EP0934017B2 - Travelling floor cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to construct a traveling floor cleaning appliance, which has a cleaning tool engaging on a floor surface, a cleaning liquid tank as well as a dirty liquid container and a suction unit for taking up a cleaning liquid sprayed on the floor surface and transferring it into the dirty liquid container, in such a manner that its design is simplified and its weight reduced it is suggested that the cleaning liquid tank be constructed as a one-piece, closed hollow body consisting of plastic and that the dirty liquid container be designed in the form of a double-walled receptacle of the hollow body.

Description

The present invention relates to a mobile floor cleaning device with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Such floor cleaning devices are particularly used as scrubbing machines, whereby as a cleaning tool one or more cleaning brushes are used to clean the Attack the floor area and use it clean the cleaning liquid. For this the cleaning liquid in the area of the cleaning brushes sprayed on the floor surface and then under the action of the suction unit with loosened dirt from the floor surface resumed and in the dirty liquid container transferred. It is common for the floor cleaning device to mount on a mobile chassis, which comprises a metal frame, for example one Tubular frame or a frame made of plate-shaped Metal parts. The cleaning liquid tank is usually than in a housing of the floor cleaning device adjustable, independent container.

From German published application DE-A-30 21 520 a cleaning device is known in which the Housing in the area of its vertical side walls and in the area of the floor running parallel to it Has chamber walls that are closed together communicating chambers as a recording room form for the cleaning liquid. The well-known cleaning device also includes a dirt holding space, in the a dirty liquid container can be.

Such constructions are relative to one weighty structure connected, also designed their production is relatively complex, since different metal parts are connected to each other must, for example by welding or Screwing.

From the company Hako Minuteman, Inc. is a floor cleaning device "Hako Minuteman 170" known, in which the cleaning liquid tank as a one-piece, closed plastic hollow body with through Forming stiffened walls is designed. The liquid container is in the form of a double-walled receptacle of the hollow body trained and covered by a lid.

With such a construction are the cleaning liquid tank and the dirty liquid container together as a one-piece plastic hollow body designed. The latter forms the cleaning liquid tank on the one hand, in the in the cavity of the plastic hollow body the cleaning liquid can be poured in for cleaning sprayed the floor area in the area of the cleaning tool is, on the other hand, the plastic hollow body comprises a double-walled Recording through which the dirty liquid container is formed becomes. This has a double wall and is therefore distinguished with particularly good noise insulation. Here is by the formation of reinforcing ribs stiffening the hollow plastic body achieved so that this has a high mechanical strength having. Dirty liquid container and cleaning liquid tank can be made in one work step by suitable shaping of the one-piece, closed plastic hollow body. An independent waste liquid container is not required.

With the "Hako Minuteman 170" floor cleaning device, the Dirty liquid container is sucked off via a suction nozzle that is aligned vertically within the dirty liquid container and has a suction opening above the liquid level through which the suction air can be extracted. Such suction of Dirty liquid container is however with a considerable flow resistance connected.

Floor cleaning devices are also from Hako Werke known (Hakomatic 100 / Hakomatic 130), where the cleaning liquid tank and the dirty liquid container each as separate components are designed. The cleaning liquid tank is made of stainless steel and the dirty liquid container exists made of plastic. The two containers are in flow communication with each other, so that the cleaning liquid by means of a double filter system can be used several times. The Dirty liquid container is covered by a lid, the one Flow connection between dirty liquid container and Suction unit trains so that the dirty liquid container over the lid and a sieve or filter unit held on its underside can be suctioned off. When the dirty liquid container is full the suction unit is switched off automatically off.

The object of the present invention is a generic floor cleaning device develop in such a way that in the suction of the Dirty liquid container in a structurally simple manner reducing flow resistance and overfilling the Dirty liquid container is prevented.

This task is the beginning of a mobile floor cleaning device mentioned type according to the invention solved in that the lid part of the flow connection between the dirty liquid container and the suction unit forms, the lid one Suction channel includes the suction opening with the interior of the dirty liquid container is in flow connection, and a float valve being arranged at the suction opening.

