EP1537773A1 - Vacuum device for foliage - Google Patents

Abstract

The leaf sucker comprises a motorized suction fan unit (9) which is connected on one side of a lid (3). A suction hose (7) is connected on the other side of the lid, which is fitted on a conventional wheelie-bin (2).

Description

The invention relates to a leaf vacuum according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such leaf extractors are in practice as portable devices known. Usually can be between suction and blowing operation be switched, wherein in the suction mode by the Suction hose sucked leaves collected in a flexible bag becomes. These bags are usually formed like a net or through other perforations with air outlet openings provided to an impermissible pressure in the bag interior to avoid.

In the known devices, the capacity of the Collection bag disadvantageous: for reasons of weight, especially in wet foliage, the volume is low sized. This requires short emptying intervals. Because in the Practice the frequent emptying of collection bags felt annoying Usually, these devices are predominantly used in the Blowing used. However, this is disadvantageous, as the just brought to larger clumps foliage through Wind influences can be redistributed, making unnecessary Extra work arises. In any case, blow-molding occurs in this respect Extra work, as on the one hand required for collecting the foliage Work and then in a second step this collected into a pile of foliage in a collection container must be brought and disposed of or composted, while in suction the leaves directly into the sump is spent, which can be emptied without that To handle leaves again.

The invention is based on the object, a generic Leaf vacuum to improve that this easily allows the inclusion of larger amounts of leaves and thus enabling a labor-saving operation.

This task is performed by a vacuum cleaner with the features of claim 1.

In other words, the invention proposes a dimensionally stable Container before, for example, be placed on the ground can and which is tightly closed with a lid. When "dense" is understood in the context of the present proposal, that no leaves moved into the container between Lid and container can escape unintentionally.

In the lid two air outlets are provided, the Suction hose connects to such an air passage, so that when the container is standing, the suction hose at appropriate Lax suckle on one accordingly large area allows. Because of the container on the Getting up, he can absorb a large amount of leaves, without stressing the user with this weight. If the container is advantageously provided by means of wheels, can after processing the aforementioned area of the container be easily and with little effort, in this way, significant larger areas gradually to be able to work off. In addition, the container by means of this Wheels convenient to the compost or other leaf collection point procedure and be emptied there.

The second air passage in the lid is used depending on the arrangement of the Suction blower of the air duct in different ways: He can serve as an air outlet, through which the fan sucked the Releases air again. This can have its own opening However, the second air passage can also be realized by the fact that the lid deliberately not airtight connects to the container. If the blower is outside of the container, it can be provided that a Suction line between the blower and this second air passage runs and that inside the container a negative pressure is generated, the suction at the front end of the Suction hose leads. The arrangement of the suction fan outside the container is advantageous insofar as the usable Container volume is thereby increased and optimal Cooling of the fan is ensured. To comply as possible Low noise emissions may alternatively be provided be to arrange the fan noise-reducing in the container interior.

Since the lid is removable from the container, the container can used most of the time during the year, z. B. for collecting grass or shrub in the garden, or outside the garden as a collection or transport container.

Advantageously, an electrically driven fan can be used be, so compared to self-sufficient, by internal combustion engine operated devices a very quiet operation of the Leaf vacuum is enabled.

Advantageously, a municipal waste container as a container to be used for the leaf extractor. This has several Advantages:

As a leaf blower only during a very short period of time needed in the year may be the volume of the leaf vacuum authoritative containers during the remaining time be used otherwise, or the user does not have a special purchase containers for the vacuum cleaner, possibly stored unused and most of the time but he can an already existing waste container in autumn for leaf collecting in connection Use with a cover as suggested.

Furthermore, the municipal waste containers are pressure-stable, since they are usually on lift-tilt facilities of waste collection vehicles be raised and emptied. Across from these pressure forces acting from outside are municipal waste container dimensionally stable, so even at a comparable load by the generated inside Vacuum the dimensional stability of these containers is ensured.

When using such a municipal waste collection container is the standard and available as a "series cover" designated lid open and instead the proposal designed lid used. These are preferably all necessary components on the lid attached, so no specially adapted or converted Waste collection container is required.

A simple and tool-free installation of the lid can thereby take place, that the lid has retaining tabs that are extend under the hinge axes of the magazine cover. At the this opposite end of the lid is firmly on the pressed the upper edge of the waste container, so that the Cover tightly over the entire edge. For this purpose can preferably at the bottom of the lid a corresponding Seal provided from a foam or elastomeric material be.

