Filter cleaning system for an ash vacuum

A filter cleaning system for a vacuum that includes a housing that is open across its top end and is arranged to be covered by a removable lid whereon is mounted a vacuum source. The housing includes a hose port for connection to a vacuum hose, and the housing can be mounted on wheels, casters, or the like. A double filter system, that includes separate primary and secondary filters, is arranged within the housing, with the secondary filter mounted across the vacuum source inlet, and with the primary filter, that is a bag connected to the lid undersurface, for containing the secondary filter and a filter support. The filter support is a rigid fame connected at a fight angle to an end to a straight rod that extends through the lid to be manipulated by an operator to move the filter support so as to engage surfaces of both the primary and secondary filters, to vibrate and shake collected particles therefrom. The secondary filter is mounted to the lid undersurface over a cage that is spring mounted to the lid, and extends across the vacuum inlet, with the cage to engage when moved a bottom surface of the secondary filter. Thereby, when the filter support strikes the bottom of the secondary filter, that contact will deflect the cage against its spring mounting, with the cage then rebounding to strike the inner face of the secondary filter bottom, further shaking and vibrating that filter bottom so as to dislodge particles therefrom that then fall into the primary filter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners for removing burned 
materials, including even still hot materials, out of a fireplace or 
stove, and particularly to flame retardant filter systems for such vacuum 
cleaners with filter shaking arrangements for dislodging collected dust 
particles therefrom. 
2. Prior Art 
Removal of ashes and unburned materials from wood burning fireplaces and 
stoves is often a difficult and messy task for users of such devices. 
Particularly, live coals can be present in such removed materials that 
could cause damage to conventional vacuum cleaners, and may even 
constitute a fire hazard. An earlier ash vacuum adapter of the present 
inventors, U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,949, shows a canister arrangement for 
connection to a vacuum source for drawing ashes and coals into a canister, 
and a later U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,087, sets out an arrangement for shaking 
dust off from a bag type primary filter threreof. The '949 patent sets out 
an employment of a filter formed of a fire retardant material and provides 
a rod that extends to above the canister and connects to a bottom plate 
whereto the filter is mounted, for shaking the filter, with the '087 
patent providing an open box frame as a filter support that the rod is 
attached to, the filter support to engage to shake the primary filter. 
Additional to the earlier filter support, the present invention provides a 
cage for spring mounting to an undersurface of the vacuum motor mount to 
support a secondary filter fitted thereover. An operator, moving the rod, 
moves the connected filter support against both the primary and secondary 
filters, with the secondary filter supported over the cage. The cage, is 
thereby flexed on its spring mounts, to rebound to strike the bottom of 
the secondary filter, vibrating and shaking the collected particles 
therefrom. The dislodged particles to fall to the bottom of the primary 
filter. 
The invention is structurally and functionally similar to the above cited 
'087 patent and, is structurally different, but will function like the 
vacuum devices of patents to McAllister, U.S. Pat. No. 2,211,934; to 
Gongwer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,434; to Rasmussen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,608, 
and to Natale, U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,345, that provide for connection of a 
device to a vacuum source for pulling dust, ashes, or like materials, with 
some of these patents involving filter arrangements. Further, though 
unlike the present invention, vacuum devices that include flexible bag 
type primary filters with filter shaking arrangements are shown in patents 
to Ierabek, U.S. Pat. No's. 3,358,316 and to Okun, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,568,413, an in a United Kingdom Patent to Ruau, No. 294,501. These 
patents, however, do not provide a secondary filter arranged to be 
effectively shaken to dislodge collected particles therefrom, without 
taking the device apart. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a principal object of the present invention in a filter cleaning 
system for inclusion with a vacuum cleaner that is useful for safely 
removing ashes and hot and even burning coals from a wood burning 
fireplace or stove, a rod mounted filter support that is maintained within 
a primary filter and is connected to a movable cage for engaging a 
secondary filter, the rod for manual manipulation to engage and shake both 
the primary filter and the secondary fitted and to strike the cage that 
the secondary filter is mounted to, shaking collected particles therefrom. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide, for a vacuum cleaner 
that includes a double filter system, a filter support arranged between 
the filters that is a time that is mounted to a shaker rod that extends 
out from the canister housing, manual movement of the rod to move the 
filter support so as to vibrate and shake collected materials off from 
both the inner secondary and outer primary filters. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide, as a primary filter, 
a bag type filter that is formed from a flame retardant material such that 
hot and even burning coals can be pulled into the cleaner without 
presenting a fire hazard, which filter prohibits passage of materials to 
the inner or secondary filter that is mounted over a spring mounted 
movable cage that is arranged across a vacuum source inlet. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a filter 
assembly, for inclusion with a vacuum cleaner, that both protects the 
vacuum source from receipt of collected materials, that can be hot or 
burning coals, and provides a filter support for movement against the 
primary filter interior that will also strike to cause a movable cage 
whereto the secondary filter is mounted, to cause the cage to rebound 
against that secondary filter to shake and dislodge particles collected on 
the primary and secondary filter. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum 
cleaner that includes a capability for easily and simply removing 
collected particles from primary and secondary filters without a necessity 
of opening the vacuum cleaner. 
