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.

1 . A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing;   a suction generator carried on said housing;   a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing, said dirt collection vessel including a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a dirt collection chamber, a filter chamber and an outlet;   a filter received in said filter chamber; and   a flow control valve assembly, said flow control valve assembly being selectively displaceable between (a) a home position wherein dirt and debris are collected in said dirt collection vessel and (b) a filter cleaning position wherein air is drawn through at least a portion of said filter to clean said filter;   said flow control valve assembly being characterized by a first flow control valve provided between said dirt collection chamber and said filter chamber and a second flow control valve provided between said second air inlet and said filter chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first flow control valve is normally open and said second flow control valve is normally closed. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said housing includes a nozzle assembly having a suction inlet. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said home position establishes air flow from said suction inlet, through said first inlet into said dirt collection chamber, past said first flow control valve, through said filter and said outlet to said suction generator and said filter cleaning position establishes air flow from said second inlet through said second flow control valve, said filter and said outlet to said suction generator. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said housing further includes a canister assembly. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said canister assembly is pivotably connected to said nozzle assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a rotary agitator is carried on said nozzle assembly adjacent said suction inlet. 
   
   
       8 . A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing;   a suction generator carried on said housing;   a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing, said dirt collection vessel including a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a dirt collection chamber, a filter chamber and an outlet; and   a flow control valve assembly, said flow control valve assembly being selectively displaceable between (a) a home position wherein dirt and debris are collected in said dirt collection vessel and (b) a filter cleaning position wherein air is drawn through at least one section of said filter to clean said at least one section of said filter;   said flow control valve assembly being characterized by a first flow control valve provided between said dirt collection chamber and said filter chamber and a second flow control valve provided between said second air inlet and said filter chamber.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said flow control valve assembly includes a drive motor for displacing said flow control valve assembly between said home position and said filter cleaning position. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said flow control valve assembly includes a rotary air guide having an air passage and a first cam, said rotary air guide being rotated so that said air passage directs air through said at least one section of said filter during filter cleaning. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said rotary air guide further includes a cavity holding said second flow control valve. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first flow control valve includes a tubular diaphragm having a first air guide at a first end and a second air guide at a second end. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said flow control valve assembly further includes a telescoping drive shaft having a first end and a second end. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said first end of said telescoping drive shaft carries a cam follower in engagement with said first cam and said second end of said telescoping drive shaft is connected to said second air guide. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said flow control valve assembly further includes a static air guide between said rotary air guide and said filter. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said rotary air guide is received in said static air guide. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said static air guide is divided into air guide sections, one air guide section being aligned with each section of said filter. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said drive motor is connected to said rotary air guide. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further including a prefilter between said dirt collection chamber and said first flow control valve. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said second flow control valve includes a valve body and a biasing spring.