Patent ID: 7217938

Claim:
A filter device for filtering fluids, comprising: a device housing having an inlet and an outlet and defining a space through which fluid flows between said inlet and said outlet; a UVC lamp having a lamp housing arranged in the space defined by said device housing in the flow of fluid to be filtered, the lamp housing having a principal axis and a fluid-side surface facing the fluid to be filtered; a pair of cleaning elements each arranged in contact with said fluid-side surface of said lamp housing and rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein said axis of rotation coincides with said principal axis of said UVC lamp such that each of said cleaning elements contacts said fluid-side surface during rotation about said axis of rotation; and a pair of retaining elements spaced apart along said principal axis, each of said cleaning elements extending between said retaining elements along the fluid-side surface and being connected to said retaining elements such that said retaining elements support said cleaning elements, each of said cleaning elements being positioned diametrically opposite to the other of said cleaning elements relative to said principal axis and describing half a helical turn between said retaining elements.