CN115191864B

CN115191864B - Dust collector

Info

Publication number: CN115191864B
Application number: CN202210360168.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 迈克尔·穆勒
Original assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-04-13
Filing date: 2022-04-07
Publication date: 2024-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2042-04-07
Also published as: CN115191864A; DE102021109222A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt collection container with a suction opening, a suction unit and a handle which can be gripped by a user, the suction unit being in fluid connection with the dirt collection container via a separating device and with at least one exhaust opening via an exhaust channel and an exhaust filter, wherein the exhaust channel has a mounting opening arranged adjacent to the handle, through which the exhaust filter can be inserted into the exhaust channel and, if necessary, can be removed from the exhaust channel, and the mounting opening can be closed by means of a removable cover, and wherein the vacuum cleaner has at least two modes of operation. In order to simplify the handling of the vacuum cleaner, it is proposed that the cover has a cover inner part facing the exhaust gas duct and a cover outer part facing away from the exhaust gas duct and being supported on the cover inner part in a movable manner, wherein a desired operating mode can be activated by a user by moving the cover outer part relative to the cover inner part.

Description

Dust collector

Technical Field

The invention relates to a dust collector, which comprises: a dirt collection container having a suction inlet; a suction unit; and a handle which can be gripped by a user for holding the vacuum cleaner during use, the suction unit being in fluid connection with the dirt collection container via the separating means and with the at least one exhaust opening via the exhaust channel and the exhaust filter, wherein the exhaust channel has a mounting opening arranged adjacent to the handle, through which the exhaust filter can be inserted into the exhaust channel and, if desired, can be removed from the exhaust channel, and the mounting opening can be closed by means of a removable cover, and wherein the vacuum cleaner has at least two modes of operation.

Background

The vacuum cleaners of the type described above comprise a dirt collection container to which a suction unit can apply a negative pressure so that suction air with dirt adhering thereto can be sucked into the dirt collection container through a suction opening. Dirt particles can be separated from the suction air by means of a separating device. The dirt particles remain in the dirt collection container and suction air can be discharged from the suction unit to the outside environment via the exhaust channel and the at least one exhaust opening. An exhaust filter with which exhaust gas can be filtered is arranged in the exhaust passage to separate particulates from the exhaust gas. The suspension filter can be used, for example, as an exhaust gas filter. Such filters are also known as HEPA filters. A cyclone separator or, for example, a pleated filter, for example, can be used as a separating device arranged in the fluid path between the dirt collection container and the suction unit.

A vacuum cleaner of the type described above has at least two modes of operation. These modes of operation differ in the manner in which the cleaner is operated. For example, it can be provided that the suction unit has a higher suction power in a first operating mode of the vacuum cleaner than in a second operating mode of the vacuum cleaner. It may also be provided that the suction tube can be coupled to the suction opening, which suction tube has at its free end a bottom nozzle of a motor-driven nozzle brush, wherein the nozzle brush is switched off in a first operating mode of the vacuum cleaner and is switched on in a second operating mode of the vacuum cleaner. The user may select a desired mode of operation.

In order to guide the cleaner along a surface to be cleaned, the cleaner has a handle which a user can hold during application of the cleaner.

The exhaust filter is interchangeably retained within the exhaust passage. To this end, the exhaust gas duct has a mounting opening, through which the exhaust gas filter can be inserted into the exhaust gas duct and, if necessary, removed from the exhaust gas duct. If the exhaust filter is doped with particulates, it may be replaced, for example. The mounting opening may be closed by means of a cover, which is removable from the mounting opening.

Operating such a cleaner, and in particular enabling the desired mode of operation, is often difficult for the user in known cleaners of the type described above.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is therefore to develop a vacuum cleaner of the type mentioned above in such a way that it has a simpler operation.

In the case of the aforementioned vacuum cleaner, this object is achieved according to the invention in that the cover has a cover inner part facing the exhaust gas duct and a cover outer part facing away from the exhaust gas duct and being supported on the cover inner part in a movable manner, wherein a defined operating mode can be activated by a user by moving the cover outer part relative to the cover inner part.

In the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, the cover disposed on the mounting opening of the exhaust passage has not only a function of closing and releasing the mounting opening when necessary, but also a function of allowing the user to activate the determination of the operation mode. To achieve this, the lid has a lid inner part facing the vent channel and a lid outer part facing away from the vent channel, wherein the lid outer part is movable relative to the lid inner part. To enable a certain mode of operation, the user may move the lid outer part relative to the lid inner part. The relative movement of the outer parts of the cover results in the activation of a defined operating mode. Because the mounting opening, and thus the cover, is adjacent the handle, the user can move the cover outer member, for example, with his thumb of the hand holding the handle of the cleaner. Alternatively, the user may also use his free hand to move the lid outer part. The features of the cleaner according to the invention are thus also simpler to operate.

