EP1713370A1

EP1713370A1 - Floor nozzle for vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP1713370A1
Application number: EP05726335A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Markus Cornelissen; Markus Koch; Bernhard Scheuren
Original assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Current assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Priority date: 2004-02-10
Filing date: 2005-02-04
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-04
Also published as: DE502005006992D1; RU2006132333A; WO2005074779A1; CN1956673A; EP1713370B1; DE102004006350A1; JP2007521897A; ATE427062T1

Abstract

The invention concerns a floor nozzle (1) for vacuum cleaner, comprising a suction chamber delimited at the front and at the rear, in the advancing direction (r) by delimiting elements (5, 5') for example, runners, a rotary brush (6) being optionally mounted inside the suction chamber (2). The invention aims at improving a vacuum cleaner nozzle of this type, particularly in terms of maneuverability for carpet vacuum cleaning. Therefor, the delimiting elements (5') are designed to be vertically mobile, over a partial zone and said delimiting elements (5') can be automatically lifted, depending on the substrate present in the suction chamber (2) and/or depending on a forward (r) or backward (r') movement of the floor nozzle (1).

Description

Floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner

The invention relates to a floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner with a suction space delimited in the feed direction by limiting means, for example by sliding skids at the front and rear, a rotatable brush possibly being arranged within the suction space.

Floor nozzles of the type in question are known. The bs w. Limiting means arranged in the form of skids on the front and rear of the suction chamber particularly come into effect when working on carpets, the floor nozzle being supported on the pile by the skids and these offering an approximately sealing closure of the suction chamber. In this case, it proves to be disadvantageous that, in particular on dense and / or deep-pile carpets, a high negative pressure builds up in the suction space, which leads to an increase in the pushing forces due to increased friction. These increased pushing forces make the use of the vacuum cleaner difficult.

In view of the prior art described above, a technical problem of the invention is seen in improving a floor nozzle of the type in question, in particular with regard to the manageability when vacuuming carpets.

