CN117651515A

CN117651515A - Wet floor cleaner

Info

Publication number: CN117651515A
Application number: CN202280050347.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: B·L·凯珀
Original assignee: Fansongni Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Fansongni Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-19
Filing date: 2022-05-09
Publication date: 2024-03-05
Also published as: EP4091513A1; WO2022243086A1; EP4340688A1

Abstract

A rotatable brush (14) for a wet floor cleaner, the rotatable brush (14) having a cylindrical inner core (40) and cleaning members (46) disposed about an outer surface (42) of the inner core. The inner core includes at least one rib (48), the rib (48) protruding inwardly from the inner surface and extending parallel to the cylindrical axis along the length of the inner surface. This serves to deliver torque from the motor (120), preferably housed within the inner core, to the brush while taking up a minimum amount of space.

Description

Wet floor cleaner

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wet floor cleaner, and in particular it relates to a rotary brush for use in a head of a wet floor cleaner.

Background

In known wet vacuum cleaners, the cleaning head (commonly referred to as a "suction nozzle") has two counter-rotating brushes. Suction is applied at least to the space between the brushes to draw liquid from the floor that has been delivered to the floor by the vacuum cleaner. The brush contacts the floor to perform a scrubbing action. There are also known cleaning head designs with a single rotating brush.

A first problem with the cleaning head is that it should have a low profile so that it can fit under the item of furniture. This means in particular that the brush should have a small diameter, for example typically in the range of 30mm to 60 mm. These small dimensions make it difficult to fit the drive motor for the rotating brush inside the brush itself, but it is known that this will be the ideal location for the motor drive. This not only uses space without other purposes, but also makes it easier to avoid increasing the width of the cleaning head beyond the width of the rotating brush.

A second problem is that wet vacuum cleaners are difficult to clean after use. Cleaning after use is a prerequisite to avoid bacterial growth and unpleasant odours after use. The user considers both unhygienic.

To overcome this problem, some wet vacuum cleaners are equipped with a cleaning tray for rinsing the appliance after use. For example, EP 2672872 discloses a tray for cleaning a rotating brush of a wet vacuum cleaner. Alternatively, the rotating brush may be removed from the cleaning head for cleaning the cleaning head externally.

In all cases, removal of the cleaning brushes is desirable so that they can be replaced as they wear out. The need to remove the interface also takes up space, which in turn makes it more challenging to integrate the motor into the rotating brush itself.

The present invention aims to solve these problems.

DE 202014001492 discloses a floor cleaner with a plurality of roller brushes, which has an internal drive motor in the interior space of the roller brushes, and a rotary coupling between the roller brushes and their internal motor.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is defined by the claims.

According to an example of one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary brush for a wet floor cleaner for mounting in a head of the wet floor cleaner, the rotary brush comprising:

a core that is cylindrical and hollow, having an inner surface and an outer surface; and

a cleaning member disposed around an outer surface of the inner core,

wherein the inner core comprises at least one rib protruding inwardly from the inner surface and extending parallel to the cylindrical axis along the entire length of the inner surface.

The ribs serve to transfer torque from the drive means (e.g., inside the core) to the rotating brush. The rib may have a small size such that it does not occupy a lot of space inside the core. The core is simple to manufacture and it may for example have a constant cross section along its length (so that it may be extruded).

The inner core may include two ribs extending along the length of the inner surface, each rib being parallel to the cylindrical axis and 180 degrees apart. This provides a more distributed torque transfer.

The or each rib for example has a width in the range 1mm to 5mm and a width in the range 1mm to 5mm, preferably 1 to 3mm.

The width is in a circumferential direction around the core and the height is in a radial direction. These dimensions are small enough that only a small volume within the core is occupied by the ribs.

For example, the inner core comprises an extruded metal tube, such as an aluminum tube. This means that it can be formed thin-walled (e.g. in the range of 0.5mm to 2 mm) so that maximum space is maintained inside the core, particularly for accommodating a motor to drive the rotating brush. This also means that the ribs can have a low profile as described above, also taking up a small amount of internal space.

