EP2104447A2

EP2104447A2 - Vacuum suction and cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2104447A2
Application number: EP07858756A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gérard CURIEN
Original assignee: Winddrop A Responsabilite Ltee Ste
Current assignee: WINDDROP, SOCIETE A RESPONSABILITE LIMITEE
Priority date: 2006-12-01
Filing date: 2007-11-29
Publication date: 2009-09-30
Also published as: US8407850B2; FR2909275A1; US20100050368A1; WO2008065313A3; FR2909275B1; CN101677727A; CN101677727B; WO2008065313A2

Abstract

A vacuum suction and cleaning apparatus comprising a nozzle (38), ventilation means (40), a clean water tank (20), an air/water separator (50), a recovery tank (4) for soiled liquid and/or for dirt, a handle (5) for manipulation with one hand, a heating means (19) using a ceramic for electrical and thermal insulation. It is characterized in that the separator (50) comprises a brush (2) driven in rotation, that prolongs the ventilation means (40), rotating with a turbine (11) or nozzle (51) serving as support, and that the apparatus (100) comprises an air evacuation hose (6) incorporated in the handle (5) prolonging a by-pass, and that the recovery tank (4) is located under the separator (50).

Description

SUCTION AND CLEANING APPARATUS

The invention relates to a suction and cleaning apparatus for water and / or dust comprising, integrated in a shell: - a nozzle,

- a means of ventilation,

- a clean water tank,

an air-water separator,

a soil and / or dust recovery tank located below said separator,

- A handle for handling the device and the nozzle with one hand, a heating means using the ceramic electrical and thermal insulation.

The invention relates to the field of mobile cleaning devices, and in particular household electrical appliances.

In the field of large appliances, there are vacuum cleaners or steam used to suck water and dust. In the field of manual or portable devices, and since the air flow becomes correct, existing devices are rarely designed to suck liquids. Or they have poor performance due to the fact that they do not have a mandatory liquid / gas separator as soon as the air flow becomes sustained, the only effect of gravity in small volumes not allowing to obtain a depression supported. In addition, these devices are often poorly adapted, usually equipped with traditional filters woven, or foam, or water traps included in the tank, where the air passes. These systems never allow a sustained air flow and hold water only partially. In addition they require cleaning or regular replacement. Appliances with a small built-in heating element, that is to say a mass of 2 kg or less, have a low power, generally less than 1300 watts, and a vacuum capacity less than 10 kPa.

Various attempts have been made to manufacture household utensils having a function of separation between air, on the one hand, and a liquid or liquid phase and solid, with suspended dust, on the other hand. These attempts generally stumble on issues of poor performance of the means used to purify the air.

WO 94/24920, which describes an aspiro vapor, is thus known, in which the separation of the phases is carried out only by the combination of a liquid separator and a simple deflecting wall orienting the liquid towards a receptacle, the air being directed to a filtration chamber, which must then be provided with a filter. The use of this filter proves the imperfect effectiveness of such a device.

UK Patent 2,382,042 discloses a brush-type centrifugal filter of known type in which a flow of air laden with liquid and dust passes at least in part through a rotating brush which ejects a large part of the liquid at the periphery. and dust. Again, the efficiency is limited, due to significant pressure losses, and the need to juxtapose, in series, several devices of the same type, to achieve to make the air clean enough for its discharge into the environment. Therefore the size is necessarily important, and is incompatible with use for a home appliance, especially for a lightweight device to be manipulated with one hand. These systems do not guarantee the stopping of dry or wet particles. In addition, the sealing is not complete at the level of the brushes, the impure air can bypass the brush and flow to the exhaust duct.

Water and dust aspirators are known, for example shampooers, extractor ejectors, or aspiro-vapors, They are bulky and almost only exist in the drums, sleds, and sometimes brooms because of poorly adapted or non-existent water / air separation systems.

A delicate cleaning case is that of cleaning glass surfaces previously wet with water or steam. This cleaning requires, in case of suction by ventilation, that the suction device comprises a liquid separator filter placed on the air circuit before it is expelled from the device.

The design of portable, low-weight household appliances involves a number of choices as to the size of the devices installed to perform the basic functions, and the judicious combination of which must make it possible to obtain sufficient output from the apparatus, which makes it usable.

If the problem of the quality of the separation of the gaseous phase necessitates, as we have seen above, a volume and a significant weight in the known solutions of the state of the art, one also comes up against, in general, the problem of generating a sufficient quantity of steam, with a perfectly satisfactory safety for the user.

Steam generation is generally performed by the use of electrical resistors. The presence of electrical circuits, and switching means necessary for their control by the user, in a medium by nature wet, generally requires the grounding of facilities. This grounding conventionally results in the use of a three-conductor power cable, one of which is reserved for earthing. Compared to a two-conductor power supply, which would be, in absolute terms, sufficient to supply energy to the heating resistor, the three-conductor switch leads to an increase in the cost, the weight, but also the volume generated by the power function. This constraint prevents, in particular, any design with a cable reel, for a sled type apparatus or for small manual household appliances, contrary to market expectations.

Solutions in which the sector would be freed, in particular by the use of batteries and / or batteries, are currently not viable, because of the high weight of energy storage means necessary for sustained production of steam , incompatible with manual use, and also because of the high cost of these materials.

