EP0470240B1 - Vacuum cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR91/00157 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 25, 1991 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 25, 1991 PCT Filed Feb. 26, 1991 PCT Pub. No. WO91/12762 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 5, 1991.A vacuum cleaning device comprising an enclosure (20) containing a chamber (30) in which is located at least one flexible wall such as a bag (2) designed to stop solid particles while letting through the air, and containing a compartment (40) provided with a movable tray (41) located beneath the chamber (30) in order to catch the solid particles which fall by the force of gravity. The device is characterized in that it includes a means (5) for forming a sealed connection between the flexible wall (2) and the tray (41), the latter comprising at least one inlet (48-49) for air to be filtered. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible wall (2) is secured by frame (3) the edge of which acrries a flexible seal (5) so that the assembly (1) thereby formed is self-contained and interchangeable without needing to be dismantled.

Description

There are known multiple cleaning devices intended for removing solid particles: dust, waste, etc. by suction.

They all include a motor and a turbine causing a vacuum in a duct, one end of which must be placed in front of the area to be cleaned and the other is located at the entrance to a chamber containing at least one flexible wall such as a bag through which the turbine sucks in air and which acts as a filter because it retains solid particles while it lets the air sucked in by the turbine pass.

The flexible wall is generally arranged vertically on a frame by presenting an opening at its lower part, located above a collecting tank into which fall by gravity, the solid particles not attached to the flexible wall When cleaning or replacing the flexible wall, it is shaken to make the most of the particles and dust fall into the recovery tank.

The bin is mounted mobile in a compartment from which it is removed to evacuate its contents.

Dust-laden air is introduced into the compartment and, to avoid too great a pressure drop, this compartment is closed by means of a door which is pressed against a frame with the interposition of a seal.

• Pour de simples raisons géométriques, le bac de récupération ne peut pas occuper exactement tout le volume intérieur du compartiment car il faut prévoir un jeu permettant les mouvements du bac qui est mobile par rapport au compartiment fixe. Il en résulte que des particules solides tombent à l'extérieur du bac, dans le compartiment, et non à l'intérieur. Ces particules s'accumulent et finissent par créer des amas qui, en grossisssant, finissent par géner les mouvements du bac.
• Le bac est ainsi repoussé petit à petit et arrive un moment ou l'on ne peut fermer la porte du compartiment qu'en forçant sur le bac puis, ces circonstances s'aggravant nécessairement, il devient impossible de fermer la porte. Il faut alors retirer le bac et nettoyer le compartiment à la main, ce qui est une opération difficile.
• Les ouvertures et fermetures successives de la porte provoquent tout naturellement l'usure du joint dont l'efficacité se dégrade jusqu'au moment où il faut le remplacer. Mais, par souci d'économie, on attend le plus longtemps possible avant de changer le joint de sorte que, petit à petit et pourrait-on dire de manière insensible, l'étanchéité diminue de telle sorte que la turbine aspire de l'air extérieur par les intervalles non obturés de la porte au lieu d'aspirer l'air chargé de poussières exclusivement par le conduit. Dans la pratique, cela peut provoquer jusqu'à 80 % de perte de rendement de l'appareil.
• La paroi souple, ou sac, est fixé à un cadre au moyen de boulons qui sont une gêne pour le retrait facile du sac en vue de son nettoyage ou de son remplacement. En outre, le sac doit être retiré et remis en place par le côté amont du système, c'est-à-dire du côté sale, empoussiéré par l'air chargé, ce qui est une opération pénible.

Such a structure is not satisfactory and this for several reasons:

• For simple geometric reasons, the recovery tank cannot occupy exactly the entire interior volume of the compartment because it is necessary to provide a clearance allowing the movements of the container which is movable relative to the fixed compartment. As a result, solid particles fall outside the tank, in the compartment, and not inside. These particles accumulate and eventually create clusters which, when growing, end up hampering the movements of the tank.
• The bin is thus pushed back little by little and arrives at a time when the compartment door can only be closed by forcing on the bin, then, these circumstances necessarily getting worse, it becomes impossible to close the door. It is then necessary to remove the container and clean the compartment by hand, which is a difficult operation.
• The successive openings and closings of the door naturally cause the wear of the seal, the effectiveness of which deteriorates until it is time to replace it. But, for the sake of economy, we await the as long as possible before changing the seal so that, little by little and one could say insensitively, the tightness decreases so that the turbine sucks in outside air through the unobstructed intervals of the door instead suck the dust-laden air exclusively through the duct. In practice, this can cause up to 80% loss of device performance.
• The flexible wall, or bag, is fixed to a frame by means of bolts which are a hindrance for easy removal of the bag for cleaning or replacement. In addition, the bag must be removed and replaced by the upstream side of the system, that is to say on the dirty side, dusted by the charged air, which is a tedious operation.

