EP1921968B1 - Method for treating dust and devices for carrying out this method - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for treating dust including: separating, in a vacuum cleaner, the dust into at least two fractions which differ in at least one of a size and a mass of particles of the dust; and adding a dust-binding agent to at least a first of the fraction.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of treating dust in a vacuum cleaner. Moreover, the invention relates to various devices for carrying out such a method.

In vacuum cleaners, in particular vacuum cleaner, dust retention systems are used, which are usually arranged between the air inlet of a dust collection chamber and the suction side of a fan and hold back the absorbed dust before entering the fan. The best known variant is a bag shaped filter which is internally pressurized, d. h., the dust settles inside the bag. The bag is usually still downstream of a fine dust filter, which receives dust particles in the order of less than 2 microns, which pass through the bag. The removal of this dust content from the room air wins with the increasing number of people with allergies in importance, as these particles are respirable because of their small size and therefore lead to a health burden. When reaching the maximum capacity, which is about 400 grams, the bag must be replaced, this can be hygienic especially with closable bags, as the dust remains in the bag and is disposed of with this. Such replacement is required several times a year, depending on usage, and incurs costs. Also, the fine dust filter must be replaced after a certain period of use, but here are the intervals because of the small amount of fine dust larger, from the manufacturers, a replacement after about a year is recommended. Because of the small particle sizes, a small proportion by mass of fine dust is produced, which is why commercially available fine dust filters have a capacity of about 10 grams.

In some micro-cleaners, multi-purpose vacuum cleaners or commercial appliances, there are external filters surrounding the blower. The advantage is the greater absorption capacity, the disadvantage is that the filters of this vacuum cleaner are designed only for coarse dust, the particulate matter, which allergenic pollen and microorganisms includes, passes through the filter and is blown back into the room by the fan and even stirred up.

• kompakter Aufbau;
• eine dem Staubbeutel vergleichbare Filterleistung;
• hygienische Entnahmemöglichkeit des gesammelten Staubs;
• geringe Saugleistungsverluste.

There is a desire for a reusable filter system for coarse dust which has the following properties:

• compact construction;
• a filter bag performance comparable to the dust bag;
• hygienic removal of the collected dust;
• low suction power losses.

1. 1. auswaschbare und wiederverwendbare Textilfilterbeutel ( DE 199 11 331 C1 );
   hier bestehen in erster Linie Bedenken hinsichtlich der Hygiene, da die stark verunreinigten Beutel zunächst manuell geleert und anschließend in der Waschmaschine gewaschen werden müssen;
2. 2. Staubkassetten aus porösem Sintermaterial ( EP 1 179 312 A2 );
3. 3. Fliehkraftabscheider, sogenannte Zyklone ( EP 0 647 114 B1 );

Essentially the following systems are known here:

1. 1. Washable and reusable textile filter bags ( DE 199 11 331 C1 );
   Here, there are primarily hygiene concerns, since the heavily contaminated bags must first be manually emptied and then washed in the washing machine;
2. 2. Dust cassettes made of porous sintered material ( EP 1 179 312 A2 );
3. 3. Centrifugal separator, so-called cyclones ( EP 0 647 114 B1 );

The latter two systems offer the possibility to easily remove the dust collector, empty and clean when dirty. In commercially available systems, in particular in the centrifugal separators, attempts have been made to emulate the dust separation known from the anthers. For this reason, the separation limit of the separator is very small, because of the fuzzy separation are therefore large amounts of respirable particulate matter in the dust collection containers. The emptying of these containers then causes the lighter components of the dumped dust to fly up and spread in the air. As a result, in particular allergy sufferers are charged. A method according to the preamble of the independent claim is out DE-U-202004003494 known.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for the treatment of dust, in which the disposal is improved from a hygiene point of view.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the dust is separated into at least two fractions, which differ by the size or mass of the dust particles, and a dust binder is added to a fraction, so that the dust is not only loosely deposited in a dust collection room, but experiences some bonding and cross-linking and during the emptying of the dust collecting space no turbulence takes place. The burden of particulate matter, pathogenic particles or other pollutants is thereby reduced and the handling of the dust collection chamber, which must be emptied at regular intervals, becomes significantly more hygienic and the contents of the dust collection chamber can be used as a mixture, e.g. as lumps, to be disposed of at once.