The cleaning of windows or other supports is a household problem for which there is no economic solution developed, allowing to perform in one pass the application of steam or hot or cold liquid product and a strong suction simultaneously, with a vacuum close to or greater than 15 kPa, by a light, compact, portable or manual device. A delicate problem is that of grasping the user by one hand, who is often required to work at height, and may have to hold the apparatus at arm's length, depending on the equipment available to work at height. .

The invention aims to solve these major difficulties by providing a cleaning appliance, preferably portable, water and / or dust collector, compact, lightweight, powerful, economical, and environmentally friendly, having a self-cleaning separation system , usable in all positions, and especially which has high performance characteristics, both in heating energy generation, and purification of the air returned to the environment, which are higher than those which are difficult to reach appliances larger in size, often forced to roll due to their volume and mass.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a suction and cleaning apparatus for water and / or dry dust comprising, embedded in a shell: - a nozzle,

- a means of ventilation,

- a clean water tank,

an air-water separator, a soiled liquid recovery tank and / or dust,

- A handle designed to allow the manipulation of the apparatus and the nozzle with one hand, a heating means using the ceramic electrical and thermal insulation, characterized in that said air-water separator means comprises at least one brush actuated in rotation, in extension of said ventilation means, said rotating brush with at least one turbine or nozzle serving as a support, and that said apparatus comprises a discharge pipe for air freed of the liquid, incorporated in said handle in extension a bypass, and that said contaminated liquid and / or dust recovery tank is located below said separator.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the tubular heating means comprises, going from the inside to the outside:

a central tube in which the water to be vaporized circulates, a thermal conductive electrical insulator, a heating resistor placed on the periphery of the heating means, an external thermal insulation made of non-fibrous ceramic, advantageously also electrically insulating, protecting the whole heating means.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the thermal conductive electrical insulator is in the form of a monobloc material constituted by a ceramic, or by a thin layer deposited on the surface of the central tube in the form of an oxide layer. aluminum or a thin layer of ceramic obtained by soaking and cooking, doubling the electrical insulation of the water and limiting the adhesion of the limestone.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said suction and cleaning apparatus is portable and designed capable of being handled by one hand of the user.

The invention further relates to a window squeegee having such features.

The invention also relates to a heating means in the form of boiler for cleaning apparatus.

The device aspiro-portable cleaner according to the invention is light, manageable and usable in all positions, powerful, versatile, economical, instant use.

In a preferred embodiment, this apparatus provides an instantaneous flow rate steam generation, which allows windows, fabrics and carpets, carpets, or hard floors to be cleaned in the same manner as a shampooer.

It is advantageously provided with a squeegee, specifically designed so that the suction is optimal and the drops do not flow out of the squeegee during the window cleaning operation. This makes it possible to have the same apparatus, conventional vacuum cleaner, steam cleaner and glass cleaner, and avoids the acquisition of an expensive, heavy, bulky apparatus, dedicated for this application.

The gripping handle, the low weight and the limited size of the device, with in particular the possibility of manual or portable grip shoulder, allow use by anyone in various situations and especially for cleaning windows, or in reduced spaces like inside an automobile with the specific use of adapted accessories. The outer shell incorporates the by-pass, which is a deflection to prevent the intake air from passing into the engine, and the exhaust pipe. It is advantageously injected into two interlocking parts directly without any other assembly or junction of any kind.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of non-limiting examples:

- Figure 1 shows schematically and in section a suction and cleaning apparatus for water and / or dust according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view and cut away of the first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 3 schematically illustrates the air-water separator apparatus brush exploded view in a first embodiment, and the ventilation means;

- Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the brush separator apparatus of Figure 3 with its motorization means;

- Figure 5 shows schematically and in section a heating means capable of producing steam;

- Figure 6 shows schematically and in section a suction and cleaning apparatus for water and / or dust according to a second variant of the invention;

- Figure 7 shows schematically and in section a suction and cleaning apparatus for water and / or dust according to a third variant of the invention; Figure 8 schematically illustrates the air-water brush separator apparatus in exploded view in a second embodiment also shown in Figure 7;

FIGS. 9 and 11 are diagrammatic, partial and perspective views of a scraper member of a window squeegee of a suction and cleaning apparatus for water and / or dust according to the invention and its shape. specific;

- Figure 10 is a schematic sectional view of such a scraper member;

- Figure 12 shows schematically and in perspective, the third variant suction and cleaning apparatus for water and / or dust of Figure 7;

- Figure 13 shows schematically and in top view, a detail of a suction and cleaning apparatus for water and / or dust according to the invention;

FIG. 14 diagrammatically and in perspective shows a fourth variant of suction and cleaning apparatus for water and / or dust.

The arrow A represents the suction side plus the steam outlet duct on which the accessories are fitted by any known means and in particular sliding ring systems.

The arrow M designates the outlet of the cleaned air, on which it can be adapted other accessories such as a blower hose, a perfume diffuser, or a complementary silencer, or other.

The suction and cleaning apparatus 100 according to the invention is preferably portable, and comprises, integrated in a shell 15: a nozzle 38 designed to receive a first dust filter 72,

a ventilation means 40, a tank of cleaning liquid, in particular clean water, 20,

an air-water separator 50,

a handle 5 designed capable of allowing the manipulation of the apparatus and the nozzle with one hand,

a contaminated liquid and / or dust recovery tank 4, preferably located below the separator

50, with according to the versions, a filtration by water of the dust in this one. By "below" is meant a reference to a so-called normal working position in which the operator holds the apparatus 100 with the fist closed around the handle 5 substantially vertical and with the nozzle 38 in the up position relative to the rest of the the device.

a heating means 19, preferably using the ceramic in electrical and thermal insulation.

