the filter replacement indicator by thermal expansion.