EP2558224A1

EP2558224A1 - Steam-cleaning device

Info

Publication number: EP2558224A1
Application number: EP10713955A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael SCHÖNEWALD; Jochen Engele; Tobias Dux
Original assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2010-04-15
Filing date: 2010-04-15
Publication date: 2013-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2030-04-15
Also published as: CN102858470B; JP2013523359A; JP5617029B2; WO2011127976A1; EP2558224B1; CN102858470A

Abstract

The invention relates to a steam-cleaning device having a housing (12) on which a liquid tank (24) is releasably held and in which an electrically heatable steam boiler (28) is arranged for generating steam which can be applied to a surface to be cleaned. In order to develop the steam-cleaning device in such a way that the liquid tank can be fastened to the housing and released from the housing in a simple manner, it is proposed according to the invention that the housing has a guide part (42) on which the liquid tank (24) is displaceably held, wherein the guide part and the liquid tank are connected to one another in a form-fitting manner.

Description

D A M P F R E I N G U N G S G E R E S

The invention relates to a steam cleaning apparatus having a housing, on which a liquid tank is detachably held and in which an electrically heatable steam boiler is arranged for generating steam, which can be applied to a surface to be cleaned.

Such steam cleaning devices are used for cleaning a wide variety of surfaces, in particular for cleaning hard surfaces used. They comprise a liquid tank in which a cleaning liquid can be stored. The liquid tank is detachably held on the housing, so that it can be separated from the housing for filling. The full liquid tank can be fixed to the housing again. He then communicates with a housing arranged in the electrically heatable steam boiler in flow communication, with the aid of which the liquid can be evaporated. The generated steam can be applied to a surface to be cleaned, in particular to a bottom surface.

A steam cleaning device of the type mentioned is from the DE

10 2004 052 198 B4 known.

Object of the present invention is to provide a steam cleaning device of the type mentioned in such a way that the liquid tank in a simple manner can be fixed to the housing and detachable from the housing.

This object is achieved in a steam cleaning device of the type mentioned in the present invention, that the housing has a guide member on which the liquid tank is slidably supported, wherein the guide member and the liquid tank are positively connected to each other. The liquid tank can be moved in the steam cleaning device according to the invention along a guide member for producing a positive connection between the housing and the liquid tank. This facilitates the fixing of the liquid tank to the housing and also the detachment of the liquid tank from the housing. The positive connection ensures that the liquid tank can not be inadvertently released from the housing. In addition, the positive connection allows a high mechanical strength.

It is advantageous if the liquid tank surrounds the guide part U- or C-shaped.

The guide member may be configured in the manner of a guide profile, which is at least partially encompassed by the liquid tank in the circumferential direction.

The guide part is preferably aligned perpendicular to a footprint of the steam cleaning device. Usually, the footprint of the steam cleaner is formed by a horizontal bottom surface. In this case, the guide part preferably extends in the vertical direction.

In an advantageous embodiment of the steam cleaning device according to the invention, the housing has a receptacle into which the liquid tank can be inserted, wherein the guide member protrudes into the receptacle, on which the liquid tank rests positively.

The receptacle is preferably arranged on an end face of the housing. This simplifies the handling of the steam cleaning device.

In an advantageous embodiment, a connection for a steam discharge line is arranged on the end face of the housing. The steam delivery line For example, it can be designed in the form of a steam discharge hose which can be connected to the housing in the region of the end face and which can carry a steam discharge nozzle at its free end for applying the liquid to the surface to be cleaned.

It is advantageous if the liquid tank has a central tank area to which a first and a second lateral tank area adjoin one another at a distance, which receive the guide part between them and which are connected to one another via a tank grip gripped behind by the user. At the tank handle, the liquid tank can be easily grasped by the user. The tank handle forms a kind of bridge over which the lateral tank areas of the liquid tank are connected to one another at a distance from the central tank area. The tank handle can be grasped behind by the user to remove the tank from the housing.

