EP1367930B1 - Aspirateur a moteur interchangeable - Google Patents

Aspirateur a moteur interchangeable Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1367930B1
EP1367930B1 EP02702969A EP02702969A EP1367930B1 EP 1367930 B1 EP1367930 B1 EP 1367930B1 EP 02702969 A EP02702969 A EP 02702969A EP 02702969 A EP02702969 A EP 02702969A EP 1367930 B1 EP1367930 B1 EP 1367930B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coupling means
vacuum cleaner
unit
air
complementary
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02702969A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1367930A1 (fr
Inventor
Frank Peter William Van De Ven
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.)
Veghelse Beleggingsmaatschappij (Vebem) BV
Original Assignee
Veghelse Beleggingsmaatschappij (Vebem) BV
VEGHELSE BELEGGINGSMIJ VEBEM B
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 Veghelse Beleggingsmaatschappij (Vebem) BV, VEGHELSE BELEGGINGSMIJ VEBEM B filed Critical Veghelse Beleggingsmaatschappij (Vebem) BV
Publication of EP1367930A1 publication Critical patent/EP1367930A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1367930B1 publication Critical patent/EP1367930B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • A47L9/22—Mountings for motor fan assemblies

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, such as a brush vacuum cleaner, a tank vacuum cleaner, a water suction cleaning appliance or the like, according to the preamble of claim 1 and as known from DE-A-198 43 719.
  • Such vacuum cleaners are generally known for use both in domestic and in industrial surroundings. Susceptible to wear in such vacuum cleaners is, primarily, the suction hose, and in particular its suction nozzle, as well as the electric cord. A further part which can break down is the motor. With vacuum cleaners intended for domestic use, this often does not occur before the time the vacuum cleaner in its entirety is ready to be replaced, provided that the vacuum cleaner is not used improperly, i.e. is not used under circumstances for which the vacuum cleaner is normally used. Vacuum cleaners intended for industrial use, which, measured over a certain period of time, make considerably more working hours than domestic vacuum cleaners, more often sustain motor breakdown than the domestic vacuum cleaners, i.e. long before the vacuum cleaner in its entirety is, in fact, ready to be replaced.
  • the invention contemplates designing a vacuum cleaner of the type described in the opening paragraph such that, when the motor breaks down, it can rapidly and readily be replaced, if desired by the user of the vacuum-cleaner.
  • the features proposed according to the invention further offer additional advantages in the area of production.
  • the housing and the majority of the parts can be of standard manufacture without taking into account the location where the vacuum cleaner will be used. This is not the case with electric motors, because the voltage and the design of the mains sockets in the various countries can be mutually different.
  • the electric motor and the air suction element as a unit which can be easily placed at any time, the possibility is obtained to produce substantially entirely assembled vacuum cleaners regardless of the location where they are to be deployed.
  • the desired unit as far as voltage and, what is more, the required power to be delivered, is placed and a cord with the desired plug is chosen and connected. In that way, keeping a large number of different types and designs of vacuum cleaners in stock can be realized in a considerably more flexible and simpler manner.
  • the exchangeable unit comprises a casing provided with an air inlet opening which is in communication with the air suction element or the electric motor, with an air outlet opening which is in communication with the electric motor or the air suction element, and with aligning means and coupling means which can cooperate with complementary aligning or coupling means provided in or on the housing.
  • the unit can be secured in the housing with the aid of, for instance, swing clamps of spring clamps.
  • the coupling means comprise a collar on the exchangeable unit and the complementary coupling means comprise, connected to the housing and engaging over the collar, a ring, which consists of at least two parts hinging relative to each other.
  • the operational reliability is enhanced because a properly sealing connection to the air duct can be realized and maintained, This is in particular so when, according to a further embodiment of the invention, by means of a snap closure, the mutually hinging parts of the ring can be secured relative to each other in a continuous, all round closed form which pressingly engages the collar.
  • the coupling means can be opened and closed without tools, as by means of snap-action, so that also the user of the vacuum cleaner is always capable of carrying out those operations at any location.
  • the exchangeable unit When placing the unit, automatically, a possibility for connecting an electric motor to the electric mains is created, when, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the exchangeable unit is provided with current coupling means which can cooperate with complementary current coupling means which are connected to the housing and can be connected to the electric mains.
  • the current coupling means and complementary current coupling means can then consist of electric push contacts which, when aligning and securing the unit, are automatically pushed onto each other.
  • Another possibility is to design the current coupling means and complementary current coupling means as a plug/socket connection, wherein the one connecting part forms part of the unit and the other connecting part of the housing, so that the means then also function as aligning means and complementary aligning means.
