EP3772314A1 - Wet/dry vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a wet / dry vacuum device (1) with a suction unit, a suction nozzle (3) in flow connection with the suction unit and with a dirty liquid tank (7) for receiving dirty liquid, the dirty liquid tank via an air outlet (16) of a dirty liquid tank connection ( 10) is in flow connection with the suction unit and has a float (11) for monitoring the fill level and / or for reducing the power consumption or for switching off the suction unit. The known wet / dry suction devices (1) use a switch that switches from the float to Switching off the suction device is actuated. The float (11) is susceptible to brief sloshing movements, which can lead to a malfunction. The invention improves this in that the float (11) is in a float guide (15) between two stops from an operating position in which the air outlet (16) is released and a closed position in which the air outlet (16) is at least partially closed , is movable back and forth in a translational movement and the float guide (15) is designed such that the float (11) in the operating position in addition to moving in the first direction of movement in a second, straight or curved direction running at an angle to the first direction of movement Direction of movement is movably mounted and is thereby additionally fixed positively.

Description

The invention relates to a wet / dry vacuum device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a wet / dry vacuum device is from EP 3 213 665 A1 or the US 2009/0094780 A1 known and has a suction unit arranged in a housing, a suction nozzle that is in flow connection with the suction unit, and a dirty liquid tank for receiving dirty liquid which is separated from a sucked in suction material flow. The devices are designed, for example, as floor mopping / vacuuming devices that can be operated in one hand, with which cleaning and vacuuming can be combined. The dirty liquid tank is in flow connection with the suction unit via an air outlet of a dirty liquid tank connection and has a float for monitoring the fill level and / or for reducing the power consumption or for switching off the suction unit.

This suction device for sucking up liquids or liquid / air mixtures described also has a housing with a dirty liquid tank. The housing stands upright on the floor on castors. The suction device has a switch-off device that switches off the suction unit when the liquid level in the dirty liquid tank reaches a critical level. The switch-off device consists of a float located in the dirty liquid tank, which is raised together with the level in the dirty liquid tank and, when a critical level is reached, actuates a microswitch, which then switches off the suction unit.

Although this solution allows the suction unit to be switched off safely when the critical height is reached, it has the disadvantage that, on the one hand, the microswitch is required and, on the other hand, such a circuit only functions with sufficient operational reliability if the dirty liquid tank does not tip over as a result of the operation of the suction device becomes. A microswitch initially has the disadvantage that it can also become dirty, particularly in connection with the dirty contents of the dirty liquid tank, so that the function is impaired or maintenance is required.

In connection with suction devices that are designed as stick devices, the dirty liquid tank is also moved much more dynamically, for example when the User wants to vacuum under a piece of furniture and the device tends to do so very strongly. Furthermore, of course, the movements during vacuuming are often much more abrupt than in the case of a comparatively heavy floor-standing device that is moved over rollers. However, this means that the sloshing movements that then occur in the dirty liquid tank also lead to a dynamic up and down movement of the swimmer, so that the suction unit is switched off too early in such cases, because a wave movement briefly affects the swimmer when the dirty liquid tank is not yet overfull has brought it to a critical level.

From the EP 3 335 611 A1 Another embodiment of a wet / dry suction device is known which also uses a float to switch off the suction unit when a maximum level is reached in the dirty liquid tank. Here, the fill level is also monitored by measuring the pressure difference of the pressure on the one hand above the liquid level in the dirty liquid tank and on the other hand in the suction line. A complex sensor system is also required here.

Furthermore, from the U.S. 4,776,060 A and the DE 3 034 400 A1 each a further embodiment of a wet / dry suction device with a float for switching off the suction unit is known.

From the DE 20 2006 015 811 U1 and the DE 10 2012 108008 wet / dry suction devices with sensors are known which measure the occurrence of liquid in the suction channel between the dirty liquid tank and the suction unit without using a float. However, this technology has the disadvantage that the suction unit can only be switched off when liquid has already left the dirty liquid tank, so that moisture in the suction unit cannot be avoided with sufficient reliability. In addition, here, too, portions of the liquid that are entrained with the exhaust air flow as a result of the dynamic movement when the dirty liquid tank is still low, the suction unit can be switched off too early. Finally from the DE 692 16 716 T2 an electric vacuum cleaner is known, which has a spherical float for power control and for switching off when a critical fill level in the dirty liquid tank.