With such a configuration, the dirty liquid container pressurized with a vacuum so that there is a suction flow trains the cleaning liquid sprayed onto the floor surface Form a liquid-air mixture together with the dissolved Dirt is transferred to the waste liquid container. Within the The dirty liquid container separates the liquid-air mixture, the dirty liquid in the dirty liquid container remains and the suction air is discharged through the cover. The Suction of the dirty liquid container through the lid allows a considerable reduction in flow resistance. At the same time, the cover serves to hold a float valve to close the suction opening when the dirty liquid container is full.

In a particularly preferred embodiment it is provided that the hollow body in the rotary sintering or blowing process is produced. This both commonly referred to as hollow chamber processes Manufacturing processes allow a special robust design of the hollow plastic body. While usually double-walled plastic housing be produced in that individual housing parts each formed by injection molding and then in further steps with each other are welded using the hollow chamber method manufactured components in a single step manufactured. Here, compared to Injection molding process uses more impact-resistant plastics be, so that it is particularly robust Have components created.

When manufacturing the plastic hollow body in Rotary sintering is in a hollow chamber tool filled powdered plastic material and the tool is then heated and rotated set in rotation. Through the emerging Centrifugal forces become a distribution of the plastic material reached on the housing walls, and the melting plastic material forms on the Inner walls of the tool the walls of the hollow body component.

The blowing process becomes tubular Plastic material through an opening in the hollow chamber tool introduced. Then the plastic tube inflated with hot air so that he adapts to the inner walls of the tool and thus the plastic hollow body is created.

The hollow chamber tool required for the blowing process requires relatively high investment costs, the method has the advantage, however, that the Hollow bodies can be produced in the shortest possible time. In comparison, the investment costs are necessary Rotary sintering tool lower. The manufacturing process is the rotary sintering process however longer than the blowing process, it is therefore particularly important for smaller quantities applied.

It is particularly advantageous if the one-piece, closed hollow body a chassis of the floor cleaning device forms.

Such a construction is not a separate one Chassis required as a load-bearing component the cleaning tool, the cleaning tool driving drive element and that Suction unit are held, rather than being load-bearing Component of the one-piece, closed plastic hollow body used on the functional parts of the floor cleaning device can be attached. The stability of the tank or container-like plastic hollow body can by suitable shaping, for example reinforced by ribs or beads, so that a high stability can be achieved without this a separate chassis is required. It results in this way a one-piece component that is in shape can be adapted to the circumstances and despite high stability and low weight. The Chassis takes on the one hand the usual function of the Holder of the functional parts, in particular the Cleaning tool and the drive element to others also use the chassis as a cleaning liquid tank and as a dirty liquid container. Special assembly work to assemble the Chassis from individual parts are not necessary, because that Chassis is formed as a one-piece component.

It is expedient if continuous in the hollow body Inlet and outlet channels are formed, over which the dirty liquid container with a the bottom surface attacking suction lip or with the Suction unit is in flow connection. In the The production of the hollow plastic body can be Form entry and exit channels in these, without the need for a separate step is.

It is advantageous if the entry channel from an inlet port is penetrated, the mouth area in the dirty liquid container from one for example, dome-shaped partition is spread. When operating the floor cleaning device can the cleaning liquid together sucked up from the floor surface with loosened dirt and transferred to the dirty liquid container. This is done in that the dirty liquid container vacuumed by the suction unit becomes so that a dirty liquid-air mixture over the suction lip in the dirty liquid container is sucked in. To maintain one perfect functioning of the suction unit, it is from Advantage if it is guaranteed that in the suction unit no dirty liquid arrives, but rather itself separates completely in the dirty liquid container. For this purpose the mouth area the inlet nozzle is overlapped by the separating wall, so that the penetrating into the dirty liquid container Dirty liquid-air mixture first strikes the separating wall on which the Dirt separates while the air around the Partition wall flows around and into the suction unit is transferred.

With a structurally particularly simple Structure is provided that the separating wall on one Lid is arranged, the dirty liquid container covers. The cover thus forms an access to the interior of the dirty liquid container, so that it can be emptied through the lid can. At the same time, the lid forms a holder for the separating wall.

