Air filter cleaning wand

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9605627-B2
Application number	US-201414231343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2014
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for an air filter cleaning wand for flushing contaminants from an intake air filter of an automobile engine. The air filter cleaning wand comprises a proximal flange, a conduit, and a distal end portion. The proximal flange is configured to receive a nozzle of a water hose. An interior of the conduit is in fluid communication with the proximal flange. The distal end portion comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned vents in fluid communication with the interior of the conduit. Upon passing water through the water hose and into the conduit, pressurized water streams exit the vents along the distal end portion so as to flush contaminants from the air filter. The air filter cleaning wand advantageously is comprised of a material which is sufficiently durable and temperature resistant to retain its configuration during operation when coupled to pressurized water sources.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for an air filter cleaning wand for flushing contaminants from an intake air filter of an automobile engine, the apparatus comprising:
a proximal flange configured to receive a nozzle of a water hose;
a mounting plate on the proximal flange and a plurality of transitions joined to the mounting plate;
a conduit comprising an elongate member extending from the proximal flange to a distal end cap, where an interior of the conduit is in fluid communication with an interior opening of the proximal flange, the conduit comprising a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, and
a distal end portion of the conduit comprising a plurality of longitudinally aligned vents in fluid communication with the interior of the conduit;
where upon passing water through the water hose and into the conduit, the water exits the plurality of vents in the form of pressurized water streams suitably disposed along the distal end portion to flush contaminants from a filter material of an air filter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air filter cleaning wand is comprised of a material which is sufficiently durable and temperature resistant to retain its configuration during operation when coupled with a pressurized water source, such as a garden hose.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, and a distal cap, all of which walls being joined by intervening rounded edges so as to eliminate sharp edges which may otherwise damage the air filter during cleaning.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conduit has a cross-sectional shape comprising rectangular, triangular, circular, ellipsoidal, or polygonal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proximal flange comprises a cylindrical portion and a mount plate joined by a smooth transition.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the interior opening of the proximal flange is distally bounded by a mount plate and peripherally bounded by the cylindrical portion, where the interior opening is formed such that an interior surface of the cylindrical portion includes a plurality of threads, and the mount plate includes a passage from the interior opening to an interior of the conduit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the proximal flange further comprises a plurality of grip structures disposed around the periphery of the cylindrical portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein specific dimensions incorporated into the proximal flange depend upon a particular male hose fitting to which the proximal flange is intended to be coupled.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proximal flange is configured to be coupled with a garden hose.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the proximal flange is a threaded female hose coupling.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the proximal flange is a threaded male hose coupling.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the proximal flange is configured to receive a push-on hose and fastened by way of a hose clamp.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vents is longitudinally arranged and uniformly spaced along the distal end portion of the conduit.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of vents comprises a circular opening in the front wall of the conduit.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of vents comprises an opening having a shape comprising rectangular, triangular, ellipsoidal, or polygonal.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the plurality of vents have adjustable shapes so as to alter the form of the pressurized water streams issued from the vents.

17. A method for cleaning an air filter which is installed within an engine bay of an automobile, the method comprising:
rotating a proximal flange of an air filter cleaning wand onto a male connector of a water hose so as to tightly engage threads of the proximal flange with threads of the male connector so as to establish a tight coupling of the air filter cleaning wand and the water hose; a distal end portion of a conduit comprising a plurality of longitudinally aligned vents in fluid communication with the interior of the conduit, the conduit comprising a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape;
removing an air intake conduit of the automobile from the air filter, thereby exposing an interior cavity of the air filter;
inserting a distal end portion of the air filter cleaning wand into the interior cavity of the air filter;
passing water into the water hose, and then into a conduit of the air filter cleaning wand, such that the water exits the conduit by way of a plurality of longitudinally aligned vents in the form of pressurized water streams disposed along the distal end portion;
using the pressurized water streams to flush contaminants from a filter material of the air filter;
allowing the water and contaminants to drain from a bottom portion of the air filter and exit the engine bay; and
allowing the air filter to become dry.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein using the pressurized water streams further comprises rotating the conduit by hand to direct the pressurized water streams around the circumference of the filter material so as to flush the entirety of the air filter.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein removing an air intake conduit further comprises spraying an air filter cleaner onto both sides of the filter material and allowing the air filter cleaner to soak into the filter material for a predetermined time period so as to loosen contaminants from the filter material.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein allowing the air filter to become dry further comprises uniformly applying air filter oil to the filter material and allowing the air filter oil to wick into the filter material.

Assignees

• K&N Eng Inc

Inventors

• Heck Gilbert
• Rosenbaum Amir

Classifications

• F02M35/086 Primary

  Dust removal by flushing, blasting, pulsating or aspirating flow, washing or the like; Mechanical dust removal, e.g. by using scrapers · CPC title

• B01D46/0082

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01D46/0071

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01D46/72

  with backwash arms, shoes or nozzles · CPC title

• B01D46/79

  by liquid process · CPC title