EP1067857A1

EP1067857A1 - Waste recuperating electrical apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1067857A1
Application number: EP99911859A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacques Bonnet; José SAUDE
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 1998-04-02
Filing date: 1999-04-01
Publication date: 2001-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-01
Also published as: EP1067857B1; ES2189403T3; WO1999051136A1; DE69904809T2; DE69904809D1; FR2776908A1; CN1295448A; HK1036393A1; CN1199606C; US6536075B1; AU3039699A; TR200002820T2; JP2002510514A; FR2776908B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a waste recuperating electrical apparatus (13), comprising a suction device consisting in particular of an electric motor (20) and a suction turbine (22), a suction aperture (16a), a tubular filter (1) forming a waste receptacle. The invention is characterised in that the apparatus (13) comprises a housing (14) arranged between the suction aperture (16a) and the suction turbine (22) with both of which it communicates on either side through ducts (16b) and the tubular filter (1) is arranged in the housing (14) such that one of its end orifices (6) is sealed and the opposite end orifice (4) is directly connected to the suction nozzle duct (16b). The filter housing comprises means maintaining (3) the filter spaced from said filter (1) housing (14) inner wall so as to increase the volume around the duct enclosing the filter periphery in the suction turbine direction.

Description

ELECTRIC WASTE RECOVERY APPARATUS

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the field of electrical household appliances recovering waste, comprising in particular a filtration device.

PRIOR ART

It is common to find, in many domestic appliances of the electric vacuum cleaner type, a filtration means consisting of a bag made of a woven or non-woven material, having a filtration quality capable of retaining the majority of the waste aspirated. There are many disposable bags which have devices for closing the dust bag before it is ejected into a bin, as illustrated, for example, by the document FR 2 713 076. However, the regular change of the bag entails a considerable cost in products. consumables, which is frowned upon by most users, who also find it difficult to correctly identify the bag corresponding to their vacuum cleaner among the multitude of bags available. It therefore appears interesting to be able to have a reusable bag. However, one of the major problems with these so-called "permanent" bags is the need to empty them when they are full. This operation is often painful by the very shape of the bag, which causes a significant release into the atmosphere of the waste initially retained in the bag, especially the finest dust.

Document US Pat. No. 4,972,541 discloses a suction feather duster comprising a suction motor equipped with batteries, an upstream air inlet as well as a downstream dust tank, located at the end of the suction air path. This cylindrical tank is located in the handle of the feather duster, which has openings intended to expel the sucked air. This air is previously discharged 2 dust and litter using a filter tube housed in the handle. A hatch located at the end of the handle allows you to comfortably empty the contents of the dust receptacle, even offering the possibility of easily removing the filter in order to clean it or to replace it.

However, a major drawback of this device is its location, downstream of the engine / turbine group. Indeed, located after the engine, the waste passes through the engine area before being filtered, and can therefore potentially damage the engine on this occasion. Admittedly, in this particular case, the waste sucked up is fine dust. This device cannot therefore be adapted to a vacuum cleaner for larger usual waste.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by presenting a device for recovering waste of any kind, such as a vacuum cleaner, including the filtration device, constituting a receptacle for waste, can be emptied and / or changed easily, while offering the possibility of constituting a permanent filter for the suction device.

Another object of the invention is to present a vacuum cleaner whose means of filtration and retention of waste is, moreover, of simplified manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to improve waste recovery devices of all kinds which consist only of a filter and a non-filtering waste receptacle, which can be emptied by a hatch.

The present invention is achieved using an electrical waste recovery device, comprising a suction device composed in particular of a motor and a suction turbine, a suction mouthpiece, a tubular filter constituting a waste receptacle, said apparatus comprising a 3 housing arranged between the suction mouth and the suction turbine with which it is in communication on either side by conduits and in that the tubular filter is arranged in the housing so that one of its end ports is closed and the opposite end port is directly connected to the duct of the suction nozzle.

