EP2532291B1 - Suction nozzle with undercarriage assembly - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner with a support member which is connected on the one hand with a suction nozzle and on the other hand with a connecting piece for a torque tube of the vacuum cleaner, and with a chassis assembly which has at least two mutually objected in the direction of displacement, provided with wheels rotation axes and pivotable is mounted on the support part. It also relates to a vacuum cleaner with such a suction nozzle.

Background of the invention

Vacuum cleaners serve to absorb dirt from floor surfaces, furniture or the like by a suction air flow. For this purpose, the suction mouth of a suction nozzle is placed on the surface to be cleaned, so that dust or other contaminants are sucked in by the suction air flow. The suction air flow is generated by a suction fan, which is in flow communication with a Staubabscheideeinrichtung, such as a centrifugal separator or dust filter bag. The dirt particles received by the suction nozzle are collected in the dust separator while the purified air is released to the environment. The suction mouth of a suitable for floor cleaning suction nozzle usually has a rectangular shape and extends transversely to the sliding direction.

The suction fan and the Staubabscheideeinrichtung can for example be attached to a torque tube, which is directly mechanically connected to the suction nozzle and usually also forms part of the flow channel between the suction nozzle and suction fan (Stielstaubsauger). According to another conventional design suction fan and Staubabscheideeinrichtung are arranged in the housing of a separate subframe, which moves by means of a chassis over the bottom surface can be and is fluidly connected with the inserted into the suction nozzle through a flexible hose line (Kansiterstaubsauger).

For example, a generic vacuum cleaner with a chassis assembly from the published patent application EP 1 949 838 A1 or the patent US 2,130,513 known.

The vacuum cleaner known from the latter document comprises a carrier part in the form of a blower housing, which receives a blower for generating the suction air flow and is supported by a chassis on the floor surface to be cleaned. The blower housing is connected to the suction side with a suction nozzle acting on the floor and with a dust filter bag on the pressure side. The suction nozzle is formed on a suction nozzle housing, which in turn is pivotally connected to the fan housing and, seen in the feed direction, protrudes forwardly from this. The dust filter bag is suspended on a push tube, which projects in use of the vacuum cleaner obliquely downwards in the direction of the fan housing and is rigidly connected thereto. The free end of the push tube forms a handle on which the user summarizes this designed as a stick vacuum cleaner household appliance and performs the cleaning process on the floor to be cleaned surface.

The chassis consists of both sides of the carrier arranged bearing plates which are rotatably connected to the suction nozzle housing. The bearing plates receive two pairs of wheels, one of which is arranged in front of the pivot axis of the fan and suction nozzle housing, while the second pair of wheels is behind this pivot axis. The narrow, disc-like wheels of each pair of wheels are arranged on a common, horizontally and transversely to the direction of the axis extending, which penetrates the bearing plate and rotatably receives the respective wheel with its outwardly projecting axle ends. The track width of the front pair of wheels is formed significantly smaller than the track of the rear pair of wheels. This design can have various disadvantages. Thus, the narrow wheels may tend to sink into resilient floor coverings, thereby increasing the sliding resistance. In addition, due to the different gauge, each wheel has to make its own way, which leads to a further deterioration of the displacement resistance. In addition, such a supported suction nozzle can be very difficult to maneuver.

Another suspension arrangement for a vacuum cleaner is in the patent application US 2004/0093685 A1 disclosed. The vacuum cleaner is intended for outdoor use and has a generously sized base part, which carries a suction fan and a rotor driving the suction fan internal combustion engine. The suction fan acts on the suction side with a suction nozzle arranged in front, while the exhaust air escapes to the rear from the fan housing. The base part is provided with two mutually spaced in the sliding direction, horizontal and mutually parallel axes, which each receive a rotatably arranged with the same track pair of wheels. Such a suction device is already less suitable because of its dimensions for use in the home in general and can be particularly difficult when furniture is to be driven under.

