Patent Application
20190178527
The present invention relates to filter cleaning devices for air conditioners, particularly so-called duct-type air conditioners and to air-conditioners having such filter cleaning devices.
Air conditioners are common in different buildings, particularly in commercial premises such as offices and hotels. In those premises often air conditioners of the so-called duct-type are employed.
Duct-type air conditioners are understood as air conditioners of which the indoor unit is connected to an air ducting hidden behind a false ceiling or a false wall. In many cases, also the indoor unit is completely or partly hidden behind the false ceiling or the false wall. An air conditioner according to one or more embodiments is shown in
Such duct-type air conditioners 1 generally comprise air ducting 6, 7 located behind a false ceiling U or a false wall. One air ducting 6 leads to an exit grating 8 or exit terminal in a space to be conditioned such as an office, a corridor, a meeting room or a hotel room. Another air ducting 7 leads to an inlet grating 9 or inlet terminal which may either be located within the space to be conditioned or outside that space. The air ducting 7 may alternatively be connected to a ducting network supplying air centrally to a plurality of indoor units.
The air conditioner 1 has an indoor unit comprising a casing having an inlet 2 to which the air ducting 7 is connected and an outlet 3 to which the air ducting 6 is connected. A heat exchanger 4 is located within the casing downstream of the inlet 2 and downstream of one or more fans 5. Yet, the heat exchanger 4 may also be located upstream of the fan/-s 5. A filter 12 having opposite filter surfaces 13, 14 is disposed upstream of the heat exchanger 4 and in many cases located at or near the inlet 2.
An air flow is generated by the fan/-s 5 during operation of the air conditioner 1. Air flows from the inlet grating 9 via the air ducting 7 to the inlet 2, passes the filter 12 and subsequently the heat exchanger 4 for heating or cooling the air before being introduced into the space to be conditioned via the outlet 3, the air ducting 6 and the exit grating 8.
The filter 12 has the purpose of removing particulate matter such as dust and fibers from the air flow to avoid the parts of the air conditioner, particularly the heat exchanger 4, from being soiled and clogged.
Yet, the filter 12 requires regular cleaning to avoid clogging of the filter. Such clogging of the filter may result in an increased resistance to the air flow which requires a higher load on the fan/-s. Hence, clogging of the filter can reduce the efficiency of the air conditioner.
Yet, cleaning of the filter very often requires opening the false ceiling or the false wall and specialized maintenance engineers or cleaning personnel to remove and clean the filter. This is perceived negative. For this reason, systems have been suggested to simplify removal of the filter. Such systems are for example disclosed in KR 10 2003 0083185 A or KR 10 2004 0080810 A.
However, also these systems require cleaning personal to frequently access the spaces to be conditioned, which may disturb the people using the space. To address this problem, filter cleaning devices have been suggested which are able to automatically clean the filter. One system uses a suction force for cleaning the filter, wherein a suction device is communicated with a suction nozzle moving along the filter surface, whereby the particulate matter adhering to the filter surface is removed by the suction force applied via the suction nozzle. Two examples of those devices are disclosed in WO 2007/040276 A1 and WO 2016/009351 A1. However, these devices are, on the one hand, perceived to be relatively complicated and hence expensive and, on the other hand, perceived to either not sufficiently remove the particulate matter or to require a relatively high suction force which may lead to damaging of the filter.
To address these deficiencies, filter cleaning devices have been proposed using a mechanical cleaning member, such as a brush. The particulate matter removed from the filter by the brush is collected and retained in a dust box. One type of those filter cleaning devices moves the filter along a fixed mechanical cleaning member for removing the particulate matter. Those devices however require a specific configuration of the filter, such as having a continuous belt shape or a large space into which the filter is moved before being returned to its original position. EP 2 119 979 A1 discloses an example of such device. This device particularly employs a rotatable brush. In order to remove particulate matter adhering to the bristles of the brush after being removed from the filter, EP 2 119 979 A1 suggests a comb shaped member engaged with the brush and particularly its bristles scrapping off the adhering particulate matter for transfer to a dust box.
Alternative types of such filter cleaning devices disclose to slide the mechanical cleaning member along the filter surface with the dust box however being fixed relative to the casing. One such filter cleaning device is disclosed in JP H06-32926 U. Yet, also in this device the brush, being pressed against and slid along the filter, may damage the filter and/or push particulate matter into and even through the filter rather than removing the particulate matter from the filter.
To address these problems, the inventors considered the use of a brush rotated by a motor in opposite directions. Yet, it turned out that cleaning or removing of particulate matter adhering to the brush or its bristles by one comb shaped member is not sufficient when the brush rotates in opposite directions.