This arrangement allows waste not to pass through the area comprising the engine, while providing a clean waste compartment, which can be emptied easily and from which the filter can easily be removed for cleaning and changing.

One of the main characteristics of the waste compartment is to have means for holding the filter away from the interior wall of the housing of said filter, in order to provide a free volume of suction around the periphery of the filter. It is indeed important that the volume filter is not restricted to a flat filter, taking advantage of the entire peripheral filtration surface. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the volume of the suction duct around the periphery of the filter, in the direction of the suction turbine.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the spacing means are integral with the filter housing. They then produce a guiding means for the installation of the filter. Furthermore, this configuration allows a saving of material at the level of the filtering element, thus reducing its cost price.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the spacing means are integral with the filter. This offers the possibility of making an internal wall of the housing smooth, therefore easier to clean.

According to one of the preceding configurations, advantageously, the filter has an air seal, at least at one of its ends. In order to avoid possible leakage of dust or waste in the filter compartment or outside the device, a first possibility is that the duct coming from the suction nozzle has an external diameter substantially 4 identical to the internal diameter of the tubular filter so as to be fitted in contact with a slight friction. However, for long-term reliability considerations, it has been found preferable to provide a seal.

According to a particular configuration of the invention, the filter has a rigid air-impermeable zone at each end. This configuration allows a better mechanical resistance of the filter as well as an assured and reproducible positioning in its housing, while promoting the sealing of the device.

Advantageously, the filter has a rigid structure along its length.

This arrangement is all the more advantageous as the filter material is flexible, the rigid structure allowing mechanical resistance of the filter compatible with its placement in a cramped housing.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the filter housing comprises a hatch capable of being open towards the outside of the device and which, in the closed position, closes the end orifice of the tubular filter opposite to that in communication with the suction nozzle. By this configuration, instead of having to painfully disconnect the duct from the suction nozzle at the level of the filter to empty it, it suffices to operate a simple hatch on the side opposite to the suction.

According to a particular configuration of the invention, the filter comprises a flap, located near its orifice connected to the suction nozzle and capable of being retracted by encountering an external object, and returning to its initial closed position when the interaction with the external object ceases. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the suction mouthpiece can be removed from the waste recovery compartment. It is indeed important, in this case, that this air inlet opening of the filter tube is closed in order to avoid a possible leak of the waste recovered by this opening. The shutter can be simply articulated and retract when the engine is started, by the vacuum created, returning to its initial position 5 shutter when the engine is stopped.

According to an advantageous arrangement of the invention, a seal is placed at the rear of the filter, said seal comprising a groove capable of cooperating, with a view to its positioning and its maintenance, with at least one positioning bulge formed in the interior part of the accommodation. Thus, the user is assured that the filter is installed correctly in its housing, which avoids compressing the filter too strongly against the air intake face, while exerting, however, a slight pressure on this face d 'entry, which reduces air leakage at this level. Sealing at the air inlet can be ensured by a joint attached to the filter or the filter compartment, either.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description and the appended figures, given by way of non-limiting examples, among which:

FIG. 1 shows a filter according to the present invention,

FIG. 2a is a diagrammatic view of an aspirating broom type waste recovery assembly,

FIG. 2b is a perspective view of a filter used in a vacuum cleaner type waste recovery assembly,

- Figure 2c is a perspective view of a structural variant of a filter used in a waste recovery assembly, - Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a suction brush fitted with a dust receptacle conforming to the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that presented in the previous figure, where the filter is partially introduced into its housing,

- Figure 5 shows schematically a hand vacuum cleaner comprising a waste receptacle according to the present invention. 6

BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

Figures 1, 2a and 2b show a tubular filter (1) used in the present invention. The term tube means its general meaning, that is to say a hollow organ, open in two places. In particular, this hollow member can be of elongated shape, open at both ends, of circular section, but also polygonal, elliptical ... The filter tube (1) therefore has two open ends (4, 6) allowing, by the first (4), to introduce the waste entrained by the air flow into the tube where it is stored, and to be able, by the second (6), to empty this waste when desired, when the engine of the apparatus waste collector is arrested.

