EP2830473B1 - Hard-surface suction implement - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a Hartflächenabsauggerät to with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Such Hartflächenabsauggeräte come for the suction of hard surfaces used, for example, for sucking tiled walls or floors, and also for removing a water film from a glass surface, in particular of a window pane. Hard surface suction devices of this type have a suction device, with the aid of which the hard surface can be sucked off. The suction device comprises a suction nozzle, which usually has at least one flexible wiper lip and can be guided along the hard surface to be sucked off. The suction device also has a separation unit with a separation chamber. The suction nozzle is in flow communication with the suction inlet of the separation chamber, and via an air outlet, the separation chamber is in flow communication with a suction unit of the suction device, so that negative pressure can be applied to the separation chamber by the suction unit. Under the effect of the negative pressure, a suction flow from the suction nozzle through the separation chamber to the suction unit is formed, and a liquid-air mixture can be sucked into the separation chamber. Within the deposition chamber at least one separation element is arranged, with the aid of liquid from the liquid-air mixture can be deposited. Starting from the deposition chamber, the liquid can pass through a liquid outlet into a dirty liquid tank, which is used in addition to the suction device. In addition, such Hartflächenabsauggeräte have a handle so that they can be held by an operator during their operation by hand and guided along the hard surface to be sucked.

From the publications WO 2009/086891 A1 . WO 2009/086892 A1 and WO 2009/086893 A1 Hartflächenabsauggeräte comprising a suction device with a suction nozzle, a separation unit and a suction unit, and further comprising a dirty liquid tank and a handle, known, wherein the separation unit has a separation chamber in which at least one separation element is arranged and which has a suction inlet, a liquid outlet and an air outlet wherein the suction inlet is in flow communication with the suction nozzle, the liquid outlet with the dirty liquid tank and the air outlet with the suction unit. They have proven themselves in practice. With their help windows in particular can be effectively cleaned. For this purpose, the user leads the Hartflächenabsauggerät along the window, while he holds the device on the handle. However, this can lead to fatigue of the operator over time, since the guiding of the device along the window pane requires a certain amount of force.

A hard surface suction device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from the publication WO 2008/065313 A2 known.

Object of the present invention is therefore to develop a Hartflächenabsauggerät of the type mentioned in such a way that it has an easy handling, where it can be guided by an operator with less effort on a hard surface.

This object is achieved by a Hartflächenabsauggerät with the features of claim 1.

As already mentioned, the suction device comprises the suction nozzle, the separation unit and the suction unit of the hard surface suction device. The handle is arranged relative to an upright position of the Hartflächenabsauggerätes below the suction device. It has been found that this can be reduced by the force required to handle the Hartflächenabsauggerätes. The operator may use the hard surface aspirator below the suction device on the handle. With her hand, the operator can thus support the suction directly. As a result, tilting moments occurring during pivoting of the hard surface suction device can be kept low.

The Hartflächenabsauggerät has at least one rechargeable battery. This allows the Hartflächenabsauggerät be operated independently of access to a power outlet. This facilitates handling of the Hartflächenabsauggerätes.

According to the invention, at least one rechargeable battery is positioned in the handle. The handle forms a receiving space into which the at least one rechargeable battery can be inserted. Conveniently, the at least one rechargeable battery is kept exchangeable in the handle.

It can be provided that the at least one rechargeable battery can be charged by means of an external charger.

In addition to a rechargeable battery, the Hartflächenabsauggerät invention has a charging device in a preferred embodiment of the invention for charging the rechargeable battery, the charging electronics can be connected to an external power supply device, for example to a charger.

The handle is arranged at a distance to the dirty liquid tank.

Preferably, in addition to the handle and the dirty liquid tank is arranged relative to an upright position of the Hartflächenabsauggeräts below the suction device. In the course of operation, the contaminant tank increasingly fills with liquid which has been deposited in the deposition chamber from the aspirated from the hard surface liquid-air mixture and passes through the liquid outlet in the dirty liquid tank. As the level of the dirty liquid tank increases, its weight increases, so that the center of gravity of the hard surface suction device increasingly displaces. Due to the positioning of both the dirty liquid tank and the handle below the suction device, the tilting moment occurring on the hard surface as the hard surface suction device moves along the hard surface suction device, and thus the force required by the operator, can be kept low even with increasing center of gravity displacement.

The dirty liquid tank is preferably arranged directly on the liquid outlet of the deposition chamber.

It is advantageous if the suction device has a contact surface from which the handle protrudes. The operator can apply thumb and forefinger and / or part of the back of his hand to the contact surface when gripping the handle. As a result, the force required to handle the Hartflächenabsauggerätes force can be further reduced.

The suction unit has a suction turbine that can be rotated by an electric motor about a turbine axis in order to form a suction flow. The handle is preferably elongated and has a longitudinal axis. It is advantageous if the longitudinal axis of the handle is aligned at an angle to the turbine axis.

