EP3906830B1 - Hand-guided cyclone vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a hand-held cyclone vacuum cleaner, which is referred to below as a vacuum cleaner for the sake of simplicity. In particular, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner which has a separating container for receiving suction material and a drive unit container which has a drive unit which is designed to generate a suction air flow during operation.

Such a vacuum cleaner is from the WO2017/046 559 A1 known. The vacuum cleaner has two filter stages, which are implemented using cyclone technology, so that they are designed as a multi-cyclone. The vacuum cleaner also has a third filter stage, which is connected downstream of the multi-cyclone in terms of flow technology and is built around an encapsulated radial fan. An axial outflow from the fan is directed through an exhaust air filter. The flow to the various filter stages, however, requires a relatively large installation space.

The US 2017/290479 A1 and EP 3 563 739 A1 reveal hand-held vacuum cleaners in which the filter elements in the separator can be removed in one direction. The WO 2019/231153 A1 , US2019/307304 A9 , US 2019/008340 A1 , WO 2019/231157 A1 , WO 2019/231157 A1 and EP 3 287 059 A1 reveal such vacuum cleaners.

The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a hand-held cyclone vacuum cleaner that has several filter stages that are implemented in a compact installation space. In addition, the filter stages should be accessible to the user.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a hand-held cyclone vacuum cleaner with the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

The invention provides a vacuum cleaner in a compact design that has several filter stages. The implementation of several filter stages enables a particularly effective separation unit with a particularly selective first filter stage. At the same time, all filter stages of the separation unit that require periodic cleaning are arranged so that they are easily accessible for the user.

The invention relates to a hand-held cyclone vacuum cleaner, comprising a separation unit for collecting suction material, which has a drive unit for generating a suction flow, a first filter stage, a second filter stage and a third filter stage; wherein the drive unit is arranged downstream of the second filter stage and upstream of the third filter stage in a drive unit housing, wherein the drive unit is surrounded by the suction flow generated during operation of the drive unit. The drive unit is arranged spatially between the second filter stage and the third filter stage in a drive unit housing.

Because the drive unit located in the drive unit housing can be surrounded by the suction flow, installation space is saved.

The term "hand-held" means that the vacuum cleaner is operated by hand by the user. For this purpose, the vacuum cleaner preferably also has a handle. The handle is preferably firmly connected to the separation unit or can be connected.

The term "cyclone vacuum cleaner" refers to a vacuum cleaner that is bagless and in which the suction flow in the separation unit forms a vortex flow that functions to separate dust and dirt particles from the suction flow under the influence of gravity. The first filter stage of the separation unit of the cyclone vacuum cleaner forms a longitudinal axis, whereby when the drive unit is in operation, the suction flow forms a vortex flow around the longitudinal axis of the first filter stage, whereby the longitudinal axis of the first filter stage is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suction pipe. The parallel alignment of the longitudinal axes of the first filter stage and the suction pipe are crucial for the realization of a vacuum cleaner with a compact design.

The term "bagless" means that the suction material in the vacuum cleaner is collected directly in the separation unit, without a bag or similar replaceable filter medium being arranged in the latter to collect suction material, so that the user does not remove a bag or similar from the separation container to empty the suction material from the separation unit. However, the vacuum cleaner has several filter media that prevent suction material from reaching the drive unit arranged in the drive unit housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the drive unit is arranged such that an inflow direction of the suction flow into the drive unit is opposite to a flow direction of the suction flow from the second filter stage to the third filter stage. The generated suction flow therefore also changes its direction by 180° during its path within the vacuum cleaner. The drive unit, which is preferably designed as a fan, is preferably rotated by 180° with respect to a suction pipe of the vacuum cleaner, into which the suction flow enters the vacuum cleaner before entering the three filter stages. This means that a The flow direction of the suction flow entering the intake manifold is opposite to another flow direction of the suction flow entering the drive unit.

Preferably, the first filter stage has a cyclone generated by the drive unit during operation, the second filter stage has a pre-filter and the third filter stage has a central filter. Preferably, the central filter has a storage medium designed to store dust. It is preferably designed as a fine filter. The pre-filter essentially serves as filter protection for the central filter and is essentially designed to prevent coarse particles from entering a space between the second filter stage and the third filter stage.

Preferably, the pre-filter and the central filter are arranged axially along the longitudinal axis of the separation unit. Preferably, the separation unit extends along a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the pre-filter and the central filter each extend parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the first filter stage, the second filter stage and the third filter stage are arranged one after the other in the specified order in terms of flow. This means that the suction flow generated first passes through the first filter stage, then the second filter stage and finally the third filter stage.