The filter tube (1) is composed of a filter structure (2) which can be of any known type, made of woven or non-woven material, ensuring a consequent filtering of the sucked waste while offering an air permeability compatible with the flow rates. desired and available engine power. The filter tube (1) defines a storage volume (5) of the aspirated waste. In an advantageous configuration, the filter tube (1) has a rigid portion (8) at each end to which the filter structure (2) is fixed, further constituting a mechanical reinforcement. To these rigid portions can be added a seal (10). This can however be placed on the corresponding sealing part of the receptacle in which the filter (1) is housed.

In fact, as shown in FIG. 2a, according to a first configuration of the present invention, the filter tube (1) is intended to be placed in a waste receptacle of an apparatus of the suction broom type (13). The configuration and the precise operation of this device are described in particular in document EP 0 605 280. FIG. 2a briefly presents this device composed of a handle (15), a hollow broom head (14), a suction mouth (16a) as well as bristles (25). A hatch (18) makes it possible to close off the end (6) when the device is in use.

Advantageously, this hatch (18) can open towards the outside of 7

the device. However, double protection of access to the dust can be envisaged, the hatch (18) being accessible only after having opened a first hatch towards the outside of the appliance. According to this configuration, the hatch (18) can be integrated into the filter or integrated into the housing.

Figure 3 details, in a longitudinal sectional view, the structure of such an apparatus equipped with the present invention, according to a first embodiment. This suction brush (13) therefore comprises a handle (15), one of the ends of which comprises a compartment housing a motor (20) and a turbine (22). A switch (31) makes it possible to force the starting of the motor which can, moreover, be electrically supplied by means of a gravity switch (30), when the brush is tilted. The head of the mop has a hollow part, housing (14) of the tubular filter (1), as well as a part filled with bristles (25). The suction duct (16b) opens into the housing (14) of the suction head. A guide (28), in the form of a caster, makes it possible to maintain the suction mouthpiece (16a) at an optimal distance from the ground, while allowing easy movement of the brush, without effort required to maintain the broom at a given distance from the ground.

Generally, the filter tube (1) is arranged in its housing

(14) taking care to provide a space (24) around the periphery of the tube, thereby increasing the volume of the suction duct located between the filter (1) and the turbine (22). Thus, positioning members (3) keep the filter tube away from the walls of the receptacle (14). According to the first embodiment shown in Figure 3, these positioning members (3) are integrated into the filter tube (1), in the form of radial protrusions.

This configuration therefore allows the air, driven by the turbine (22), to be able to be sucked in, not exclusively through the duct defined by the space (23) located near the turbine, but also by the space ( 24), all around the filter tube. This has a definite advantage since the overall effective filtration surface is thus increased, consequently resulting in a 8 reduction of the pressure drop due to the filter as well as a slower clogging of this filter.

According to this first filtration mode, a sealing zone (35) is associated with the drain flap (18). The latter is articulated using a hinge (26). The hatch (18) is kept closed by any known device, such as a snap-fastening, a locking, a clipping ... The filter tube (1) presented has a retractable flap (32) at its inlet (4) which prevents waste from exit the filter tube when the brush is tilted. The shutter, according to the example, opens under the force of the air flow during suction. A second sealing zone (34) is present at the inlet of the tube. It seals between the filter tube and the suction mouth (16a). This sealing zone can either be secured to the filter or, as in the example illustrated, secured to the receptacle (14).

Figure 4 shows, for the same device another configuration of the present invention, the filter tube (1) being partially inserted in its housing (14). The essential differences relate to the positioning members (7, 17) which are integrated into the receptacle (14) and are in the form of slopes (7) located towards the inlet orifice and in the form of protrusions (17) located near the hatch (18). The slopes (7) allow automatic guiding of the filter towards its optimal operating position, that is to say a position making it possible to provide a space (24) around the filter tube (1), while correctly positioning the inlet. (4) of the filter (1) facing the duct (16b). In addition, the slopes (7) make it possible to maintain the filter (1) by exerting a slight compression thereon.