Conveniently, the longitudinal axis of the handle cuts the turbine axis in the region of the separation unit or in the region of the suction unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the Hartflächenabsauggerätes invention, the handle is arranged with respect to an upright position of Hartflächenabsauggerätes below the suction unit. The handle thus directly absorbs the weight of the suction unit.

It is advantageous if the suction unit has a turbine inlet, which is arranged at the air outlet of the deposition chamber. The flow path between the separation chamber and the suction unit can be designed to be particularly short. This increases the efficiency of the Hartflächenabsauggerätes and has the consequence that the suction unit can be equipped with a smaller electric motor, so that the weight and energy consumption of Hartflächenabsauggerätes can be reduced. The lower weight facilitates the handling of the Hartflächenabsauggerätes.

Conveniently, a suction pipe is arranged at the turbine inlet, which dips into the deposition chamber. In the flow direction of the inflow into the deposition chamber liquid-air mixture, the free end of the suction pipe may be arranged at a distance from a separation element which is positioned in the deposition chamber. The risk that liquid is sucked into the suction unit, this can be kept low.

The at least one separating element can be designed, for example, in the form of a baffle wall. Preferably, the baffle is convexly curved in the direction of the suction inlet of the separation chamber.

Preferably, the at least one baffle is integrally connected to a housing of the separation unit. For example, it may be provided that the housing of the separation unit and the at least one baffle together form a one-piece plastic molding.

The suction nozzle, the suction unit and the dirty liquid tank are conveniently detachably connectable to the separation unit. In particular, it can be provided that the suction nozzle, the suction unit and / or the dirty liquid tank with the separation unit are releasably latched. This allows the user to easily disassemble the Hartflächenabsauggerät for cleaning.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the separation unit and the suction unit to a common housing on which the dirty liquid tank and / or the handle are releasably held. In such an embodiment of the invention, the separation unit and the suction unit form a common structural unit, on which the dirty liquid tank and / or the handle are detachably held. In addition, it can be provided that the suction nozzle on the common housing of separation unit and suction unit is releasably held.

It can also be provided that the handle with the separation unit and / or with the suction unit is detachably connectable. In such an embodiment, it is advantageous if the separation unit and the suction unit can be separated from each other.

It is advantageous if the suction unit together with at least a part of the handle forms a releasably connectable to the separation unit assembly. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous if the part of the handle forming a common structural unit with the suction unit comprises a rechargeable battery and / or a switch for switching the hard surface suction device on and off, because the embodiment in the form of a common structural unit can provide a detachable one electrical connection between the rechargeable battery and / or the electrical switch receiving part of the handle and the suction unit omitted.

As already mentioned, a suction flow is generated by the suction unit, under the effect of which a liquid-air mixture can be sucked into the separation chamber. Fluid separated from the liquid-air mixture can pass from the separation chamber via the liquid outlet to the dirty liquid tank, and the air can flow into the suction unit via the air outlet and be discharged from the latter in the form of exhaust air to the outside. It is advantageous if at least a portion of the exhaust air emitted by the suction unit can be passed through the handle is. This makes it possible, for example, to cool a rechargeable battery positioned in the handle by the exhaust air of the suction unit.

Conveniently, the handle on its side facing away from the suction device comprises at least one opening for discharging exhaust air. The operator can embrace the handle. The exhaust air is passed through the handle and discharged on the side facing away from the suction device to the outside. An impairment of the operator by the exhaust air can be prevented.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the separation unit in combination with the handle forms a recess into which the suction unit can be inserted. In such an embodiment, the suction unit can be defined on the one hand on the separation unit and on the other hand on the handle, for example by means of a releasable latching connection.

According to the invention, the handle receives at least one rechargeable battery. It is advantageous if in the region between the handle and the suction unit detachable electrical connecting elements are arranged, via which the at least one rechargeable battery with an electric motor and / or with a control device of the electric motor is electrically connected.

A particularly simple installation of the Hartflächenabsauggerätes is achieved in a development of the invention in that the suction unit is held on one side of the separation unit.

The separation unit and the handle may be formed as a one-piece plastic molded part, on which the suction unit is detachably held.

• Figur 1: eine schematische Schnittansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Hartflächenabsauggerätes.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. It shows:

• FIG. 1 : A schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a Hartflächenabsauggerätes invention.

