HEPA filter cartridge for canister vacuums
The present disclosure generally provides systems and methods for easily replaceable, high efficiency particulate air or HEPA-quality filtration for vacuum systems in an effective, efficient, and cost-sensitive manner. As an example, the HEPA filter cartridge could include a minimizer and connecting structures associated with an exhaust of such a HEPA filter cartridge. The surface area of the minimizer or the connecting structures could be increased or decreased to control, restrict, or otherwise maintain a predetermined, preferable, or allowable amount of backpressure subjected to the HEPA filter cartridge or other suitable performance characteristic.
1. A method of configuring a filter cartridge, the method comprising:
measuring a performance characteristic of the filter cartridge; and
adjusting a structural design of a minimizer associated with an exhaust opening of the filter cartridge to optimize the performance characteristic, wherein the structural design comprises the surface area of the minimizer.
2. A filter cartridge comprising:
a top surface having recessed areas and concave areas,
an exhaust opening disposed between the top surface and a bottom surface, the exhaust opening including a minimizer configured to control backpressure on a filter disposed along a bottom surface,
wherein the recessed areas are disposed on opposing sides of the exhaust opening and between the exhaust opening and the concave areas, and
wherein the recessed areas mate with complementary raised portions of a surface of a vacuum cleaner canister, the concave areas mate with complementary convex portions of the surface of the vacuum cleaner canister, and the exhaust opening mates with an exhaust outlet of the vacuum cleaner canister, the exhaust outlet positioned between the complementary raised portions of the surface of the vacuum cleaner canister.
3. The filter cartridge of claim 2 further comprising:
a ring structure disposed in the exhaust opening adjacent to the minimizer.
4. The filter cartridge of claim 2 further comprising:
an air flow-through area disposed in the exhaust opening adjacent to the minimizer, wherein the air flow-through area is configured to allow air flow to the filter.
5. The filter cartridge of claim 2 , wherein a surface area of the minimizer is adjustable to control backpressure on the filter.
6. The filter cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the minimizer comprises a plurality of apertures.
7. The filter cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the minimizer comprises a crossbar configuration.
8. The filter cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the filter comprises at least one of: a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, a true HEPA filter, a HEPA-like filter, and an air filter.
9. A filter cartridge comprising:
a filter disposed within an exhaust opening, the exhaust opening configured to mate with an exhaust outlet disposed adjacent to a raised portion on a surface of a vacuum cleaner, the raised portion mating with one or more recessed areas disposed on opposing sides of the exhaust opening; and
a minimizer disposed within the exhaust opening, wherein the surface area of the minimizer is adjustable to restrict or allow more backpressure on the filter.
10. The filter cartridge of claim 9 further comprising:
one or more concave areas, wherein the one or more recessed areas are disposed between the one or more concave areas and the exhaust opening.
11. The filter cartridge of claim 10 , wherein the one or more concave areas mate with a convex area on the surface of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the raised portion is disposed between the exhaust outlet and the convex area.
12. The filter cartridge of claim 9 further comprising:
a ring structure disposed within the exhaust opening around the circumference of the exhaust opening.
13. The filter cartridge of claim 9 further comprising:
a lip disposed around the circumference of the exhaust opening to mate with the exhaust outlet.
14. The filter cartridge of claim 9 wherein the minimizer comprises a plurality of apertures.
15. The filter cartridge of claim 9 wherein the minimizer comprises a cross-bar structure.
16. The filter cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the filter comprises at least one of: a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, a true HEPA filter, a HEPA-like filter, and an air filter.