The fraction whose dust particles are mostly smaller than the fraction to which a dust binder is added is then taken up by a fine dust filter. This avoids that particles of this fraction are returned to the room air and swirled there.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the dust is separated into three fractions, which differ by the size and / or mass of the dust particles, and a dust binder is added to the fraction with dust particles, which have a majority of medium size or mass. The first fraction, containing only coarse particles, can be emptied without any dusting even without binder. Therefore, a dust binder is needed only for the middle fraction. The amount required for binding can be significantly reduced compared to methods that collect the first two fractions in a container.

Here, the facilities with which the dust is separated, should be dimensioned so that the first fraction contains a majority of dust particles with a size of more than 200 microns, that the second fraction contains a majority of dust particles with a size between 200 microns and 30 microns and that a third fraction contains a majority of dust particles with a size of less than 30 microns. Particles of the third fraction are still very large at 30 μm, which in turn causes a particulate matter filter with a very large absorption capacity. In this way, however, it is achieved that in the second fraction, even with a blurred separation, only very few respirable particulate matter particles are present. This ensures that users are not or only slightly at risk when emptying the container for the second fraction, even if they have decided against the use of a dust binder or forgot its addition.

A suitable fine dust filter should have at least a storage capacity of 200 grams. Since due to the separation limit of 30 microns relatively large and massive particles enter the fine dust filter, a commercial filter with a capacity of 10 grams would quickly exhausted. This would contradict the idea of a vacuum cleaner, which should require little or no consumables. For this reason, a filter capacity is selected which guarantees a service life of more than one year under normal usage conditions. In addition to the increased service life, the advantage of a low flow loss of only about 20% (at the end of the service life, based on the initial state) is achieved. The use of such a filter is preferably carried out in a vacuum cleaner in which a dust binder for the next larger fraction is used. However, a use of such a filter is also possible without a dust binder, especially when the separation limits of the dust collecting container are so sharp that the next largest fraction contains no respirable particles.

It is also advantageous if the addition of the dust binder is carried out in a usable in the vacuum cleaner and removable from there dust collector. This is on the one hand a simple emptying of the conglomerate of dust and dust binder without additional containers possible, on the other hand, a simple cleaning of the dust collector is possible.

With regard to other expedient or even advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the further dependent claims 6 to 18.

Figur 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsge- mäßen Staubsaugers;

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Staubsammelraumes des Staubsaugers der Figur 1 in Explosionsdarstellung;

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf den Staubsauger der Figur 1;

Figur 4

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht eines Staubsammelraumes mit Dosierein- richtung;

Figur 5

eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels eines Staubsammelraumes mit Dosiereinrichtung;

Figur 6

eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels eines Staubsammelraumes mit Heizeinrichtung;

Figur 10

einen Staubsammelbehälter mit Pressvorrichtung;

Figur 11

einen Staubsammelbehälter mit Rührwerk;

Figuren 12a, b

eine weitere Alternative der Staubbindung;

Figur 13

die Schemaskizze eines Drei-Fraktionen-Staubabscheiders;

Figur 14

einen Staubsammelbehälter mit Wasserzuführung;

Figur 15

den Staubsammelbehälter gemäß Figur 17 beim Entleerungsvorgang;

Figuren 16, 17

den prinzipiellen Aufbau eines Feinstaubfilters;

Figuren 18, 19

detailliert eine erste Ausführungsform des Feinstaubfilters in Draufsicht und Seitenansicht

Figur 20

eine zweite Ausführungsform des Feinstaubfilters in Draufsicht.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to several embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic view of an embodiment of an inventive vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2

a perspective view of the dust collection chamber of the vacuum cleaner FIG. 1 in exploded view;

FIG. 3

a plan view of the vacuum cleaner FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4

a sectional side view of a dust collection room with dosing;

FIG. 5

a partially sectioned view of another embodiment of a dust collecting space with metering device;

FIG. 6

a partially sectioned view of another embodiment of a dust collection chamber with heater;

FIG. 10

a dust collecting container with pressing device;

FIG. 11

a dust collector with stirrer;

FIGS. 12a, b

another alternative of dust binding;

FIG. 13

the schematic of a three-fraction dust collector;

FIG. 14

a dust collector with water supply;

FIG. 15

the dust collector according to FIG. 17 during the emptying process;

FIGS. 16, 17

the basic structure of a fine dust filter;

FIGS. 18, 19

detailed a first embodiment of the particulate filter in plan view and side view

FIG. 20

a second embodiment of the particulate filter in plan view.