To fix the state of the art we can cite:
GB-A-865 262 which describes a vacuum cleaner comprising a container containing a dust bag and a cover which surmounts the container / bag assembly inside which a filtering wall is disposed.

This filtering wall is held in shape by a complex frame to be stretched.

Between the cover and the top of the tank is arranged a seal which can be supported by the cover or by the tank.

Swivel hooks on articulated parts secured to the tank cooperate with holes made in the cover in order to close the vacuum cleaner and to keep the tank against the seal.

Due to the presence of a dust bag placed in the bin, a significant part of the dust falls outside the bag since there is no seal between the bag and the bin. This results in fouling of the tank which requires cleaning simultaneously with that of the bag. In addition, the filter is subject to a complex metal frame which generates its wear by friction.

The patent US-A-2,044,827 which describes a vacuum cleaner comprising an upper housing inside which is fixed on a complex frame a filter wall completely independent of a lower dust bin. This results in significant wear of the filter wall by friction.

Furthermore, this vacuum cleaner does not have any means to ensure a good seal between this filter, the dust bin and the compartment containing this bin, which causes significant pressure drops which considerably reduce the yield.

Patent CH-A-409,266 which describes an industrial vacuum cleaner comprising in its lower part a dust bin equivalent to a dustbin. This dust bin is mounted movable from bottom to top by a plate associated with a bracket. The upper part of the vacuum cleaner includes a filter held on a complex frame, completely independent of the tank.

This receptacle is mounted movable from bottom to top by complex mechanical means which do not ensure correct and direct sealing between the filter and the receptacle. In addition, the filter is subjected to metallic reinforcements so that it undergoes significant stresses and that it wears out.

This device comprises a seal between a fixed intermediate part and a removable lower part, a seal which undergoes the mechanical stresses resulting from the positioning and removal of the receptacle. This results in a reduction in the seal and therefore in the performance of the device by pressure drop.

Patent DE-A-3,723,148 describes a suction cleaning apparatus, the upper part of which comprises filtration means and the lower part a bin containing a removable dust bag and mounted movable from bottom to top.

This tank is secured by a complex mechanical assembly of parts articulated at the top when the device is in the operating position.

US-A-4,222,753 which describes a cleaning device comprising a tank without air inlet surmounted by a part which includes a filter. This filter is held at its base by a metal part associated with a spring which exerts a radial force, which accentuates the mechanical forces supported by the filter and therefore its wear or even its tear.

In addition, the lower part consists of a container containing a bag which does not prevent the accidental fall of dust between it and the container and there is no tight mechanical connection with the filter.

In addition, this device has no means ensuring the seal between the tank and the part which overcomes it and, therefore, the device can not provide satisfactory performance performance.

The patents US-A-3,910,781 and FR-A-787,871 describe a dust vacuum cleaner comprising a filter attached and held by a complex metallic structure associated with springs. This results in increased wear thereof.

The present invention overcomes all these drawbacks by providing a new structure for the input of the device which guarantees maximum efficiency for the device by eliminating the causes of leaks and pressure drop.

• d'assurer une étanchéité directe et totale entre le filtre et le bac.
• de supprimer les portes d'accés au compartiment contenant le bac.
• d'assurer une propreté absolue du compartiment à l'intérieur duquel se trouve le bac à poussières.

In addition, this device allows:

• ensure a direct and total seal between the filter and the tank.
• remove the access doors to the compartment containing the bin.
• ensure absolute cleanliness of the compartment inside which the dust bin is located.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a suction cleaning device, of the type comprising an enclosure comprising on the one hand a chamber in which there is at least one flexible wall such as a bag which has to stop solid particles while allowing the sucked air to pass and, on the other hand, a compartment to contain a removable tray located under the chamber and intended to collect the solid particles which can fall by gravity, characterized in that it comprises watertight connecting means such as 'A flexible peripheral seal attached to the flexible wall and which provides a direct and sealed connection between said wall and the tank, which comprises at least one air inlet.