In view of the aforesaid, one or more embodiments of the invention provide a filter cleaning device and an air conditioner comprising such a filter cleaning device which can overcome or at least reduce the above drawback of the prior art.
In particular, one or more embodiments provide a filter cleaning device having a brush rotated by a motor in opposite directions and a corresponding air conditioner which are capable of improving the removal of particulate matter adhering to the brush.
According to one or more embodiments, a filter cleaning device having the features described below and an air conditioner having such filter cleaning device described below are suggested. The filter cleaning device for an air conditioner (1), particularly a duct-type air conditioner, the filter cleaning device comprises: a filter (12) to be passed through by an air flow and having a filter surface (13); a brush (17) contactable with the filter surface (13) for removing particulate matter from the filter surface, wherein the brush has a cylindrical shape; and a motor (46) configured to rotate the brush in opposite directions; a first comb shaped member (48) engaged with the brush; and a second comb shaped member (49) engaged with the brush, wherein the first and second comb shaped members each have a length direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush and a width direction, wherein the first comb shaped member and the second comb shaped member are inclined away from each other in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to an axis of rotation (19) of the brush. The air conditioner, particularly a duct-type air conditioner, has aforementioned filter cleaning device (10).
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the filter cleaning device for an air conditioner, particularly a duct-type air conditioner, comprises a filter to be passed through by an air flow and having a filter surface. The filter surface defines a width and a length of the filter. In particular, the filter may have two filter surfaces on opposite sides of the filter in the direction of the air flow. The filter can be flat and/or longitudinal. The filter can in principle be of any kind as long as it is configured to remove particulate matter, particularly dust and fibers, from the air flow flowing through the filter, and to be used in combination with an air conditioner. In one or more embodiments, the filter can comprise a frame holding a mesh made of for example plastic material or metallic material. Further, the filter cleaning device comprises a brush as a cleaning member contactable with the filter surface for removing particulate matter from the filter surface, wherein the brush has a cylindrical shape (is substantially cylindrical). The brush is rotatably mounted so as to be continuously rotatable about a cylinder axis (the cylinder axis of the cylinder) in one or more embodiments. In this context “continuously rotatable” is to be understood in that the brush can be rotated clockwise and/or counterclockwise without any abutment or limitation of the rotation angle. Moreover, the filter cleaning device comprises a motor configured to rotate the brush in opposite directions. The motor may be an electric motor, particularly a stepping motor. For removing the particulate matter from the brush, the filter cleaning device comprises a first comb shaped member engaged with the brush and a second comb shaped member engaged with the brush. The comb shaped members are to be understood as members having a plurality of teeth extending from a body. Adjacent teeth are separated by a recess. As such, the comb shaped members may be configured as disclosed in EP 2 119 979 A1 the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. The first and second comb shaped members may be formed integral and being connected by a common comb body. The first and second comb shaped members each have a length direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush and a width direction. The width direction is perpendicular to the length direction and parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush. According to one or more embodiments, the first comb shaped member and the second comb shaped member are inclined away from each other in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the brush. In this context, the first and second comb shaped members are angled so that their width directions intersect outside the diameter of the brush. To put it differently, the projection of the width direction of the first comb shaped member and the projection of the width direction of the second comb shaped member intersect outside the diameter of the brush. The first comb shaped member and the second comb shaped member may be disposed symmetrically in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the brush with respect to a line perpendicularly intersecting with the axis of rotation of the brush. In this context, the projection of the width direction of the first comb shaped member and the projection of the width direction of the second comb shaped member intersect on said line.
According to one or more embodiments, a filter cleaning device is provided which enables sufficient cleaning of the brush to remove particulate matter adhering to the brush even when the brush rotates in opposite directions. In particular, the first comb shaped member is configured to remove particulate matter from the brush when the brush is rotating in a first direction and the second comb shaped member is configured to remove particulate matter from the brush when the brush is rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Thus, the cleaning efficiency of the filter cleaning device can be enhanced.
According to one or more embodiments, the first comb shaped member is angled with its width direction with respect to a first tangent on a circle having a common center axis with the axis of rotation of the brush at a positive angle and the second comb shaped member is angled with its width direction with respect to a second tangent on the circle and being perpendicular to the first tangent at a negative angle.
According to one or more embodiments, the first and second comb shaped members are angled with respect to the axis of rotation of the brush in order to provide for an appropriate removal of particulate matter therefrom independent of the rotational direction of the brush.
In one or more embodiments, the absolute value of the positive angle and the negative angle is the same. Accordingly, the first comb shaped member and the second comb shaped member are disposed symmetrically in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the brush with respect to a line perpendicularly intersecting with the axis of rotation of the brush.
