# US 2019/0170093 A1 · Air Filter Cleaning Wand > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170093 A1 - Document ID: US20190170093A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/272,371 - Filed: 2019-02-11 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-31 - Assignees: K&N Engineering, Inc. - Applicants: K&N Engineering, Inc. - Inventors: Gilbert Heck; Amir Rosenbaum - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170093A1 ## CPC - F02M 35/086: {Dust removal by flushing, blasting, pulsating or aspirating flow, washing or the like; Mechanical dust removal, e.g. by using scrapers} - B01D 46/72: with backwash arms, shoes or nozzles - B01D 46/79: by liquid process - B05B 1/205: {characterised by the longitudinal shape of the elongated body} - B05D 3/10: by other chemical means - B08B 3/02: Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays - F02M 35/024: using filters, e.g. moistened (F02M35/026 takes precedence; cleaning of the filtering material F02M35/08) - B01D 2279/60: for the intake of internal combustion engines or turbines - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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 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, and wherein the elongate member includes a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls joined by intervening, smooth round edges; and a distal end portion of the conduit comprising a plurality of 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the walls are joined such that the conduit has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit has a cross-sectional shape comprising rectangular, triangular, circular, ellipsoidal, or polygonal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal flange comprises a cylindrical portion and a mount plate joined by a smooth transition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the proximal flange further comprises a plurality of grip structures disposed around the periphery of the cylindrical portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal flange is configured to be coupled with a garden hose. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the proximal flange is a threaded female hose coupling. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the proximal flange is a threaded male hose coupling. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the proximal flange is configured to receive a push-on hose and fastened by way of a hose clamp. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vents is longitudinally arranged and uniformly spaced along the distal end portion of the conduit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of vents comprises a circular opening in the front wall of the conduit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of vents comprises an opening having a shape comprising rectangular, triangular, ellipsoidal, or polygonal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, 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. ### Claim 18 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 first connector of a water hose so as to tightly engage threads of the proximal flange with threads of the first connector so as to establish a tight coupling of the air filter cleaning wand and the water hose, wherein the proximal flange comprises a elongate member that includes a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls joined by intervening, smooth round edges; 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 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, 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.