Conveniently, the liquid tank comprises a ceiling wall which forms the tank handle. The top wall can protrude laterally beyond a circumferential or side wall of the liquid tank and form in its protruding region the tank handle gripped behind by the user.

It is particularly advantageous if an operating and / or display element is arranged on the guide part, which is surrounded in the circumferential direction by a top wall of the liquid tank. In such an embodiment, the ceiling wall has a recess in which an operating and / or display element of the steam cleaning device is arranged.

The operating and / or display element can protrude from the ceiling wall, so that it is directly accessible to the user. The operating and / or display element is recognized by the user without further notice. This facilitates the handling of the steam cleaning device. In addition, the control and / or display element is protected by the surrounding ceiling wall from lateral mechanical damage. It is particularly favorable if the operating and / or display element has a concave recess, which is adjoined by an indentation of the housing and which is covered by a tank grip of the liquid tank. The concave recess facilitates the gripping behind the tank handle, which covers the recess. The user can engage with the fingers of one hand laterally in the concave recess, as adjoins the concave recess a molding of the housing, which extends laterally beyond the region of the tank handle out.

It can be provided that the ceiling wall surrounds a Hubtaster. The lifting button can form an operating element of the steam cleaning device. For example, the steam cleaning device can be switched on and off by means of the lifting button.

A particularly compact design is achieved in an advantageous embodiment of the invention in that an electrical switch is arranged in the guide part, with which cooperates the Hubtaster. In such an embodiment, the guide part forms a receiving space in which the electrical switch is arranged. Above the receiving space of the lifting button is arranged, which is surrounded by the top wall of the liquid tank and cooperates, for example via a switch plunger with the electrical switch.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one display panel is integrated in the lifting button. The display panel is designed in the manner of a light indicator. It can be connected via at least one light guide with control electronics of the steam cleaning device and can show the user, for example, the operating state of the steam cleaning device, in particular can be displayed on a display of the Hubtasters the operating condition of the boiler and / or falling below a minimum level of the liquid tank. If there is a minimum fill level in the liquid tank was below this, so this can be displayed to the user on a display panel, so he then filled the liquid tank with liquid again.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, an electronic control unit of the steam cleaning device is arranged in the guide part. As already explained, the guide part of the housing can form a receiving space. In this receiving space, the control electronics of the steam cleaning device is preferably arranged. This gives the steam cleaning device a particularly compact design.

Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that in the guide part of the housing, a level sensor is arranged, which cooperates with a arranged in the liquid tank level sensor. With the help of the level sensor, the level of the liquid tank can be monitored. If the level falls below a lower limit, this can be indicated to the user as an indication that the liquid tank should be filled with liquid.

The interaction between the arranged in the guide part level sensor and arranged in the liquid tank level sensor is preferably carried out without contact. For example, the level sensor may comprise a permanent magnet which cooperates with a sensor of the level sensor which is sensitive to the magnetic field. The sensor can be configured for example in the form of a reed switch.

The fill level sensor is preferably designed as a float whose position within the liquid tank is dependent on the fill level of the liquid tank.

The filling level sensor preferably has a switching element which can be switched as a function of the position of the float. The switching element can be formed for example in the form of a reed switch. Conveniently, the switching element is coupled to a display element or panel disposed on the guide member.

It is particularly advantageous if the level sensor is arranged together with a control electronics of the steam cleaning device on a positioned in the guide member board.

As already mentioned, the liquid tank can be detached from the housing for filling. For filling, the liquid tank has a tank opening. Conveniently, the tank opening can be closed by a tank lid in a closed position and released in a release position for filling the liquid tank.

Instead of separating the liquid tank from the housing for filling, the user can also fill the liquid tank on the housing by moving the tank lid into its release position. It is particularly advantageous if the fuel cap in its release position forms a splash or splash protection to protect electrical components of the steam cleaner from contact with liquid.

