EP3409159B1 - Simply emptiable handheld battery driven vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Field of invention

The invention relates to a hand-held battery-operated vacuum cleaner with a centrifugal separator which has a separating device and a dust collecting container with a bottom.

Background of the invention

the German patent application DE 10 2004 026 768 A1 relates to a handle assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprising a vortex dust collector. The handle assembly has a handle tube with an inlet and an outlet which are fluidly connected to a suction connector assembly and a vacuum cleaner body, respectively. A handle is formed on the handle tube, and the vortex dust collector protrudes on one side of the handle tube in order to centrifugally separate dust from outside air flowing in through the inlet of the handle tube and to discharge clean air to the outlet of the handle tube. A dust receptacle closed at the bottom for the separated dust is detachably connected to the handle arrangement.

From the international patent publication WO 2006/026 414 A2 a cyclone separator for a rod suction device is known which has an elongated housing and a suction air inlet which, in one embodiment, runs perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the cyclone separator. A dust collection section is provided in the lower region of the elongated housing. A bottom of the housing, which closes the dust collecting section at the bottom, can be opened in order to empty the dust collecting section. For this purpose, the base is equipped with a hinge and an opening tab.

the German patent application DE 102 58 782 B4 describes a swirl type dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner which has a dust collecting receptacle in addition to a swirl body. The dust collection pickup is closed at the bottom and releasably connected to the vortex body for separating the dust and dirt from the air vortex of the air laden with dust or dirt and for collecting the separated dust and dirt.

From the European patent EP 2 040 600 B1 a hand cleaning device is known which has a suction line, an air flow generator for generating an air flow along the suction line and a cyclone separator connected to the suction line for separating dirt and dust from the air flow. The lower part of the cyclone separator is equipped with a dust collector, the bottom of which has an annular base. The bottom can be opened by means of a hinge and a latch in order to empty the dust collector. Similar hand cleaning devices are from the European patents EP 2 043 493 B1 and EP 2 043 492 B1 known.

the German patent application DE 10 2012 100 050 A1 discloses a dust collection container for a cordless vacuum cleaner. On the top of the vacuum cleaner container there is an emptying opening and above the bottom side of the dust collection container there is a filter element which can be inserted into the vacuum cleaner container through an opening on the bottom side.

That German utility model DE 20 2015 105 894 U1 describes a hand-held vacuum cleaner with a cyclone separator, in which the air to be cleaned rotates around an axis of rotation, with a handle that is arranged laterally next to the cyclone separator and with an energy store. The energy store is spatially arranged between the cyclone separator and the handle.

That Chinese utility model CN 201 683 850 U1 describes a hand cleaner with a vortex flow arrangement which comprises at least a rear housing part and a front housing part detachably attached to the rear housing part. The front housing part has an air inlet provided at the front end and a receiving space connected to the air inlet. The front housing part has a cyclone which is arranged in the receiving space. The cyclone is provided with at least one recess which is in fluidic connection with the receiving space.

The international Patent application WO 2016/095 041 A1 describes a multimodal surface cleaning device that includes a surface cleaning head and a has upright portion movably mounted on the surface cleaning head between a plurality of reclined floor cleaning positions and an upright storage position. The multimodal surface cleaning device further comprises a handheld vacuum cleaner that is removably mounted on the upright section, and an additional dirt collection arrangement that is removably mounted on the upright section, the additional dirt collection arrangement comprising a dirt collection area and optionally a motor pre-filter, one or more cyclones and a suction motor.

The problem underlying the invention

The invention is based on the object of providing an improved, hand-held, battery-operated vacuum cleaner with a centrifugal separator which has a separating device and a dust collecting container with a bottom. In particular, the vacuum cleaner should reliably collect dust, dirt and liquids and be easy to empty.

Solution according to the invention

The reference symbols in all claims do not have a restrictive effect, but are only intended to improve their readability.

The object is achieved by a hand-held battery-operated vacuum cleaner with the features of claim 1. The vacuum cleaner according to the invention has a centrifugal separator which has a separation device and a dust collector. In addition, an actuating element is provided for releasing the centrifugal separator in order to be able to remove the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner. A suction nozzle is provided for feeding suction air into the centrifugal separator. The actuating element for releasing the centrifugal separator is either arranged on the suction nozzle or is spaced no more than 7 cm (centimeters) from the end of the suction nozzle that is adjacent to the centrifugal separator. The actuating element is designed so that it can be actuated with one hand that grips the suction nozzle in order to handle the centrifugal separator.

