EP3277887B1 - A cleaning device using suction with a whirlwind effect - Google Patents
A cleaning device using suction with a whirlwind effect Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3277887B1 EP3277887B1 EP16706305.6A EP16706305A EP3277887B1 EP 3277887 B1 EP3277887 B1 EP 3277887B1 EP 16706305 A EP16706305 A EP 16706305A EP 3277887 B1 EP3277887 B1 EP 3277887B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- suction nozzle
- suction
- nozzle
- dirt container
- vacuum
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 title claims description 42
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 title description 8
- 241001417527 Pempheridae Species 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000010408 sweeping Methods 0.000 description 16
- 238000005728 strengthening Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 244000025254 Cannabis sativa Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000015220 hamburgers Nutrition 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
- E01H1/00—Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface
- E01H1/08—Pneumatically dislodging or taking-up undesirable matter or small objects; Drying by heat only or by streams of gas; Cleaning by projecting abrasive particles
- E01H1/0827—Dislodging by suction; Mechanical dislodging-cleaning apparatus with independent or dependent exhaust, e.g. dislodging-sweeping machines with independent suction nozzles ; Mechanical loosening devices working under vacuum
- E01H1/0836—Apparatus dislodging all of the dirt by suction ; Suction nozzles
- E01H1/0845—Apparatus dislodging all of the dirt by suction ; Suction nozzles with mechanical loosening or feeding instruments for the dirt to be sucked- up, e.g. brushes, scrapers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a cleaning device using suction for collecting dirt in a dirt container, to a suction nozzle for such a device and to a method carried out by such a device.
- the first method consists in sweeping the dirt directly into a dirt container, the bottom part of which forms a dustpan.
- the use of this method puts a limit to the size of the dirt container because all the dirt must be swept into the container and therefore the dirt layer within the container can only be as high as the sweeping brush(es) is/are able to lift up the dirt.
- This method is not used very often in machines for outdoor cleaning where, typically, there is a large volume of dirt, because this means that the dirt container must be emptied very often which, in turn, results in a low efficiency of the sweeping procedure.
- the dirt is sucked into the dirt container, often by means of a rotating suction wheel creating a vacuum within the dirt container, which is connected to a suction nozzle through a suction hose.
- the orifice of the suction nozzle is moved across the surface to be cleaned.
- the larger the vacuum formed within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose the larger the airflow and vacuum are created within the suction nozzle and the larger items can be lifted up from the surface by the suction nozzle and sucked into the dirt container.
- the generation of a larger vacuum also results in a larger noise level created by the vacuum-generating means.
- more energy may be used to generate a larger vacuum and airflow within the suction nozzle for better lifting up the items from the surface and sucking them through the suction hose into the dirt container.
- the design of the suction nozzle is very important. For instance, the airflow inside the suction nozzle gets longer time to lift up the items into the airflow if the distance between the front edge of the suction nozzle and the connection of the suction hose to the suction nozzle is increased.
- the efficiency of the suction nozzle can be improved by creating an opening along the rear edge of the suction nozzle, so that two airflows - one oncoming (from the front) and one from behind - are created within the suction nozzle, which, so to speak, gives the items two chances for being lifted up into the suction hose.
- high airflow velocities through the openings in the front and rear edges of the suction nozzle are needed, if items such as round stones and shifting sand are to be lifted up. Such high velocities are typically obtained by reducing the height of these openings.
- the use of low openings along the front and rear edges of the suction nozzle causes the vacuum within the suction nozzle and/or the dirt container to increase.
- the suction nozzle is moved across the surface to be cleaned too fast and therefore too many items are not lifted by the oncoming airflow, it may have at least two consequences. Firstly, the airflow from behind has less time to lift up the items. Secondly, the items which are not lifted up and which are too large to leave the suction nozzle through the opening along the rear edge of the suction nozzle will aggregate and eventually block the airflow, resulting in a reduction or complete elimination of the suction efficiency of the machine. Thus, the relation between the air velocity within the suction nozzle and the ground speed of the machine is important for ensuring that all items are lifted up by the suction nozzle.
- US 2 027 543 A discloses a suction nozzle for being connected to a dirt container of a cleaning device through a suction hose, said suction nozzle having one or more air inlet channels causing airflows entering the suction nozzle through those air inlet channels to have directions, which are substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle.
- the present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning indoor and/or outdoor areas, said cleaning device comprising a suction nozzle being connected to a dirt container through a suction hose and a vacuum-generating means, such as for instance a suction wheel, for generating a vacuum within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose, wherein, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against a surface to be cleaned, dirt in the form of particles and smaller items can be lifted up from the surface by the suction nozzle and sucked into the dirt container through the suction hose, and wherein at least one air inlet channel is arranged within the periphery of the nozzle orifice in such a way that, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against the surface to be cleaned, an airflow is caused to enter the suction nozzle through the air inlet channel in a direction, which is substantially parallel to
- the cleaning device further comprises a plurality of air inlet channels arranged to create airflows into the suction nozzle in directions, which are substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned and substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle, which air inlet channels are preferably distributed along the all other sides of the suction nozzle than the front side.