This problem is solved first and foremost by the subject matter of claim 1, with the focus being on the fact that the limiting means are vertically movable over a partial area and that the limiting means are dependent on the negative pressure prevailing in the suction channel and / or depending on a pre-pressure - And return movement of the suction nozzle can be raised automatically. As a result of this embodiment according to the invention, there is a possibility of reducing the negative pressure in the suction space to limit a maximum value. This value is chosen so high that the dust absorption, ie the cleaning effect, is still ensured, on the other hand the vacuum is chosen so low that the pushing forces are within the range tolerable for the user. The additional air flowing in through the selected regulation of the limiting means glides tightly over the carpet, so that dirt lying on the carpet pile can be better vacuumed up at this point. Thus, the raising or lowering limiting means are preferably designed in the manner of an approximately vertically displaceable slide, the width of such a useful air slide or also coarse dirt or purging air slide being chosen to be smaller than the total width of the floor nozzle, so that the movable limiting means on both sides carpet to be processed is still held down by adjacent, non-movable limiting means such as a floor panel or skids. In this regard, a width of 50 to 200 mm of the movable part of the limiting means or of the slide is conceivable. The latter can be used to regulate the amount of air flowing into the suction chamber, so that it is completely closed, the lower edge of the slide or the limiting means being flush with the floor to be cleaned, up to a desired maximum opening, which is determined by the desired cleaning performance or by the geometric conditions is limited. The lower edge of the slide or of the vertically movable limiting means is preferably designed as a sealing lip or as a type of skid. The opening that occurs when the limiting means is raised can also be designed as a coarse material receptacle. To optimize dust pick-up from cracks, this large opening is closed by the limiting means, the latter also consisting of bristle strip segments or sealing tips. In this regard, it is further preferred that the limiting means are prestressed in the lowering direction. It is also proposed that a rocker-type button is arranged in the suction nozzle, which is operated by a underground section drawn in, particularly sucked-in carpet section, is deflected and that the deflection of the button controls a raising of the limiting means. In particular when vacuuming dense carpets, the negative pressure in the suction space can increase in such a way that the carpet or the carpet section that approximately seals the suction space downward is strongly sucked in, so that the carpet pile penetrates deeply into the suction space. Here, the rocker-type button is acted upon and deflected, which causes the limiting means to regulate the negative pressure in the suction space to be raised. The vacuum in the suction chamber is regulated in favor of a lower pushing force. In this regard, it is further preferred that a deflection response threshold of the button can be set. As a result of this configuration, a vacuum threshold value can be set, from which the limiting means for regulating the vacuum are only raised. The push button can advantageously be provided by a brush which is arranged in the suction chamber and can be displaced in a rocker-like manner. The latter can be shifted in a rocker-like manner around a tilting axis which is aligned outside the suction chamber and parallel to the brush rotation axis, which tilting axis can also be the rotation axis of the electric motor driving the brush, for example via a toothed belt. If a section of carpet is drawn into the suction chamber during suction processing, the brush is raised above it. The brush, which also serves as a button, causes the limiting means to be regulated to regulate the negative pressure in the suction chamber after a response threshold has been exceeded. The negative pressure acting in the suction space itself can also be converted into a lifting force for the limiting means. In this way, the negative pressure acting in the suction space can be measured continuously. If a predetermined threshold is exceeded, the limiting means are opened. Basically independent of the embodiment, the vertical displacement of the limiting means is proportional to the measured vacuum or proportional to the deflection path of the button. It can also be provided that the negative pressure acts on a vacuum piston which is fixedly connected to an action part of an action means acting on the limiting means. This realizes a mechanical solution which derives the vertical position of the movable limiting means from the negative pressure prevailing in the suction space. Alternatively or also in combination with the solutions described above, it can also be provided that a rocker-like button is provided in the suction nozzle, which is flipped in alternation with the forward movement and return movement of the suction nozzle. Coarse material is usually picked up in the forward stroke of the suction movement, while both preliminary and return strokes are used for suctioning from cracks, which requires a relatively high negative pressure. According to the invention, the opening in the forward stroke for coarse material pickup is automatically released via the rocker-like button provided in the suction nozzle, ie the vertically movable limiting means is raised, while in the return stroke the curtain formed by the vertically movable limiting means is closed automatically. The relevant button is designed like a lever, with a lever section of the button facing away from the ground, ie the floor to be sucked, controls the movement of the limiting means. Alternatively, the distinction between the forward movement and the return movement can also be made by detecting the direction of rotation of any rollers or other co-rotating components. The above-mentioned action means acting on the limiting means can be a lever linkage or also a Bo wdenzug, with the latter being further suggested that the connection of the Bowdenzug due to the lever portion of the button in one position is more to a fixed bearing of the limiting means than in the other position , With regard to the lever-like button, which interacts with the base and can be switched in alternation with the forward movement and return movement of the suction nozzle, it is further proposed that the axis of rotation thereof to compensate for an overlap barrel deflection against spring force is vertically movable. Finally, it is proposed that the movable limiting means can additionally be raised by a slide acting on the acting means. As a result, the user is able to permanently open the useful air opening to be released by lifting the vertically movable limiting means, or in an intermediate position, so that, for example, it is also better to pick up coarse material. If, despite user control, the vacuum in the suction chamber becomes too high, the means described above (deflectable button in the suction chamber or vacuum-dependent control) take effect to further open the useful air opening.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which only show several exemplary embodiments. It shows:

1 shows a floor nozzle according to the invention for a vacuum cleaner in a perspective view;

2 shows the schematic section along the line II-II in FIG. 1, relating to a first embodiment of the invention;

3 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 2, but with the carpet section drawn in and the resultant lifting of vertically movable limiting means;

4 shows a further illustration corresponding to FIG. 2, but relating to a second embodiment;

5 shows a further sectional view according to FIG. 2, relating to a third embodiment with the limiter raised. agent in the course of a forward movement of the suction nozzle;

6 shows the enlargement of area VI in FIG. 5;

7 shows the enlargement of the area VLI in FIG. 5;

8 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 5, but with the limiting means lowered in the course of a return movement of the suction nozzle.

A floor nozzle 1 for a vacuum cleaner (not shown) is first shown and described with reference to the illustration in FIG. 1. This floor nozzle 1 is designed in the form of an attachment which can be assigned to the vacuum cleaner both electrically and in terms of flow technology.

The floor nozzle 1 has, in the usual way, a suction chamber 2 which extends transversely to the usual direction of movement r and which is assigned to the end region of the floor nozzle 1 and is designed to cover almost the entire width thereof. The suction chamber 2 opens towards the floor 3 to be cleaned in a suction mouth 4.

The suction chamber 2 or the suction mouth 4 is assigned a limiting means 5, which extends parallel and parallel to the suction chamber 2, in the usual direction of movement r, for example in the form of a bristle strip or a sealing lip. These limiting means 5 limit the suction space 2 in the longitudinal extent thereof. The suction space 2 is delimited on both sides at the front by wall sections on the housing side. Furthermore, a rotatingly drivable brush 6 is arranged in the suction chamber 2 for brushing the floor 3 to be cleaned, the brush axis being oriented transversely to the usual direction of travel r. Furthermore, the brush 6 is arranged in such a way that its bristles 7 protrude downward over the device base 8 during normal tillage.