From the European patent application EP 0 353 546 A1 a vacuum cleaner is known in which a connecting piece for the suction side of the suction fan is pivotally connected about a first axis with the suction nozzle housing. Below this pivot axis, the axis of rotation of a pair of wheels with relatively large and convex wheels running, on which the suction nozzle is supported. The suction nozzle located in front is further provided with a total of four spherical, small-sized support rollers, one of which is located in each corner of the rectangular suction nozzle in each case. Such landing gear arrangements are usually used in vacuum cleaners, in which the suction fan is arranged in a separate, mobile housing, which is connected to the suction side via a suction hose and a telescopic suction pipe with the connection piece. The vertical load of the suction nozzle-side landing gear is relatively low in this case, since it does not have to bear the weight of suction fan and Staubabscheideeinrichtung. When used on a stick stems such an arrangement can lead to increased displacement forces, especially in the cleaning of resilient floor coverings because of the relatively small contact surface, which reduce the comfort in the use of the vacuum cleaner. A similar suspension arrangement is in the European patent application EP 0 792 613 A2 described.

In the patent application GB 2 391 459 A Further, a stick vacuum cleaner is disclosed in which the Staubabscheideeinrichtung supported on a single wide, spherical support roller, which forms a part of the flow channel and receives the suction fan.

Finally, be on the GB 2 444 898 A as well as the EP 2 092 869 A2 pointed.

The problem underlying the invention

The invention has for its object to improve a generic suction nozzle and a generic vacuum cleaner to the effect that the displacement force is low even when cleaning compliant flooring and the dust and the handling of the vacuum cleaner, even in complex cleaning tasks meet high standards.

Inventive solution

The reference numbers in all claims have no limiting effect but are only intended to improve their readability.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a suction nozzle, preferably a floor nozzle, with the features of claim 1 and by a vacuum cleaner comprising such a suction nozzle with the features of claim 14.

Accordingly, the wheels located on one side of the support member are rotatably mounted on a common wheel bearing beam, which in turn is pivotally received by the support member. This design is structurally particularly simple form and has only a small space requirement. In addition, the forces transmitted from the torque tube are introduced in a particularly favorable manner in the chassis, so that the displacement forces are relatively uniform regardless of the position of the torque tube.

In general, the suspension arrangement will have a total of four wheels. The axes of rotation advantageously extend substantially horizontally, ie, with the intended use of the vacuum cleaner parallel to the floor to be cleaned. The double axle causes a plane-parallel guidance during forward and reverse travel of the suction nozzle. In principle, however, an arrangement of three or more axles is possible. By three or more wheels, a smaller wheel diameter and thus advantageously a lower body height with comparable surface support of the wheels is possible. Particularly advantageous is the application of the invention in a Stielstaubsauger, in which also the load of suction fan and Staubabscheideeinrichtung is derived in the region of the suction nozzle housing on the chassis assembly on the bottom surface.

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.

Advantageously, the wheel bearing beams are mounted independently pivotable on the support part, so that the pivoting of a wheel bearing beam does not necessarily affect the position of the other wheel bearing beam. Through this training, the chassis is able to overcome bumps, such as a sloping carpet edge, particularly comfortable. In addition, different angular positions of the device are compensated relative to the suction nozzle.

Preferably, each wheel bearing beam has outwardly projecting axle body, on each of which a wheel is axially fixed and rotatably mounted. This training is structurally simple and allows a little expensive storage of the wheel on the wheel bearing beam. In addition, the wheels can be replaced if necessary after loosening the axial lock with little effort. The peg-shaped axle body advantageously extend far into the assigned wheels, it being possible to form axially staggered rings on the axle members in order to produce a linear slide bearing. Alternatively it can be provided to store the wheels on roller bearings on the axle bodies.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the wheel bearing beams each have an inwardly projecting axle body, which is axially fixed and rotatably inserted into the carrier part. The Anformung the axle beam on the wheel bearing bar is to bring about in a simple manner by injection molding, wherein the axle body integral with the wheel bearing bar are connected. As a result, this embodiment of the invention is advantageously particularly simple and inexpensive to produce.

Advantageously, the connecting piece is connected to the carrier part in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the connecting piece intersects at least approximately the pivot axis of the wheel bearing bar. As a result, a particularly uniform load distribution is effected on the wheels, so that no wheel tends to sink into resilient flooring due to unfavorable load. By this measure, a sinking in resilient floor covering can be additionally favorably counteracted and consequently the required displacement force can be further reduced.

