EP1618823B1 - Vacuum cleaner with a filter attachement - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a arranged in a receiving area of the vacuum cleaner housing, interchangeable filter having a through hole through which extends a mounting arm for fixing the filter, which is fixed at its upper end to the vacuum cleaner housing or the vacuum cleaner motor and the lower End a fastening member for attaching the filter is releasably connectable.

In vacuum cleaners, in particular industrial vacuum cleaners and central vacuum cleaners, which have a replaceable filter which is formed by a cartridge or cartridge with a central passage opening, a fastening device for the interchangeable filter is required. Usually, a threaded rod is provided for this purpose, which is attached at its upper end to the housing or vacuum cleaner motor and passes through the central passage opening of the filter and protrudes with its lower end from this. On the lower end of the threaded rod, a holding plate is attached, which rests against the underside of the filter and is secured by means of a screwed onto the threaded rod knurled nut or wing nut. A disadvantage of this filter attachment is that the replacement of the filter is relatively cumbersome, as this, the knurled or wing nut unscrewed and in turn must be screwed after insertion of the new filter.

Such vacuum cleaners, in which for fixing the filter connected to the housing threaded rod passes through the filter and holds the filter by means of a plugged holding plate and screwed nut, are from the DE 29505149 U1 and US 4278454 A known. These are vacuum cleaners of the type mentioned.

There are therefore already further filter fasteners are used, in which a bayonet lock is provided. For this purpose, a bayonet closure member is inserted into corresponding recesses at the lower end of the central through-opening of the filter passing through the support arm and secured by rotation. In practice it has It has been found that the rotation of the complete closure of the bayonet closure member may not be completed by users. As a result, the filter is not reliably fixed and may come loose during operation of the vacuum cleaner. As a result, dust enters the vacuum cleaner motor, resulting in imbalances that reduce the life of the vacuum cleaner motor.

Also known are clip fasteners in which a clip is attached to the lower end of the support arm protruding from the passage opening through the filter and spans the passage opening of the filter and bears against the lower side surface of the filter. Even with such a clasp closure, the replacement of the filter is rather cumbersome.

Further proposed plug systems in which the filter is frictionally held on a projecting into the central passage opening from above retaining extension. The disadvantage here is that the risk of detachment of the filter in the course of operation of the vacuum cleaner can not be reliably excluded.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment for the filter in a vacuum cleaner of the type mentioned, wherein the filter is very easily replaceable and yet a reliable attachment of the filter can be achieved. According to the invention, this is achieved by a vacuum cleaner with the features of claim 1.

To replace the filter is adjusted in a device according to the invention, the actuating ring of the fastening member in its release position, after which the fastening member can be removed from the support arm. Advantageously, this process can be performed with only a single hand. The attachment of a new filter is very easy to carry out by the device according to the invention, wherein after attaching the filter on the support arm, the fastening member is pushed onto the lower end of the support arm until the engagement elements engage in the radial recess. In preferred embodiments of the invention in this case no manual adjustment of the actuating ring is required in its release position, so that the attachment of the fastening member at the lower end of the support arm can be advantageously carried out with only one hand.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lower end of the support arm is formed by a pin which has the circumferentially extending around this recess and which is inserted in the fastened state of the filter in an insertion of the fixing member and is locked in this by the engagement elements, wherein the Actuator surrounds the introducer.

Engagement elements whose radial displacement is blocked in a blocking position of an actuating ring and whose radial displacement is released in a release position of the actuating ring, are known from clutch arrangements forth, the connecting means for conduit sections of conduits for liquid or gaseous media or conduits for conducting electricity or light. An example of a fluid coupling arrangement of this kind is shown in FIG DE 199 15 291 A1 , In such coupling devices, the two interconnectable coupling parts are flowed through by the medium to be conductive.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Staubsaugers mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung zur Befestigung des Filters;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des die zentrale Durchgangsöffnung des Filters durchsetzenden Haltearms;

Fig. 3

einen achsialen Schnitt durch das Befestigungsglied und den den unteren Endabschnitt des Haltearms bildenden Zapfen;

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht der Einführhülse des Befestigungsgliedes;

Fig. 5

eine Schrägsicht des Betätigungsrings;

Fig. 6, 7 und 8

eine schematische Darstellungen von weiteren möglichen Ausführungsformen der Erfindung.

