EP2505114B1 - Dust collecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

• ein Staubgehäuse mit einem Luftauslass für eine in einer Strömungsrichtung strömende Luft; und
• einen innerhalb des Staubgehäuses angeordneten Staubbehälter mit einem Lufteinlass für die in der Strömungsrichtung strömende Luft,

wobei das Staubgehäuse eine Mehrzahl von Strömungsöffnungen aufweist, die zu unterschiedlichen Strömungswegen mit jeweils unterschiedlichen Strömungswiderständen korrespondieren und durch welche Luft in das Staubgehäuse und zu dem Luftauslass strömen kann,
und wobei ein Querschnitt einer Strömungsöffnung für einen Strömungsweg mit einem höheren Strömungswiderstand größer ist als für einen Strömungsweg mit einem geringeren Strömungswiderstand.The present invention relates to a dust collection device for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

• a dust housing having an air outlet for air flowing in a flow direction; and
• a dust container arranged inside the dust housing with an air inlet for the air flowing in the direction of flow,

wherein the dust housing has a plurality of flow openings that correspond to different flow paths, each with different flow resistances and through which air can flow into the dust housing and to the air outlet,
and wherein a cross section of a flow opening is larger for a flow path having a higher flow resistance than for a flow path having a lower flow resistance.

STATE OF THE ART

Vacuum cleaners and hand vacuum cleaners exist in great variety and variety of shapes on the market. Vacuum cleaners typically have a vacuum cleaner nozzle with a nozzle mouth for sucking in dirt particles or air, as well as a dust housing, within which different dust retention components, such as filter bags, are arranged.

Merely by way of example in this respect to the EP 2 465 399 A2 or the DE 76 01 179 U1 which discloses a vacuum cleaner with dust bag or an arrangement on a vacuum cleaner for indicating that a dust bag is used to reveal.

In order to keep a suction during the period of use of a filter bag constant as long as possible, a regulation of the suction power can be provided, the one Power loss compensated by clogging or clogging of the filter by an automated increase in engine power. However, this procedure is extremely complicated and expensive. Also, the vacuum cleaner driving electric motor is often sized larger than required to have a reserve for the scheme. This can lead to undesirable higher energy costs. In the case of hand vacuum cleaners, which are frequently battery-operated, such an increase in engine power can lead to a reduced suction time of the device, which can adversely affect the overall applicability of a hand vacuum cleaner.

The DE 18 97 083 U discloses an arrangement for attaching a dust bag basket extending inwardly from a reinforcing ring on the suction end of a horizontal vacuum cleaner housing to receive a dust bag tightly clamped with a reinforced rim between the reinforcing ring and the suction end cap of the vacuum cleaner, characterized in that the vacuum cleaner housing is on the suction side End is extended to form an inner shoulder collar-shaped; that the dust bag basket is provided with a radial flange abutting against the inner shoulder; and that in a manner known per se on the outer end face a reinforcing ring engaging against the reinforced edge of the dust bag sealingly receives the collar-shaped widening of the housing with a ring groove open against the same and having a radially inwardly directed annular part through which the radial flange the dust bag basket is held in abutment against the inner shoulder of the housing.

The international patent application WO 99/05954 Proposes to prevent complete clogging of the filter with a coarse dirt by a perforated and shaped spacer is placed between a filter bag and an air outlet to the fan in a dust chamber of a vacuum cleaner that the coarse debris can enforce only part of the filter during normal operation , However, by partially adding the filter, the suction power is reduced and in the WO 99/05954 Proposed methods provide no improvement for fine dirt, which is a common cause of clogging of the fine pores of a filter. In addition, the operation of the vacuum cleaner described depends on the orientation of the device.

Thus, there is a need to look for simpler and more universal ways to achieve a good constancy of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved by a dust collecting device with the features of claim 1 and by a vacuum cleaner with the features of claim 9.

The dust collecting device according to the invention builds on generic dust collection devices in that the dust container and the dust housing are formed in the form of concentric truncated cones, wherein a plurality of flow openings of different cross section on the lateral surface of the dust container in a direction facing from a top surface to a base surface of the truncated cone adjacent to each other are.