The advantage is that the first operating mode of the vacuum cleaner, in which the suction unit has a standard suction power, is a standard mode, and the second operating mode of the vacuum cleaner, in which the suction power of the suction unit is increased compared to the standard suction power, is a boost mode, wherein the boost mode is enabled by moving the lid outer part relative to the lid inner part. In this embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention, the user can increase the suction power of the suction unit from the standard suction power by moving the cover outer part relative to the cover inner part.

The suction unit of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention has an electric motor and a suction turbine driven thereby. For example, the rotational speed of the electric motor can be increased in order to increase the suction power.

An advantage is that by moving the lid outer part again relative to the lid inner part, the pressurizing mode enabled by the user by moving the lid outer part relative to the lid inner part can be disabled and instead the standard mode can be enabled again. Starting from the standard suction power, the user can increase the suction power of the suction unit by moving the lid outer part for the first time relative to the lid inner part, and then the user can again decrease the suction power of the suction unit by moving the lid outer part again relative to the lid inner part.

Alternatively or additionally, provision may be made for the boost mode to be automatically disabled after expiration of a predetermined operating time and for the standard mode to be automatically enabled again instead. In this embodiment, the boost mode is automatically disabled after expiration of the predetermined operating time, so that the suction unit then has its standard suction power again. The predetermined operating time of the boost mode may be, for example, a few minutes, especially 30 seconds, one minute, two minutes, three minutes, four minutes or five minutes.

Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner has a control device for controlling the operating mode of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the control device is connected to the detection element in a signal transmission manner, wherein the movement of the cover outer part relative to the cover inner part can be detected in a contactless or contact manner by means of the detection element, and the control device can provide a corresponding control signal. In this embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention, the detection element detects the movement of the cover outer part relative to the cover inner part in a contactless or contact manner, which provides a corresponding control signal to the control device, so that the control device alters the operating mode of the vacuum cleaner in dependence on the control signal.

The sensor serves, for example, as a detection element which detects the movement of the outer part of the cover relative to the inner part of the cover in a contactless manner, for example inductively, capacitively, magnetically or optically, and provides a corresponding control signal to the control device. Proximity sensors may be used in particular as the sensor.

The advantage is in particular that the detection element is designed as an electrical switch, which can be actuated by the cover outer part when moving relative to the cover inner part. The switch may be electrically connected to the control means and the switching position of the switch may be altered by movement of the outer part of the lid relative to the inner part of the lid. The change of the switching position causes a trigger control signal which is detected by the control device, whereupon a certain operating mode is enabled.

For actuating the electrical switch, an actuating element, for example a push rod, can be arranged on the cover outer part, which actuates the switch when the cover outer part is moved relative to the cover inner part.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention, the cover outer part is pivotally supported on the cover inner part about a pivot axis. In such an embodiment, the user may pivot the lid outer part relative to the lid inner part about the pivot axis. This allows particularly simple and intuitive operation of the cleaner when the working mode is enabled.

The pivot axis of the cover outer member is preferably oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle. This allows the user to pivot the cover outer part with the thumb of the hand holding the handle of the cleaner in a particularly simple manner.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring element is pressed between the inner part of the cap and the outer part of the cap. This allows the user to move the lid outer part relative to the lid inner part against the spring-elastic return force to thereby enable the operating mode, for example enable the aforementioned boost mode. If the user then releases the cap outer part again, it automatically returns to its original position again under the spring-elastic restoring force.

A further simplified operation of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention is obtained by the exhaust filter being releasably held on the cover. In this embodiment, the cover together with the exhaust gas filter which is releasably held on the cover form a common structural unit. This allows the exhaust gas filter to be removed from the exhaust passage in a simple manner by: the cover having the vent filter releasably retained thereon is removed from the mounting opening of the vent passage. The vent filter may then be released from the cap and replaced with a new vent filter, which may be attached to the cap and then inserted into the vent passage by: the cover is in turn arranged over the mounting opening.