A vacuum cleaner within the meaning of the present invention is a device that can generate a suction air flow that acts on an object, usually a surface, in order to pick up particles, such as dirt or dust particles, but also liquids, from the object in which it captured by the suction air flow and entrained (also referred to as "suction"). A vacuum cleaner can advantageously achieve a cleaning effect in this way. The vacuum cleaner is usually equipped with a suction fan for generating the suction air flow, a suction opening of the vacuum cleaner being in flow connection with the suction side of the suction fan. The suction opening is typically designed in such a way that it can be guided over the object to be cleaned in order to suck in the particles, for example dust or dirt. The suction fan is usually in flow connection with the centrifugal separator. Dirt particles picked up by the suction air flow can be collected in the dust collection container.

For the purposes of the present invention, a "hand-held vacuum cleaner" is a vacuum cleaner that is designed not only for use with a suction pipe or hose that connects a suction air inlet of the vacuum cleaner to a floor nozzle for floor cleaning, but also or even designed exclusively for use without such a suction tube or such a suction hose, for example to clean furniture. However, the group of hand-held vacuum cleaners within the meaning of the present invention also includes vacuum cleaners which, in addition to the aforementioned options, can also be operated with a suction pipe or a suction hose and a floor nozzle that can be connected to the suction pipe or the suction hose for cleaning a floor. When using a suction tube, the user moves the hand-held vacuum cleaner with the suction tube attached and the floor nozzle attached to it over the floor area to be cleaned.

In a preferred hand-held vacuum cleaner, the components motor, fan and dust separator are in the upper half, particularly preferably in the upper third of the distance from the floor nozzle to the a handle of the vacuum cleaner arranged.

The hand-held vacuum cleaner is, due to its compact dimensions and light weight, suitable for being comfortably held and carried by hand, preferably with only one hand. This is particularly preferably Weight less than 2 kg, particularly preferably less than 1.5 kg, in each case without the accumulator. Its preferred length from the handle to the air inlet without a connected suction hose or suction tube is less than 60 cm, particularly preferably less than 50 cm.

“Battery operated” should be understood to mean that the vacuum cleaner is equipped with an electrical accumulator with which the vacuum cleaner can be operated without any further power supply. This does not rule out that the vacuum cleaner can additionally or alternatively also be operated via a power supply line, for example when the accumulator is exhausted or while the accumulator is being charged. With the battery operation it can advantageously be achieved that the freedom of movement of the vacuum cleaner is no longer restricted by a cable for the power supply of the vacuum cleaner. The preferred hand-held battery-operated vacuum cleaner is a "regular size battery-operated vacuum cleaner" according to the draft of February 2017 of DIN EN 62885-4.

The object according to the invention is also achieved by a hand-held battery-operated vacuum cleaner with the features of claim 9. The vacuum cleaner has a centrifugal separator which has a separation device and a dust collector. In addition, an actuating element is provided for releasing the centrifugal separator in order to be able to remove the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner. A suction nozzle is provided as suction air inlets for feeding suction air into the centrifugal separator. The actuating element for releasing the centrifugal separator is either arranged on the suction nozzle or is spaced no more than 7 cm (centimeters) from the end of the suction nozzle that is adjacent to the centrifugal separator. The suction nozzle has a circumference of less than 30 cm at at least one point at a distance of less than 7 cm from the actuating element and the actuating element protrudes from an outer surface of the suction nozzle, at least in the non-actuated state.

By actuating the actuating element, the centrifugal separator can be brought from a locked state in which it is anchored in the vacuum cleaner to a released state in which it can be removed from the vacuum cleaner. It is preferably designed so that it can be operated with a finger, for example the thumb, in order to detach the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner. The suction port is advantageously usable as a handle to handle the centrifugal separator. In particular, the suction nozzle can be used as a handle for removing the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner when the centrifugal separator is detached from the vacuum cleaner.

With the invention it can advantageously be achieved that the actuating element can be actuated with one hand that engages the suction nozzle in order to handle the centrifugal separator, particularly preferably with one finger of this hand. In other words, the same hand that is used to release the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner by means of the actuating element can also be used to handle the released centrifugal separator to remove it from the vacuum cleaner. This can make it particularly easy to remove the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

Advantageous training and further developments, which can be used individually or in combination with one another, are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the following description.