All of these devices have the disadvantage that, with dynamic movement of the housing, the level control and power regulation via the float occurs as a result Inertial forces and the associated movement of the float that is not generated by the level can become imprecise.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a wet / dry suction device in which the swimmer is better protected against malfunctions caused by jerky and dynamic movements of the user or by brief sloshing movements of the dirty liquid or by dynamic movements.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a wet / dry suction device according to claim 1.

The new wet / dry vacuum device is particularly characterized by the fact that the float is in the float guide between two stops from an operating position in which the float is in contact with a first stop and the air outlet is released, and a closed position in which the float is against a , the second stop opposite the first stop rests and the air outlet is at least partially closed, can be moved back and forth in a particularly translatory swimming movement in a swimming direction as the first movement direction. The swimming movement is directed parallel to the swimming direction. The float guide is designed in such a way that in the operating position, in addition to moving in the first direction of movement as the swimming direction, the float is movably supported in a second, straight or curved direction of movement at an angle to the swimming direction or is movable by sliding out of the float guide and during or the last section of the swimming movement before the first stop is reached or after the first stop has been reached, executes a locking movement that is downstream of the swimming movement or is superimposed on the swimming movement.

The invention is particularly useful in connection with the wet / dry suction devices already mentioned above, which are designed as stick devices. These are devices which, in contrast to a typical cylinder vacuum cleaner, have a housing which is attached to a handle to be held by the user via a handle or is part of the handle if the handle is formed in the upwardly tapering housing. A floor nozzle is then arranged at the lower end of this device, which is moved over the handle together with the housing along the surface to be cleaned. At Such devices usually occur much more dynamic liquid movements in the dirty liquid tank than in devices that are designed in the manner of a cylinder vacuum cleaner. This has the disadvantage that the known float guides are too sensitive, so that dynamic movements of the device itself but also sloshing or wave movements of the dirty liquid can deflect the float so much that the suction unit is switched off without the need for this.

The wet / dry suction devices according to the invention are not limited to such stick devices. Furthermore, they can also be designed as cleaning devices that not only have a suction function but also a wiping function with fresh water supply. The invention is therefore applicable to all devices with a suction function for media streams containing liquids and is intended to cover all such devices that have a dirty liquid tank in which dirty liquid is collected after separation from a sucked in mixture of air and liquid, the separated air subsequently over a suction unit is extracted.

The wet / dry vacuum device now has the advantage that the float is not only moved as a result of an increase in the fill level in the dirty liquid tank, but is held in the operating position by an additional mechanical holding mechanism due to the additional movement, in particular designed as a rotary movement. This means that the overlaid movement of the float is again mechanically held in the operating position, with an abutment edge preferably engaging behind a stationary component, in particular the dirty water tank connection or the float guide, for this purpose. For this purpose, the float in turn has a suitable abutment edge via which the positive connection is established. To release this additional connection, the float is first moved against the second direction of movement by the buoyancy, so that the mechanical lock is released or the frictional forces are reduced. Subsequently, as with the known swimmers, the swimmer can then be moved in a translatory manner within the swimmer guide in the direction of the upper, second stop by the buoyancy.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the float is after or when reaching the operating position, that is, when reaching a first stop with a lower float position within the dirty liquid tank, displaceable in a second direction, in particular rotatable. This can be done in that the lower part of the float protrudes from the float guide and only the upper part is mounted in the float guide, this upper part then being designed together with the mounting in such a way that this mounting is in addition to the main translatory movement of the swimmer in the swimming direction also allows a rotational movement as a locking movement around the upper bearing.

If, for example, the float guide is a pipe socket or a bearing cage that at least partially accommodates the float, a lower part of the float can protrude from this float guide when it drops in the direction of the first stop in the operating position and in the upper area via laterally protruding bearing bolts in suitable bearings of the float guide, for example, oblong holes on the side. If the float body slips out of the pipe socket or the bearing body so far that there is no longer any linear guidance, the additional pivoting or rotating movement is then possible.

If the main direction of movement (= swimming direction) of the swimmer resulting from the lowering or rising of the fill level is now inclined relative to the vertical direction, the lower end of the float is in one position due to its weight and the fact that it is held in the upper pivot bearing small turning movement downwards until it hits an abutment arranged in the float guide or elsewhere in the dirty liquid tank. This abutment is then designed in connection with the outer contour of the float in such a way that a non-positive retaining connection results in the direction of the insertion direction of the float guide.

