EP1157652A1 - Reinigungsvorrichtung - Google Patents

Reinigungsvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1157652A1
EP1157652A1 EP00830370A EP00830370A EP1157652A1 EP 1157652 A1 EP1157652 A1 EP 1157652A1 EP 00830370 A EP00830370 A EP 00830370A EP 00830370 A EP00830370 A EP 00830370A EP 1157652 A1 EP1157652 A1 EP 1157652A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
suction
tank
machine
machine according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00830370A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1157652A8 (de
Inventor
Franco Polti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Polti SpA
Original Assignee
Polti SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Polti SpA filed Critical Polti SpA
Priority to EP00830370A priority Critical patent/EP1157652A1/de
Publication of EP1157652A1 publication Critical patent/EP1157652A1/de
Publication of EP1157652A8 publication Critical patent/EP1157652A8/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2889—Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/18—Liquid filters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2805—Parameters or conditions being sensed
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2836—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
    • A47L9/2842—Suction motors or blowers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a machine for cleaning, particularly for domestic use, for example a vacuum cleaner or a steam-cleaning machine.
  • the present invention relates to a machine for cleaning comprising a body that has a tank intended to contain and/or collect a liquid, a vacuum line for the operations of cleaning and means for suction contained within the body in fluid communication with the tank.
  • the tank contains a liquid for laying the dust by a flow of air sucked from a surface being cleaned and the suction means comprise a suction pump, driven by a motor, in fluid communication with the tank.
  • air purifying liquid usually consists of water or an aqueous solution containing detergents, deodorants, etc.
  • the air, purified of dust, leaves the tank and is returned to the surroundings after passing through the suction path downstream from the tank in which the suction pump is located.
  • the vacuum cleaners mentioned above are satisfactory from a practical standpoint, they have the serious drawback that the air purifying liquid can flow into the suction path downstream from the tank and/or can be transported into the said path by the purified air, despite the fact that the tank is generally provided with filters for retaining particles of liquid.
  • This problem may arise on account of considerable turbulence that develops in the tank following mixing of the aspirated air with the purifying liquid or because of clumsy manoeuvring of the machine during use which promotes overflowing of liquid towards the suction path downstream from the tank.
  • the air purifying liquid can form foam that can be transported by the purified air leaving the tank.
  • the purifying liquid present in the aforesaid suction path, transported by the air, can come into contact with electrical components of the machine, endangering the user.
  • the purifying liquid can cause unfavourable clogging of the filters for removing residual dust, eventually compromising their operational efficiency.
  • These filters are arranged along the suction path downstream from the tank, generally near the air outlet hole of the machine.
  • These machines are provided with a boiler contained inside the machine for generating the steam, with a nozzle for directing the steam onto a surface that is to be cleaned, and with means for aspiration of the condensate from the said surface.
  • the condensate is collected in a tank contained inside the machine, this tank being in fluid communication with the suction means.
  • a sensor be used for determining the level of liquid in the tank, for example a sensor with a float, combined with means for display and/or for controlling the machine.
  • the technical problem forming the basis of the present invention is that of providing a machine for cleaning that has structural and functional characteristics such as to overcome the shortcomings mentioned above with reference to the cleaning machines of the state of the art.
  • a machine for cleaning comprising a body that contains a tank for a liquid and suction means contained inside the body in fluid communication with the said tank via a suction path, characterized in that it includes means for detecting presence of the said liquid downstream from the said tank, these detecting means being connected operationally to the suction means for stopping suction upon detection of the presence of the said liquid.
  • the number 1 is used throughout for indicating a machine for domestic use, for cleaning by aspiration of dust, i.e. a vacuum cleaner.
  • the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a body 2 equipped at the bottom with wheels 3 and 4 so that it can be transported easily.
  • Vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises, contained within body 2, a tank 5 that can be removed by extraction from body 2.
  • Tank 5 is intended for collecting the dust and contains a liquid 6 up to a predetermined maximum level L, for example water, possibly mixed with deodorants, detergents, etc.
  • a hollow filter holder 7 is inserted in tank 5 and is traversed axially, in a substantially central position, by a pipe 8 for conveying a stream of air and dust inside tank 5.
  • Pipe 8 ends, externally to machine 1, in an element 10 for insertion of a hose 12 of a conventional type, which enables the operator to vacuum the dust from a surface that is to be cleaned.
  • pipe 8 has an end portion 9 that is bent to form an elbow and is provided at one free end with a mouth 11 for delivering a stream of air and dust from hose 12 and passing through pipe 8 in the said tank 5 below the surface L of fluid 6.
