EP2449935B1 - Suction nozzle and vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a suction nozzle for a canister vacuum cleaner with a nozzle base provided for abutment on the bottom and a suction mouth which penetrates the latter and which is connected to a port connectable to a vacuum source, wherein the nozzle sole has bearing surfaces in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the suction mouth, which on the suction mouth on the opposite side in sloping to the floor running sliding surfaces, as well as a vacuum cleaner equipped with it.

State of the art

Upright vacuum cleaners usually have a suction nozzle, which is designed as a complex molded injection molded part and provided with a transversely extending suction mouth. The suction mouth is fluidly connected to a mouth of the suction nozzle, which in turn cooperates by means of hose and / or pipes with a located in the housing of the vacuum cleaner vacuum source. The shape of the mouth and suction mouth and the underside of the suction nozzle is of particular importance for the cleaning result to be achieved, for example with respect to the vacuum distribution in the suction mouth and with respect to the sliding forces when moving the suction nozzle on resilient substrates such as carpet or the like.

For cleaning hard floors, the suction nozzle is usually also equipped with extendable busts and / or thread catchers. The suction nozzle can articulate with high-quality vacuum cleaners and by gravity on the floor in one Connecting part are arranged, which in turn is supported by a roller set on the ground.

The performance characteristics of vacuum cleaners for household use are determined, for example, according to the standard DIN EN 60312, for example with regard to the dust absorption capacity (Chapter 2.2.3) and the resistance to movement when moving the suction nozzle in the forward and backward direction (Chapter 4.1). These properties are thus of particular importance both for a standard-compliant design of the vacuum cleaner as well as for a pleasant and effective handling. They are influenced by a variety of geometric and fluidic factors, which have to be matched to achieve a satisfactory result. In this case, a measure to improve a characteristic of use can certainly lead to a deterioration of another property. In addition, the contour of the usually made of sheet metal nozzle sole must also be produced in terms of manufacturing technology.

A first suction nozzle is known from the published patent application DE 10 2007 009 958 A1 known. Trained as a sheet metal sole underside of the suction nozzle has a transverse suction mouth with on both sides of its long sides parallel to the ground extending support surfaces on which the suction nozzle slides when cleaning carpets. The width of the bearing surfaces is in this embodiment between 0.5 mm to 4 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 2 mm.

On the sides of the bearing surfaces facing away from the suction mouth, the sheet-metal soleplate is provided with angularly extending sliding surfaces, which in each case enclose an angle of 30 ° to 60 ° when cleaning with the floor. The regions of the sheet-metal soleplate assigned to the suction mouth, which form the front wall and the rear wall of the suction mouth, are bent approximately vertically upwards at an angle of 120 ° to 150 ° and respectively run with a radius of between 0.3 mm and 2 mm, in particular between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, in the assigned bearing surface.

The geometry proposed in this document are capable of improvement with regard to a particularly high and uniform suction performance with a pleasant pushing force. In the utility model DE 20 2005 020 767 U1 a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner is described in which the front wall and the rear wall of the suction mouth are each formed wegbildend arcuately. The radius of curvature of the front and rear wall is between 500 mm and 1000 mm. As a result, the width of the flow channel, which is less than 15 mm on the outside, widens inward in the direction of the centrally arranged orifice to a value of 20 mm to 25 mm. The depth of the flow cross section increases in the same direction from less than 2 mm to 5 mm to 8 mm.

The curvature of the front and rear walls of the suction mouth is intended to make it easier to move the suction nozzle onto the carpet floor, but overall, without optimizing the nozzle sole, this does not lead to a positive result.

From the patent GB 1 493 097 a suction nozzle with a front and a rear suction mouth is known, which are fluidly connected to a common mouth. This suction nozzle is equipped with sliding surfaces, wherein a first, front sliding surface is provided from front to rear at an angle of 4 ° to 8 ° sloping to the front suction mouth, a second, medium sliding surface from front to back by 0.5 to 1, 5 mm sloping between the front and rear suction mouth is arranged and a third, rear Angleitfläche from front to rear with an angle of 1 ° and 5 ° rising behind the rear suction mouth. A similar suction nozzle, but with three successively arranged Saugmündern, is in the utility model DE-GM 78 33 705 described.