The separation between the air sucked, on the one hand, and the liquid carrying dust, on the other hand, is made by separation means, which can take the form of a water-air separator means 50, in extension a ventilation means 40, or a filter to be deviculated 1 at the inlet of the apparatus, with a device for guiding the wastewater, or both at the same time.

The ventilation means 40 is composed of a motorization means 3, preferably an electric motor, with at least one propeller or turbine 11 ensuring the aspiration of air.

In a preferred embodiment, as visible in FIG. 1 or 7, the air-water separating means 50 comprises at least one brush 2 actuated in rotation, in extension of the means of ventilation 40. This brush 2 rotates with at least one turbine 11 and / or a nozzle 51 serving as support.

The apparatus 1 according to the invention comprises a channel or discharge pipe 6 for the air freed of the liquid, preferably incorporated in the handle 5. This channel or pipe 6 is in the extension of a bypass 60. This bypass 60 consists of a deflection, formed in particular in the shell 15 of the apparatus 100, designed to prevent the passage of air in the motor means 41 of the ventilation means 40. Preferably, the by-pass pass 60 is designed with acoustic insulation by special coating.

Preferably, the soiled liquid recovery tank and / or dust 4 is located below the separator 50.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 according to the invention is designed capable of generating steam by heating the cleaning product, preferably water, under the action of the heating means 19. This steam is diffused by a steam outlet conduit 61, preferably located in close proximity to the nozzle 38.

In order to solve the main problems not overcome by dust vacuum cleaners, the apparatus is advantageously provided with an electrical and thermal insulation heating means based on ceramic materials and / or oxidized metals, making it possible to rapidly generate steam in optimum conditions of space, efficiency and safety, and is designed to receive a scraper, including a squeegee specifically adapted for cleaning windows placed in front of said suction apparatus.

This apparatus according to the invention is a high-performance manual vapor-aspirator which can be adapted to many accessories especially for the recovery of wet residues and not only dry dust.

Preferably, and more generally, the suction nozzle 38 is or comprises a scraper member, preferably in the form of a scraper specially adapted for cleaning the panes. The squeegee is then rigidly connected to

1 'recuperator device so that the integrated handle 5 allows its handling. A rigid pipe with a nozzle, intermediate extension elements, flexible or rigid, telescopic or not, and other known accessories can also be connected to the inlet, referenced A.

According to a first variant embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the portable vacuum cleaner apparatus comprises the following essential parts:

an air / water separator means 50 preferably constituted by at least one flat brush 2 actuated in rotation, in extension of the ventilation means 40, by means of a motorization means 3, preferably an engine, or a turbine 11 It may also include a filter to be deviculated 1. The turbine 11 may itself be driven by another suction apparatus in extension M ensuring the flow of air;

a separate liquid recovery tank 4 preferably located below said separator;

a handle 5 allowing the manipulation of the apparatus and the nozzle;

- An exhaust pipe 6 in extension of the bypass, for the air free of liquid and dust, incorporated in the handle 5, the gas stream then discharging in the direction of the arrow at the output M.

These characteristics are also visible in FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrating other embodiments. Depending on the conditions of use, especially if the apparatus is proposed and more particularly adapted for a window cleaning function, it may be envisaged to insert a single air-water separator means 50.

The air-water separating means 50 is preferably positioned in the center of the apparatus, in particular if it is a water-air brush separator of the type described in patent applications FR 0602951 and PCT / FR. 2007/051060 from the applicant. It can also be placed in the receiving chamber 7 immediately at the inlet of the apparatus to facilitate cleaning, more particularly if it consists of a deflecting filter 1 formed by a foam, a fibrous lattice, a granulate, or any other substrate.

The use of such an air-water separator with a brush makes it possible to obtain a very good efficiency of the separation, with very low pressure drops. This therefore makes it possible to obtain, for the same power, a motorization means 3, here advantageously chosen, common to the ventilation and separation functions, a better suction efficiency than in the prior art, by a better vacuum.

The peculiarity of this configuration is that the brush 2 rotates with its turbine 11 or nozzle 51 serving as support, so without friction. One or two brushes 2 superimposed staggered preferably, ensure the damming of drops of water by centrifugal projection on the walls, these drops sliding by gravity to the recovery tank.

The drive of the turbine 11 or nozzle 51 by the motorization means 3 can be done in different ways, either by the solution of the preferred line drive in the apparatus of a sufficient external volume, or by placing side by side the axis of the turbine 11 and that of a motorization means 3 and by using means for transmitting the rotational movement such as belts, or rubber rollers, or gears, or similar. This last provision is interesting in the case of small volume devices, manual, such as a window squeegee or a small aspiro-vapor, designed to be held with one hand in use, and can not have a weight or a large volume. The particular use of rubber rollers or bevel gears is necessary if the reduced space requires to have axes a motorization means 3 on the one hand, and the turbine 11 on the other hand, divergent.