The FIG. 1 shows purely schematically a vacuum cleaner 1 in longitudinal section. The vacuum cleaner 1 has in a known manner a housing 2 which is divided into a fan chamber 3 and a dust collecting space 4. The dust collecting space 4 is closed by a pivotable cover 5 and has a first opening 6 into which the coupling 7 of a suction hose 8 opens. With the possible interposition of a suction tube (not shown) to the suction hose 8 different Saugvorsätze (also not shown) can be connected. A second opening 9 is in the partition 10 between Dust collecting space 4 and 3 blower chamber arranged. Behind this opening 9 is a fine dust filter 11. Behind it, a motor fan 12 is arranged in the fan chamber 3, which is directed with its suction side to the fine dust filter 11 and the opening 9 and with its outlet side via further openings 18 - possibly with upstream filter ( not shown) - connected to the ambient air 13. Above the fan room is a receiving space 14 for a device control and operating and display elements (see FIG. 3 ) arranged. When you turn on the fan 12, the dust-laden air, symbolized in the figure by the arrow 16, passed through the suction hose 8 through the dust collection chamber 9 in a known manner. In order to separate there the coarse dust 17, there is also used in a known manner, a dust bagless dust collection system. In the illustrated embodiment, this is a centrifugal separator 20, the aforementioned variants Massenträgheitsabscheider or dust cassette are also conceivable. The separator used is dimensioned such that a fraction is collected within the dust collection container, the majority of which are greater than 30 microns.

FIG. 2 shows the centrifugal separator 20 as a detail. It comprises a cyclone cone 21, which is provided with an air feed 22 and an air discharge 23. The air supply 22 is in fluid communication with the opening 6, the air discharge 23 via the line 15 with the opening 9 (s. FIG. 1 ). The cyclone cone 21 is inserted into a cylindrical container 24, which, as shown in the figure, can be divided into a tubular holder 25 and a dust collecting container 26 arranged underneath. The sucked dust-laden air is set in the cyclone cone 21 in a rotational movement, so that according to the principle of centrifugal force of the coarse dust 17 is pressed against the outer wall and falls down into the dust collector 26. In the further airway then the fine dust is separated by the fine dust filter 11. If the container 26 is filled, which can be determined via fill level, pressure or dust quantity sensors or simply by measuring the switch-on times of the blower (not shown), this is indicated to the user via a display device 35 (see FIG. FIG. 3 ).

FIG. 3 shows the top view of an inventively designed vacuum cleaner 1. Here are in a control panel 30 next to the known control and display elements such as on / off switch 31, change indicator 32 for the fine dust filter 11, cable rewind button 33 and power controller 34 more elements provided, the function explained later is. Among other things, this may be the above-described display 35 for emptying the dust collector 26. In the following embodiments ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) is activated to activate the change indicator from the EP 0 759 157 B1 known piezosensor used, which to the device control - symbolically indicated in the figure by the dashed box 36 - is a signal that correlates with the absorbed amount of dust. The user can then do the Separate dust collector 26 from the rest of the centrifugal separator 20 and empty the coarse dust 17. This is where the invention begins:

In order to avoid dusting of the coarse dust when emptying the dust collector, a dust binder is added to this. A dust-binding agent in the context of the invention is a one- or multi-component additive which is present in solid and / or liquid and / or gaseous phase, the phase being possibly variable in order to penetrate the sucked-up dust present in loose, unbound form mix and at least partially make a binding of the dust. In addition to the coarse dust, the dust binder is also intended to bind the fine dust, germs, bacteria, pollen and other pollutants present in the dust collector in order to avoid turbulence and the resulting burden on the user when disposed of. As a result, the filled dust collection chamber can be emptied in a hygienic manner, without resulting in dusting. Suitable dust-dispersing agents which can be used are suitably dispersible liquids, powders, foams, granules or solid, in particular tablet-shaped, pressed substances. In addition, the dust binder fragrances, cleansing or germ-inhibiting substances may be added. The addition of the dust binder in the dust collection container by means of a suitable device which is integrated either within the vacuum cleaner or in a suction attachment or is designed as an external apparatus with a receptacle for the dust collector.