The preferred centrifugal separator is oriented in a generally upright direction. This means that a - preferably tubular - part of the centrifugal separator, in which suction air circulates into the centrifugal separator in order to separate dust from the suction air, is oriented essentially vertically, i.e. in the direction of gravity, and not approximately horizontally when the vacuum cleaner is intended Use is held in such a way that the suction air flows into the vacuum cleaner at a suction air inlet in a substantially horizontal direction. The suction air inlet is preferably formed by the suction nozzle. In this definition, the orientation is determined by the orientation of the axis around which the air circulates. This axis is essentially perpendicular, that is, in the direction of gravity.

The dust collecting container is preferably arranged below the separating device and has a bottom, the dust collecting container cannot be emptied by opening the bottom of the centrifugal separator.

In relation to the dust collecting container, “arranged under the separating device” means that the dust collecting container is arranged under the separating device in relation to the direction of gravity, when it is intended to be used. As a result, it can advantageously be achieved that the dust collects in the dust collecting container by gravity. The dust collecting container preferably forms the lower end of a pipe of the separation device, the suction air preferably circulating around a longitudinal axis of this pipe, particularly preferably in a helical manner, in order to separate the dust, dirt and / or liquid from the suction air. Here, “lower end of the tube” means the end of the tube which generally points in the direction of gravity, in contrast to the other end, which generally points against the direction of gravity.

In the context of the present invention, the bottom is the end of the centrifugal separator, which when used as intended, generally points in the direction of gravity. In a preferred centrifugal separator, dust, dirt and liquid separated from the suction air by the separating device collects in the centrifugal separator above the floor. As a rule, the bottom of the centrifugal separator is formed by the bottom of the dust collector of the centrifugal separator.

The fact that the dust collector cannot be emptied by opening the bottom of the centrifugal separator means that the vacuum cleaner is not set up in such a way that the bottom is opened and dust, dirt or liquid that has collected in the dust collector is removed from the dust collector by this opening can, for example by the fact that they can fall out of the dust collection container, as known from the prior art. This preferred embodiment is based on the knowledge that when emptying by opening the bottom, usually above a garbage container, a large part of the dust falling out of the dust collecting container can dissolve into a dust cloud. It has been shown that the dust of this dust cloud is carried away by the garbage container and can be deposited in an undesirable manner in its surroundings and on the clothing of a user. Without wishing to be bound by the following explanation, the inventors suspect that this dust cloud is at least partly due to the fact that during the emptying by opening the bottom of the centrifugal separator, a large amount of dust almost simultaneously and falls out of the centrifugal separator without braking. Such a falling out can be avoided by this preferred embodiment.

The preferred hand-held battery-operated vacuum cleaner has a centrifugal separator, the dust collector of which cannot be removed by opening the bottom of the centrifugal separator. Preferably, the bottom of the centrifugal separator cannot be opened. “Non-openable” means that the bottom of the centrifugal separator cannot be opened when it is used for the intended purpose and the centrifugal separator in particular does not have any means that are provided for opening the bottom. In other words: the centrifugal separator is permanently closed at the bottom when used as intended. It is an achievable advantage of this embodiment of the invention that no seal is required to seal the bottom of the centrifugal separator in the unopened state. In particular, it is possible to prevent such a seal from becoming soiled and causing leaks. As a result, the vacuum cleaner according to the invention is also suitable for picking up liquids, for example when the vacuum cleaner is used to pick up water or damp dirt, because the liquid advantageously cannot escape through leaks.

The centrifugal separator particularly preferably does not have an openable bottom flap. The invention advantageously makes it possible to avoid damage to such a bottom flap as a result of improper use and leaks. In addition, it can be avoided that dust is directed in an undesired direction when emptying, for example over a garbage container, through the bottom flap, whereby dust from the dust does not end up in the garbage container as desired, but only in the vicinity of the garbage container or on the user's clothing .

A preferred dust collecting container cannot be emptied by opening a part of the outer surface of the centrifugal separator arranged in the area of the dust collecting container. The surface area of the centrifugal separator means in which the suction air can rotate to separate the dust and which is closed off by the floor. Particularly preferably, that part of the outer surface arranged in the area of the dust collecting container cannot be opened. With this embodiment of the invention, it can be avoided that an undesirable dust cloud forms over the outer surface of the centrifugal separator when it is emptied. In addition, the Necessity of sealing such an opening as well as contamination of a seal provided for this purpose and leaks resulting therefrom can be avoided.