This arrangement contributes to a good balance of the device. Indeed, a constant concern for ergonomics in the design makes it possible to have the center of gravity of the device at the level of a handle, to avoid the user a difficult overhang in a prolonged handling. This optimal distribution of the masses also comprises the balancing of the dirty water tanks 4 and clean water 20 with respect to this center of gravity. It should be noted that, in a particular embodiment, these two reservoirs may form only one chamber, ideally situated under the center of gravity, subdivided into at least two compartments separated by a filtering partition 64, for example in the form of a filter woven or canvas, an opening of 3 microns giving good results in domestic use for cleaning windows, for example. The filtering partition 64 is swept by the movements of the operator, which contributes to a self-cleaning. In an alternative embodiment, a single reservoir is subdivided into a reservoir of clean liquid 20 and a contaminated liquid reservoir 4 by a membrane separating these two reservoirs 20 and 4, and fixed peripherally, so as to be able to move between extreme positions, starting where the whole volume is occupied by the clean liquid, and final where all the volume is occupied by soiled liquid.

Naturally, the position and shape of the handling handle are designed for a good comfort of use. In a preferred embodiment and for the same purpose, the air outlet returning to the environment is oriented downwards, in a normal position of use. In a variant, this air outlet can, again, be equipped with a nozzle that can be turned by the user.

Preferably, as visible in FIG. 6, the soiled and / or dusted liquid recovery tank 4 comprises a filtration means, preferably a pleated filter 71, intermediate in the stream of a cyclonic inlet and upstream of the separator 50. Such a pleated filter 71 can be chosen washable, or disposable because of its low cost.

With this pleated filter 71, most of the dry dust is stopped and captured towards the bottom of the tank 4, or to a double bottom 74 of the latter. The air loaded with water, and therefore with a smaller amount of dust, coming out of the pleated filter 71 upstream of the brush 2, is conveyed towards the latter at which the separation and cleaning of the filter is carried out. air for its rejection in the environment.

Naturally the means of motorization of the ventilation-suction part on the one hand, and the air-water separation part on the other hand, can be disjoint, but such an arrangement goes against the search for compactness, mass and low cost, conducted within the scope of the invention.

In the different variants, the recovery tank 4 is preferably arranged in the lower part of the apparatus and advantageously provided with a drain plug or removably designed to be emptied and cleaned.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment has an overall pistol shape with the recovery tank 4 placed on the front and in the lower part, and with the separator ventilation assembly as shown in FIG. 4, placed in the back body of the unit. The part intermediate in which the air opens is a reception chamber 7.

In order to improve the inflow and the flow of the water droplets the receiving chamber 7 may have grooves along the fuselage and a valve 17 may be oriented to direct the air towards the center of the flat brush. 2.

In the embodiment as visible in Figure 3, the air separated from the water and dust by means of the brush separator 2 is discharged through an opening 9 located at a single point, tangentially to the ventilation fan 10, located opposite, and in extension of the evacuation pipe 6 to the outside. The opening 9 is made in a peripheral ring 12 integrated in the shell, or can be directly integral with the shell 15, according to the design, in this case, the exhaust pipe and the bypass thus formed are only a single piece consisting of two half hulls formed by the outer shell directly. The determined set is more economical and its direct assembly. The air is then evacuated through the pipe 6 to the outlet M in the direction of the arrow. This type of bypass 60 is applicable to any design of vacuum cleaner, cleaner, shampooer, or extractor ejector requiring an air flow separated from the electric motor because of its humidity.

In a first variant embodiment, the motor 3 actuates in rotation the axis 8 carrying the flat brush 2 and a propeller or turbine 11. The flat brush 2 fixed on the shaft 8 is positioned in front of a turbine 11 or a nozzle 51 in the extension of the latter, thus compensating for the decrease in the air flow caused by said brush. The nozzle 51, or the nozzle and turbine assembly, is inserted into a peripheral cage 12 having an opening 9, for the evacuation of air. In order to ensure a seal between the electric motor and the flow of air circulating a seal 13 for rotating shaft is positioned between a circular plate 14 and the motor 3.

In another variant, the brush 2 is not fixed by its axis of rotation, but is held peripherally by holding means, clips or the like, on a nozzle 51 or on a turbine 11.

The electric motor 3 is ventilated by its own ventilation and various openings in the hull.

The assembly shown in FIG. 3 is positioned in the shell 15 with the introduction of silentblocs 37, as shown in FIG. 4, making it possible to limit the vibrations and the acoustic resonance of the apparatus 100, the bypass assembly being without contact with the rest of the separator / motor / ventilation body. The assembly thus produced is more economical and silent.

The shell portion 15 of the separator, a second insert plate 16, or a flange integral with the shell, and the circular plate 14 define the interior space 60 for the flow of the air freed of liquid. This internal space or bypass 60 integrated into the hull has an economic advantage due to its integration, a simplification to assembly, a reduction in weight and volume. This interior space can be covered with a coating or soundproofing surface treatment.

In a particularly compact and economical version, as visible in FIGS. 7 and 8 corresponding to the preferred embodiment of the invention, are mounted coaxially and in this order, in the flow direction from A to M:

