Combination drain manifold and self-cleaning filter

Claim 2

In a cleaning apparatus having a hydraulic circuit including a treatment zone and means for circulating liquid selectively in opposite directions in the circuit, a self-cleaning filter assembly mounted in the circuit and including a movable filter member cooperating with an interior action surface to form a filtering chamber, the improvement comprising: housing means forming a chamber on a side of the movable filter member opposite the filtering chamber; said housing having an open end forming a port for said chamber and receiving fluid from the treatment zone; means forming another port opening from said chamber and being spaced from the movable filter member; and flow directing means in said chamber directing fluid entering said first mentioned port through said chamber in a manner to flush small particles therefrom while retaining larger particles such as buttons and the like, within said chamber.

Claim 3

In a washing machine cyclically operable through a washing cycle and a drain cycle, means forming a hydraulic circuit including a treatment zone and a plural port pump for circulating liquid from the treatment zone through the circuit in one direction during said washing cycle and in an opposite direction during said drain cycle, and a fluid filtering device comprising: housing means having an interior action surface, a movable filter element mounted within said housing means for movement towards and away from said action surface and dividing said housing into a filterIng chamber including said action surface and manifold chamber, said filter element cooperating with said action surface to form a filter maze when in abutment therewith, means forming a pair of fluid ports opening into said manifold chamber and respectively communicating with said treatment zone and one of said plural ports of said pump, said pair of ports being positioned above said filter element, means forming an inlet port and an outlet port opening into said filter chamber and respectively communicating with said treatment zone and another of said plural ports of said pump; said pump adapted to operate during the washing cycle to create a suction at said filter chamber outlet port to recirculate washing fluid from said treatment zone and through said filter, whereby the pressure differential across said filter element maintains the same in abutment with said action surface to form a filter maze in said filtering chamber, said pump operating during the drain cycle to create a suction in said manifold chamber to drain washing fluid from said treatment zone through said filtering chamber, thereby creating a pressure differential across said filter element to move the same out of engagement with said action surface to enable filtered matter to be flushed from said filtering chamber, and flow directing means in said manifold chamber for directing fluid flowing therethrough during the drain cycle in a manner to flush small particles from said manifold chamber while retaining larger particles, such as buttons, within said chamber.

Claim 4

In a washing machine cyclically operable through a washing cycle and a drain cycle, means forming a hydraulic circuit including a treatment zone and a plural port pump for circulating liquid from the treatment zone through the circuit in one direction during said washing cycle and in an opposite direction during said drain cycle, and a fluid filtering device comprising: housing means having an interior action surface, a movable filter element mounted within said housing means for movement towards and away from said action surface and dividing said housing into a filterIng chamber including said action surface and manifold chamber, said filter element cooperating with said action surface to form a filter maze when in abutment therewith, means forming a pair of fluid ports opening into said manifold chamber and respectively communicating with said treatment zone and one of said plural ports of said pump, said pair of ports being positioned above said filter element, means forming an inlet port and an outlet port opening into said filter chamber and respectively communicating with said treatment zone and another of said plural ports of said pump; said pump adapted to operate during the washing cycle to create a suction at said filter chamber outlet port to recirculate washing fluid from said treatment zone and through said filter, whereby the pressure differential across said filter element maintains the same in abutment with said action surface to form a filter maze in said filtering chamber, said pump operating during the drain cycle to create a suction in said manifold chamber to drain washing fluid from said treatment zone through said filtering chamber, thereby creating a pressure differential across said filter element to move the same out of engagement with said action surface to enable filtered matter to be flushed from said filtering chamber, and flow directing means in said manifold chamber for directing fluid flowing therethrough during the drain cycle in a manner to flush small particles from said manifold chamber while retaining larger particles, such as buttons, within said chamber.

Claim 5

A washing machine as defined in claim 2 including a tub forming said treatment zone and having a bottom wall formed with a drain port, and wherein said housing means comprises: a filter body including a bottom wall having said action surface formed thereon and an upstanding sidewall extending around a periphery of said bottom wall, a manifold housing including an upstanding, generally tubular body superjacent said filter body and having an open end disposed opposite said filtering element and in direct fluid communication with said tub drain port for forming one of said pair of ports opening into said manifold chamber, the other of said pair of ports being formed in a sidewall of said tubular manifold body; and means for attaching said open end of said manifold body to said tub bottom wall.

Claim 6

A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said filter element comprises a flexible diaphragm overlying said action surface and extending between said upstanding sidewall.

Claim 7

A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable filter element has an equilibrium position abutting said action surface.

Claim 8

A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said flow directing means comprises a deflector wall formed within said manifold housing, said deflector wall having a first portion extending inwardly of said manifold sidewall from a point above said sidewall port and a second centrally disposed portion connected to said first portion and extending downwardly towards said movable filter element.

Claim 9

A washing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said manifold housing includes a radially extending, annular flange portion attaching the lower end of said tubular manifold body to the upper end of said upstanding side wall, said flange portion being adapted to flex away from said movable filter element in the event fluid contained within said manifold chamber freezes.

Claim 10

A washing machine as defined in claim 7 further including means affixed to the interior of the flange portion of said manifold chamber for limiting the movement of said movable filter element away from said action surface so as to allow the peripheral area of the upper surface of said element to be flushed by fluid flowing through said manifold chamber.