Preferably, the suction fan of the hinge axis of the municipal waste collection container arranged opposite be, so that thereby the desired contact force without additional clamping or closure elements is effected. A particularly simple handling of the lid can thereby favored that on the lid a holder for recording an electrical supply line is provided; so can the Lid together with its electric geared motor and the required Supply line stored as a single ready-to-use unit be, so that the leaf vacuum accordingly Can be made quickly ready for use when a container - such. B. an empty refuse collection - with the renewal proposed lid is provided.

A partition can be placed between the two air passages be provided to prevent unwanted penetration of the sucked Leaves to prevent suction fan. In this way It is ensured that the foliage is first deep into the container is guided because it has to bypass the partition so that the Leaves are not undesirable from the container and the Suction fan is sucked. Anyway, a sieve, grid or the like provided to the suction of leaves to the blower motor to avoid out of the container.

Additional air openings may be provided to the Consciously reduce the suction power at the end of the suction hose to be able to. By opening such secondary air openings can Therefore, the suction of sand or earth reduced or prevented when, for example, beetle foliage to be aspirated.

Optimum use of the leaf vacuum is with one possible large container possible, for example with a municipal Waste bin of 240 l content. To the lid however, also use with other municipal collection containers can be provided at the bottom to provide seals with different gradients, leaving a gasket for use with the mentioned large container fits while other seals for the use of the lid on smaller municipal waste collection containers with, for example, 120 or less liters of content provided and designed.

Likewise, in adaptation to these different container dimensions be provided, the partition interchangeable to be arranged on the lid so that in adaptation to the container volume each partition walls of appropriate size to the Lid can be mounted.

Furthermore, in adaptation to the different vessel dimensions be provided, the aforementioned retaining tabs to adjust the lid, z. B. to move laterally to this to different distances of the container side hinge axes adapt. Alternatively, several narrow, be provided spaced-apart retaining tabs, so that in each case at least two such "holding fingers" with the Hinge axes of different containers interact.

Advantageously, the container volume can be used optimally, by crushing the sucked leaves. For this purpose can a designated as shredder shredder provided be that crushes the sucked leaves before it is in the container passes.

A particularly inexpensive and lightweight design of the leaf vacuum can be realized by that this shredder is realized as an additional function in the blower, that is, for example, the shredder as a fan or propeller is designed, which is both the actual foliage transport causes and builds up the required air flow, as also causes the crushing of the transported foliage.

Alternatively to the above-described suction, the Leaf vacuum preferably used as a blowing device become. This is in the flow direction behind the blower a Termination provided for a blow hose, this one Blow hose can be identical to the suction hose, so that the same hose only to different ports the blower is connected. That way is the Leaf vacuum not only versatile, but it can for example, be provided initially, the leaves in the To compress blowing operation and to merge into heaps and then concentrate these accumulated piles of leaves to suck in the container, to which the leaf extractor from Blow mode is switched to the suction mode.

Fig. 1

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 2

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 3

ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel, und

Fig. 4 und 5

ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the purely schematic representations. The show

Fig. 1

a first embodiment,

Fig. 2

a second embodiment,

Fig. 3

a third embodiment, and

4 and 5

a fourth embodiment.

In Fig. 1, 1 a total of a leaf vacuum called, the a dimensionally stable container 2 in the form of a municipal waste collection container 2 and a lid 3, which at Place an unfolded Seriendeckels 4 the container 2 closes.

The lid 3 has two air passages 5 and 6, wherein a Suction hose 7 to the first, shown on the left air passage 5 is connected. The second air passage on the right 6 is connected via a suction line 8 with a suction fan 9, this fan 9 is electrically driven. At the Cover 3 is a holder 10 for receiving an electrical Supply line 11 is provided.

When operating the suction fan 9 is on the suction line 8 a Negative pressure generated in the interior of the container 2, wherein this Negative pressure leads to a suction power at the suction hose 7. Around an undesirable short circuit between the two air passages 5 and 6, a partition wall 12 is provided, located between the two air passages 5 and 6 extends into the interior of the container 2. This partition 12th can be perforated, leaving a flow short between Although the air passages 5 and 6 is possible for the air, but not as a flow path for those transported by air Leaves.

A collection bag 14 is hung in the container 2 and above between lid 3 and container collar set so that the in the container 2 collected leaves by means of the collecting bag 14th can be disposed of. If out of the container 2 out the collected foliage directly on a compost or for example be loaded on a municipal collection vehicle should, on the use of such a collection bag 14 be waived.

