Self-cleaning filter for washers

Abstract

A self-cleaning filter for a washing apparatus. Water entering a filter assembly travels along a spiral pathway that facilitates the separation of heavy solid debris from the water. A filter element prevents both light and heavy solid debris from entering a conduit leading to spray nozzles, thereby preventing clogging of the nozzles. In a filter cleaning operation, solid debris is removed from the filter assembly.

1 . A filter assembly comprising:
 a conduit wall;   a filter element generally coaxial with the conduit wall, and including a filter wall having a plurality of perforations formed therein, said filter wall defining a filter chamber having an open end in fluid communication with said conduit wall and a closed end;   a housing surrounding said filter wall and said conduit wall, wherein said housing and said filter wall define a first annular region therebetween, and said housing and said conduit wall define a second annular region therebetween; and   an entry port extending through an upper end of said housing wherein fluid entering said filter assembly through said entry port flows in a spiral path within said second annular region before said fluid is conveyed to said first annular region.   
     
     
         2 . A filter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said second annular region is disposed above said first annular region. 
     
     
         3 . A filter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said conduit wall is cylindrical. 
     
     
         4 . A filter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said filter wall is cylindrical. 
     
     
         5 . A filter assembly comprising:
 a first region including a collecting region, an upper annular region and a lower annular region;   a second region disposed within the first region, the second region fluidly isolated from the upper annular region by a conduit wall disposed between the second region and the upper annular region, the second region fluidly communicating with the lower annular region through a filter membrane disposed between the second region and the lower annular region, the second region having a closed end and an open end;   an inlet in fluid communication with the upper annular region for receiving a fluid into the first region, wherein the fluid flows in a spiral path within the upper annular region before the fluid is conveyed to the lower annular region and debris in the fluid collects in the collecting region;   a first outlet in fluid communication with the collecting region; and   a second outlet in fluid communication with the open end of the second region, wherein filtered fluid exits the filter assembly.   
     
     
         6 . A filter assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein rotational flow of the fluid within the first region causes said debris to collect in said collecting region. 
     
     
         7 . A filter assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said filter assembly includes a drain valve disposed in said first outlet, said drain valve moveable between a closed position and an open position that allows the debris collected in the collecting region to exit the filter assembly.