EP2459043B1 - Suction cleaner with filter - Google Patents

Description

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a filter having an interior for filtering a dust-laden suction air stream and an electric motor for cleaning the filter.

State of the art

For example, from the German Auslegeschrift DE 1059636 a vacuum cleaner with a cleaning device for the dust filter known. In the vacuum cleaner, an electromagnet is provided which keeps the clutch disengaged while the engine is running. The cleaning device for the filter can be designed as a wiping device revolving around the fixed filter. The arrangement may also be such that the stripping device is arranged stationary and the filter rotates about its axis. In the upper part of the vacuum cleaner, which is also designed as a lid, an existing motor and blower engine blower unit is suitably mounted noise-damped. The filter is stretched over a filter basket, which is fixed on a shaft by means of cross pins. This shaft is mounted with its upper end in a mounted on the underside of the engine bracket and with its lower end in a crosspiece. On the inner wall of the funnel are mounted one or more scrapers which are fitted with brushes which strip the dust deposited on the outside of the filter from the filter surface when the filter is circulated. The shaft is connected to the motor shaft through a coupling.

Next is from the European patent application EP 0245224 a suction device with a filter known. The filter is rotatably mounted for its cleaning, so that deposited on the filter particles are thrown off. These particles are collected in a container.

Next is from the scriptures US 2005/0183233 a vacuum accumulator with a filter housing, a filter element and a sweeping device for sweeping the filter element known. With the sweeping device dirt is swept by the filter unit, whereby the dirt from the filter unit can be removed and collected. The sweeper comprises one or more flaps and is rotatably disposed in the filter unit.

Next is from the international disclosure WO 2007/141712 a dust filter for filtering dust from an air stream known. The dust filter comprises a filter membrane and a scraper, which is movably mounted to clean the filter membrane and operated by a motor. The filter membrane of the filter is shaped as a folded circumferential cylinder wall. If a new filter cartridge is to replace an old filter cartridge, this includes a new scraper, which is inseparably preassembled in the filter cartridge.

Next is from the German patent application DE 19704468 a self-cleaning motorized filter system known. A brush driven by a reversible synchronous motor at low speed cleans a disc filter mounted in the suction channel of the suction motor on a grille by continuous rotary movements (overhead cleaning) and thereby ensures self-cleaning during and after the suction process.

From the German patent application DE 10303678 For example, there is known a cyclone type dust collector for a vacuum cleaner. This dust collecting apparatus includes a grid cleaner for automatically removing fine dusts. The grid cleaner includes a grid rotator for rotating the grid when the vacuum cleaner is in use. The grate rotator includes a rotary member which rotatably supports the grate with respect to the cyclone body and which rotates together with the grate. Further, the rotating device includes a turbine fan as a driving source for providing power for rotating the rotary member, and a power transmitting device for transmitting the power of the turbine fan to the rotating member.

From the international publication WO 2007/083844 A1 a dust collector with a cylindrical tank is known, which corresponds to the preamble of independent claim 1.

A suction device sucks outside air through a suction port disposed in a side wall of the tank, through a filter, and through an exhaust port disposed in the lower part of a main engine base into a suction fan driven by the main motor. Within the filter, a dust removal motor is arranged in the upper area directly below the exhaust opening, which drives a dust removal device, by means of which by dust or vibration on the filter stuck dust is removed. The exhaust air opening opposite side of the filter is closed by a filter cover.

According to US 2007/0068126 A1 For example, a vacuum cleaner filter is rotated by a motor located in the region of the exhaust port of the filter to prevent dust particles from settling on the filter.

As in the patent DE 608 607 described, a vacuum cleaner on a cover to which a motor for driving an impeller is attached for generating a suction air flow. On the engine, a striking ring is arranged, which exerts a knocking effect on the filter at low speed.

In EP 1 834 565 A1 a filter device is described which comprises as a filter a microporous element. A suction motor is disposed above the element and is held by a holder which extends downwards with holding and fastening means for a percussion device. The impact device acts via an oscillating rod on the ground and thus on the lower end of the filter element.

The problem underlying the invention

The invention has for its object to provide an improved vacuum cleaner. In particular, a vacuum cleaner with a motor-driven self-cleaning filter, which is made compact, to be provided. Furthermore, a vacuum cleaner with a self-cleaning filter is to be provided, which is optimized in terms of noise during the cleaning process. Finally, a vacuum cleaner should be provided in which low flow losses can be achieved and turbulences in the suction air flow in the interior of the filter are reduced.

Inventive solution

The reference numbers in all claims have no limiting effect, but are only intended to improve their readability.