In a preferred embodiment, that the lid is double-walled and has an inner cover and an outer cover and that the separating wall is molded into the inner cover is. For example, the dome-shaped The separating wall is thus in one piece with the inner cover connected, and the shape of the outer cover can change other circumstances can be adapted without his training the design of the separating wall must come to fruition. The shape of the outer cover is therefore not in the design of the separating wall bound.

In a particularly preferred embodiment it is provided that the cover as a one-piece Plastic body is formed. This can be advantageous Way as a one-piece plastic hollow body in Hollow chamber process, i.e. in rotary sintering or Blowing process. For one thing the weight of the floor cleaning device according to the invention additionally reduced and results in the other a structurally particularly simple structure.

According to the invention, the cover comprises a suction channel which is connected to the Interior of the dirty liquid container and with the suction unit is in flow connection. The lid thus forms part the flow connection between the dirty liquid container and the suction unit.

The suction channel can, for example, be in one piece Plastic body formed lid can be molded and formed by suitable shaping of the lid become.

For example, that the suction channel in the area between the inside and Outer cover runs and over a arranged on the inner cover Suction opening with the interior of the Dirty liquid container in flow connection stands. The suction channel can thus be carried out in the same step designed as the double-walled lid by the space between part of the inner cover and the outer cover Flow connection forms between the inner cover the dirty liquid container and the Suction unit.

For connecting the cover to the suction unit can be the outlet channel of the hollow body sweeping outlet connection is provided, the opens into the area between the inner and outer cover. In this way, the interior of the Dirty liquid container via the suction opening, the double-walled cover and the outlet nozzle vacuumed by the suction unit become.

To avoid that when the dirty liquid container is full Dirty liquid can get into the suction unit is the suction opening when the dirty liquid container is filled with a Float valve lockable.

As already explained, it is advantageous if guaranteed during operation of the floor cleaning device is that if possible no dirty liquid gets into the suction unit. This can be done in the Dirty liquid-air mixture sucked in separated by means of the separating wall become. A particularly effective separation is to achieve with a particularly preferred Embodiment of the floor cleaning device according to the invention provided that in the area between A secondary separator is arranged on the inner and outer cover is. The secondary separator ensures that in the area entering between the inner and outer cover Droplets of dirty liquid separated and be returned to the dirty liquid container.

For this purpose, it can be provided that the secondary separator in the area of the suction opening on the inner cover is held.

It is particularly favorable if the secondary separator is integrally connected to the inner cover, because this enables a particularly simple construction, by placing the secondary separator and the cover together formed as a one-piece plastic body are.

It is an advantage if the secondary separator one in the interior of the dirty liquid container immersed separating nozzle includes with a inlet section which tapers conically in the direction of flow, which opens into the suction opening, and with at least one adjacent to the entry section Liquid return opening. With such a Construction flows out of the dirty liquid container extracted air, which may still contain droplets of dirty liquid carries over which is conical tapered entry section into the area between Inner and outer cover. After passing through the relatively narrow suction opening experiences the extracted one Air due to the expansion of the flow cross section a sharp decrease in their flow rate, this has a separation of possibly carried Droplets of liquid that flow over the liquid return opening adjacent to the inlet section returned to the dirty liquid container become.

This ensures that the Suction unit not loaded with dirty liquid becomes. The suction unit is susceptible to malfunction thus considerably reduced.

The secondary separator particularly preferably comprises several liquid return openings that surround the entrance section.

Figur 1:

eine teilweise aufgebrochen dargestellte Vorderansicht eines Bodenreinigungsgeräts;

Figur 2:

eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie 2-2 in Figur 1;

Figur 3:

eine vergrößerte Schnittansicht entsprechend Figur 2 im Bereich des Deckels bei noch nicht gefülltem Schmutzflüssigkeitsbehälter und

Figur 4:

eine vergrößerte Schnittansicht entsprechend Figur 2 im Bereich des Deckels bei gefülltem Schmutzflüssigkeitsbehälter.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawing for a more detailed explanation. Show it:

Figure 1:

a partially broken front view of a floor cleaning device;

Figure 2:

a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3:

an enlarged sectional view corresponding to Figure 2 in the area of the lid with the dirty liquid container not yet filled and

Figure 4:

an enlarged sectional view corresponding to Figure 2 in the area of the lid when the dirty liquid container is full.