The filter conforms to the filter shown in Figure 1, so that the hatch (18) is not provided with a material ensuring the tightness of the device, this being ensured by the seal (10). The hatch has a lug (19) intended to keep it in the closed position. The filter (1) can be reinforced laterally by longitudinal members (27), for example rigid bands connecting the portions 9

rigid (8). The sealing zone (34) comprises a shutter (32) initially closed and which, under the effect of the vacuum created when the motor is rotated, lifts in order to let the air pass. It can be used, to achieve this function, other known means such as a flexible annular seal having a central hole whose diameter is slightly less than the outlet diameter of the conduit (16b), the deformation of this seal during its connection to the conduit (16b) ensuring the sealing function.

Advantageously, the compartment (14) has two stop bosses (36), intended to correctly position the filter tube (1) in its housing. Thus, the seal (10) of the tube (1) has a first groove (12a) whose edges provide a sealing function, and a second groove (12b) capable of cooperating with the stop bosses (36 ) to indicate to the user that the filter does not need to be inserted further forward in its receptacle. When installing the filter tube (1), the cooperation between the bosses (36) and the groove (12b) as well as the pressure exerted by the slopes (7) on the body of the tube (1) ensure the maintenance of the filter tube (1) in its housing (14).

FIG. 2c presents an extension of the concept of rigid longitudinal strips intended to reinforce the overall mechanical strength of the filter tube (1), as described above. Indeed, this mechanical reinforcement is here in the form of a rigid structure (9) in its own right, of the cage type, which can be described as being a tube in which openings (11) are formed on its periphery. At the two ends (4, 6) of this structure can be fixed, by any known means, or by simple interlocking, seals (10, 34) as previously described. The filter, not shown in the figure, advantageously has a cross section similar in shape to the cross section of the rigid structure (9), slightly smaller in surface so that it can be introduced inside the structure ( 9) where it is maintained by any known means, ensuring a good seal at the ends (4, 6), for example by a bonding process. This 10 provision allows the development of simple and therefore inexpensive filter structures, while allowing high rates of production of rigid structures (9) by plastic injection, for example.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, presented in FIG. 5, a hand vacuum cleaner (40), commonly called "cleanette", is equipped with such a waste recovery device. This handheld vacuum cleaner can be connected by an electric wire to a power source or else be fitted with batteries allowing autonomous wireless operation. Thus a filter tube (41) is disposed inside the waste recovery compartment and kept away from the walls of the receptacle by positioning members (43), thus providing a suction conduit (64) all around the filter tube (41).

The suction mouthpiece (56) allows, according to the arrow shown, to suck the waste accumulated on the surface to be cleaned in the conduit (57) which opens, by its end opposite to the mouthpiece (56), in the internal volume of the filter tube (41) through a sealing zone (47). When the suction duct (57) can be removed, provision may be made for a device similar to that shown in FIG. 3, where a pivoting flap constitutes a removable shutter. In the rear area, at the end (46) of the tube, a hatch (58) is associated with a seal (50). As for the variants illustrated above, the sealing zones can be constituent elements of the receptacle (14) or integrated into the filter tube (1).

The hatch (58) is articulated using a hinge (66), in order to be able to empty the waste contained in the filter tube (41). The hand vacuum cleaner shown also has a motor (60) and a turbine (62). A handle (63) allows easy gripping of this device. The filter tube (1) can have simple lateral mechanical reinforcements or a more rigid structure like that shown in FIG. 2c. 11

The present invention is not limited to the two devices presented. It is thus possible to have such a waste recovery configuration in a canister type vacuum cleaner, at the level of the guide handle of the tube connected to the suction nozzle, possibly using extension (s), in a similar manner. available in Figure 5 for a handheld vacuum cleaner.