In the FIGS. 4 and 5 Embodiments of dust collection containers are shown in which a dust binder is added and mixed with the dust. As a dust binder, a liquid, powder, foam or granules can be used, mixed forms are conceivable. In particular, when using granules should this be added to a substance which improves the adhesion of the dust. Furthermore, the dust-binding agent may be enriched with agents which have a cleaning action, for example by adding surfactants or similar cleaning-promoting substances. Bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and / or fungicidal agents may also be added to prevent microbial contamination within the dust collector. These properties are achieved, for example, by doping the material with silver ions. Furthermore, fragrances can be used to make the handling of the dust collection room more pleasant.

• • Das Staubbindemittel wird vom Benutzer direkt in den Staubsammelbehälter dosiert. Diese Möglichkeit ist äußerst kostengünstig realisierbar, da keine zusätzlichen aktiven Wirkelemente in den Staubsauger eingebaut werden müssen, wobei nachteilig ist, dass der Verbraucher mit dem eingesaugten Staub in Kontakt kommen kann, bevor dieser gebunden ist. Um diesen Nachteil zu beseitigen, kann das Staubbindemittel durch Einschalten des Gebläses in den Staubsammelbehälter eingesaugt werden.
• • Das Staubbindemittel wird über eine Dosiervorrichtung in den Staubsammelbehälter gegeben, wobei die Aktivierung über am Staubsauger, am Saugvorsatz oder an der externen Apparatur angeordnete Betätigungsmittel erfolgt.
• • Das Staubbindemittel wird automatisch vom Staubsauger oder vom Saugvorsatz dosiert. Dies kann bei eingeschaltetem Gebläse durch entsprechende Dosiereinrichtungen im Bereich der Luftzuführung erfolgen, oder direkt in den Staubsammelbehälter.
• • Das Staubbindemittel wird am Anfang eines Saugprozesses dosiert, wobei entweder die für den Staubsammelbehälter notwendige Menge nach Entleerung einmalig zugegeben wird oder über mehrere Teilschnitte eine Dosierung erfolgt. Ferner kann die Zugabe des Staubbindemittels auch nach dem Saugvorgang erfolgen. Die Aktivierung der hierzu notwendigen Dosiervorrichtung bezüglich der Menge, des Zugabezeitpunkts und/oder der Zugabefrequenz kann zeit-, füllstands- oder staubmengengesteuert sein. Hierzu können die gleichen Vorrichtungen benutzt werden wie zur eingangs beschriebenen Wechselanzeige.
• • Das Staubbindemittel wird automatisch beim Einsetzen des Staubsammelbehälter zugegeben.

The dust-binding agent must come into contact with the dust in order to fulfill its function within the meaning of the invention, the following possible variants for metering consisting:

• • The dust binder is metered by the user directly into the dust collector. This possibility is extremely inexpensive to implement, since no additional active active elements must be installed in the vacuum cleaner, which is disadvantageous that the consumer can come in contact with the dust sucked in before it is bound. To eliminate this disadvantage, the dust binder can be sucked by switching on the blower in the dust collector.
• • The dust binder is added to the dust collector via a dosing device, whereby the activation takes place via an actuating device arranged on the vacuum cleaner, on the suction attachment or on the external apparatus.
• • The dust binder is automatically dosed by the vacuum cleaner or the suction attachment. This can be done with the fan on by appropriate metering in the air supply, or directly into the dust collector.
• • The dust binder is dosed at the beginning of a suction process, whereby either the amount required for the dust collecting container is added once after emptying or dosing takes place over several partial cuts. Furthermore, the addition of the dust binder can also take place after the suction process. The activation of the dosing device required for this purpose with respect to the amount, the time of addition and / or the addition frequency can be controlled in terms of time, level or amount of dust. For this purpose, the same devices can be used as for the change indicator described above.
• • The dust binder is added automatically when the dust collector is inserted.

Advantageous is the use of agents for mixing dust and dust binder, in particular when adding the agent at the beginning or at the end of the suction process or when added in an external apparatus. For this purpose, mechanical or motor means can be used, which set the container in motion, rotation or vibration.