The present invention is for inclusion with a vacuum cleaner that is 
preferably for use for vacuuming up ashes and even hot coal, that includes 
a pail or barrel housing, that may be mounted on casters, wheels, or the 
like, and has a lid arranged for releasably fitting over an open top end. 
The lid mounts a vacuum source, that is preferably an electric motor that 
turns a fan to pull an air flow through an open hose connected into the 
canister, pulling materials into the canister. A filter system is arranged 
within the housing, mounted across the vacuum inlet, that consists of an 
interior or secondary filter maintained over a movable spring mounted cage 
of the invention that is arranged across the vacuum pump inlet, with an 
outer or primary bag type filter, that contains a filter support, arranged 
between the outer or primary bag filter and the secondary filter. 
The filter support is preferably a frame that is formed for maintaining 
spacing between the primary bag filter and secondary filter and connects 
to an end of a rod that extends through the housing passing alongside of 
the vacuum source, and out of the lid top. The rod is for gripping by an 
operator to move the rod so as to shake the filter support, stalking the 
interior surface of the bag type primary filter, and the outer surface of 
the secondary filter, with the force of that striking translated into the 
movable cage that, in turn, flexes against its spring mounting to rebound 
against the inside of the secondary filter. The rebounding cane to shake 
and vibrate the secondary filter so as to dislodge particles therefrom 
that fall into the primary filter. A rod cover is provided for positioning 
over the rod end for maintaining the vacuum within the housing during 
operation, which rod cover is easily removable by an operator who can then 
grip the rod end to shake the filter support. 
The ash vacuum of the present invention is intended to be utilized to 
vacuum up ashes and even hot and smoldering coals, and to this end 
includes a hose manufactured from fire resistant material wherethrough the 
collected materials are drawn. The primary filter is preferably formed 
from fire proof or retardant material, as it may be exposed to burning 
coals. In practice, a fiberglass material has been used to manufacture the 
primary filter. A cylindrical section of a polyester material commonly 
known as a coated polyester felt has satisfactorily been used as the 
secondary filter that is open across its top end and is arranged to slide 
over the cage and receive a lock ring, or like fastener fitted therearound 
to connect it to a cylindrical mounting of the lid. The selected material 
that the secondary filter is formed from is selected to provide for 
restricting the passage of fine particulates into the vacuum source. 
Ring clamps are preferably utilized for releasably mounting the primary 
filter, that contains the filter support, to a lid outer shelf, and 
containing the secondary filter whose neck is maintained to a lid 
cylindrical mounting, the secondary filter maintained across the vacuum 
source inlet that is preferably a conventional vacuum motor that drives a 
fan as is suitable for use as a vacuum cleaner. As set out above, the 
vacuum motor and fan are preferably mounted to the top of the lid that is 
arranged for releasable mounting, as with lid clamps, across an open end 
of a pail or drum that is utilized as the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an ash vacuum 10 that includes a housing 
11, that is shown as a top portion of a pail that has a movable wire 
handle 12. A hose, not shown, extends from a fitting formed into the 
canister side, the hose to include a nozzle, not shown, that is fixed to 
its end for use in vacuuming up materials, such as residue of a fire, or 
the like. 
The housing 11 has a closed bottom with an open top end that is turned 
inwardly at 11a to receive curved seat 14 that is formed around the edge 
of a lid 13. The lid is thereby arranged for fitting over the canister 
housing open top, and including a ring gasket 15 for fitting in the seat 
14 to provide a sealing between the lid curved seat 14 and housing 
inturned edge 11a. Clamps, not shown, are preferably secured at intervals 
around the housing 11, for releasably connecting the lid 13, in covering 
arrangement, over the housing open top end. To provide for lid coupling, 
the clamps, not shown, preferably each include a body that is pivotally 
coupled to the side of housing 11, adjacent to top edge 11a, with the 
other body end pivotally mounting a wire hook end. For damping the lid 13 
onto the housing top edge 11a, the wire hook end is pivoted so as to 
travel over the lid curved seat 14, and the body is then pulled between 
parallel sides of the wire hook and into engagement with the housing side. 
So arranged, the lid 13 is releasably clamped to the housing edge 11a with 
the ring gasket 15 providing a sealing engagement therebetween. This 
arrangement, as set out above, is shown in our earlier U.S. Pat. No. 
5,259,087, that include descriptions of the housing, lid, lid coupling 
clamps, and hose arrangement, a vacuum source, that is preferably a motor, 
and its mounting to the lid, which descriptions are hereby adopted by this 
reference. 