If the fill level in the dirty liquid tank rises, this downwardly angled end piece of the float will first dip into the liquid until it floats up and the rotary movement described above resets itself. This disengages the non-positive retaining connection and the swimmer can move in the direction of the main direction of movement of the swimmer guide (= swimming direction). A further rise in the level then moves the float into the float guide until it either clicks a switch there hits or at least partially closes the air outlet, which in turn can be detected as a switching signal.

In principle, the mechanical additional locking of the float described above can of course also be implemented via an additional, translatory movement in a direction deviating from the swimming direction. For this purpose, for example, the float guide can be designed in such a way that when an end area of the swimmer's mobility is reached within the float guide in the direction of the first stop, there is an additional degree of freedom, so that the float can fall down a small distance. Here, too, the lifting of the float as a result of the buoyancy can reverse this falling, so that the float is automatically inserted deeper into the float guide again when the fill level rises and the buoyancy associated therewith.

In order to realize the abutment edge on the float, the float preferably has a transverse notch which is made in the outer contour of the float body. This notch is designed in such a way that the necessary non-positive retaining connection results.

The float and the float guide can be designed so that the float can also be rotated or pivoted in an intermediate position between the first stop and the second stop. For this purpose, the float has a second abutment edge which is arranged at a distance from the first abutment edge and which, when rotated in the intermediate position, engages behind an additional abutment edge of the float guide.

In order to make the swimmer a little less sensitive to dynamic movements, frictional forces can be used which either act on the swimmer's guidance over the entire range of motion or part of the range of motion. A friction-increasing shoulder can also be provided at the end of the float guide, which shoulder extends from the guide surfaces of the float guide in the direction of the float body. If, for example, the float guide is a pipe socket protruding into the dirty liquid tank, this can have an inwardly protruding shoulder or edge at its end have, which can be made of an elastic material to form a friction brake. Of course, all other forms of braking means can also be provided which counteract the movement of the float in the direction of the second stop, of which the stop.

If the float, as described above, is initially in the upper range of motion, starting from the second upper stop in the direction of the operating position in which the float releases the air outlet or a switch to switch off the suction unit is not actuated, is linearly guided and then when one is reached The lower, first stop is additionally also rotatably mounted by eliminating the linear guide, it can be advantageous if the float has an inhomogeneous density distribution compared to a float with the same shape and homogeneous density distribution.

The rotary movement is essentially determined by the center of gravity and a distance from the axis of rotation of the rotary bearing, which counteracts the buoyancy when the fill level in the dirty liquid tank rises. The ratio of these two forces determines the movement of the swimmer. To raise the swimmer, the buoyancy must first be greater than the sum of the weight force and the torque resulting from this weight force that acts on the swimmer's pivot bearing. However, the torque depends on the distance between the center of gravity and the axis of rotation.

By changing the density of the float, the center of gravity can now be shifted. This shift means a change in the torque that acts on the swivel bearing of the float as a result of the weight. So the swimmer can be trained more easily in the lower area than in the upper area. This means that the center of gravity is shifted upwards and that the moment counteracting the buoyancy loses its importance due to the force of weight. This makes it easier for the buoyancy to move the float back into the position in which it can be introduced further into the float guide in the direction of the second stop.

One possibility of an inhomogeneous density distribution is, for example, that the float body has cavities, larger cavities being provided in the lower area than in the upper area or thinner wall thicknesses.

The present invention with the additional securing of the float in the lower operating position can be used particularly advantageously in connection with a wet / dry vacuum device that is characterized by the fact that the float is slidably mounted in the dirty liquid tank in such a way that when the liquid level in the dirty liquid tank rises, it is in front of the Air outlet, at least partially blocking the air outlet, is relocated, and that the wet / dry vacuum device has a control that is able to detect the change in the power consumption of the suction unit as a result of the blocking of the air outlet and, upon detection of a changed power consumption via a signal device, the user receives a critical one Display filling level and / or able to reduce the performance of the suction unit. In this embodiment, the float, if the liquid level is low enough, is lowered and rests against the first stop in a positively locked manner. The positive locking results from the second movement of the float at the end of the lowering movement.