In the in FIG. 4 shown embodiment, a dust amount sensor 41 is arranged in the air supply 22, which detects the amount of dust flowing through. Further, in the air supply 22, a metering device 42 for powder and / or granules as dust binder 43 is provided. The quantity detected by the dust quantity sensor 41 is passed on to the device control 36, and this causes, in the presence of an amount which requires emptying of the collecting container 26, that the dust binder is discharged via a metering flap 44 into the air supply 22 and swirled there with the still dust-laden air becomes. Due to the subsequent cyclone-like turbulence of the air with the dust 17 and the dust binder 43 optimal mixing is achieved. The dust binder 43 is collected together with the dust 17 in the container 26 and can then be disposed of at regular intervals. The metering of the dust binder 43 can take place via flaps, pistons, screws and / or nozzles. The addition of the dust binder can be done either directly in the dust collection chamber 26 or in the region of the air supply 22, for example, the addition can already be done on the suction attachment of the vacuum cleaner 1 (not shown).

In FIG. 5 another embodiment of a dust collection container 26 is shown, in which the coarse dust 17 is bound. For this purpose, at least one spraying device 50 is provided on the container 26, by means of which a fluid 52 can be discharged into the dust collecting chamber 26. The spray device 50 comprises a reservoir 53, in which the fluid 52 is arranged as a dust binder. Furthermore, 36 activatable dosing pumps 54 are provided by the device control to promote by means of hoses 55, the liquid dust binder 52 in the dust collector 26. For this purpose, one or more nozzles 51 are provided, from which the discharged from the hoses 55 fluid 52 is discharged into the dust collecting space 26 and atomized. The dispersed, dust-binding fluid 52 is shown schematically by the spray 56. The dust-binding agent 52 may be a glycol-containing or glycerin-containing liquid which reduces the surface tension to values of less than 40 mN / m and, if appropriate, is supplemented with fungicidal, bacteriostatic and / or bactericidal ingredients. Also conceivable is the use of a highly diluted adhesive, such as wallpaper paste. However, the liquid dust binder 52 should preferably be dispersible. Instead of a fluid can be sprayed with appropriate design of metering pumps and nozzles also powdered, foam or granular media. For metering, other pressure-generating elements may be used instead of the pumps 54. Furthermore, the dust binder 52 can also be supplied via controllable valves and dispersed with ultrasound. The control of the supply of the liquid dust binder 52 can also be done here depending on the data of a dust quantity sensor 41, but alternatively also according to one of the other previously enumerated variants. The walls of the dust collection chamber 26 may be made of plastic for cost-effective production. It is of course also possible to provide an anti-stick coating to facilitate cleaning.

In FIG. 6 an embodiment of a dust collection chamber 26 is shown, in which the dust 17 is bound by a substance which is first melted and can be cooled after receiving the dust 17 and then removed from the dust collecting space 26. Paraffin 60, for example, is used for this purpose, which is added to the container as tablet 61 or granules. On the container 26, a heat source 62 is provided, which is supplied via a power supply 63 with electrical energy.

As in FIG. 6 can be seen further, is located at the bottom of the container 26, a receptacle 64 for the paraffin tablet 61. Furthermore, the dust 17 is shown schematically, which lies on the paraffin tablet 61. At regular intervals, the container 26 can be removed from the vacuum cleaner 1 and cleaned.

When sucking the house dust is first fractionated using the centrifugal separator 20, wherein particles with a diameter <30 microns pass through the centrifugal separator 20 and in the fine dust filter 11 are bound. All other dust components 17 fall due to gravity on the paraffin 60. At a certain degree of filling, the heat source is supplied in the form of a heating plate 62 via the power supply 63 with electrical energy, whereby the paraffin 60 is transferred from the solid to the liquid phase. It can also be the waste heat of the fan 12 are used.