Preferably, in a suction nozzle with two mutually spaced in the direction of displacement, provided with wheels rotary axes, the suction nozzle housing relative to the landing gear assembly arranged displaceable. It is an achievable advantage that the position of the suction nozzle largely independently of the position of the torque tube can be set particularly low, especially when driving under pieces of furniture, in which the torque tube is usually pivoted particularly far to the rear. The favorable Saugdüsenauflage causes an improved dust absorption.

Advantageously, the displacement of the suction nozzle housing relative to the chassis assembly is a pivoting about a pivot axis.

The pivot axis is advantageously substantially horizontal, i. with intended use of the vacuum cleaner parallel to the floor to be cleaned.

This training is particularly simple and mechanically robust and reliable to effect by a connection of the suction nozzle housing by means of the carrier part pivotally arranged articulated lever.

It is further preferred that the wheels are formed spherical. For the purposes of the present invention, "crowned" means that the tread of the wheel is convexly curved in cross-section, so that the wheel only touches the ground on the least compliant floor coverings along the line of the largest circumference. This can facilitate a non-linear displacement and thus improve the maneuverability of the vacuum cleaner. When moving up However, resilient floor surfaces, for example, on carpet floor, the support surface of each wheel increases significantly depending on the load, so that the penetration of the wheels in the ground and thereby caused increase in the displacement force can be limited to the use of the vacuum cleaner not impairing measure. The wheels can thereby have a relatively small diameter without unduly reducing the contact surface. This measure makes it easier to drive under furniture, for example chairs or beds. In addition, the convex contour in resilient floor coverings can improve the lateral mobility of the suction nozzle.

It is also advantageous if the respective wheels mounted on a wheel bearing beam are aligned in the same direction, so that when cleaning a resilient substrate, the following wheels can run in the track possibly solidified by the wheels running in front of it. The displacement resistance is further reduced by this training. The track width is preferably dimensioned so that the wheels do not protrude laterally or only insignificantly beyond the suction nozzle housing or the sliding sole.

It is further preferred that the outer axial surfaces of the wheels are provided with elastic protective caps, so that lateral contact of the rollers does not damage sensitive surfaces on furniture. With particular advantage, the center of the thin-walled protective caps is designed to bulge outwards so that it can deflect inwards upon contact with pieces of furniture.

The preferred wheel diameter, in particular in the case of a suction nozzle with two wheel axles, is greater than 20 mm, preferably greater than 40 mm, particularly preferably greater than 50 mm. The preferred wheel diameter, in particular with a suction nozzle with two wheel axles, is less than 90 mm, preferably less than 80 mm, particularly preferably less than 70 mm, for example approximately 60 mm. This advantageously achieves that the wheels sink as little as possible into a yielding, on the other hand, the wheels are not so large that they impede driving under furniture. With more than two wheel axles, eg 3 wheel axles, smaller wheel diameters are also advantageous, as this makes it possible to achieve a lower construction height. The running surfaces of adjacent, spaced in the direction of displacement wheels are preferably less than 40 mm apart, especially preferably less than 20 mm, more preferably less than 10 mm. They are preferably more than 1 mm apart, preferably more than 3 mm, for example 5 mm. This allows on the one hand a compact design, on the other hand it prevents that larger dirt particles wedged between the wheels and thereby block the wheels.

The vacuum cleaner according to the invention with a suction nozzle as described above also allows for the cleaning of resilient flooring an advantageously low displacement force. At the same time, both the dust collection and the handling of the vacuum cleaner can meet even the most demanding of complex cleaning tasks.

The vacuum cleaner is with advantage a pedestal vacuum cleaner.

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:

eine seitliche Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Staubsaugers;

Fig. 2:

Fahrwerk und Saugdüse des Staubsaugers nach Fig. 1 in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 3:

Fahrwerk und Saugdüse nach Fig. 2 in einer Ansicht von unten;

Fig. 4:

einen Schnitt durch ein Rad des erfindungsgemäßen Staubsaugers;

Fig. 5:

einen Längsschnitt entlang des Radlagerbalkens; und

Fig. 6:

einen Querschnitt durch das Fahrwerk im Bereich der vorderen Räder.

