CN109199230B

CN109199230B - Smooth ground dust collector suction nozzle

Info

Publication number: CN109199230B
Application number: CN201810733478.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·拉特; H-J·施托伊特纳
Original assignee: Wise Ltd
Current assignee: Wise Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-07
Filing date: 2018-07-06
Publication date: 2021-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-06
Also published as: CN109199230A; EP3430962A1; EP3430962B1; DE102017115299A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle, comprising a nozzle body (1) and a suction space (2) formed in the nozzle body (1) and opening downwards, wherein the suction space (2) is delimited in a working direction (x) by a front wall (3) and a rear wall (4) and by a flexible and segmented sealing strip (5) made of plastic connected to the walls (3, 4) and by side walls (9) in a transverse direction (y). The suction nozzle body (1) has a suction channel (10) which opens into the suction space (2) for conducting a suction air flow. In the region of the two side walls (9), a support element (12) is provided which projects downward beyond the front wall (3) and the rear wall (4), wherein the sealing strip (5) projects downward beyond the support element (12) when aligned in a straight line. Successive sections (9) of the sealing strip (5) are adjacent to one another in the relaxed state directly or via a gap having a width of less than 1 mm.

Description

Smooth ground dust collector suction nozzle

Technical Field

The invention relates to a smooth floor vacuum cleaner nozzle, comprising a nozzle body and a suction space formed in the nozzle body and opening downwards.

Background

The invention proceeds from a smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle, as is described, for example, in EP2937029B 1. Such a smooth floor cleaner nozzle has a very simple construction and can be manufactured at low cost.

Although universal or adaptable vacuum cleaner nozzles are also known in practice, a smooth floor vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the invention should only be optimized for use on smooth or hard floor coverings, such as concrete floors, PVC linings, ceramic tiles, floor woods, laminates or the like. Correspondingly, slick floor cleaner nozzles are often also sold as further accessories together with the cleaner and are then used as a complement to a universal cleaner nozzle or to a cleaner nozzle optimized for cleaning of a textile floor finish.

In accordance with known designs, the smooth-floor cleaner nozzle can also be formed in a simple construction within the scope of the invention. In particular, the suction nozzle body can be designed in a known manner as a one-piece injection-molded part.

In the case of smooth ground surfaces, it is also to be taken into account that smooth ground surfaces are not completely flat and are not exactly identical in comparison with one another. For example laminate, parquet, tile floors and corridor floors provided with joints are also referred to as smooth floors, whereas for example PVC floors or other plastic floors are often completely flat and seamless.

In this context, too, different special requirements are to be met for different smooth surfaces. In a completely flat, seamless, smooth floor, it must be ensured that the intake air can enter the suction nozzle sufficiently, since otherwise the dirt particles cannot be removed effectively. In this case, it is to be noted that the intake output results from the product of the pressure difference and the intake air volume flow. Effective cleaning is achieved in exactly the following situations: at the edge of the suction opening or on the underside of the suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner, there is a pressure difference relevant for the suction effect and additionally an air flow which can entrain and transport dirt particles away together.

In contrast, in smooth floors with joints, suction air can also enter increasingly through the joints, wherein it is often desirable to have as good a seal as possible just outside the joint in order to maximize the suction air flow and the flow velocity in the joint, which is particularly important for good cleaning in the case of deep joints between wooden boards or the like.

Finally, the smooth-floor cleaner nozzle should also be permeable to a certain extent to contaminants, such as hairs, small stones or other coarse dirt particles, so that these contaminants are not pushed in front of the smooth-floor cleaner nozzle during the suction cleaning.

According to EP2937029B1, different combinations of features and parameters are provided in a smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle of the same type in order to provide good suction performance even with a relatively small electrical power consumption of the suction fan. In order to be able to also receive dry, fine dirt particles in a good manner, taking into account the aforementioned boundary conditions, a total cross section available for flow through is defined for this purpose on the preceding sealing element. However, it is the cleaning of smooth surfaces with seams that strives for still further improvements in the intake performance.

DE102014114030a1 discloses a vacuum cleaner nozzle with a coarse sealing lip, which is inclined in the flow direction of the suction air flow in order to be able to move past and receive dirt particles more easily and which can also be provided with vertical slots. By means of the vertical slot, the sealing lip or the flexible sealing strip formed from plastic has sections which are individually raised when moving past coarse dirt particles. In addition, a good seal can be ensured outside of this raised section. However, there is a risk in the case of a completely smooth, seam-free floor covering: the cleaner nozzle is secured. Such a grip leads on the one hand to an undesirably high sliding force and on the other hand to a reduction in the suction air flow, so that a satisfactory cleaning effect may then not be achieved.