The density of the paraffin 60 is on the order of <1 g / cm ³ , for example in the range between 0.5 and 0.7 cm ³ . According to the Archimedean principle, all bodies will sink into the paraffin 60, which has a density> about 0.8 g / cm ³ . These conditions meet house dust particles 17 whose density is in the range> 1g / cm ³ . Due to the size ratios of the density of the individual substances and the relatively easy-to-reach phase change of the paraffin tablet 61, it is possible to easily bind the dust 17 in the container 26 and sink it into the paraffin 60. If the container 26 is sufficiently filled, the cooled lump of paraffin 60 and bound dust 17 can be disposed of without dusting. In particular, the non-polar, molecular structure of the paraffin 60 and its low surface tension ensures that, in contrast to water, particles can basically sink in easily in the liquid phase of the paraffin 60. Further, the melting point of the paraffin 60 can be set in a wide range.

In order for the cured paraffin 60 to be easily removed from the dust collector 26, the paraffin tablet 61 is in the region of the receptacle 64 which is made of a repulsive (anti-sticking) material or material having a repulsive surface, preferably silicone. Due to the better thermal conductivity, the receptacle can also consist of Teflon-coated aluminum. The receptacle 64 may be detachably received in the container 26 to be taken out and replaced by a new paraffin tablet 61 possibly with a new receptacle 64.

In addition to substances whose phase is variable by supplying heat energy, substances whose viscosity can be changed by kinetic energy - so-called tixotropic substances - can be used as a dust binder. As an example, cellulose suspensions may be mentioned here

In addition to the described methods of applying the dust binder - preferably paraffin - there is also the possibility of pressing the dust into the liquid paraffin in order to minimize the use of binders. FIG. 10 shows a dust collector 26, which is equipped with such a pressing device 100. For this purpose, a compression ram 101 is arranged in the removable dust collecting container 26, which is manually or automatically, ie electromotively or aerodynamically driven, and thereby pressed onto the coarse dust 17 and the binder. After switching on the heating plate 62, the dust is in the liquid binder - preferably paraffin 60 - pressed and thus produced by compacting a "dust-binder press cake". The pressing process can be carried out every time the vacuum cleaner is switched off or when the collecting container is completely filled.

There is also the possibility to mix the dust with the aid of an agitator with the dust binder. For this purpose, in the in FIG. 11 Dust collecting container 26 shown an agitator 110, which is manually but also automatically driven by a rotatable shaft 111. The coarse dust 17 partially or completely covers the blades 112 of the agitator 110. Within or above the dust collection container is a metering device 113 with the dust binder 114. The binder 114 is continuously (eg during operation) or discontinuous (e.g. after each switch-on or when the dust collector is completely filled), it is metered onto the coarse dust 17. With the aid of the agitator 110, the binder 114 is homogeneously mixed with the dust 17, whereby the binder use can be minimized.

The Figures 12a and 12b show the basic schematic structure of another way of dust binding. Here, pads 120 are placed in the dust collection container, which completely cover the floor. The pads 120 consist of at least two components, a first storage medium 121 with dust binder 122 and a second storage medium 123 for the coarse dust 17. Preferably, the pads 120 are designed as consumables. The material of the first storage medium is porous to coarse-pored, sponge-like and liquid-storing, preferably foam is used. It is impregnated with a liquid dust binder 121. The dust binder 121 is ideally as a liquid with low vapor pressure - such. As glycerol or glycol - before. The second storage medium 123 for the dust must be fluid conducting and storing, coarsely porous, fibrous. Cellulose fibers are preferably used at this point, the fibers being injected into the foam to ensure good contact with the dust binder 121. Cellulose fibers are characterized by a high capillarity, whereby the dust binder 121 is transported from the foam to the surface of the second storage medium 123 in order to wet or bind the dust 17 there, thus avoiding dusting. Thus, over time, a "dust cake" forms on the surface of the storage medium 123, see FIG. 4b , When the capacity of the first storage medium 122 is exhausted, the pad 120 is preferably disposed of through the bottom closure 124 of the dust collection container 26 together with the bonded dust 17 without dusting.

In another variant, water is used as a dust binder. The FIG. 13 3 schematically shows a three-fraction dust separator 160 with a coarse dust container 161 with coarse dust (first fraction 162), a container 163 for the second, middle dust fraction 164, and a particulate matter filter 165 with particulate matter (third fraction 166). The structural design of the entire separator is explained elsewhere.