The seal between the lid 3 and the container 2 takes place in the area of a municipal waste container 2 provided, upstanding rib 15, which surround the opening the container runs around. In the area of this rib For example, the lid 3 has a deformable seal in the form of a compressible foam material or in Shape of a sealing profile made of elastomer material. deviant of the illustrated embodiment may be provided be, the upper, collar-like edge of the container. 2 in addition to the rib 15 as a bearing surface for a lid 3 provided Use gasket.

The required for the sealing contact pressure of the lid is generated by weight and leverage on the lid 3: On his left illustrated end, the lid 3 retaining tabs 16, which extend under the hinge shafts 17 and are provided for the series cover 4. On the opposite Side of the lid 3, the suction fan 9 is provided, so this adds to the weight of the lid 3 and without additional clamping or locking elements one ensures tight fit of the lid 3 at the upper edge of the container.

In addition or alternatively, it may be provided on Circumference of the lid 3 clamps, clamping elements or others Provide latches, which the lid 3 with the collar-like connect the peripheral edge of the waste container 2, so that the tight contact of the lid 3 on the container. 2 is ensured.

Notwithstanding the illustrated embodiment may the blower motor 9 may be arranged on the cover 3. By the arrangement shown to the right of the lid 3 and the Container 2, however, the leverage of the suction fan. 9 advantageously reinforced, so that a reliable dense system of the Cover 3 is secured to the container 2. That for such a thing dense plant required weight of the suction fan 9 can be chosen accordingly lower, so that the handling the entire leaf vacuum 1 by this lower Weight is improved.

Likewise, the handling is improved by the Suction fan 9, when it is arranged laterally next to the container 2 is located lower than when it is on top of the Lid 3 would be arranged so that a lower center of gravity the entire leaf vacuum is achieved, the handling and the stability of the leaf extractor 1 favors. On the lid 3 is therefore a downwardly angled holding portion 18th provided, on the one hand carries the suction fan 9 and on the other the holder 10 for the electrical supply line 11th

Another relief of handling is on the leaf vacuum 1 provided by the container 2 with wheels 19th is equipped, as with the municipal waste collection container 2 standard is the case. The wheels 19 facilitate not just moving the leaf vacuum cleaner 1 to - the capacity of the container 2 exploiting - a large area due to the length of the Suction hose 7 can not be processed, and continue facilitate the wheels 19, the transport of the leaf vacuum. 1 or - after disassembly of the lid 3 - of the leaves filled with leaves Container 2 to a leaf collecting point, such as a compost.

To after use of the leaf vacuum 1 the necessary space of the leaf vacuum 1 to keep as low as possible, are holding section 18 and cover 3 by a hinge 20 with each other connected. The lid 3 can therefore be attached to the holding section 18 be folded up, so that in comparison to the illustrated Alignment of lid 3 and holding portion 18 a contrast space-saving storage is possible.

The partition wall 12 is preferably pivotally on Lid 3 attached so that it can be stored during storage Cover 3 can be folded to save space on the lid 3 can. During operation of the leaf extractor 1, this pivoting the partition 12 are used to meet demand to align the partition 12 in different angular positions and optimally adapted to the respective operating conditions.

There may be several locations for attaching the holding section be provided on the lid. In favor of a good stability can therefore in adaptation to the respective container size of Holding section with the smallest possible supernatant close to Container to be arranged. For this purpose, several fixed mounting points be provided, or it may be a stepless or provided with a plurality of detents adjusting rail od. Like. Provided be.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment in which the Suction fan 9 is provided on top of the lid 3, so that compared to Fig. 1, the entire leaf vacuum 1 one possibly has improved stability. The holding section 18 not only has a holder 10 for electrical supply 11 on, but also an additional hose holder 21. The collection bag 14 has in this embodiment a much greater distance from the wall of the waste container 2, so that a gap 22 around the collecting bag 14 around, over which the air from the waste container 2 can flow out. She leaves the Refuse collection container 2 by an indicated at 23 air outlet, which is provided in the lid 3. The smaller volume of the collecting bag 14 is thereby optimally utilized that the Suction fan 9 is associated with a shredder, so a crushing device for the sucked leaves, so that chopped Leaves through the air passage 5 in the collection bag 14th reach.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the suction fan 9 a sound insulated housing. It has a suction connection 24 on with a quick coupling 25, and a blower connection 26, on the one hand to a distribution manifold on the one hand to Cover 3 and thus extends to the air passage 5, which in the interior of the refuse collection container 2 leads and which on the other also leads to a quick coupling 25. Both branches this Blasanschlusses 26 can be opened optionally or closed, for example by means of sliders, Throttle valves od. Like.