In the drawing is a total with the reference symbol 10 provided floor cleaning device for Cleaning a floor surface 12 shown. The floor cleaning device comprises a chassis in the form of a one-piece, closed hollow body 14 made of plastic, of both in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning device - As shown in Figure 2 - as well as across to the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning device - as in Figure 1 shown - a substantially H-shaped profile having. The hollow body 14 comprises in a front part 16 and a back part 18 as well as in two at a distance arranged to each other and each the front part 16 with the rear part 18 connecting side parts 20 - of which only one side part in the drawing is shown - each a substantially vertical Outer wall 22 and one substantially parallel running, vertical inner wall 24, which over upper and lower partitions 26 and 28 with each other are connected.

The front part 16 of the hollow body 14 is over a substantially horizontal and centered between the upper and lower partitions 26 and 28 extending Middle part 30 connected to the back part 18. The Middle part 30 also establishes a connection between the two side parts of the hollow body 14. Es is formed by an approximately horizontal Upper edge 32 and a practically parallel to it Bottom wall 34.

The back of the hollow body 14 extends to the upper end of the floor cleaning device 10 and merges there in one piece into a double-walled one Control panel 36 on which a steering bracket 38 is held is and the one essentially cuboid Indentation 40 forms for receiving the control units 42 of the floor cleaning device 10.

The entire hollow body 14 is closed Containers formed as a molded part and manufactured in the rotary sintering or blowing process is. The individual walls of the hollow body 14 are through suitable shape, not shown in the drawing stiffened, for example by training Reinforcing ribs or by molded sikken. The Hollow body 14 extends over the entire length of the floor cleaning device and over its entire Width and forms a stable frame or stable Scaffold to hold the individual functional parts of the floor cleaning device.

Such functional parts are, for example in the region of the side parts 20 of the hollow body 14 on the lower partition 28 rotatably held impellers 44, 46 and one arranged below the hollow body 14 and plate brush engaging on the bottom surface 12 48 held rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation and from above the plate brush 48 arranged electric motor 50 is driven. The Electric motor 50 is just like a suction unit 52 as well Battery boxes 54 and 56 in a drive room 58 positioned below the central part 30, the circumferential direction from the lower areas of the front part 16 and the back part 18 and the side parts 20 limited becomes.

The hollow body forms above the middle part 30 14 a substantially cuboidal recording or recess in the form of a dirty water tank 60. The interior of the dirty water tank is 60 via a horizontal one in the area of the control panel 36 Cover 62 held pivotable axis accessible on the upper partitions 26 sealing the interior of the dirty water tank 60 rests. Just like the dirty water tank 60 by the inner walls 24 and the substantially parallel to these outer walls 22 of the side parts 20 and the front part 14 and of the back part 18 and through the top and bottom wall 32 and 34 of the middle part 30 a double-walled design has, the cover 62 is double-walled educated. It has an inner cover 65 and one Outer cover 67 on.

In the area between the back 18 and the Control panel 36 is a continuous in the hollow body 14 Inlet channel 64 molded from an inlet port 66 is reached. The latter is above one Suction hose 68 with a in the direction of travel of the floor cleaning device 10 behind the plate brush 48 on the Bottom surface 12 attacking suction lip 70 in fluid communication and flows into the interior of the Dirty water tank 60. As from FIGS. 3 and 4 becomes clear, the suction hose 68 faces away Mouth area 72 of the inlet connection 66 from a dome-shaped separating wall 74 overlapped, which is molded into the inner cover 65.

In an area adjacent to the front part 16 of the middle part 30 is in the hollow body 14 continuous outlet channel 76 formed by one Exit port 78 is penetrated. This represents a flow connection between the suction unit 52 and a suction channel 80 through the Inner cover 64 and the outer cover 66 is limited.

