Floor cleaning apparatus with filter cleaning system

Abstract

A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on that housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a dirt collection chamber, a filter chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the filter chamber. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a flow control valve assembly. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between a first or home position wherein dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel and a second or filter cleaning position wherein clean air is drawn through at least a portion of the filter to clean the filter. An activator is provided for automatically displacing the flow control valve assembly between the first and second positions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially broken-away view of the floor cleaning apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the assembled dirt collection vessel;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dirt collection vessel, filter and flow control valve assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dirt collection vessel, filter and flow control valve assembly in the first position allowing for normal vacuum cleaner operation;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the flow control valve assembly in the second position allowing cleaning of a section of the filter;

FIG. 6 is a detailed top perspective view of the filter assembly;

FIG. 7 is a schematical illustration of an additional filter cleaning feature that may be utilized to clean dirt and debris from the filter in situ in the dirt collection vessel; and

FIGS. 8 a-8d are schematical illustrations of solenoid driven clicker arrangements for cleaning dirt and debris from a filter.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a housing;a suction generator carried on said housing;a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing;a filter carried on said dirt collection vessel;a clicker engaging said filter; anda solenoid for driving said clicker and cleaning said filter.

2. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said clicker is a rotary clicker.

3. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rotary clicker includes a pinion, a body and at least one resilient lug.

4. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 3, further including a rack attached to said solenoid and engaged with said pinion.

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

6. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly are pivotably connected together.

7. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a housing;a suction generator carried on said housing;a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing;a filter carried on said dirt collection vessel;a clicker engaging said filter; anda solenoid for moving said filter with respect to said clicker to thereby vibrate dirt and debris from said filter.

8. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said clicker is a rotary clicker.

9. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein said rotary clicker includes a pinion, a body and at least one resilient lug.

10. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 9, further including a rack attached to said solenoid and engaged with said pinion.

11. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein said housing includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly.

12. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly are pivotably connected together.