CN101163435A - Flexibler saugschlauch - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible suction hose for a vacuum cleaner with peripheral bellows waves (14) that form successive depressions (18) and elevations (20) in the direction of flow (24) on the inside (16) of the hose. In order to improve the flexible suction hose regarding the flow behavior thereof, at least one planar element (22, 30) which extends substantially in the circumferential direction and in the direction of flow (24) while at least partly covering the depressions (18) is disposed on the inside (16) of the hose.

Description

Vacuum cleaner suction hose

The invention relates to a flexible suction hose according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a vacuum cleaner having a flexible suction hose according to the invention.

Suction hoses for vacuum cleaners are produced according to the prior art by extrusion. Here, a channel-shaped elongated component is produced and then wound helically, whereby a suction hose with helically encircling folds is produced. This suction hose gives the hose the required flexibility and sturdiness at the same time with a low weight. Such a channel-shaped component has a plurality of parallel-running folds. Such flexible hoses suffer from the disadvantage of whistling noise, especially at the current high flow rates of intake air. Dirt also undesirably settles in the folds inside the hose, which is an allergy and hygiene hazard.

A suction hose is known from EP 1 099 894 B1, in which a special geometry of the elevations and depressions on the inner side of the hose is proposed in order to overcome the whistling noise when the air is flowing through and to improve the flow resistance shape. In particular, a specific ratio between the dimensions of the elevations in the direction of flow and the dimension of the depressions in the direction of flow is considered to be advantageous here. However, the disadvantage is that the structure described in EP1 099 894 B1 is complex and cannot avoid dirt deposits.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide a flexible suction hose with improved flow characteristics for use.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims.

Advantageous configurations and developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

The invention improves such a device in that at least one planar component extending substantially in the direction of flow and in the circumferential direction is provided on the inside of the tube, which component at least partially covers the depression. A planar component arranged in this way reduces the specific flow resistance of the suction hose. When the suction hose is flowing through, the inflow is prevented from entering the depression. This prevents a flow extending perpendicularly to the preferred flow direction and delivers a laminar air flow. Through-flow resistance is significantly reduced by reducing the tendency to create turbulence. At the same time, the deposition of dust or the like in the recess is effectively reduced by at least partially covering the recess. Furthermore, due to the arrangement of such planar components, the existing extrusion-based processing technology can be essentially retained with only insignificant changes. In addition, the hose's own weight is only slightly increased, and its flexibility is largely retained. It is particularly advantageous here if the planar component completely covers the depression, especially in the case of particularly small bending radii of the suction hose.

A particularly preferred embodiment provides that the planar components extending in the circumferential direction and in the flow direction at least partially overlap in the flow direction. By arranging the planar components in such a way that the components themselves partially overlap in the direction of flow, an almost closed surface is provided on the inner side of the hose for the air flowing in the direction of flow. Instead of the previously swirling air flow due to the rib-like structure, an essentially laminar flow can now be produced. In particular, it can be provided here that the overlap is such that even with small bending radii of the suction hose, a sufficient overlap and thus improved air guidance can be achieved.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is that a plurality of planar components extending in the circumferential direction and in the direction of flow are provided. A plurality of planar components on the inside of the tube is preferred within the scope of the existing manufacturing process, especially when the manufacturing process includes winding a channel-shaped structure with a plurality of folds.

In this connection, it is preferred that a plurality of planar components extending in the circumferential direction and in the flow direction at least partially overlap each other in the flow direction. The advantages of a lower tendency to turbulence and a substantially laminar through-flow are thus likewise achieved.

It is also particularly preferred that the planar components extending in the circumferential direction and in the direction of flow form an inner hose. The planar component forms a continuous inner hose, reducing the flow resistance of the suction hose at least almost to a smooth hose. In this way, turbulence due to the geometry of the hose is further reduced. The deposition of airborne dirt particles and the possible formation of odors or bacteria associated therewith are further reduced. This is also advantageous when using the suction hose in the vicinity of allergic persons. Such a continuous inner hose is preferably provided in a processing step subsequent to the processing of the suction hose.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one electrical line is arranged between the suction hose and the inner hose. Such an inner cable solution allows, on the one hand, a construction that is technologically advantageous and protects the electrical conductors inside the hose, and at the same time offers the fluid-technical advantage of a smooth inner surface of the suction hose.

Another advantageous embodiment is that the material of the planar components extending in the circumferential direction and in the flow direction is different from the material of the suction hose. The selection of different materials for the suction hose and the planar components arranged therein means a further degree of freedom in optimizing the internal flow resistance of the suction hose. In this case, the material of the planar component can be selected such that the planar component has fluidically favorable properties. At the same time, the flexibility and firmness of the suction hose itself can be adjusted independently.

In particular, it can be provided here that the material of the planar components extending in the circumferential direction and in the flow direction is more flexible than the material of the suction hose. If the planar component is designed to be more flexible than the suction hose itself, it can be adapted to the flow direction and cover the depression in the event of bending of the outer suction hose. Furthermore, the presence of planar components only slightly changes the flexibility of the suction hose.