The suction channel 80 stands over a suction opening 82 with the interior of the dirty water tank 60 in fluid communication. The dirty water tank 60 can thus via the suction opening 82, the suction channel 80 and the outlet port 78 from Suction unit 52 is subjected to a negative pressure be so that by means of the suction lip 70 from the bottom surface 12 absorbed dirty liquid together with sucked air through the suction hose 68 and the inlet connection 66 in the dirty water tank 60 is sucked in. Here flows through Dirty water-air mixture the inlet connection 66, and the sucked-in dirty water bounces due to its inertia against the separating wall 74 and drips then in the dirty water tank 60. Die sucked-in air flows around the separating wall 74 and is into the suction channel 80 via the suction opening 82 and sucked the outlet nozzle 78. The mouth area 72 forms in combination with this separating wall 74 in the distance Separator that separates the dirty water and air mixture separates its two components, so that if possible the dirty water in the dirty water tank 60 remains while the air is extracted. It should in this way avoid dirty water in the area of the suction channel 80 and from this via the outlet connection 78 into the suction unit 52 arrives, so that the function of the suction unit 52 remains guaranteed.

However, it cannot be excluded in all cases be that through the suction opening 82nd air flowing through it, but not dirty water droplets entrains in the area of the suction channel 80. To avoid being carried away Dirt water droplets get into the suction unit 52 is in the area of the suction opening 82 The secondary separator 84 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 arranged. This includes one from the inner cover 65 outgoing and into the interior of the dirty water tank 60 immersed separating nozzle 86, which is integrally connected to the inner cover 64 and the one facing away from the inner cover 64 End one is sucked in the direction of flow Air has a conically tapering inlet section 88 as well as surrounding it evenly in the circumferential direction Liquid return openings 90. The conical Entry section 88 opens into suction opening 82 and has for the air flowing into the suction channel 80 due to the continuous flow direction reducing flow cross-section an increase the flow velocity. After passing the suction opening 82 experiences the flow through it Air an abrupt decrease in its flow rate, since the flow cross-section now suddenly expanded. This in turn has a separating effect for any dirty water droplets carried along as a result, i.e. the secondary separator 84 overall has a cyclone-like mode of action. in the Area of the separating nozzle 86 separated Dirty water droplets can then pass through the liquid return openings 90, which are the suction opening 82 surrounded in the circumferential direction, back in the Get inside the dirty water tank 60.

The lid 62 of the floor cleaning device 10 thus has not only the function of a flow connection between the suction nozzle 78 and the interior the dirty water tank 60, but the cover 62 also has the secondary separator 84 and forms the separating wall 74, the in combination with the mouth area 72 of the inlet connector 66 forms a main separator. Moreover provides the cover 62 a double-walled termination of the dirty water tank 60, which means the cover 62 and the one-piece, closed Hollow body 14 completely double-walled is. This double-walled design of the Dirty water tank 60 also has strong insulation the flow noise. Since also also the electric motor 50 and the suction unit 52 surrounded by double walls in the circumferential direction are the operation of the floor cleaning device 10 is very quiet and therefore very user-friendly.

The rotary sintering or blowing process manufactured hollow body 14 serves as a load-bearing Frame or chassis of the floor cleaning device 10, on the other hand, the hollow body 14 forms a cleaning liquid tank. Not in the drawing openings shown can cleaning liquid from the hollow body 14 at the level of the plate brush 48 on the floor surface 12 to be cleaned is sprayed. Under the effect of the plate brush 48 becomes the bottom surface 12 then cleaned and the sprayed cleaning liquid is together with dirt particles by means of the suction lip 70 from the bottom surface 12 again recorded and in the dirty water tank 60 transferred.

During the operation of the floor cleaning device 10 the interior of the dirty water tank fills up 60 increasingly with dirty water, so that the dirty water level rises. In order to avoid, that the dirty water level finally the suction opening 82 reached and thus dirty water over the Suction channel 80 and the suction nozzle 78 to the suction unit can reach is at the suction opening 82 - as shown in Figures 3 and 4 - a float valve 92 arranged. This includes a valve body in the form of a float 94 that is vertically slidable is held in a valve housing 96 which on the Separation nozzle 86 is placed. As long as that Waste water level in the waste water tank 60 has not yet reached a critical height, is the swimmer 94 at a distance from the liquid return openings 90 and to the suction opening 82 on the secondary separator 84 held. This is shown in Figure 3. When filled The float 94 lies down in the dirty water tank 60 sealing to the separating nozzle 86 so that the Flow connection between the interior of the Dirty water tank 60 and the suction unit 52 is interrupted. This is shown in Figure 4. On further suction of dirty liquid from the cleaned Bottom surface 12 is thus filled Waste water tank automatically prevented.