The exhaust filter is preferably magnetically held within the exhaust passage. For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, that a permanent magnet is arranged on the exhaust gas filter, which cooperates magnetically with a magnetizable holding element, in particular an iron plate, which is arranged in a stationary manner in the exhaust gas channel after the exhaust gas filter has been inserted into the exhaust gas channel, so that a holding force is applied to the exhaust gas filter. Alternatively, the holding element and the permanent magnet can also be arranged upside down, i.e. the magnetizable holding element is arranged on the exhaust gas filter and the permanent magnet is arranged in a stationary manner in the exhaust gas channel.

In order to simplify the introduction of the exhaust gas filter into the exhaust gas duct and the orientation of the exhaust gas filter in the exhaust gas duct, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, guide elements are arranged on the mounting opening of the exhaust gas duct for guiding the exhaust gas filter when installed in the exhaust gas duct.

Advantageously, the guide element comprises one or more guide surfaces along which the exhaust filter can slide when inserted into the exhaust channel.

The exhaust gas filter is advantageously designed as a cartridge filter. For example, it can be provided that the exhaust gas filter has a filter medium which forms a cylinder jacket and can be placed on a filter cage which is arranged in a stationary manner in the exhaust gas duct. The filter cage can be embodied, for example, in the manner of a support tube, which has a large number of openings and to which the exhaust gases of the suction unit can be fed. The exhaust gases may flow through a filter material which surrounds the filter cage in the circumferential direction in order then to flow out of the exhaust passage through the exhaust openings.

Drawings

The following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is further illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the figure:

Figure 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a top view of the cleaner according to figure 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cleaner taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cleaner taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cleaner taken along line 5-5 of figure 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting opening of the exhaust passage of the vacuum cleaner according to FIG. 1 after the cover and the exhaust filter have been removed;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exhaust filter of the vacuum cleaner according to FIG. 1, held on a cover;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vent filter and cap according to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the exhaust filter according to FIG. 7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cover according to fig. 7.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The drawing schematically shows a vacuum cleaner according to the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, which is designed in the form of a hand-held vacuum cleaner. The cleaner 10 has a dirt collection container 12 and a suction opening 16, the dirt collection container 12 being arranged below the cleaner head 14 in a horizontal use position of the cleaner 10 shown in figure 1.

The suction head 14 comprises a suction unit 18, which is known per se and is shown only in broken lines in the drawing, and which has an electric motor 20 and a suction turbine 22, which is rotated by the electric motor 20. Furthermore, the suction head 14 comprises control means 24 which control the electric motor 20.

A separating apparatus 26, which is also known per se and is only shown in broken lines, is arranged inside the dirt collection container 12. For example, cyclone separators known per se can be used as separating means. The suction turbine 22 is in fluid connection with the dirt collection container via the separating apparatus 26, so that the dirt collection container 12 can be subjected to a negative pressure by the suction unit 18 and suction air with dirt adhering thereto can be sucked into the dirt collection container 12 via the suction opening 16. Dirt particles can be separated by means of the separating apparatus 26 and accumulate in the dirt collection container 12. The dirt collection container 12 can be emptied if necessary. To this end, the flap 13 is held at the bottom of the dirt collection container 12, which can be pivoted outwards by the user actuating the push button 15.

Furthermore, the cleaner 10 has a pistol-shaped housing 28, which constitutes an exhaust passage 30 coupled to the suction turbine 22. In the horizontal use position of the cleaner 10 shown in fig. 1, the exhaust passage 30 is oriented horizontally.

Below the exhaust channel 30, the housing 28 forms a handle 32 which is directly coupled to the underside of the exhaust channel 30 and which can be held by a user's hand, wherein the user can extend his hand below the exhaust channel 30 and use his index finger to actuate the switch 34 in order to switch on and off the suction unit 18.

The battery holder 36 of the housing 28 is coupled to the end of the handle 32 facing away from the exhaust passage 30. The rechargeable battery 38 is releasably retained on the battery holder 36.

In the region of the exhaust duct 30, the housing 38 has a plurality of exhaust openings 40, through which the exhaust gases of the suction unit 18 can be discharged to the environment outside the cleaner 10.

As can be seen in particular from fig. 3 to 6, the filter cage 42 is held in a stationary manner in the exhaust duct 30. The filter cage 42 is designed as a cylinder and has a plurality of through openings 44. The filter cage 42 has an iron plate 46 on its end facing away from the suction unit 18.

Within the exhaust passage 30, a gas permeable foam 48 is disposed upstream of the filter cage 42.