According to DE102014116280a1, the front flexible sealing strip can be segmented, wherein the individual segments are supported by the webs at the rear in order to stabilize the segments, while the intermediate element can be deformed relatively easily. The entire vacuum cleaner nozzle is supported on the floor by means of bristles, which extend laterally and on the rear side of the vacuum cleaner nozzle.

From US4190924 and US2005/0066471a 1a vacuum cleaner nozzle is known which comprises a flexible sealing strip, wherein the sealing strip is segmented by a V-shaped recess. Only a limited sealing is achieved by the V-shaped recess, wherein the intake air can always enter through the recess. According to US2005/0066471A1, the recess also enables a curvature of the entire cleaner nozzle, which is however no longer suitable and provided for cleaning smooth floors.

Suction cleaning tools with segmented sealing strips are known from DE102004005144a1 and DE102014100004a1, wherein the suction cleaning devices each have a rotating brush in order to be able to perform a reversing function or an effective cleaning of the textile floor covering.

Finally, vacuum cleaner nozzles for receiving liquid are also known from US2014/0130295a1 and US7617564B 2. In order to receive the liquid, a relatively good seal on the underside is necessary, so that a flexible sealing strip made of plastic is provided, which is closed linearly along its length, but has a sawtooth-shaped profile on its front side. When the flexible sealing strip is placed obliquely during the suction operation, a channel is formed on its front side by the zigzag shape of the sealing strip, through which channel suction air or liquid to be sucked can be received.

Disclosure of Invention

Against the background of the known prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle which is suitable for different smooth floors and in particular also enables effective cleaning of joints of smooth floors, even if the joints are relatively deep.

The subject matter of the invention and the solution of this object are a smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a nozzle body and a suction space formed in the nozzle body and opening downwards, wherein the suction space is delimited in the working direction on the one hand by a front wall and a rear wall of the nozzle body and a flexible sealing strip made of plastic connected thereto and on the other hand in the transverse direction by two side walls, wherein the nozzle body has a suction channel opening into the suction space for conducting a suction air flow flowing in through the suction space, wherein in the region of the two side walls a support element is provided in each case which projects downwards beyond the front wall and the rear wall, wherein the sealing element projects beyond the support element in the linear orientation, wherein the sealing strip in the transverse direction is in each case segmented by a cutout, and wherein successive segments of the sealing strip in the unpowered state on their free lower end, without forming a gap or with a gap of less than 1mm, have a sealing element which is configured in the transverse direction of the suction space, and wherein the sealing strip is connected to the suction space in the transverse direction of the suction space, a support element is connected to the support element, and wherein the sealing strip, the support element is connected to the support element, and the support element, is connected to the support element, and the support element, is connected to the support element, and the support element, is connected to the support element, is connected to the support element, and the support element, is connected to the support element, and the support element, so as a support element, so as to the support element, so that the support element, so as to the support element, so that the support element, so as to the support element, so that the support element, so as to the The gaps of width are immediately adjacent to each other.

The invention therefore discloses a simply designed smooth floor cleaner nozzle which has particularly good suction properties based on a combination of a plurality of mutually coordinated features.

While in the known smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzles according to the prior art it is considered that the cleaning of a completely flat, seamless smooth floor on the one hand and a smooth floor provided with a seam on the other hand must be compromised in terms of the tightness of the flexible sealing strip, the smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the invention can be adapted to different requirements in a particularly advantageous manner.

According to an important first aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner smooth-floor nozzle of simple design is provided with support elements in the region of the two side walls which delimit the suction space which is open downwards. The support element is arranged for supporting the smooth floor cleaner nozzle downwards when the smooth floor cleaner nozzle is in use.

When the smooth-floor cleaner nozzle is not placed on the floor and the sealing strip is then or is to be oriented linearly, the sealing strip projects downwardly beyond the support element. This results in that, when the nozzle body is placed with the support element onto a flat floor, the sealing strip rests on the flat floor and deforms in a predetermined manner. However, the support by means of the support element also avoids: the smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle sinks further due to its weight, applied sliding forces or due to being firmly sucked on the floor, so that a predetermined geometry is obtained at least when the nozzle body is oriented straight horizontally in the neutral position.

A good seal can be achieved by the interaction of the flexible sealing strip with the supporting element, wherein the intake air can only flow in a limited lateral direction also through the side walls. Particularly preferably, the extension of the support element with respect to the side wall is small and may be, for example, between 1mm and 5 mm.