Hence, it is possible to remove particulate matter from the brush with the same efficiency independent of the rotational direction of the brush.
According to one or more embodiments, the first comb shaped member is inclined away from the axis of rotation in a direction towards the first rotating direction and the second comb shaped member is inclined away from the axis of rotation in a direction towards the second rotating direction.
Consequently, it can be realized that the brush and particularly the bristles reliably enter the recesses between the teeth of the comb shaped members and any particulate matter adhering to the brush or its bristles is scrapped away by the comb shaped members.
According to one or more embodiments, a first rotatable separation roller extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush is disposed upstream of the first comb shaped member in the first rotating direction and a second rotatable separation roller extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush is disposed upstream of the second comb shaped member in the second rotating direction.
It may happen that particulate matter removed from the brush by the comb shaped members again adheres to the brush and/or the surfaces of the comb shaped members after being loosened by the comb shaped members. One or more embodiments suggest the separation rollers in order to transfer the loosened particulate matter from the brush and the comb shaped members. In particular, the separation rollers create an air flow moving the particulate matter away from the brush and the comb shaped members and/or centrifuge any particulate matter adhering to the separation rollers away from the separation rollers. Accordingly, the particulate matter can reliably be transferred to the dust box.
In one or more embodiments, the first separation roller is configured to rotate in a direction opposite to the first rotating direction and the second separation roller is configured to rotate in a direction opposite to the second rotating direction.
Accordingly it can be reliably achieved that the particulate matter is moved away from the brush and the comb shaped members to be transferred to the dust box.
Further, the first and second separation roller are driven by the motor also rotating the brush in one or more embodiments.
The use of a common motor has the advantage that less expensive parts are required and less wiring is necessary.
According to one or more embodiments, the brush is reciprocally and translationally movable along the filter surface. Particularly, the brush may span the filter surface in a direction of the width of the filter and/or is movable along the length of the filter. The brush may be disposed on one of the opposite sides of the filter so as to engage with one of the filter surfaces during cleaning operation.
In one or more embodiments, the cleaning member, that is the brush, has a cylindrical shape and is rotatably mounted and movable along the filter. Hence, removing the particulate matter from the filter can be effected more efficiently because the brush can be moved along the filter more quickly and the particulate matter is brushed away from the filter surface due to the rotational movement of the brush. In addition, because of the rotational movement of the brush, the mechanical forces applied to the filter surface are reduced as compared to a brush slid along the filter surface. Therefore, the risk of damaging the filter can be reduced. During cleaning operation, the brush moves along the length of the filter in opposite directions, wherein the direction of rotation of the brush is changed when changing the direction along the length of the filter (direction of movement). Accordingly, removing particulate matter from the filter can be achieved most effectively.
The motor of one or more embodiments is configured to respectively rotate the brush in the direction of movement of the brush along the filter surface. “In the direction of movement” is to be understood in this context in that the brush is rotated against the rotation direction which would be imparted to the brush when moving the brush along the filter surface with the brush in contact with the filter surface by friction. To put it differently, the brush is rotated so that the upstream side of the brush is rotated against the filter surface whereas the downstream side rotates away from the filter surface. For example, the brush rotates clockwise if it is moved to the right and the brush rotates counterclockwise if it is moved to the left.
According to one or more embodiments, particulate matter is scrapped or brushed away from the filter surface rather than being brushed and pressed into the filter surface. Thus, removing of particular matter from the filter surface is very efficient.
The filter cleaning device may further comprise a dust box for receiving particulate matter removed from the filter by the brush and removed from the brush by the first and second comb shaped members and optionally the third and fourth comb shaped members described below. The dust box may be movable together with the brush along the length of the filter. Further, the dust box may be arranged below the brush in a direction of gravity, whereby the particulate matter removed from the filter by the brush falls into the dust box by gravity. In one or more embodiments, the dust box may be arranged at an axial end of the brush.
According to one or more embodiments, particulate matter removed from the filter by the brush and removed from the brush by the comb shaped members can easily be collected in the dust box. In one or more embodiments, the particulate matter falls into the dust box automatically by gravity when being removed and loosened from the brush.
To obtain a reliable cleaning of the filter and removing particulate matter therefrom, the brush of one or more embodiments has a body and a plurality of bristles radially extending from the body. In addition, because of the use of bristles, optional reinforcing ribs of the filter may be accommodated by a larger bending of the bristles. Even further, the use of bristles in combination with the comb shaped members provides for a very effective loosening of any particulate matter adhering to the brush in that the separate bristles path through the recesses between teeth of the comb shaped members so that the particulate matter is scrapped away from the bristles.