An exhaust gas filter 50, which is designed as a cartridge filter and has a filter medium 52, which surrounds the filter cage 42 in the circumferential direction, is arranged on the filter cage 42, forms a cylinder jacket and can be flowed through from the inside to the outside by exhaust gases. On the end face, the filter medium has end caps 54, 56 at its ends, respectively, wherein the end cap 54 facing the suction unit 18 has an annular sealing lip 58 on the outside facing away from the filter medium 52, which abuts against a holding flange 60 of the filter cage 42.

The end cap 56 facing away from the suction unit 18 has a permanent magnet 62 on its outer side facing away from the suction unit 18, which cooperates magnetically with the iron plate 46 arranged on the filter cage 42 after the exhaust gas filter 50 has been placed on the filter cage 42 and thus exerts a holding force on the exhaust gas filter 50.

Through the mounting opening 64 of the exhaust passage 30, the exhaust filter 50 may be installed in the exhaust passage 30. The mounting opening 64 is arranged on a rear side 66 of the housing 28 facing away from the suction unit 18 and can be closed by means of a cover 68.

The mounting opening 64 is disposed adjacent to the handle 32, and in particular, the mounting opening 64 is coupled to an end of the handle 32 facing the exhaust passage 30.

The cover 68 has a cover inner part 70 facing the vent passage 30 and a cover outer part 72 facing away from the vent passage 30. The lid outer part 72 surrounds the lid inner part 70 and is pivotally supported thereon about a pivot axis 74. The pivot axis 74 is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 76 of the handle 32 and is offset relative to the central axis 78 of the exhaust channel 30 in a direction away from the handle 32. The pivotable support of the lid outer part 72 on the lid inner part 70 is realized by means of two pivot journals that are flush with one another, wherein only one pivot journal 80 is visible in the drawing, which pivot journals are rigidly connected to the lid outer part 72 and are each clamped in a support fork 82 of the lid inner part 70.

A spring element in the form of a return spring 84 is pressed between the lid inner part 70 and the lid outer part 72, offset from the pivot axis 74 in the direction of the handle 32. The user can pivot the cover outer member 72 about the pivot axis 74 from the initial position shown in the figures against the force of the return spring 84. To this end, the user may press the lid outer part 72 against the lid inner part 70 in the edge region immediately adjacent to the handle 32.

The movement of the lid outer part 72 against the force of the return spring 84 relative to the lid inner part 70 is detected by a detection element in the form of a microswitch 86, which is connected to the control device 24 by means of an electrical connection line, which is not shown in the drawing for a clear overview. A microswitch 86 is arranged on the mounting opening 64 (which is visible in particular in fig. 6) and cooperates with a push rod 88, which is integrally connected to the lid outer part 72. This can be seen in particular from fig. 8 and 10.

When the lid outer part 72 is pivoted relative to the lid inner part 70 against the force of the return spring 84, the push rod 88 operates the microswitch 86, which then sends a corresponding control signal to the control device 24. As a result of the provision of the control signal, the control means 24 alters the mode of operation of the cleaner 10, in particular when the lid outer part 72 is pivoted relative to the lid inner part 70 against the force of the return spring 84, the control means 24 enables a boost mode in which the suction power of the suction unit 18 is increased compared to the standard suction power. This will be further elucidated below.

The vent filter 50 is releasably connected to the cover 68. For this purpose, a bayonet connection is used, wherein the cover inner part is designed as a bayonet recess 90 into which a corresponding bayonet wing 92 arranged on the outside of the end cap 56 of the exhaust filter 50 can project. This can be seen in fig. 9 and 10.

The releasable connection of the vent filter 50 to the cover 68 allows the vent filter 50 to be installed into the vent passage 30 through the mounting opening 64 along with the cover 68. In order to simplify the installation of the exhaust gas filter 50 in the exhaust gas duct 30, guide elements 94 are arranged at the installation opening 64, which surround the installation opening 64 in the circumferential direction and form guide surfaces 96, along which the exhaust gas filter 50 can slide when installed in the exhaust gas duct 30.

The guide element 94 has two diametrically opposed guide recesses, one of which 98 is visible in fig. 6. The lid inner part 70 has two extensions 100, 102 complementary to the guide recesses 98, which can be inserted into the guide recesses 98, respectively, to prevent rotation of the lid inner part 70.