The centrifugal separator is preferably designed in the shape of a pot. This means that it has a lateral surface which is closed in the lower part by a bottom surface, the bottom surface not necessarily having to run flat but, for example, also having the shape of a section of an ovoid or the shape of a hemisphere. Particularly preferably, however, the bottom is essentially flat. Cup-shaped also means that the centrifugal separator is open on the side of the lateral surface opposite the bottom. It is an achievable advantage of this embodiment of the invention that the dust collecting container of the centrifugal separator can be emptied through this upper opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust collecting container can be emptied through an upper side of the centrifugal separator, at least when it is removed from the vacuum cleaner. For this purpose, a preferred centrifugal separator has an upper opening. Particularly preferably, the dust collecting container cannot be emptied when it is arranged in the vacuum cleaner, preferably in that one or more part (s) of the vacuum cleaner closes or closes the upper opening of the centrifugal separator. This embodiment of the invention can advantageously be avoided that the dust collector is accidentally emptied while the vacuum cleaner is vacuuming.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner is supported at least in part by at least part of the bottom of the centrifugal separator when it is intended to be placed on a support surface. Here, “intended parking on a shelf” means a parking specifically on a flat shelf that runs horizontally in relation to the direction of gravity. "Provided parking" means that the vacuum cleaner can be placed on such a parking surface in such a way that the vacuum cleaner is at least partially supported by at least part of the bottom of the centrifugal separator. With this embodiment of the invention it can advantageously be achieved that other parts of the vacuum cleaner, for example the accumulator, remain easily accessible even in the switched-off state, which can facilitate the handling of these parts. In one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner is even supported completely on that part of the floor, in one embodiment of the invention even on the entire floor of the centrifugal separator.

A vacuum cleaner according to the invention has an actuating element for releasing the centrifugal separator in order to be able to remove the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner. In this way it can be achieved that the centrifugal separator can be brought from a locked state, in which it is fastened in the vacuum cleaner, to a released state, in which the centrifugal separator can be removed from the vacuum cleaner, by actuating the actuating element. The actuating element is, for example, an actuating button or an actuating lever. It is preferably designed so that it can be operated with a finger, for example the thumb, in order to detach the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner.

According to the invention, a hand-held battery-operated vacuum cleaner also has a suction nozzle for feeding suction air into the centrifugal separator. The suction nozzle is preferably essentially tubular, the longitudinal axis of the tube particularly preferably running essentially perpendicular to the orientation of the centrifugal separator. It is an achievable advantage of the invention that the suction nozzle can be used as a handle to manipulate the centrifugal separator. In particular, the suction nozzle can be used as a handle for Removing the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner can be used when the centrifugal separator is detached from the vacuum cleaner.

It is particularly preferred that the actuating element is arranged on the suction nozzle - preferably no more than 7 cm, particularly preferably no more than 5 cm, particularly preferably no more than 3 cm, particularly preferably no more than 1 cm from the end of the nozzle, that is adjacent to the centrifugal separator. Alternatively, the actuating element cannot be attached to the suction nozzle but also no more than 7 cm, particularly preferably no more than 5 cm, especially preferably no more than 3 cm, especially preferably no more than 1 cm from the end of the nozzle that adjoins the centrifugal separator , be spaced apart. With this embodiment of the invention it can advantageously be achieved that the actuating element can be actuated with one hand that engages the suction nozzle in order to handle the centrifugal separator, particularly preferably with one finger of this hand. In other words, the same hand that is used to release the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner by means of the actuating element can also be used to handle the released centrifugal separator to remove it from the vacuum cleaner. This can make it particularly easy to remove the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner.

A preferred actuating element is arranged in the upper or in the left area of the connection when looking at the suction connection in the direction of flow. Here, the upper area means the area of an upper half-shell when the suction nozzle is imagined along its longitudinal extension in the middle by an essentially horizontal sectional plane divided into two half-shells when the vacuum cleaner is in operation. The left area means the area of a left half-shell of the suction nozzle when looking at the suction nozzle in the direction of flow if, when the vacuum cleaner is to be used, the suction nozzle is centered along its longitudinal extension through an imaginary sectional plane that runs vertically in two half-shells when the vacuum cleaner is to be operated shared. In this way, it can advantageously be achieved that the actuating element can be actuated with the thumb of a hand encompassing the suction nozzle. In particular, it can be achieved that the actuating element can be actuated simply with the thumb of a right hand that encompasses the suction nozzle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the suction nozzle is arranged at the middle level or above the middle of the removable centrifugal separator. "Center" is to be understood here in relation to the vertical alignment of the centrifugal separator, that is to say in relation to the longitudinal axis of the centrifugal separator, which is tubular in this respect. This embodiment of the invention can advantageously prevent the centrifugal separator from being inadvertently rotated about the axis of the suction nozzle during or after removal from the vacuum cleaner and being unintentionally emptied in this way. Particularly preferably, in relation to the orientation of the centrifugal separator, the suction nozzle is arranged above the dust collecting container in the intended use.