- the cleaning device further comprises one or more air inlet channels arranged in a sidewall and/or a top of the suction nozzle in such a way that, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against a surface to be cleaned, an airflow is caused to enter the suction nozzle through the air inlet channel in a direction, which is inclined against the nozzle orifice and substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle.
- the strength of the whirlwind effect can be improved even more by adding more air inlet channels than there is room for along the periphery of the nozzle orifice.
- the air inlet channels When placed in a sidewall or the top of the suction nozzle, the air inlet channels should be inclined against the orifice since, as mentioned above, all of the air is sucked into the suction hose from the bottom of the whirlwind.
- these air inlet channels may furthermore be directed towards points slightly within the periphery thereof.
- the cleaning device further comprises one or more movable, preferably rotatable, brushes placed at least partly in front of the suction nozzle, which brushes are arranged to sweep dirt towards the front side of the suction nozzle, i.e. into the one or more airflows entering the suction nozzle through and/or under the front side.
- the efficiency of the cleaning device may be further improved by combining the whirlwind effect with the use of brushes similar to what is the case for other cleaning systems known in the art.
- the cleaning device is a self-propelled road sweeper.
- a road sweeper constitutes a preferred embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention primarily for outdoor use.
- the cleaning device is a vacuum cleaner.
- a vacuum cleaner constitutes a preferred embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention primarily for indoor use.
- a suction nozzle for being connected to a dirt container of a cleaning device through a suction hose, said suction nozzle having one or more air inlet channels causing airflows entering the suction nozzle through those air inlet channels, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against a surface to be cleaned, to have directions, which are substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle, whereby a whirlwind is formed within the suction nozzle, which whirlwind continues at least partly through the suction hose to the dirt container, and wherein the suction nozzle is designed to have a front side being designed so that one or more substantially parallel oncoming airflows enter the suction nozzle through and/or under the front side when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the suction nozzle is moved with the front side first across a surface to be cleaned.
- a suction nozzle being connected to a dirt container through a suction hose and a vacuum-generating means, such as for instance a suction wheel, for generating a vacuum within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose, said method comprising the steps of
- the invention not only relates to a complete cleaning device as described above but also to a suction nozzle for such a cleaning device, for instance for replacement of an existing suction nozzle not falling within the scope of the present invention, and to the method carried out by such a cleaning device.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a road sweeper 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, primarily designed for removing leaves, stones, paper, branches, plastics, grass, sand, dirt and other particles and small items, i.e. for outdoor use.
- the illustrated road sweeper comprises a dirt container 2 placed at its rear end and a sweeping and suction unit 3 arranged at its front end.
- the illustrated sweeping and suction unit 3 comprises two rotating brushes 6 and a suction nozzle 4, the latter being connected to the dirt container 2 through a suction hose 5.
- the suction nozzle 4 is provided with a number of wheels 13.
- the suction nozzle 4 can be designed to slide against the surface to be cleaned, i.e. without wheels 13.
- the sweeping and suction unit 3 can be replaced with a suction unit, i.e. with a suction nozzle 4, suction hose 5 and dirt container 2 but without any brushes 6.
- Fig. 2 is a partly cross-sectional view of the road sweeper 1 showed in Fig. 1 .
- This illustration further shows a suction wheel 7 arranged within the dirt container 2 for generating a vacuum therein. It is also shown, how the suction hose 5 passes through the road sweeper for connecting the dirt container 2 and the suction nozzle 4 to each other.
- the suction nozzle 4 is provided with a bottle flap 9 for letting items into the suction nozzle 4, which are too large to pass under the front edge of the suction nozzle 4. In other embodiments, there may be no such bottle flap 9.
- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sweeping and suction unit 3 of the road sweeper 1 showed in Figs. 1 and 2 further illustrating the arrangement of the brushes 6 and the suction nozzle 4 relative to each other.
- Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the same sweeping and suction unit 1, in which a plurality of air inlet channels 10 are arranged within the periphery of the nozzle orifice.
- Figs. 5a and 5b are bottom views of the suction nozzle 4 alone. The only difference between the two figures is that in Fig. 5b a number of arrows are added to indicate the paths and directions of airflows 11, 12 entering the suction nozzle 4 along the surface to be cleaned, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container 2 and the orifice of the suction nozzle 4 is placed against this surface.
- a plurality of substantially parallel airflows 12 are sucked into the suction nozzle 4 from the front thereof.
- These airflows 12 from the front typically carry a certain amount of dirt and small items swept into the airflows 12 by brushes 6 arranged in front of the suction nozzle 4, if such brushes 6 are present in the given embodiment.
- a plurality of tangential airflows 11 enter the suction nozzle 4 through the air inlet channels 10 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5a .