Depending on the circumstances, it may happen that dust accumulates at the brush and the first and second comb shaped members whereby dust lumps are created. Those dust lumps that tend to be long and stick to the first and second comb shaped members or get caught in the dust box. Accordingly, it is difficult to remove the dust effectively from the filter cleaning device. A third comb shaped member and a fourth comb shaped member, each engaged with the brush, are suggested in order to cope with this problem. The third and fourth comb shaped members have a different function than the first and second comb shaped members. In particular, the first and second comb shaped members described above are configured to gather the dust from the brush, that is scratch the dust from the bristles of the brush. In contrast, the third and fourth comb shaped members form an obstacle to the bristles of the brush, wherein the bristles are bent upon rotation of the brush when engaging with the third and fourth comb shaped members. Once the bristles have passed by the third and fourth comb shaped members, the bristles spring back to their original position, whereby the dust adhering to the bristles is scattered (thrown away) into the dust box. Consequently, the accumulation of dust at the bristles is prevented and small particles are transferred into the dust box. Hence, only a relatively small amount of dust remains at the bristles and will be scratched off by the first and second comb shaped members, however without or at least with a reduced risk that dust lumps are formed. Only one of the third and fourth comb shaped members is active depending on the rotational direction of the brush in one or more embodiments. To put it differently, the third comb shaped member is only active in a first direction of rotation and the force of the comb shaped member is only active in a second direction of rotation of the brush. Further and as with the first and second comb shaped members, also the third and fourth comb shaped members may each have a length direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush and a width direction.
According to one or more embodiments, the third comb shaped member is directed toward the first comb shaped member and the fourth comb shaped member is directed toward the second comb shaped member. As a result, the arrangement of the first and second comb shaped members and the third and fourth comb shaped members is the opposite, whereby effective scattering of the dust into the dust box may be achieved by the third and fourth comb shaped members and scratching of the remaining dust is still obtained by means of the first and second comb shaped members. Also in this configuration, it may be that the projections of the width directions of the third and fourth comb shaped members intersect. As in the above embodiments, the projections of the width directions of the third and fourth comb shaped members may intersect outside the diameter of the brush. According to one or more embodiments, the projections of the width directions of the third and fourth comb shaped members intersect on the same side as the projections of the width directions of the first and second comb shaped members relative to the center axis (axis of rotation) of the brush. The third comb shaped member and the fourth comb shaped member may be disposed symmetrically in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the brush with respect to a line perpendicularly intersecting with the axis of rotation of the brush. In this context, the projection of the width direction of the third comb shaped member and the projection of the width direction of the fourth comb shaped member intersect on said line. According to one or more embodiments, the point of intersection of the projections of the width directions of the third and fourth comb shaped members is the same as that of the projections of the width directions of the first and second comb shaped members.
According to one or more embodiments, the third comb shaped member is inclined toward the axis of rotation of the brush in a direction of the first rotating direction and the fourth comb shaped member is inclined toward the axis of rotation in a direction of the brush toward the second rotating direction.
Besides the above filter cleaning device, also an air conditioner, particularly a duct-type air conditioner, having such filter cleaning device is suggested. Even though a duct-type air conditioner is used, the present filter cleaning device may also be applied to other air conditioners in which a filter requires regular cleaning.
Further features and advantages are described in the following description of embodiments, which make reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show in:
The filter cleaning device 10 may be mounted to existing air conditioners such as the one depicted in
A control box 66 is attached to one side of the casing 11 and configured to control the cleaning operation of the filter 12 described later.
The filter 12 contained in the filter cleaning device 10 is longitudinal and flat having a length L and a width W. In one or more embodiments, the length L is larger than the width W, whereby the filter 12 is longitudinal. Further, the lengths L and the width W are both much larger than the thickness/height, whereby the filter 12 is flat.
Further, the filter 12 comprises a frame 63 of plastic material, which is molded about a mesh 64 made of plastic material, metal or other suitable material. One longitudinal reinforcing rib 15 and a plurality of transverse reinforcing ribs 65 are provided in order to stabilize the mesh 64 over the length and widths of the filter 12. The filter has a first filter surface 13 facing the inlet 60 and a second filter surface 14 facing the outlet 61. The first and second filter surfaces 13, 14 can be best seen in
The filter cleaning device 10 further comprises a cleaning unit 67 configured to clean the filter 12 and particularly its mesh 64. The cleaning unit 67 comprises cleaning member unit 67a and a counter surface unit 67b.