Although the flexible sealing strip made of plastic is segmented within the scope of the invention, the sealing is not significantly affected thereby, since successive segments of the sealing strip are directly adjacent to one another in the force-free state at their free lower ends without forming gaps, by means of gaps having a width of less than 1 mm. When the flexible sealing strip is cut without material loss, a gap width of less than 1mm, in particular less than 0.5mm, can be achieved, for example. In the context of such a design, the segments can also be in direct contact in the force-free state.

By segmenting the sealing strip, the individual segments can be lifted relatively easily. When, for example, moving past a coarse dirt or the like, the respective section can be lifted. The dirt is then effectively received by the smooth floor cleaner nozzle and pushed in front of the flexible sealing strip.

Even in completely flat, seamless smooth floors, the segmentation of the flexible sealing strip made of plastic is important for achieving good suction performance. In the case of completely flat, seamless, smooth floors, there is in principle a risk: the intake air does not flow sufficiently to be able to effectively receive and transport away dirt particles because of the effective seal.

It is to be noted here that the suction power is ultimately the product of the pressure difference and the volume flow of the suction air. By segmenting the flexible sealing strip, it is possible to: as the negative pressure increases, the individual segments can also be raised overall or at least at their corners in order to let in the intake air. That is, within the scope of the invention, a valve function can be provided by a flexible, segmented sealing strip made of plastic. Before the (although sealing itself well) intake air flow is interrupted or too small, the flexible sealing strip made of plastic is opened, whereupon the intake air can then flow increasingly. It is to be taken into account here that, during the forward stroke of the smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle in the operating direction, at least the front flexible sealing strip is directed at its free lower end toward the suction space and can therefore be raised by the underpressure.

Under negative pressure, the individual segments can be lifted slightly overall in the manner described or openings can be formed in the interrupted region. Whether both effects contribute to the valve function to the same extent or whether the valve function is based primarily on one of the two effects, depends substantially on the flexibility of the sealing strip and the height of the sealing strip, wherein the respective parameters can be selected and optimized by the person skilled in the art according to the respective requirements.

In a smooth floor provided with a seam, the intake air can always flow in through the seam under the flexible sealing strip, so that the valve function does not then occur in a suitable design. More precisely, a good sealing is achieved outside the joint between the smooth floor cleaner nozzle and the floor by means of the flexible sealing strip (despite the presence of the segments) and by means of the side walls, so that the air flow through the joint and the pressure difference effective there can be maximized and the cleaning performance optimized within the scope of the invention. In particular, deep joints, for example between floor boards, can also be cleaned particularly effectively and reliably.

A smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle is preferably distinguished in the context of the invention by a particularly simple construction, wherein the nozzle body can be designed as a one-piece injection-molded part. Such a simple structure is known, for example, from EP2937029B1 already cited at the outset.

Preferably, the two side walls of the nozzle body end at the same height in the horizontal orientation of the nozzle body or in an intermediate position. The lower end of the side walls can also be considered if necessary in order to define a horizontal orientation or an intermediate position of the nozzle body.

According to the known smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle, the suction space also has within the scope of the invention particularly preferably a rectangular or substantially rectangular base surface, so that a known beam shape is obtained.

In order to be able to connect the vacuum cleaner, in particular via the suction pipe, a pipe connection is usually rotatably connected to the suction channel. In this case, according to a preferred further development of the invention, it is provided that the rotatable connection of the pipe connection to the suction channel is the only articulated connection of the smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle. In particular, the complicated design of the swivel/tilt hinge is dispensed with, for which reason a multi-part design of the smooth floor cleaner nozzle or nozzle body is usually required and the mutually movable hinge parts are also sealed to one another in a suitable manner. The sealing of the rotatable connection between the pipe connection and the suction channel can be achieved in a simple manner by sleeve-shaped sections assigned to one another.

According to the invention, the smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle is supported on its underside in the region of the downwardly open suction opening when it is in use by a support element which is located in the region of the side wall. A support element is usually provided on each side of the nozzle body. The support element can be designed, for example, as a skid or as a roller. In the embodiment as a skid, the support element can also be designed as a segment of the suction nozzle body, in particular manufactured in one piece. The runner can also, for example, merge into the side wall or can also be formed by the lower edge of the side wall.

In contrast, the roller is fastened or supported in a suitable manner as a separately produced element on the suction nozzle body.

When the roller is provided as a support element, the roller can then, for example, be inserted into the suction space.