- the term "tangential airflow" is used because the air inlet channels 10 are arranged in such a way that the airflows 11 entering the suction nozzle through the air inlet channels 10 all have directions, which are substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose 5 into the suction nozzle 4. This means that all these tangential airflows 11 contribute to forming and strengthening a whirlwind 8, which begins near the surface to be cleaned and continues into the suction hose 5 towards the dirt container 2.
- the rotation of the whirlwind 8 can be clockwise or anticlockwise depending on the design of the suction nozzle 4.
- the formation of the whirlwind 8 results in larger air velocities within the suction nozzle 4 relative to the surface to be cleaned and increases the ability of the cleaning device 1 to lift up particles and small items from the surface and suck them into the suction hose 5 and further into the dirt container 2.
- the illustrated suction nozzle 4 is designed with a permanent opening along its front side allowing particles and smaller items to be sucked into the suction nozzle 4. Heavier items such as stones are typically lifted up and sucked into the whirlwind 8 and the suction hose 5 only after the suction nozzle 4 has been placed above the item.
- the air inlet channels 10 direct the entering airflows 11, 14, 15 so that they contribute to forming and strengthening a whirlwind 8 within the suction nozzle 4 continuing into the suction hose 5.
- the incoming tangential airflows 11, 14, 15 can be directed towards points within and/or outside the periphery of the opening of the suction hose 5 into the suction nozzle 4.
- the optimal number and size of the air inlet channels 10 depends on the size of the suction nozzle 4 and on the available vacuum and airflow into the dirt container 2 generated, for instance, by a suction wheel 7. If, for instance, there are too many air inlet channels 10 and the rotational velocity of the whirlwind 8 becomes too high, heavier items can be thrown out of the whirlwind 8 inside the suction nozzle 4 before they are sucked into the suction hose 5.
- the sides and rear part of the suction nozzle 4 are arranged to slide against the surface to be cleaned.
- the suction nozzle 4 is provided with wheels 13 in order to reduce the friction against the surface to be cleaned as well as the wear on the suction nozzle 4. In such embodiments, there will inevitably be a certain gap between the suction nozzle 4 and the surface to be cleaned.
- Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the front part of the road sweeper 1 with indications of the directions of the airflows 8, 11, 12 into and through the suction nozzle 4 thereof.
- Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the suction nozzle 4 with indications of the directions of the airflows 8, 11, 12 into and through the suction nozzle 4.
- Figs. 8a and 8b are cross-sectional views of the suction nozzle 4 with and without indications of the directions of some of the airflows 8, 11, 12 into and through the suction nozzle 4 and further into the suction hose 5, respectively.
- Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a suction nozzle 4 according to another embodiment of the invention, which is further provided with air inlet channels for tangential airflows 14, 15 entering the suction nozzle 4 through the side and the top thereof, respectively.
- the directions of these tangential airflows 14, 15 also comprise a downward directed component because the air entering the suction nozzle 4 through these air inlet channels must move down to the surface to be cleaned before it can be sucked into the whirlwind 8 from the bottom thereof as described above.
- Tangential airflows 14, 15 entering the suction nozzle 4 through the side or top thereof rather than along the surface to be cleaned can be used for strengthening the whirlwind 8 and increasing its rotational velocity, which can be advantageously if it is difficult to find sufficient space for the necessary air inlet channels 10 along the periphery of the nozzle orifice.
- the auxiliary tangential airflows 14, 15 can be directed to meet the whirlwind 8 at points slightly within the periphery thereof.
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Description
- The present invention relates to a cleaning device using suction for collecting dirt in a dirt container, to a suction nozzle for such a device and to a method carried out by such a device.
- When it comes to cleaning of indoor and outdoor areas, there are two basic methods, which are primarily used for collecting dirt in the form of particles and smaller items from substantially horizontal surfaces of these areas.
- The first method consists in sweeping the dirt directly into a dirt container, the bottom part of which forms a dustpan. The use of this method puts a limit to the size of the dirt container because all the dirt must be swept into the container and therefore the dirt layer within the container can only be as high as the sweeping brush(es) is/are able to lift up the dirt. This method is not used very often in machines for outdoor cleaning where, typically, there is a large volume of dirt, because this means that the dirt container must be emptied very often which, in turn, results in a low efficiency of the sweeping procedure.
- In the second method, the dirt is sucked into the dirt container, often by means of a rotating suction wheel creating a vacuum within the dirt container, which is connected to a suction nozzle through a suction hose. During cleaning, the orifice of the suction nozzle is moved across the surface to be cleaned. Basically, the larger the vacuum formed within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose, the larger the airflow and vacuum are created within the suction nozzle and the larger items can be lifted up from the surface by the suction nozzle and sucked into the dirt container. In general, however, the generation of a larger vacuum also results in a larger noise level created by the vacuum-generating means.
- The process of generation of a vacuum and a sufficiently large airflow within the suction nozzle demands a substantial amount of energy and not all small mobile machines are able to provide the necessary energy for doing this. Because of a limited airflow, many systems have difficulties lifting up items with high densities relative to their external volume, such as round stones and shifting sand. It is known in the art to improve the capability of the suction nozzle to lift up dirt from the surface by compensating for the insufficient airflow by means of a horizontally arranged cylinder brush inside the suction nozzle. This cylinder brush is arranged in the rear part of the suction nozzle sweeping in a forward direction so that the dirt is swept directly into the oncoming airflow for being lifted through the suction hose and into the dirt container.