The rotary brush may further comprise a first interface member for protruding into the core at a first end of the rotary brush, the first interface member comprising a channel for engaging the rib.

The first interface member may be considered to be part of the rotating brush as it may be sold together with the rotating brush as a combined unit for simultaneous replacement.

The first interface member, for example, includes a first cylindrical protrusion having at least one channel for receiving the at least one rib, and the first interface includes a bearing that enables the first cylindrical protrusion to freely rotate.

Thus, one end of each rotating brush has a bearing that can freely rotate. The rotating brushes are driven at opposite ends. The bearing is replaced, for example, with a brush, as the bearing may have a similar life due to operation in a wet environment with cleaning chemicals.

The rotary brush may further comprise a second interface member for protruding into the core at a second end of the rotary brush, the second interface member further comprising a channel for engaging the rib.

The second interface part may also be considered to be part of the rotating brush, as it may be sold together with the rotating brush as a combined unit for simultaneous replacement. It may for example comprise a cover for covering the motor and the motor is not replaced by a rotating brush.

By separating the rotating brush from the housing, the rotating brush is removable from the cleaning head. The second interface member is essentially a housing above the motor. The two interface members engage with the ribs of the rotating brush and the second interface member thereby transmits torque to the inner core of the rotating brush.

The present invention also provides a cleaning head for a wet floor cleaner comprising:

a housing;

at least one rotating brush as defined above extending across the width of the housing;

a suction channel for delivering suction to at least one space adjacent to the at least one rotating brush; and

a motor housed within the second interface member and within the inner core of the at least one rotatable brush for driving the rotatable brush.

The motor is housed inside the inner core of the rotating brush.

The cleaning head comprises, for example, a first and a second rotating brush, each extending across the width of the housing with parallel axes of rotation and side by side in the length direction of the cleaning head. Then, by coupling the rotating brush with Ma Dajie, the first rotating brush and the second rotating brush can each be removed from the cleaning head.

The suction channel is for delivering suction to at least one space between the first and second rotating brushes.

The cleaning head may include a respective motor located inside the inner core of each of the first and second rotating brushes. The motor is for example used to drive the first and second rotary brushes in opposite rotational directions.

The first interface member is for example removably connected to an opening in the housing, wherein the opening acts as a removable port for removing the respective rotary brush from the housing. Thus, the first interface component is decoupled from the housing to expose an opening through which the rotating brush (i.e., the core, the cleaning member, and the first interface component itself) can be laterally removed.

The first interface part comprises, for example, a bayonet coupling for connection to the housing.

The second interface member includes, for example, a second cylindrical protrusion, and houses a motor and a drive coupler rotated by the motor. When the rotating brush is removed, the second interface component is attached to the rotating brush, but the motor remains attached to the housing.

Thus, one end of each rotating brush (opposite the bearing) has a drive coupler driven by motor means located within the inner core of the rotating brush.

For the or each rotary brush, the motor preferably comprises an external interface comprising a set of three projections angularly spaced about the end face of the motor drive shaft, and the drive coupling comprises a corresponding set of three projections angularly spaced about the inner end of the second cylindrical projection.

Thus, the body of the motor is stationary and it drives the external interface, which in turn drives the drive coupling. The drive coupler is coupled to rotate the inner core of the rotary brush.

Preferably support wheel means are provided for mounting the housing at a minimum spacing above the floor to be cleaned.

The present invention also provides a wet floor cleaner comprising:

a cleaning head as defined above; and

a pump for delivering suction to the suction channel.