The lid 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, includes a motor cover 16, 
containing a vacuum source maintained across the center of the top surface 
of lid 14. The vacuum source, not shown, is preferably an electric motor 
arranged to turn a fan, not shown, to draw an air flow therethrough. The 
vacuum source is preferable a commercial unit, and a motor and fan 
arrangement manufactured by G.S. Electric, has been found in practice to 
be suitable for such use. The motor cover 16 is releasably maintained as 
by turning screws 16a through holes 16b that have been formed through a 
flange of the motor cover, that connect into the lid 13. An electric power 
cord, not shown, that has a plug end for coupling into a house current 
source, is preferably included to provide power to the electric motor, and 
a switch, not shown, is connected electrically to the power source for 
routing, when switched on, electrical power to the electric motor. 
An air flow is pulled through the housing 11, as described, by the turning 
of the fan, pulls the air flow into the electric motor through a center 
opening 18 that is formed through a center of secondary filter cylindrical 
mounting sleeve 17, hereinafter referred to as sleeve 17. The sleeve 17 is 
to receive a neck of a cylindrically shaped secondary filter 19 having its 
neck pulled thereover that is closed across its bottom end, shown as a 
flat section of filter material 19a. The secondary filter 19 neck receives 
a ting clamp 42 installed thereover. The ring clamp, shown in FIG. 1, 
includes a turning screw 42a, that, when turned, shortens the clamp 
diameter to cinch it tightly against the secondary filter surface, locking 
it onto the sleeve 17, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The sleeve 17 includes a 
flat plate 20 formed across its interior, wherethrough center opening 18 
is formed. The plate 20 edge intersects a straight inner cylindrical wall 
21 of sleeve 17. A cage 22, that is shown as a flat round section is 
arranged for fitting into the sleeve 17, traveling along the inner 
cylindrical wall 21 towards the flat plate 20. Coil springs 23, as shown 
best in FIG. 1, are provided to separate a flat top section 24 of cage 22 
from the surface of the flat plate 20. Screws 28 are provided for fitting 
through holes 24a formed through the flat top section 24 for turning into 
holes 26 that are formed in the flat plate 20. The cage 22 is thereby 
spring mounted to the undersurface of flat plate 20 and tends to flex 
towards that flat plate 20 when a force is directed thereagainst, as set 
out below, and to rebound therefrom after the force is removed, as shown 
in FIGS. 2 and 3. The cage 22 outer or bottom face is formed with a 
plurality of circular ridges 27, having successively spaced greater 
radiuses from an axial center of an open center section, that are 
maintained to straight arms 28 that extend from the axial center to an 
outer ridge 27a and are spaced at ninety (90) degree intervals from one 
another. The outer ridge 27a, as shown, includes a plurality of radial 
walls 29 that are secured to extend from around an outer surface thereof. 
The radial walls 29 are spaced at equal distances to one another and are 
each a radius from the cage center. 
The cage 22 is open between the circular ridges 27 and straight arms 28, 
adjacent to a cage open area 30, to pass an air flow therethrough and into 
the center opening 18. So arranged, a force applied through the secondary 
filter bottom 19a is transmitted into the cage 22. Such force on cage 22 
acts through the cage flat top section 24 to compress the springs 26, as 
shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, when the defecting force is removed, the cage 
22 is urged by the springs 26 outwardly to the attitude shown in FIG. 2. 
In practice, the cage will rebound against the inner surface of the 
secondary filter bottom 19a, and the outer edges of the cage circular 
ridges 27 and straight arms 28 are urged into the material of the 
secondary filter bottom 19a, and the outer edges of the radial walls 29 
contact the junction of the secondary filter sleeve 19 with the bottom 
19a. In that contact, the filter material tends to bow into the areas 
between the circular ridges 27, straight arms 28 and radial walls 29. 
Thereafter, when the cage 22 has rebounded from the attitude shown in FIG. 
3, where the filter bottom 19a is spaced apart from cage ridges and arms 
27 and 28, respectively, the secondary filter bottom 19a drapes into 
cavities in a filter support 31, as shown in FIG. 2. The filter bottom 
material 19a will thereby have been thrust outwardly setting up a wave 
therein that moves the fabric away from and then back towards the cage. 
Accordingly, the cage is vibrated on its spring mountings, moving towards 
and away from the flat plate 20 by the action of filter support 31 
striking and disengaging from the filter bottom 19a, effectively shaking 
that filter bottom 19a to dislodge any collected particles therefrom, that 
fall into a primary filter 40. 