- In order to optimise the effect of using such a cylinder brush, it must be placed relatively far ahead relative to the oncoming airflow, typically directly beneath the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle. This means, however, that the gap between the brush and the front edge of the suction nozzle is relatively small, and the suction nozzle is easily blocked. Thus, because of the small space between the cylinder brush and the front edge of the suction nozzle, the suction nozzle may have problems handling items such as wet leaves, which have a large volume relative to their weight. The same small space also means that the machine may have difficulties picking up burger trays, plastic trays and the like. The rate at which the suction nozzle can be moved over the surface to be cleaned is therefore limited by the rate at which the cylinder brush can sweep such items into the airflow.
- Alternatively, more energy may be used to generate a larger vacuum and airflow within the suction nozzle for better lifting up the items from the surface and sucking them through the suction hose into the dirt container. In this relation, the design of the suction nozzle is very important. For instance, the airflow inside the suction nozzle gets longer time to lift up the items into the airflow if the distance between the front edge of the suction nozzle and the connection of the suction hose to the suction nozzle is increased.
- It is also known that the efficiency of the suction nozzle can be improved by creating an opening along the rear edge of the suction nozzle, so that two airflows - one oncoming (from the front) and one from behind - are created within the suction nozzle, which, so to speak, gives the items two chances for being lifted up into the suction hose. Still, high airflow velocities through the openings in the front and rear edges of the suction nozzle are needed, if items such as round stones and shifting sand are to be lifted up. Such high velocities are typically obtained by reducing the height of these openings. The use of low openings along the front and rear edges of the suction nozzle causes the vacuum within the suction nozzle and/or the dirt container to increase. Due to the smaller cross-sectional area of the openings and, thereby, an increased resistance to the airflow through the openings, however, the velocities of the airflows within the suction nozzle and the suction hose decreases. This means that the machine may have difficulties lifting the items through the suction hose and into the dirt container.
- If the suction nozzle is moved across the surface to be cleaned too fast and therefore too many items are not lifted by the oncoming airflow, it may have at least two consequences. Firstly, the airflow from behind has less time to lift up the items. Secondly, the items which are not lifted up and which are too large to leave the suction nozzle through the opening along the rear edge of the suction nozzle will aggregate and eventually block the airflow, resulting in a reduction or complete elimination of the suction efficiency of the machine. Thus, the relation between the air velocity within the suction nozzle and the ground speed of the machine is important for ensuring that all items are lifted up by the suction nozzle.
- It is a generally known problem that it is difficult to obtain optimally functioning sweeping and suction systems for small mobile machines because of the many influencing factors, such as the vacuum, the air velocity within the suction hose and the suction nozzle and the ground speed. In particular, items having small external surface to weight ratio are known to challenge known systems when it comes to be sucked or lifted up into the dirt container.
US 2 027 543 A discloses a suction nozzle for being connected to a dirt container of a cleaning device through a suction hose, said suction nozzle having one or more air inlet channels causing airflows entering the suction nozzle through those air inlet channels to have directions, which are substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle. - It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device, in which the above-mentioned disadvantages of similar devices known in the art are removed or at least significantly reduced.
- The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning indoor and/or outdoor areas, said cleaning device comprising a suction nozzle being connected to a dirt container through a suction hose and a vacuum-generating means, such as for instance a suction wheel, for generating a vacuum within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose, wherein, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against a surface to be cleaned, dirt in the form of particles and smaller items can be lifted up from the surface by the suction nozzle and sucked into the dirt container through the suction hose, and wherein at least one air inlet channel is arranged within the periphery of the nozzle orifice in such a way that, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against the surface to be cleaned, an airflow is caused to enter the suction nozzle through the air inlet channel in a direction, which is substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned and substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle, whereby a whirlwind is formed within the suction nozzle, which whirlwind continues at least partly through the suction hose to the dirt container, and wherein the suction nozzle is designed to have a front side being designed so that one or more substantially parallel oncoming airflows enter the suction nozzle through and/or under the front side when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the suction nozzle is moved with the front side first across a surface to be cleaned.
- It has surprisingly been shown that the formation of a whirlwind within the suction nozzle and at least part of the suction hose as described above results in a significant increase in the suction efficiency of the cleaning device, i.e. in its ability to lift up especially smaller items from the surface to be cleaned and suck them into the dirt container. It has furthermore been proved that this improvement is at least partly caused by the fact that, when using such a whirlwind effect, the suction power is concentrated around the centre of the whirlwind.