• la paroi souple et le joint sont séparables l'un de l'autre;
• la paroi souple et le joint sont inséparables et forment un ensemble interchangeable avec un autre semblable;
• la paroi souple et le bac sont montés mobiles l'un par rapport à l'autre pour qu'ils puissent occuper deux positions relatives dans l'une desquelles ils sont séparés afin qu'ils puissent être déplacés individuellement et dans l'autre desquelles ils sont appliqués l'un contre l'autre de manière étanche;
• le bac est monté mobile dans le compartiment, d'une part horizontalement à la manière d'un tiroir et d'autre part verticalement pour pouvoir être appliqué par sa périphérie contre le joint solidaire de la paroi souple, des moyens étant prévus pour maintenir ledit joint à l'encontre du bac;
• les moyens pour maintenir le joint à l'encontre du bac sont constitués par au moins une butée prévue dans la chambre;
• la butée est constituée par un cadre formé de cornières fixées aux parois de la chambre, le joint périphérique solidaire de la paroi souple devant être placé contre ledit cadre, entre celui-ci et le bac;
• le bac porte au moins deux rampes fixées à l'extérieur de deux parois latérales opposées, à un niveau légèrement inférieur à celui du sommet de butées correspondantes situées à l'intérieur du compartiment;
• les butées sont constituées par des galets montés pivotants;
• le dispositif comporte un tiroir indépendant du bac et constituant un fond plein et amovible du compartiment.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• the flexible wall and the seal are separable from each other;
• the flexible wall and the seal are inseparable and form an interchangeable assembly with another similar;
• the flexible wall and the tank are mounted movable relative to each other so that they can occupy two relative positions in one of which they are separated so that they can be moved individually and in the other of which they are applied against each other in a sealed manner;
• the tray is mounted mobile in the compartment, on the one hand horizontally in the manner of a drawer and on the other hand vertically so that it can be applied by its periphery against the joint secured to the flexible wall, means being provided for maintaining said seal against the tank;
• the means for holding the seal against the tank consist of at least one stop provided in the chamber;
• the stop is constituted by a frame formed from angles fixed to the walls of the chamber, the peripheral joint integral with the flexible wall having to be placed against said frame, between the latter and the tank;
• the tank carries at least two ramps fixed outside two opposite side walls, at a level slightly lower than that of the top of corresponding stops located inside the compartment;
• the stops are constituted by rollers mounted to pivot;
• the device comprises a drawer independent of the tray and constituting a solid and removable bottom of the compartment.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description below, given with reference to the accompanying drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given only by way of an indicative and nonlimiting example.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an assembly according to the invention, comprising a flexible wall with three chambers and a mounting fixture.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view with partial section of a complete device according to the invention, only the mechanical members themselves not being shown (engine, turbine, etc.).

Figures 3 and 4 are two schematic perspective views of a complete device according to the invention, which has been removed a protective cover to hide and protect the mechanical components (engine, turbine, etc.).

Figure 5 is a partial schematic view showing the tray being put in place.

Figure 6 is a partial schematic view showing the tank in the operating position.

Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that a device according to the invention comprises an assembly 1 formed of a bag 2 of filter cloth, which has an edge 3 such as a rigid frame 4 on the faces of which is subjected a flexible seal 5.

The bag 2 and the border 3 can be dissociable, in particular if one wants to be able to clean the bag 2 without the border 3 and then associate them again. In this case, securing devices of any known type are used: flange and bolts, clamp, etc., this problem being able to be easily resolved by a person skilled in the art.

The bag 2 and the border 3 can also form an inseparable whole, for example by directly overmolding the seal 5 on the mouth of the bag 2. The seal 5 is made of synthetic material whose rigidity is chosen to allow both to give a stable shape at the mouth of the bag and provide flexible deformation to form a seal.

In this case, sets 1 are stored and replaced one by one as needed, the sets 1 saturated or worn being eliminated altogether.

The bag 2 comprises, as is known per se, three pockets 6, 7 and 8 which tapering from a common quadragular mouth 9 to an individual vertex 10, 11 and 12.