• Zum Absaugen der gereinigten Luft weist der Staubbehälter einiger Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung eine Mehrzahl von Strömungsöffnungen bzw. Strömungsdurchbrüchen zu einem den Staubbehälter dicht umschließenden Staubgehäuse auf, sodass ein in dem Staubgehäuse wirkender Unterdruck dazu dienen kann, durch die Strömungsöffnungen Luft anzusaugen, die über einen Lufteinlass in den Staubbehälter strömt. Die Mehrzahl von Strömungsöffnungen ermöglichen jeweils die Verwendung eines anderen Strömungswegs für die Luft, wobei unterschiedliche Strömungswege unterschiedlich lang sein beziehungsweise einen unterschiedlichen Strömungswiderstand aufweisen können. Das heißt, die Luftmoleküle legen entlang unterschiedlicher Strömungswege unterschiedliche Strecken zurück bzw. es wäre eine unterschiedliche Leistung bzw. Energie erforderlich, um die Luftmoleküle entlang der unterschiedlichen Strömungswege zu transportieren, wenn die Strömungsöffnungen identisch wären. Der Querschnitt der Strömungsöffnungen variiert jedoch derart, dass dieser für einen oder alle Strömungswege mit einem höheren Strömungswiderstand größer ist als für einen oder alle Strömungswege mit einem niedrigeren Strömungswiderstand. Bei einigen Ausführungsbeispielen variiert der Querschnitt der Strömungsöffnungen derart, dass dieser für längere Strömungswege größer ist als für kürzere Strömungswege.

Embodiments of the invention are concerned with vacuum cleaners and in particular with new concepts for dust catching devices used in vacuum cleaners:

• For sucking off the cleaned air, the dust container of some embodiments of the invention has a plurality of flow openings or flow openings to a dust enclosure tightly enclosing dust housing, so that acting in the dust housing negative pressure can serve to suck through the flow openings air, via an air inlet in the dust container flows. The plurality of flow openings each allow the use of a different flow path for the air, wherein different flow paths can be different in length or have a different flow resistance. That is, the air molecules travel different distances along different flow paths, or different power would be required to transport the air molecules along the different flow paths if the flow openings were identical. However, the cross-section of the flow openings varies such that it is larger for one or all of the flow paths with a higher flow resistance than for one or all flow paths with a lower flow resistance. In some embodiments, the cross section varies the flow openings such that it is larger for longer flow paths than for shorter flow paths.

This can cause a suction power or a suction force of a vacuum cleaner equipped with such a dust catching device to remain constant during operation, even if, for example, a filter element in the dust container gradually becomes so clogged that initially the flow paths with a lower flow resistance or the shorter one Flow paths are interrupted by the added filter. In other words, the use of longer flow paths caused by the clogging of a filter or the flow openings, which could possibly lead to an increased flow resistance, is compensated by flow openings of larger cross section, so that a high suction constancy can be achieved over the period of use.

In some embodiments of the present invention, further flow optimization of other components of a dust collecting device, such as the nozzle and the adjoining dust housing is made. Thus, some embodiments of the invention have a nozzle with a nozzle mouth and a nozzle outlet, which is immediately followed by a dust housing, which has an adjacent to the nozzle outlet, tapering from the nozzle outlet to a dust chamber opening inlet funnel. The nozzle outlet is thus directly coupled to a tapered inlet funnel in the dust space or the dust housing, so that a maximum cross section at the interface or a connection point between the nozzle and the dust housing can be used, which in turn can significantly reduce the flow resistance. At the same time in some embodiments by means of the tapered inlet funnel can still be achieved in a streamlined manner, a direct or indirect flow of a filter element. In some embodiments, the inlet hopper has the shape of a truncated cone to achieve a uniform, streamlined reduction in cross-section.

In some embodiments, located within the dust housing, a dust container or a dust container forming arrangement, wherein the inlet funnel is disposed within the dust container and surrounded by this, so that between an outer wall of the inlet funnel and an inner wall of the dust container, a dust-receiving volume is formed. Due to the combination of the tapered inlet funnel and the surrounding dust container, a dust trap is formed into which the coarse dirt entering the housing can enter and from which the coarse dirt can no longer escape during normal operation.