- This means that all of the air is sucked into the suction hose from a relatively small area at the bottom of the whirlwind rather than from the full area of the nozzle orifice, which is more or less the case in cleaning devices known in the art. The rotation of the air combined with the fact that the air within the suction nozzle is sucked along the surface towards the centre of the whirlwind results in significantly higher air velocities within the suction nozzle relative to the surface to be cleaned, which in turn increases the ability of the airflow to lift up particles and small items, even those with a small external surface relative to the weight, from the surface and into the suction hose.
- Thus, particles and smaller items on the part of the surface covered by the nozzle orifice are caught and lifted by the rotating airflow, sucked into the whirlwind and into the suction hose.
- The best results are obtained when the whirlwind effect is combined with an intake into the suction nozzle of oncoming airflows like known from other cleaning devices known in the art.
- In an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device further comprises a plurality of air inlet channels arranged to create airflows into the suction nozzle in directions, which are substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned and substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle, which air inlet channels are preferably distributed along the all other sides of the suction nozzle than the front side.
- The use of a plurality of air inlet channels distributed along the periphery of the nozzle orifice results in a stronger whirlwind effect and, thereby, in a better suction efficiency.
- In an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device further comprises one or more air inlet channels arranged in a sidewall and/or a top of the suction nozzle in such a way that, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against a surface to be cleaned, an airflow is caused to enter the suction nozzle through the air inlet channel in a direction, which is inclined against the nozzle orifice and substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle.
- The strength of the whirlwind effect can be improved even more by adding more air inlet channels than there is room for along the periphery of the nozzle orifice. When placed in a sidewall or the top of the suction nozzle, the air inlet channels should be inclined against the orifice since, as mentioned above, all of the air is sucked into the suction hose from the bottom of the whirlwind. In order to obtain the maximum "push" to the whirlwind, these air inlet channels may furthermore be directed towards points slightly within the periphery thereof.
- In an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device further comprises one or more movable, preferably rotatable, brushes placed at least partly in front of the suction nozzle, which brushes are arranged to sweep dirt towards the front side of the suction nozzle, i.e. into the one or more airflows entering the suction nozzle through and/or under the front side.
- The efficiency of the cleaning device may be further improved by combining the whirlwind effect with the use of brushes similar to what is the case for other cleaning systems known in the art.
- In an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device is a self-propelled road sweeper.
- A road sweeper constitutes a preferred embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention primarily for outdoor use.
- In an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device is a vacuum cleaner.
- A vacuum cleaner constitutes a preferred embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention primarily for indoor use.
- In an aspect of the invention, it relates to a suction nozzle for being connected to a dirt container of a cleaning device through a suction hose, said suction nozzle having one or more air inlet channels causing airflows entering the suction nozzle through those air inlet channels, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against a surface to be cleaned, to have directions, which are substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle, whereby a whirlwind is formed within the suction nozzle, which whirlwind continues at least partly through the suction hose to the dirt container, and wherein the suction nozzle is designed to have a front side being designed so that one or more substantially parallel oncoming airflows enter the suction nozzle through and/or under the front side when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the suction nozzle is moved with the front side first across a surface to be cleaned.
- In an aspect of the invention, it relates to a method for obtaining an improved suction efficiency of a cleaning device comprising a suction nozzle being connected to a dirt container through a suction hose and a vacuum-generating means, such as for instance a suction wheel, for generating a vacuum within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose, said method comprising the steps of
- generating a vacuum within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose, whereby dirt in the form of particles and smaller items can be lifted up from a surface by the suction nozzle and sucked into the dirt container through the suction hose
- placing the nozzle orifice against the surface to be cleaned
- forming a whirlwind within the suction nozzle, which whirlwind continues at least partly through the suction hose to the dirt container
- Thus, the invention not only relates to a complete cleaning device as described above but also to a suction nozzle for such a cleaning device, for instance for replacement of an existing suction nozzle not falling within the scope of the present invention, and to the method carried out by such a cleaning device.
- In the following a few embodiments of the invention are described in more detail in the following with reference to the drawing, of which
- Fig. 1
- is a perspective view of a road sweeper according to an embodiment of the invention,
- Fig. 2
- is a partly cross-sectional view of the road sweeper showed in
Fig. 1 , - Fig. 3
- is a perspective view of the sweeping and suction unit of the road sweeper showed in
Figs. 1 and2 , - Fig. 4
- is a bottom view of the sweeping and suction unit showed in
Fig. 3 , - Fig. 5a
- is a bottom view of the suction nozzle of the sweeping and suction unit showed in
Fig. 3 , - Fig. 5b
- is similar to
Fig. 5a with the exception that indications of the directions of the airflows into and through the suction nozzle have been added, - Fig. 6
- is a bottom view of the front part of the road sweeper of
Figs. 1 and2 with indications of the directions of the airflows into and through the suction nozzle thereof, - Fig. 7
- is a perspective view of the suction nozzle of the sweeping and suction unit of
Fig. 3 with indications of the directions of the airflows into and through the suction nozzle, - Fig. 8a
- is a cross-sectional view of the suction nozzle of the sweeping and suction unit showed in
Fig. 3 , - Fig. 8b
- is similar to
Fig. 8a with the exception that indications of the directions of some of the airflows into and through the suction nozzle have been added, and - Fig. 9
- is a perspective view of a suction nozzle according to another embodiment of the invention.