The cleaning member unit 67a has a mechanical cleaning member 16 in the form of a brush 17. The brush 17 consists of a body 20 from which a plurality of separate bristles 21 extend in a radial direction. As can be best seen from the cross-sectional view in
Considering
The lower support 43b is embodied as a dust box 28. In particular, the lower support 43b has a bottom 100 and sidewalls 101 surrounding the bottom, whereby the dust box 28 is formed (see
The upper support 43a and the lower support 43b of the support unit are respectively provided with two wheels 45a, b. The wheels 45a of the upper support 43a are rotatably fixed to the upper support 43a or an upper portion of a wall of a housing 30 connecting the supports 43a, 43b, respectively. The housing 30 connects to the side walls 100 of the dust box 28 and provides for a shielding effect as described in more detail below. The wheels 45a are rotatable about an axis of rotation 69.
The wheels 45b of the lower support 43b are rotatably and pivotably fixed to the lower support 43b or a lower portion of the wall 88 of the housing 30. In particular, the wheels 45b are rotatably fixed to a pivot arm 71 about an axis of rotation 69 and the pivot arm 71 is pivotably fixed to the lower support 43b or a lower portion of the wall 88 of the housing 30 about a pivot 70. Furthermore, a spring (as an example of the second elastic member) 47 is fixed at one of its opposite ends to the pivot arm 41 of one wheel 45b and the other one of its opposite ends to the pivot arm of the other wheel 45b. Accordingly, the wheels 45b are urged towards each other about the pivots 70.
The wheels 45a at the top are engaged with a longitudinal top guide rail 44a (guide) extending in a length direction of the filter 12 along the filter cleaning device 10. The same applies for the wheels 45b at the bottom, which are engaged with a longitudinal bottom guide rail 44b (guide) extending substantially in parallel to the top guide rail 44a.
Accordingly, the support unit is movably guided between the guide rails 44a, 44b and hence movable along the length of the filter 12 or its filter surface 13, respectively.
The filter 12 and consequently also the guide rails 44a, 44b can be relatively long. As a consequence, bending of the guide rails 44a, 44b may occur with the result that the distance D (see
As previously mentioned, the brush 17 is rotatably supported in the support unit. As a result, the support unit serves to move the brush 17 along the filter surface 13. For movement of the support unit along the filter 12, the support unit is driven.
According to one or more embodiments, a rack 72 (see
Accordingly, the motor 46 rotates the first gear 73, whereby the second gear 74 and the third gear 75 are rotated. Thus, the rotational force is transmitted via the gears 73 to 75 to the rack 72. The rack 72 converts the rotational force into a translational force, whereby the support unit and, hence, the brush 17 rotatably supported therein, are moved along the rack 72 and thereby along the filter 12.
As will be apparent from the above description, only one motor 46 is used to move the support unit and hence the brush 17 along the filter 12 and hence its filter surface 13, and to rotate the brush 17.
Due to the movability of the cleaning member unit 67a and hence the brush 17 in a longitudinal direction of the filter 12 as explained above, the cleaning member unit 67a may be moved to a parking position shown in
When the brush 17 and particularly its bristles 21 brush along the filter surface 13 and remove the particulate matter therefrom, particulate matter may adhere to the bristles 21. In order to remove the particulate matter from the bristles and, hence, the brush 17, the cleaning unit further comprises a first comb shaped member 48 and a second comb shaped member 49 which are respectively engaged with the brush 17 and particularly the bristles 21 (see
The comb shaped members 48 and 49 are respectively formed along the length direction with a plurality of teeth 102 separated by recesses. In other words, the comb shaped members are configured of a plurality of merlons and crenels. The teeth 102 extend in the width direction from the comb body 97. The cross-sectional line A-A extends through one of the teeth 102. The two comb shaped members 48 and 49 are respectively angled or inclined with their width direction in opposite directions, that is away from each other. To put it differently, the comb shaped members 48 and 49 are inclined in different directions with respect to an axis of symmetry 103. In particular, the teeth 102 are angled or inclined as described above. As may be best seen from the cross-section in
As previously mentioned, the dust may adhere to the comb shaped members 48 and 49 promoting the formation of dust lumps which stick to the comb shaped members 48 and 49 and/or are difficult to be removed from the dust box 28. According to one or more embodiments as shown in
The comb shaped members 104 and 105 are respectively formed along the length direction with a plurality of teeth separated by recesses. In other words, the comb shaped members are configured of a plurality of merlons and crenels. Alternatively, the comb shaped members 104 and 105 may have a plate-shaped with a straight edge engaging with the bristles 21. The comb shaped members 104 and 105 are respectively angled or inclined with their width direction in opposite directions towards each other. To put it differently, the comb shaped members 104 and 105 are inclined in different directions with respect to an axis of symmetry 103. As is the best shown in
Moreover and as shown in
As described above, the brush 17 may rotate in opposite directions and depending on the movement of the support unit. Thus, if the brush rotates clockwise, the first comb shaped member 48 serves for removing or loosening the particulate matter from the bristles 21, whereas if the brush rotates counterclockwise, the second comb shaped member 49 provides for this effect. Thus, a very effective cleaning of the bristles 21 may be affected no matter in which direction the brush 17 rotates.