At the peaks 10, 11 and 12, there are loops 13 intended for the attachment of the assembly 1 in a suction device which will now be described.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it can be seen that a device according to the invention comprises an enclosure 20 mounted on casters 21 and closed at its upper part by a plate 22 supporting the various desired mechanical organs, including an electric motor 23 supplied with current by a cable 24 and a turbine 25 driven by the motor 23 by means of a belt 26.

The turbine is associated with a duct 27 placed opposite a passage formed in the plate 22 and opening into a chamber 30 provided with hooks 31 to suspend the assembly 1 by its loops 13.

The chamber 30 has a window 32 on the front which, in normal service, is closed by a removable waterproof plate (not shown).

Angles 33 are fixed inside the walls of the chamber 30 to constitute a peripheral stop at the edge 3.

The assembly 1, put in place, determines a lower compartment 40 in which a tray 41 is mounted movable in the manner of a drawer, which is why it has an operating handle 42.

The container 41 has a continuous flat edge 43 whose width corresponds substantially to that of the seal 5 of the edge 3.

On its two opposite side walls, the tank 41 has two ramps 44 and 45 located at two different levels each a little lower than stops 46 and 47 placed inside the compartment 40. Each stop 46 and 47 is constituted by a roller mounted pivoting in order to avoid friction when they are put into action as will be described later.

Ports 48 and 49 pass through the side walls of tank 41, ports which are located opposite passages 28 and 29 formed through the walls of enclosure 20.

The compartment 40 has no bottom in order to avoid any accidental accumulation of dust when handling the saturated assemblies 1, after removal of the container 41. However, to facilitate the movements of the latter, longitudinal slides 50 are provided (FIGS. 3 and 4) including a central unit on which a roller 51 pivotally mounted in front of the tank 41 rests.

By providing that the compartment 40 has no bottom but simple angles, the dust which falls, after removal of the container 41, when changing the bag, soil the soil, which may not be too important, for example when the device is located in a garage which must necessarily be cleaned in a particularly vigorous manner.

In other cases, this structure can have drawbacks and, in order to prevent dust from dirtying the ground, a drawer 60 is provided, engaged in fixed guides (not visible in the drawing) and which is located under the slides 50. It remains in place when the used assembly 1 is removed and remove it to empty it before installing the new clean set 1.

The drawer is, for example, provided with buttons 61 for its operation.

The operation of the device which has just been described is as follows:

An assembly 1 is placed in the chamber 30 by introducing it from bottom to top, through the compartment 40, after removal of the container 41. For greater convenience, the closure plate (not shown) is removed which normally closes the window 32 The loops 13 are hooked to the hooks 31 and it is ensured that the edge 3 is well pressed against the angles 33, then the closure plate is replaced on the window 32.

The tank 41 is introduced into the compartment 40 by rolling its roller 51 on the central slide 50.

For the movement of the container 41 to be simple and free, there must be a clearance between the rim 43 of the container 41 and the underside of the seal 5 of the edge 3. This clearance is a space of height H visible on the figure 4.

At the end of the movement of introduction of the container 41 according to the arrow F1 (FIG. 5), the ramps 44 and 45 meet the rollers 46 and 47. The shape and the arrangement of the ramps 44 and 45 are chosen so that at continuing to push the tray 41, they are forced to pass over the rollers 46 and 47 and, consequently, they raise the tray 41 according to the arrow F2 by a distance at least equal to the height H.

The rim 43 of the container 41 is then energetically applied against the edge 3, by slightly compressing the seal 5, which ensures the tight connection between the container 41 and the bag 2.

We see that with the invention, a continuous and sealed enclosure is formed, formed by an upper part (the flexible wall 2) and a lower part (the tank 41) without any intermediary between them, except the seal 5.

We choose to connect a suction duct 70 either to the orifice 48, or to the orifice 49 after installation of the tank 41, using the passage 28 or the passage 29. A tape 71 is placed fixed by bolts 72 on the orifice 48 or 49 which one has not chosen, but the unused passage 28 or 29 can remain open without drawback since it is outside of tank 41. The passage used, moreover, itself has no tight connection with the conduit 70 which is directly connected to the orifice of the tank 41.

A leak-free junction is thus produced from a suction nozzle 73 of any known type fixed at the end of the duct 70 to the inside of the bag 2, through the inside of the tank 41.