As can be seen from fig. 7, the exhaust gas filter 50 together with the cover 68 form a unit which simplifies the replacement of the exhaust gas filter 50. If the exhaust filter 50 is to be removed from the exhaust passage 30, the user is only required to grasp the cover 68 at the diametrically opposed two outer projections 104, 106 of the cover outer member 72, and then pull the cover 68 together with the exhaust filter 50 out of the exhaust passage 30 against the magnetic holding force applied to the iron plate 46 by the permanent magnet 62. The user may then release the bayonet connection between the vent filter 50 and the cap 68 to secure a new vent filter to the cap 68 and load it again into the vent passage 30 through the mounting opening 64 along with the cap 68.

As already mentioned, the vacuum cleaner 10 has two operating modes, namely a first operating mode, which forms a standard mode, in which the suction unit 18 has a standard suction power, and a second operating mode, which forms a boost mode, in which the suction power of the suction unit 18 is increased compared to the standard suction power. If the boost mode is enabled, it is only necessary to pivot the lid outer part 72 about the pivot axis 74 relative to the lid inner part 70 against the force of the return spring 84. As a result of the pivotal movement, the push rod 88 operates the microswitch 86 so that it provides a control signal to the control device 24 for enabling the boost mode. The user can urge the pivoting movement of the lid outer part 72 in a simple manner by pressing the lid outer part 72 with the thumb of the hand holding the handle 32. Then, if the user releases the cap outer 72 again, it returns to its original position again under the action of the return spring 84.

To end the boost mode, the user may again pivot the lid outer part 72 about the pivot axis 74. Thus, the microswitch 96 is again actuated by the push rod 88, so that the microswitch 86 of the control device 24 again provides a control signal, by which the control device 24 ends the boost mode and the standard mode is re-enabled.

If the user does not re-pivot the lid outer part 72 about the pivot axis 74 for a longer period of time after activating the boost mode, the control 24 automatically ends the boost mode and activates the standard mode after expiration of the predetermined operating time. Thereby ensuring that the cleaner 10 is not permanently held in the boost mode in the absence of pivotal movement of the cover outer member 74.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner comprising: a dirt collection container (12) having a suction inlet (16); a suction unit (18); and a handle (32) which can be gripped by a user for holding the vacuum cleaner (10) during use, the suction unit being fluidically connected to the dirt collection container (12) by means of a separating device (26) and to at least one exhaust opening (40) by means of an exhaust duct (30) and an exhaust filter (50), wherein the exhaust duct (30) has a mounting opening (64) arranged adjacent to the handle (32), through which the exhaust filter (50) can be inserted into the exhaust duct (30) and, if required, removed from the exhaust duct (30), and the mounting opening can be closed by means of a removable cover (68), and wherein the vacuum cleaner (10) has at least two operating modes, characterized in that the cover (68) has a cover inner part (70) facing the exhaust duct (30) and a cover outer part (72) facing away from the exhaust duct (30) and being mounted on the cover inner part (70) in a movable manner, wherein the mode of movement of the cover inner part (70) is determined by the user relative to the cover inner part (70).

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a first operating mode is a standard mode, in which the suction unit (18) has a standard suction power, and a second operating mode is a boost mode, in which the suction power of the suction unit (18) is increased compared to the standard suction power, wherein the boost mode is enabled by movement of the lid outer part (72) relative to the lid inner part (70).

3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the boost mode is disabled and the standard mode is re-enabled instead by a user by moving the cover outer part (72) again relative to the cover inner part (70).

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the boost mode is automatically disabled after expiration of a predetermined operating time and the standard mode is automatically enabled again instead.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the vacuum cleaner (10) has a control device (24) for controlling the operating mode of the vacuum cleaner (10), wherein the control device (24) is connected in signal transmission with a detection element, wherein a movement of the cover outer part (72) relative to the cover inner part (70) can be detected in a contactless or contact-like manner by means of the detection element, and the control device (24) can provide a corresponding control signal.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the detection element is designed as an electrical switch (86), the cover outer part (72) being operable upon movement relative to the cover inner part (70).

7. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover outer part (72) is pivotally supported on the cover inner part (70) about a pivot axis (74).

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein the pivot axis (74) is oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis (76) of the handle (32).

9. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a spring member is pressed between the cover inner part (70) and the cover outer part (72).

10. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the exhaust filter (50) is releasably retained on the cover (68).

11. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the exhaust filter (50) is magnetically held within the exhaust passage (30).

12. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a guide element (94) is arranged on the mounting opening (64) of the exhaust channel (30) for guiding the exhaust filter (50) when fitted into the exhaust channel (30).

13. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the exhaust filter (50) is designed as a cartridge filter.