Show it:

Fig. 1:

a side view of an inventively designed vacuum cleaner;

Fig. 2:

Chassis and suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner after Fig. 1 in perspective view;

3:

Chassis and suction nozzle after Fig. 2 in a view from below;

4:

a section through a wheel of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention;

Fig. 5:

a longitudinal section along the wheel bearing beam; and

Fig. 6:

a cross section through the chassis in the front wheels.

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, that is in the horizontal direction opposite to the longitudinal extension of a suction nozzle connected to the suction nozzle, is moved.

The in Fig. 1 illustrated and designed as Stielstaubsaugers vacuum cleaner 1 consists of a support member 2, a suction nozzle associated with this housing 3 with a dust-receiving suction nozzle 4 and a torque tube 5. The torque tube 5 carries on the one hand as lastaufnehmendes component, the suction fan 6 and the pressure-side with this flow-connected Staubabscheidebeutel. 7 and is end equipped with a handle 8. It is rotatably connected to the carrier part 2 about its longitudinal axis 9. On the other hand, the lower region of the push tube 5 also forms the suction-side flow channel between the carrier part 2 and the suction fan 6.

How out Fig. 2 can be seen, the support member 2 is annular and formed with a horizontal, extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Downstream, it forms an articulated connection piece 10 for insertion of the push tube 5. Upstream, the flow channel is formed as a flexible bellows 11, which opens into the suction nozzle housing 3. The suction nozzle housing 3 is pivotally connected to the carrier part 3 via articulated levers 12. The front pivot axes 13 and the rear pivot axes 13 'of the articulated levers 12 extend horizontally and parallel to each other, but spaced in the direction of displacement, as from Fig. 3 seen.

The vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a chassis assembly 14 with two front wheels 15 and two rear wheels 15 '. All wheels 15, 15 'are rotatable about horizontal, transverse to the direction of rotation parallel to each other extending axes of rotation 16, 16', wherein in each case one of the wheels 15 and the wheels 15 'on the left side and the other is arranged on the right side of the support member.

The respective wheels 15, 15 'assigned to one side are arranged on a wheel bearing bar 17 and run in a common lane. Each wheel bearing bar 17 has outwardly projecting axle body 18, on which the wheels 15, 15 'axially fixed and rotatably mounted. The wheels 15, 15 'can be mounted on the axle bodies 18 by sliding or roller bearings.

The wheel bearing beams 17 are each further provided with an inwardly projecting axle body 19, by means of which they are mounted independently of each other about a common pivot axis 20 axially fixed and rotatably mounted on the support member 3. The pivot axis 20 extends between the axes of rotation 16, 16 'of the wheels 15, 15' and is offset in the exemplary embodiment in the direction of the front axis of rotation 16 that it approximately intersects the longitudinal axis 9 of the torque tube 5. The rear pivot axis 13 'of the toggle lever 12 is offset near the pivot axis 20 in the direction of the front axis of rotation 16 of the wheels 15, while the front pivot axis 13 of the articulated lever 12 extends far in front.

How out Fig. 4 it can be seen, the wheels 15, 15 'are executed crowned. The axially inner and the axially outer diameter of each wheel is thus smaller than the axially central diameter. Axial outside elastically deformable, thin-walled protective caps 21 are placed on the wheels 15, 15 ', which should prevent damage to the same when bumping against furniture. Overall, a wheel diameter is not preferred below 20-25 mm. The preferred upper limit of the wheel diameter is determined by the height of the suction nozzle housing 3 and support part 2, over which the wheels 15, 15 'should not protrude in order not to obstruct the driving under furniture. A diameter of 60 mm has already proven to be favorable in practice. The radial distance between the running surfaces of the wheels 15, 15 'can be chosen to be relatively narrow, with a minimum distance to prevent the entrapment of dirt particles is provided. In the exemplary embodiment, the wheels 15, 15 'with the associated protective caps 21 form a virtually spherical shape.

