Compressing Arrangement for a Dust Container

The pores in the filtering surface of dust containers used in vacuum cleaners become clogged after a certain period of operation, so that even if the dust container is only partially filled the pressure drop over the container wall has increased so much that an indicating device, which usually senses this pressure drop, gives a false indication that the container is filled, and should be exchanged. Of course, this situation is undesirable and, moreover, it is not economical.

Different types of filter shaking devices are known, which in most cases are mechanical and have a principal purpose of loosening the dust from the filter surface of the dust container, and in this way, results in the continued use of the dust container and the increase of filling capacity thereof. Often the contents of the dust container have a fluffy structure, which results in that the desired effect cannot be obtained by means of filter shaking only.

The present invention relates to a compressing device for a dust container, i.e. intended for vacuum cleaners, comprising a chamber with an inlet for dust laden air, an outlet for cleaned air and a motor fan unit for transporting air from the working implement through a suction hose and the dust container disposed in the chamber.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawback and to construct a simple device for increasing the filling degree of the dust container. For this purpose the invention is mainly characterized in that the dust container, by changing the pressure conditions between the inside and outside, respectively, of the dust container, the latter is compressible so that its inner volume during a certain time interval becomes smaller than the original volume thereof.

In order that the invention will be more clearly understood, it will now be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a chamber enclosing the dust container during normal operation thereof, and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the same chamber, with the dust container in a compressed condition.

A chamber 10 is shown enclosing a dust container 11. The chamber is closable by a cover 12, and has an inlet opening 13 for entry of dust laden air through an inlet conduit and a suction hose (not shown) from the working implement, such as a nozzle. An outlet opening 15 communicates through an outlet conduit 16 with a motor fan unit (not shown). A third opening 17 connects the inside of the chamber 10 with atmospheric air. The dust container is connected to the inlet conduit 14 by means of an attachment plate 18 with an opening.

Between the dust container 11 and the chamber 10 a shroud 19 of flexible material is arranged. The shroud is mainly U-shaped and has its open end attached to the chamber wall provided with the inlet opening 13, and the outlet opening 15. The side portions 20 of the shroud have the form of a compressible bellows.

The opening 17 is closed during normal operation, but can be opened by means of a valve 21 so that connection between the inside of the chamber 10 and atmospheric air can be obtained. A spring 22 holds the valve in the opening 17 in a closed position. A manually actuatable push button 23 is accessible from the outside of the chamber 10 for actuating the valve 21. In its upper portion, the valve 21 has another blocking device 24 arranged so that when the valve is pressed down by the push button 23, the inlet opening 13 is closed. A leak opening 25 is provided in the chamber 10, and connects the space between the shroud 19 and the chamber 10 with the outlet conduit 16. A seal 26, for example, made of rubber, is arranged between the chamber 10 and its cover 12.

The present arrangement functions in the following way:

During normal operation, as shown in FIG. 1, dust laden air flows through the inlet conduit 14, and passes through the filtering surface of the dust container 11, where it is freed from dust particles and through the space between the dust container 11 and the shroud 19 the cleaned air leaves the chamber 10 through the outlet conduit 16.

After having been used for certain periods of time, the dust container 11 becomes filled with dust and dirt and the air resistance over the dust container wall increases. This situation can result in the signalling device of the dust container indicating a full dust container without the bag being completely filled. In order to increase the filling degree of the dust container, a valve is actuated by means of the push button 23 so that the opening 17 is temporarily uncovered. At the same time the inlet opening 13 is closed by means of a blocking device 24, atmospheric air propels through the opening 17 into the space between the shroud 19 and the chamber 10, where a negative pressure has prevailed before. Thus, the dust container due to this change in pressure between the inside and outside of the dust container is compressed, as shown in FIG. 2. The dust inside of the dust container is compressed by the inner volume of the dust container becoming smaller than its original volume. In addition to this compression, a certain shaking of the filtering surface of the dust container is effected so that when the push button 23 is released and the valve 21 returns to its position shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to supply more dust to the dust container. This procedure can be repeated several times to increase the filling of the dust container. Tests have shown that due to the present compressing device the filling degree of the dust container can be increased by about 30% compared with a dust container that is devoid of the device. The leak opening 25 is always open and due to the fact that it is in connection with the outlet conduit 16 the space between the casing 19 and the chamber 10 is evacuated. After the valve 21 has been closed, the shroud 19 and the dust container 11 resume the position shown in FIG. 1.

The embodiment shown is not intended to limit the extent of the invention and several modifications are conceivable within the spirit and scope of the invention. In this regard part of the filtering surface of the dust container can be made of resilient, air nonpervious material and replace the shroud 19.