In some embodiments, the inlet funnel and the dust container are shaped in the form of concentric truncated cones, so that a streamlined and efficient operation of the dust trap or the dust container can be ensured, as this surrounds the inlet funnel completely and with a uniform opening cross-section.

In some embodiments, the dust collection device further includes a baffle that extends in the dust container toward the dust space opening and can redirect the airflow into the dust bin in a streamlined and energy efficient manner. In some embodiments, the baffle has the shape of a cone or a rounded surface or surface to provide the deflection in a streamlined and energy efficient manner.

In some embodiments, the side of the dust container facing the inlet funnel may additionally be provided with a filter element in order to retain fine dust particles in the dust-receiving volume or in the dust space. In some other embodiments, the dust container for this purpose on a plurality of projections which extend into the dust-receiving volume and which are suitable for receiving a filter element, so that due to the elevations a uniform flow of the filter element from the back, ie from the side , of which a negative pressure to achieve the suction force, can be achieved. Such a filter can be used without a large variation in the suction power by adding the filter, which causes an increased flow resistance through the filter.

In further embodiments, the nozzle from the nozzle mouth to the nozzle outlet is designed or has such an inner cross-section that the flow direction of the sucked by the nozzle air at the nozzle exit substantially tangent to an inner wall of the inlet funnel. This may, in some embodiments, cause the flow to flow with less turbulence along the inlet funnel and up to an outlet opening of the dust housing. The use of laminar flow significantly lowers flow resistance, which can contribute to further reducing the required engine power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1

eine schematische Schnittansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Staubfangvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer Staubfangvorrichtung in einer perspektivischen Schnittansicht; und

Fig. 3

eine zweidimensionale Schnittansicht des Ausführungsbeispiels von Fig. 2;

Some embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below, with reference to the attached figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a dust collecting device;

Fig. 2

a further embodiment of a dust collecting device in a perspective sectional view; and

Fig. 3

a two-dimensional sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 2 ;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner. For better understanding is in FIG. 1 In addition, a nozzle 4 and a vacuum cleaner 4 shown, which sucks polluted air via its nozzle mouth 8 and this passes through the nozzle outlet 10 by means of a vacuum cleaner hose 11 to an air inlet 14 of a dust container 16. The dust container 16 is disposed within a dust housing 6. The dust housing 6 in turn has an air outlet 20, which can be connected, for example with a fan assembly 21 and with a blower to generate a negative pressure within the dust housing 6, via flow openings 18 a to 18 e, extending through the outer wall of the dust container 16 to extend to the dust housing 6, on the air inlet 14 acts, so that contaminated air can be sucked into the dust container 16.

The plurality of flow openings 18a to 18e allow different flow paths 19a to 19d, along which air can flow from the air inlet 14 to the air outlet 20. Depending on the geometric conditions, the different flow paths 19a to 19d have different flow resistances. At the in FIG. 1 As shown, contaminated air will primarily flow along the flow path 19a into the interior of the dust container 16 due to the geometry, so that possibly the flow openings 18a and 18b or a filter 24 arranged in front of these flow openings or a filter element which the flow openings 18a and 18b concealed along the flow paths containing these flow openings, is added first. Since air can then no longer flow through the added filter parts and thus also not through the flow openings corresponding to these filter parts, the air will flow through alternative flow openings along one or more of the other flow paths shown. However, the alternative flow paths 19c and 19d cause an additional deflection of the air flow and are also longer than the flow paths 19a and 19b. The larger cross-sections of the flow openings 18c and 18d, however, compensate for the higher flow resistance of the flow paths 19c and 19d associated with these flow openings 18c and 18d, so that even with a successive clogging of the filter or flow openings, the total flow resistance approximately follows the path traveled by the air can remain constant, so that only due to the geometric arrangement or the geometric shape of the dust container 16, a constant suction force over a long period of operation can be ensured.

Although for reasons of representability the geometry of in FIG. 1 shown dust container is simple and cuboid, it goes without saying that any other, for example, cylindrical or spherical geometries can be used. In this case, the cross-section of the flow openings, taking into account the principles of fluid mechanics, adapted to the particular shape and positioning of the air inlet 14 and the air outlet 20 such that for a majority of the flow openings that flow openings corresponding to flow paths with higher flow resistance have a larger cross-section. This is readily apparent to a person skilled in the art of any geometry possible.

The FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of a dust collecting device of more complex geometry, which is optimized in terms of other fluidic aspects. The illustrated dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner or for a hand vacuum cleaner is mounted on a fan assembly 21. For the sake of clarity, a more detailed description of the fan assembly 21 will be omitted below, the exact embodiment of which is not essential with respect to the dust collector itself.

The dust collecting device comprises a nozzle 4 and a dust housing 6. The dust housing 6 may be formed in one piece or in several parts and consist of several functional units or components, which will be explained in more detail below. The nozzle 4 has a nozzle mouth 8, which in the present case has a rectangular cross-section, and a nozzle outlet 10, on which the nozzle 4 directly adjoins the dust housing 6 or an inlet funnel 12 located in the dust housing 6. At the in FIG. 2 In the embodiment shown, the nozzle outlet 10 has a circular cross-section in order to allow a flow-efficient transition to the inlet funnel 12. Although the cross section of the nozzle mouth 8 in FIG. 2 is rectangular, of course, any other cross sections are possible, for example, trapezoidal, round or elliptical.

The inlet funnel 12 is frusto-conical and tapers in the shape of a cone from the nozzle exit 10 to a dust chamber opening or to the air inlet 14. At the air inlet 14 of the inlet funnel 12 ends, so that the air guided by the inlet funnel 12 at the air inlet 14 in can reach a dust-receiving volume. The dust-receiving volume is formed between an outside of the inlet hopper 12 and an inside wall of a dust container 16. The dust container 16 in turn is part of the dust housing 6 and in the present case designed in one piece with the dust housing 6. In alternative embodiments, the individual in FIG. 2 Of course, components that are illustrated can also be designed in several parts. The dust housing 6 is also frusto-conical and arranged concentrically with the inlet funnel 12 and has a plurality of flow openings 18a to 18e through which aspirated air can flow from the dust container 16 into the dust housing 6 or into the volume between dust housing 6 and dust container 16. from where they have an air outlet 20 can reach the fan assembly 21.

In the in FIG. 2 In the embodiment shown, the air emerging from the dust chamber opening or from the air inlet 14 is deflected by means of a cone-shaped deflecting body 22 in order to reach the dust-receiving volume between the inlet funnel 12 and the dust container 16. This shape of the deflector 22 promotes a streamlined deflection of the air. In order to be able to remove particulate matter from the air in addition to the coarse dirt, this is shown in FIG. 2 illustrated embodiment further includes an optional filter 24 which is disposed on an inner wall of the dust container 16. In particular, the dust container 16 for this purpose has a plurality of extending into the dust-receiving volume elevations or webs 26, which allow a uniform flow against the filter or a uniform flow behind the filter 24. Although in this case the baffle 22 is shown as part of the filter 24, this may be formed in alternative embodiments, part of the dust container 16 or as a separate element.

In further embodiments, the in FIG. 2 Of course, shown webs 26 and surveys have other geometries, to allow a uniform backflow.

As in FIG. 2 1, a cross-section of the flow openings 18a to 18d increases with the length of the flow path belonging to the individual flow openings (the path leading from the air inlet 14 to the air outlet 20 via the relevant flow opening) in order to be able to ensure a suction force that is as constant as possible over the operating period. Of course, in alternative embodiments, the deflecting body 22 itself and the surrounding top surface of the frusto-conical dust container 16 can also have further flow openings of suitable cross section.

At another, in FIG. 2 not shown embodiment of the nozzle 4, the inner cross section of the nozzle is designed such that the air is rotated so that it tangential or approximately tangential to the surface of the inlet funnel 12 into the inlet funnel 12 and substantially in the form of a spiral up to the air inlet 14 flows, which can ensure a uniform flow of a filter. This in turn can lead to a high constancy of the suction power, if the filter evenly added. In further embodiments, a filter may be arranged directly on the inner walls of the inlet funnel 12 for this purpose.