Carrier part 2, suction nozzle housing 3, wheels 15, 15 'and the wheel bearing beams 17 are advantageously injection-molded from a comparatively rigid plastic and can thus assume a relatively complex shape. The wheels 15, 15 'can be provided in the region of the tread with a soft coating. For the likewise injection-molded Protective caps 21 is preferably selected an elastic plastic material, wherein the protective caps 21 and / or the soft coating can also be integrally formed on the wheels 15, 15 '.

The vacuum cleaner according to the invention also allows for the cleaning of resilient flooring an advantageously low displacement force. At the same time, both the dust collection and the handling of the vacuum cleaner can meet even the most demanding of complex cleaning tasks. In particular, the favorable Saugdüsenauflage causes improved dust absorption. Characterized in that the wheel bearing beams 17 are mounted independently pivotable on the support member 2, the chassis is able to overcome bumps, such as a sloping carpet edge, particularly comfortable.

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

vacuum cleaner

2

support part

3

suction nozzle

4

suction nozzle

5

torque tube

6

aspirator

7

Staubabscheidebeutel

8th

Handle

9

Longitudinal axis (of the push tube)

10

spigot

11

scramble

12

articulated lever

13

Swivel axis (front)

13 '

Pivot axis (rear)

14

landing gear assembly

15

Wheel (front)

15 '

Wheel (rear)

16

Rotation axis (front)

16 '

Rotation axis (rear)

17

Wheel bearing beams

18

axle body

19

axle body

20

swivel axis

21

protective cap

Claims (15)

1. Suction nozzle (4) for a vacuum cleaner (1) having a supporting structure (2), which is connected on one side to a suction nozzle housing (3) and on the other side to a connecting piece (10) for an insertion pipe (5) of the vacuum cleaner (1), and having an undercarriage assembly (14) which has at least two axes of rotation (16, 16') provided with wheels (15, 15') which are distanced from one another in the displacement direction and is rotatably mounted on the supporting structure (2), characterised in that the wheels (15, 15') disposed on each respective side of the supporting structure (2) are rotatably mounted on a shared wheel bearing beam (17), which is pivotably received on its part by the supporting structure (2).
2. Suction nozzle (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the wheel bearing beams (17) are pivotably mounted on the supporting structure (2) independently of one another.
3. Suction nozzle (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each wheel bearing beam (17) has outwardly projecting axle beams (18), upon which a wheel (15, 15') is placed in each case in an axially fixed and rotatable manner.
4. Suction nozzle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the wheel bearing beams (17) each have an inwardly projecting axle beam (19), which can be inserted into the supporting structure (2) in an axially fixed and rotatable manner.
5. Suction nozzle (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the longitudinal axis (9) of the connecting piece (10) at least approximately intersects the pivoting axis (20) of the wheel bearing beam (17).
6. Suction nozzle (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the suction nozzle housing (3) is arranged so as to be displaceable relative to the undercarriage assembly (14).
7. Suction nozzle (4) according to claim 6, characterised in that the displacement of the suction nozzle housing (3) relative to the undercarriage assembly (14) is a pivoting about a pivoting axis (20).
8. Suction nozzle (4) according to claim 7, characterised in that the pivoting axis (20) runs substantially horizontal, in other words parallel to the floor to be cleaned with the intended use of a vacuum cleaner (1).
9. Suction nozzle (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection of the suction nozzle housing (3) is effected by means of an articulated rod (12) which is pivotably arranged on the supporting structure (2).
10. Suction nozzle (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wheels (15, 15') are embodied to be spherical.
11. Suction nozzle (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wheels (15, 15') mounted respectively on a wheel bearing beam (17) are aligned on the same track.
12. Suction nozzle (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer axial forces of the wheels (15, 15') are provided with elastic protection caps (21).
13. Suction nozzle (4) according to claim 12, characterised in that the centre of the protection cap (21) is embodied to be outwardly pre-bulged.
14. Vacuum cleaner (1) having a suction nozzle (4) according to one of the preceding claims.
15. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 14, characterised in that this is an upright vacuum cleaner.

Images