Self-cleaning filter arrangement with activation signal for floor care apparatus

Abstract

A floor care apparatus has a filter with an intake and out take. A first pressure sensor is arranged on the intake while a second pressure sensor is arranged on the out take. A controller connects to the sensors to receive signals indicative of relative pressure. Whenever a predetermined pressure differential between the signals is achieved, an undesirable load on the filter is deemed occurred and initiation of a self-cleaning of the filter begins. In this manner, filter cleaning only occurs on an as-needed basis and user intervention is avoided, thereby adding convenience. The controller is also able to ascertain a clogged airway condition. Various features contemplate pressure sensor signals arranged to scale suction as positive pressures, meeting the predetermined pressure differential at other than a maximum pressure differential between the first and second pressure sensors, and scaling the predetermined pressure differential relative to the maximum pressure differential.

1 . A floor care apparatus, comprising:
 a filter with an intake and out take; and   a first pressure sensor arranged on the intake and a second pressure sensor arranged on the out take, wherein a predetermined pressure differential between the first and second pressure sensors indicates an undesirable load on the filter and causes activation of a signal to initiate a self-cleaning of the filter.   
   
   
       2 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a controller responds to the predetermined pressure differential between the first and second sensors and causes the activation of the signal. 
   
   
       3 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the controller distinguishes between the signal to initiate the self-cleaning of the filter and a clogged airway. 
   
   
       4 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a visual display identifying the self-cleaning of the filter. 
   
   
       5 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 3 , further including a visual display identifying the clogged airway. 
   
   
       6 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller distinguishes between the signal to initiate the self-cleaning of the filter and the clogged airway by comparison to a predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       7 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is disposed in a dirt cup. 
   
   
       8 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pressure sensors are both arranged to scale suction of the floor care apparatus as positive pressures. 
   
   
       9 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure differential is a pressure differential other than a maximum pressure differential between the first and second pressure sensors. 
   
   
       10 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure differential other than the maximum pressure differential is in a range from about one-half to about three-quarters percent of the maximum pressure differential. 
   
   
       11 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is not a dust bag. 
   
   
       12 . A floor care apparatus, comprising:
 a filter with an intake and out take;   a first pressure sensor arranged on the intake and a second pressure sensor arranged on the out take, both the sensors providing a signal indicative of pressure; and   a controller in receipt of the signals from the sensors, wherein a predetermined pressure differential between the signals indicates an undesirable load on the filter and causes activation of another signal to initiate a self-cleaning of the filter, the controller able to distinguish between the signals from the sensors to either initiate the self-cleaning of the filter or to indicate a clogged airway condition.   
   
   
       13 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second pressure sensors are both arranged to scale suction of the floor care apparatus as positive pressures in a range between 0 and about 3 psi. 
   
   
       14 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined pressure differential is a pressure differential other than a maximum pressure differential between the first and second pressure sensors. 
   
   
       15 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure differential other than the maximum pressure differential is in a range from about one-half to about three-quarters percent of the maximum pressure differential. 
   
   
       16 . The floor care apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a visual indicator to indicate a self clean, replace filter, or clogged airway condition. 
   
   
       17 . A method of using a floor care apparatus, comprising:
 providing a filter with an intake and an out take;   arranging a first pressure sensor on the intake and a second pressure sensor on the out take;   determining a pressure differential between the first and second pressure sensors; and   initiating a self-cleaning of the filter based on the determining.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the initiating the self-cleaning occurs when the pressure differential reaches a predetermined value. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including connecting a controller to the first and second pressure sensors for ascertaining whether the pressure differential reaches the predetermined value. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the determining further includes calculating a maximum pressure differential. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , further including ascertaining a clogged airway condition. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , further including providing a visual indicator to indicate a self clean, replace filter, or clogged airway condition.