The solution of the problem is achieved by a vacuum cleaner with the features of claim 1.

Vacuum cleaners are electrical energy powered devices for receiving dust, including both mains powered and battery or cordless tools. A vacuum cleaner may include, for example, a motor-blower unit for generating a suction air flow, a nozzle for collecting dust, a suction air guide for guiding the suction air flow, a Staubabscheideeinheit and a filter. Under a Staubabscheideeinheit is a device to understand in which the dirt-laden suction air can be removed from the dirt. For example, such a Staubabscheideeinheit have a filter bag with or without basket, or a centrifugal separator. Under a filter is an object formed from a filter material to understand, the filter material enclosing the interior of the filter. To filter the dust-laden suction air stream, the filter material can be flowed through by the suction air flow, and thus serve to retain particles. For this purpose, the filter can be arranged for example in the Staubabscheideeinheit. The filter can be designed, for example, as an exchangeable cartridge filter.

By cleaning the filter, the filter material should be freed from the dirt that has accumulated on the filter material during operation of the vacuum cleaner. This dirt is caused in particular by the filtering of the dust-laden suction air flow. By the electric motor, the cleaning of the filter is automatically carried out, whereby the cleaning without effort of the user is feasible. By the electric motor, a mechanical cleaning of the filter can be achieved, which can be particularly effective. Advantageously, a housing is arranged on the electric motor, which encloses the electric motor for protection against contamination. Advantageously, the electric motor comprises a transmission for the transmission of the engine speed. This makes it achievable that a fast rotation of the electric motor can be converted into a slow but powerful revolution. Advantageously, a higher force can be achieved by the transmission than by the electric motor without transmission to carry out the cleaning.

The invention provides a compact construction, e.g. a small height, the filter achievable, which can advantageously have a small footprint. By the at least partially disposed in the interior of the filter electric motor, a larger area of the filter material for filtering the suction air flow can be achieved. If the electric motor is e.g. not on the filter material, a flow past the suction air flow to the electric motor can be achieved. As a result, an effective use of the surface of the filter material can be achieved. In addition, it can be achieved that the electric motor is cooled by the suction air flow. Furthermore, the sound emanating from the electric motor during operation can be insulated by the filter material, whereby a quiet operation of the cleaning process can be achieved.

Another advantage of the invention may be that the number of coupling points for coupling the electric motor can be minimized. Advantageously, the electric motor can drive a cleaning mechanism directly without coupling points.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims. According to the invention, the vacuum cleaner on a Abreiniger for performing a mechanical cleaning of the filter. Through the Abreiniger the filter can be freed from dirt particles in an advantageous manner. Advantageously, a mechanical force is exerted by the cleaner on the dirt particles, which is directed against the direction in which the dirt particles are pressed by the suction air against the filter material. Advantageously, a relative movement between the cleaner and the filter can be achieved by the electric motor.

According to the invention, the cleaner is also in operative connection with the electric motor and is movable. As a result, it can be achieved that the electric motor mechanically drives the cleaner, as a result of which the cleaner can transfer mechanical energy from the electric motor to the filter and / or to the filter material. This can e.g. by mechanical vibration of the filter unit, by blowing off or blowing through the filter material. The moveable cleaner provides a fixed filter, avoiding additional seals to seal the filter. Of course, embodiments of the invention are conceivable in which the cleaner is permanently mounted and the filter is in operative connection with the electric motor and thus is movable.

According to the invention, it is further provided that the filter has an exhaust air opening, and the electric motor is arranged on the region of the filter opposite the exhaust air opening. As a result, very low flow losses can be achieved because the full cross section of the exhaust port can be available. Further, turbulence of the suction air flow in the interior of the filter can be reduced.

The invention further development is preferably provided that the cleaner is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis. As a result, a slight connection of the cleaner to the electric motor and a high energy efficiency of the cleaning process can be achieved. In addition, a mechanically robust cleaner and thus a high reliability of the cleaner can be achieved.

According to the invention it is preferably provided that the filter is rotationally symmetrical and has a filter axis which is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the cleaner. In this case, the filter axis corresponds to the symmetry axis of the rotationally symmetric filter. The filter can be designed, for example, as an exchangeable cylindrical cartridge filter. Advantageously, this achieves a high cleaning efficiency of the filter, since the area of the filter medium attacked by the wiper for cleaning the filter can be maximized. Particularly preferably, the axis of rotation of the cleaner corresponds to the filter axis of the filter. As a result, the cleaner can be arranged symmetrically in the filter in order to achieve a uniform force on the filter can.