In principle, however, the support element can alternatively be arranged in or outside the suction space. In order to be able to keep the suction space which is open downwards and the flexible sealing strip which is provided as a delimitation at a predetermined height, the support element extends at least partially between the front wall and the rear wall, as seen in the working direction.

I.e. when the roller is provided as a support element, then the bearing point of the roller is now between the front wall and the rear wall. This specification is always satisfied when the roller is inserted into the suction space which is open downward. In particular the bearing point of the suction roller can be positioned centrally or approximately centrally between the front wall and the rear wall.

When the roller is provided as a support element, particularly good and simple handling of the smooth floor cleaner nozzle is obtained, since an easy and low-wear movement can be achieved by the rolling movement. On the other hand, it is to be noted at this point that the suction nozzle body is not tilted too strongly with respect to the horizontal orientation or the neutral position so that the functionality is no longer ensured.

As already explained above, the support element, in particular the roller, can project slightly relative to the side wall, as a result of which, on the one hand, a good seal is achieved. On the other hand, the side walls can serve as stop elements when the rollers are used as support elements and also when they are tilted. That is to say when the suction nozzle body is strongly inclined, the support no longer takes place on the rollers, but on the side walls, which can also be detected and corrected directly by the user.

When, in contrast, the skid is provided as a support element in the context of the invention, the horizontal orientation or the intermediate position of the suction nozzle body can be predetermined by the shape of the skid.

Within the scope of the invention, the flexible sealing strip can in particular have a free height of between 5mm and 20 mm. For height determination, only the length of the flexible sealing strip is considered here, which extends downwards and outwards beyond the front wall or the rear wall. The flexible sealing strip is fastened in a suitable manner to the front wall or the rear wall by means of a foot section, which can be injected, for example, into the material of the nozzle body. Alternatively, the front wall and the rear wall can also be provided with slots into which the foot sections engage. Within the scope of such a design, in principle, the exchangeable design of the flexible sealing strip is also considered, so that the flexible sealing strip can be exchanged when it is identified or worn out.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, the sealing strip has between 6 and 30, particularly preferably between 8 and 16 sections.

The suction space has a width in the transverse direction of, for example, between 260mm and 400mm, preferably between 280mm and 350 mm.

Drawings

The invention is explained with the aid of the drawings, which show only exemplary embodiments.

The figures show that:

FIG. 1 is a view from below of a smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to FIG. 1 placed on a smooth floor;

FIG. 3a is a view from the front of the vacuum cleaner nozzle according to FIG. 1 during suction operation on a smooth floor provided with a seam;

FIG. 3b is a detailed view of the front flexible sealing strip in the suction operation according to FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4a shows the smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle according to FIG. 1 in a suction operation on a completely flat smooth floor without seams;

fig. 4b is a detailed view of the front flexible sealing strip in the suction operation according to fig. 4 a.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to the invention from below. The smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle has a nozzle body 1 which can be designed in a particularly simple manner, for example, as a one-piece injection molded part.

A suction space 2 which is open downward is formed in the nozzle body 1. The suction space 2 has a rectangular base surface so that the entire nozzle body 1 has substantially a beam shape.

The suction space 2 is delimited on the one hand in the working direction x by a front wall 3 and a rear wall 4 of the nozzle body 1 and by a flexible sealing strip 5 made of plastic connected to the

walls

3, 4, wherein the sealing strip 5 is divided into sections 7 by a gap 6.

The recess 6 extends in the exemplary embodiment shown over the entire free height h of the flexible sealing strip 5, wherein the free height h of the sealing strip 5 can be, for example, between 5mm and 20 mm.

The sealing strip 5 is fastened with a foot section 8 (fig. 2) to the

walls

3, 4 of the suction nozzle body 1, in particular embedded in the

walls

3, 4 by injection molding. The foot section 8 is not taken into account in determining the free height h.

The sealing strip 5 may have, for example, between 6 and 30 sections, in particular between 8 and 16 sections. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a design with 12 segments is provided.

In the transverse direction y, the suction space 2 is delimited by a side wall 9 of the nozzle body 1. The suction nozzle body 1 furthermore has a suction channel 10 which opens into the suction space 2 for conducting a suction air flow which flows in through the suction space 2, wherein a pipe connection 11 is rotatably connected to the suction channel 10.

The rotatable transition between the suction channel 10 and the pipe connection 11 constitutes the only articulated connection of the smooth floor cleaner nozzle, thereby contributing to a simple design.

As can be seen in particular from a comparison of fig. 1 and 2, in the region of the two side walls 9 there are provided support elements 12 which project downwards beyond the front wall 3 and the rear wall 4, respectively, and on which the suction nozzle body 1 can be supported downwards when it is in use.

