Filter Device for an Extractor Device

Abstract

A filter device for an extractor device includes at least one connecting unit configured to connect to at least one filter element. The filter device also includes an oscillating unit with at least one exciter element that generates oscillations which act on the filter element at least for cleaning of the filter element. The oscillations generated by the exciter element are configured to have a frequency greater than or equal to 1 kHz.

Claims

1. A filter device for a suction device, comprising: at least one connecting unit configured to connect to at least one filter element; and at least one vibration unit having at least one exciter element configured to generate vibrations that act on the filter element for the purpose of cleaning the filter element, wherein the vibrations are generated by the at least one exciter element at a frequency that is greater than or equal to 1 kHz.

2. The filter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibrations are generated by the at least one exciter element at a frequency of greater than or equal to 10 kHz for the purpose of cleaning the filter element.

3. The filter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one exciter element is configured in the form of an ultrasonic exciter element.

4. The filter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibrations generated by the at least one exciter element act permanently or cyclically on the filter element.

5. The filter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration unit comprises at least one fastening element that is configured to fix the at least one exciter element on one or more of the connecting unit and the filter element.

6. A method of using a filter device to clean at least one filter element (16a; 16b) for a suction device, comprising: generating vibrations with an exciter element of a vibration unit of the filter device at a frequency of greater than or equal to 1 kHz, the vibrations acting on the filter element for the purpose of cleaning the filter element via a connecting unit configured to connect to the filter element.

7. A suction device, comprising: a filter element for the suction device; and at least one filter device that includes: at least one connecting unit configured to connect to the filter element, and at least one vibration unit having at least one exciter element configured to generate vibrations that act on the filter element for the purpose of cleaning the filter element, wherein the vibrations are generated by the at least one exciter element at a frequency that is greater than or equal to 1 kHz.

8. The suction device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising at least one housing, wherein the filter device has at least one fixing element configured to fix the at least one exciter element of the vibration unit on one or more of the connecting unit and the housing.

9. The suction device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising at least one air-flow unit configured to generate an air flow for transporting particles, wherein, as seen along a main flow direction of the air flow, the filter device is arranged at least to a great extent upstream of the air-flow unit.

10. The suction device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the suction device is configured to be used with a portable power tool.

11. The filter device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the vibrations act permanently or cyclically on the filter element during operation of the suction device.

12. The suction device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the portable power tool is configured as one or more of a hammer drill and a chisel hammer.

Description

DRAWING

[0016] Further advantages can be gathered from the following description of the drawing. The drawing illustrates exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them to give further advantageous combinations.

[0017] In the drawing:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a portable power tool according to the invention, in particular a hammer drill, having at least one suction device according to the invention, which comprises at least one filter device according to the invention,

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a detail-specific view of the filter device according to the invention, and

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a suction device according to the invention which is designed in the form of a vacuum cleaner and comprises at least one filter device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a portable power tool 30a having at least one suction device 12a. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the portable power tool 30a is designed in the form of a hammer drill. However, it is also conceivable for the portable power tool 30a to have some other configuration regarded as being expedient by a person skilled in the art, for example a configuration in the form of a hammer drill and/or chisel hammer or the like. The portable power tool 30a comprises at least one striking-mechanism device 32a. The portable power tool 30a also comprises a housing 34a, on a front region 36a of which a tool holder 38a of the portable power tool 30a is arranged for the purpose of accommodating a tool 40a. The tool holder 38a may be designed in the form of a drill chuck, of an SDS tool holder or of some other tool holder regarded as being expedient by a person skilled in the art.

[0022] On a side 42a which is directed away from the front region 36a, the portable power tool 30a comprises a main handle 44a for the purposes of guiding the portable power tool 30a and of transmitting a force from an operator to the portable power tool 30a. The portable power tool 30a is preferably designed with a releasable additional handle 46a. The additional handle 46a can be fastened on the housing 34a of the portable power tool 30a, in particular in the region of the tool holder 38a, in a releasable manner via a latching connection or some other connections regarded as being expedient by a person skilled in the art.

[0023] For the purposes of generating a driving torque and of generating a striking impulse by means of the striking-mechanism device 32a, the portable power tool 30a has a drive unit 48a. The drive unit 48a is designed in the form of an electric motor. However, it is also conceivable for the drive unit 48a to have some other configuration regarded as being expedient by a person skilled in the art, for example a configuration in the form of a combustion engine, of a hybrid motor or the like. A driving torque of the drive unit 48a can be transmitted to the striking-mechanism device 32a via an output unit 50a of the portable power tool 30a at least for the purpose of generating a striking impulse. However, it is also conceivable for the portable power tool 30a to be designed independently of the output unit 50a and for the drive unit 48a to act essentially directly on the striking-mechanism device 32a for the purpose of generating a striking impulse. A striking impulse of the striking-mechanism device 32a can be generated in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art. The output unit 50a can be used to transmit the driving torque to the tool holder 38a, for the purpose of generating a rotary movement of the tool 40a, via a guide element of the striking-mechanism device 32a designed as a hammer tube (not illustrated specifically here), and/or via a rotary driving element (not illustrated specifically here) of the striking-mechanism device 32a, said element being arranged on the tool holder 38a, in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art.