For example, wet floor cleaners also include a water reservoir for delivering water to the cleaning head.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a known layout for a wet floor cleaner head;

figure 2 shows another known layout for a smaller and more compact cleaning head;

figure 3 shows a section through one of the rear support wheels of the cleaning head of figure 2;

FIG. 4 shows an example of a rotating brush;

FIG. 5 shows an example of the dimensions of a rotating brush;

figure 6 shows a cleaning head;

FIG. 7 more clearly illustrates the first interface component;

FIG. 8 more clearly shows the second interface component;

FIG. 9 illustrates a drive coupler;

FIG. 10 illustrates an end of a motor assembly in the form of an external interface;

FIG. 11 shows a cross section of an alternative rotary brush unit;

figure 12 shows the cleaning head with one rotating brush removed and the other in place; and

figure 13 shows the cleaner head housing with one of the rotating brushes removed and the other left in place.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate the same or similar components.

The invention provides a rotary brush for a wet floor cleaner. The brush has a cylindrical inner core and a cleaning member disposed about an outer surface of the inner core. The inner core includes at least one rib projecting inwardly from the inner surface and extending parallel to the cylindrical axis along the length of the inner surface. This serves to transfer torque from the motor, preferably housed within the inner core, to the brush while taking up a minimum amount of space.

The present invention relates to a rotatable brush for a cleaning head of a wet floor cleaner. The general configuration of the cleaning head is first described.

Fig. 1 shows a layout of a known wet floor cleaning head 10 seen from the underside. The head includes a housing 12 supporting a first front brush 14 and a second rear brush 16. A set of four support wheels 18 are arranged in a rectangular configuration behind the rear brush 16.

The main direction of movement of the cleaning head in use is parallel to the length direction of the cleaning head, perpendicular to the width direction of the housing as defined above. The main direction of movement is shown by the large arrow. This movement tends to cause the brush to roll over the floor.

Figure 2 shows another known layout for a cleaner head which is smaller and more compact, for example a device more suitable for battery operation.

Likewise, head 10 includes a housing 12 supporting a first front brush 14 and a second rear brush 16.

The housing 12 has a width W between the first and second side walls 20, 22 and has a length L that is parallel to the intended primary direction of movement of the cleaning head over the floor to be cleaned.

The first and second rotary brushes 14, 16 each extend across the width of the housing between the first and second side walls 20, 20 with parallel axes of rotation and are side-by-side in the length direction. A suction channel is provided for delivering suction to at least one space 24 between the first rotary brush 14 and the second rotary brush 16. In practice, suction will be applied to the overall volume of the housing.

The definition of the width and length of the cleaning head applies throughout.

The supporting wheel device in this design includes: a first support wheel 30 in the space 24 between the first and second rotating brushes, and a second support wheel 32 in the space 24 between the first and second rotating brushes. The outer face of the wheel is substantially flush with the side wall.

The mounting of the first support wheel and the second support wheel between the rotating brushes saves space. There are a third support wheel 34 and a fourth support wheel 36, the third support wheel 34 being located lengthwise behind (and conversely, it may be in front of) the first and second rotating brushes, the fourth support wheel 36 being juxtaposed with the third support wheel 34.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section through one of the rear support wheels 34, 36 of the cleaning head of fig. 2, and shows the support wheel 30 further rearward (behind the plane of the cross section). It shows that the first 14 and second 16 rotary brushes are driven in opposite rotational directions such that they move in the space 24 in the direction where they face each other. The suction channel 40 delivers suction to at least one space 24 between the first and second rotating brushes.

The rotating brushes are driven by a drive means, which may comprise a single motor and a belt drive for driving both rotating brushes. Alternatively, each rotating brush may have its own respective motor mounted in the core of the respective rotating brush.

The cleaning head also has fluid delivery means (not shown) for delivering fluid to the first rotating brush and/or the second rotating brush. For example, fluid may be delivered from a reservoir formed in the main housing of the vacuum cleaner to the rotating brush 16 behind the cleaning head.

Rotation of the first and second brushes causes the cleaning head to blow outwardly from the front and rear faces. It also creates a negative pressure in the space between the brushes (as air is continuously removed), which creates a lateral air suction.