In a preferred embodiment, the first filter stage further comprises an inlet slot which is arranged such that during operation the suction flow from the inlet slot is guided tangentially to an inner wall of the separating vessel, so that a cyclone forms in the first filter stage during operation. The cyclone vortex forms in the first filter stage during operation, so that particles are separated with a certain pressure loss and a certain separation grain. The first filter stage preferably comprises the inlet slot, the inner wall and a dip tube. The dip tube is preferably firmly connected to the inner wall and arranged on a side of the inner wall which faces away from the second filter stage. The inlet slot preferably has a rectangular cross-section.

The vacuum cleaner preferably has the suction pipe from which the suction flow flows into the inlet slot during operation. The suction pipe preferably has a circular cross-section. The suction pipe can preferably be connected to a floor nozzle and/or an extension pipe. The suction pipe has a longitudinal axis which lies at the center of its circular cross-section and extends along the entire length of the suction pipe.

The second filter stage preferably has a pre-filter. The pre-filter is preferably made of a fabric gauze, a plastic sieve, a punched grid or a metal gauze.

Preferably, the second filter stage further comprises an inner tube which is connected to the pre-filter. Preferably, the inner tube is arranged fluidically behind the pre-filter and before the third filter stage. Preferably, the pre-filter is arranged between the inner wall and the inner tube.

In a preferred embodiment, the central filter is a cylindrical filter that is sealed to the drive unit and to a separating unit outer housing. The central filter preferably has a storage medium that is designed to store dust. It is preferably designed as a fine filter. The pre-filter essentially serves as filter protection for the central filter and is essentially designed to prevent coarse particles from entering a space between the second filter stage and the third filter stage.

Preferably, the third filter stage is arranged in such a way that the suction flow generated during operation flows axially into the drive unit. This enables a compact design of the vacuum cleaner.

In a preferred embodiment, the second filter stage can be removed from the separation unit in a removal direction that is opposite to another removal direction in which the third filter stage can be removed from the separation unit. Due to the parallel arrangement of the second filter stage and the third filter stage, both can be removed independently of one another. Preferably, the pre-filter is detachably connected to the inner wall of the first filter stage, which is connected to the dip tube, so that the second filter stage can be removed from the separation container by removing the dip tube.

In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum cleaner further comprises a fourth filter stage, which is arranged fluidically behind the third filter stage and which comprises an exhaust air filter element. The exhaust air filter element is preferably designed as a filter or a flap in an outer housing of the separation unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the separation unit has a drive unit container and a separation container, the drive unit container containing the drive unit housing, the drive unit and the third filter stage and the separation container having the first and second filter stages. The drive unit container and the separation container are preferably arranged adjacent to one another and extend along parallel longitudinal axes. The separation container and the drive unit container are preferably permanently connected to one another.

Preferably, the drive unit housing is surrounded by a circular segment-shaped flow cross-section through which the suction flow flows during operation before it reaches the third filter stage. This keeps the vacuum cleaner compact. The However, the circular segment-shaped flow cross-section can be partially interrupted by functional geometry(s). The drive unit housing, the flow cross-section and the central filter are preferably designed and arranged in such a way that the suction flow flows around the third filter stage during operation.

Preferably, a suction pipe diameter of the suction pipe is substantially equal to a cross-sectional area of the inlet slot with a rectangular cross-section. Preferably, the suction pipe diameter is substantially equal to a filter stage diameter of the inner pipe of the second filter stage and/or equal to a diameter of the pre-filter. An area of the flow cross-section between the drive unit housing and the drive unit container outer housing is preferably approximately equal to the area of the suction pipe diameter. The diameters refer in particular to inner diameters.

The diameter of the suction pipe is preferably in the range of 20 to 40 mm, preferably 25 to 35 mm. The first filter stage preferably has the following dimensions: More preferably, the cyclone has a diameter in the range of 90 to 100 mm, a height of the cyclone, which is defined as a dimension between the inlet slot and the inner wall, is preferably in the range of 80 to 140 mm, preferably 110 to 130 mm. A height of the dip tube, which represents a longitudinal extension of the dip tube starting from the inner wall, is preferably in the range of 20 - 60 mm, more preferably 30 to 50 mm, and a diameter of the dip tube is preferably 35 - 60 mm, more preferably 40 to 50 mm. A width of the inlet slot is preferably 14 - 30 mm, preferably 18 to 26, while a height of the inlet slot is preferably 20 - 52 mm, preferably 30 to 40 mm, wherein the height and width of the inlet slot define a cross section of the inlet slot. The smaller the diameter of the pre-filter, the better the separation between the second and third filter stages and the better their separation performance.