It can be provided, for example, that the fuel cap is arranged in its release position between an arranged on the guide member operating and / or display element and the tank opening. He can form a kind of intermediate wall in this situation, which reduces the risk that enters liquid to the operating and / or display element when filling liquid in the liquid tank arranged on the housing.

In a structurally simple embodiment of the tank lid is pivotally supported on the tank opening. He can then be pivoted between a tank opening covering the closed position and the tank opening releasing release position back and forth. In his release position he can protrude substantially vertically upwards from the tank opening and thereby form a surge or splash protection in a simple manner.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. Show it :

Figure 1: a perspective view of a steam cleaning device with a liquid tank, the tank lid is closed;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the steam cleaning apparatus of Figure 1, wherein the tank lid of the liquid tank is open;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the steam cleaning device of Figure 1 obliquely from behind when releasing the liquid tank from the housing of the steam cleaning device;

Figure 4: a partially separated perspective side view of

Steam cleaning device of Figure 1;

Figure 5: a horizontal partial sectional view of the steam cleaning device

Figure 1 in the region of the liquid tank and

FIG. 6 shows a vertical partial sectional view of the steam cleaning device

Figure 1 in the region of the liquid tank.

In the drawing, a portable steam cleaning device, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is shown schematically with a housing 12 which forms a carrying handle 16 on its upper side 14. On a front side 18 of the housing 12, a closure flap 20 is pivotally held, which in its closed position shown in the drawing a Schlauchan- Cover 22 covers. The closure flap 20 can be pivoted into a release position, in which the hose connection 22 is accessible to the user, so that the user can connect a hose to the hose connection 22. Such steam delivery hoses are known and therefore not shown in the drawing. At its free end remote from the steam cleaning device 10, the steam discharge hose can carry a steam discharge nozzle in the usual way, in particular a floor nozzle.

Above the closure flap 20, a liquid tank 24 is detachably held on the housing 12, which can be filled with a cleaning liquid, preferably with water. As is clear from FIG. 4, liquid can be supplied from the liquid tank 24 via a connecting line 26 to an electrically heatable steam boiler 28 surrounded by the housing 12. For this purpose, a pump 30 is connected in the connecting line 26. Liquid, which was conveyed by means of the pump 30 into the steam boiler 28, can be vaporized in the steam boiler 28 and fed via a solenoid valve 32 and an outlet line 34 to the hose connection 22, to which then a steam discharge hose can be connected for applying the steam to a to be cleaned Area.

The housing 12 forms a receptacle 36 above the closure flap 20, into which the liquid tank 24 can be inserted. The receptacle 36 has a rear wall 38 and a bottom wall 40. In its central region, the bottom wall 40 is stepped, this becomes clear in particular from FIG.

From the rear wall 38 is a U-shaped guide member 42 of the housing 12 is shown, which has a concave guide end wall 44 which is integrally connected via a first guide side wall 46 and a second guide side wall 48 with the rear wall 38 of the receptacle 12. At its upper side facing away from the bottom wall 40, the two guide side walls 46 and 48, together with the guide end wall 44, merge into an integrally formed guide hood 50 which tapers stepwise in the direction away from the bottom wall 40 and which has a central one

Opening 52 has.

The guide member 42 defines on the side facing away from the liquid tank 24 side of the guide end wall 44 between the two guide side walls 46 and 48 a receiving space 54 in which a control electronics 56 and a level sensor 58 are arranged on a common electrical circuit board 60. Within the guide cap 50 is connected to the control electronics 56 electrical switch 62 is arranged, with the aid of the steam cleaning device 10 can be turned on and off.

The electrical switch 62 can be actuated by an actuating element in the form of a lifting button 64, which engages over the guide hood 50 and is coupled to the electrical switch 62 via a switch plunger 66. The switching plunger 66 is surrounded by a helical return spring 68, which acts on the Hubtaster 64 with an electrical switch 62 facing away from the restoring force.

The stroke switch 64 has on its rear side facing away from the liquid tank 24 a concave recess 70, to which in the direction facing away from the end face 18 followed by a formed in the region of the carrying handle 16 in the housing 12 indentation 72.