The power cable 24 is connected and the motor 23 is started, either by direct action on a switch, or by using a mechanism triggered by a token, a card or a coin.

The device can then be used in a manner well known per se. The turbine 25 sucks in the air and thus creates a vacuum at the mouth of the nozzle 73. The air loaded with dust and impurities travels through the duct 70, arrives in the tank 41 and rises in the three pockets 6, 7 and 8 of the bag 2 which thus provide a very large surface for the passage of air and the retention of dust and impurities.

In use, jolts can be printed in bag 2, through window 32, in order to desaturate it by causing dust to fall and impurities attached to the bag 2 in the container 41. It can be seen that these dusts and impurities cannot soil anything here because they can only fall into the container 41, tightly connected to the bag 2 by the edge 3.

When the bag 2 has become unusable because it is saturated or worn, the conduit 70 is disconnected, the tank 41 is removed and emptied and the bag 2 is removed by the compartment 40 after having unhooked the loops 13 .

No fixing member interferes with or slows down this operation since the bag 2 and the border 3 are simultaneously removed.

We can immediately put back a set 1 as mentioned above, which takes only a very short time. The tray 41 is replaced and the duct 70 is reconnected, and the device is immediately operational.

If one chooses the embodiment according to which the bag 2 is separable from the border 3, they can be separated, without losing any time of operation of the device, for example for cleaning and / or washing the bag 2 in view of its re-use.

If we choose the embodiment according to which the bag 2 and the border 3 are inseparable, we discard the assembly 1. This embodiment may seem more expensive, but since the seal 5 is used only one times, it can be less robust than if it had to be reused often and it can therefore be made of a more economical material. It is the same for bag 2 which can be relatively fragile and therefore inexpensive.

The border 3 may not include a rigid frame 4, this being only an aid in the establishment and maintenance of the seal 5.

The connector 74 used for joining the conduit 70 to the tank 41 can be of any known type and its production is within the reach of those skilled in the art, so that it is unnecessary to give a complete description.

It is noted in particular in FIG. 4, that the mechanical members are of particularly easy access because when the protective cover has been removed (not shown) it is possible without any difficulty to change the belt 26 or the conduit 27, or make a repair, or even remove the motor 23 as well as the turbine 25, without calling on an external and specially trained workforce.

Claims (10)

1. A vacuum cleaning device of the type comprising an enclosure (20) including on the one hand a chamber (30) in which at least one flexible wall (2) is located, such as a bag for blocking solid particles whilst allowing the inspired air to pass and, on the other hand, a compartment (40) for containing a removable tank (41) situated under the chamber (30) and intended to collect the solid particles which are able to fall by gravity, characterised in that it includes sealing connection means (5) such as a flexible peripheral joint fastened to the flexible wall (2) and which ensures a direct and sealing connection between said wall (2) and the tank (41), which comprises at least one air inlet (48-49).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the flexible wall (2) and the joint (5) are separable from each other.
3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the flexible wall (2) and the joint (5) are inseparable and form a unit (1) which is interchangeable with another similar unit.
4. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the flexible wall (2) and the tank (41) are movably mounted with respect to each other in order that they can occupy two relative positions in one of which they are separated so that they can be displaced individually and in the other of which they are applied against each other in a sealing manner.
5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that the tank (41) is movably mounted in the compartment (40), on the one hand horizontally in the manner of a drawer and on the other hand vertically in order to be able to be applied by its periphery (43) against the joint (5), integral with the flexible wall (2), means being provided for maintaining said joint (5) against the tank (41).
6. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that the means for maintaining the joint (5) against the tank (41) are constituted by at least one stop (33) provided in the chamber (30).
7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that the stop is constituted by a frame formed from angle-pieces (33) fixed to the walls of the chamber (30), the peripheral joint (5), integral with the flexible wall (2) being placed against said frame (33), between the latter and the tank (41).
8. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that the tank (41) carries at least two ramps (44 and 45) fixed to the exterior of the two opposite lateral walls, at a level slightly slower than that of the top of the corresponding stops (46 and 47) situated inside the compartment (40).
9. A device according to claim 8, characterised in that the stops (46 and 47) are constituted by pivotally mounted rollers.
10. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a drawer (60), independent from the tank (41) and constituting a solid and removable bottom of the compartment (40).

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