Dust collector with filter cleaning mechanism

Abstract

A dust collector for use with a power tool comprises a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, a suction fan positioned in the housing and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, a dust container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the fan, a filter at least partially arranged in the dust container, and a filter cleaning mechanism. The filter cleaning mechanism includes an anvil, a striker moveable between a first striker position, in which the striker is spaced from the anvil, and a second striker position, in which the striker is in contact with the anvil. The filter cleaning mechanism further includes an actuator moveable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position, in which the actuator is moved closer to the anvil than in the first position, and a first spring biasing the striker toward the anvil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dust collector for use with a hand-held power tool, the dust collector comprising:
 a housing;   a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing;   a suction fan positioned in the housing and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe;   a dust container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the fan;   a filter at least partially arranged in the dust container; and   a filter cleaning mechanism including
 a carrier pivotably coupled to the dust container about a carrier axis, 
 a cleaning element coupled to the carrier and extending transversely to the carrier axis, the cleaning element being within the dust container and in contact with the filter, and 
 a knob coupled for co-rotation with the carrier and positioned outside the dust container, wherein rotation of the knob pivots the carrier and the cleaning element about the carrier axis, such that the cleaning element is moved across the filter to dislodge dust and other debris from the filter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes an upstream side within the dust container and a downstream side facing the suction fan, wherein the cleaning element contacts the upstream side when the cleaning element is moved across the filter. 
     
     
         3 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the knob and the carrier are integrally formed. 
     
     
         4 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element is supported on the carrier by a clip on a screw boss. 
     
     
         5 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element comprises a brush having a plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         6 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element comprises a comb with a plurality of teeth, wherein the filter includes a plurality of pleats and a plurality of valleys, each valley arranged between a pair of adjacent pleats, and wherein the teeth are arranged within the respective valleys, such that in response to the carrier and the comb pivoting about the carrier axis, the teeth move within the valleys. 
     
     
         7 . The dust collector of  claim 6 , wherein each tooth, within its respective valley, is configured to move across up to 67% of a surface area of each adjacent pleat. 
     
     
         8 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the dust container includes opposite side walls and a bottom wall extending between the side walls, wherein the side walls and the bottom wall partially define a dust collection chamber, and wherein the carrier is pivotably supported by one of the side walls. 
     
     
         9 . The dust collector of  claim 8 , wherein the carrier is pivotably supported by both of the side walls. 
     
     
         10 . The dust collector of  claim 1 , wherein the dust container includes opposite side walls and a bottom wall extending between the side walls, wherein the side walls and the bottom wall partially define a dust collection chamber, and wherein the carrier is pivotably supported by the bottom wall. 
     
     
         11 . The dust collector of  claim 8 , wherein the dust container further includes an end wall adjacent each of the side walls and the bottom wall, and an opening in the end wall through which the filter is received. 
     
     
         12 . A dust collector comprising:
 a housing;   a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing;   a suction fan positioned in the housing and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe;   a dust container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the fan;   a filter at least partially arranged in the dust container; and   a filter cleaning mechanism including
 a ratchet housing arranged against the filter, 
 a ratchet member configured to rotate within the housing, and 
 a pawl member configured to vibrate the ratchet housing, and thus the filter, in response to rotation of the ratchet member against the pawl member, thereby dislodging dust and other debris from the filter. 
   
     
     
         13 . The dust collector of  claim 12 , wherein the ratchet assembly further includes a first spring positioned within the ratchet housing, and wherein the first spring is configured to bias the ratchet member against the pawl member. 
     
     
         14 . The dust collector of  claim 13 , wherein the ratchet assembly further includes a second spring configured to bias the ratchet housing against the filter. 
     
     
         15 . The dust collector of  claim 14 , wherein the second spring is a resilient clip configured to bias the ratchet housing against the filter. 
     
     
         16 . The dust collector of  claim 12 , wherein the filter cleaning mechanism further includes a shaft extending into the ratchet housing, the shaft having a first end coupled to the ratchet member, and a second end having a knob, such that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the shaft and the ratchet member within the ratchet housing. 
     
     
         17 . A dust collector comprising:
 a housing;   a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing;   a suction fan positioned in the housing and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe;   a dust container coupled to the housing and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe;   a filter at least partially arranged in the dust container, the filter including a first end, a second end, a plurality of pleats arranged between the first end and the second end, and a plurality of valleys, each valley arranged between a pair of adjacent pleats; and   a filter cleaning mechanism including
 a sweeper having at least one blade arranged within each valley, 
 a biasing member biasing the sweeper toward the first end of the filter and away from the second end of the filter, and 
 a pull cord coupled to the sweeper, the pull cord configured to pull the sweeper along the filter from the first end to the second end, such that the blade moves within the valley between the first end and the second end to dislodge dust and other debris from the filter.