A preferred suction nozzle has a circumference of less than 30 cm at at least one point at a distance of less than 7 cm from the actuating element. Particularly preferably, the suction nozzle has a circumference of less than 25 cm, particularly preferably less than 20 cm, at a point at a distance of less than 5 cm, particularly preferably less than 3 cm, particularly preferably less than 1 cm from the actuating element. With this embodiment of the invention it can advantageously be achieved that the suction nozzle can be comfortably grasped at a point from which the actuating element can be easily reached with a finger of the hand.

The invention also includes embodiments in which a handle is arranged on the centrifugal separator, which is not a suction nozzle. In such an embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is preferably on this handle - particularly preferably not more than 7 cm away from the end of the handle which is adjacent to the centrifugal separator. Alternatively, the actuating element is not arranged on the handle but also not more than 7 cm from the end of the handle which is adjacent to the centrifugal separator. Particularly preferably, the actuating element is not more than 5 cm, more preferably not more than 3 cm, more preferably not more than 1 cm from the end of the handle that is adjacent to the centrifugal separator. With this embodiment of the invention it can advantageously be achieved that the actuating element can be actuated with the hand, particularly preferably with a finger of the hand that engages the handle.

The actuating element is preferably acted upon by a spring element in the direction opposite to the actuating direction, for example a helical spring, a spiral spring, a leaf spring or a compressible, rubber-elastic element. The spring element can advantageously hold or preload the actuating device in its non-actuated position. In particular, it can contribute to the fact that the insert remains in the locked position even when there is a load relative to the main vacuum cleaner assembly and / or the electrical contact is not released in this case.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is functionally connected to a bolt. The bolt is in the non-actuated state of the actuating element in a locking position in which it is with a stop on the other of the Both assemblies, the main vacuum cleaner assembly and the insert, interact in such a way that the centrifugal separator cannot be removed from the vacuum cleaner. In contrast, when the actuating element is actuated, the bolt is in an open position in which it no longer interacts with the stop in a blocking manner, so that the centrifugal separator can be removed from the vacuum cleaner. The preferred bolt is firmly connected to the actuating element. This allows a particularly simple construction. In particular, the latch and the actuating element can be formed in one piece. The latch can, for example, be a projection attached to the actuating element, which can engage behind the stop.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is ready to be actuated at least when the vacuum cleaner is switched off. With this, "switched off state" means the state in which the suction fan of the vacuum cleaner is not in operation. “Ready to operate” means that the operating element can be operated in such a way that it releases the centrifugal separator in order to be able to remove it from the vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment of the invention can only be actuated when the vacuum cleaner is switched off. In this way, accidental removal of the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner during its operation can be avoided.

The centrifugal separator can preferably be removed from the vacuum cleaner by tilting the suction nozzle, particularly preferably against the intended direction of flow of the suction air. Particularly preferably, the tilting movement takes place around a fulcrum that lies on a side of the centrifugal separator that is opposite the side on which the suction nozzle is attached.

The tilting movement preferably takes place around a releasable joint, which consists of a first coupling element, which is arranged on the centrifugal separator, and a second coupling element, which can be connected to the first coupling element and is arranged on another part of the vacuum cleaner, preferably a part that is a motor -Blower unit and an electric accumulator for driving the motor-fan unit of the vacuum cleaner, instead. These two coupling element elements are preferably designed so that they cannot be separated from one another when the centrifugal separator is arranged in the vacuum cleaner and not tilted, but by tilting the centrifugal separator into a separated position relative to the other part of the vacuum cleaner can be brought, in which they can be separated from each other in order to remove the centrifugal separator from the vacuum cleaner.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first coupling element comprises a shell or a pin. An axis of the pin defines the pivot axis about which the centrifugal separator is pivotably mounted relative to the other part of the vacuum cleaner. A particularly simple and robust joint can thus be formed that enables easy pivoting, separation and merging.