The support elements 12 are each designed as rollers which engage in the suction space 2 according to fig. 1, wherein, however, the invention is not limited to such a design. For example, a skid is also conceivable as support element 12, wherein, independently of the specific design of the support element 12, the support surface is at least partially arranged between the front wall 3 and the rear wall 4, as seen in the working direction x. Other variants are also conceivable in addition to such a preferred embodiment.

As can be seen in particular from fig. 2, the sealing strip 5 projects downwardly beyond the support element 12 in the linear orientation, so that when the nozzle body 1 is placed with the support element 12 on a flat floor 13, it rests on the flat floor 13 as shown in fig. 2 and is deformed in a predetermined manner.

By means of the smooth-floor vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the invention, particularly good suction cleaning is achieved on a completely flat, seamless smooth floor on the one hand and also on a smooth floor provided with seams on the other hand.

Figure 3a shows a smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to the invention on a floor 13 provided with a seam 14. Since the sealing strip 5 rests sealingly on the floor 13 outside the seam 14 according to fig. 2 and the sections 7 are also separated from one another only by the recesses 6 and the suction space 2 is additionally delimited at its edges by the side walls 9, a very good sealing of the smooth floor cleaner nozzle with respect to the floor 13 is obtained, wherein, however, the seam 14 can be used for the intake of suction air. By means of a good sealing and a controlled support of the suction nozzle body 1 by means of the support element 12, the effective suction air flow over the seam 14 is maximized, so that also deep seams 14 can be cleaned particularly reliably and effectively, which is shown in particular by way of example in fig. 3 b.

Fig. 4a and 4b correspond to the illustrations of fig. 3a and 3b, wherein, however, the floor 13 is designed to be completely flat and therefore without seams 14. If, in the embodiment according to fig. 4a and 4b, sealing strip 5 rests sealingly against floor surface 13 as described above, it is possible, although securing of suction nozzle body 1 by support element 12 is avoided, that the air flow necessary for suction cleaning cannot be provided on sealing strip 5.

However, since in the context of the invention the sealing strip 5 is flexibly formed from plastic and is additionally segmented, the individual segments 7 can be deformed by an increased underpressure in the intake space 2, wherein then an opening for penetrating the intake air is obtained. In the context of the present invention, a valve function is thus realized which always ensures the volume flow of the intake air necessary for effective intake operation. As shown in fig. 2 and in particular 4b, the individual segments 7 according to fig. 2 can be completely lifted in the seamless floor 13 and/or deformed at their edges by the underpressure in the suction space 2 (see in particular fig. 4 b).

Claims

1. A smooth floor vacuum cleaner nozzle comprises a nozzle body (1) and a suction space (2) formed in the nozzle body (1) and opening downwards,

wherein the suction space (2) is delimited in the working direction (x) on the one hand by a front wall (3) and a rear wall (4) of the nozzle body (1) and by a flexible sealing strip (5) made of plastic connected to the front wall (3) and the rear wall (4) and in the transverse direction (y) on the other hand by two side walls (9),

wherein the suction nozzle body (1) has a suction channel (10) which opens into the suction space (2) for discharging a suction air flow which flows in through the suction space (2),

wherein support elements (12) which project downwards beyond the front wall (3) and the rear wall (4) are provided in the region of the two side walls (9) respectively,

wherein the sealing strip (5) projects downwards beyond the supporting element (12) when oriented in a straight line,

wherein the sealing strip (5) is segmented in the transverse direction (y) by a plurality of notches (6) and

wherein successive sections (7) of the sealing strip (5) are directly adjacent to one another in the force-free state at their free lower ends without forming gaps or through gaps having a width of less than 1 mm.

2. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle body (1) is constructed as a one-piece injection molded part.

3. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said suction space (2) has a rectangular base surface.

4. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pipe connection (11) is rotatably connected to the suction channel (10).

5. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side wall (9) extends in the working direction (x) beyond the two flexible sealing strips (5).

6. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a skid or roller is provided as the support element (12).

7. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein rollers embedded in the suction space (2) are provided as support elements (12).

8. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said support element (12) projects downwards between 1mm and 5mm with respect to the side wall (9).

9. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said flexible sealing strip (5) has a height (h) between 5mm and 20 mm.

10. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said sealing strip (5) has between 6 and 30 sections (7) respectively.

11. A smooth floor cleaner nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said suction space (2) has a width in the transverse direction (y) of between 260mm and 400 mm.