-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of aroad sweeper 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, primarily designed for removing leaves, stones, paper, branches, plastics, grass, sand, dirt and other particles and small items, i.e. for outdoor use. The illustrated road sweeper comprises adirt container 2 placed at its rear end and a sweeping andsuction unit 3 arranged at its front end. The illustrated sweeping andsuction unit 3 comprises tworotating brushes 6 and asuction nozzle 4, the latter being connected to thedirt container 2 through asuction hose 5. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
suction nozzle 4 is provided with a number ofwheels 13. In other embodiments of the invention, thesuction nozzle 4 can be designed to slide against the surface to be cleaned, i.e. withoutwheels 13. In other embodiments, the sweeping andsuction unit 3 can be replaced with a suction unit, i.e. with asuction nozzle 4,suction hose 5 anddirt container 2 but without any brushes 6. -
Fig. 2 is a partly cross-sectional view of theroad sweeper 1 showed inFig. 1 . This illustration further shows asuction wheel 7 arranged within thedirt container 2 for generating a vacuum therein. It is also shown, how thesuction hose 5 passes through the road sweeper for connecting thedirt container 2 and thesuction nozzle 4 to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, thesuction nozzle 4 is provided with abottle flap 9 for letting items into thesuction nozzle 4, which are too large to pass under the front edge of thesuction nozzle 4. In other embodiments, there may be nosuch bottle flap 9. - Furthermore, it is indicated in this figure how the airflow within the
suction nozzle 4 and at least a part of thesuction hose 5 forms awhirlwind 8 as described in further detail below. -
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sweeping andsuction unit 3 of theroad sweeper 1 showed inFigs. 1 and2 further illustrating the arrangement of thebrushes 6 and thesuction nozzle 4 relative to each other. -
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the same sweeping andsuction unit 1, in which a plurality ofair inlet channels 10 are arranged within the periphery of the nozzle orifice. -
Figs. 5a and 5b are bottom views of thesuction nozzle 4 alone. The only difference between the two figures is that inFig. 5b a number of arrows are added to indicate the paths and directions ofairflows suction nozzle 4 along the surface to be cleaned, when a vacuum is generated within thedirt container 2 and the orifice of thesuction nozzle 4 is placed against this surface. - Similarly to the function of
other suction nozzles 4 known in the art, a plurality of substantiallyparallel airflows 12 are sucked into thesuction nozzle 4 from the front thereof. In other embodiments, there may be only onebroad airflow 12 entering thesuction nozzle 4 from the front side. Theseairflows 12 from the front typically carry a certain amount of dirt and small items swept into theairflows 12 bybrushes 6 arranged in front of thesuction nozzle 4, ifsuch brushes 6 are present in the given embodiment. - A plurality of
tangential airflows 11 enter thesuction nozzle 4 through theair inlet channels 10 illustrated inFigs. 4 and5a . The term "tangential airflow" is used because theair inlet channels 10 are arranged in such a way that theairflows 11 entering the suction nozzle through theair inlet channels 10 all have directions, which are substantially tangential to the opening of thesuction hose 5 into thesuction nozzle 4. This means that all thesetangential airflows 11 contribute to forming and strengthening awhirlwind 8, which begins near the surface to be cleaned and continues into thesuction hose 5 towards thedirt container 2. - The rotation of the
whirlwind 8 can be clockwise or anticlockwise depending on the design of thesuction nozzle 4. The formation of thewhirlwind 8 results in larger air velocities within thesuction nozzle 4 relative to the surface to be cleaned and increases the ability of thecleaning device 1 to lift up particles and small items from the surface and suck them into thesuction hose 5 and further into thedirt container 2. - The illustrated
suction nozzle 4 is designed with a permanent opening along its front side allowing particles and smaller items to be sucked into thesuction nozzle 4. Heavier items such as stones are typically lifted up and sucked into thewhirlwind 8 and thesuction hose 5 only after thesuction nozzle 4 has been placed above the item. - Larger items, such as plastic bottles and the like, which are too large to enter the
suction nozzle 4 through the permanent opening along the front side thereof, may be allowed to enter thesuction nozzle 4 by opening abottle flap 9 arranged at the front of thesuction nozzle 4. Obviously, in embodiments comprising such abottle flap 9, thesuction nozzle 4 must be designed with a sufficient internal height to allow such items to pass through thesuction nozzle 4 to thesuction hose 5. - As described above, the
air inlet channels 10 direct the enteringairflows whirlwind 8 within thesuction nozzle 4 continuing into thesuction hose 5. Depending on the size of thesuction nozzle 4, the incomingtangential airflows suction hose 5 into thesuction nozzle 4. - The optimal number and size of the
air inlet channels 10 depends on the size of thesuction nozzle 4 and on the available vacuum and airflow into thedirt container 2 generated, for instance, by asuction wheel 7. If, for instance, there are too manyair inlet channels 10 and the rotational velocity of thewhirlwind 8 becomes too high, heavier items can be thrown out of thewhirlwind 8 inside thesuction nozzle 4 before they are sucked into thesuction hose 5. - Thus, the optimisation of the efficiency of the ability of the
cleaning system 1 to lift up particles and smaller items and suck them through thesuction hose 5 into thedirt container 2 is a complicated matter, which in each individual case involves a number of tests taking into account a large number of characteristics of thecleaning system 1, such as for instance: - characteristics of the suction wheel 7 (flow, vacuum)