- At least one brush 2, mounted in abutment on a support flange. The latter is formed on a flange having an opening for passage of the flow from the brush 2, or on a nozzle 51. The brush 2 is driven by this nozzle 51, or by a turbine 11, and ensures the separation of the gaseous phase and the liquid phase which contains the dust;

such a flange, fixed on said nozzle 51, in particular by clipping;

a nozzle 51, rotatably mounted in a chamber consisting of a peripheral ring 12 attached to the shell 15. This ring 12 is preferably designed to form a receptacle 55, able to collect the water from the separation, when the apparatus is manipulated in various positions, in particular the nozzle 38 upwards. This nozzle 51 is fixed on a turbine 11 at its end opposite the brush 2, in particular by gluing or clipping for example with a counter-locking ring. The nozzle 51 is of evolving inner shape, narrowing, to compensate for the decrease in air inlet section due to the brush with respect to the section of the air inlet of the turbine, from an outer shape substantially cylindrical in the vicinity of the brush 2, to a substantially frustoconical shape terminating in an inlet orifice in the turbine 11. This nozzle 51 comprises, outside its downstream portion in the direction of the flow deployed towards its contact face with the turbine 11, stiffening supports 52. These are designed capable of constituting blades for creating a particular vortex flow in an outer annular channel 53 formed between the nozzle 51 and the peripheral ring 12, flow air designed adapted to prevent the rise of a parasitic flux at an annular space 54 required by a functional game. These supports 52 can thus be inclined in order to put this channel 53 under pressure. The nozzle 51 guides the flow axially to the turbine 11; a turbine 11, in particular made of metal or plastics material, comprising blades, driven by a motorization means 3 and arranged in a chamber formed in the shell 15 of the apparatus, facing a deflector or circular plate 14, mounted integral with the hull 15 and allowing the clearance of the air from the turbine 11 and its lateral evacuation by the bypass 60.

Preferably, the peripheral ring 12 is tangent to a brush 2, one of its ends may be in contact with the brush 2 advantageously comprises one or more concentric grooves capable of containing a water seal.

In a particular embodiment, in the vicinity of the axis of the nozzle 51 and the brush 2, are mounted, on either side thereof, 56 tapered or ogival deflectors, designed to prevent lateral turbulence and parasitic depressions.

It is understood that the separator 50 is self-cleaning during the rotation of the brush 2, any dirt being removed under the effect of the centrifugal force.

If, in a preferred embodiment, the turbine 11 and the nozzle 51 are coupled, in particular, in a preferred variant with a nozzle 51 glued or clipped on the turbine 11, or monoblock with the latter, it is possible, in a variant of FIG. execution, decouple them.

The handle 5 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and 7 comprises an air outlet pipe 6, lateral or central, reported or integrated to the handle and sheaths for the passage of electricity and possibly water , in the case of an appliance with integrated heating to produce steam.

It may be added in the handle 5 a sound-absorbing conventional sound trap system, or a surface treatment as in the interior air flow space previously described. The The air outlet of this handle 5 can receive a perfume diffuser, an additional silencer, hoses for a blower, or other miscellaneous accessories.

Depending on the different possible positions of the receiving tank 4, it is possible to add a non-return system 18, with a ball or in the form of a non-return valve, as illustrated in FIG. 1 or 7, a nozzle or a valve. antiretour, to prevent any return of the recovered liquid to the receiving chamber 7. This allows the use of the device in all positions.

The apparatus 100 is advantageously provided with heating means

19 designed to generate steam, and / or heat a liquid, shown in Figure 5. It then comprises a reservoir

20 of liquid, especially water, for supplying the heating means 19.

This water tank 20 can be, as can be seen in FIG. 7, located in the lower part under the center of gravity of the apparatus 100, which then comprises a pump 73. In another embodiment, it is located at above the heating means 19, so as to supply it by gravity, when the apparatus 100 is in the usual operating position.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the heating means 19 of tubular form preferably comprises, going from one inside to the outside:

a central metal tube 21, possibly stainless, depending on the electrical insulation used, in which the water to be vaporized circulates, either directly or through a device designed to maximize its path and therefore the contact surface, as a coil, a spiral partition 42, or the like, plated on the wall of the tube 21. Such a spiral guide avoids too direct output of the steam flow. Preference is given to alloys with a high expansion index, such as aluminum alloys;

an electrical insulator which is chosen to be also the best possible thermal conductor 22 or 25 is designed capable of allowing the removal of the earth in this type of heating body. Such an insulator can also be applied inside the tube 21;

a heating resistor 23, in particular economically composed of an electrical coil, placed on the periphery of the insulator covering the tube 21 and connected to an electrical circuit by means of two plugs. The thickness of the flange may be supplemented with a thermally conductive ceramic to improve the inertia of the assembly if necessary. Preferably, this resistor 23 is not sheathed, in the light of the smallest possible volume. The heating resistor 23 may have different configurations, for example wound in turns on the periphery of the thermal conductive electrical insulator, or back and forth on the periphery of the tube 21. If the resistor 23 is coated with an electrical insulator, the turns can be joined. The tube 21 may comprise at least one groove, in particular helical groove, for housing the turns. With an equal electrical resistance value, the resistor 23 in turns, for the same length of tube 21, can, with respect to a straight resistance, have a much greater cross section, it can also be better applied to the tube, hence a increased reliability;

an external thermal insulator 24, advantageously also electrically insulating, protecting all of the heating means 19. The material used is based on non-fibrous ceramics with a high coefficient of thermal insulation, because the fibrous materials are often and increasingly classified as dangerous and become prohibited. In this set the ground wire is removed which allows the lightening of the power cord. In addition to the significant gain in weight and cost, the volume gain resulting from a two-conductor design instead of three makes it possible to equip the device according to the invention with a cable reel, to meet the expectations of the market.