Further and in one or more embodiments of
The remaining amount of dust still adhering to the bristles downstream of the third comb shaped member 104 in the rotating direction is scratched of the bristles 21 by the first comb shaped members 48 as described above. Yet, because of the reduced amount of dust adhering to the bristles 21 at this stage, the formation of dust lumps is reduced, whereby the clogging of the comb shaped members 48 and long dust lumps which are difficult to be removed from the dust box 28 can be prevented.
If the brush 17 is rotated counterclockwise in
Furthermore, a first and second separation roller 53 and 54 are provided wherein the first separation 53 is associated to the first comb shaped member 48 and the second separation roller 54 is associated to the second comb shaped member 49. Both separation rollers 53, 54 extend parallel to the axis of rotation 19 of the brush 17. The separation rollers 53, 54 are respectively provided in order to remove the particulate matter loosened by the comb shaped members 48, 49 from the bristles 21 away from the brush 17 so that the particulate matter falls into or towards the bottom 100 of the dust box 28 by gravity. For this purpose, the separation rollers 53, 55 are rotated in the same direction as the brush 17. In particular, the separation rollers 53, 55 is there a centrifuge particulate matter coming into contact with the separation rollers away from the brush 17 and the comb shaped members 48, 49 or at least create an air flow blowing the loosened particulate matter away. In this context, the separation rollers 53 and 54 are located on an outer side of the comb shaped members 48, 49 with respect to the axis of rotation 19 of the brush 17, respectively.
According to one or more embodiments, two seventh gears 79 (see
The support unit further comprises the housing 30 and a partition 68. The housing 30 together with the partition 68 forms a chamber accommodating the brush 17. That chamber is communicated with the dust box 28 in which particulate matter brushed off the filter 12 or its filter surface is retained before being removed by a vacuum source as explained later. The housing 30 together with the partition 68 further defines an opening 31 through which a portion of the brush 17 extends (see
Moreover, a suction section 32 as shown in
The suction section 32 further comprises a suction opening 33 fixed to the casing 11 of the filter cleaning device. In one or more embodiments, a fitting extends from the casing 11 and forms the suction opening 33 at the inside of the casing 11, The fitting further has an exhaust opening 82 at the outside of the casing 11. The suction opening 33 and the exhaust opening 82 may be both circular. The center axis of at least the suction opening 33 is congruent with the center axis 38 of the outlet 37.
In one or more embodiments, a suction socket 42 (see
Once the cleaning operation is finished, the cleaning unit moves towards the left in
A sealing member 34 is provided at an area 35 surrounding the outlet 37 and/or an area 36 surrounding the suction opening 33. Upon movement of the cleaning unit to the parking position, the sealing 34 is sandwiched and pressed between the area 35 and the area 36 and the outlet 37 is communicated with the suction opening 33. In order to be sufficiently pressed, the stepping motor 46 is controlled by the control box 66. Upon a feedback of a positioning sensor (such as a limit switch) that the cleaning unit has reached the parking position the control is configured to move the cleaning unit towards the left (in the direction of the parking position) at least one additional distance (one or more steps of the stepping motor). Accordingly a relatively tight and reliable seal can be achieved.
Additionally or alternatively to the sealing 34, a shroud 84 may be provided surrounding the outlet 37 or the suction opening 33. Upon reaching the parking position, the shroud 84 enters into the suction opening 33 and engages with an inner circumferential surface of the suction opening 33, thereby achieving a sealing effect. However, to achieve a reliable and sufficient sealing, relatively small tolerances regarding the inner diameter of the suction opening 33 and the outer diameter of the shroud 84 are required. For this reason, the above-described sealing 34 is used. In one or more embodiments, the shroud 84 may, hence, dispense the sealing function and merely provide for centering the outlet 37 relative to the suction opening 33. For this purpose, the shroud 84 may have a tapering 85 towards the suction opening 33, whereby upon engagement of the shroud 84 in the suction opening 33 a self-centering effect is obtained.