Further advantages and details of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner with a device according to the invention for fastening the filter;

Fig. 2

a side view of the central through hole of the filter passing through the support arm;

Fig. 3

an axial section through the attachment member and the lower end portion of the support arm forming pin;

Fig. 4

a side view of the insertion of the fastening member;

Fig. 5

an oblique view of the actuating ring;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8

a schematic representations of other possible embodiments of the invention.

The in Fig. 1 Vacuum cleaner shown schematically represents a central vacuum. Likewise, the invention could be used for example in an industrial vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner has a vacuum cleaner housing 1, in which a vacuum cleaner motor 2 is arranged. In a receiving area 3 of the vacuum cleaner housing 1, a filter 4 is further arranged, which is formed by a replaceable cartridge or cartridge. The filter 4 has a central, axially extending passage opening 5, through which a holding arm 6 extends, which is held at its upper end on the vacuum cleaner motor 2 and / or on the vacuum cleaner housing 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the support arm is fixed with its upper end to a support plate 7, which lies between an intermediate wall 8 of the vacuum cleaner housing 1 and the vacuum cleaner motor 2.

The holding arm 6 is sleeve-shaped or tube-like over most of its longitudinal extension, its lateral surface being provided with slots 9. The lower end portion of the support arm 6 is formed by a pin 10 which is screwed into a lower boundary wall 11 of the sleeve or tubular portion of the support arm 6. In the fastened state of the filter 4, the pin 10 is inserted into an insertion sleeve 12 of a fastening member 13 and locked in this (see. Fig. 3 ). A holding plate 14 of the fastening member 13 is thereby pressed against the underside of the filter 4 in the region around the through-hole 5, whereby the upper end of the filter 4 is pressed against the intermediate wall 8 and the filter 4 is fixed in the receiving area 3 of the housing 1. The upper and the lower end of the through-opening 5 are in this case essentially hermetically sealed by the intermediate wall 8 or by the holding plate 14.

From the vacuum cleaner 2 dust-laden air is sucked through the intake manifold 15. In the region of the vacuum cleaner housing 1, in which the intake manifold 15 opens, a known cyclone device may be arranged, which is not shown here in detail and forms no object of the present invention. From the sucked air excreted dust settles in the collecting area 16 of the vacuum cleaner housing 1. The sucked by the vacuum cleaner 2 air enters the gap 17 between the vacuum cleaner housing 1 and the filter 4 and further flows through the filter 4 in the through hole 5 of the filter 4 and through the slots 9 of the support arm 6 in the interior of the sleeve-shaped portion of the support arm 4th and through the support plate 7 passing through the outlet opening from the interior into the vacuum cleaner motor 2 and further from the outlet port 18 of the vacuum cleaner 2.

The formation of the fastening member 13 and its connection to the pin 10 are described below with reference to Fig. 3 to 5 explained in more detail. The fastening member 13 has, as already mentioned, an insertion sleeve 12, which surrounds a receiving space 19 for the pin 10. The insertion sleeve 12 is surrounded by an actuating ring 20. The attachment member 13 further comprises engagement elements 21, which in the in Fig. 3 shown attached state of the filter engage in a radial recess 22 of the pin 10, as is apparent from Fig. 3 is apparent. The radial recess 22 is formed in this embodiment of the side wall of a pin 10 annularly surrounding groove-like recess 23. In the embodiment shown, four circumferentially spaced by 90 ° from each other engagement elements 21 are present. Also, more or fewer engagement elements 21 may be provided. The engaging elements 21 respectively pass through a window recess 24 of the insertion sleeve 12. A radially inwardly protruding projection 25 of the actuating ring 20 lies in the in FIG Fig. 3 shown blocking position of the actuating ring 20 over the entire axial extent of the engaging elements 21 radially outside the same and locks them against a radial displacement of the recess 23 of the pin 10th