Preferably, the thermal conductive electrical insulator 22 or 25 is in the form of a one-piece material which may be, for example, a ceramic 22, or a food-grade porcelain or the like, or in the form of a thin layer deposited on the surface. central tube 21, for example an aluminum oxide layer obtained by plasma spraying. This deposit can also be obtained by ceramizing low temperature (500 ⁰ C) after soaking in a mixture of aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide among others, this economical solution also provides a perfect protection against oxidation metal tube 21, which can be made of non-stainless material, and with, in addition, double electrical insulation. This technique, which is similar to enamelling, can also be used to prevent limescale fixation, which causes electrical safety and efficiency to be disturbed. The covering of the tube 21 is still possible with a deposit based on aluminum oxide and resin. These materials are not limitative, other types of applications and products remain possible, when it comes to using materials with the property of electrical insulation and thermal conductivity or thermal and electrical insulation outdoors .

An insulating layer 22 or 25, such as alumina or even magnesia, having a thickness of approximately 0.10 mm gives good results in the particular application of a manual glass cleaner. Preferably, the insulator 25, applied on the tube 21, is better thermal conductor than the insulator 22, which is used for the protection of the Heating resistance 24. This difference in thermal conduction advantageously comes from a much higher level of alumina in the insulator 25 than in the insulator 22.

The thickness of the tube 21 is calculated as a function of the desired steam flow rate, the electrical power of the resistor, and the inertia necessary for a constant flow rate.

Other non-limiting materials, such as magnesia, dense alumina, boron nitride, silicon, can be used according to needs and means of non-limiting applications, either.

The thermal conductive electrical insulator in the form of a thin layer 25 has the advantage of reducing the size of the heating means 19 and allows a faster thermal diffusion to the central tube 21 in contact with water. This thin-layer application can be performed by plasma spraying or resin varnishing, or by dipping in a bath, or enameling, or any other known system.

The heating assembly is advantageously completed by two connectors 26 and 27, larger at the outlet to avoid pressure, allowing the interlocking of the conductive pipes.

The heating means 19, for its simplicity, is more economical and lighter than the usual shielded resistances embedded in aluminum blocks. Moreover the advantage of the use of ceramic is to avoid the connection to the earth of this set because at no time the water and its conduit are in contact with the electrical circuit. A probe thermostat or bi-metal lamella chip allows the thermal and electrical regulation of the heating means 19.

The ejection of steam is controlled by a trigger or by an electric control accessible to the hand of the user who carries the recovery device. The command of the sending of the water towards the resistance is made by a trigger pressure compressing the pipe, or by an electrical control controlling a pump 73. A ball check valve can guarantee a single direction of circulation during the production of steam.

The steam produced by the heating means is ejected towards its outlet duct 61, in the direction of the surface to be treated by conduits and known means.

The heating means 19 is preferably positioned on the front and the bottom of the apparatus so that the hand of the user on the handle 5 is not in the vicinity of the heating element, even if it is it is thermally insulated. The distance of the electric motor from this heater is also a thermal advantage because the motor is not in a preheated air flow.

Preferably, for a good ventilation of the heating means 19, and the cooling of the shell 15 in its vicinity, a portion of the air coming from the turbine is used, which is expelled into the pipe 6 of the handle 5: an obstacle, in the form of a deflection 67, is interposed in such a way as to channel part of the air through the outlet in M, and to divert a portion of the air in a circulation zone around the heating means 19 , before emerging through a hole 46 opening outwardly, preferably on the front of the device, to the nozzle 38, not to interfere with the user. Preferably, it is still possible to interpose on the circulation of this flow of derived air, before the outlet through the orifice 46, a water trap, for example in the form of a baffle 47. This deflection to cool the heating means 19 may, again, be designed to be supplied by the cooling air of the motorization means 3, the shell 15 then has channels adapted to ensure the conveying of this air.

The advantage of ventilating the heating part is to minimize the temperature in the receptacle of the heating part, and thus to be able to use, for the shell 15, more materials. cost-effective thermo-resistant materials for high temperatures, and in particular to use "ABS", or another plastic or composite material of medium heat-resistant quality that is to say, able to withstand without deformation a temperature of 100 ⁰ C, and very significantly lower cost.

As can be seen in FIG. 12, the apparatus 100 preferably comprises, at least locally around the motorization means 3, a double shell constituted by the main shell 15 on the one hand, and the tank 20 or a hood 68 of on the other hand, the tank 20 or hood 68 being designed capable of covering the shell 15 at a short distance from the latter, by providing a space 76 for the fresh air inlet, and constituting a baffle and water traps at the level of its junctions 15. This double hull thus ensures good ventilation of the engine means 3. Preferably, around the latter, a cover 68 covers the hull at a short distance from the latter, providing a space for the fresh air intake, taken under this cover 68 in the vicinity of the handle 5, and up towards the top of the device to a masked air inlet. By the baffle formed by this hood 68 and water traps at junction clips between the cover 68 and the shell 15, it prevents any flow of water or moisture to the motorization means 3. The air having served for cooling is ejected laterally at an orifice 77 so as not to impede the user.

The design of such a heating means 19 avoids the conventional solution of a bulky and heavy boiler. At equal volume, the invention makes it possible to double the power compared to a conventional armored resistor, and to improve the reliability.

Such a heating means 19, shown here in a preferred tubular form, can naturally take different forms. Its use particularly well adapted to a cleaning apparatus according to the invention, can still find other applications, specifically for appliances with boilers, such as vacuum cleaner, cleaner, shampooer, or ejector extractor, boilers whose performance and speed of heating can be significantly improved .