In suction mode, the suction hose is connected to the quick coupling 25 of the suction port 24 and connected to the Quick coupling 25 of the blower 26 leading branch is closed while the other branch of the blower connection 26 is opened so that the sucked leaves through the suction hose, the suction port 24, with a Chopper provided suction fan 9, the blow port 26, the Air passage 5 and enters the waste container 2. The Switching to a blowing device takes place in that the Suction hose by means of the quick coupling 25 from the suction connection 24 is released and the quick coupling 25 of the blower 26 is connected. The associated branch the blow port 26 is opened while the air passage 5 leading branch is closed. Now serves the Suction port 24 only for sucking in ambient air, during the previously referred to as suction hose hose now for example, can be used for compacting foliage, to leaves or other impurities in blowing operation too transport and merge, for example, to run heaps.

In Fig. 4 is a fourth embodiment of a leaf vacuum. 1 shown. In this case, the lid 3 by means of a plurality of retaining clips 27 attached to the waste container 2, wherein the Waste collection container 2 in its upper region a circumferential Collar 28 which engage around the retaining clips 27.

The suction fan 9 is in this fourth embodiment encapsulated within a hood 29 sound-insulated arranged and pivotally mounted within this hood 29. The suction connection 24 sucks in fresh air from the outside, while the blower connection 26 by means of a quick coupling 25 with the suction hose 7 is connected, so that in this mode of operation of Suction hose contrary to its name air blows out and for example, on the ground located foliage to larger clusters can be brought together, then sucked up can be.

For this purpose, the leaf extractor 1 of the fourth embodiment from the blowing function shown in Fig. 4 in a In Fig. 5 illustrated suction function switchable: For this purpose the entire suction fan 9 is pivoted about one Axis extending through the suction port 24. The suction connection 24 thus maintains its position while the blower connection 26 in Fig. 5 relative to the illustration of Fig. 4 to Is pivoted 90 ° down. The suction hose 7 is according to Fig. 5 connected to the suction port 24, so that with the suction hose 7 material can now be sucked. This Material is then through the blow port 26 in promoted the interior of the refuse collection container 2. The suction and Blasanschlüsse 24 and 26 are the same design, have For example, the same quick couplings 25, so that the same Suction hose 7 either in suction or blow mode the device can be used.

Claims (20)

Leaf blowers;
with a motor-driven suction fan,
and with a suction hose,
and a collecting container for the sucked leaves,
marked by
a dimensionally stable container (2),
and a lid (3) which can be removed from the container (2) and closes the container (2) tightly,
and two in the lid (3) provided air passages (5, 6), wherein the suction hose (7) connects to an air passage (5). Leaf vacuum according to claim 1, characterized by an electrically driven suction fan (9). Leaf vacuum according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a municipal waste collection container as a container (2). Leaf vacuum according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover (3) holding tabs (16) which extend under hinge axes (17) of the series cover (4). Leaf vacuum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction fan (9) outside the container (2) is provided. Leaf vacuum according to claim 5, characterized in that a suction line from the suction fan (9) leads to the second air passage (6). Leaf vacuum according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the suction fan (9) on the hinge axes (17) opposite side of the lid (3) is arranged. Leaf vacuum according to claim 2, characterized by a cover (3) provided on the holder (10) for an electrical supply line (11). Leaf vacuum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a partition wall (12) which extends between the two air passages (5, 6) in the container interior, such that a short-circuit flow between the two air passages (5, 6) is prevented. Leaf vacuum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a collecting bag (14) suspended in the container (2) and fixed between the lid (3) and the container (2). Leaf vacuum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by wheels (19) on the container (2). Leaf vacuum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by secondary air openings, which are selectively closable or open and which reduce the suction power at the suction hose (7) depending on their open position. Leaf vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, characterized by at least two seals on the underside of the lid (3), which extend adapted to the openings of different sized waste collection container (2). Leaf vacuum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a shredder referred to shredding device for the sucked foliage. Leaf vacuum according to claim 13, characterized in that the chopper is designed as a fan or propeller and both generates a foliage transporting airflow and crushes the foliage. Leaf blower according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the flow direction behind the blower (9) a blow port (26) for a blow hose (7) is provided. Leaf vacuum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction fan (9) within a cover (3) provided on the hood (29) is arranged soundproofed. Leaf vacuum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (3) by means of retaining clips (27) on a peripheral collar (28) can be fixed, which is provided at the top of the waste container (2). Leaf vacuum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction fan (9) has a suction port (24) and a pivotable blow port (26) which are each selectively connectable to a suction or blast hose (7), wherein the pivotable blow port ( 26) is pivotable in a position leading the blown air into the container interior. Leaf vacuum according to claim 13, characterized in that the suction fan (9) is mounted pivotally.

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