The angle mentioned in these documents are not transferable with respect to their effect on displacement force and suction on a suction nozzle with only a single suction mouth. In addition, no separate, horizontal and thus parallel to the ground extending bearing surfaces are provided. Rather, the nozzle sole rests directly with the radii between the sliding surfaces and the front and rear walls of the suction mouths on the floor surface to be cleaned. In the published patent application DE 10 2006 024 439 A1 a multi-channel suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. In this embodiment, a connectable to the vacuum source main channel extends to the ground spaced in a first Direction of space inside the suction nozzle. From the main channel open down several, orthogonal to this aligned suction mouth, which absorb the dust from the floor surface to be cleaned. The main channel has a constant width, but an increasing from outside to inside height. The flow channels of the suction mouths, however, are increasingly arcuately formed both from the outside to the inside in terms of their depth and with respect to their width. The sliding direction is provided in the direction of the extent of the main channel and thus, as usual, transversely to the orientation of the Saugmünder.

The German utility model DE 78 12 958 U1 discloses a suction nozzle in which the angle of the sliding surfaces to horizontal is between 5 ° and 10 °. In this case, bearing surfaces are made extremely wide.

From the German patent application DE 197 38 046 A1 a suction nozzle is known, the sliding surfaces are inclined at an angle of about 13 °. The sliding surfaces obviously extend to the rounded suction edges, so that the bearing surfaces are formed only linear and thus without width.

The German patent application DE 10 2004 005 641 A1 describes a suction nozzle whose front sliding surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal at an angle of 19 °. The sliding surfaces extend directly to the rounded suction edges, so that the bearing surfaces are formed only linear and thus without width.

Offenlegungsschrift DE 103 12 905 A1 relates to a suction nozzle, the rear sliding surface is inclined at an angle of about 13 ° relative to the horizontal, but also goes directly into the rear suction edge. In the front region, the sliding surface is arcuate, so that no particular angle is set to the horizontal. The front sliding surface also passes directly into the associated suction edge.

The utility model DE 88 09 802 U1 discloses a suction nozzle with an arcuate front sliding surface. About the rear sliding surface and the formation of possible bearing surfaces the document can be taken no information.

In the patent DD 155293 discloses a floor plate for vacuum cleaner nozzles which is suitable for cleaning carpets and smooth floors. Air inlet nozzles or openings are preferably arranged symmetrically distributed over the entire base plate on the inner Saugkanalflächen and or the support surface with an air inlet cross section of 50 to 250 mm ² at an air flow range of the vacuum cleaner from 50 to 250 watts. In addition, a partially encircling sealing surface with a width of preferably 0.5 to 3.5 mm calculated after leakage of the radius to the floor facing away side in the bottom plate available.

The European patent application EP 1964501 A2 describes a sheet-metal sole for a vacuum cleaner nozzle with a formed on its underside transversely extending suction mouth, which is bounded by a front and a rear Saugmundwand and obliquely aligned sliding surfaces in front of and behind the suction mouth, wherein in each case the transition region between a suction mouth and the associated slide surface Suction mouth edge has. Each of the suction mouth walls, in a first rounding, which determines a suction mouth edge, merges into a horizontal plateau, the plateau being followed by a second rounding, which merges into the associated obliquely running sliding surface. The between the sliding surfaces and the horizontally formed angle are each between 30 ° and 60 °. The plateau has a width between 0.5 mm and 4 mm in the longitudinal direction.