If the float is now raised as a result of the rising liquid level in the dirty liquid tank, this movement can be used to first move the float back into a position in which it can slide further up within the float guide until it at least partially closes the air outlet in the dirty liquid tank . The associated obstruction of the exhaust air flow in turn changes the power consumption of the suction unit, which now has to work against the increased flow resistance. This change in power consumption can in turn be detected by a control of the wet / dry suction device and interpreted as a signal for a critical fill level. If such a signal is then recognized, the suction unit can be switched off immediately, depending on the design of the device, or only after a certain period of time during which the signal remains active. A time delay, however, has the advantage that a short-term movement does not lead to a too rapid switch-off, but also the disadvantage that the reaction time is reduced in the event that water is sucked in.

The air outlet can be closed by the swimmer himself. For this purpose, the float guide is designed so that the float is moved in front of the air outlet when the fill level is appropriate. So that in this case the filling level is not so high that liquid is already sucked in, the float can have an area that widens upwards, extends upwards from the actual float floating on the surface of the dirty liquid and is designed so that when the critical filling level is reached it is shifted in front of the air outlet, partially or completely covering it. Of course, the float can also indirectly close the air outlet, for example by actuating a separate closure via a lever.

If the float reaches the critical height, a locking device can be provided that holds the float in place at this height. Furthermore, it can be provided that the float closes off the air outlet in a liquid-tight manner, which is possible in particular through the latching device. In one embodiment, for example, the float or the component moved by the float can be sucked in via the suction pressure of the suction unit and thereby locked into the locking device in a sealing manner. The air outlet is then closed by this locking, so that no liquid can escape through the air outlet even when the device is put down.

A particularly advantageous development of the above-described sealing of the air outlet when the critical fill level is reached also includes the option that the latching connection remains activated after the dirty liquid tank has been removed from the housing and is automatically deactivated again when it is reinserted into the housing. This can be done, for example, by means of release elements that automatically spring out of the housing when the dirty liquid tank is removed and push the float out of the latching position when it is inserted into the housing.

What is essential for the function and its particularly cost-effective implementation is only the fact that the float causes a significant change in pressure behind the air outlet and in front of the suction unit, which can be determined by the control by monitoring the power consumption of the suction unit. The float is preferably moved back and forth between the two stops, it being possible for it to be in a lower operating position in which the dirty liquid tank is empty or in which a non-critical level is still present. This The lower operating position can also include a travel range of the float in which there is not yet a critical level.

Since, in a simple solution, the float is only used to close the air outlet, it does not have to be able to move down into the lower area of the dirty liquid tank. The first stop, which is significant for the operating position, that is to say for the position in which the suction unit is in operation at full power, can therefore also be arranged further up in the dirty liquid tank. The upper, second stop for the movement of the float is in turn in an area in which a critical level is not yet present, so that on the one hand liquid is reliably prevented from being sucked in and on the other hand due to the design of the float guide and the float it is already ensured that when the upper stop is reached, the air outlet is closed to a sufficient extent to be able to determine this by monitoring the power consumption.

In an exemplary embodiment of the device, the dirty liquid tank has a dirty liquid tank connection which protrudes into the dirty liquid tank in the form of a pipe socket. This pipe socket does not have to be cylindrical; all other cross-sections, in particular rectangular cross-sections, square cross-sections or oval cross-sections, can also be considered, since the cross-section is essentially irrelevant for the function. In this pipe socket protruding down into the dirty liquid tank, the float can then be slidably mounted, whereby it preferably has an area protruding downward from the pipe socket, which dips into the liquid when a certain level is reached in order to then act as a buoyancy body. The float guide can then be implemented particularly easily in the pipe socket.

Furthermore, one or more windows, which form the air outlet, can be provided in the wall of the pipe socket above the area in which the float in the pipe socket is moved before the critical filling level is reached. In this way, the float does not obstruct the exhaust air flow during regular operation, on the other hand, when a critical fill level is reached, or even before that, it is moved in front of the window so that the air outlet is partially or completely closed and the function of the control of the suction unit this becomes possible.