  • this unit in particular when it is provided with a casing, has specifically determined air inlet and outlet openings, this unit is particularly suitable for the provision of filter provisions for treating the drawn-in air.
  • the unit comprises at least one receiving or slide-in space for exchangeably placing a filter element.
  • Such a provision can be arranged at the inlet opening, the outlet opening and/or an intermediate location.
  • the invention also relates to a unit consisting of an electric motor and an air suction element, which unit is provided with aligning, coupling and current coupling means and is evidently intended to be used in a vacuum cleaner as described hereinabove, the electric motor and the air suction element preferably being surrounded by a screening casing, which is provided with an air inlet opening which is in communication with the air suction element of the electric motor, with an air outlet opening which is in communication with the electric motor or the air suction element, and with aligning means and coupling means.
  • the vacuum cleaner schematically represented in Fig. 1 is provided with a housing consisting of a top part 1a and a bottom part 1b, which can be sealingly connected relative to each other by means (not shown) after the flange edges le and Id have been brought into contact with each other.
  • the top part la carries a motor/air suction unit 2, which will be further discussed hereinbelow.
  • the top part la is further provided with a box 3 for connecting an electric cord (not shown) and an exhaust opening 4, in which, if desired, a filter element can be placed or slid.
  • the bottom part 1b is provided with an inlet opening 5 to which, at the outside, a suction hose (not shown) can be connected and, at the inside, a dust filter bag (not shown either), for which purpose the bottom part 1b is designed, for the greater part, as a hollow, open box-shaped body.
  • the top part la is chiefly destined for receiving control electronics.
  • the top part 1a is provided adjacent the flange edge 1c with a wall part 1e, thereby forming an enclosed space in the top part 1a.
  • the wall part 1e further carries the motor/air suction unit 2, as shown in Fig. 1, while this has been left out in Fig. 2 to clarify its fastening to the wall part 1e.
  • the motor/air suction unit 2 itself is represented in Figs. 3 - 5.
  • the motor/air suction unit 2 is provided with a casing 6 with an air inlet opening 7 and an air outlet opening 8.
  • a casing 6 with an air inlet opening 7 and an air outlet opening 8.
  • an electric motor and an air suction element driven by it are received, so that through the casing from the air inlet opening 7 to the air outlet opening 8, an air flow can be generated.
  • current coupling means are present in the form of resilient contact lips 9.
  • the unit 2 is provided with coupling means in the form of a circumferential collar 10, which is composed of a ring extending radially and a wall extending axially on the free circumferential edge of the wall.
  • two cams 11 are provided, forming aligning means.
  • a sealing ring 12 is provided, the arrangement being such that the air outlet opening 8 is located within the sealing ring 12.
  • Complementary coupling means are formed by a ring 13, which is composed of a ring part 13a fixedly connected to the wall part 1e, connected by a first extremity, via a hinge 14, to a first extremity of a pivotable ring part 13b.
  • the second extremity of the pivotable ring part 13b is provided with a snap-in element 13c, which can lockingly cooperate with a counter element 13d at the second extremity of the fixed ring part 13a.
  • the ring parts 13a and 13b each consist of a substantially semi-cylindrical element, extending perpendicularly to the wall part 1e and provided at the extremity facing away from that wall part with an inwardly reaching flange, the dimensions being selected such that the circumferential collar 10 of the unit 2, while pushing in the sealing ring 12, can be received within the ring 13 under the flange thereof.
  • the flange referred to is provided in the fixed ring part 13a with two recesses 13e, which serve as complementary aligning means.
  • the wall part 1e In the region surrounded by the ring 13 in closed, locked condition, the wall part 1e is provided with an air passage opening 15 which is in communication with the exhaust opening 4, and resilient contact lips 16, which form complementary current coupling means and are in communication with the box 3.
  • the snap-in element 13c is released from the counter element 13d, whereupon the ring part 13b is pivoted away from the fixed ring part 13a. Then, by its circumferential edge 10, the unit 2 is slipped under the flange of the ring part 13a, while pushing-in the sealing ring 12, such that the cams 11 come to lie on the circumferential edge 10 in the recesses 13e.
  • the motor/air suction unit 2 is connected to the top part 1b in a condition ready for use. It will need no further explanation that the removal of the motor/air suction unit 2 can be carried out just as rapidly and easily.
  • a motor/air suction unit 22 is represented, wherein alternative, more specifically, combined current coupling and aligning means are used in the form of a plug 23 projecting relative to a housing wall part 21a and a box receiving the latter, recessed in the unit 22.
  • the current coupling means are formed by a plug/socket combination, those mutually engaging parts, during coupling, at the same time providing for alignment. With such coupling, the unit can of course no longer be slipped under a flange, as was carried out in the earlier discussed embodiment. Locking can then be effected by pivotably arranging, in the embodiment according to Fig.