The European patent application EP 0 382 598 A1 concerns a suction device for laid-out carpets and fitted carpets also solid, dry and wetted floors. The suction device consists of a housing with a suction tube and a foot plate which encloses at least one suction between corresponding sliding surfaces, which is connected via a channel with the suction tube, while additionally a movable plate is provided with a brush strip, which in a gap between the base plate and the housing protrudes. The movable plate is movable by means of an actuating element in an upper position for the cleaning of laid and stretched carpets and a lower position for the cleaning of hard floors. On the movable plate is on the side of the suction opening, which runs opposite to the rectilinear region of the brush bar, a Abschabelement.

The European patent application EP 0 818 173 A2 describes a three-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle, which is designed for dry vacuuming on carpets, for dry vacuuming on smooth floors and for wet vacuuming on smooth floors. The structure includes a suction head, a lower suction head plate with a suction mouth, a Can be raised and lowered arranged holder with a flexible Abziehlippe and at least one roller at the rear end of the suction head. The Abziehlippe is arranged in front of the suction mouth. In addition to the Abziehlippe Stüzrollen are provided which stand up with sawn-off holder on the ground and determine together with a roller the bottom-side functional distance of the Abziehlippe when sucking smooth floors.

The problem underlying the invention

The invention has for its object to further develop a generic suction nozzle and a vacuum cleaner equipped so that when cleaning resilient flooring a good cleaning result can be achieved with a pleasantly low resistance to movement.

Inventive solution

The object underlying the invention is achieved by a suction nozzle with the features of claim 1. The object is further achieved by a vacuum cleaner with such a suction nozzle.

It is an achievable advantage of the invention that over the specified angular range, a high dust absorption of the vacuum cleaner in conjunction with an acceptable, ie not required to be high pushing force is achieved. In this case, the pushing force is the force that a user of the vacuum cleaner must apply to move the suction nozzle in operation on the ground, ie on the ground in a direction of movement parallel to the processed soil. The inventors have recognized that in this case a relatively large angle can lead to a low friction of the nozzle sole on the floor covering, but also the sealing of the suction nozzle to the carpet can be reduced, whereby more secondary air is drawn in and the dust absorption is impaired. On the other hand, a particularly small angle significantly increases the resistance to movement. At an angle in the range between 8.5 ° and 15 ° between the horizontal and the front and rear sliding surface is achieved according to the inventors a good ratio of achievable dust absorption and required sliding force in the forward and / or reverse direction. With this embodiment of the invention, a particularly favorable ratio of achievable dust absorption and required sliding force can be achieved. Particularly preferably, the angle α and / or α 'between the horizontal and the front or rear sliding surface is approximately 10 °. The "horizontal" is in the sense of the present invention a Straight, which runs through the support surfaces on both sides of the suction mouth. The angle between the horizontal and the front sliding surface on the one hand and the angle between the horizontal and the rear sliding surface on the other hand are identical in a preferred embodiment of the invention. Of course, embodiments are also covered by the invention in which the angles are different. The width of the bearing surfaces of the suction nozzle in the longitudinal direction between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably between 0.9 mm and 1.3 mm. According to the inventors, a small bearing surface leads to an increase in the resistance to movement, since the nozzle sole digs into the carpet pile. However, this also leads to an improved dust pickup, especially at low intake air volumes. An enlargement of the support surfaces, however, reduces the immersion depth and thus the friction forces when moving the suction nozzle, but also within the specified limits, especially for larger volumes of air sucked to a better seal.

It is provided that the suction nozzle is displaceable, in particular about a pivot axis extending in the transverse direction, is arranged on a connecting part. Preferably, the suction nozzle is connected for use via the connecting part to a suction pipe. By pivoting can be avoided that the operator is supported on the nozzle sole on the ground and increases the resistance to movement.

The forces in question are rather transferred by rollers to the ground, which are provided on the connecting part and cause a further rolling reduction relative movement between the suction nozzle and the floor to be cleaned to further reduce the sliding force.