The mounting of the support wheels by the housing defines a minimum spacing S between the bottom surface of the housing and the floor surface. The minimum spacing is, for example, in the range of 1.5mm to 3mm. The rotating brush protrudes below the level of the floor (when the floor is not present) so that the tufts are deformed by the presence of the floor. As mentioned above, this defines a floor recess and it is part of the water collecting function.

Fig. 3 also shows an air dam and a rear dam 39 for guiding water that has been sprayed onto the housing back to the brush.

The present invention relates in particular to the design of a rotary brush and in particular to the design of a rotary brush which facilitates the mounting of a motor in the brush core.

Fig. 4 shows an example of the rotary brush 14. Rotary brush 14 includes a cylindrical and hollow inner core 40 having an outer surface 42 and an inner surface 44. The cleaning members 46 are disposed about the outer surface 42 of the core 40, for example, comprising radially directed cleaning tufts. The cleaning member may be entirely conventional.

The inner core includes at least one rib 48 projecting inwardly from the inner surface 44 and extending parallel to the cylindrical axis along the length of the inner surface. In the example shown, the core includes two ribs 48 extending along the length of the inner surface, each rib being parallel to the cylindrical axis and 180 degrees apart. Even three or four ribs are possible.

One or more ribs are used to transfer torque from the motor (located within the inner core) to the rotating brush. The ribs are preferably as small as possible to achieve the desired torque transfer. For example, each rib has a width (in the circumferential direction) in the range of 1mm to 5mm, and a height (in the radial direction) in the range of 0.75mm to 5mm, for example, 1mm to 3mm.

The inner core 40 is, for example, an extruded metal part having a thin wall width, for example, in the range of 0.5mm to 3mm. The core is thus easy to manufacture. It may be formed of aluminum or other metal.

The core is symmetrical end-to-end so that it can be adapted in either direction end-to-end. Thus, one or more ribs extend the entire length of the core from one end to the other. The core thus has a constant cross section along its length and can thus be extruded.

Fig. 5 shows an example of the size of the rotary brush 14. In this example it has a length of 250.5mm, an outer diameter of 55.5mm, an inner diameter of the core of 30.4 mm. The rib has a circumference of 1.5mm and a radial height of 1.0 mm.

Figure 6 shows a cleaning head 10 comprising a housing 12 for containing the two rotating brushes of figure 4, each extending across the width of the housing 12.

Each rotating brush is removable from the housing. In fig. 6, a portion of one rotating brush is shown removed (particularly only the core and cleaning member), while the other rotating brush 16 is in place.

One at each end of the rotating brush. Two interface components for the removed rotating brush are shown in fig. 6, although it will be apparent from the description below that the interface components are actually removed with the brush.

The first interface member 60 is for protruding into the inner core of the rotary brush at a first end of the rotary brush. The first interface member includes a first cylindrical projection having a respective channel 62 for engagement with each rib. The first interface member 60 includes bearings to enable the first cylindrical protrusion to freely rotate about the stationary core.

The entire first interface member 60 may in fact be considered part of the rotating brush, as it may be sold together with the rotating brush as a combined unit for simultaneous replacement. Because the bearings may have a similar life due to operation in a wet environment with cleaning chemicals, the bearings are replaced with brushes. The manner in which the brush and its attached first interface member are removed from the cleaning head is described below.

The second interface member 70 is for protruding into the core at the second end of the rotating brush. The second interface component also includes a second cylindrical projection having a corresponding channel 72 for engagement with each rib.

The second interface member comprises a protrusion which is thus located, in use, inside the inner core of the respective rotary brush for driving the rotary brush. The second interface member 70 may also be considered to be part of the rotating brush as it may be sold together with the rotating brush as a combined unit. However, the second interface member is adapted above the drive motor, which is preferably not replaced by a rotating brush.