The actuating ring 20 is starting from its blocking position in which it locks the engagement elements 21 against radial displacement to the outside and a withdrawal of the fastening member 13 is locked by the support arm 6, adjustable in a release position in which it the engagement elements 21 for a radial displacement to outside releases and in which the fastening member 13 is removable from the support arm 6. In Fig. 3 the actuating ring 20 is additionally shown in dashed form in its release position. In the release position, the radial projection 25 of the actuating ring 20 is below upper portions of the engagement elements 21. These can therefore be moved with their upper portions radially outward, at the same time tilting of the engagement elements about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 28 of the attachment member 13 axis takes place so that the engagement elements 21 are located radially outside the region of the recess 22.

The engagement elements 21 in the illustrated embodiment each have a resilient latching arm 26 which extends from a base plate 27 through the window recess 24 inwardly, wherein it extends obliquely to a normal to the longitudinal axis 28 of the attachment member 13 plane and from the Einsteckseite the insertion 12 is directed away. As a result of this design, the latching arm 26 can not be pushed radially outwards in the blocking position of the actuating ring 20 from the recess 22 when a force which pulls apart acts on the fastening member 13 and the journal 10. On the other hand, the locking arm 26 can be pushed away from a starting bevel 29 at the front end of the pin 10 during insertion of the pin 10 into the insertion sleeve 12 to the outside, without the actuating ring 20 has to be adjusted for this purpose in its release position.

The actuating ring 20 is biased by a spring 30 in the form of a coil spring in its blocking position. In this embodiment, the adjustment of the actuating ring 20 between its blocking position and its release position by an axial displacement of the actuating ring 20. The axial guidance of the actuating ring 20 takes place here by both sides of a respective engaging member 21 arranged in the axial direction extending webs 31, of the Insertion sleeve protrude radially outward and also serve to guide the engagement elements 21. Between these webs 31, the projections 25 are guided.

Stops for limiting the axial displacement of the actuating ring 20 are formed in the embodiment shown on the one hand by inwardly projecting projections 32 which abut in the release position at the edge of the radially outwardly projecting bottom 33 of the insertion sleeve 12, and on the other hand formed by locking projections 34 which in the Locking position abut on an outwardly projecting collar 35 of the insertion sleeve 12, which is arranged in the region of the insertion side of this. The retaining plate 14 may be attached to the insertion sleeve 12 or rest only loosely on this.

In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating ring for adjustment between its blocking position and its release position only in the axial direction of the insertion sleeve relative to this displaceable. It would also be conceivable and possible for a rotation of the actuating ring about the longitudinal axis of the insertion sleeve to be necessary before the axial displacement of the actuating ring to release the locking takes place. Such an adjustment of an actuating ring is mentioned, for example, in the description of the introduction in connection with fluid coupling arrangements DE 199 15 291 A1 described.

Conceivable and possible, although less preferred, it would also be that the adjustment of the actuating ring between its locking position and its release position is effected only by a rotation of the actuating ring about the longitudinal axis of the introducer.

Instead of the described engagement elements also differently shaped engagement elements would be conceivable and possible. Thus, for example, in the embodiment according to Fig. 6 spherical engaging elements 21 used. The actuating ring 20 in turn has a radially inwardly projecting projection 25 which blocks in the blocking position of the actuating ring, a displacement of the engagement elements 21 radially outward and holds the engagement elements 21 in the groove-shaped recess 23 of the pin 10. Pulling out of the pin 10 from the insertion tube 12 is thereby blocked. After the displacement of the actuating ring 20 in its release position (in the direction of arrow 36), the engagement elements 21 can escape radially outward. Upon application of a tensile force on the pin 10, the engagement elements 21 are pushed out of the recess 23 by the inclined flank 37 of the pin 10. For insertion of the pin 10 in the insertion sleeve 12 and engaging in the same in this embodiment, the actuating ring 20 must be moved to its release position.