It is further provided that at least one sliding wheel is rotatably mounted on the suction nozzle about a second axis of rotation. The underside of the sliding wheel is spaced from the bottom of an adjacent to the front suction edge and rear suction edge and the roller straight up between 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

Advantageous embodiments or developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims. A special good dust absorption in conjunction with a low pushing force is achieved by a contact surface with a width of approximately 1.1 mm. Preferably, the width of the front sliding surface on the one hand and the width of the rear sliding surface on the other hand are identical. Of course, embodiments are also covered by the invention in which the widths are different.

Further preferred is a suction nozzle, wherein the radius of the suction edge between the support surface and extending away from the nozzle sole front wall and / or rear wall of the suction mouth between 0 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 2 mm and with particular advantage is approximately 1.5 mm. A small radius between the bearing surface and the front and / or rear wall leads, according to the inventors to a digging of the suction edge in the carpet fibers and thus on the one hand to an increase in resistance to movement, on the other hand, but also to a good Dust removal. Such a design is to be preferred especially for small amounts of air sucked. An increase in the radius worsens the dust absorption, since the carpet fibers are no longer pressed apart when passing from the suction edge. In turn, the reduced immersion depth reduces the resistance to movement.

A radius of 1.5 mm leads to a good result in terms of dust absorption and sliding resistance. In addition, such a radius during bending of the sheet of the nozzle sole advantageously at standard sheet thickness manufacturing technology without special effort feasible. Preferably, the radius of the front suction edge on the one hand and the radius of the rear suction edge on the other hand are identical. Of course, embodiments are also covered by the invention in which the radii are different.

With particular advantage, the flow cross-section in the suction mouth of the suction nozzle is increasingly formed along the flow path from the outside inwards. As a result, a particularly uniform suction over the entire transverse extent of the suction nozzle and a good dust absorption in the edge region of the nozzle sole are achieved. It is particularly preferred that the flow cross-section in the suction mouth of the suction nozzle along the flow path from the outside to the inside steadily increases, that is, there are no constrictions along the flow path, at which the flow cross-section temporarily decreases, and then only increase again. The increase in the flow cross section is preferably effected by a width and / or depth of the suction mouth which increases along the flow path from outside to inside.

In particular, it is provided that the increase in the depth of the suction mouth from outside to inside takes place substantially linearly. As a result, the flow path in the suction mouth is formed particularly favorable, in particular at air volumes of 40 to 45 liters per second.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the front wall of the suction mouth is rectilinear and the rear wall of the suction mouth is arcuate, in particular arcuate, arched away from the outside to the inside of the front wall. This training leads Forward movement of the suction nozzle, in which it is often pressed with higher pressure on the ground, to a reduction of the resistance to movement.

The underside of the Gleitrads is preferably spaced from a bottom of the front suction edge and rear suction edge and the roller adjacent straight up between 1.0 and 1.5 mm. As a result, it can be achieved that the sliding wheel only comes into contact with the ground when the suction nozzle dips beyond a predetermined extent in the resilient floor covering, but does not increase the resistance to movement when the sliding roller is not in use. In addition, this arrangement leads to a particularly good dust collection when cleaning carpets.

The present invention is particularly suitable for use with suction cups with metal sole. A metal sole is partially or even entirely made of metal, more preferably steel. A metal sole can be more resistant and thus more durable than, for example, a plastic sole. Furthermore, it can contribute to an improvement in the ground contact and thus a further improved dust absorption by their weight. Also, it can give the suction nozzle a higher quality appearance. The metal sole is preferably embossed in the inventive

Brought form. The inventors have found that the required angles and radii can be reliably produced in the metal sole by such means.

Brief description of the figures

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings of an exemplary embodiment with further details.

Fig. 1:

einen Längsschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäß ausgebildete Saugdüse für einen Bodenstaubsauger entlang der Linie B-B in Fig. 2;

Fig. 1a:

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt der vorderen Saugkante aus der Darstellung nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 1b:

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt der hinteren Saugkante aus der Darstellung nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 2:

eine Ansicht von unten auf die Düsensohle der Saugdüse nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3:

den qualitativen Verlauf von Staubaufnahme und Schiebekraft in Abhängigkeit vom Winkel der Aufgleitfläche;

Fig. 4:

den qualitativen Verlauf von Staubaufnahme und Schiebekraft in Abhängigkeit vom Radius der Saugkante.