By separating the second interface member from the motor it covers, the rotating brush can be removed from the cleaning head. Thus, the motor remains in place as a stationary part of the cleaning head. The interface member engages the ribs of the rotating brush. Thus, the second interface member 70 transfers torque from the motor to the inner core of the rotating brush. The first interface 60 allows the inner core of the rotary brush to rotate about a central stationary portion fixed to the housing, for example by a bayonet coupling.

The first interface component 60 is more clearly shown in fig. 7. It comprises a cylindrical projection 61 with a channel 62 and a head 64 comprising a bayonet coupling 66. The head 64 may be locked into an opening in the housing such that the rotary brush may be removed from the housing with the first interface member 60 remaining attached to the core of the rotary brush.

The second interface component 70 is more clearly shown in fig. 8. It has a cylindrical body 71 fitted over the motor housing. The cylindrical body includes a channel 72.

Note that the channel in both interface members may comprise a slit extending entirely through the side wall, and the term "channel" should be understood to include a closed channel or an open channel, respectively. In fig. 9, an open channel (slit) can be seen, wherein the ribs 48 of the brush core 40 are visible.

The motor rotates the drive coupling within the generally cylindrical protrusion 71 of the second interface member, which cylindrical protrusion 71 is rotated by the motor.

A drive coupler 90 at the end of the cylindrical housing 71 of the second interface component is shown in fig. 9. It is in the form of a cap which is located over the end of the stationary motor assembly within the cylindrical body 71 of the second interface member. The end of the motor assembly engages the inner surface at the end of the cover to rotate the cover. The cap is secured within the cylindrical protrusion 71 (or is integrally formed with the cylindrical protrusion 71). Rotation of the cylindrical projection 71 is then transferred to the brush through the ribs and channels.

Fig. 10 shows an end of a motor assembly in the form of an external interface 100 comprising a set of three protrusions 102 angularly spaced about the end face of a motor drive shaft.

The drive coupler 90 of fig. 9 includes a corresponding set of three projections 92 angularly spaced about the inner end of the second cylindrical projection.

Thus, the body of the motor is stationary and it drives the external interface 100, which in turn drives the drive coupler 90. The drive coupler is secured to (or integral with) the main cylinder 71 of the second hub 70 and is coupled as the inner core of the rotary brush.

The arrangement of the protrusions 92, 102 enables the rotatable brush to be easily aligned with the second interface member during assembly of the rotatable brush to the housing. The protrusions on one side engage with spaces between the protrusions on the other side.

As mentioned above, the first interface part (bearing) may be considered to be part of the rotating brush, as it may be replaced with a brush. Similarly, the outer cylindrical housing 71 and drive coupler 90 of the second interface component may also be considered part of the rotary brush.

Fig. 11 shows an alternative unit in cross section. It includes an inner core 40, an outer brush section 46, a first interface member 60 (bearing and bayonet coupling), a second interface member 70, and a drive coupling 90. Note that this cross section is taken through the ribs and thus through the slits in the second interface member, so the main cylindrical portion 71 is not visible in this cross section at the end of the brush. Removal of the rotating brush includes separating the drive coupler 90 (which is removed) from the external interface 100 (which remains in place), leaving the motor 120 and its external interface 100.

Figure 12 shows the cleaning head with one rotating brush removed and the other rotating brush 16 in place. The motor housing 120 and external interface 100 are shown held in place.

Figure 13 shows the cleaner head housing 12 with one rotating brush removed and the other rotating brush 16 left in place. The housing has an opening 130, the opening 130 acting as a removal port for removing the rotating brush from the housing.

The housing is shown as being generally rectangular such that the side walls 20, 22 are parallel, but the side walls may be non-parallel to a triangular or trapezoidal housing, for example. The first brush and the second brush may have the same length (in the width direction of the head) or they may have different lengths.

The cleaning head is preferably part of a wet vacuum cleaner comprising a pump for delivering suction to a suction channel of the cleaning head and a fluid reservoir for delivering cleaning fluid to the cleaning head.