The electric motor 50 of the floor cleaning device 10 can be arranged in the battery boxes 54 and 56 Accumulators are operated. At a alternative embodiment shown in dot-dash lines in FIG is provided, the electric motor 50 immediately about a not shown in the drawing Connect the power cord to an electrical outlet. In this Case can additional batteries and thus also the battery boxes 54 and 56 are omitted. The thereby gained Space can be used to expand the Dirty water tank 60 and an enlargement the volume of the hollow body 14 and thus also the Detergent tanks can be used. To this The area adjacent to the rear part 18 can be used for this purpose of the middle part 30 - as shown in broken lines in FIG - down to the level of the axis of rotation of the impellers 44 and 46 are drawn. The mains powered Version differs from the battery version the floor cleaning device 10 essentially only by the shape of the hollow body 14. Since this is produced by rotary sintering or blowing, can its shape by a simple use in Hollow chamber tool can be changed. So there are no complex tool changes required, a mains powered version instead of a battery version of the floor cleaning device 10.

Claims (13)

1. A movable floor-cleaning appliance (10), which comprises a cleaning tool applied to a floor surface (12), a cleaning-liquid tank (14) as well as a dirty-liquid container (60) and a suction unit (52) for taking up a cleaning liquid sprayed onto the floor surface and for transferring it to the dirty-liquid container (60), wherein the cleaning-liquid tank is designed in the form of a closed one-piece hollow body (14) of plastics material and the dirty-liquid container (60) is constructed in the form of a double-walled receiving portion of the hollow body (14) and is covered by a lid (62), characterized in that the lid (62) forms part of the connexion in terms of flow between the dirty-liquid container (60) and the suction unit (52), wherein the lid (62) comprises a suction duct (80) which is connected in terms of flow to the interior of the dirty-liquid container (60), and wherein a ball valve (92) is arranged on the suction opening (82).
2. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hollow body (14) is produced in the centrifugal-moulding process or in the blow-moulding process.
3. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hollow body (14) forms a frame of the floor-cleaning appliance (10).
4. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that continuous entry and exit ducts (64 and 76 respectively), by way of which the dirty-liquid container (60) is connected in terms of flow to a suction lip (70) engaging on the floor surface (12) or to the suction appliance (52) respectively, are formed in the hollow body (14).
5. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 4, characterized in that the entry duct (64) is traversed by an entry socket (66), the opening area (72) of which in the dirty-liquid container (60) is covered by a separating wall (74).
6. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 5, characterized in that the separating wall is arranged on the lid (62) which covers the dirty-liquid container (60).
7. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 6, characterized in that the lid is made double-walled and comprises an inner lid (65) and an outer lid (67), and the separating wall (74) is formed in the inner lid (65).
8. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the lid (62) is constructed as a one-piece body of plastics material.
9. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the suction duct (80) extends in the region between the inner and outer lid (65 and 67 respectively) and is connected in terms of flow to the interior of the dirty-liquid container (60) by way of a suction opening (82) arranged on the inner lid (65).
10. A floor-cleaning appliance according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that an after-separator (84) is arranged in the region between the inner and outer lid (65 and 67 respectively).
11. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 10, characterized in that the after-separator (84) is held on the inner lid (65) in the region of the suction opening (82).
12. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 11, characterized in that the after-separator (84) is integrally connected to the inner lid (65).
13. A floor-cleaning appliance according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the after-separator (84) comprises a separation socket (86) dipping into the interior of the dirty-liquid container (60), with an entry portion (88) which tapers conically in the direction of flow and which opens into the suction opening (82), and with at least one liquid-return opening (90) adjacent to the entry portion (88).

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