Tubular filter cleaner

Abstract

A fast spinning tubular filter cleaner that can accommodate filters of differing diameters and thread sizes by means of an adjustable ridge bar. There are no fixed jets, pumps, motors or hose connecto

Description

Tubular Filter Cleaner. This invention relates to apparatus used to assist with the cleaning of Tubular filters. Hot Tubs and Swimming Pools are fitted with filters. The filter cleans the water of: algae, bacteria, hair, body oils, cosmetics, lotions, dead skin, insects, dissolved solids, fluff etc. The filter is one of the most important components of the hot tub ' swimming pool. It is essential that the filter is maintained properly. Every two weeks the filter should be cleaned and dried, specifically you need to remove the grime from the pleats. Completing this task by hand with a brush and hose is both a grim and time consuming task. The filter is made from tough plastic at the ends and core. The external filter part is made from fabric. The fabric is pleated all around the tough plastic core. The pleats catch the grime to keep your hot tub swimming pool water clean. This invention allows you to rest the filter horizontally on top of two fast spinning rollers. The rollers spin freely on internal ball bearings and are secured in a sturdy base frame. The rollers can be removed for maintenance and replacement. The rollers are made from a smooth polished material allowing the filter to spin freely. The base frame is rectangular to house the fast spinning rollers. Attached to the base frame is a vertical frame with a fixed ridge bar. The vertical frame and fixed ridge bar are used to house the adjustable ridge bar. Attached to the base frame and vertical frame 1s a fender to prevent water spray. The base frame has rubber feet attached to prevent the apparatus from moving whilst the pressure washer is spinning the filter. The filter is secured by the adjustable ridge bar, providing a universal fitting for filters of differing diameters and thread sizes. The ridge bar is secured by a sliding bolt and wing nuts. The ridge bar is adjusted by hand to be 2 plus millimetres above the filter. This 2 plus millimetre gap allows the filter to spin freely. However the 2 plus millimetre gap is close enough to prevent the filter from lifting off the rollers when spinning at speed. The adjustable ridge bar is smooth to allow the filter to spin below it freely without any drag. The filter is spun using water from a pressure washer operated manually by the user. There are no fixed jets, pumps, motors or hose connectors. The apparatus 1s operated manually giving the operator full control over the jet direction, jet angle and the speed of the water flow. In effect the pleats of the filter are used to spin the filter and in turn the pleats are cleaned at the same time. The filter spins fast creating a centrifugal force to remove debris. On the final spin, this fast spinning action will also dry and drain water from the filter, giving a spin drier effect. This finial spin helps reduce the natural drying time of the filter which is essential to kill most bacteria that may be present in the filter. In addition, this reduced drying time helps to prevent mould growing in the filter as the filter is already mostly dry. There is an optional foot-operated brake pedal. This brake pedal allows the user to control the speed of the filter spin. For stubborn bits of fluff and other debris it’s sometimes useful to stop the filter from spinning entirely so that the debris can be jet washed out. Whilst the brake pedal is applied and the filter is stationary, the operator can focus the pressure washer jet into the corners of the pleats where debris often accumulates and is notoriously difficult to remove. The brake pedal can be fitted to either side of the cleaner for the convenience of both left and right handed operators. There are 4 optional steel tent peg holes approximately 3 millimetres in diameter. These tent peg holes allow tent pegs to be inserted to help anchor the apparatus to the ground when the filter is being spun at high speed. Figure 1 corner view showing filter cleaner with a filter loaded ready to be cleaned and foot operated brake pedal. Figure 2 showing filter cleaner with a filter loaded ready to be cleaned. Figure 3 front view. Number fixed ridge bar. Number 2 adjustable ridge bar. Number 3 brake pedal. Number 4 filter in position to be cleaned. Figure 4 - Side view. Number 5 fender to prevent water spray. Figure 5 : View from beneath the filter cleaner. Number 6 two fast spinning rollers secured in the base frame. Figure 6 - Tilted front view. Number 3 brake pedal. Number 7 thread with wing nut to adjust the height of the adjustable ridge bar. Figure 7 Tilted side view showing fast spinning rollers. Number 8 gap in vertical frame to allow adjustable ridge bar to be adjusted to accommodate filters of differing diameters. Figure 8 - Front angled corner view.

Claims

Claims 1. The filter is secured by an adjustable ridge bar, providing a universal fitting for tubular filters of differing diameters and thread sizes.

2. The filter is laid horizontally onto fast spinning rollers.

3. The fast spinning rollers allow the filter to be spun at high speed creating a centrifugal force to remove debris.

4. The apparatus has no fixed jets, pumps, motors or hose connectors.

5. The apparatus 1s powered entirely by the operator of the pressure washer.

6. On the final spin the fast spinning rollers create a spin drier effect, forcing water to be removed from the pleats and the filter core, therefore reducing the natural drying time of the filter as the filter is now mostly dry.

7. There is a foot-operated brake pedal which allows the user to control the speed of the filter spin, even holding the filter stationary to focus on stubborn debris.

8. The brake pedal reduces the speed of the filter spin by lowering the height of the ridge bar.

9. There is a fender to prevent water spray.

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