In the preferred centrifugal separator, the separating device and the dust collecting container are made in one piece. They particularly preferably form a common, essentially tubular body, the upper part of which forms the separation device and the lower part of which forms the dust collecting container. Particularly preferably, a filter and / or a dip tube is provided in the upper part of the centrifugal separator, through which air from which dust has been removed can flow out of the centrifugal separator.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantageous configurations are described in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, to which the invention is not limited, however.

Figur 1a

einen erfindungsgemäßen Staubsauger in Seitenansicht;

Figur 1b

den Staubsauger aus Figur 1a in perspektivischer Ansicht von links oben;

Figur 2

den Staubsauger der vorgenannten Figuren in einem Längsquerschnitt durch eine vertikale Schnittebene mit eingesetzten und in dem Staubsauger verankerten Fliehkraftabscheider;

Figur 3

die gleiche Querschnittsansicht des Staubsaugers, diesmal jedoch mit gelöster und zur Entnahme gekipptem Fliehkraftabscheider;

Figur 4

den Fliehkraftabscheider mit Saugstutzen und eingesetztem Filter;

Figur 5

den Fliehkraftabscheider mit entnommenen Filter; und

Figur 6

den Fliehkraftabscheider in Entleerstellung über einem Müllbehälter zur Aufnahme des aus dem Fliehkraftabscheider entleerten Staubs.

They show schematically:

Figure 1a

a vacuum cleaner according to the invention in side view;

Figure 1b

the vacuum cleaner off Figure 1a in a perspective view from the top left;

Figure 2

the vacuum cleaner of the aforementioned figures in a longitudinal cross-section through a vertical sectional plane with centrifugal separators inserted and anchored in the vacuum cleaner;

Figure 3

the same cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner, but this time with the centrifugal separator loosened and tilted for removal;

Figure 4

the centrifugal separator with suction nozzle and inserted filter;

Figure 5

the centrifugal separator with the filter removed; and

Figure 6

the centrifugal separator in the emptying position above a waste container to receive the dust emptied from the centrifugal separator.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, the same reference symbols designate the same or comparable components.

In the Figures 1a and 1b the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the invention is shown from the outside. The vacuum cleaner 1 has a handle 2 so that it can be held in the hand. In addition, a removable electric battery pack 3 is provided, which has a fan motor 4 (in Figure 2 and 3 shown) a motor-fan unit 5 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is supplied with power. The blower motor 4 can be switched on and off via a gun switch 6. With a boost or turbo button 7, the fan motor 4 can be operated temporarily at a particularly high speed. Below the motor / fan unit there is a blow-out opening 8 for the suction air emerging from the motor / fan unit 5.

In addition, the vacuum cleaner 1 has a generally upright centrifugal separator 9. This centrifugal separator 9 is arranged essentially parallel to the fan motor 4 of the motor-fan unit 5, which is also arranged upright. On the centrifugal separator 9, specifically in its upper area, a suction nozzle 10 is provided with which suction air can be drawn into the centrifugal separator 9. The suction connector 10 is essentially tubular, the longitudinal axis of this tube running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the centrifugal separator 9. At the end 10 of the suction nozzle facing away from the centrifugal separator 9, if from User wished to use various attachment elements (not shown), e.g. B. different suction nozzles, or a suction tube can be attached.

In the sectional drawings of the Figures 2 and 3 the centrifugal separator 9 is shown in more detail. It is pot-shaped with a cylindrical jacket 11 and a closed base 12 that is integral with the jacket 11. The top of the centrifugal separator 9 is open but covered by the cover component of the vacuum cleaner 1. The bottom 12 of the centrifugal separator 9 cannot be opened due to the closed bottom 12, which is integral with the jacket 11 of the centrifugal separator 9, which in particular also prevents a dust collector 13 of the centrifugal separator 9 from being emptied through the bottom.