The float guide and the abovementioned stops can easily be implemented through lateral elongated holes in the tubular socket when using a pipe socket to guide the float, in which case the float then has guide means that protrude laterally outward and protrude into these elongated holes. The ends of the elongated holes then form the stops. The elongated holes can only be used to guide the float, but alternatively the float can also be guided in other ways in the pipe socket, so that the function of the elongated holes is limited to the formation of the stops. Finally, this configuration can also form only part of the float guide, which is particularly interesting when the float is moved in the extended position, that is to say the operating position, not only in a translatory manner but also in a rotational manner. In this case, two upper guide elements can then form the pivot bearings in the elongated hole, as will be described in detail below.

In one embodiment of the invention, the controller will continuously monitor the motor current. A threshold value is stored in the control, the reaching of which is interpreted as the delegation of a critical fill level. The control will therefore compare the measured power consumption as a measured value with a reference value and, if necessary, initiate appropriate measures.

The function according to the invention is not limited to switching off the suction unit completely. Rather, the suction unit can initially continue to be operated when the fill level in the dirty liquid tank approaches a critical level. In this area there is not yet any risk of liquid being sucked in. However, it is advisable to signal to the user that the capacity limits of the dirty liquid tank will soon be reached. The control can therefore initially only use a partial closure of the air outlet by the float as a level measurement without triggering the signal for the critical level.

If a slight increase in engine output is detected, a suitable signal device can be used to indicate to the user that the dirty liquid tank is filling. Because the float is continuously raised, the power consumption will also increase continuously. This can be used to set up several warning thresholds in order to initially only give the user an indication that the dirty liquid tank is necessary, then an urgent indication and Subsequently give a warning or switch off the suction unit. The instructions can be of an acoustic or optical nature, they can be displayed on the wet / dry vacuum device itself or displayed or otherwise output via an interface on another device, for example a smartphone.

The shape of that area of the float or component that is moved by the float in front of the air outlet can be used to set how the power consumption develops with increasing liquid level in the dirty liquid tank. For example, this area can be designed to taper upwards, so that initially there is a comparatively small change in the power consumption and the rate of change increases as the float increases in the dirty liquid tank. The rate of change of the relevant signal can therefore be manipulated via the shape of the area.

It is also possible that the suction unit is not completely switched off when a critical fill level is reached in the dirty liquid tank, but that the power is only reduced. For example, in some applications it may be sufficient to reduce the suction power to such an extent that no more liquid is sucked in, i.e. the device can still be operated as a pure vacuum cleaner.

A further advantageous development of the device has a dirty liquid tank into which, when the wet / dry vacuum device is upright, an upwardly directed suction channel coming from the suction nozzle opens. The area around this suction channel is then the actual fluid reservoir of the dirty fluid tank.

So that no dirty water from the lower area of the dirty liquid tank can slosh back into the suction channel during rapid movements, a slosh protection is preferably provided on the free end of the suction channel or on the inner wall of the dirty liquid tank. This can be designed in such a way that, as a disk, it covers the lower area below the suction channel, which is inclined when the handle device is used as intended, and prevents dirty water from sloshing up from below. The side of the slosh protection is preferably designed such that dirty water can flow past it into the lower area of the dirty liquid tank. The area above the intake, however, usually does not have to be secured with a slosh protection, because here because of the inclined liquid level there is a lower risk of spilling over into the suction nozzle.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine erste Ausgestaltung eines erfindungsgemäßen Nass-/Trockensaug-gerätes in einer dreidimensionalen Darstellung,

Fig. 2

die in Figur 1 dargestellte Ausgestaltung in einer Ansicht von vorne,

Fig. 3

die in den Figuren 1 und 2 dargestellte Ausgestaltung in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 4

den unteren Bereich des Schmutzflüssigkeitstanks der in den Figuren 1 bis 3 dargestellten Ausgestaltung,

Fig. 5

eine Ansicht des in Figur 4 dargestellten unteren Bereichs des Schmutzflüssigkeitstanks in einer Ansicht von oben,

Fig. 6

den in den Figuren 4 und 5 dargestellten unteren Bereich des Schmutzflüssigkeitstanks in einer Schnittansicht längs der Schnittlinie A-A in Figur 5,

Fig. 7

den in den Figuren 4, 5 und 6 dargestellten unteren Bereich des Schmutzflüssigkeitstanks in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 8

den in den Figuren 4 bis 7 dargestellten unteren Bereich des Schmutzflüssigkeitstanks in einer Schnittansicht längs der Schnittlinie B-B in Figur 7,

