DESCRIPTION:

Technical filed of the invention

The invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a cylindrical filter comprising:

- a frame,

a spindle being rotatably connected to the frame about its center line and being provided with external thread,

a nozzle holder present on the spindle, which nozzle holder is provided with an opening having internal thread cooperating with the external thread of the spindle, - locking means that secure the nozzle holder against rotation with respect to the frame,

a filter carrier rotatable about its center line, and

a nozzle connected to the nozzle holder, which nozzle is directed next to the center line of the filter when the filter is present on the filter carrier, so that the water jet from the nozzle will turn the filter around its center line.

More particularly, the invention relates to a cartridge filter cleaning device that is commonly used in a bubble and / or massage bath, in a swimming pool or in a pond. Background of the invention

Such a device is generally known. In the known device, the spindle is driven by an electric motor which must be connected to an electrical outlet via an electricity cable.

Summary of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide a device for cleaning a filter that does not need electricity to operate properly. To this end the device according to the invention is characterized in that the cleaning device further comprises a transmission between the filter carrier and the spindle, which is designed such that upon rotation of the filter carrier around its center line the spindle is rotated about its axis through the transmission. During operation, the water jet from the nozzle will rotate the filter by directing the water jet next to the heart on the filter. The filter carrier rotates together with the filter and drives the spindle and thereby moving the nozzle holder over the spindle and along the filter. Thus, the nozzle moves in the axial direction along the rotary filter so that the entire surface of the filter surface will get in contact with the water jet.

An embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that the cleaning device comprises switching means which direct the water jet on the other side of the center line of the filter on the filter, so that the filter and through the transmission also the spindle will rotate in opposite direction. An advantage of the presence of switching means is that the nozzle holder automatically returns to the starting position during cleaning and the filter is cleaned by the water jet a second time and this second time the water jet hits the filter at a different angle, which improves the cleaning of the filter.

A further embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that a further nozzle is connected to the nozzle holder, which further nozzle is directed to the part of the filter on the other side of the center line of the filter than the part of the filter to which the nozzle is directed, so that when switching from spraying with the nozzle to spraying with the further nozzle the filter and through the transmission also the spindle will rotate in opposite direction. Due to the presence of two nozzles, the nozzle does not have to be twisted but only the water supply between the nozzles is to be controlled.

Yet a further embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that the two nozzles are connected to a cylinder open at both ends, the two nozzles being spaced apart in the axial direction of the cylinder and between the two nozzles the cylinder is provided with a connecting piece for connecting an external water hose, and in that the switching means comprise a piston) which can be displaced in the cylinder and which is provided with a central part and on both sides thereof an end part, the central part having a smaller diameter than the end parts which have a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the cylinder, which piston is movable between two extreme positions, wherein in one of the extreme positions the piston projects with one of the end parts from one of the ends of the cylinder and in the other extreme position the piston projects with the other end part from the other end of the cylinder, the middle part having such a length that always the middle part is at the location of the connecting piece, and when the piston is in an extreme position the central part being also present at the location of the nozzle and not at the location of the further nozzle, and when the piston is in the other extreme position the central part being also present at the location of the further nozzle and not at the location of the nozzle. In this manner, reliable, robust and compact switching means are obtained.

Still a further embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that the filter carrier is formed by two rollers being parallel and spaced apart on a distance smaller than the diameter of the filter, which rollers extend horizontally during operation, and on which rollers the filter is present during operation. As a result, the cleaning device is suitable for filters with a wide range of different diameters. Additionally, the filters can easily be placed loose on the rollers and there is no need to attach the filters to the filter carrier.

Yet a further embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that a nut is provided in the opening of the nozzle holder, which nut is movable in axial direction relative to the nozzle holder and which nut is fixed in tangential direction relative to the nozzle holder, wherein between each end of the opening and the nut a spring acting in axial direction is present. At changing the direction of movement, as a result of the mass inertia of the filter, the spindle can still be driven while the nozzle carrier is present in an end position. This does not cause problems because the nut is displaceable in an axial direction against a spring force. Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be further elucidated below on the basis of drawings. These drawings show embodiments of the cleaning device according to the present invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation in plan view of an embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the cleaning device;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the nozzle of the cleaning device;

Figure 4 shows the nozzle holder in parts; and Figure 5 shows the nozzle holder in longitudinal section.

Detailed description of the drawings In Figures 1 and 2, an embodiment of the cleaning device 1 for cleaning of a cylindrical filter 3 is shown in top and side view, respectively. The cleaning device 1 has a frame 5 and a spindle 7 for moving a nozzle holder 9 present on the spindle along the filter, which spindle being rotatably connected to the frame about its center line 7b and being provided with external thread. The nozzle holder is provided with an internal threaded opening 11 which co-operates with the external thread of the spindle. Locking means 13 in the shape of a fork that slides over a rod 14 prevents the nozzle holder from turning relative to the frame. Two nozzles 19 and 21 are attached to the nozzle holder 9 and are directed to different parts at different sides of the center line 3b of the filter 3, so that the water jet leaving the nozzles will rotate the filter around its center line 3b.

The cleaning device 1 further has a filter carrier formed by two parallel and spaced rollers 15 and 17 which are rotatable about their center lines 15b, 17b. Further, the cleaning device 1 is provided with a transmission 23 between one of the filter carriers 17 and the spindle 7. This transmission is formed by two gears which engage each other. Upon rotation of the filter carrier 17 about its center line 17b, the spindle 7 will rotate about its center line7b, via the transmission 23.

Further, the cleaning device 1 is provided with switching means which direct the water jet on the other side of the center line 3b of the filter 3 on the filter so that the filter and also the spindle 7 rotate in the opposite direction via the transmission 23. Upon switching from spraying with nozzle 19 to spraying with the further nozzle 21, the filter 3 and via the transmission 23 also the spindle 7, will rotate in the opposite direction.

In Figs. 3-5 the nozzle holder 9 of the cleaning device is shown in various views. The two nozzles 19 and 21 are mounted on the outer surface of a cylinder 25 which is open at both ends. The nozzles are spaced apart in the axial direction of the cylinder. Between the two nozzles 19 and 21 the cylinder is provided with a connecting piece 27 for connecting an external water hose.

The switching means are formed by a piston 29 which is movable in the cylinder 25 and which has a central part 29a with end portions 29b and 29c on either side thereof. The center part 29a has a diameter smaller than the end portions 29b and 29c which are of substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the cylinder 25. The piston 29 is movable between two extreme positions, in one of the extreme positions one of the end parts 29b of the piston extends outside one of the ends 25a of the cylinder and in the other extreme position the other end part 29c of the piston extends to outside the other end 25b of the cylinder.

The middle part 29a has a length such that the center part is always at the location of the connecting piece 27 and with the piston 29 in an extreme position the central part 29a is also located at the location of the nozzle 19 and not at the location of the further nozzle 21 and with the piston 29 in the other extreme position, the central part 29a is also located at the location of the further nozzle 21 and not at the location of the nozzle 19.

In the opening 11 of the nozzle holder 9 there is a nut, see Figure 3, which is movable in axial direction relative to the nozzle holder and fixed in tangential direction relative to the nozzle holder. Between each end of the opening 11 and the nut there is provided an axially extending spring 33a, 33b so that the nut can move slightly against a spring force in the axial direction.

Although the present invention is elucidated above on the basis of the given drawings, it should be noted that this invention is not limited whatsoever to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiments shown in the drawings within the context defined by the claims.