DUST COLLECTING DEVICE FOR A POWER TOOL

Abstract

A dust collecting device for a power tool, the dust collecting device having a lamella filter and a rotatable shaft. In the collecting container of the dust collecting device, the lamellae of the filter can be set in an axial movement by a rotary movement of the shaft which is interrupted when the filter lamellae arrive in the region of release of the shaft. The release enables the lamellae to return to their original position, the return of the lamellae to this original position causing the lamellae to vibrate, which leads to the filter being cleaned. A power tool which has a proposed dust collecting device, as well as a method for operating a power tool and for cleaning a filter is also provided.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A dust collecting device for a power tool, the dust collecting device comprising: a collecting container for receiving dust; a filter with lamellae and a rotatable shaft arranged in the collecting container, the lamellae of the filter axially moveable out of an original position by a rotary movement of the shaft, the shaft having a release enabling the lamellae to return to the original position, the filter being cleaned by the return of the lamellae to the original position.

12. The dust collecting device as recited in claim 11 wherein the shaft is a screw shaft and has turns.

13. The dust collecting device as recited in claim 11 wherein the release includes flats.

14. The dust collecting device as recited in claim 11 wherein the collecting container has a rotary handle, the rotary handle being designed to set the shaft in rotation.

15. The dust collecting device as recited in claim 14 wherein the rotary handle is present in a housing of the collecting container.

16. The dust collecting device as recited in claim 11 wherein the filter is arranged in an inlet region of the collecting container of the dust collecting device.

17. A power tool comprising the dust collecting device as recited in claim 11.

18. The power tool as recited in claim 17 further comprising a dust extractor designed to generate an air stream containing dust.

19. A method for operating a power tool and for cleaning a filter, the method comprising: a) operating the power tool as recited in claim 17, wherein the dust that arises during operation of the power tool is removed by means of the air stream, b) filtering of the dust from the air stream with a filter, c) initiating cleaning of the filter by actuating a rotary handle on the dust collecting device, wherein the shaft within the dust collecting device is set in rotation by actuating the rotary handle, d) converting the rotary movement of the shaft into an axial movement of the lamellae of the filter, the lamellae of the filter leaving the original position due to the axial movement, e) returning the lamellae of the filter to the original position when the lamellae arrive in a region of the release of the shaft, f) cleaning the filter by returning the lamellae to the original position.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the dust arising during operation of the power tool is collected in the collecting container of the dust collecting device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the figures. The figure shows an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The figure, 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 form useful further combinations.

[0031] In the figures, identical and similar components are denoted by the same reference signs. In the drawing:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the proposed dust collecting device (exploded drawing),

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the proposed dust collecting device in the closed state,

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the shaft having turns and release means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 shows the view of a preferred embodiment of the proposed dust collecting device (1). In particular, FIG. 1 shows an exploded drawing of the dust collecting device (1). From top left to bottom right, FIG. 1 shows a first half of the housing (9) of the dust collecting device (1) or the collecting container (2), the filter (3) and its lamellae (4), as well as the shaft (5) with the release means (7)(see, e.g., FIG. 3), a second half of the housing (9) of the dust collecting device (1) or the collecting container (2), and the rotary handle (8).

[0036] It is preferred in the context of the invention that the two component halves of the housing (9) enclose a volume of space, wherein dust can be captured and collected in this closed volume of space. In this respect, the two component halves of the housing (9) preferably form the collecting container (2) of the dust collecting device (1). The lower region of the collecting container (2) can be formed by a base or a shell. A front side of the dust collecting device (1), in which a filter (3) can be arranged, can extend starting from this underside of the collecting container (2). In the context of the invention, it is preferred that the front side of the dust collecting device (1) forms the inlet region (10) of the dust collecting device (1) into which the dust-laden air stream opens. In particular, the filter (3) can be arranged in a filter receptacle. The filter (3) is preferably a lamella filter, that is to say preferably a filter (3) which has lamellae (4). In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the filter (3) has, for example, six lamellae (4), with five spaces between the lamellae (4). In the context of the invention, it is preferred that the turns (11) of a shaft (5) (see, e.g., FIG. 3) can engage in the free spaces between the lamellae (4) of the filter (3).