As in the Figures 2 and 3 Clearly recognizable, the centrifugal separator 9 comprises a separating device 14, which is arranged in the upper part of the centrifugal separator 9, and the dust collecting container 13 in the lower part. In addition to part of the tubular jacket surface 11 of the centrifugal separator 9, the separating device 14 comprises a filter 15 which is surrounded by this jacket surface and which can be removed from the centrifugal separator 9 in order to empty the dust collector 9. When the fan motor is switched on, suction air is sucked in through the suction nozzle into the centrifugal separator 9, the suction air being fed through a deflection means 16 which is fed into the Figures 2 and 3 to some extent from the inside and into the Figures 4 and 6th is visible from the outside, is deflected in a direction substantially tangential to the lateral surface 11. As a result, it circles downwards along the lateral surface 11 of the centrifugal separator 9, whereby the centrifugal force can separate dust, dirt and liquids which, following the force of gravity, fall into the lower part of the centrifugal separator 9, which serves as a dust collector 13. The air, which has already been partially freed of dust in this way, now passes through the filter 15 of the separator 14, as a result of which further dust and other components can be removed from the air. As a rule, these constituents also fall from the filter into the dust collection container 13 following the force of gravity. The air passes through the filter 15 via a deflection pipe 17, which is present in the cover component of the vacuum cleaner 1, into the motor / fan unit 5 of the vacuum cleaner 1 and is blown out through the exhaust opening 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1. As in the sectional drawings of the Figures 2 and 3 can also be seen, the suction port 10 is also equipped with a protective flap 18, which prevents the downwardly tilted nozzle 10 and switched off blower motor 4 dust from the dust collecting device 13 passes through the suction nozzle 10 back to the outside.

When the vacuum cleaner 1 is placed on a flat, horizontal surface, the vacuum cleaner 1 rests partly on the floor 12 of the centrifugal separator and partly on a foot 19 which is arranged below the blow-out openings 8 of the motor-fan unit 5. On the other hand, the vacuum cleaner 1 in particular does not rest on the battery pack 3 arranged below the handle 2. In this way, it is possible for a user to easily reach the battery 3 for the purpose of replacement.

The vacuum cleaner 1 also has an actuating element 20 with which the centrifugal separator 9 can be detached from the rest of the vacuum cleaner 1 in order to remove it from the rest of the vacuum cleaner 1. To the actuating element 20 is an in Figures 3 and 4th recognizable bolt 21, which is in a blocking position when the centrifugal separator 9 is inserted in the vacuum cleaner 1 and the actuating element 20 is not actuated at the same time, in which it interacts in a locking manner with a stop on the cover component 13 of the vacuum cleaner 1 in such a way that the centrifugal separator 9 cannot be removed from the vacuum cleaner 1. In the actuated state of the actuating element 20, however, the bolt 21 is in an open position in which it no longer interacts with the stop in a blocking manner, so that the centrifugal separator can be removed from the vacuum cleaner 1.

The actuating element 21 is designed as a pushbutton switch which is pretensioned in the blocking position with a spring element in the form of a helical spring. If the actuating element 20 is moved downwards against the force of the spring element, the bolt 21 also moves with it under the stop, whereby the centrifugal separator 9 is released so that it can be released from the vacuum cleaner 1. In addition, the bolt 21 is equipped with a bevel, whereby the bolt 21 (and with it the actuating element 20) when the centrifugal separator 9 is reinserted is moved by the bevel against the force of the spring element in the actuating direction of the actuating element 20, so that the bolt 21 is moved under a The lower edge of the stop can go through back into its blocking position here the stop. With the same effect, the run-up bevel can be arranged instead of on the bolt 21 or in addition to it on the lower edge of the stop.

The actuating element 20 is arranged on the upper side of the suction nozzle 10 so that it can be reached with the thumb or another finger of the hand surrounding the suction nozzle 10. As in Figure 4 The button of the actuating element 21 clearly protrudes in the non-actuated position out of the plane of the suction connector 10 upwards. In this way, it can be avoided that it is inadvertently already actuated when gripping the suction connector 10. A base 22 of the actuating element (in Figures 4 , 5 and 6th easily recognizable), which also protrudes from the plane of the suction nozzle surface.

To remove the centrifugal separator 9, it can be tilted around the axis of a joint with a hand grasping the suction nozzle 10. The tilting takes place against the intended direction of flow of the suction air. The joint and thus also the pivot point are located on the side of the centrifugal separator opposite the suction nozzle 10 in the lower region of the centrifugal separator 9 and the vacuum cleaner 1.

The joint consists of a first coupling element, which is arranged on the centrifugal separator 9, and a second coupling element that can be connected to it, which is adjacent to the centrifugal separator 9 at the level of the exhaust opening 8 of the vacuum cleaner 1. The first element is designed as a pin 23, the second as a shell 24 in the form of a cylindrical groove in which the pin 23 comes to rest when the two coupling elements are connected. When tilted, the pin 23 is rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the shell 24. In the tilted state of the centrifugal separator 9, the pin 23 can be lifted out of the shell 24 by lifting the pin 23 relative to the shell 24 in order to remove the centrifugal separator 9 from the vacuum cleaner 1. In the non-tilted state of the centrifugal separator 9, this is not possible because the cover component of the vacuum cleaner 1 prevents the pin 23 from being lifted relative to the shell 24.