Fig. 9

einen als Schmutzwassertankanschluss ausgebildeten oberen Bereich für den in den Figuren 4 bis 8 dargestellten unteren Bereich des Schmutzflüssigkeitstanks mit einem in einer Schwimmerführung gelagerten Schwimmer in drei-dimensionaler Darstellung,

Fig. 10

den in Figur 9 dargestellten Schwimmer in einer vergrößerten, dreidimensionalen Detailansicht,

Fig. 11

den in Figur 9 dargestellten Schmutzwassertankanschluss in einer Ansicht von vorne,

Fig. 12

den in den Figuren 9 und 11 dargestellten Schmutzwassertankanschluss in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 13

den in Figur 9 dargestellten Schmutzwassertankanschluss in einer Seitenansicht im Schnitt längs der Schnittlinie C-C in Figur 11,

Fig. 14

den in Figur 13 dargestellten Schmutzwassertankanschluss in einer typischen Einbauorientierung, in der sich der Schwimmer in der unteren Betriebsstellung befindet,

Fig. 15

den in Figur 10 dargestellten Schwimmer in einer Ansicht von vorne,

Fig. 16

den in den Figuren 10 und 15 dargestellten Schwimmer in einer Seitenansicht im Schnitt längs der Schnittlinie D-D in Figur 15,

Fig. 17

den in den Figuren 10, 16 und 15 dargestellten Schwimmer in einer Seitenansicht und

Fig. 18

eine weitere Ausgestaltung eines zu dem in den Figuren 10, 16, 15 und 17 dargestellten Schwimmers in einer Schnittansicht.

In the drawings shows:

Fig. 1

a first embodiment of a wet / dry vacuum device according to the invention in a three-dimensional representation,

Fig. 2

in the Figure 1 illustrated embodiment in a view from the front,

Fig. 3

those in the Figures 1 and 2 illustrated embodiment in a side view,

Fig. 4

the lower area of the dirty liquid tank in the Figures 1 to 3 illustrated design,

Fig. 5

a view of the in Figure 4 shown lower area of the dirty liquid tank in a view from above,

Fig. 6

the in the Figures 4 and 5 The lower area of the dirty liquid tank shown in a sectional view along the section line AA in Figure 5 ,

Fig. 7

the in the Figures 4 , 5 and 6 shown lower area of the dirty liquid tank in a side view,

Fig. 8

the in the Figures 4 to 7 The lower region of the dirty liquid tank shown in a sectional view along the section line BB in FIG Figure 7 ,

Fig. 9

an upper area designed as a waste water tank connection for the Figures 4 to 8 shown lower area of the dirty liquid tank with a float mounted in a float guide in three-dimensional representation,

Fig. 10

the in Figure 9 shown swimmers in an enlarged, three-dimensional detailed view,

Fig. 11

the in Figure 9 wastewater tank connection shown in a view from the front,

Fig. 12

the in the Figures 9 and 11 wastewater tank connection shown in a side view,

Fig. 13

the in Figure 9 wastewater tank connection shown in a side view in section along the section line CC in Figure 11 ,

Fig. 14

the in Figure 13 wastewater tank connection shown in a typical installation orientation in which the float is in the lower operating position,

Fig. 15

the in Figure 10 shown swimmer in a view from the front,

Fig. 16

the in the Figures 10 and 15 shown float in a side view in section along the section line DD in Figure 15,

Fig. 17

the in the Figures 10 , 16 and 15 shown float in a side view and

Fig. 18

another embodiment of one of the in the Figures 10 , 16, 15 and 17 shown float in a sectional view.

In Figure 1 an inventive wet / dry suction device 1 is shown. The wet / dry vacuum device 1 is designed here as a so-called stick device, ie it has a handle 5 at the upper end of which a handle 4 is provided, via which the user can switch on and guide the wet / dry vacuum device 1. In the lower area of the handle 5 a housing 2 is provided in which a dirty liquid tank 7 is removably arranged. The wet / dry suction device 1 shown here is not only a pure suction device, but also designed as a combination device for cleaning and then vacuuming hard surfaces. For the cleaning function, it has a fresh water tank 6 in which fresh water or cleaning liquid is stored for the supply to an application device which is arranged in the front functional area in addition to the lower suction nozzle 3.

However, it is essential for the present invention to safeguard the suction unit from penetrating dirty water which could be sucked in from the dirty water tank 7. The Figures 2 and 3 show that in Figure 1 shown wet / dry suction device 1 in different views.