[0024] The suction device 12a is designed in the form of a suction module. The suction device 12a can be arranged in a removable manner on the portable power tool 30a, in particular at an accommodating interface of the portable power tool 30a, said interface being arranged on the housing 34a of the portable power tool 30a. The accommodating interface of the portable power tool 30a is provided, in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art, for form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection to the suction device 12a, for example in the form of a push-in interface, of a bayonet closure, of a connecting groove, of a connecting crosspiece or the like. However, it is also conceivable, if the portable power tool 30a is configured in an alternative manner, for the suction device 12a to be integrated in the portable power tool 30a, in particular to be arranged at least to a great extent within the housing 34a of the portable power tool 30a.

[0025] The suction device 12a comprises at least one filter device 10a. The suction device 12a has at least one housing 52a, wherein the filter device 10a has at least one fixing element 24a, which is provided for fixing at least one exciter element 20a of a vibration unit 18a of the filter device 10a on a connecting unit 14a of the filter device 10a and/or on the housing 52a of the suction device 12a. The fixing element 24a is provided, in particular, in order to interact with a fastening element 22a of the vibration unit 18a for the purpose of fixing the at least one exciter element 20a of the vibration unit 18a on the connecting unit 14a and/or on the housing 52a of the suction device 12a. The fixing element 24a is preferably designed to correspond to the fastening element 22a of the vibration unit 18a. The fixing element 24a may be designed in the form of a latching element, of a clip element, of a threaded element, of a clamping element or of some other fixing element which is regarded as being expedient by a person skilled in the art and is designed in particular to correspond to the fastening element 22a of the vibration unit 18a. It is possible for the fixing element 24a to be arranged on a frame element and/or an accommodating element of the connecting unit 14a, in particular to be formed in one part with the frame element and/or the accommodating element.

[0026] The suction device 12a comprises at least one air-flow unit 26a for generating an air flow for transporting particles, wherein, as seen along a main-flow direction 28a of the air flow, the filter device 10a is arranged at least to a great extent upstream of the air-flow unit 26a. The air-flow unit 26a preferably has at least one fan wheel (not illustrated specifically here), which is already known to a person skilled in the art, for generating an air flow. In particular, the fan wheel is provided in order to generate a negative pressure, so as to generate an air flow for transporting particles. The air-flow unit 26a may also have some other element which is regarded as being expedient by a person skilled in the art and is provided in order to generate a negative pressure, so as to generate an air flow for transporting particles, for example a pump or the like. It is possible for the air-flow unit 26a, in particular when the suction device 12a is arranged on the portable power tool 30a, to be driven by means of the drive unit 48a of the portable power tool 30a, or the suction device 12a comprises a separate drive unit (not illustrated specifically here) for driving the air-flow unit 26a, in particular at least for driving the fan wheel.

[0027] The main-flow direction 28a of the air flow, which can be generated by means of the air-flow unit 26a, starts from an intake region of the suction device 12a and extends, in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art, in the direction of the filter device 10a to an exhaust region of the suction device 12a. The intake region is arranged, in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art, in the region of the tool 40a and/or of the tool holder 38a. The intake region is arranged preferably at least to some extent around the tool 40a and/or around the tool holder 38a. It is possible to provide, in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art, for suction of particles in the vicinity of where a workpiece is being machined.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a detail-specific view of the filter device 10a. The filter device 10a for the suction device 12a comprises at least the connecting unit 14a for connection to at least one filter element 16a. The filter device 10a also comprises at least the vibration unit 18a, which has the at least one exciter element 20a for generating vibrations, which are provided in order to act on the filter element 16a at least for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16a. The filter device 10a preferably comprises the filter element 16a. It is conceivable for the filter device 10a to comprise a number of filter elements 16a other than one, it being possible for these to be connected, in particular, to the connecting unit 14a or to be arranged, in particular in a removable manner, on the connecting unit 14a. The connecting unit 14a is provided for force-fitting and/or form-fitting connection to the filter element 16a. It is preferably the case that the connecting unit 14a is provided at least for arranging the filter element 16a on the filter device 10a. The connecting unit 14a is preferably provided arranging the filter element 16a in a releasable manner on the filter device 10a. As an alternative or in addition to arranging the filter element 16a on the filter device 10a, the connecting unit 14a is provided for connecting the filter element 16a in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner to the vibration unit 18a. It is conceivable, as an alternative or in addition to a force--fitting and/or form-fitting connection, for the filter element 16a to be connected integrally to the vibration unit 18a, in particular to the at least one exciter element 20a, for example by means of an adhesive-bonding connection or the like. The connecting unit 14a may have at least one accommodating element, in particular one accommodating recess, into which the filter element 16a can be introduced at least to some extent. However, it is also conceivable for the connecting unit 14a to have at least one clamping element for clamping the filter element 16a firmly on a frame element and/or on an accommodating element of the connecting unit 14a, for the connecting unit 14a to have at least one screw-connection element for fixing the filter element 16a on the frame element and/or on the accommodating element of the connecting unit 14a, or for the connecting unit 14a to have some other configuration which is regarded as being expedient by a person skilled in the art and is provided for connection to the filter element 16a, in particular for direct connection of the vibration unit 18a to the filter element 16a.

