Filter cleaning system for floor cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing. A dirt collection vessel with filter and a suction generator are carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a four port/two position directional control valve and a valve actuator. The valve actuator selectively displaces the directional control valve between a first position wherein dirt and debris is captured in the dirt collection vessel by the filter and a second position wherein clean air purges dirt and debris from the filter into the dirt collection vessel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part of this specification, illustrates several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serves to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway, perspective view illustrating one possible embodiment of the floor cleaning apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematical top plan view illustrating the airflow pathway when the directional control valve is in a first or floor cleaning position; and

FIG. 3 is a schematical top plan view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the airflow path when the directional control valve is in the second or filter cleaning position.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a housing;a dirt collection vessel with filter carried on said housing;a suction generator carried on said housing;a four port/two position directional control valve; anda valve actuator for selectively displacing said directional control valve between a first position wherein dirt and debris is captured in said dirt collection vessel by said filter and a second position wherein clean air purges dirt and debris from said filter into said dirt collection vessel.

2. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said valve actuator is a solenoid.

3. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein said solenoid is connected to a rotary solenoid switch.

4. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein said housing includes at least one wheel for riding over a floor.

5. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein said rotary solenoid switch is connected to said at least one wheel.

6. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least two gears connect said rotary solenoid switch with said at least one wheel.

7. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 6, further including a check valve.

8. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said dirt collection vessel includes an air inlet and an air outlet and said apparatus further includes a first conduit connecting said air outlet with said directional control valve.

9. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein a motor prefilter is provided in said first conduit.

10. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein said suction generator is provided in a motor compartment including an intake plenum and an exhaust plenum

11. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 10, further including a second conduit connecting said exhaust plenum with an exhaust port.

12. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein an exhaust filter is provided in said second conduit.

13. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 12, wherein said check valve is provided in said second conduit.

14. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly.

15. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 14, wherein said nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet.

16. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one rotary agitator is carried by said nozzle assembly adjacent said suction inlet.

17. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 16, wherein a flexible hose connects said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly.

18. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 17, wherein said nozzle assembly includes a control wand.

19. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a housing;a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing;a filter carried on said housing;a suction generator carried on said housing;at least one wheel connected to said housing and supporting said housing on a floor;a directional control valve carried on said housing; anda valve actuator for selectively displacing said directional control valve between a first position wherein dirt and debris is collected in said dirt collection vessel and on said filter and a second position wherein clean air purges dirt and debris from said filter into said dirt collection vessel, said valve actuator being connected to said at least one wheel.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said valve actuator is a solenoid and said solenoid is connected to a rotary solenoid switch connected to said at least one wheel.

21. A method of cleaning a filter in situ in a vacuum cleaner supported on a ground engaging wheel, comprising; providing a valve for periodically reversing air flow through said filter;providing an actuator for said valve; andconnecting said actuator to said wheel whereby said filter is cleaned after said vacuum cleaner rolls a predetermined distance over the ground.