An apparatus according to the invention, portable, of small size, that is to say of a mass of 2 kg or less, preferably of a mass close to 1, 5 kg, and a volume less than 300 mm x 300 mm x 150 mm, easily achieves, with such a heating means, a heating power, at the level of the heating means 19, from 1500 to 2000 W. Such an apparatus is designed with ventilation means 40 suitable for create a suction vacuum of at least 15 kPa between inlet A and outlet M.

The portable vacuum cleaner apparatus may also include check valves on the various tanks and various other useful accessories.

Different configurations, different shapes and dimensions can be envisaged for the water tank 20 and the recovery tank 4, for the heating means 19 and for the orientation of the incorporated air-water separating device, without departing from the scope of the invention. It is in particular possible to install the two tanks 4 and 20 in lateral parts, on either side of the handle 5.

In a particular version, as can be seen in FIG. 13, the sides 69, 70, of the apparatus 100, on either side of the handle 5, are concave, so that they can be wedged onto a hip. user, for example, that it is right-handed or left-handed, especially when the device is worn over the shoulder. These concave sides may also consist of side flanges in the form of plates attached to the shell 15. They can also be designed flowing so as to use them as a skein for winding the power cable of the device , or hoses, or the like. FIG. 14 shows a generally portable vacuum cleaner in a more complete variant, whose suction inlet A is no longer placed in front of the reception chamber 7 but below the recovery tank 4 and directly in the latter of this In fact, it is possible to vacuum and filter directly with water dry dust. The developed concept is a true vacuum cleaner water and dry dust. Entrance A is accompanied by a hose with accessories. This water filtration can also be enhanced by an air-water mixer forming a safety valve of the type described in patent application FR 0604955 of the applicant.

The portable vacuum cleaner apparatus may comprise, in addition, a nozzle 38 provided with a scraper member useful for cleaning the panes. Such a scraping member is shown in FIGS. 9 to 11.

The scraper member is shown in section in FIG. 10 and comprises three components:

a scraping part 29,

a support 30 of the scraping part,

- a squeegee shell 31,

Preferably the scraper portion 29 comprises an anti-drip device formed by a set of grooves 34 oriented in the direction of the suction flow, that is to say in a direction perpendicular to the scraping edge 33 of the scraper.

The scraper portion 29 is preferably made of flexible plastic and comprises, as shown in FIG. 9, a scraping edge 33 shaped like a V and grooves 34 that can be in the form of a half-cylinder or a V-shape. Under the effect the capillarity of the liquids, the gravity and the suction these grooves guide the water to the source of suction during the scraping. This anti-drip device is particularly effective in the window squeegee application.

A bead 35 inserted in a groove 36 keeps the scraping portion 29 in its support 30. The support 30 having the groove 36 is shown in FIG.

The inlet of the suction behind the scraping portion 29 has a conical shape towards the center to allow a regular suction over the entire length. The space 32 between the scraping portion 29 and the inlet of the suction is minimized to increase the depression and thus the suction power.

As can be seen in FIG. 10, in a preferred embodiment, a partition 64 separates a steam supply channel 65 towards the scraper portion 29, and a suction channel 66 towards the nozzle 38. Advantageously, a droplet trap 26 water 62 equips the end of the channel 65, to prevent any return, at the zone 63 steam outlet. In this respect, preferably, the apparatus 100 comprises a device automatically triggering the suction when the steam generation stops, to prevent the drop of water drops on the ground in the work area.

Claims

1. Aspiration and cleaning apparatus (100) for water and / or dust comprising, embedded in a shell (15): - a nozzle (38),

- a ventilation means (40),

a clean water tank (20),

an air-water separator (50),

a recovery tank (4) of soiled liquid and / or dust,

- a handle (5) designed adapted to allow the manipulation of the apparatus (100) with one hand,

a heating means (19) using the ceramic in electrical and thermal insulation, characterized in that said air-water separating means (50) comprises at least one brush (2) actuated in rotation, in extension of said ventilation means ( 40), said brush (2) rotating with at least one turbine (11) or nozzle (51) serving as a support, and said apparatus comprises a drain pipe (6) for the air freed of the liquid, incorporated in said handle (5) in extension of a bypass (60), and that said recovery tank (4) of contaminated liquid and / or dust is located below said separator (50).

2. suction and cleaning apparatus (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises, mounted coaxially and in this order, in the flow direction from said nozzle (38) (A) to the pipe d evacuation (6) (M):

- at least one brush (2), mounted in abutment on a bearing flange formed on a flange having a passage opening or on a nozzle (51), and designed to be driven by this nozzle (51) or by a turbine (11), - A nozzle (51) rotatably mounted in a chamber constituted by a peripheral ring (12) fixed to the shell (15), guiding the flow axially to a turbine (11);

- a turbine (11) having vanes, driven by a motorization means (3) and arranged in a chamber formed in the shell (15) of the apparatus (100), facing a deflector or circular plate (14), mounted integral with the hull (15) and allowing the tangential clearance of the air from the turbine (11) and its lateral evacuation via the bypass (60).

3. Aspiration and cleaning apparatus (100) according to the preceding claim characterized in that said nozzle (51) comprises stiffening supports (52) designed to create in an outer annular channel (53) formed between the nozzle (51) and the peripheral ring (12), a vortex flow capable of preventing the rise of a parasitic flow.

4. Aspiration and cleaning apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that said nozzle (51) is fixed on said turbine (11) at its end opposite said brush (2), by gluing or clipping with a counter-lock ring.