The invention further development is preferably provided that the electric motor has a drive axis which is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the cleaner. As a result, a particularly easy coupling between the driving electric motor and the rotary cleaner can be achieved. Furthermore, frictional losses can be reduced and / or tilting of the two axes can be avoided. Particularly preferably, the axis of rotation of the cleaner corresponds to the drive axis of the electric motor. Advantageously, this can be achieved by an optimal power transmission from the electric motor to the cleaner. Next, this is a particularly space-saving design accessible. Embodiments of the invention are also possible in which the drive axis of the electric motor and the axis of rotation of the cleaner are not arranged parallel to each other but at an angle, e.g. of 90 °. Thereby, another installation position of the electric motor, such as e.g. a horizontal installation with a vertically oriented axis of rotation, accessible.

According to the invention, it is preferably provided that the filter has a rotary closure for attachment, and the direction of rotation of the cleaner corresponds to the closure direction of the rotary closure. Advantageously, the filter can be arranged by the rotary closure on a Staubabscheideeinheit. The screw cap can be designed, for example, as a bayonet catch or thread. Advantageously, a rotary movement is performed to lock the rotary closure, wherein the rotary closure is closed in the closing direction. By matching the direction of rotation of the cleaner with the closing direction of the rotary closure can be achieved that can be closed by the operation of Abreinigers advantageously the rotary closure in order to avoid detachment of the filter during operation can. Moreover, the user can only reach the filter put on and easy to close, and a release of the filter does not have to worry about.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cleaner is at least partially disposed in the interior of the filter. As a result, a compact arrangement of the filter can be achieved, in which mechanically moving parts, such as e.g. the cleaner or the electric motor can be protected by the filter material. This can prove to be an advantage in the user's handling since the user can not come in contact with the technique and thus be protected from damage. Furthermore, an improved noise insulation can be achieved by the enclosing filter material. Particularly preferably, the cleaner covers at least a portion of the filter material. As a result, it can be achieved that the cleaning agent sweeps over at least part of the area of the filter material when cleaning the filter.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cleaner acts on the lowest bending stiffness of the filter. Particularly preferably, the cleaner only partially covers the filter material for cleaning. Particularly preferably, the cleaner is placed centrally in the longitudinal extent of the filter. Particularly preferably, the cleaner acts on the location of the filter material at which the bending stiffness of the filter material in the direction of movement of the cleaner, ie in the cleaning direction, is the lowest. The fact that the cleaner acts on the lowest bending stiffness of the filter, with a low energy input maximum deformation of the filter material and thus an optimal cleaning effect can be achieved. As a result, the effectiveness of a mechanical energy transfer from the stripping element to the filter can be improved. Furthermore, a symmetrical energy distribution to the filter material can be achieved.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter has a coupling which is arranged between the electric motor and the cleaner. The coupling can be designed for example as a disc clutch or dog clutch. By using the coupling, the filter can be disconnected from the electric motor, eg for maintenance or service. Particularly preferably, the coupling is arranged in the interior of the filter. This makes it possible to ensure that the coupling is protected against mechanical influences, such as being touched by the user. Particularly preferably, the coupling is directly to the electric motor or to the gear of the electric motor and to the cleaner coupled. This allows a reduction of coupling points between the electric motor and cleaner, which energy losses in the clutch can be avoided.

More preferably, the filter has an elastically deformable element, such as a spring. a spring on. Advantageously, the elastically deformable element in the assembled state of the filter exerts a force on a first and a second part of the coupling, so that both coupling parts are pressed against each other. Due to the spring manufacturing inaccuracies can be compensated in order to achieve a reliable connection between the electric motor and Abreiniger can. Furthermore, it can be achieved by the spring that the electric motor, despite colliding two coupling parts, e.g. two claws of a dog clutch in which filter can be introduced. The collision of the coupling parts could prevent insertion of the electric motor if the parts of the coupling, e.g. are difficult to move due to a transmission self-locking. Advantageously, it can be achieved that the coupling in such a case does not have to be mounted in its final position, but can only be brought into its final position by starting the electric motor.

In a further preferred embodiment, the cleaner has at least one stripping element. The scraper of the cleaner may be e.g. be designed as a paddle, deflector, cloth, flap, swinging plate, shovel, broom or comb. The shape of the scraper unit may be rectangular or trapezoidal. The stripping unit may e.g. be made of elastically deformable or rigid material. Advantageously, the wiping element wipes over the filter material, whereby the accumulated dirt is removable from the filter material. Embodiments are also conceivable in which the wiping element is designed as a blowing nozzle, which blows the filter material against the direction of the suction air flow when the motor / fan unit of the vacuum cleaner is switched off in order to free the filter material from particles.