In other words, they show FIGS. 2 and 3 a dust collecting device in which a long funnel-shaped channel leads from a nozzle far into the dust chamber. The filter bag with large inlet opening is formed around the inlet funnel. The dust cone is designed double-walled and equipped with enlarging to the flow end hole openings as a motor protection filter to ensure the longest possible suction constancy even at high dust load. Between filter and dust cone, ribs are attached, which ensure a uniform back flow of the filter.

A baffle directly behind the inlet opening into the dust chamber directs the flow of air to the outside, thus avoiding the falling back of the dirt in the nozzle area. In further embodiments, additionally or alternatively, a closure cap, for example in the form of a ball with a through hole, prevent falling out of dirt. This may, according to some embodiments automatically close and open when the device is turned on or when a negative pressure is applied to the input of the dust container. Behind the perforated screen or behind the dust container with the flow openings, the flow is deflected and passed in a slowly tapered funnel to the air outlet 20 and the fan opening.

In other embodiments with different nozzle geometry, a suction channel within the nozzle gradually tapers and twists to a tangential entrance into the dust space. The flow can thus run in a uniform spiral along the filter bag wall and turn at the end funnel-shaped into a fan opening.

It goes without saying that the filters for dust collecting devices can be produced from a wide variety of conventional filter materials, nonwovens or the like. Of course, filters for a dust collecting device can be used in any other geometries, for example, spherical, cylindrical or in the form of a truncated cone. In particular, a filter for a dust collecting device in the FIG. 2 a type shown extending from the air inlet 14 opposite side of the dust container in the direction of the air inlet 14 and tapered Have deflecting body. Such filters may allow for different conditions different shapes of the baffles and possibly already have a filter function itself.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

4

Nozzle or vacuum cleaner nozzle

6

dust housing

8th

nozzle orifice

10

nozzle exit

11

vacuum cleaner hose

12

inlet funnel

14

air intake

16

dust container

18a-18f

flow openings

19a-19d

flow paths

20

air outlet

21

Blower arrangement or blower

22

deflecting

24

Filter or filter element

26

Elevations or bridges

Claims (9)

1. Dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

   - a dust housing (6) with an air outlet (20) for air flowing in a flow direction; and

   - a dust receptacle (16) arranged within the dust housing (6), having an air inlet (14) for the air flowing in the flow direction,

   wherein the dust housing (16) has a plurality of flow openings (18a-18e), which
   correspond to different flow paths (19a-19d) with different flow resistances in each case and through which air can flow into the dust housing (6) and to the air outlet (20),
   and wherein a cross-section of a flow opening (18a-18e) is greater for a flow path (19a-19d) with a higher flow resistance than for a flow path (19a-19d) with a lower flow resistance,
   characterised in that the dust receptacle (16) and the dust housing (6) are embodied in the form of concentric truncated cones, wherein a plurality of flow openings (18a-18e) with a different cross-section are arranged adjacent to one another on the lateral surface of the dust receptacle (6) in a direction which points from a top surface to a base surface of the truncated cone.
2. Dust collecting apparatus according to claim 1, in which the cross-section of a flow opening (18a-18e) for a flow path (19a-19d) with a longer length is larger than for a flow path (19a-19d) with a shorter length.
3. Dust collecting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the air outlet (20) is arranged on a top surface of the truncated cone which corresponds to the dust housing (16).
4. Dust collecting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, also comprising:

   - an inlet funnel (12) which tapers from a nozzle output (10) for the inflowing air to the air inlet (14) within the dust housing (16).
5. Dust collecting apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the inlet funnel (12) has the form of a truncated cone.
6. Dust collecting apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that a deflecting body (22) which extends and tapers from a side of the dust receptacle (16) facing the air inlet (14) in the direction of the air inlet (14) is arranged in the dust receptacle (16).
7. Dust collecting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, also comprising:

   - a filter element (24) or a number of filter elements, which cover the plurality of flow openings (18a-18e) along the different flow paths.
8. Dust collecting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, also comprising:

   - a closed dust bag arranged within the dust receptacle (16) and coupled to the air inlet (14) of the dust receptacle (16).
9. Vacuum cleaner having a dust collecting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims and having a fan (21) coupled to the air outlet (20).

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