In FIG. 1 schematically an embodiment of a Hartflächenabsauggerätes invention is shown, which is generally occupied by the reference numeral 10. It comprises a suction device 12, with the help of a Liquid from a hard surface, such as a window, can be sucked. The suction device 12 has a suction nozzle 14, a separation unit 16 and a suction unit 18. With the aid of the suction unit 18, a suction flow can be formed under the action of a liquid-air mixture can be sucked through the suction nozzle 14 in the separation unit 16. In the separation unit 16, liquid can be separated from the aspirated liquid-air mixture. The separated liquid can be collected in a dirty liquid tank 20 which is used in addition to the suction device 12. In addition, the Hartflächenabsauggerät 10 has a handle 22, which can grip an operator with her hand, so that the Hartflächenabsauggerät 10 can be guided along the hard surface in the manner of a conventional puller.

The suction nozzle 14 comprises a suction channel 24, which carries at its free end remote from the separating unit 16 a first flexible wiping lip 26 and a second flexible wiping lip 28. The two wiper lips 26, 28 define a suction mouth 30, to which the suction channel 24 connects.

The separation unit 16 defines a separation chamber 32 with a suction inlet 34, via which a rear end region of the suction channel 24 facing away from the suction mouth 30 dips into the separation chamber 32. In the separation chamber 32, a separation element in the form of a spherically curved baffle 36 is arranged at a distance from the suction channel 24. On the side facing away from the suction channel 24 of the baffle 36 protrudes into the separation chamber 32, a pipe section 38, which passes through an air outlet 40 of the deposition chamber 32 and is fixed to a turbine inlet 42 of the suction unit 18. At the turbine inlet 42, a suction turbine 44 of the suction unit 18 connects. The suction turbine 44 is rotated by a motor 46 of the suction unit 18 about a turbine axis 48 in rotation. Laterally next to the electric motor 46, a control device 50 of the suction unit 18 is arranged.

In addition to the suction inlet 34 and the air outlet 40, the separation chamber 32 has a liquid outlet 52, which is formed by an outlet funnel 54.

The deposition chamber 32 is surrounded by a separation housing 56 having an end wall 58 having the suction inlet 34 and a rear wall 60 having the air outlet 40. The rear wall 60 merges integrally into a support wall 64 via a concave wall section 62. At a distance from the support wall 64, the separation housing 56 has a bottom wall 66 which includes a bottom opening 68 below the outlet funnel 54. Via an annular wall 70 of the separator housing 56, the end wall 58 is connected to the bottom wall 66 and the rear wall 60.

The rear wall 60 in combination with the concave wall portion 62 and the support wall 64 has a recess into which the suction unit 18 is inserted.

The handle 22 joins below the suction unit 18 to the support wall 64 and the bottom wall 66 at. The handle 22 receives a rechargeable battery 72. A longitudinal axis 74 of the handle 22 is in the in FIG. 1 illustrated upright position of Hartflächenabsauggerätes 10 substantially vertically aligned. The longitudinal axis 74 intersects the turbine axis 48 in the area of the suction unit 18.

At the suction unit 18 remote from the end of the handle 22 is followed by a substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 74 aligned boom 78, which has a concave depression 80 at its end facing away from the handle 22.

The dirty fluid tank 20 can be inserted into the separation housing 56 with an upper end region facing the separation unit 16 through the bottom opening 68. With its lower end region facing away from the bottom opening 68, the dirty fluid tank 20 is located on the concave recess 80 of the boom 78 at. The contaminant tank 20 is thus supported by the boom 78.

The dirty liquid tank 20 has a container opening 82, on which a filling device 84 is held, which dips into the dirty liquid tank 20 with a filling channel 86 and a ventilation channel 88 arranged laterally next to the filling channel 86. The filling channel 86 adjoins the outlet funnel 54 of the separating unit 16, so that liquid which has been separated in the separating unit 16 from the sucked-in liquid-air mixture can pass into the dirty liquid tank 20 via the outlet funnel 54 and the filling channel 86. At the same time, air can escape from the dirty fluid tank 20 via the ventilation channel 88 into the separation unit 16.

The dirty liquid tank 20, as well as the suction nozzle 14 and the suction unit 18, are releasably held on the separation housing 56 of the separation unit 16. For this purpose, those skilled in the known and therefore not shown in the drawing to achieve a better overview locking elements are used.

On the handle 22, the dirty liquid tank 20 facing a switch 90 is held, with the help of the electric motor 46 of the suction unit 18 can be switched on and off by an operator while she grasps the handle 22 by hand. For the electrical connection of the switch 90 with the control device 50, as well as for the electrical connection of the rechargeable battery 72 with the control device 50, electrical connection lines and releasable electrical connection elements, for example detachable electrical contacts 92 are used. The electrical contacts 92 are arranged on the support wall 64 of the separation housing 56 and on a voltage applied to the support wall 64 housing wall 94 of the suction unit 18.

On the turbine inlet 42 remote from the rear side 96 of the suction unit 18, an electrical connection element in the form of a connection socket 98 is arranged, to which an external charger for charging the rechargeable battery 72 can be connected. On its side facing away from the handle 22 top 100 carries the suction unit 18, an optical display element in the form of a light emitting diode 102 which is fixed to a circuit board 104 of the control device 50.