Another possible embodiment is in Fig. 7 shown. The engagement elements 21, of which, for example, three or four can be provided in the circumferential direction, are connected here via spring-elastic arms 38 with the actuating ring 20. The arranged at the remote from the actuating ring 20 ends of the arms 38 engaging elements 21 respectively pass through a window recess 24 in the insertion tube 12. In the in Fig. 7 illustrated locking position of the actuating ring 20 engages behind an axial extension 39 of the respective engagement member 21 located on the side facing the insertion side of the window recess 24 edge of the window recess, which is directed somewhat radially inward in this embodiment. The in the attachment member to be introduced pin may be formed in the manner as in the basis of Fig. 1 to 5 described embodiment is formed. In the blocking position of the actuating ring 20 engage the engagement elements 21 in the recess 22 of the pin 10 and are in this case locked against radial displacement to the outside by the edge of the window recess 24 cross-extension 39. When the actuating ring 20 is moved in the direction of arrow 36 in its release position, the engagement elements 21 are initially moved axially so far until the extension 39 is located in the axial region of the respective window recess 24 and as a result, the inclined surface 40 runs at the of the Einsteckseite remote edge of the window recess 24, whereby the engagement member 21 is displaced radially outward until the pin 10 is pulled out of the insertion sleeve 12. At the same time in this case the arms 38 are tensioned, so that after releasing the actuating ring 20, this in turn is moved back into the blocking position.

According to the embodiment Fig. 8 the engagement elements 21 are attached via arms 38 to an intermediate ring 41, which surrounds the insertion sleeve 12 in the region of the insertion side for the pin 10. The pin 10 can turn in the from Fig. 2 and 3 be formed apparent manner. The arranged at the ends of the starting from the intermediate ring 41 in the insertion direction and obliquely inwardly extending arms 21 in turn pass through a window recess 24 of the insertion 12. In the in Fig. 8 illustrated blocking position of the actuating ring 20 engages the engagement member 21 with its remote from the arm 38 end of the edge of the window opening 24, which lies on the insertion side of the insertion sleeve 12. A wedge member 42 is disposed between the outside of the insertion sleeve 12 and the respective arm 38 and connected to the actuating ring 20. With a displacement of the actuating ring 20 in the direction 36 of its release position of the intermediate ring 41 is moved slightly axially with the actuators 21 in the direction 36, so that the engagement elements 21 are in the axial region of the window recesses 24, whereupon the arms 38 of the wedge elements 42 radially outward are pressed and the engagement elements are moved radially outward.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 7 and 8 it is not necessary for the insertion of the pin 10 into the insertion sleeve 12 and its latching with the engagement elements 21, the actuating ring 20 previously manually adjust to its release position.

Different further embodiments of the invention are conceivable and possible. Thus, for example, it would in principle be conceivable and possible, instead of a recess running obliquely to the insertion direction on the pin 10, to provide a return which is perpendicular to the insertion direction and which lies with a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction Surface of the respective engagement element cooperates. A radial blocking of the displacement of the engagement elements in the blocking position of the actuating ring could be eliminated. The release of the pin could be done by pulling the actuators radially outward upon displacement of the actuation ring until they are disengaged from the return of the pin.