According to the invention it is preferably provided that the filter has filter material, and the electric motor is downstream of the filter material in the direction of the suction air flow. Advantageously, by the electric motor, a force on the filter material can be reached, which is directed against the direction of the suction air flow, whereby an optimal cleaning effect can be achieved. Next is achievable that the electric motor in Pure air region of the filter is arranged, and thus is only flowed around by purified air. As a result, contamination of the electric motor, which can lead to early wear of the electric motor can be avoided.

According to the invention it is preferably provided that the vacuum cleaner has a motor-blower unit, and the filter of the motor-blower unit is upstream in the direction of the suction air flow. This makes it possible to arrange the filter unit in a dust collecting container of the vacuum cleaner.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a vacuum cleaner with a self-cleaning filter, which can have a compact design, with simple structural and cost-effective means. In particular, a filter with a low noise during the cleaning process can be provided. Further, a simple, friction-optimized construction of a self-cleaning filter can be achieved by the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantageous embodiments will be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings, to which the invention is not limited.

Fig. 1

einen Staubsauger mit Staubkammer zur Aufnahme einer Staubsammeleinheit;

Fig. 2

eine Staubabscheideeinheit eines Staubsaugers gemäß Fig. 1 in einer perspektivischen Schnittansicht;

und schließlich

Fig. 3

eine Staubabscheideeinheit eines Staubsaugers gemäß Fig. 1 in einer Schnittdarstellung.

They show schematically:

Fig. 1

a vacuum cleaner with a dust chamber for receiving a dust collecting unit;

Fig. 2

a Staubabscheideeinheit a vacuum cleaner according to Fig. 1 in a perspective sectional view;

and finally

Fig. 3

a Staubabscheideeinheit a vacuum cleaner according to Fig. 1 in a sectional view.

Detailed description based on one embodiment

In the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, like reference characters designate like or similar components.

The embodiment will be described below with reference to the Fig. 1 to 3 explained. In Fig. 1 a vacuum cleaner 10 is shown with a motor-blower unit 11 for generating a suction air flow 12. The vacuum cleaner 10 has a dust chamber 13 for receiving a Staubabscheideeinheit 14. Fig. 2 shows a Staubabscheideeinheit 14 of a vacuum cleaner 10 according to Fig. 1 in a perspective sectional view. In Fig. 3 the Staubabscheideeinheit 14 of the vacuum cleaner 10 is shown in a sectional view. Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner 10 has a nozzle for dust pickup and a suction air guide for guiding the suction air flow 12, which are not shown for purposes of illustration. Further, the vacuum cleaner 10 includes a filter 20 disposed in the dust collecting unit 14. The filter 20 is the motor-blower unit 11 of the vacuum cleaner 10 upstream in the direction of the suction air stream 12. This filter 20 is used to filter the dust-laden suction air stream 12 and has for this purpose filter material 21. The filter material 21 is flowed through by the suction air stream 12, whereby dust particles accumulate on the filter material. In the interior 22 of the filter 20, which is enclosed by the filter material 21, a cleaner 40 is arranged for cleaning the filter. In addition, an electric motor 30 for driving the cleaner 40 and thus for cleaning the filter 20 is partially disposed in the interior 22 of the filter 20. In order to be able to remove the dust accumulated on the filter material 21 of the stationary filter 20, a mechanical cleaning of the filter 20 can be carried out by the cleaner 40. For this purpose, the movable cleaner 40 is driven by the electric motor 30. The cleaner 40 is thus in operative connection with the electric motor 30. The cleaner 40 is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis 41. The filter 20 is a cylindrical cartridge filter, and thus rotationally symmetrical. The filter axis 23 of the filter corresponds to the axis of rotation 41 of the cleaner 40 and is therefore parallel to it.

The electric motor 30 has a drive shaft 31, which corresponds to the axis of rotation 41 of the cleaner 40, and is thus arranged parallel to it. The drive axle 31 of the electric motor 30, the filter axis 23 of the filter 20 and the axis of rotation 41 of the cleaner 40 thus coincide, whereby a simple construction and thus a high reliability of the cleaning mechanism is achieved.

The filter 20 has a coupling 25 which is arranged between the electric motor 30 and cleaner 40. This allows the filter including the cleaner 40 to be disconnected from the electric motor 30, e.g. To perform maintenance work. The clutch 25 is a dog clutch, which is particularly easy to disconnect and reconnect. To compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies, the filter 20 has a spring 43. By the spring 43 and the placement of two coupling claws 26 can be compensated during assembly of the coupling. As soon as the electric motor 30 starts, the claws of the clutch 25 are pressed by the spring 43 in its intended position.