To empty the dust collector 13, when the centrifugal separator 9 has been removed, the filter 15 is first removed, as in FIG Figure 5 shown. Then the centrifugal separator 9 can be rotated around the longitudinal axis of the suction nozzle 10 with the hand that grips it at the suction nozzle 10 so that the dust can be emptied through the opening of the centrifugal separator 9. In this way is the Dust collection container 13 can be emptied easily. In particular, the dust can carefully get into the in Figure 6 trash can 25 also shown are emptied. The emptying can be metered by determining the angle by which the centrifugal separator 9 is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the suction nozzle 10 in order to avoid the formation of a dust cloud. Then the centrifugal separator 9 can still be cleaned, for. B. with a damp cloth. The filter 15 can be exchanged if necessary.

The (possibly new) filter 15 can then be reinserted into the centrifugal separator 9, and the centrifugal separator 9 can be attached to the other part of the vacuum cleaner 1 in a tilted position so that the pin 23 engages in the shell 24. The centrifugal separator 9 can now be moved back into its non-tilted position until the bolt 21 has passed the lower edge of the stop again into its blocking position, so that the vacuum cleaner 1 is ready for operation again. The vacuum cleaner according to the invention collects dust, dirt and liquids reliably and is easy to empty.

List of reference symbols

1

vacuum cleaner

2

Handle

3rd

accumulator

4th

Blower motor

5

Motor-blower unit

6th

Gun switch

7th

Boost or Turbo button

8th

Exhaust opening

9

Centrifugal separator

10

Suction nozzle

11

a coat

12th

floor

13th

Dust collector

14th

Separator

15th

filter

16

Deflection means

17th

Deflection tube

18th

protective cap

19th

foot

20th

Actuator

21

bars

22nd

base

23

Cones

24

peel

25th

Garbage can

Claims (14)

1. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) with a cyclone collector (9), which has a collector facility (14) and a dust collection container (13), an actuation element (20) for releasing the cyclone collector (9), in order to be able to remove it from the vacuum cleaner (1), and a suction nozzle (10) for the supply of suction air into the cyclone collector (9), characterised in that the actuation element (20) is arranged on the suction nozzle (10) or is at a distance of no more than 7 cm from the end of the suction nozzle (10) which adjoins the cyclone collector (9), wherein the actuation element (20) is embodied such that it can be actuated by a hand that is engaging on the suction nozzle (10) in order to handle the cyclone collector (9).
2. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the cyclone collector (9) is oriented in a general upright direction.
3. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the dust collection container (13) is arranged below the collector facility (14) and has a bottom (12), wherein the dust collection container (13) cannot be emptied by opening the bottom (12) of the cyclone collector (9).
4. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the bottom (12) of the cyclone collector (9) cannot be opened.
5. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that the dust collection container (13) cannot be emptied by opening a part of the peripheral surface (11) of the cyclone collector (9) arranged in the region of the dust collection container (13).
6. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the dust collection container (13), at least in a state in which it is removed from the vacuum cleaner (1), can be emptied by way of an upper side of the cyclone collector (9).
7. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the cyclone collector (9) is embodied in a pot-shaped manner.
8. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the vacuum cleaner (1), when placed on a placement area in the intended manner, at least partially supports itself using at least some of the bottom (12) of the cyclone collector (9).
9. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the suction nozzle (10), at at least one point at a distance of less than 7 cm from the actuation element (20), has a circumference of less than 30 cm and wherein the actuation element (20), at least in the unactuated state, protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the suction nozzle (10).
10. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that the actuation element (20) is arranged in the upper, or, when viewing the suction nozzle (10) in the direction of flow, in the left region of the suction nozzle (10).
11. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterised in that the suction nozzle (10) is arranged at mid-height or above the middle of the removable cyclone collector (9).
12. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the dust collection container (13) is arranged below the collector facility (14) and has a bottom (12), wherein the dust collection container (13) cannot be emptied by opening the bottom (12) of the cyclone collector (9).
13. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the actuation element is ready for actuation at least in the switched-off state of the vacuum cleaner (1) and/or that the released cyclone collector (9) can be removed from the vacuum cleaner (1) by way of a tilting movement of the suction nozzle (10) against the intended direction of flow of the suction air.
14. Handheld battery-operated vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the dust collection container (13) is arranged below the collector facility (14).

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