Preferably, the drive unit container is connected to the handle. In a normal working position, the drive unit container is preferably located at the back or rear end of the vacuum cleaner, which means that it is closer to the user's hand and further away from the surface to be vacuumed than the separation container.

The vacuum cleaner is preferably a battery-operated vacuum cleaner. This means that the vacuum cleaner has a battery and is designed to be operated using the battery as a power source. The battery can be connected to the suction container and/or the device body, preferably the device body.

Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner can have an extension tube that can be connected to the suction tube. Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner can have a floor nozzle that can be connected to the suction tube and the extension tube.

The drive unit is preferably designed as a fan.

Fig. 1

eine Teil-Querschnittsansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Staubsaugers;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Staubsaugers;

Fig. 3

eine Querschnittsansicht des in Fig. 2 gezeigten Staubsaugers;

Fig.4

eine weitere Querschnittsansicht des in Fig. 2 gezeigten Staubsaugers;

Fig. 5

eine weitere Teil-Querschnittsansicht des in Fig. 2 gezeigten Staubsaugers;

Fig. 6

eine weitere Querschnittsansicht des in Fig. 2 gezeigten Staubsaugers;

Fig. 7

eine weitere Querschnittsansicht des in Fig. 2 gezeigten Staubsaugers;

Fig. 8

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Fig. 9

eine weitere Teil-Querschnittsansicht des in Fig. 2 gezeigten Staubsaugers.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows

Fig.1

a partial cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention;

Fig.2

a perspective view of the Fig.1 shown vacuum cleaner;

Fig.3

a cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner;

Fig.4

another cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner;

Fig.5

another partial cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner;

Fig.6

another cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner;

Fig.7

another cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner;

Fig.8

another cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner; and

Fig.9

another partial cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner.

Fig.1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention. The vacuum cleaner has a separation unit which has a separation container 3 and a drive unit container 2 which are permanently connected. The separation container 3 is designed to collect suction material, while the adjacent drive unit container 2 contains a drive unit 5 which is designed to generate a suction flow. The separation container 3 has a first filter stage 6 and a second filter stage 7, while the drive unit container 2 has a third filter stage 8. The first filter stage 6 has a cyclone generated during operation, while the second filter stage 7 has a pre-filter and the third filter stage 8 has a central filter.

The first filter stage 6, the second filter stage 7 and the third filter stage 8 are arranged one behind the other in terms of flow in the order given. The pre-filter and the central filter are arranged axially. The first filter stage 6 has an inner wall 10 and a dip tube 17. The drive unit container 2 has a drive unit container outer housing 12, into which a fourth filter stage 9 in the form of an exhaust air filter is optionally integrated. The drive unit container 2 also has a drive unit housing 15, into which the drive unit 5 is installed.

During operation, the drive unit 5 generates a suction flow, which is partially indicated by the arrows. First, the suction flow passes the first filter stage 6, where it is directed onto the The suction flow then passes through the second filter stage 7, then flows around the drive unit housing 15 and is guided to the third filter stage 8, where it flows all around it. After passing through the third filter stage 8, the suction flow enters a space defined by the drive unit housing 15, in which the drive unit 5 is located, and can exit this space through the filter stage 9 and thus leave the vacuum cleaner.

Fig.2 shows a perspective view of the Fig.1 The vacuum cleaner has a handle 1 which is connected to the drive unit container 2. The vacuum cleaner also has a suction pipe 4 which can optionally be connected to an extension pipe 11 or a floor nozzle (not shown).

During operation, the suction flow first flows through the extension pipe 11, passes the suction pipe 4, then flows from the suction pipe 4 into the separation container 3 and then from there into the drive unit container 2 and then leaves the vacuum cleaner.

Fig.3 shows a cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner along the line III-III. The suction pipe 4 is arranged in front of the first filter stage (not shown) and has a circular cross-section with a suction pipe diameter D.

Fig.4 shows another cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner along the line IV-IV. The suction pipe 4 is connected to the separating container 3 via an inlet slot 14, which runs tangentially into the latter and the first filter stage 6. During operation, the suction flow from the suction pipe 4 is directed tangentially to the inner wall (not shown) of the separating container 3, so that a cyclone (not shown) is formed in the first filter stage 6.