- the diameter and length of the
suction hose 5 - the dimensions (length, width and height) of the
suction nozzle 4 - the height of the opening along the front side of the
suction nozzle 4 - the number, sizes and positions of the
air inlet channels 10 - In some embodiments, the sides and rear part of the
suction nozzle 4 are arranged to slide against the surface to be cleaned. In order to reduce the wear on thesuction nozzle 4, this means that either at least a part of thesuction nozzle 4 must be produced from a suitable wear-resistant material or thesuction nozzle 4 must be provided with runners made of such a material. In other embodiments, like the ones illustrated in the present figures, thesuction nozzle 4 is provided withwheels 13 in order to reduce the friction against the surface to be cleaned as well as the wear on thesuction nozzle 4. In such embodiments, there will inevitably be a certain gap between thesuction nozzle 4 and the surface to be cleaned. -
Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the front part of theroad sweeper 1 with indications of the directions of theairflows suction nozzle 4 thereof. -
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of thesuction nozzle 4 with indications of the directions of theairflows suction nozzle 4. -
Figs. 8a and 8b are cross-sectional views of thesuction nozzle 4 with and without indications of the directions of some of theairflows suction nozzle 4 and further into thesuction hose 5, respectively. -
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of asuction nozzle 4 according to another embodiment of the invention, which is further provided with air inlet channels fortangential airflows suction nozzle 4 through the side and the top thereof, respectively. Apart from being tangential to the opening of thesuction hose 5 into thesuction nozzle 4 like the directions of the previously describedtangential airflows 11, the directions of thesetangential airflows suction nozzle 4 through these air inlet channels must move down to the surface to be cleaned before it can be sucked into thewhirlwind 8 from the bottom thereof as described above. -
Tangential airflows suction nozzle 4 through the side or top thereof rather than along the surface to be cleaned can be used for strengthening thewhirlwind 8 and increasing its rotational velocity, which can be advantageously if it is difficult to find sufficient space for the necessaryair inlet channels 10 along the periphery of the nozzle orifice. In order to obtain an improved strengthening effect of these auxiliarytangential airflows whirlwind 8 at points slightly within the periphery thereof. -
- 1.
- Road sweeper
- 2.
- Dirt container
- 3.
- Sweeping and suction unit
- 4.
- Suction nozzle
- 5.
- Suction hose
- 6.
- Rotating brush
- 7.
- Suction wheel
- 8.
- Whirlwind flow of air leaving suction nozzle
- 9.
- Bottle flap
- 10.
- Air inlet channel for tangential airflow
- 11.
- Tangential airflow into suction nozzle
- 12.
- Airflow into suction nozzle from the front thereof
- 13.
- Wheel for suction nozzle
- 14.
- Tangential airflow entering through side of suction nozzle
- 15.
- Tangential airflow entering through top of suction nozzle
Claims (8)
- A suction nozzle (4) for being connected to a dirt container (2) of a cleaning device (1) through a suction hose (5), said suction nozzle having one or more air inlet channels (10) causing airflows (11) entering the suction nozzle through those air inlet channels, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against a surface to be cleaned, to have directions, which are substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned and substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle, whereby a whirlwind (8) is formed within the suction nozzle, which whirlwind continues at least partly through the suction hose to the dirt container, characterised in that the suction nozzle is designed to have a front side being designed so that one or more substantially parallel oncoming airflows enter the suction nozzle through and/or under the front side along substantially the full width thereof when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the suction nozzle is moved with the front side first across a surface to be cleaned.
- A cleaning device (1) for cleaning indoor and/or outdoor areas, said cleaning device comprising
a suction nozzle (4) according to claim 1 being connected to a dirt container (2) through a suction hose (5) and
a vacuum-generating means, such as for instance a suction wheel (7), for
generating a vacuum within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose, wherein, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against a surface to be cleaned, dirt in the form of particles and smaller items can be lifted up from the surface by the suction nozzle and sucked into the dirt container through the suction hose. - The cleaning device according to claim 2 comprising a plurality of air inlet channels arranged to create airflows into the suction nozzle in directions, which are substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned and substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle, which air inlet channels are preferably distributed along the all other sides of the suction nozzle than the front side.
- The cleaning device according to claim 2 or 3 further comprising one or more air inlet channels (14, 15) arranged in a sidewall and/or a top of the suction nozzle in such a way that, when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the nozzle orifice is placed against a surface to be cleaned, an airflow is caused to enter the suction nozzle through the air inlet channel in a direction, which is inclined against the nozzle orifice and substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle.
- The cleaning device according to any of claims 2-4 further comprising one or more movable, preferably rotatable, brushes (6) placed at least partly in front of the suction nozzle, which brushes are arranged to sweep dirt towards the front side of the suction nozzle, i.e. into the one or more airflows entering the suction nozzle through and/or under the front side.
- The cleaning device according to any of claims 2-5, wherein the cleaning device is a self-propelled road sweeper.
- The cleaning device according to any of claims 2-5, wherein the cleaning device is a vacuum cleaner.
- A method for obtaining an improved suction efficiency of a cleaning device (1) comprising
a suction nozzle (4) being connected to a dirt container (2) through a suction hose (5) and
a vacuum-generating means, such as for instance a suction wheel (7), for generating a vacuum within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose,
said method comprising the steps of- generating a vacuum within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose, whereby dirt in the form of particles and smaller items can be lifted up from a surface by the suction nozzle and sucked into the dirt container through the suction hose- placing the nozzle orifice against the surface to be cleaned- forming a whirlwind (8) within the suction nozzle, which whirlwind continues at least partly through the suction hose to the dirt container,wherein the whirlwind is formed by providing the suction nozzle with one or more air inlet channels (10) arranged so that the airflows (11) entering the suction nozzle through those air inlet channels have directions, which are substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned and substantially tangential to the opening of the suction hose into the suction nozzle, and
wherein the suction nozzle is designed to have a front side being designed so that one or more substantially parallel oncoming airflows enter the suction nozzle through and/or under the front side along substantially the full width thereof when a vacuum is generated within the dirt container and/or within the suction hose and the suction nozzle is moved with the front side first across a surface to be cleaned.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DKPA201570191A DK178772B1 (en) | 2015-03-31 | 2015-03-31 | A cleaning device using suction with a whirlwind effect |
PCT/DK2016/050046 WO2016155738A1 (en) | 2015-03-31 | 2016-02-17 | A cleaning device using suction with a whirlwind effect |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3277887A1 EP3277887A1 (en) | 2018-02-07 |
EP3277887B1 true EP3277887B1 (en) | 2019-03-27 |
Family
ID=55435922
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16706305.6A Active EP3277887B1 (en) | 2015-03-31 | 2016-02-17 | A cleaning device using suction with a whirlwind effect |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3277887B1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK178772B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016155738A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109183696A (en) * | 2018-10-13 | 2019-01-11 | 广东嗨学云教育科技有限公司 | A kind of full-automatic road-surface cleaning apparatus |
CN113774843B (en) * | 2020-06-09 | 2022-08-12 | 广东博智林机器人有限公司 | Cleaning device |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2027543A (en) * | 1933-10-07 | 1936-01-14 | Electrolux Corp | Suction nozzle |
AT222082B (en) * | 1960-03-12 | 1962-07-10 | Elfriede Lorenian | Vacuum cleaner mouthpiece |
DE3316953A1 (en) * | 1983-05-09 | 1984-11-15 | Kuka Umwelttechnik GmbH, 8900 Augsburg | Device for cleaning road surfaces or the like |
DE3435661A1 (en) * | 1984-09-28 | 1986-04-03 | Wilhelm 6000 Frankfurt Schuster | SUCTION NOZZLE |
JPH08107860A (en) * | 1994-10-07 | 1996-04-30 | Hitachi Ltd | Suction port body of electric vacuum cleaner |
US5839157A (en) * | 1996-05-06 | 1998-11-24 | Elgin Sweeper Company | Street sweeper pick-up head |
EP1682727A1 (en) * | 2003-10-14 | 2006-07-26 | Lange Christian S.A. | Suction nozzle |
CN100382737C (en) * | 2003-10-30 | 2008-04-23 | 乐金电子(天津)电器有限公司 | Suction nozzle structure for vacuum cleaner |
GB0426710D0 (en) * | 2004-12-06 | 2005-01-12 | Applied Sweepers Ltd | Dust control system |
DE202010013737U1 (en) * | 2010-09-29 | 2010-12-02 | Engelberg, Franz, Prof. Dr.-Ing. | Polsterblasdüse |
CN102767151B (en) * | 2012-07-31 | 2015-01-21 | 中联重科股份有限公司 | Cleaning suction nozzle and cleaning vehicle |
CN103572728B (en) * | 2013-11-01 | 2015-08-12 | 中联重科股份有限公司 | Cyclone suction nozzle and cleaning cart |
-
2015
- 2015-03-31 DK DKPA201570191A patent/DK178772B1/en active
-
2016
- 2016-02-17 EP EP16706305.6A patent/EP3277887B1/en active Active
- 2016-02-17 WO PCT/DK2016/050046 patent/WO2016155738A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DK201570191A1 (en) | 2016-10-10 |
EP3277887A1 (en) | 2018-02-07 |
WO2016155738A1 (en) | 2016-10-06 |
DK178772B1 (en) | 2017-01-09 |
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