The dirty liquid tank 7 is designed in two parts, an upper part forming a dirty water tank connection 10. This will be described in more detail later and closes off a lower receiving area for dirty water at the top. Furthermore, this dirty water tank connection 10 establishes the connection to the suction unit or a suction channel which leads to the suction unit. The suction unit (not visible) is located here on the rear of the housing 2 and initially sucks the air / liquid flow sucked in via the suction nozzle 3 into a Separation chamber in which air and liquid are separated from one another and the liquid is then introduced into the dirty liquid tank 7. The separation chamber can also be arranged within the dirty liquid tank 7 or be formed by it.

When the wet / dry vacuum device 1 is stationary (as shown in FIG Figs. 1 to 3 is shown) an upwardly directed suction channel 8. The lower part of the dirty liquid tank 7 is in Figure 4 shown. It can be seen here that the suction channel 8 protruding into the dirty liquid tank 7 is provided at its free end with a slosh protection 9, which in the shown orientation extends in the lower area up to the wall of the dirty liquid tank 7.

During operation of the wet / dry vacuum device 1, the housing 2 together with the handle 5 will not stand upright, but will be inclined at an angle of, for example, 30 °. This then also applies to the dirty liquid tank 7. Rapid movements of the device, in particular when the dirty liquid tank 7 is already partially filled, can cause liquid to slosh in the direction of the upper end of the suction channel 8. The slosh protection 9 prevents this by covering the area of the interior of the dirty liquid tank 7, namely the area below the inclined suction channel 8 when the device is tilted, so that liquid in this area cannot slosh up into the opening of the suction channel 8 .

On the opposite side, the slosh protection 9 is kept very small or does not extend to this side at all, so that the drainage of the dirty liquid into the storage area formed around the suction channel 8 is hindered as little as possible. Dirty liquid can also flow past the slosh protection at the side. This rapid and easy drainage of the liquid into the lower part of the dirty liquid tank 7 also contributes to the fact that no liquid can flow back through the suction channel 8 in the direction of the suction nozzle 3.

In Figures 5 to 8 the lower part of the dirty liquid tank 7 is shown in detail. Figure 5 shows a view from above, i.e. the in Figure 1 of the wet / dry vacuum device 1, the orientation of the housing 2 shown, the view that results from the front of the dirty liquid tank 7. Figure 6 shows a section along the section line AA in Figure 5 through this view from above, the suction channel 8 protruding into the dirty liquid tank 7 and the slosh protection 9 surrounding it at the free right end of the suction channel 8 can be seen. In particular, it can be seen here that the slosh protection 9, viewed from above, does not reach up to the side walls of the dirty liquid tank 7.

In Figure 7 FIG. 13 is the dirty liquid tank 7 in a side view and FIG Figure 8 shown in a sectional view. Figure 8 is the section along the section line BB in Figure 7 .

Out Figure 8 It can be seen that the slosh protection 9 in the lower area reaches up to the wall of the dirty liquid tank 7, so that dirty liquid cannot slosh through below the slosh protection 9 into the suction channel 8 when the dirty liquid tank 7 is slightly inclined during operation.

Figure 9 shows the dirty water tank connection 10, which is in the lower part of the dirty water tank 7, as it is in the Figures 5 to 8 is shown, is inserted from above. This dirty water tank connection 10 not only connects the dirty water tank 7 to the suction channel to the suction unit, but also has the float guide 15 in its lower area. In Figure 9 the float 11 used here is also shown. The Figures 11 and 12 show the dirty water tank connection 10 in a side view or in a view from the front. The Figure 13 shows the sectional view along the section line CC in FIG Figure 11 .

The float guide 15 is designed here in the form of a rectangular cage which, in the upper area, has two opposing windows that together form the air outlet 16. The extracted air enters the body of the dirty water tank connection 10 from the front or rear through these windows and exits through an upwardly directed connection opening, not visible here, into the suction channel in the direction of the suction unit.

The float 11 is guided longitudinally in the float guide 15 (here from top to bottom). This guide can be implemented by pairing the rectangular cage of the float guide 15 and the rectangular base body of the float 11. Here, however, lateral guide means 17 are provided on the lateral areas of the float 11, which when the float 11 is deeper than in the The position shown here is pushed into the float guide 15, provide the guide in connection with the side walls of the cage of the float guide 15.