Show it:

Fig. 1:

a longitudinal section through an inventively designed suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner along the line BB in Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 1a:

an enlarged section of the front suction edge from the illustration Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 1b:

an enlarged section of the rear suction edge from the illustration Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 2:

a view from below of the nozzle sole of the suction nozzle Fig. 1 ;

3:

the qualitative course of dust absorption and pushing force as a function of the angle of the sliding surface;

4:

the qualitative course of dust absorption and pushing force as a function of the radius of the suction edge.

Detailed description of the invention with reference to an embodiment

All directions and locations refer to a suction nozzle, which rests on a horizontal surface and in the forward direction, ie in the horizontal direction against the longitudinal extent of a suction pipe connected to the suction nozzle in use, is moved.

In the Fig. 1 illustrated suction nozzle 1 has a nozzle for the plant to be cleaned bottom nozzle sole 2, which is broken by a single suction port 3. The suction mouth 3 goes from the ground pointing the way into a circular arc curved pipe bend 4, which is sealed, but telescopically slidably received by the complementarily curved mouth 5 of a connecting part 6. The suction nozzle 1 is thereby pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation M in the connecting part 6, which in turn in Fig. 2 shown rollers 12 for support on the ground.

The nozzle sole 2 is made of a pressed sheet metal part, which is partially embedded in the otherwise injection-molded plastic injection nozzle 1. The suction nozzle 1 has on the nozzle sole 2 in front of and behind the suction mouth 3 a front, horizontally and thus parallel to the ground extending support surface 7 with the width a of 1.1 mm and a rear, horizontally extending support surface 7 'with the width a' of 1, 1 mm up. The bearing surfaces 7, 7 'distribute the weight of the suction nozzle 1 on the surface to be cleaned and seal it against the circumference of the suction mouth 3 from.

This overlay is preferred in the cleaning of resilient floor coverings, such as carpeting. When cleaning hard floors, however, the nozzle sole 2 is usually lifted by extending a brush ring from the ground.

As in Fig. 1a shown enlarged, a front Aufgleitfläche 8 is provided in front of the front support surface 7, which drops from front to rear at an angle α of 10 ° in the direction of the support surface 7. The sliding surface 8 prevents a movement of the suction nozzle 1 in the forward direction (-X direction) hooking of the nozzle sole 2 in the carpet. A further slide-on surface 8 'is provided at an angle α' of 10 ° backwards behind the bearing surface 7 '( Fig. 1b ). The sliding surface 8 'prevents snagging of the nozzle sole 2 in the carpet during a movement of the suction nozzle 1 in the reverse direction (X direction).

Furthermore, the sheet metal part of the nozzle sole 2 forms a partial region of the front wall 9 and the rear wall 10 of the suction mouth 3 and is folded there from the bearing surfaces 7, 7 'starting approximately at right angles to the top. The thus formed suction edges 11, 11 'each have a radius (R, R') of 2.5 mm, which prevents burial of the suction edges in reverse or forward drive.

How out Fig. 2 it can be seen, the front wall 9 in the transverse direction (Y- or -Y-direction) of the suction nozzle 1 is formed to extend straight, while the rear wall 10 is arcuately curved away from the front wall 9 and thus a non-linear from outside to inside from B _min to B _max increasing width B of the suction mouth 3 causes. The depth T of the flow channel of the suction mouth 3 is, as in Fig. 1 represented, from outside to inside linearly from T _min to T _max increasingly provided. The flow channel of the suction mouth 3 extends almost over the entire transverse extent of the suction nozzle 1 and is fluidly connected to the mouth 5 relative to its transverse extent centrally.