The dust entering the dust collector 160 is separated as follows:
The grit 162 mainly comprises particles in the grain size range of more than about 200 μm, which are collected in the coarse dust container 161. Particles in which the grain size is in the majority in the range of about 30 microns to about 200 microns are collected in the dust collector 163; Particles that are smaller than 30 μm, are mostly in the fine dust filter 165. In these considerations, it should be noted that the separation limits are blurred. Therefore, the second fraction 164 also includes particulate matter 166, which is known to be dusty during emptying. For the second dust fraction 164, therefore, a dust collecting container 163 is used, with the aid of which and the application of water 170, a hygienic dust removal is possible.

The FIG. 14 shows the construction of a suitable dust collection container 163 with the dust 164, a dust supply 171 with valve flap 172, a water filling valve 173, a vent valve 174, a chute 175, an outflow opening 176 and a Schüttenzuführung 177. Water 170 is ideal for binding dust. By means of the water 170 filled via the water filling valve 173, the dust 164 in the dust collecting container 163 may be mixed with the dust 164 by shaking the container 163. The chute 175 with the outflow opening 176 is in the in the FIG. 14 closed position shown and the vent valve 174 is not actuated, ie closed.

The FIG. 15 then shows the accumulation bin 163 during the draining process. After thorough mixing of water 170 and dust 164, a water-dust mixture is formed, which can be emptied by pivoting the chute 175 via the outflow opening 176 and the funnel-shaped chute feed 177. The added amount of water should be such that a good flowable mixture is formed. For emptying the vent valve 174 must be opened. Advantageously, the inner walls of the dust collector 163 and all other items are treated or coated with a non-stick layer (lotus flower effect). To be able to empty the containers 161 and 163 separately, they are formed separable. To avoid confusion optical differences, especially versions in different colors are advisable. The use of water 170 as a dust binder has the advantage that the dust 164 without the use of a special material binder hygienic, ie can be disposed of without dusting, so no costly consumable material is necessary.

The in various embodiments in the FIGS. 16 to 20 shown particulate matter filter 400 is connected downstream of the above Staubabscheide systems. Regardless of the embodiment as a centrifugal separator / cyclone separator ( FIGS. 1 to 15 ) or Separator according to the mass inertia principle / annular gap separator, the fine dust filter 400 has the task of binding the pre-separator passing particles so that they do not return to the ambient air. According to the Staubabscheide system is constructed such that it has a greater separation limit over conventional systems and thus collects only dust to about 30 microns. The dust, which is smaller than 30 microns, hereinafter referred to as fine dust, passes in majority in the fine dust filter 400.

The FIGS. 16 and 17 explain the basic structure of the proposed filter system, which preferably has the shape of a cuboid cassette. A frame-shaped or rectangular wide-open and two-sided open holder 401 contains the front and rear side filter media 402 and 403. Further, the air supply 404 is arranged for the exhaust air from the Staubabscheide system in the top of the holder 401. The holder 401 is preferably designed as a rectangular folding frame. As a further alternative solution is proposed to perform the holder 401 as circumferentially closed, air-permeable, porous or also filtering hollow body, in which the filter medium 402 and 403 is used, wherein the filter properties of filtering holder 401 and inside filter medium 402 and 403 can distinguish. Thus, the holder 401 may preferably consist of sintered plastic or a comparable material. Through this multi-stage filter arrangement can achieve a Feinstfilter quality. The dimensions of the cartridge-shaped filter geometry are adapted to the given space requirements of a commercially available vacuum cleaner and should be in the range of a standard packaging for vacuum cleaner filter bags, about 170 mm x 230 mm x 85 mm H x W x D.

FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 show in detail an embodiment of the first alternative solution, Figure 29 shows a further embodiment of this alternative.

FIG. 18 shows the fine dust filter 400 in plan view with the filter medium 402 and 403 and the air supply 404. In this embodiment, the filter medium 402, 403 consists of a highly storable mat-shaped, preferably an electrostatically charged synthetically produced or natural filter fleece, wherein the mat thickness about 10 to 20 mm. The electrostatic charge takes place during the production process of the filter fleece. The air feed 404 is preferably designed as a slot in order to ensure optimum flow of the filter medium 402, 403. Furthermore, the shows FIG. 18 arranged between the filter medium 402, 403 and the air supply 404 filter material-free cavity 405, which also supports an optimal flow of the filter medium 402, 403.