  • An annular grating 13 constitutes an outer side wall of filter holder 7 functioning as a first filtration element.
  • annular sponge filter 14 Inside the annular grating 13 there is an annular sponge filter 14, and at the top wall 130 of filter holder 7 there are two sponge filters 22, on opposite sides relative to pipe 8, for retaining particles of liquid entrained by the air purified of dust, leaving tank 5.
  • Tank 5 also has two opposite pipes 15 that are integral with it, for allowing the air purified of dust to exit from the bottom of tank 5 as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.
  • pipes 15 extend vertically from the base 50 of tank 5, on opposite sides relative to pipe 8, and end inside the hollow filter holder 7 in such a way that the rim 150 of their mouth comes up against a respective filter of the two filters 22.
  • Base 70 of filter holder 7 is provided with two holes 23, which are also located on opposite sides of pipe 8, for the insertion of pipes 15, these holes 23 being provided with suitable seals (not shown) to prevent liquid passing through them and into filter holder 7.
  • each of the pipes 15 is in fluid communication with the upper end of a respective pipe 26 which is integral with a seating 27 formed in body 2 of the machine and that acts as a support for tank 5.
  • pipes 26 are in turn connected in fluid communication with a hollow manifold 28 which is integral with body 2 and in fluid communication with a pipe 18.
  • Machine 1 further includes, contained inside body 2, a suction pump 16, driven by a motor 17, in fluid communication with pipe 18 and consequently with tank 5 via manifold 28 and the aforesaid pipes 26 and 15.
  • a removable filter 190 into which the air aspirated by pump 16 is passed before it is returned to the surroundings, in order to retain any residual dust carried by the purified air.
  • Machine 1 further comprises means for detecting a liquid in the suction path downstream from tank 5 in the direction of air circulation.
  • These detecting means comprise sensors 19 of the presence of liquid and a control and monitoring unit 20 connected operationally to the said sensors as will be described below.
  • sensors 19 are located in the suction path downstream from tank 5, and in particular between tank 5 and the suction means.
  • the sensing means are concretely a sensor 19 of the resistance type with an interdigitated double comb structure. This sensor is arranged along pipe 18 between tank 5 and suction pump 16.
  • sensor 19 is located in a chamber 180 defined in pipe 18.
  • Chamber 180 is accessible from the outside, at the bottom of body 2 of machine 1, by removing a cover 21 fixed in a removable manner to the said body 2, the said cover constituting a wall of the chamber.
  • sensor 19 can be reached from the outside for any operations of replacement or cleaning.
  • Sensor 19 is connected operationally to the control and monitoring unit 20 of the machine, and in its turn this unit is connected operationally to suction motor 17 and to a switch 24, for switching motor 17 on or off, arranged on a handle 25 on body 2.
  • control and monitoring unit 20 provides establishment of a substantially constant potential difference at the heads of sensor 19. Since the two combs of sensor 19 are not connected together electrically, in the absence of detection of a liquid, the resistance of the sensor should be regarded as infinite and there is no passage of electric current.
  • the current flowing in the circuit is greater for a larger number of teeth short-circuited, hence the current increases in proportion to the amount of liquid on the sensor.
  • unit 20 stops the suction motor 17, advantageously preventing transport of more liquid by the air into the suction path, which might damage components of the machine, particularly electrical components, and clog the outlet filter 190.
  • control and monitoring unit 20 is also connected operationally to switch 24 for switching machine 1 on or off.
  • control and monitoring unit 20 enables switch 24 to switch motor 17 on or off by operating it for a time that is less than a predefined threshold value.
  • control unit 20 enables switch 24 for the switching-on of motor 17 only when the said switch is operated continuously for a time corresponding to or greater than the aforesaid threshold value.
  • This operation can be effected advantageously by the user by causing the liquid to be removed to the outside of machine 1 by a stream of air aspirated by suction motor 17, which is re-started for this purpose by operating switch 24 for a time corresponding to or greater than the predefined threshold value.
  • tank 5 is then charged with some more air purifying liquid and filter 190 is inserted in its seating so that the normal cleaning operations can be resumed.
  • the inventive step contained in the preferred example described above and referring to a vacuum cleaner is similarly applicable to a different machine for cleaning equipped with suction means such as a steam-cleaning machine equipped with suction means for collecting the condensate in a suitable tank.
  • the main advantage of the cleaning machine according to the present invention lies in its greater safety and useful life, since there is reduced risk of contact of liquids with components of the machine, particularly electrical components and filters.
  • a further advantage of the cleaning machine according to the present invention also lies in its simplicity and inexpensiveness of manufacture since the introduction of means for detecting liquids does not entail large additional costs relative to the traditional cleaning machines.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
EP00830370A 2000-05-23 2000-05-23 Reinigungsvorrichtung Withdrawn EP1157652A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00830370A EP1157652A1 (de) 2000-05-23 2000-05-23 Reinigungsvorrichtung