The liquid tank 24 can be inserted into the receptacle 36 of the housing 12. It has a central tank region 74 arranged above the closure flap 20, to which a first lateral tank region 76 and a second lateral tank region 78 adjoin. This gives the liquid tank 24 in a horizontal section, as is clear from Figure 5, a total of a U-shaped or C-shaped configuration, with which he the guide member 72 positively embraces. A rear tank wall 80 of the central tank region 74 is convex and lies flat against the concave guide end wall 44 of the guide part 42. A first lateral tank wall 82 of the first lateral tank region 76 rests flat against the first guide side wall 46, and a second lateral tank wall 84 of the second lateral tank region 78 abuts flat against the second guide side wall 48 of the guide part 42. To the side tank walls 82 and 84, a tank peripheral wall 86 connects, which rests positively on the rear wall 38 of the receptacle 36 and an outer wall of the liquid tank 24 is formed.

On the upper side, the liquid tank 24 is bounded by a ceiling wall 88. In the central tank area 74, the ceiling wall 88 in front of the lifting button 84 has a tank opening 90 which can be closed by a tank lid 92 mounted pivotably on the ceiling wall 88. The fuel cap 92 may be between a closed position shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 6, in which it closes the tank opening 90, and a release position shown in Figure 2, in which it is aligned substantially vertically and between the tank opening 90 and the Hubtaster 64 is arranged to be pivoted back and forth.

The ceiling wall 88 surrounds the Hubtaster 64 in the circumferential direction. For this purpose, it forms a tank handle 94 on the rear side of the lifting button 64 facing away from the tank lid 92, which integrally connects the free end regions of the lateral tank regions 76 and 78 facing away from the central tank region 74 and which covers the concave recess 70 of the lifting button 64. About the indentation 72 of the housing 12, the user can engage in the area between the tank handle 94 and the concave recess 70 and thereby engage behind the tank handle 94.

In the liquid tank 24 at the lowest point of the central tank area 74, a level sensor in the form of a float 96 is arranged with a per se known and therefore not shown in the drawing perma mag- nets. The float 96 slides along the rear tank wall 80 depending on the level of the liquid tank 24. It cooperates contactlessly with a reed switch 98 of the level sensor 58, which is arranged in the receiving space 54 of the guide part 42 on the liquid tank 24 facing away from the back of the guide end wall 44.

The stroke button 64 has three display fields 100, 102 and 104 arranged side by side. A first display panel 100 indicates to the user when the heater of the boiler 28 is in operation. A second display field 102 indicates whether the steam cleaner 10 is on or off, and a third display 104 illuminates when the float 96 falls below a lower level limit. The user receives an indication that the liquid tank 24 should be filled.

For filling, the user can remove the liquid tank 24 of the receptacle 36. For this purpose, he can engage behind the tank handle 94 and then move the liquid tank 24 in the vertical direction along the guide member 24 upwards until the liquid tank 24, the guide member 42 of the housing 12 releases. The liquid tank 24 can then be removed from the housing 12 to be filled via the tank opening 90 with liquid, preferably with water. The full liquid tank can then be placed back on the guide member 42 and moved vertically down along the guide member 42 until the liquid tank 24 is seated on the bottom wall 40 of the receptacle 36.

Instead of removing the liquid tank 24 from the housing 12, the user may also fill the liquid tank 24 while the liquid tank 24 maintains its position in the housing 36 of the housing 12. For this purpose, the user can pivot the tank lid 92 in its release position. In this position, this is particularly clear from Figure 2, the tank lid 92 forms a surge and splash guard, which prevents liquid when filling in the liquid tank 24 accidentally to Hubtaster 64 and can pass through the central aperture 52 in the receiving space 54 of the guide member 42.