5. suction and cleaning apparatus (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the peripheral ring (12) is tangent to a brush (2), one of its ends designed to be in contact with the brush (2) comprising at least one concentric groove capable of containing a water seal.

6. Suction and cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said air-water separator (50) is a filter to be deviculated (1).

7. Aspiration and cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water tank (20) is located above said means of heating (19) when the aspirator is in operation, so as to supply said heating means (19) by gravity or by a pump (73).

8. suction and cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said recovery tank (4) comprises a filter means, or a pleated filter (71), designed washable or disposable, in the flow of a cyclonic inlet upstream of said separator (50).

9. Suction and cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a single reservoir subdivided into a clean liquid reservoir (20) and a contaminated liquid reservoir (4) by a membrane separating these two tanks (20) and (4), and fixed peripherally, so as to move between extreme positions, starting where the entire volume is occupied by the clean liquid, and final where the entire volume is occupied by the dirty liquid.

10. Suction and cleaning apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a single tank subdivided into a clean liquid reservoir (20) and a contaminated liquid reservoir (4) by a filtering partition (64) separating these two reservoirs (20) and (4).

11. Apparatus suction and cleaning according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bypass (60) is integrated with said shell (15).

12. Aspiration and cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, for the cooling of said shell (15) in the vicinity of said heating means (19), a deflection (67). designed to be powered by the sucked air flowing in said pipe (6), or by the cooling air of the motorization means (3).

13. Apparatus suction and cleaning according to the preceding claim, characterized in that downstream of said deflection (67), the air out through an orifice (46) to the outside, downstream of a trap water (47), especially in the form of a baffle.

14. Aspiration and cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, at least locally around a drive means (3) designed adapted to drive said ventilation means (40). or and said turbine (11), a double shell constituted by the main hull (15) on the one hand, and said tank (20) or a hood (68) on the other hand, said tank (20) or hood (68) ) being designed to cover the shell (15) at a short distance from the shell, providing a space for the fresh air inlet, and constituting a baffle and water traps at its junctions with said shell (15). ).

15. Apparatus suction and cleaning according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its sides (69, 70), on either side of the handle (5), are concave, so as to can be wedged on a user's hip.

16. Aspiration and cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a non-return system (18) in the return channel of the contaminated liquid from a receiving chamber (7) containing said separator (50) to the tank (4) of contaminated liquid.

17. Apparatus suction and cleaning according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating means (19) is designed capable of generating steam.

18. Apparatus suction and cleaning according to the preceding claim characterized in that the heating means (19) is tubular in shape and comprises, going from one inside to the outside: a central tube (21) in which the liquid to be vaporized circulates,

an electrical insulator and thermal conductor (22, 25),

a heating resistor (23) placed on the periphery of the heating means (19),

- An external thermal insulation in non-fibrous ceramic (24) and electrical insulation, protecting all of the heating means (19).

19. Apparatus suction and cleaning according to the preceding claim characterized in that the heating means

Tubular shape (19) comprises inside said tube (21) an internal worm-shaped conduit increasing the contact surface of the liquid with the wall of said tube (21).

20. Apparatus suction and cleaning according to claim 19 characterized in that the thermal conductive electrical insulator (22, 25) is in the form of a one-piece material consisting of a ceramic (22), or a thin layer (25) deposited on the surface of the central tube (21) in the form of a layer of aluminum oxide or a thin layer of ceramic obtained by dipping and baking, doubling the electrical insulation of the water and limiting the 'hangs limestone.

21. Suction and cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is portable, that its mass is less than 2 kg, and that its volume is less than 300 mm x 300 mm x 150 mm, and that its heating power is greater than 1500 W.

22. Apparatus for suction and cleaning according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ventilation means (40) is designed capable of generating a vacuum suction of at least 15 kPa between the inlet (A ) and the output (M).

23. Suction and cleaning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle (38) is provided with a scraper designed adapted to clean windows, which comprises a scraping portion (29) which is flexible and comprises a scraping edge (33) shaped V and grooves (34) can be shaped half-cylinder or V, and the set of grooves (34) oriented in the direction of the suction flow perpendicular to the scraping edge (33) of the squeegee constituting an anti-drip device.

Suction and cleaning apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that a partition (64) separates a steam supply channel (65) to the scraper portion (29) and a channel (66). suction to the nozzle (38), and that a water droplet trap (62) equips the end of the channel (65), to prevent any return, at the steam outlet.

25. A steam window squeegee constituted by a suction and cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 22, and comprising a scraping member according to any one of claims 23 to 24.

Heating means in the form of boiler for cleaning apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a heating means (19) of tubular shape and which comprises, going from one inside to the outside:

a central tube (21) in which the liquid to be vaporized circulates,

an electrical insulator and thermal conductor (22, 25),

a heating resistor (23) placed on the periphery of the heating means (19),

Heating means in the form of a boiler for cleaning apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the tubular heating means (19) has inside said tube (21) an internal conduit in the form of a screw. endless increasing the contact surface of the liquid with the wall of said tube (21).

Heating means in the form of boiler for cleaning apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the thermal conductive electrical insulator (22, 25) is in the form of a one-piece material consisting of a ceramic (22), or by a thin layer (25) deposited on the surface of the central tube (21) in the form of a layer of aluminum oxide or a thin ceramic layer obtained by dipping and baking, doubling the electrical insulation of the water and limiting the adhesion of limestone.