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00830370A EP1157652A1 (de) 2000-05-23 2000-05-23 Reinigungsvorrichtung

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1157652A1 true EP1157652A1 (de) 2001-11-28
EP1157652A8 EP1157652A8 (de) 2002-04-10

Family

ID=8175340

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00830370A Withdrawn EP1157652A1 (de) 2000-05-23 2000-05-23 Reinigungsvorrichtung

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1157652A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015018545A1 (en) * 2013-08-08 2015-02-12 Polti Spa Compact vacuum and steam cleaner
CN110121286A (zh) * 2017-03-08 2019-08-13 欧姆龙株式会社 自走式移动体、湿度传感器及液体检测装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4114557A (en) * 1970-05-14 1978-09-19 Brey Robert J De Particle monitoring system
JPH0428327A (ja) * 1990-05-23 1992-01-30 Tokyo Electric Co Ltd 電気掃除機
EP0564817A1 (de) * 1992-03-27 1993-10-13 WAP Reinigungssysteme GmbH & Co. Schmutzsauger mit Abreinigungsmotor und einem wahlweise angeschlossenen Elektrowerkzeug
DE29918605U1 (de) * 1999-10-21 2000-02-17 Logan Mir Yoness Moussavizadeh Staubsaugerfilter

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4114557A (en) * 1970-05-14 1978-09-19 Brey Robert J De Particle monitoring system
JPH0428327A (ja) * 1990-05-23 1992-01-30 Tokyo Electric Co Ltd 電気掃除機
EP0564817A1 (de) * 1992-03-27 1993-10-13 WAP Reinigungssysteme GmbH & Co. Schmutzsauger mit Abreinigungsmotor und einem wahlweise angeschlossenen Elektrowerkzeug
DE29918605U1 (de) * 1999-10-21 2000-02-17 Logan Mir Yoness Moussavizadeh Staubsaugerfilter

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 016, no. 194 (C - 0938) 11 May 1992 (1992-05-11) *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015018545A1 (en) * 2013-08-08 2015-02-12 Polti Spa Compact vacuum and steam cleaner
CN110121286A (zh) * 2017-03-08 2019-08-13 欧姆龙株式会社 自走式移动体、湿度传感器及液体检测装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1157652A8 (de) 2002-04-10

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