Multipocket® Dust Filter

Which is the best sweeper filter available on the market?

Eureka has developed its Multipocket® filters to guarantee optimal performance and durability.

In order to understand why these filters are the best choice, it’s first necessary to take a step back, as its only by studying the key characteristics of the different filters currently available on the market, that it becomes clear how Eureka’s filters stand out from the rest.

An air filter is one of the most distinctive elements of a floor sweeper.  It has a fundamental role in preventing the dispersion of fine dust, and in protecting the sweeper’s vacuum motors, which avoids blockages and failures. It may not always be obvious that the choice of a manufacturer to install one type of filter over another, has a direct impact on the efficiency of the sweeper and its running and maintenance costs.

What are the different types of dust filters available on the sweeper market?

Today the types of filters most used in sweepers are:

• Panel filters
• Cartridge or cylindrical filters
• Pocket filters

Filters can be made of paper or synthetic materials, with different filtering characteristics and varying levels of durability.

In line with our production philosophy, at Eureka we believe that for an industrial floor sweeper to be considered an effective cleaning tool, it must be safe for the operator to use, deliver extended operating time, stand up to heavy use and permit quick, cost efficient and safe maintenance.

For this reason, our company chooses to exclusively use:

• Eureka Multipocket® filters

All our battery and combustion sweepers are fitted with filters that are specifically designed with a large filtering surface area, made with anti-tear materials which are resistant to water, and are free from bottle necks and tight corners that could lead to clogging.

One of the distinctive characteristics of these filters is the anti-clog design, with multiple pockets which are realized without tight corners, and a practical filter shaker mechanism (which is automatic in Eureka’s larger machines). This is an essential detail because a sweeper can only guarantee complete pick up of dust and dirt if the filter is unobstructed and therefore working efficiently.

As Eureka Multipocket® filters are made of polyurethane, they are water resistant, so accidently vacuuming up water isn’t a problem. As the filter is washable, it can be cleaned repeatedly therefore eliminating the need to replace it.

Sweepers with a Multipocket® filter vs. other filter types

Panel filters

Panel filters are without a doubt a convenient design choice. They are made up of folds, like an accordion, and therefore have a small volume. This means that this type of filter doesn’t take up much space, however they are usually made in paper and therefore are very sensitive to contact with water. For this reason, they cannot be washed.

The panels have tight folds with acute angles, which achieves a large filtering area while taking up little space. However, the more acute that these angles are the easier it is that dust becomes trapped which is then difficult to remove.  This means that filtering efficiency decreases rapidly during operation, up to the point that the filter can no longer be used and must be replaced.

Another disadvantage of a panel filter is that they are fixed on a rectangular metal frame, with a gasket that creates a seal between the frame and filter to prevent dust from escaping. During operation however, the vibrations transmitted from the sweeper can cause the gasket to detach from the frame, leaving spaces for dust to pass through. These vibrations also tend to weaken the structure of the frame, compromising the joint between the filter and the frame. Given that it isn’t possible to effectively clean the filter, panel filters are considered to be “disposable” and therefore need to be substituted frequently.

Cylindrical or cartridge filters

It’s a similar argument for cylindrical filters, or cartridge filters, as they have comparable strengths and weaknesses to panel filters. However, these filters are even more difficult to clean due to their structure. In a cartridge filter, the filtering panels are folded like an accordion and arranged vertically in a circular shape around a cylindrical cavity. This formation reduces the ability of the filter to discharge captured dust after operation. The base of the cartridge is formed around a central hole – which the dust should come out from – and consists of a flat ring, which acts as a support for the folded panels which make up the filter surface.  When the filter is cleaned some of the dust exits via the central hole, however due to gravity, a large part of the dust falls directly onto the surface of the support at the base of the filter . The dust therefore tends to accumulate, forming towers of debris along the fold lines of the filter, particularly when humidity is present and consequently the filter’s available surface area is reduced.

Multipocket® filters®

Eureka sweepers are fitted as standard with Multipocket® filters, they are made of polyester material, and have a filtering capacity of 99.5% (class L) or 99.9% (class M).

The surface of the filter is smooth, therefore removing possible points of anchorage for dust, which falls with the slightest vibration. This eliminates the risk of clogging and guarantees constant filtering capacity during use.

The pockets that make up the multi pocket structure, move during normal operation and discharge heavier dust particles, therefore autocleaning the filter as the sweeper works. A shaker (automatic or manual) provides a system to clean the filter after operation, releasing dust from the filter via a mechanical action.

Eureka sweepers with the Multipocket® filter as standard: