EP3108788A1 - Suction cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaning device (1), in particular vacuum robot, which has a fan (2) for conveying suction material from a surface to be cleaned into a suction chamber (3) and an accumulator (4) with one or more battery cells (10) for operating the Having blower (2), wherein the accumulator (4) generated heat by an air flow generated by the blower (2) can be discharged. In order to provide a vacuum cleaning device (1) with an even more effective cooling, it is proposed that the accumulator (4) with an accumulator housing (9) forms a module unit (5) arranged in the vacuum cleaning device (1), which at the same time forms a section of a flow channel (FIG. 7) forms for the air flow, so that the air flow through the module unit (5) can be conveyed through.

Description

Field of engineering

The invention relates to a Saugreinigungsgerät, in particular a suction robot, which has a fan for conveying suction material from a surface to be cleaned in a suction chamber and an accumulator with one or more battery cells for operating the fan, wherein heat generated by the accumulator by one of the fan generated airflow is dissipatable.

State of the art

Saugreinigungsgeräte of the aforementioned type are known in the art. These use the airflow generated by the blower to protect the accumulator from overheating.

The publication WO 2005/099547 A1 discloses, for example, a vacuum cleaner housing with a power supply module inserted into a receiving space. During a suction operation of the vacuum cleaner, an air volume flow is generated and used for cooling the power supply module. For this purpose, the air guide is designed so that the air flow rate flows from a suction chamber of the vacuum cleaner via the receiving space for the power supply module to the blower. This type of cooling is occasionally not sufficient to prevent overheating of the accumulator.

Summary of the invention

Based on the aforementioned prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a Saugreinigungsgerät with an even more effective cooling.

To solve the invention proposes a Saugreinigungsgerät, in which the accumulator with an accumulator housing forms a arranged in the Saugreinigungsgerät module unit, which also forms a portion of a flow channel for the air flow, so that the air flow through the module unit can be conveyed.

According to the invention, the air flow generated by the fan now no longer flows past the accumulator housing, but is passed through the module unit and thus also the accumulator housing, so that the accumulator arranged in the accumulator housing, in particular one or more accumulator cells of the accumulator, is cooled directly. As a result, at least a portion of the accumulator housing is used to promote the air flow, whereby optionally the geometric dimensions of the Saugreinigungsgerätes can be reduced, since in a receiving space of Saugreinigungsgerätes for the accumulator housing does not have a flow path for the air flow must be created. The modular unit is inventively integrated as a portion of the flow channel in the flow channel, so that the air flow flows directly through the module unit in the flow through the flow channel and thereby cools the accumulator. The module unit is for this purpose connected to adjacent sections of the flow channel, wherein a fluid-tight connection of the channel sections for the lossless transition of Saugluftstroms from an adjacent channel section in the module unit and / or provided by the module unit in an adjacent channel section is. The interfaces between the module unit and the adjacent channel sections of the flow channel advantageously have seals and / or are glued together, welded or the like.

It is provided that the module unit is arranged on a suction side of the blower, in particular between a filter associated with the suction chamber and the blower. In this case, in contrast to the blow-out air of the fan cooler air is used on the suction side of the fan to protect the accumulator from overheating. Vacuum cleaning devices, such as vacuum cleaners, usually have a filter which protects the subsequent blower in the flow direction from being occupied by suction material. In this case, the suction chamber has a removable filter, such as a dust filter bag, on or one of the suction chamber associated permanent filter, which can be regenerated by means of a flow in the opposite direction. According to the module unit is now arranged between the filter and the fan, where the air flow is already cleaned of suction material, but at the same time still approximately the temperature of the sucked into the Saugreinigungsgerät ambient air. In this respect, the accumulator can be optimally cooled, which in turn extends not least the life of the accumulator.

In particular, it is proposed that the accumulator cells of the accumulator are arranged annularly with respect to a cross section within the flow channel. Thus, the battery cells can occupy the channel portion of the flow channel, which is formed by the module unit, annular, so that the guided through the flow channel air flow flows through the annular arrangement of the battery cells. Advantageously, the arrangement which is annular in cross-section is a circular arrangement, so that substantially all the accumulator cells are equally good be cooled. If the flow channel is not circular, but for example oval, rectangular or the like is executed, the arrangement of the battery cells can of course also take this form.

Advantageously, secondary channels for the air flow are formed between adjacent battery cells. According to this configuration, the air flow not only flows axially along the channel region formed between the battery cells, but also in the radial direction between the adjacent battery cells, so that they are cooled not only with respect to a peripheral surface directed inward in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the battery , but also with respect to the other peripheral partial surfaces, in particular along the entire circumference of the respective accumulator cell including the peripheral partial surface facing away from the longitudinal axis of the accumulator. This leads to an overall increase in cooling capacity.

It is provided that the module unit has air-conducting elements, in particular a flow slot. These air-conducting elements are particularly advantageous for directing portions of the air flow into the secondary channels between adjacent accumulator cells. The air-conducting elements can be, for example, wall elements which have passage openings for the air flow at suitable locations, so that, in particular, a circulating flow in the circumferential direction of the battery cells is formed. The wall elements can be advantageously connected to a complex flow path, so that in the production of the modular unit not a large number of handles for mounting a plurality of separate air-conducting elements is necessary, but rather only a single flow link must be introduced into the module unit.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the electrical poles of the accumulator or of the accumulator cells are arranged outside the flow channel. As a result, the electrical poles are located outside the sub-region of the vacuum cleaning device that is acted upon by negative pressure, namely outside the flow channel. As a result, the risk of, for example, water damage to the electrical poles is significantly reduced. The electrical poles protrude out of the module unit, wherein the adjacent surfaces of the accumulator and the accumulator housing are fluid-tightly interconnected. For this purpose, bushings are advantageously provided in the accumulator housing, which correspond to corresponding subregions of the accumulator or the accumulator cell. These bushings are advantageously equipped with seals that produce a fluid-tight connection between the accumulator / accumulator cell and the accumulator housing. As soon as the poles of several accumulator cells are welded together, the module unit is formed as an inseparable unit between the accumulator housing and the accumulator. As a result, during the manufacture of the vacuum cleaning device, only a single structural unit, namely the module unit, must be mounted and sealed at the interfaces to the adjacent regions of the flow channel. Outside the accumulator housing, the electrical poles are not exposed to the negative pressure of the flow channel and thus the risk of water damage. At the same time, the contacting of the electrical poles can be improved by the excellent accessibility.

It is proposed that an air inlet region of the module unit is assigned an air nozzle. The air inlet region of the module unit is located at the interface of the modular unit to the adjacent channel section of the flow channel. In this area, an air nozzle is advantageously arranged, which on the one hand, the flow direction of the air flow within can affect the module unit and on the other hand, if necessary, also causes an acceleration of the air flow to increase the cooling capacity. If, for example, a direct onflow of the battery cells is not required or not desired, the air flow with respect to an axial direction of the module unit at least partially flow past the battery cells, so that turbulence in the axial main air flow can be avoided. The cooling of the individual battery cells can be achieved by vortex flows, which form outside of the axial main air flow between the battery cells. Particularly advantageously, such a flow guidance can also be supported in a targeted manner by the previously proposed air-conducting elements, in particular a flow passage.

It is further proposed that the accumulator and the accumulator housing and / or the accumulator housing and the flow channel are fluid-tightly interconnected. This optimizes the suction power of the vacuum cleaning device. In addition, an entry of secondary air is avoided at the interface between the module unit and the adjacent channel sections in the flow channel, and / or in those areas of the accumulator housing having a passage for the poles of the battery cells. Thus, for example, moisture can not enter the flow channel from the outside and damage the blower.

Furthermore, it is proposed that an air inlet region and / or an air outlet region of the module unit has a substantially round cross-sectional area. The air inlet region is located at the interface between the module unit or the accumulator housing and the adjacent channel section of the flow channel. The air outlet area is correspondingly in the region of the opposite end face the module unit or the accumulator housing, in which the air flow from the module unit flows into the adjacent channel section of the flow channel. The round configuration of the air inlet region and / or the air outlet region ensures a minimization of the pressure losses within the module unit. As a result, the suction power of the fan is optimized, and also reduces the noise within the Saugreinigungsgerätes.

Finally, the invention also proposes a modular unit for a vacuum cleaning device of the aforementioned type, which module unit has an accumulator with one or more accumulator cells and an accumulator housing accommodating the accumulator, wherein the modular unit is formed as part of a flow channel, so that an air flow through the module unit can be conveyed through.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

ein erfindungsgemäßes Saugreinigungsgerät in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 2

das Saugreinigungsgerät in einem vertikalen Querschnitt,

Fig. 3

eine Moduleinheit mit mehreren Akkumulatorzellen,

Fig. 4

die Moduleinheit in einer vertikalen Querschnittsansicht,

Fig. 5

die Moduleinheit in einer horizontalen Querschnittsansicht,

Fig. 6

eine Moduleinheit gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform in einer perspektivischen Querschnittsansicht,

Fig. 7

eine Moduleinheit gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform in einer vertikalen Querschnittsansicht,

Fig. 8

eine Moduleinheit gemäß einer vierten Ausführungsform, in einer vertikalen Querschnittsansicht,

Fig. 9

ein Akkumulatorgehäuse in einer perspektivischen Querschnittsansicht.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

an inventive Saugreinigungsgerät in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

the vacuum cleaning device in a vertical cross-section,

Fig. 3

a module unit with several accumulator cells,

Fig. 4

the module unit in a vertical cross-sectional view,

Fig. 5

the module unit in a horizontal cross-sectional view,

Fig. 6

a modular unit according to a second embodiment in a perspective cross-sectional view,

Fig. 7

a modular unit according to a third embodiment in a vertical cross-sectional view,

Fig. 8

a modular unit according to a fourth embodiment, in a vertical cross-sectional view,

Fig. 9

an accumulator housing in a perspective cross-sectional view.

Description of the embodiments

This in FIG. 1 and 2 illustrated Saugreinigungsgerät 1 is designed as a self-propelled vacuum robot. Vacuum cleaning devices 1 of this type have wheels 17 for moving the vacuum cleaning device 1 over a surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, these have a detection device for orientation of the vacuum cleaning device 1 within a room. In an area facing the surface to be cleaned, ie a bottom region of the vacuum cleaning device 1, the vacuum cleaning device 1 has a suction nozzle 16, via which suction material can be conveyed from the surface to be cleaned to a blower 2.

Between the suction nozzle 16 and the fan 2, a flow channel 7 is formed, which fluidically the suction nozzle 16, a suction chamber 3 with a filter 8, a module unit 5 with a battery housing. 9 and an accumulator 4 and the blower 2 connects. During a suction operation of the blower 2, suction material passes from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle 16 via the flow channel 7 into the suction chamber 3, where the air flow is separated by the filter 8 from the suction material contained. The suction material remains within the filter 8, which is designed here for example as a dust filter bag, while the purified air continues to flow through the module unit 5 to the fan 2. The module unit 5 is located on a suction side 6 of the blower 2, ie between the suction chamber 3 and the blower second

FIG. 3 shows the module unit 5 according to the invention, which is formed as an axial portion of the flow channel 7 of the Saugreinigungsgerätes 1. The module unit 5 has the accumulator housing 9 and the accumulator 4, which contains a plurality of accumulator cells 10. The module unit 5 has an air inlet region 13 and an air outlet region 15, between which the air flow flows through the module unit 5 and thereby cools the accumulator 4. The accumulator 4 here has eight accumulator cells 10. These accumulator cells 10 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the air flow annularly next to each other, which surround the air flow annular. The poles 12 of the battery cells 10 are guided through the accumulator housing 9 to the outside, so that they are located outside of the flow channel 7. The interfaces between the accumulator housing 9 and the respective accumulator cells 10 are closed in a fluid-tight manner. The air inlet region 13 and the air outlet region 15 of the module unit 5 are likewise connected in a fluid-tight manner to the adjacent partial regions of the flow channel 7.

FIG. 4 shows the module unit 5 in a vertical section. Evident are the annularly arranged within the flow channel 7 accumulator cells 10, the poles 12 are arranged outside the flow channel 7. In the circumferential direction of the individual battery cells 10 and thus also between the adjacent battery cells 10 secondary channels 11 are formed along which at least a portion of the air flow between the adjacent battery cells 10 can pass. The secondary channels 11 are advantageously formed in the circumferential direction of the accumulator cell 10 completely enclosing. In the axial direction 9 seals 18 are arranged in the region of the end faces of the battery cells 10 and the accumulator housing, so that the air flowing in the secondary channels 11 air can not escape from the module unit 5. As a result, suction air flows exclusively through the air inlet region 13 into the module unit 5 or out of the module unit 5 through the air outlet region 15.