[0029] The vibration unit 18a comprises at least one fastening element 22a, which is provided in order to fix the at least one exciter element 20a on the connecting unit 14a and/or on the filter element 16a. The vibration unit 18a may also comprise a number of fastening elements 22a other than one, these being provided in order to fix the at least one or more exciter elements 20a of the vibration unit 18a on the connecting unit 14a and/or on the filter element 16a. It is possible for the fastening element 22a to be formed in one part with the at least one exciter element 20a or separately therefrom. The fastening element 22a is preferably provided in order to fix the at least one exciter element 20a on the connecting unit 14a and/or on the filter element 16a by way of a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection. It is likewise conceivable for the at least one exciter element 20a to be connected integrally to the connecting unit 14a and/or the filter element 16a, in particular by means of an adhesive-bonding connection. The fastening element 22a may be designed in the form of a latching element, of a clip element, of a threaded element, of a clamping element or of some other fastening element regarded as being expedient by a person skilled in the art. The fastening element 22a is provided, in particular, in order to interact with the fixing element 16a of the filter device 10a. The fastening element 22a is preferably designed to correspond to the fixing element 16a.

[0030] The at least one exciter element 20a is provided so that, for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16a, it generates vibrations of which the frequency is greater than or equal to 1 kHz. The at least one exciter element 20a is advantageously provided to generate vibrations at a frequency of greater than or equal to 10 kHz for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16a. The at least one exciter element 20a is advantageously provided so that, for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16a, it generates vibrations of which the frequency is in particular greater than or equal to 15 kHz, preferably greater than or equal to 20 kHz and particularly preferably smaller than or equal to 1.5 GHz. The at least one exciter element 20a is designed in the form of an ultrasonic exciter element. The at least one exciter element 20a is designed, in particular, in the form of an electromagnetic exciter element. However, it is also conceivable for the at least one exciter element 20a to have some other configuration regarded as being expedient by a person skilled in the art. It is particularly preferable for the suction device 12a or the filter device 10a to comprise at least one control and/or regulating unit 62a, which is provided in order to control and/or to regulate the at least one exciter element 20a for the purpose of generating vibrations. The control and/or regulating unit 62a may also be part of a control and/or regulating unit (not illustrated specifically here) of the portable power tool 30a, wherein, at least when the suction device 12a is arranged on the portable power tool 30a, the control and/or regulating unit 62a of the suction device 12a or the filter device 10a, said unit being integrated in the control and/or regulating unit of the portable power tool 30a, is provided for the purpose of controlling and/or regulating the at least one exciter element 20a.

[0031] The at least one exciter element 20a is provided in order to generate vibrations which, for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16a, act permanently, in particular throughout the period of operation of the suction device 12a or for an entire individual operating period of the suction device 12a, or cyclically on the filter element 16a, in particular during operation of the suction device 12a. Preferably, in the case of vibrations acting permanently on the filter element 16a throughout the entire period of operation of the suction device 12a, the at least one exciter element 20a generates vibrations which act permanently on the filter element 16a during operation of the suction device 12a. As an alternative, in particular in the case of vibrations acting cyclically on the filter element 16a, it is conceivable for vibrations which act on the filter element 16a to be generated at a predetermined time interval, in particular during operation of the suction device 12a. It is also conceivable, in the case of vibrations acting cyclically on the filter element 16a, for vibrations which act on the filter element 16a to be generated following completion of a suction operation using the suction device 12a, in order to ensure in particular advantageous cleaning of the filter element 16a once the suction device 12a has been used. As an alternative or in addition, however, it is also conceivable for vibrations to act dynamically on the filter element 16a, for example in dependence on at least one filter parameter. For dynamic action of vibrations on the filter element 16a, it is conceivable for the filter device 10a advantageously to comprise at least one sensor unit which has at least one sensor element, which is provided in order to sense at least one filter parameter of the filter element 16a, for example a degree of soiling of the filter element 16a or the like, wherein in particular cleaning of the filter element 16a takes place, by means of vibrations which can be generated by the at least one exciter element 20a, in dependence on the filter parameter sensed.