The above examples are based on a cleaning head with two rotating brushes. However, a cleaning head with a single rotating brush is also possible (e.g. with a mop portion behind the brush), and the arrangement of the present invention may be applied to a single rotating brush.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

If the term "adapted to" is used in the claims or specification, it should be noted that the term "adapted to" is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to".

Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A rotatable brush (14) for a wet floor cleaner for installation in a head (10) of the wet floor cleaner, the rotatable brush comprising:

an inner core (40), the inner core (40) being cylindrical and hollow, having an inner surface (44) and an outer surface (42); and

a cleaning member (46), the cleaning member (46) being disposed about the outer surface (42) of the inner core,

wherein the inner core (40) comprises at least one rib (48), the at least one rib (48) protruding inwardly from the inner surface and extending parallel to the cylindrical axis along the entire length of the inner surface.

2. The rotary brush of claim 1 wherein the inner core (40) comprises two ribs (48), the two ribs (48) extending along the length of the inner surface, each rib (48) being parallel to the cylindrical axis and 180 degrees apart.

3. A rotary brush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each rib (48) has a width in the range 1mm to 5mm and a height in the range 0.75mm to 5 mm.

4. A rotary brush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner core (40) comprises extruded metal tubing.

5. The rotary brush of any one of claims 1-4, further comprising a first interface member (60), the first interface member (60) for protruding into the inner core at a first end of the rotary brush, the first interface member comprising a channel (62), the channel (62) for engaging with the rib.

6. The rotary brush of claim 5, wherein the first interface member (60) comprises a first cylindrical protrusion (61), the first cylindrical protrusion (61) having the at least one channel (62) for receiving the at least one rib, and wherein the first interface member comprises a bearing enabling free rotation of the first cylindrical protrusion (61).

7. The rotary brush of claim 5 or 6, further comprising a second interface member (70), the second interface member (70) for protruding into the inner core at a second end of the rotary brush, the second interface member comprising a channel (72), the channel (72) for engaging with the rib.

8. A cleaning head for a wet floor cleaner, comprising:

a housing (12);

at least one rotary brush (14) according to claim 7 extending across the width of the housing (12);

a suction channel (40) for delivering suction to at least one space (24) in the vicinity of the at least one rotating brush (14, 16);

a motor (120) housed within the second interface member (70) and within the interior of the inner core of the at least one rotating brush (14) for driving the rotating brush.

9. The cleaning head of claim 8 comprising a first rotary brush (14) and a second rotary brush (16), each of the first rotary brush (14) and the second rotary brush (16) being in accordance with claim 7, and each of the first rotary brush (14) and the second rotary brush (16) extending across the width of the housing (12) with parallel axes of rotation and side by side in the length direction of the cleaning head,

wherein the suction channel (40) is for delivering suction to at least one space (24) between the first (14) and second (16) rotary brushes, and

wherein the cleaning head comprises a respective motor located inside the inner core of each of the first and second rotary brushes, and each of the first and second rotary brushes (14, 16) is removable from the cleaning head by decoupling each rotary brush from its respective motor.

10. The cleaning head according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the first interface member (60) is removably connectable to an opening in the housing (130), wherein the opening acts as a removable port for removing the respective rotary brush from the housing.

11. The cleaning head according to claim 10, wherein the first interface member (60) comprises a bayonet coupling (64) for connection to the housing.

12. The cleaning head according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the second interface member (70) comprises a second cylindrical protrusion (71), and wherein the second interface comprises a drive coupling (90), the drive coupling (90) being rotated by the motor.

13. A cleaning head according to claim 12 wherein for the or each rotary brush, the motor comprises an external interface (100) comprising a set of three projections angularly spaced about an end face of a motor drive shaft, and the drive coupling (90) comprises a corresponding set of three projections angularly spaced about an inner end of the second cylindrical projection (71).

14. A wet floor cleaner comprising:

a cleaning head according to any one of claims 8 to 13; and

a pump for delivering suction to the suction channel.

15. The wet floor cleaner of claim 14, further comprising a water reservoir for delivering water to the cleaning head.