FIG. 5 shows a horizontal cross section of the module unit 5 previously shown. It is recognized that the secondary channels 11 are formed along the entire circumference of the battery cells 10.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective sectional view of a module unit 5, according to a second embodiment. In the illustration, two accumulator cells 10 lying opposite one another in the circumferential direction of the module unit 5 are cut vertically. Between the adjacent battery cells 10, the secondary channels 11 can be seen. The module unit 5 has in its air inlet region 13 beyond an air nozzle 14, through which the air flow passes axially into the module unit 5. Here, the air nozzle 14 is formed so that the air flow in the air inlet region 13 can flow both in the axial direction of the module unit 5 and radially between the battery cells 10.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention, in which within the air nozzle 14 and the module unit 5 additional air-conducting elements 19 are arranged, which direct the air flowing into the module unit 5 air flow, in particular in the radial direction between the battery cells 10, namely in radially arranged secondary channels eleventh According to this embodiment, the secondary channels 11 are formed essentially only radially between the battery cells 10 and not over the entire circumference (ie not over an angular range of 360 degrees) of the battery cells 10. Accordingly, the air flow does not reach the circumferential side facing away from the longitudinal axis of the module unit the accumulator cell 10 between the battery cell 10 and the accumulator 9. In addition to the proportion of the air flow, which is passed into the secondary channels 11, a smaller proportion flows in the axial direction through the module unit 5. Overall, according to this Ausfüh Thus, an early division of the air flow to the secondary channels 11 instead.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of a module unit 5, in which the air nozzle 14 also air-conducting elements 19, but here prevent early radial deflection of the air flow to the air inlet region 13. Rather, a radial flow direction for the air flow is initially blocked in the air inlet region 13, so that the air flowing into the module unit 5 is initially guided substantially parallel to the axis of the flow channel 7, ie the symmetry axis of the modular unit 5 / of the accumulator housing 9. Only shortly before the air outlet region 15 of the accumulator housing 9, the air flow is deflected in the radial direction and enters the secondary channels 11 between the adjacent battery cells 10. In the illustrated embodiment, despite the axial main flow direction eddy currents between adjacent battery cells 10. Finally, passes through the battery cells 10 warmed up air through the air outlet region 15 from the accumulator housing 9 in the direction of the blower 2, while cooler suction air from the suction chamber 3 of the Saugreinigungsgerätes 1 flows into the module unit 5.

FIG. 9 shows an accumulator housing 9 in a perspective cross-sectional view. The accumulator housing 9 may for example be part of in FIG. 5 be described module unit 5. The air inlet region 13 and the air outlet region 15 are arranged on the accumulator housing 9. On the accumulator housing 9 receiving areas 20 are formed for battery cells 10, in which the battery cells 10 can be used in accordance with the shape.

List of reference numbers

1

vacuum cleaning

2

fan

3

Sauggutkammer

4

accumulator

5

module unit

6

suction

7

flow channel

8th

filter

9

battery housing

10

accumulator cell

11

secondary channel

12

pole

13

Air inlet area

14

air nozzle

15

Air outlet area

16

suction nozzle

17

wheel

18

poetry

19

Air conducting element

20

reception area

Claims (10)

Vacuum cleaning device (1), in particular suction robot, which has a blower (2) for conveying suction material from a surface to be cleaned into a suction chamber (3) and an accumulator (4) with one or more accumulator cells (10) for operating the blower (2). wherein heat generated by the accumulator (4) can be dissipated by an air flow generated by the fan (2), characterized in that the accumulator (4) comprises with an accumulator housing (9) a module unit (5) arranged in the vacuum cleaning device (1) ), which also forms a portion of a flow channel (7) for the air flow, so that the air flow through the module unit (5) can be conveyed through. Vacuum cleaning device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the module unit (5) on a suction side (6) of the blower (2), in particular between one of the suction chamber (3) associated filter (8) and the blower (2) arranged is. Vacuum cleaning device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the accumulator cells (10) are arranged with respect to a cross section annular within the flow channel (7). Vacuum cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that secondary channels (11) for the air flow are formed between adjacent battery cells (10). Vacuum cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module unit (5) has air-conducting elements, in particular a flow slot. Vacuum cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical poles (12) of the accumulator (4) are arranged outside the flow channel (7). Vacuum cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an air inlet region (13) of the modular unit (5) is associated with an air nozzle (14). Vacuum cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the accumulator (4) and the accumulator housing (9) and / or the accumulator housing (9) and the flow channel (7) are fluid-tightly interconnected. Vacuum cleaning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an air inlet region (13) and / or an air outlet region (14) of the module unit (5) has a substantially round cross-sectional area. Module unit (5) for a vacuum cleaning device (1), in particular for a vacuum cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the module unit (5) comprises an accumulator (4) with one or more accumulator cells (10) and a the accumulator (4) accommodating accumulator housing (9), wherein the module unit (5) is formed as part of a flow channel (7), so that an air flow through the module unit (5) can be conveyed through.

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