Fig.5 shows another partial cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner along the line IV-IV. The inlet slot 14 has a rectangular cross-section with a width b and a height h. The rectangular cross-section has an area which is approximately equal to the area of the in Fig.3 shown intake manifold diameter.

Fig.6 shows another cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner along the line VI-VI. The pre-filter or an inner tube (not shown) of the second filter stage 7 located downstream of the pre-filter has a circular cross-section with a filter stage diameter d. The filter stage diameter d has an area that is approximately equal to the area of the Fig.3 shown intake manifold diameter.

Fig.7 shows another cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner along the line VII-VII. Before the third filter stage (not shown), the drive unit 5 is arranged in the drive unit housing 15. An area of the cross section between the drive unit housing 15 and the drive unit container outer housing 12 is approximately equal to the area of the Fig.3 shown suction pipe diameter. The drive unit container 2 is connected to the handle 1. During operation, the suction flow flows between the drive unit housing 15 and the drive unit container outer housing 12 in a circular segment-shaped flow cross-section which is interrupted by functional geometries (not shown).

Fig.8 shows another cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 shown vacuum cleaner along the line VIII-VIII. The third filter stage 8 is arranged in the drive unit container 2 and surrounded by the drive unit outer housing 12. It is designed as the central filter. The drive unit housing 15 has an opening 16. During operation, the suction flow flows through the central filter and then through the opening 16 into the drive unit housing 15.

Fig.9 shows another partial cross-sectional view of the Fig.2 The second filter stage 7 can be removed from the separator container 3 in the direction of the arrow, while the third filter stage 8 can be removed from the drive unit container 2 in the direction of the arrow. The second filter stage 7 and the third filter stage 8 can therefore be removed in opposite directions.

List of reference symbols

b

Width

d

Filter stage diameter

D

Intake manifold diameter

H

Height

1

Handle

2

Drive unit container

3

Separation tank

4

Intake manifold

5

Drive unit

6

first filter stage

7

second filter stage

8th

third filter stage

9

fourth filter stage

10

Interior wall

11

Extension tube

12

Drive unit container outer casing

13

Separator tank outer casing

14

Inlet slot

15

Drive unit housing

16

opening

17

Dip tube

Claims (9)

1. A hand-guided cyclone vacuum cleaner, comprising a separator unit for collecting suction material, which has a drive aggregate (5) for generating a suction flow, a first filter stage (6), a second filter stage (7) and a third filter stage (8); wherein the drive aggregate (5) is arranged downstream of the second filter stage (7) and upstream of the third filter stage (8) in a drive aggregate housing (15), wherein the suction flow generated during operation of the drive aggregate (5) flows around the drive aggregate (5), characterised in that the second filter stage (7) can be removed from the separator unit in a removal direction which is opposite to a further removal direction in which the third filter stage (8) can be removed from the separator unit.
2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterised in that the drive aggregate (5) is arranged in the drive aggregate housing (15) in such a manner that an inflow direction of the suction flow into the drive aggregate (5) is opposite to a flow direction of the suction flow from the second filter stage (7) to the third filter stage (8).
3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first filter stage (6) has a cyclone generated by the drive aggregate (5) during operation, the second filter stage (7) has a prefilter and the third filter stage (8) has a central filter, and wherein the prefilter and the central filter are arranged axially, the first filter stage (6), the second filter stage (7) and the third filter stage (8) being arranged one behind the other in the specified order in terms of flow.
4. The vacuum cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the third filter stage (8) is arranged in such a manner that the suction flow generated during operation flows axially into the drive aggregate (5).
5. The vacuum cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by a fourth filter stage (9) which is arranged downstream of the third filter stage (8) in terms of flow and which has an exhaust air filter element which is preferably designed as a filter or a flap in an outer housing of the separator unit.
6. The vacuum cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second filter stage (7) has a prefilter made of a fabric gauze, a plastic screen, a punching grid or a metal gauze.
7. The vacuum cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the third filter stage (8) has a cylindrical central filter which is sealed off from the drive aggregate (5) and from an outer housing (12) of the separator unit.
8. The vacuum cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the separator unit has a drive unit container (2) and a separator container (3), wherein the drive aggregate container (2) contains the drive aggregate housing (15), the drive aggregate (5) and the third filter stage (8) and the separator container (3) has the first and second filter stages (6, 7) and wherein the drive aggregate container (3) and the separator container (3) are arranged adjacent to one another and each extend along parallel longitudinal axes.
9. The vacuum cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drive aggregate housing (15) is surrounded by a circular segment-shaped flow cross-section through which the suction current flows during operation before it reaches the third filter stage (8).

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