The diagram after Fig. 3 shows qualitatively the course of the dust receptacle K and the pushing force F _s as a function of the angle α when moving the suction nozzle 1 in the forward direction (-X direction). It is equally valid for reverse displacement (X direction) for dependence on angle α '. As can be seen from the curve, the dust receptacle K is particularly favorable for very small angles α and initially falls slightly with an increase in the angle α, but then decreases more sharply. The pushing force F _s and thus the resistance to movement are relatively high at a very small angle α, but on the other hand decrease significantly even with a slight increase in the angle α. At an angle α of 10 °, the deterioration of the dust receptacle K is thus negligible, while the resistance to movement is already much cheaper.

Less pronounced, but not negligible, is when moving in the forward direction in Fig. 4 shown decrease in the pushing force F _s with increasing radius R of the front suction edge (also as a function of the radius R 'of the rear suction edge when moving in the reverse direction). For radii R and R 'of 1.5 mm will be a good Dust pickup achieved in conjunction with an already significantly reduced resistance to movement.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawings may be of importance both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various forms.

reference numeral

1

suction nozzle

2

nozzles sole

3

saugmund

4

Elbows

5

muzzle

6

connecting part

7, 7 '

bearing surface

8, 8 '

sliding surface

9

front wall

10

rear wall

11, 11 '

suction edge

12

roll

13

sliding wheels

a, a '

Width of the support surface

B

Width of the suction mouth

F _s

pushing force

K

dust removal

M

axis of rotation

Claims (8)

1. Suction nozzle (1) for a vacuum cleaner, having a nozzle base (2) provided for contact with the floor and a suction mouth (3) opening therethrough, which is connected in terms of flow to an opening (5) which can be attached to a vacuum power source, wherein the nozzle base (2) has contact surfaces (7, 7') in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the suction mouth (3), said contact surfaces merging on the side facing away from the suction mouth (3) into gliding surfaces (8, 8') running obliquely with respect to the floor, wherein
   the angle (α) between the horizontal and the front gliding surface (8) and/or the angle (a') between the horizontal and the rear gliding surface (8') amounts to between 8.5° and 15° and the width of the contact surfaces (7, 7') in the longitudinal direction amounts to between 0.9 mm and 1.3 mm, characterized in that the suction nozzle (3) is moveably arranged on a connecting part (6) and the connecting part (6) can be supported on the floor by means of rollers (12), wherein at least one sliding wheel (13) is rotatably supported on the suction nozzle (3) about a second axis of rotation and the underside of the sliding wheel (13) is upwardly spaced between 0.5 mm and 2.5mm compared with a straight line resting from below on the front suction edge, the rear suction edge and the roller (12).
2. Suction nozzle according to claim 1, characterised in that the width of the contact surfaces (7, 7') in the longitudinal direction amounts to approximately 1.1 mm.
3. Suction nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radius (R, R') of the suction edge (11, 11') between the contact surface (7, 7') and the front wall (9) extending away from the nozzle base (2) and /or rear wall (10) of the suction mouth (3) amounts to between 0.5mm and 2.5mm, preferably between 1mm and 2mm, particularly advantageously approximately 1.5mm.
4. Suction nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow cross-section in the suction mouth (3) increases from the outside inwards along the flow path.
5. Suction nozzle according to claim 4, characterized in that the increase in the flow cross-section is effected by a width (B) and depth (T) of the suction mouth (3) which enlarges from the outside inwards along the flow path.
6. Suction nozzle according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the increase in the depth (T) of the suction mouth (3) takes place linearly from the outside (depth T_min ) inwards (depth T_max ).
7. Suction nozzle according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the front wall (9) of the suction mouth (3) is a straight line and the rear wall (10) of the suction mouth (3) is embodied to be arched, in particular circularly arched, bending away from the front wall (10) from the outside inwards.
8. Vacuum cleaner with a suction nozzle (3) according to one of the preceding claims.

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