  • both ring parts relative to a hinge 14 fixedly connected to the wall part 1e, while, then, for instance, at the snap connection between the ring parts, there can be provided an automatically occurring coupling between the ring parts and the wall part, for instance a cam construction, to connect the closed ring firmly with the wall part for stably pushing the unit against the wall part over the entire sealing surface.
  • a different coupling and securing possibility is represented in .Fig. 7, where a circumferential collar 30 of a unit is equipped with a cam edge 30a, engaged by a number of resilient snap clamps 30, distributed along the circumference of the collar 30, each snap clamp 33 being fixedly connected to the wall part 31e by means of a hinge 34.
  • the unit can be secured to the wall part 31e, via the circumferential collar 30, while compressing the sealing ring 32 by means of the snap clamps 33.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
  • Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Aspirateur, tel qu'un aspirateur à brosse, un aspirateur à réservoir, un dispositif de nettoyage par aspiration à eau ou autres, muni d'un logement (la, 1b) avec une ouverture d'alimentation (5) pour la connexion d'un tuyau d'aspiration, une ouverture d'échappement (4) et un conduit d'air s'étendant entre l'ouverture d'alimentation et l'ouverture d'échappement, dans lequel avec un élément d'aspiration d'air, tel qu'une turbine ou un corps différent prévu avec des pales, entraîné par un moteur, en particulier un moteur électrique, un écoulement d'air depuis l'ouverture d'alimentation vers l'ouverture d'échappement peut être généré, le moteur et l'élément d'aspiration d'air conjointement étant conçus comme une unité interchangeable (2) comprenant un boîtier (6) qui est muni d'une ouverture d'entrée d'air (7) qui se trouve en communication avec l'élément d'aspiration d'air ou le moteur électrique, une ouverture de sortie d'air (8) qui se trouve en communication avec le moteur électrique ou l'élément d'aspiration d'air et des moyens d'alignement (11) et des moyens de couplage (10) qui peuvent coopérer avec des moyens d'alignement (13e) et des moyens de couplage (13) complémentaires prévus dans ou sur le logement, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de couplage comprennent un collier (10) sur l'unité interchangeable et les moyens de couplage complémentaires comprennent un anneau (13) connecté au logement et s'engageant sur le collier, lequel anneau consiste en au moins deux parties articulées l'une par rapport à l'autre.
  2. Aspirateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de couplage et les moyens de couplage complémentaires peuvent être ouverts et fermés sans outil, par exemple au moyen d'une action d'encliquetage.
  3. Aspirateur selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que au moyen d'une fermeture par encliquetage (13c, 13d) les parties articulées les unes avec les autres de l'anneau peuvent être fixées les unes avec les autres dans une forme continue, fermées tout autour et qui engagent par pression le collier.
  4. Aspirateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'alignement et les moyens d'alignement complémentaires consistent en des cames de coopération mutuelles (11, 13e) prévues sur l'anneau et le collier, respectivement.
  5. Aspirateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'unité interchangeable est munie de moyens de couplage de courant (9) qui peuvent coopérer avec des moyens de couplage de courant complémentaires (16) qui sont connectés au logement et qui peuvent être connectés au réseau électrique.
  6. Aspirateur selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de couplage de courant (9) et les moyens de couplage de courant complémentaires (16) consistent en des contacts poussoirs électriques qui, lorsqu'ils sont alignés et lorsqu'ils fixent l'unité, sont automatiquement pressés l'un contre l'autre.
  7. Aspirateur selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de couplage de courant et les moyens de couplage de courant complémentaires consistent en une connexion de prise / douille (23, 24), une partie de connexion formant une partie de l'unité et l'autre partie de connexion formant une partie du logement.
  8. Aspirateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'unité comprend au moins un espace de réception ou de coulissement afin de placer de manière interchangeable un élément de filtre.
  9. Unité (2) consistant en un moteur électrique et un élément d'aspiration d'air, laquelle unité est conçue comme une unité interchangeable et comprend un boîtier (6), qui est muni d'une ouverture d'entrée d'air (7) qui se trouve en communication avec l'élément d'aspiration d'air ou le moteur électrique, une ouverture de sortie d'air (8) qui se trouve en communication avec le moteur électrique ou l'élément d'aspiration d'air, des moyens de couplage de courant (9), et des moyens d'alignement (11) et des moyens de couplage (10) qui peuvent coopérer avec des moyens d'alignement et de couplage complémentaires prévus dans ou sur le logement d'un aspirateur, caractérisée en ce que les moyens de couplage comprennent un collier (10) sur l'unité, ce qui entraîne que ledit collier peut être engagé par pression par les moyens de couplage de l'aspirateur.
EP02702969A 2001-03-06 2002-03-06 Aspirateur a moteur interchangeable Expired - Lifetime EP1367930B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1017514A NL1017514C2 (nl) 2001-03-06 2001-03-06 Stofzuiger met verwisselbare motor.
NL1017514 2001-03-06
PCT/NL2002/000148 WO2002069776A1 (fr) 2001-03-06 2002-03-06 Aspirateur a moteur interchangeable

