CN115191864A

CN115191864A - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: CN115191864A
Application number: CN202210360168.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 迈克尔·穆勒
Original assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-04-13
Filing date: 2022-04-07
Publication date: 2022-10-18
Also published as: DE102021109222A1

Abstract

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

Description

Vacuum cleaner

Technical Field

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a dirt collection container having a suction inlet; a suction unit; and a handle which can be held by a user and is used for holding the vacuum cleaner during use, the suction unit is in fluid connection with the dirt collection container via the separating device and with at least one air outlet opening via the air outlet channel and the air outlet filter, wherein the air outlet channel has a mounting opening which is arranged adjacent to the handle and via which the air outlet filter can be inserted into the air outlet channel and, if necessary, removed from the air outlet channel, and the mounting opening can be closed by means of a removable cover, and wherein the vacuum cleaner has at least two operating modes.

Background

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

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

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

An exhaust filter is replaceably retained in the exhaust passage. To this end, the exhaust channel has a mounting opening, through which the exhaust filter can be inserted into the exhaust channel and, if required, removed therefrom. If the exhaust filter is doped with particulates, it may be replaced, for example. The mounting opening can be closed by means of a cover, which can be removed from the mounting opening.

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

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is therefore to improve a vacuum cleaner of the aforementioned type in such a way that it has simpler handling.

This object is achieved according to the invention in the case of the vacuum cleaner described above in that the lid has an inner lid part facing the air outlet duct and an outer lid part facing away from the air outlet duct and mounted on the inner lid part in a movable manner, wherein a specific operating mode can be activated by the user by moving the outer lid part relative to the inner lid part.

In the vacuum cleaner according to the invention, the cover arranged on the mounting opening of the exhaust duct has not only the function of closing and, if desired, releasing the mounting opening, but also the function of enabling a user to determine the mode of operation. To this end, the cap has an inner cap part facing the venting channel and an outer cap part facing away from the venting channel, wherein the outer cap part is movable relative to the inner cap part. To enable a certain mode of operation, the user may move the cap outer part relative to the cap inner part. Relative movement of the cap outer part causes the determined mode of operation to be activated. Since the mounting opening and thus the cover are adjacent to the handle, the user can move the cover outer part, for example with the thumb of the hand with which the handle of the vacuum cleaner is held. Alternatively, the user may use his free hand to move the cap outer part. The vacuum cleaner according to the invention is thus also characterized by simpler operation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The advantage is in particular that the detection element is designed as an electrical switch which can be actuated when the cover outer part is moved relative to the cover inner part. The switch may be electrically connected to the control means and the switching position of the switch may be modified by movement of the outer part of the cap relative to the inner part of the cap. The change of the switching position causes a trigger control signal which is detected by the control device and which, thus, enables the defined operating mode.

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

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

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

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

A further simplification of the operation of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention is achieved in that the exhaust air filter is held releasably on the cover. In this embodiment, the cover together with the degassing filter, which is held releasably on the cover, form a common structural unit. This allows the exhaust gas filter to be removed from the exhaust gas channel in a simple manner by: the cover on which the exhaust filter is releasably held is removed from the mounting opening of the exhaust passage. The exhaust filter can then be released from the cover and replaced with a new exhaust filter, the new exhaust filter being connected to the cover and then inserted into the exhaust channel in such a way that: the cover is in turn arranged over the mounting opening.

The exhaust gas filter is preferably held in the exhaust gas channel in a magnetic manner. In order to achieve this, it can be provided, for example, that a permanent magnet is arranged on the exhaust gas filter, which magnet cooperates with a magnetizable holding element, in particular an iron plate, arranged in a stationary manner in the exhaust gas channel after the exhaust gas filter has been inserted into the exhaust gas channel, so that a holding force is exerted on the exhaust gas filter. Alternatively, the holding element and the permanent magnet can also be arranged in the reverse direction, i.e. the magnetizable holding element is arranged on the exhaust gas filter and the permanent magnet is arranged in a stationary manner in the exhaust gas duct.