The invention also relates to a vacuum cleaner having a flexible suction hose as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

The invention is based on the knowledge that a flexible scale (Schuppe) on a pleated bulge surrounding the suction hose and covering the depression adjoining the bulge, or on a suction tube equipped with pleats The thin, flexible inner hose inside the hose significantly reduces the flow resistance of the suction hose. Such a suction hose is easy to process within the framework of existing manufacturing techniques and it has improved flow properties.

The invention is described below by way of example by way of example with reference to the drawings. In the attached picture:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment according to the invention. A section 10 of a suction hose for a vacuum cleaner is shown schematically here. The suction hose is produced by a continuous extrusion process. The wall 10 of the suction hose has a helically encircling fold 14 . Seen from the interior space 16 of the suction hose section 10 , they are divided into depressions 18 and projections 20 . Scales 22 are attached to the elevation 20 . They extend from one elevation 20 to the next elevation 20 in the flow direction 24 . The material of the scales 22 is softer than the material of the wall 12 . The scales 22 are extruded during the processing of the outer wall 12 . With regard to the shown dimensional ratios, it should be noted that only schematic representations are involved here, which can represent the functional principle.

The function of the scales 22 during operation is as follows: The air flowing in the flow direction 24 is essentially guided by the scales 22 . Since the scales 22 cover from one elevation to the next fluidically unfavorable undercut, ie to the depression 18 , the air flow essentially flows in the main direction 24 given by the scales 22 . Formation of other common turbulence is suppressed. The air is guided laminarly and turbulence due to the depression 18 is avoided. At the same time, the advantages of existing suction hoses produced by extrusion are retained, such as a high degree of flexibility while remaining robust. The placement of the scales 22 only slightly increases the dead weight of the suction hose. The flexibility or mobility of the scales 22 can be adjusted to a certain extent independently of the properties of the wall 12 of the suction hose via its geometry and via the choice of material. Depending on the flow rate used, the geometry of the scales can also be adapted. It is likewise possible to shorten the scales 22 by modeling the scales with fluid technology. A further advantage of the invention is that the accumulation of dirt in the depression 18 is reduced. In addition, unpleasant noises can be reduced by the largely laminar air flow.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment according to the invention. The section 10 of the suction hose for a vacuum cleaner corresponds to the embodiment described in FIG. 1 with regard to its external shape. It also has an extrusion-produced outer wall 12 with helically encircling folds 14 . They are likewise divided into depressions 18 and elevations 20 as viewed from the suction hose interior 16 . Instead of the scales 22 which in FIG. 1 are arranged on the raised portion 20 , in this exemplary embodiment a continuous second inner hose 30 is added. This inner hose can either be extruded with a corresponding inner diameter or introduced as a smaller inflated hose. The inner hose 30 is a thin, flexible sleeve made of a material that differs from the material of the outer wall 12 and has been selected for fluid-technical considerations.

In the second exemplary embodiment, the air along the flow direction 24 is only guided through the inner hose 30 . It therefore has an almost ideal cross-sectional shape, which has a lower flow resistance than conventional hoses. The advantages of the first exemplary embodiment apply here as well, due to the closed inner wall, dirt deposits and the formation of unpleasant additional noise are better suppressed. As an additional advantage, the hollow space formed between the outer wall of the inner hose 30 and the inner surface of the outer wall 12 of the suction hose section 10 can be used, for example, to accommodate electrical lines or the like. By having the outer hose 10 completely separate from the inner hose 30, the two materials can be selected relatively independently. At the same time, the manufacturing process of the outer hose 10 remains unchanged, while the addition of the inner hose 30 represents an additional manufacturing step. An overall lower material usage can also be achieved by an appropriate choice of geometry and materials.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, the drawings and the claims can be essential for realizing the invention not only individually but also in any combination.

List of reference signs

10 Suction hose section

12 suction hose wall

14 folds

16 Suction hose inner space

18 depressions

20 raised part

22 scales

24 flow direction

30 internal hose

Claims (9)

1. Flexible suction hose for vacuum cleaners, with surrounding folds (14), which form contiguous depressions (18) and protrusions on the inside of the hose (16) in the direction of flow (24). A riser (20), characterized in that at least one planar component (22, 30) extending substantially in the flow direction (24) and in the circumferential direction is arranged on the inner surface of the hose (16), the A member at least partially covers said recess (18). 2. Flexible suction hose according to claim 1, characterized in that the planar components (22, 30) extending in the circumferential direction and in the direction of flow (24) are at least partially in the direction of flow ( 24) Upper lap. 3. The flexible suction hose as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of planar components (22, 30) extending in the circumferential direction and in the flow direction (24) are provided. 4. The flexible suction hose according to claim 3, characterized in that the plurality of planar components (22, 30) extending in the circumferential direction and in the direction of flow (24) are at least partially flow- overlap each other in direction (24). 5. The flexible suction hose according to claim 1, characterized in that the planar components (22, 30) extending in the circumferential direction and in the flow direction (24) form an inner hose ( 30). 6. Flexible suction hose according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one electrical line is arranged between the suction hose and the inner hose (30). 7. Flexible suction hose according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material of the planar components (22, 30) extending in the circumferential direction and in the direction of flow (24) is the same as The material of the suction hose is different. 8. Flexible suction hose according to claim 7, characterized in that the material of the planar components (22, 30) extending in the circumferential direction and in the flow direction (24) is smaller than that of the suction hose The material is more flexible. 9. Vacuum cleaner having a flexible suction hose as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

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