A partial region 5 'of the limiting means 5 assigned to the end face of the floor nozzle 1 is designed to be vertically movable, a window 10 being provided in the assigned end wall 9 of the floor nozzle 1 to accommodate the width of the movable section 5' of the limiting means 5. The width of the movable delimitation means 5 'measured transversely to the usual direction of travel r and consequently also the corresponding width of the window 10 corresponds in the example shown to approximately two thirds of the total floor nozzle width, so that the movable delimitation means 5' are fixed on both sides, i. H. not vertically movable limiting means 5 are arranged.

In the first and second exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the movable limiting means 5 'has a cantilever 11 aligned transversely to the direction of displacement, on which another tension spring 12 attached to the housing of the floor nozzle 1 engages. The latter loads the movable limiting means 5 'in the lowering direction, i. H. in the contact position with the soil to be worked 3.

In the area of the free end of the boom 11, in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, an adjusting screw 13 aligned in the direction of movement of the limiting means 5 'is gripped, by means of which a deflection response threshold can be set or the brush wear is taken into account. Furthermore, in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the brush 6 arranged in the suction space 2 can be shifted like a rocker. For this purpose, a rocker arm 14 acts on the brush 6 in the region of its axis, which can be pivoted outside the suction chamber 2 about a tilt axis x running parallel to the brush axis. This pivot axis x can coincide with the motor axis of rotation of the electric motor 15 driving the brush 6, for example via a belt drive. An embodiment is also conceivable in which, as shown, the electric motor 15 can be tilted together with the rocker arm 14 about the axis x.

The arrangement is further selected so that the brush 6 with its bristles 7 is always in contact with the floor 3 to be worked, loaded with its own weight. The brush 6 can react to uneven floors, for example, via the rocker arrangement.

In addition, a button 16 is formed, for example, in the extension of the rocker arm 14, which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the rocker arm 14.

The movable limiting means 5 'can be raised automatically as a function of the negative pressure prevailing in the suction space. When vacuuming on dense carpets 3, the negative pressure in the suction chamber 2 rises due to the sealing via the limiting means 5 in such a way that the carpet section 17 located in the suction mouth is strongly sucked in, which in turn causes the rocker-like brush 6 and, consequently, also to be lifted According to seesaw arm 14. After a response threshold that can be set via the adjusting screw 13 is exceeded, the rocker-like button 16 acts on the adjusting screw 13, which leads to a vertical displacement of the movable limiting means 5 'via the latter and the bracket 11 (cf. FIG. 3). These publishers rank takes place against the force of the tension spring 12. By lifting the movable limiting means 5 ', the housing-side window 10 is opened like a gap, the gap height being dependent on the negative pressure prevailing in the suction space 2 and the associated suction height of the carpet section 17. By opening the window 10 Incoming air flows in, which has a decrease in the vacuum in the suction chamber 2 in favor of a lower pushing force. The inflowing air takes dust from the carpet 3 or dirt lying on the carpet 3 with it. As a result, the secondary air is not sucked in unused, but is used to clean the carpet.

In addition to this automatic negative pressure control, the user can also permanently open the useful air opening to be released via the movable limiting means 5 'to a desired extent. For this purpose, a slide 18 is provided on the upper side of the device, which acts on an action means 19 for the vertical displacement of the movable limiting means 5 '. Both in the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in the second exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, this action means 19 is a lever linkage 20 which can be acted upon by the slide 18 on one end and on the other at the upper free end of the movable limiting means 5 'attacks. By moving the slide 18, the movable limiting means 5 'is displaced via the lever linkage 20' against the force of the tension spring 12 and independently of the negative pressure prevailing in the suction chamber 2 or independently of a height shift of the brush 6 into a desired position. As a result, there is the possibility of leaving the useful air opening permanently open to the desired extent, in order to be able to better accommodate coarse material, for example. As an alternative or also in combination with the first exemplary embodiment, the negative pressure acting in the suction space 2 can also be converted directly into a lifting force for the limiting means 5 ′ as shown in FIG. 4. For this purpose, the vacuum on the suction chamber side acts on a vacuum piston 21 which, opposite to the loading side, is fixedly connected to an action part 22 acting on the action means 19 mentioned or on the lever linkage 20. This fin action part 22 can be an articulated lever which acts on the lever arm of the lever linkage 20, which lever arm also interacts with the slide 18.

In this embodiment, the size of the useful air opening to be released is not controlled via a brush rocker, that is to say via the degree of carpet suction, but rather directly via the negative pressure in the suction space 2. Depending on the level of the negative pressure, the lever linkage 20 is pivotally displaced via the negative pressure piston 21, that the movable limiting means 5 'is raised against the force of the tension spring 12. In this system too, there is the possibility of keeping the useful air opening permanently in an open position via the slide 18.

