Filter and cleaning method

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter (10) for a suction device, in particular a vacuum cleaner, a wet vacuum cleaner or the like, to a suction device, and to a cleaning method, the filter comprising a filter housing (11) within which a suction air duct (12) for conveying a suction air flow is formed, the filter housing having a centrifugal separator (13) for separating particles from the suction air flow and a container (14) for collecting the separated particles. The filter has a metering device (15) disposed upstream of the centrifugal separator in a flow direction of the suction air flow, the metering device being configured to spray liquid into the suction air flow.

1 . A filter ( 10 ) for a suction device, the filter comprising a filter housing ( 11 ) within which a suction air duct ( 12 ) for conveying a suction air flow is formed, the filter housing having a centrifugal separator ( 13 ) for separating particles from the suction air flow and a container ( 14 ) for collecting the separated particles, 
 wherein the filter has a metering device ( 15 ) disposed upstream of the centrifugal separator in a flow direction of the suction air flow, the metering device being configured to spray liquid into the suction air flow.   
     
     
         2 . The filter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the metering device ( 15 ) and the centrifugal separator ( 13 ) form the suction air duct ( 12 ), and the container ( 14 ) is adjacent to the centrifugal separator.   
     
     
         3 . The filter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the centrifugal separator ( 13 ) is formed by a cyclone ( 16 ) having an immersion tube ( 17 ).   
     
     
         4 . The filter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the metering device ( 15 ) is configured to draw liquid from the container ( 14 ) or from a liquid reservoir of the suction device.   
     
     
         5 . The filter according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the metering device ( 15 ) is formed by at least on jet pump ( 23 ) which is connected to the container ( 14 ) or the liquid reservoir via at least one liquid line ( 24 ).   
     
     
         6 . The filter according to  claim 5 , 
 wherein a shut-off valve ( 34 ) is disposed on the liquid line ( 24 ).   
     
     
         7 . The filter according to  claim 5 , 
 wherein a liquid filter is disposed at a bottom ( 31 ) of the container ( 14 ), the liquid filter being formed by a dam ( 37 ) formed on the bottom and closed off from an interior of the container by a screen ( 38 ), the liquid line ( 24 ) being connected to the liquid filter and ending inside the dam.   
     
     
         8 . The filter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein a bottom wall ( 19 ) having at least one opening ( 20 ) for conveying separated particles from the centrifugal separator ( 13 ) into the container is formed between the centrifugal separator ( 13 ) and the container ( 14 ).   
     
     
         9 . The filter according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the bottom wall ( 19 ) forms an essentially plane bottom ( 25 ) of the centrifugal separator ( 13 ), an annular web ( 26 ) interrupted in an area of the opening ( 20 ) being formed on parts of the bottom.   
     
     
         10 . The filter according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the opening ( 20 ) is formed on a radial outer edge ( 27 ) of the bottom wall ( 19 ) ≤ 90° relative to an inlet opening ( 28 ) of the suction air flow into the centrifugal separator ( 13 ).   
     
     
         11 . The filter according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the bottom wall ( 19 ) forms an edge ( 29 ) at the opening ( 20 ), at least part of the edge being formed by a rounded portion, preferably a rounded protrusion ( 30 ) extending into the container ( 14 ), with respect to a cross section of the wall.   
     
     
         12 . The filter according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the bottom wall ( 19 ) is connected to a hinge ( 35 ) allowing the container to be opened and closed by pivoting the bottom wall relative to the container ( 14 ).   
     
     
         13 . The filter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein a handle ( 32 ) for handling the container is disposed on the container ( 14 ).   
     
     
         14 . The filter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein a separator plate ( 39 ) for separating particulate matter is disposed above a bottom ( 31 ) of the container ( 14 ), the separator plate dividing an interior ( 40 ) of the container into an upper receiving space ( 41 ) and a lower receiving space ( 42 ), an outer contour of the separator plate being in contact with an inner wall ( 43 ) of the container, and a gap ( 44 ) being formed in places between the contour and the inner wall.   
     
     
         15 . The filter according to  claim 14 , 
 wherein the gap ( 44 ) is disposed on a side of the separator plate ( 39 ) facing toward or away from a handle ( 32 ).   
     
     
         16 . The filter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the filter ( 10 ) has a filling level sensor configured to detect a filling level of a liquid bath in the container ( 14 ).   
     
     
         17 . The filter according to  claim 16 , 
 wherein the filling level sensor is formed by a float ( 45 ) in the container ( 14 ) and a reed contact outside of the container.   
     
     
         18 . The filter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein an intermediate filter ( 21 ) or a filter for suspended particles is disposed in the suction air duct ( 12 ), the intermediate filter or the filter for suspended particles being disposed downstream of the centrifugal separator ( 13 ) in the flow direction of the suction air flow.   
     
     
         19 . The filter according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein inner surfaces of the centrifugal separator ( 13 ) or of the container ( 14 ) are self-cleaning nanostructured surfaces ( 46 ).   
     
     
         20 . A suction device, having a housing, a suction air duct ( 12 ) being formed in the housing, the suction air duct connecting a suction air inletfor connecting a suction tube to the housing, and a suction air outlet, the suction device comprising a turbine for establishing a suction air flow in the suction air duct and a filter ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . A cleaning method for cleaning surfaces, implemented using a suction device, comprising a filter ( 10 ), a suction air flow being conveyed through a suction air duct ( 12 ) formed in a filter housing ( 11 ) of the filter within the filter housing, particles being separated from the suction air flow in a centrifugal separator ( 13 ) of the filter housing and collected in a container ( 14 ) of the filter housing, 
 wherein a metering device ( 15 ) of the filter disposed upstream of the centrifugal separator in a flow direction of the suction air flow sprays liquid into the suction air flow.