The filter support 31 may be formed of any material but is preferably 
formed from a heat resistant plastic that is open therethrough with top 
edges of a center lateral member 33 and longitudinal members 34 to contact 
when the filter support is moved thereagainst the outer surface of the 
secondary filter bottom 19a, as shown best in FIG. 3. The filter support 
31 is arranged to be moved to bump or strike the surface of the bottom 19a 
of the secondary filter 19, thereby applying a force through that 
secondary filter 19 bottom surface 19a into the cage 22, so as to cause, 
as shown in FIG. 2, the cage to be urged against the biasing of the coil 
springs 26. The filter support 31 is formed as a frame, as shown best in 
FIG. 1, to include a continuous outer wall 32 that is formed as a 
rectangle with rounded surfaces, and contains the a center lateral member 
33 with longitudinal members 34 that cross the center lateral member 33 at 
equidistant intervals. An outwardly projecting lower lip 35 is formed 
around a bottom edge of the continuous outer wail 32 that is for engaging 
and scrapping along an inner surface of the primary filter 40, as set out 
below. 
To allow for an operator to move the filter support 31, a straight rod 36 
is connected to the primary filter 40 by turning a rod threaded end 36a 
into a threaded hole 31a, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, that is formed into the 
filter support 31. The rod 36 is maintained to extend at a right angle 
from a filter support narrow side. The straight rod 36 is for passing 
through a hole 37a that is open through a pier 37 that is formed in the 
lid 13, the hole 37a exiting the lid top surface. The straight rod 36 is 
to extend beyond the lid for gripping by an operator's hand, as shown in 
FIG. 3 who, by moving the straight rod 36, up and down and pivoting it, 
moves the filter support 31 also. For closing over the hole 37a, the hole 
37a is threaded, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to receive a threaded end 38a 
of a pipe 38 that is turned therein, with the opposite pipe end 38b also 
threaded to receive a cap 39 turned thereover, as shown in FIG. 2. The cap 
39 is positioned over the end of pipe 38 to maintain the vacuum integrity 
within the housing. 
The filter support 31 is maintained in primary filter 40 that is maintained 
over a footing 13b of lid 13, by fitting a clamp 41 therearound, shown in 
FIG. 1, the clamp is tightened therearound by a mining of a clamp screw 
41a that reduces the clamp diameter, cinching it tightly around the 
primary filter surface, and binding it against the footing 13b surface, as 
shown in the FIGS. 2 and 3. So arranged, the secondary filter 19 and 
primary filter 40 provide a double filter system that are arranged within 
the canister housing 11 to separate that canister interior from the vacuum 
source. 
In practice, to dislodge collected particles from the primary and secondary 
filters 40 and 19, respectively, after removal of the sleeve 38, an 
operator grips the rod 36 to both move it and the connected filter support 
31 up and down and to pivot it, as shown in FIG. 3. The upper surface of 
the filter support 31 thereby engages and scrapes across the bottom 
surface 19a of the secondary filter 19, and depresses the cage 22 against 
its coil spring 23 mounting. The cage 22 is thereby moved upwardly along 
the sleeve wall 21, compressing coil springs 23, and will then rebound 
against the inner surface of the secondary filter 19. Accordingly, the 
secondary filter bottom surface 19a is scraped by the filter support as it 
moves the cage 22 upwardly, with, on release, the cage 22 will rebound to 
strike the secondary filter interior with edges of the cage circular 
ridges 27, straight arms 28 and radial walls 29. Collected particles 
present on the secondary filter 19 surface are thereby shaken out of the 
filter to fall into the primary filter 40. In which filter support 31 
movement, the side 32 and outstanding edge 35, formed along with the 
filter support bottom, will repeatedly strike the primary filter 40 inner 
surface, flexing and shaking that surface to dislodge particles collected 
on its outer surface that fall to the bottom of the housing 11 bottom. 
The primary filter 40 is preferably formed from a flame proof material that 
will not burn should even very hot or burning coals be pulled into the 
housing 11, or should even such coals continue to burn in the housing. In 
practice, a fiberglass material has been used successfully for manufacture 
of the primary filter 40. 
Before mounting the primary filter 40, as described above, the secondary 
filter 19, is mounted as described, to the sleeve 17, utilizing the 
clamping ting 42. The secondary filter 19 will not be in direct contact 
with hot coals, or the like, and accordingly need not be manufactured from 
a flame proof material. In practice, a dose mesh polyester material such 
as a material known as a coated polyester felt, manufactured by Southern 
Felt, Inc., has been used successfully for this application. Materials 
shaken off the secondary filter 19 fall to the bottom of the primary 
filter 40 and can be later removed by demounting the primary filter 40 off 
from the footing 13b. 
It should be understood that the canister housing 11 can include wheels, 
casters, or the like, mounted to its bottom end for providing mobility. 
Further, while a preferred form of our invention in a filter cleaning 
system for vacuum cleaner has been shown and described herein, it should 
be understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example only 
and that variations are possible without departing from the invention 
subject matter, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, coming within the 
scope of the following claims, which claims we regard as our invention.