Thus, the user has a waste receptacle having numerous advantages. It is clean since it is protected by a filter. This filter (1, 41) is designed so that it can be emptied simply, by its tube shape. Thus, the user, when he wishes to empty his waste receptacle, opens the hatch (18, 58) above a bin. The waste will then naturally fall into the bin, the shape of the tube filter avoiding waste retention areas. If necessary, the filter can be removed for replacement. Furthermore, the clogging of the filter tube is slowed down by the presence of spacers (3, 7, 17, 43) of the filter (1, 41) from the walls of the dust receptacle. Due to its geometric shape, the manufacture of the filter is easy, a filtering structure of planar shape, for example a porous media or a grid, which can easily be pressed and fixed, for example by gluing or ultrasonic welding, on the rigid portions (8 ) and on the longitudinal stiffening members (27) of the tube, or even on the rigid structure (9).

Preferably, the filter structure is chosen so that the dust does not cling to it and that it can be cleaned easily. It can be a grid made of synthetic material, for example nylon or even PTFE, which retains little of the clinging waste and which can be easily cleaned.

The filter tube (1, 41) in a variant of the device can be mechanically fixed at the air inlet end (4, 44) by any known device, thus constituting a permanent filter. The device used may or may not be removable, depending on the use of the device. 12

POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds its application in the technical field of devices intended for cleaning and collecting dust and small household detritus.

Claims

13 CLAIMS

1. An electrical waste recovery device (13, 40), comprising a suction device composed in particular of an electric motor (20, 60) and a suction turbine (22, 62), a suction mouthpiece (16a, 56), a tubular filter (1, 41) constituting a waste receptacle, characterized in that the apparatus (13, 40) comprises a housing (14, 54) arranged between the suction mouth (16a , 56) and the suction turbine

(22, 62) with which it is in communication on both sides by conduits (16b, 57) and in that the tubular filter (1, 41) is arranged in the housing (14, 54) so that that one of its end orifices (6, 46) is closed and the opposite end orifice (4, 44) is directly connected to the duct (16b, 57) of the suction nozzle.

2. An electrical waste recovery device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has means for holding (3, 7, 17, 43) of the filter separated from the interior wall of the housing (14, 54) of said filter (1 , 41).

3. An electrical waste recovery device according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for holding (3, 7, 17, 43) of the filter separated from the interior wall of the housing (14, 54) of the filter (1, 41) are integral with the housing (14, 54) of the filter (1, 41).

4. An electrical waste recovery device according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for holding (3, 7, 17, 43) of the filter separated from the interior wall of the housing (14, 54) of the filter (1, 41) are integral with the filter (1, 41).

5. An electrical waste recovery device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (1, 41) has at least one 14 air seal (10, 34, 35, 47, 50), at one of its ends (4, 6, 44, 46).

6. An electrical waste recovery device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (1, 41) has a rigid zone

(8, 32), airtight, at each end.

7. An electrical waste recovery device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (1, 41) has a rigid structure (9, 27) of mechanical reinforcement along its length.

8. An electrical waste recovery device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the end orifices (6, 46) is closed with a hatch (18, 58).

9. An electrical waste recovery device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hatch (18, 58) is integral with the housing (14, 54) of the filter (1, 41) thus closing said housing, said hatch (18, 58 ) opening towards the outside of the appliance.

10. An electrical waste recovery device according to claim 8, characterized in that the hatch (18, 58) is integral with the filter (1, 41).

11. An electrical waste recovery device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (1, 41) comprises a flap (32), located at its inlet end (4, 44), capable of s' retract by encountering an external object or by the depression created by the rotation of the suction turbine (22, 62), and returning to its initial closed position when the interaction with the external object ceases or when the turbine ( 22, 62) is stopped. 15

12. An electrical waste recovery device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a seal (10, 35, 50) of the filter is disposed at the rear of this filter, said seal comprising a groove ( 12b) capable of cooperating, with a view to positioning and maintaining it, with at least one positioning bulge (36) formed in the internal part of the housing (14, 54).