5 to 8 show a third embodiment, in which case the movable limiting means 5 'can be raised automatically as a function of a forward and return movement of the floor nozzle. Here, too, according to the two first exemplary embodiments, a movable section 5 'of the front limiting means 5 in the usual suction direction r can be raised, in order to open a useful air opening 23. This movable limiting means 5' is also spring-biased into a lowered position, ie into a ground contact position, here by means of a compression spring 24. The movable limiting means 5 'is connected via an action means 19 designed as a Bowden cable 25 to a rocker-like button 26, the latter contacts the floor to be worked and is switched over in alternation to the forward movement r and return movement r' of the floor nozzle 1. The button 26 always contacting the floor to be cleaned is preferably formed in the form of a sealing element.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the button 26 can be pivoted about an axis y oriented transversely to the direction of movement of the floor nozzle 1, which is formed on a vertically movable, laterally guided lever section 27. The latter is preloaded via a compression spring 28 into a basic position directed towards the housing base 8.

One end of the core of the Bowden cable 25 is fastened to the lever section 27.

Depending on the selected direction of movement of the floor nozzle 1, the button 26 automatically flips over to a dead center position, with both swivel end positions of the button 26 being limited by the stop. Here, the button 26 assumes a more inclined position during a forward movement in the direction of the arrow r (see FIG. 5) than in the pivoted position during a return movement according to the arrow r '(see FIG. 8). As a result, the vertical position of the lever section 27 is also different in the two directions of movement. 5, the movable limiting means 5 'is raised via the lever section 27, which remains in a lowermost position, and via the Bowden cable 25, in order to release the useful air opening 23. In the return stroke, that is to say when the floor nozzle moves backward and the button 26 swings around therewith the lever portion 27 is raised, which means the lowering of the movable cable 25 Limiting means 5 'brought into a ground contact position. The useful air opening 23 is then closed.

As a result of this configuration, the limiting means are raised and lowered in a very simple manner as a function of the running movement of the floor nozzle 1. As an alternative to the switch 26 which can be folded over, the direction of rotation of any rollers or other components of the floor nozzle 1 which are also rotating can be used to distinguish between the forward and return stroke.

All of the features disclosed are (in themselves) essential to the invention. The disclosure content of the associated attached priority documents (copy of the prior application) is hereby also included in full in the disclosure of the application, also for the purpose of including features of these documents in claims of the present application.

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Floor nozzle (1) for a vacuum cleaner with a suction space (2) delimited in the feed direction (r) by limiting means (5, 5 '), for example by skids at the front and rear, wherein a rotating brush () may be located inside the suction space (2). 6), characterized in that the limiting means (5 ') are vertically movable over a partial area and that the limiting means (5') depending on the subsurface in the suction chamber (2) and / or depending on a (r) and return movement (r ') of the floor nozzle (1) can be raised automatically.

2. Floor nozzle according to claim 1 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the limiting means (5 ') are biased in the lowering direction.

3. Floor nozzle according to one of the several of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a rocker-like button (16) is arranged in the floor nozzle (1), which is drawn in through a subsurface section, in particular carpet section, in the suction chamber (2) ( 17) is deflected and that the deflection of the button (16) controls an increase in the limiting means (5 ').

4. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a deflection response wave of the button (16) is adjustable.

5. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the button (16) is provided by a brush (6) which is arranged in the suction chamber (2) and can be displaced in a rocker-like manner.

6. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the negative pressure acting in the suction space (2) is converted into a lifting force for the limiting means (5 ').

7. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the vacuum acts on a vacuum piston (21) which is fixedly connected to an action part (22) of an action means (19) acting on the limiting means (5 ') is.

8. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a rocker-like button (26) is provided in the floor nozzle, which is flipped in alternation to the forward movement (r) and return movement (r ') of the floor nozzle.

9. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the button (26) is designed like a lever and that a lever section (27) of the button (26) facing away from the surface controls the movement of the limiting means (5 ') ,

10. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the action means (19) is a lever linkage (20) or a Bowden cable (25).

11. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the connection of the Bowden cable (25) due to the lever section (27) of the button (26) is in a position closer to a fixed bearing of the limiting means (5 ') than in the other position.

12. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that an axis of rotation (y) of the lever-like button (26) is vertically movable to compensate for an overflow deflection against spring force.

13. Floor nozzle according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the movable limiting means (5 ') can additionally be raised by a slide (18) acting on the acting means (19).