Instead of using an external charger can also be provided that the Hartflächenabsauggerät 10 for charging the rechargeable battery 72 has a charging electronics, which can be connected to an external power supply device, for example to an external power supply. The charging electronics is advantageously integrated in the suction unit 18 or in the handle.

The handle 22 is in the in FIG. 1 illustrated embodiment of the Hartflächenabsauggerätes 10 integrally connected to the Abscheidegehäuse 56, and the suction unit 18 can be separated from the Abscheidegehäuse 56 and the handle 22. Alternatively it can be provided that the handle forms a separate component that can be separated from the rest Hartflächenabsauggerät. In particular, it can be provided that the suction unit can be separated together with at least part of the handle from the separator housing. In such an embodiment, the part of the handle separable from the separation housing together with the suction unit can receive the rechargeable battery and / or an electric switch of the hard surface suction device, wherein detachable electrical connection elements between the suction unit and this part of the handle can be dispensed with. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the handle and the suction unit may have a common housing part, which is releasably connectable to the separation housing.

As already mentioned, a suction flow can be formed by means of the suction turbine 44. The sucked air can from the suction unit 18 via Air outlet openings 106, which are arranged adjacent to the electrical contact elements 92, the handle 22 are supplied. Within the handle 22, the exhaust air discharged from the suction unit 18 flows along the rechargeable battery 72, so that it is cooled by the exhaust air, and then the exhaust air through openings 108, which are arranged on the vacuum unit 18 facing away from underside 110 of the handle 22 to be discharged to the outside.

During operation of the Hartflächenabsauggerätes 10, the operator can grip the handle 22. The bottom wall 66 of the separator housing 56 in this case forms a contact surface for the index finger, so that the weight of the suction unit 18 can be accommodated in an ergonomically favorable manner by the hand of the operator. This makes it easier for the operator to guide the hard surface suction device 10 with the wiper lips 26, 28 along a hard surface to be suctioned off, in particular on a window pane.

Claims (16)

1. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) for suctioning a liquid-air mixture from a hard surface, in particular, from a window pane, comprising a suctioning device (12) with a suction nozzle (14), a separating unit (16) and a suction unit (18), and further comprising a dirty liquid tank (20) and a handle (22); the separating unit (16) having a separating chamber (32) in which at least one separating element (36) is arranged, and which comprises a suction inlet (34), a liquid outlet (52) and an air outlet (40), the suction inlet (34) being in flow connection with the suction nozzle (14), the liquid outlet (52) with the dirty liquid tank (20) and the air outlet (40) with the suction unit (18); and the handle (22) being arranged relative to an upright position of the hard surface suction cleaner (10) below the suctioning device (12) and at a distance from the dirty liquid tank (20); characterized in that at least one rechargeable battery (72) is positioned in the handle (22).
2. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the dirty liquid tank (20) is arranged relative to an upright position of the hard surface suction cleaner (10) below the suctioning device (12).
3. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the suctioning device (12) has a contact surface from which the handle (22) protrudes.
4. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the suction unit (18) comprises a suction turbine (44) and an electric motor (46), the suction turbine (44) being able to be set in rotation about a turbine axis (48) by the electric motor (46), and in that the handle (22) has a longitudinal axis (74) directed at an angle to the turbine axis (48).
5. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the longitudinal axis (74) of the handle (22) intersects the turbine axis (48) in the area of the separating unit (16) or in the area of the suction unit (18).
6. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle (22) is arranged relative to an upright position of the hard surface suction cleaner (10) below the suction unit (18).
7. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction unit (18) comprises a turbine inlet (42) which is arranged at the air outlet (40) of the separating chamber (32).
8. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that a pipe section (38) which extends into the separating chamber (32) is arranged at the turbine inlet (42).
9. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction nozzle (14), the suction unit (18) and the dirty liquid tank (20) are detachably connectable to the separating unit (16).
10. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the separating unit (16) and the suction unit (18) have a common housing on which the dirty liquid tank (20) and/or the handle (22) are detachably held.
11. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the handle (220) is detachably connectable to the separating unit (16) and/or to the suction unit (18).
12. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the suction unit (18) together with at least part of the handle (22) forms a structural unit which is detachably connectable to the separating unit (16).
13. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the exhaust air discharged by the suction unit (18) can be conducted through the handle (22).
14. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance claim 13, characterized in that the handle (22) has at least one opening for discharging the exhaust air on its side facing away from the suctioning device (12).
15. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the separating unit (16) in combination with the handle (22) forms a recess (60, 62, 64) in which the suction unit (18) is insertable.
16. Hard surface suction cleaner (10) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the suction unit is held at one side on the separating unit.

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