The FIG. 19 again shows the between the filter medium 402, 403 and the air supply 404 located filter material-free cavity 405. Furthermore, the exhaust air flow from the Staubabscheide system symbolized by the arrows 406. The filter arrangement can be further improved if there is cotton wool or a cotton-like material in the cavity 405 between the two filter media 402, 403. Experiments have shown that especially smaller particles <15 microns can be well bound or stored in cotton wool.

FIG. 20 describes a further variant in plan view. The filter medium 402, 403 here consists of a highly storable thin, preferably electrostatically charged, synthetically produced or natural filter fleece, wherein the thickness of the nonwoven layer is now about 4 to 7 mm. In order to achieve a comparable dust absorption capacity with low flow losses, the filter fleece 402, 403 must be folded or pleated in this embodiment. The "pleating angle" α is about 30 °. The pleating creates a large filter surface. When using the filter mat described above, the capacity is essentially achieved by a high depth storage.

Claims (18)

1. Method for treating dust in a vacuum cleaner, in which a dust-binding agent is added to the dust,
   characterised in that
   the dust is separated into at least two fractions which differ in terms of the size and/or mass of the dust particles, in that a dust-binding agent is added to one fraction and in that the fraction having particles which are mostly smaller than those of the fraction to which a dust-binding agent is added is received by a fine dust filter.
2. Method for treating dust according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the dust is separated into three fractions which differ in terms of the size and/or the mass of the dust particles, and in that a dust-binding agent is added to the fraction having dust particles which are mostly of average size or mass.
3. Method for treating dust according to claim 2,
   characterised in that
   a first fraction contains mostly dust particles having a size larger than 200 µm, in that a second fraction contains mostly dust particles having a size between 200 µm and 30 µm and in that a third fraction contains mostly dust particles having a size of less than 30 µm.
4. Method for treating dust according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   a fine dust filter having a storage capacity of at least 200 grams of fine dust is used.
5. Method for treating dust according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the dust-binding agent is added to a dust collection container which can be inserted into the vacuum cleaner and removed therefrom.
6. Method for treating dust according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   the quantity and/or the time of addition and/or the frequency of addition of the dust-binding agent is/are controlled in terms of time, filling level and dust quantity.
7. Method for treating dust according to either claim 5 or claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the dust-binding agent is added to the suction air stream upstream of the dust collection container or directly to the dust collection container inserted into the vacuum cleaner.
8. Method for treating dust according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   the dust-binding agent is added to the dust collection container automatically after the dust collection container has been inserted into the dust collection chamber of the vacuum cleaner.
9. Method for treating dust according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   a single or multi-component additive which is present in solid and/or liquid and/or gaseous phase is used as a dust-binding agent, it being possible to change the phase so as to bind and/or mix the dust which has been drawn in and is present in loose, unbound form, and thereby to bind the dust, at least in part.
10. Method for treating dust according to claim 9,
    characterised in that
    the phase of the dust-binding agent can be changed by supplying or removing energy, in particular heat energy or kinetic energy.
11. Method for treating dust according to either claim 9 or claim 10,
    characterised in that
    at least one of the following materials is used as a dust-binding agent:

    - a liquid, in particular a dispersible liquid;

    - a powder;

    - a foam;

    - a granular material;

    - a solid substance, in particular pressed into tablet form.
12. Method for treating dust according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    a scent and/or an anti-germ substance is/are added to the dust-binding agent.
13. Method for treating dust according to either claim 11 or claim 12,
    characterised in that
    an agent is added to the granular material which improves its adhesive properties for dust.
14. Method for treating dust according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
    characterised in that
    a sponge-like object is used to bind the dust.
15. Method for treating dust according to claim 14,
    characterised in that
    the sponge-like object is arranged on the base of the dust collection container.
16. Method for treating dust according to claim 15,
    characterised in that
    the sponge-like object is impregnated with a liquid dust-binding agent having a low vapour pressure, for example glycerol or glycol.
17. Method for treating dust according to claim 16,
    characterised in that
    the sponge-like object is provided, on the side thereof facing the dust inlet of the collection container, with a liquid-conducting coating having a high capillarity, for example cellulose fibres.
18. Method for treating dust according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
    characterised in that
    water is used as a dust-binding agent.

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