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

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

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

Drawings

The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention is intended to be further elaborated with reference to the drawings. In the figure:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

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

The suction head 14 comprises a suction unit 18, known per se and shown only in broken lines in the drawings, having an electric motor 20 and a suction turbine 22, which is caused to rotate by the electric motor 20. Furthermore, the cleaner head 14 comprises a control device 24, which controls the electric motor 20.

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

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

Below the air outlet channel 30, the housing 28 forms a handle 32 which is coupled directly to the underside of the air outlet channel 30 and which can be gripped by the user with his hand, wherein the user can insert his hand below the air outlet channel 30 and actuate a switch 34 with his index finger in order to switch the suction unit 18 on and off.

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

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

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

In the exhaust passage 30, an air-permeable foam material 48 is arranged upstream of the filter cage 42.

Disposed on the filter cage 42 is an exhaust gas filter 50, which is designed as a cartridge filter and has a filter medium 52 which surrounds the filter cage 42 in the circumferential direction and forms a cartridge jacket and through which exhaust gas can flow from the inside to the outside. At the end faces, the filter medium has

end caps

54, 56 at its ends, wherein the end cap 54 facing the suction unit 18 has an annular sealing lip 58 on the outer side facing away from the filter medium 52, which bears against a retaining flange 60 of the filter cage 42.

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

The exhaust filter 50 can be fitted into the exhaust passage 30 through the fitting opening 64 of the exhaust passage 30. The mounting opening 64 is arranged on a rear side 66 of the housing 28 facing away from the suction unit 18 and can be closed by means of a cover 68.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The guide element 94 has two diametrically opposed guide recesses, of which one guide recess 98 is visible in fig. 6. The lid inner 70 has two

extensions

100, 102 complementary to the guide recesses 98, which can be inserted into the guide recesses 98, respectively, to prevent the lid inner 70 from rotating.

As can be seen from fig. 7, the vent filter 50 together with the cover 68 form a structural unit which simplifies the replacement of the vent filter 50. If the vent filter 50 is removed from the vent duct 30, the user merely has to grip the cover 68 at the diametrically opposed two

outer projections

104, 106 of the cover outer part 72 and then pull the cover 68 together with the vent filter 50 out of the vent duct 30 against the magnetic holding force applied to the iron plates 46 by the permanent magnets 62. The user can then release the bayonet connection between the vent filter 50 and the cover 68 to secure a new vent filter to the cover 68 and install it again into the vent passage 30 through the mounting opening 64 along with the cover 68.

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

To end the boost mode, the user may again pivot the cap outer 72 about the pivot axis 74. As a result, the microswitch 96 is actuated again by the push rod 88, so that the microswitch 86 of the control device 24 again provides a control signal, with the effect of which the control device 24 ends the boost mode and the standard mode is reactivated.

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

Claims

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

2. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a first operating mode is a standard mode in which the suction unit (18) has a standard suction power, and a second operating mode is a supercharging mode in which the suction power of the suction unit (18) is increased compared to the standard suction power, wherein the supercharging mode can be activated by a movement of the cover outer part (72) relative to the cover inner part (70).

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

4. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the supercharging mode can be automatically disabled and the standard mode can be automatically enabled again instead after expiry of a predetermined operating time.

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

6. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the detection element is designed as an electric switch (86), which can be actuated by the lid outer part (72) when moved relative to the lid inner part (70).

7. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid outer part (72) is pivotably supported on the lid inner part (70) about a pivot axis (74).

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

9. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a spring element is pressed between the lid inner part (70) and the lid outer part (72).

10. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exhaust filter (50) is releasably retained on the lid (68).

11. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the exhaust filter (50) is held magnetically in the exhaust channel (30).

12. Vacuum cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a guiding element (94) is arranged on the mounting opening (74) of the exhaust channel (30) for guiding the exhaust filter (50) when fitted into the exhaust channel (30).

13. Vacuum cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exhaust filter (50) is designed as a cartridge filter.