Moreover, a lid 39 is fixed to the casing 11 as best shown in
When the cleaning unit is moved towards the parking position (e.g. from the position in
In this parking position also the outlet 37 and the suction opening 33 are communicated. Thus, upon plugging a fitting of a vacuum cleaner into the suction socket 42 and applying a suction force, particulate matter accommodated in the dust box 28 is sucked from the dust box 28. Further and due to the pressure reduction within the dust box 28, the covering 86 is sucked against the edge of the opening 31 of the housing. In one or more embodiments, it may, hence, well be to dispense the actuating arm 40 and to merely close the lid 39 by the suction force applied by the vacuum cleaner in the parking position. In one or more embodiments, however the opening 31 will only be closed during cleaning of the dust box 28 and the effect of preventing particulate matter from being drawn from the dust box 28 during the air conditioning operation is dispensed. Yet, closing of the opening 31 by the lid 39 also provides for a more effective cleaning of the dust box 28 as compared to a non-sealed opening. In particular, a higher under pressure may be built up within the dust box 28 leading to a more effective or more complete cleaning of the dust box 28 by the vacuum cleaner.
The cleaning unit further comprises the counter surface unit 67b. The counter surface unit 67b comprises a counter surface (see
The cylinder 26 comprises a cylinder axis 27 which is at the same time the axis of rotation of the cylinder 26. The cylinder 26 has at its center in the axial direction an annular groove 24. As can be best seen from
In one or more embodiments, the cylinder 26 is hollow. For ease of production, the cylinder 26 can be produced from half shells 89. The half shells 89 are each half circular in cross section and, thus, a half cylindrical. The half shells may be at one end be connected by a living or integral hinge. In addition, the axis of rotation 27 may be integrally formed with one of the half shells 89. For this purpose, two coaxial protrusions may extend from the axial end of the half shells in an axial direction. Thus, the cylinder 26 may be injection molded from plastic material. To form the cylinder 26, the half shells 89 are rotated about the living hinge and fixed together by latches 90 at one of the half shells 89 and corresponding hooks 91 at the other one of the half shells 89. Certainly also other methods for fixing the half shells may be used. Also the half shells may be formed separately and then be fixed together without the use of a living hinge.
Furthermore, the filter 12 may along its length not to be completely flat but bend in a direction towards the counter surface unit 67b and/or the cleaning member unit 67a or even wavy. Accordingly, it could happen that either the brush 17 comes out of contact with the filter surface 13 reducing cleaning efficiency or that the brush 17 is pushed into the filter surface 13 to heavily with the risk of damaging the filter. To cope with this problem, the cylinder 26 and hence the counter surface 21, formed by the outer surface 25 of the cylinder 26, is urged towards the filter surface 14.
In one or more embodiments, the axis of rotation 27 of the cylinder 26 is guided in a long hole 92 (also see
In one or more embodiments, the cleaning member unit 67a and the counter surface unit 67b are respectively formed independent and separate from each other. More particularly, the support units are formed separately. Accordingly, the filter cleaning device 10 may have a relatively low width (or height) being substantially dependent on the width of the filter 12. However in one or more embodiments, the support units may also be connected above and/or below the frame 63 of the filter 12. This would provide for the advantage that only one motor 46 would be required for both units 67a, 67b.
In the following, the function of the above-described filter cleaning device will be explained.
In the non-cleaning operation and during air conditioning operation, the cleaning unit including the brush 17 and the counter surface 22 is positioned in the parking position shown in
First, the control considers whether cleaning operation is required. In this context, different parameters and can trigger that cleaning operation is required. In one or more embodiments, the cleaning operation is performed in a predetermined time interval. Alternatively, a sensor may be provided capable of measuring a degree of particulate matter on the filter such as a sensor capable of measuring a flow resistance of air flowing through the filter. The output of this sensor may be used by the control to trigger the cleaning operation. Certainly, also other para meters may be used for this purpose.
Once cleaning operation is started, the control in the control box 66 cooperates with the control of the air conditioner to temporarily stop the air conditioning operation. Subsequently, the motors 46 are activated. Accordingly, the cleaning member unit 67a and the counter surface unit are moved from the left to the right along the filter surfaces 13, 14 respectively, wherein the rotational force of the motors 46 is transferred via the gears 73 to 75 to the rack 72 and the gears 94 to 96 to the rack 72. At the same time the brush 17 is rotated, wherein the translational movement of the support unit of the cleaning member unit 67a along the rack 72 is converted and transmitted via the gears 76, 77 and 78 to the axis of rotation 19 of the brush 17, thereby rotating the brush 17 clockwise. Accordingly the bristles 21 brush particular matter from the filter surface 14 away from the filter surface 14 whereby the particulate matter is transferred by the brush 17 through the opening 31 into the housing 30 and subsequently falls into the dust box 28 by gravity.
In the housing 30, the particulate matter is scrapped away from the bristles 21 by the first comb shaped member 48. The first separation roller 53 being rotated by the gear 79 in a counterclockwise direction ensures that the particulate matter scrapped away from the bristles 21 by the first comb shaped member 48 is moved away from the bristles 21. The thus separated particulate matter will then fall into the dust box 28 or particularly towards its bottom 100 by gravity and will be collected at the bottom 100 of the dust box 28 (lower support 43b).