The cleaner 40 is located in the center of the filter 20, and thus acts on the lowest bending stiffness of the filter. This enables an optimal cleaning effect, since a maximum deflection of the filter material 21 by stripping can be achieved by a minimal force of the cleaner 40. The cleaner 40 has two stripping elements 42. By the rotation of the cleaner 40, the stripping elements 42 strip the filter material 21 and thereby cause a force on the filter material 21 and thus on the adhering dust, which leads to the detachment of the dust from the filter material 21.

The filter 20 has a screw cap 24 designed as a bayonet closure for fastening the filter 20 to the Staubabscheideeinheit 14. The closure direction of the rotary closure 24 corresponds to the direction of rotation of the cleaner 40, whereby a tightening of the filter 20 is achieved during operation of the cleaner 40, since the wiping element 42 during cleaning of the filter 20 on the filter material 21 strips and thus a force on the filter 20th exercises. The user does not have to pay attention to the tight fit of the filter 20 when attaching the filter 20 to the Staubabscheideeinheit 14.

The filter 20 has an exhaust port 27. During operation of the vacuum cleaner 10, the suction air flow 12 through the filter material 21 into the interior 22 of the filter 20th passed to pass through the exhaust port 27 to the motor-fan unit 11. The electric motor 30 is arranged at the region of the filter 20 opposite the exhaust air opening 27. As a result, very low flow losses are achieved, since the full cross-section of the exhaust port is available. In addition, turbulence of the suction air flow in the interior of the filter can be reduced.

The electric motor 30 is downstream of the filter material 21 in the direction of the suction air stream 12, and thus arranged in the clean air area. As a result, contamination of the electric motor, which can lead to early wear of the electric motor can be avoided.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a vacuum cleaner with a self-cleaning filter, which can have a compact design, with simple structural and cost-effective means. In particular, a filter with a low noise during the cleaning process can be provided. Further, a simple, friction-optimized construction of a self-cleaning filter can be achieved by the invention.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawings may be of importance both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various forms.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

vacuum cleaner

11

Motor-fan unit

12

suction air flow

13

dust chamber

14

Staubabscheideeinheit

20

filter

21

filter material

22

Interior of the filter

23

filter axis

24

Screw cap of the filter

25

clutch

26

coupling claw

27

exhaust vent

30

electric motor

31

Drive axle of the electric motor

40

Abreiniger

41

Rotary axis of the cleaner

42

stripping element

43

feather

Claims (11)

1. Vacuum cleaner (10) comprising:

   a filter (20) with an inner chamber (22) for filtering a dust-laden stream of suction air (12), wherein the filter (20) has an exhaust-air opening (27); an electric motor (30) for cleaning the filter (20), wherein the electric motor (30) is disposed at least partially in the inner chamber (22) of the filter (20), and a cleaning device (40) for performing mechanical cleaning of the filter (20), wherein the cleaning device (40) is in operative connection with the electric motor (30) and movable, characterised in that the electric motor (30) is disposed on the region of the filter (20) facing the exhaust-air opening (27) such that the cleaning device (40) is located between the electric motor (30) and the exhaust air opening (27).
2. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the cleaning device (40) is rotatably mounted on a rotary axis (41).
3. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that the filter (20) is rotationally symmetric and comprises a filter axis (23), which is disposed parallel to the rotary axis (41) of the cleaning device (40).
4. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that the electric motor (30) comprises a drive axle (31), which is disposed parallel to the rotary axis (41) of the cleaning device (40).
5. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that the filter (20) comprises a rotary lock (24) for fixing and the direction of rotation of the cleaning device (40) corresponds to the locking direction of the rotary lock (24).
6. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the cleaning device (40) is disposed at least partially in the inner chamber (22) of the filter (20).
7. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the cleaning device (40) engages at the point of the lowest flexural rigidity of the filter (20).
8. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the filter (20) comprises a coupling (25), which is disposed between the electric motor (30) and the cleaning device (40).
9. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the cleaning device (40) comprises at least one scraper element (42).
10. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter (20) comprises filter material (21) and the electric motor (30) is disposed downstream of the filter material (21) in the direction of the stream of suction air (12).
11. Vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vacuum cleaner (10) comprises a motor-fan unit (11) and the filter (20) is disposed upstream of the motor-fan unit (11) in the direction of the stream of suction air (12).

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