The horizontal section substantially U-shaped liquid tank 24, which rests positively on both the rear wall 38 of the receptacle 36 and the guide member 42 and can be moved along the guide member 42 in the vertical direction, facilitates handling of the steam cleaning device 10 upon release of the liquid tank 24th In addition, the U-shaped liquid tank 24 in combination with the lift button 64 circumferentially surrounding ceiling wall 88 allows a compact design of the steam cleaning device 10. The tank handle 94 of the liquid tank 24, which covers the concave recess 70 of the Hubtasters 64 can on the user easy to be undercut. The integration of the display panels 100, 102 and 104 in the Hubtaster 64 has a further reduction in the space required by the steam cleaning device 10 result. Before the Hubtaster 64, the tank opening 90 is arranged, which can be closed by the tank lid 92. The fuel cap 92 forms in its release position a splash or splash protection, which prevents the arranged in the receiving space 54 of the guide member 42 electrical components, namely the control electronics 56 and the level sensor 58, come into contact with the liquid.

Claims

PATENT APPLICATIONS

A steam cleaning appliance comprising a housing (12) to which a liquid tank (24) is releasably held and in which an electrically heatable steam boiler (28) is arranged for generating steam which can be applied to a surface to be cleaned, characterized in that the housing (12) has a guide part (42) on which the liquid tank (24) is displaceably held, wherein the guide part (42) and the liquid tank (24) can be connected to one another in a form-fitting manner.

2. Steam cleaning appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid tank (24) surrounds the guide part (42) U- or C-shaped.

3. steam cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (12) has a receptacle (36) into which the liquid tank (24) can be inserted, wherein in the receptacle (36), the guide member (42) protrudes.

4. steam cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the liquid tank (24) has a central tank region (74), to which at a distance from each other, a first and a second lateral tank area (76, 78) connect, between to receive the guide member (42) and which are connected to each other via a gripped by the user tank handle (94).

5. steam cleaning appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the liquid tank (24) a ceiling wall (88) aufeist, which forms the tank handle (94).

6. Steam cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the guide part (42) an operating and / or display element (64, 100, 102, 104) is arranged, in the circumferential direction at least partially by a ceiling wall (88) of the Liquid tank (24) is surrounded.

7. steam cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that the control and / or display element (64, 100, 102, 104) has a concave recess (70), which adjoins a indentation (72) of the housing (12) and which is covered by a tank handle (94).

8. steam cleaning appliance according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the ceiling wall (88) surrounds a Hubtaster (64).

9. steam cleaning device according to claim 8, characterized in that the lifting button (64) with a in the guide part (42) arranged electrical switch (62) cooperates.

10. Steam cleaning appliance according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in the Hubtaster (64) at least one display panel (100, 102, 104) is integrated.

11. Steam cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the guide part (42) control electronics (56) of the steam cleaning device (10) is arranged.

12. Steam cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the guide part (42) a level sensor (58) is arranged, which cooperates with a liquid in the tank (24) arranged level sensor (96).

13. steam cleaning device according to claim 12, characterized in that the level sensor is designed as a float (96) whose position within the liquid tank (24) on the level of the liquid tank (24) is dependent.

14. steam cleaning device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the level sensor (58) has a switching element (98) which is switchable in dependence on the position of the level sensor.

15. steam cleaning device according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the level sensor (58) together with the control electronics (56) of the steam cleaning device (10) on a guide part (42) positioned board (60) is arranged.

16. Steam cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid tank (24) has a tank opening (90) which can be closed by a tank lid (92) in a closed position and in a release position for filling the liquid tank (24), wherein the tank lid (92) in its release position forms a splash or splash protection for protecting electrical components of the steam cleaning device from contact with liquid.

17. steam cleaning device according to claim 16, characterized in that on the guide part (42) an operating and / or display element (64, 100, 102, 104) is arranged and the tank lid (92) in its release position, a position between the operator and / or display element (64, 100, 102, 104) and the tank opening (90) occupies.

18. Steam cleaning appliance according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the tank lid (92) is pivotably held on the tank opening (90).