The counter surface 22 formed by the outer surface 25 of the cylinder 26 is moved together with the brush 17 along the filter 12 being in contact with the opposite filter surface 14. In particular, a line connecting the axis of rotation 27 and the axis of rotation 19 is perpendicular to the filter surfaces 13, 14. Accordingly, the counter surface 22 supports the filter 12 at the side of the filter surface 14 so as to keep the mesh 64 in contact with the bristles 21 of the brush 17. During the movement of the brush 17 and the counter surface 21 along the filter 12, the counter surface 22 may compensate for any deviations of the filter 12 from an evenly flat shape in that it may move perpendicular to the filter surfaces 13, 14 within the long hole 92. Further, as the counter surface 22 is urged towards the filter surfaces 13, 14 by the leg spring 23, the bristles 21 are engaged with the filter surface 13 at a relatively constant pressure/force along the length of the filter. Accordingly, an efficient and reliable cleaning can be performed without the risk of damaging the filter.
Further, it is to mention that the counter surface 22 particularly the cylinder 26 is not actively driven or rotated, but rotates because of its frictional contact with the filter surface 14. When the cleaning unit moves to the right, the cylinder 26 hence rotates in the same direction as the brush 17, that is clockwise. Due to the rotation of the counter surface and its curved shape, the contact area and the friction between the contact area and the filter surface 14 is relatively low so that any damaging of the filter 12 by the counter surface 22 can reliably be prevented.
Once the cleaning unit has reached the end of the filter 12 opposite to the parking position, the rotation direction of the motors 46 is switched. This can for example be triggered by the cleaning unit moving against a limit switch, thereby switching the motors 46. Yet, also other control mechanisms are conceivable. Switching the rotational direction of the motors 46 changes the rotational direction of all gears 33 to and 94 to 96. Accordingly, the brush 17 is rotated counterclockwise as are the separation rollers 53 and 54. During the movement to the left, the cylinder 26 is again rotated by frictional engagement with the filter surface 14, however, now counterclockwise. During movement in this direction, the second comb shaped member 49 and the second separation roller 54 are active for scrapping the particulate matter from the bristles 21 and move the scrapped of particulate matter away from the bristles 21 for being collected in the dust box 28.
The above process may be repeated as required until the cleaning operation is finished. If a command has been provided by the control in the control box 66 that the cleaning operation can be terminated, the cleaning unit is again moved to the parking position. During this movement and as previously indicated, the housing 30 of the cleaning unit engages with/comes into contact with the actuating arm 40 thereby pivoting the lid 39 around the axis 85 in a clockwise direction, whereby the covering 86 closes the opening 31 in the housing 30. If the cleaning unit has reached the parking position which may be indicated to the control by the use of a sensor or a limit switch, the motors 46 are activated to perform at least one more step towards the parking position in order to press the sealing 34 and securely communicate the outlet 37 and the suction opening 33. Subsequently, the cleaning operation is finished.
The cleaning personal in the premises in which the filter cleaning devices are mounted may in a regular interval then plug a fitting of the vacuum cleaner into the suction socket 42 and thereby apply a sucking force to the suction opening 33, whereby particulate matter accumulated at the bottom 100 of the dust box 28 is sucked from the dust box 28 via the cleaning opening 81, the cleaning path 80, the outlet 37, the suction opening 33, the exhaust opening 82, the hose 83 and the suction socket 42 into the vacuum cleaner. According to one or more embodiments, it may be conceivable to connect the control in the control box 66 to a network within the premises and to output a signal that the cleaning operation has been performed to the network so as to indicate to the cleaning personal that the dust box 28 is to be emptied. It is also possible to provide a visual indicator such as a light at the suction section 42, which could indicate to the cleaning personal that emptying the dust box 28 is required (for example a red light for cleaning and a green light for non-cleaning requirement). Instead of using a predetermined interval as requirement for removing the particulate matter from the dust box 28 or triggering the necessity to empty the dust box 28 by the termination of the cleaning operation, sensors outputting information on the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the dust box 28 can be used. This information can be outputted to the network or used to control the visual indicator. In one or more embodiments, the suction section 42 is disposed outside the space to be conditioned, whereby the cleaning personal does not need to enter this space for emptying the dust box 28.
As will be apparent from the above description, the filter cleaning device described above provides for a very efficient system.
Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skill in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16181787.9 | Jul 2016 | EP | regional |
| 17155600.4 | Feb 2017 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2017/026853 | 7/25/2017 | WO | 00 |