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1367930A1 EP1367930A1 (fr) 2003-12-10
EP1367930B1 true EP1367930B1 (fr) 2006-05-17

Family

ID=19773006

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02702969A Expired - Lifetime EP1367930B1 (fr) 2001-03-06 2002-03-06 Aspirateur a moteur interchangeable

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1367930B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE326170T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60211485D1 (fr)
NL (1) NL1017514C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2002069776A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202005007823U1 (de) * 2005-05-19 2005-07-14 Renfert Gmbh Absaugvorrichtung, insbesondere Dentalabsaugvorrichtung

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4307485A (en) * 1979-09-04 1981-12-29 Black & Decker Inc. Air-powered vacuum cleaner floor tool
DE3737548A1 (de) * 1987-11-05 1989-05-18 Siegfried Maier Umruestbare antriebseinrichtung an einer buerstsaugduese
US5511282A (en) * 1995-04-13 1996-04-30 Bissell Inc. Motor mounting arrangement and method for a vacuum cleaner
KR100233513B1 (ko) * 1997-09-23 1999-12-01 구자홍 진공청소기의 공기유로구조

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL1017514C2 (nl) 2002-09-09
DE60211485D1 (de) 2006-06-22
WO2002069776A1 (fr) 2002-09-12
ATE326170T1 (de) 2006-06-15
EP1367930A1 (fr) 2003-12-10
WO2002069776A8 (fr) 2003-11-20

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