[0037] The two component halves of the housing (9) can have openings for receiving this shaft (5). In particular, the shaft (5) can be rotatably mounted within the dust collecting device (1), with the shaft (5) being able to be set in rotation in particular by means of a rotary handle (8). The rotary handle (8) can, for example, be accessible from the outside and manually actuated by a user of the power tool (shown solely schematically as 100 with dust extraction system 110). For this purpose, the user can in particular turn the rotary handle (8). The rotary handle (8) is preferably rotatably mounted within the housing (9) of the dust collecting device (1). For this purpose, the housing (9) or one of its component halves can have a recess for receiving the rotary handle (8). The rotary handle (8) is advantageously easily accessible from outside the dust collecting device (1).

[0038] By actuating the rotary handle (8), the shaft (5) is set in a rotary movement. If the turns (11) of the shaft (5) are in form-fitting engagement with the lamellae (4) of the filter (3) or with the free spaces between the lamellae (4) of the filter (3), the turns (11) of the shaft (5) drive along the lamellae (4) when the shaft (5) rotates. Before the lamellae (4) are driven along by the turns (11), the filter lamellae (4) are preferably in a starting or original position. The driving of the filter lamellae (4) by the turns (11) generates an axial movement (6) of the lamellae (4) of the filter (3), which is shown in FIG. 1 as a double arrow. The double arrow indicates that the lamellae (4) of the filter (3) can move, for example, in the direction of the first component half of the housing (9) of the dust collecting device (1) when they are driven along by the turns (11) of the shaft (5). The axial movement (6) of the filter lamellae (4) preferably takes place substantially parallel to a central axis, which runs through the shaft (5) as an imaginary axis. In the context of the invention, it is preferred that the driving of the filter lamellae (4) ends when the lamellae (4) of the filter (3) arrive in the region of the release means (7) of the shaft (5). The release means (7) can be, for example, planar surfaces at the highest point of a turn (11) of the shaft (5). Preferably, each turn (11) of the shaft (5) has such a planar surface, with, in the context of the invention, these planar surfaces preferably being referred to as flats. When the flats (7) of the shaft (5) are situated above the lamellae (4) of the filter (3), the filter lamellae (4) are released. In the context of the invention, this preferably means that the lamellae (4) of the filter (3) can spring back into their starting position. This return movement of the filter lamellae (4) can take place, for example, in the direction of the second component half of the housing (9) of the dust collecting device (1), with this snapback of the lamellae (4) of the filter (3) being able to cause that vibration that advantageously leads to dust and filter cake being released from the lamellae (4) and the filter (3) being cleaned. In other words, when the filter lamellae (4) spring back into their starting position, the filter lamellae (4) may in particular vibrate, releasing dust and filter cake from the filter (3). The released dust or filter cake can fall into the collecting container (2) of the dust collecting device (1) and be disposed of when the collecting container (2) is next emptied.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the view of a preferred embodiment of the proposed dust collecting device (1) in a closed state. In particular, the two component halves of the housing (9) of the dust collecting device (1) are connected to one another such that they form the closed collecting container (2) which is designed to receive dust and the like. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in FIG. 2, there can also be seen the rotary handle (8) which is present in the second component half of the housing (9) of the dust collecting device (1).

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the shaft (5) with turns (11) and release means (7). The shaft (5) depicted in FIG. 3 has, in particular, five turns (11) which can come into engagement or interact with the spaces between the filter lamellae (4) in order to convert a rotary movement of the shaft (5) into an axial movement (6) of the lamellae (4). Clearly visible in FIG. 3 are also the release means (7) which, in the exemplary embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in FIG. 3, particularly take the form of flats. In particular, in FIG. 3, the first, third and fifth turn (11) of the shaft (5) are provided with an arrow and a reference sign 11. In the context of the invention, these turns (11) can preferably also be referred to as thread turns.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0041] 1 Dust collecting device

[0042] 2 Collecting container

[0043] 3 Filter

[0044] 4 Lamellae

[0045] 5 Shaft

[0046] 6 Axial movement

[0047] 7 Release means

[0048] 8 Rotary handle

[0049] 9 Housing

[0050] 10 Inlet region

[0051] 11 Turns

[0052] 100 Power tool

[0053] 110 Dust Extractor