Legend to the reference numbers:

1

vacuum cleaner housing

2

vacuum cleaner motor

3

reception area

4

filter

5

Through opening

6

holding arm

7

support plate

8th

partition

9

slot

10

spigot

11

boundary wall

12

introducer

13

attachment member

14

Retaining plate

15

intake

16

catch area

17

gap

18

outlet

19

accommodation space

20

actuating ring

21

engaging member

22

return

23

deepening

24

window opening

25

head Start

26

detent arm

27

baseplate

28

longitudinal axis

29

starting slope

30

feather

31

web

32

head Start

33

ground

34

catch projection

35

Federation

36

arrow

37

flank

38

poor

39

extension

40

sloping surface

41

intermediate ring

42

key member

Claims (14)

1. A vacuum cleaner, in particular a central vacuum cleaner, having an exchangeable filter (4), arranged in a receiving region (3) of the vacuum cleaner housing (1), with a through opening (5) through which for securing of the filter (4) there extends a holding arm (6) which is held at its upper end on the vacuum cleaner housing (1) and/or on the vacuum cleaner motor (2) and to whose lower end there can be detachably connected a securing member (13) for securing of the filter (4), characterised in that the holding arm (6) has, in the region of its lower end, a radial offset (22) with which engaging elements (21) of the securing member (13) engage in the secured state of the filter (4), these engaging elements blocking a removal of the securing member (13) from the lower end of the holding arm (6), and in that an actuating ring (20) of the securing member (13) is adjustable between a blocking position in which the engaging elements (21) prevent the securing member (13) from being removed from the holding arm (6) and a release position in which the securing member (13) can be removed from the holding arm (6).
2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterised in that the engaging elements (21) are blocked against radial displacement in the blocking position of the actuating ring (20) and in the release position of the actuating ring (20) are released by the actuating ring (20) for radial displacement or are displaced radially by the actuating ring (20) with respect to their radial position in the blocking position of the actuating ring (20).
3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the lower end of the holding arm (6) is formed by a pin (10) which has the radial offset (22), running circumferentially around the latter, and which in the secured state of the filter (4) is introduced into an insertion sleeve (12) of the securing member (13) and is locked therein by the engaging elements (21).
4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, characterised in that the actuating ring (20) surrounds the insertion sleeve (12).
5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that the radial offset (22) is formed by a groove-like recess (23) annularly encircling the pin (10).
6. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the engaging elements (21) pass through window openings (24) in the insertion sleeve (12).
7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, characterised in that the engaging elements (21) each have a resilient locking arm (26) which, issuing from a base plate (27), extends through the window opening (24), wherein it runs obliquely to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (28) and is directed away from the insertion side of the insertion sleeve (12).
8. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the engaging elements (21) are displaceable in the axial direction of the securing member (13) by the actuating ring (20) and in the blocking position of the actuating ring are blocked against radial displacement by a radially non-displaceable portion of the securing member (13) and in the release position of the actuating ring (20) are released for radial displacement by the radially non-displaceable portion of the securing member (13), and in that the axially non-displaceable portion of the securing member (13), blocking the engaging elements (21) against radial displacement in the blocking position of the actuating ring (20), is formed by the insertion sleeve (12), preferably by edges of the window openings (24) over which the engaging elements (21) engage in the blocking position of the actuating ring.
9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, characterised in that the engaging elements (21) are connected to the actuating ring (20), preferably via resilient arms (38).
10. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the actuating ring (20) is pretensioned into its blocking position by a spring (30).
11. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that for adjustment of the actuating ring (20) between its blocking position and its release position, the actuating ring (20) is displaceable in relation to the insertion sleeve (12), in the axial direction of the latter, and/or in that for adjustment of the actuating ring (20) between its blocking position and its release position, the actuating ring (20) is rotatable with respect to the insertion sleeve (12), about the longitudinal axis (28) of the latter.
12. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the securing member (13) has a holding plate (14) which rests against the underside of the filter (4) in the secured state of the latter.
13. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the holding arm (6) is sleeve-like over at least the majority of its length, wherein its shell has openings.
14. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the air sucked in by the vacuum cleaner motor (2) is sucked into the through opening (5) of the filter from the region lying radially exterior to the latter.

Images