[0032] For extraction of particles by suction, the air-flow unit 26a can generate a negative pressure in the suction device 12a in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art. The resulting negative pressure generates an air stream as a result of which particles which are to be extracted by suction are transported through the intake region of the suction device 12a, in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art, in the direction of the filter device 10a and into a collecting tank 60a of the suction device 12a. The particles which are to be extracted by suction are separated off at the filter element 16a, in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art, and remain in the collecting tank 60a at least until the collecting tank 60a is emptied.

[0033] A method for cleaning at least the filter element 16a for the suction device 12a, in particular by means of the vibration unit 18a of the filter device 10a, comprises at least one method step in which vibrations which are generated by means of the vibration unit 18a of the filter device 10a at a frequency of greater than or equal to 1 kHz, in particular greater than or equal to 16 kHz and particularly preferably smaller than or equal to 1.5 GHz, act on the filter element 16a for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16a. In at least one method step, ultrasonic vibrations which are generated by means of the at least one exciter element 20a act on the filter element 16a for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16a. In respect of further steps of the method for cleaning at least the filter element 16a, reference can be made to the above description of the suction device 12a and/or of the filter device 10a, since this description applies analogously to the method as well and therefore all the features relating to the suction device 12a and/or the filter device 10a are also to be considered as disclosed in respect of the method for cleaning at least the filter element 16a.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention. The descriptions below and the drawings are limited essentially to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein, as far as components with like references are concerned, in particular as far as components with like reference signs are concerned, reference can basically also be made to the drawings and/or the description relating to the other exemplary embodiment, in particular that of FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to distinguish between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a has been placed after the reference sign in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2. The letter a has been replaced by the letter b in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a suction device 12b having at least one filter device 10b. The suction device 12b is designed in the form of a vacuum cleaner. The filter device 10b for the suction device 12b comprises at least one connecting unit 14b for connection to at least one filter element 16b. The suction device 12b also comprises at least one vibration unit 18b, which has at least one exciter element 20b for generating vibrations, which are provided in order to act on the filter element 16b at least for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16b. The at least one exciter element 20b is provided so that, for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16b, it generates vibrations of which the frequency is greater than or equal to 1 kHz, in particular greater than or equal to 16 kHz and particularly preferably smaller than or equal to 1.5 GHz. The at least one exciter element 20b is provided, in particular, in order to generate ultrasonic vibrations, which act on the filter element 16b for the purpose of cleaning the filter element 16b.

[0036] The suction device 12b preferably comprises at least one roller unit 54b, by means of which the suction device 12b can be displaced on an underlying surface. However, it is also conceivable, in an alternative configuration, for the suction device 12b to be designed independently of the roller unit 54b and to be designed, in particular, in the form of a hand-held vacuum cleaner. The suction device 12b may be designed in the form of a bagless vacuum cleaner or of a vacuum cleaner with a bag.

[0037] The suction device 12b comprises at least one housing 52b, wherein the filter device 10b has at least one fixing element 24b, which is provided for fixing the at least one exciter element 20b of the vibration unit 18b of the filter device 10b on the connecting unit 14b and/or on the housing 52b of the suction device 12b. The suction device 12b has at least one air-flow unit 26b for generating an air flow for transporting particles, wherein, as seen along a main-flow direction 28b of the air flow, the filter device 10b is arranged at least to a great extent upstream of the air-flow unit 26b. For the purpose of driving the air-flow unit 26b, the suction device 12b comprises a drive unit 58b, in particular an electric motor. An air flow is generated in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art.

[0038] The suction device 12b comprises at least one suction hose 56b, which can be fixed on the housing 52b of the suction device 12b. The suction hose 56b can be used Co connect the suction device 12b, in a manner which is already known to a person skilled in the art, to a suction adapter, for example a floor suction adapter, a workpiece suction adapter, an upholstery suction adapter or the like, of the suction device 12b or to a connection piece of a power tool, in particular of a portable power tool (not illustrated specifically here). In respect of further features and functions of the filter device 10b and/or the suction device 12b illustrated in FIG. 3, reference can be made to the description of the filter device 10a and/or the suction device 12a illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.