In addition, the float 11 has laterally protruding upper guide means 12 which protrude into elongated holes 14 in the float guide 15. This results in part of the guidance of the float 11 and the possibility that after reaching a lower position, when the float 11 has slipped out of the float guide 15 by the maximum distance, the float 11 can execute a small rotary movement.

In Figure 10 the float 11 is shown with its essential functional parts. It can be seen here that the float 11 has a retaining edge 13 as an abutment edge in the upper area. On both sides of this abutment edge there are lateral guide means 17 which, together with the upper guide means 12, guide the float 11.

If the float 11 now slides down so far that the guide through the lateral guide means 17 and possibly a guide through the cage of the float guide 15 is omitted or at least becomes loose, the float 11, which continues to move via the upper guide means 12 in the elongated holes 14 is held to fold down at a small angle until the edge of the cage of the float guide 15 hits the retaining edge 13. This angled position of the float 11 is in Figure 14 shown.

Figure 13 first shows the float lowered down. It can be seen here that there is no longer any guidance above the retaining edge 13. The float can be rotated about an axis of rotation running through the lateral upper guide means 12 until it hits the edges of the cage of the float guide 15. At the same time, however, the upper retaining edge 13 engages behind the lower edge of the cage of the float guide 15. This in turn means that the float 11 cannot be pushed into the float guide 15 without turning back the float 11, but rather is held in the extended position with a positive fit.

Figure 14 shows a typical orientation of the dirty water tank connection 10 during operation of the wet / dry vacuum device 1. Here it is Waste water tank connection 10 is shown with an empty waste liquid tank 7. This means that there is no buoyancy for the float 11, the float 11 has slipped down to a first stop. The first stop 11 is formed here by the lower end of the elongated hole 14, while the opposite second stop is formed by the upper edge of the elongated hole.

In addition, as described above, the float 11 is held in the elongated hole 14 via the upper guide means 12 (not visible here), being pivoted downwards by a small angle in the position shown about the axis of rotation running through the upper guide means 12 . As a result of this pivoting, the retaining edge 13, which is formed here by a notch in the float body, has slipped in front of the lower edge of the float guide 15.

If the level inside the dirty liquid tank 7 rises, the buoyancy will first act on the lower part of the float body. Since the float 11 cannot be pushed upwards due to the wedging over the retaining edge 13 with the lower edge of the float guide 15, it will first straighten up until its longitudinal axis runs parallel to the elongated hole 14 and to the inside of the float guide 15. In this orientation, the form fit of the retaining edge 13 with the lower edge of the float guide 15 is canceled and the float 11 can penetrate into the float guide 15.

FIGS. 15 to 18 show a further configuration of a float 11, which is very similar to the first configuration. From the outside, this configuration does not differ from the first configuration, but this configuration of the float 11 has an inhomogeneous density distribution. FIG. 15 initially shows the float 11 from the outside. FIG. 17 shows the section along the line DD in FIG. Here, and in particular also in the three-dimensional sectional view in FIG. 18, it can be seen that the float 11 has cavities, the cavities being significantly larger in the lower area than in the upper area. As a result, the center of gravity of the swimmer 11 is shifted upwards in comparison to a solid float body or an exclusively float body.

Since, at the same time, the upper guide means 12, which define the axis of rotation of the float 11 in the lower range of motion, are located high up, the focus is shifted in the direction of the axis of rotation due to the inhomogeneous density distribution. This in turn leads to the fact that the weight of the float 11 is absorbed to a greater extent exclusively via the bearings formed by the upper guide means 12, so that the buoyancy force has to overcome a lower restoring torque due to the weight to bring the float 11 back into the insertable position to pivot upwards.

The invention described above contains many aspects which can also be used independently of one another. In particular, this is the form-fitting mounting with the additional movement of the float at the lower end of its range of motion in the float guide 15, the inhomogeneous density distribution to optimize the forces and the control of the suction unit to avoid the suction of liquid as a result of the closure of the air outlet 16 by the float 11. Another independent aspect of a potential invention lies in the slosh protection 9, which in the front area only partially secures the intake channel 8 against sloshing water and at the same time allows dirty water to drain easily into the lower part of the dirty liquid tank 7 and also effectively opens the Suction channel 8 protects against sloshing back water.

Even if all the functions of the components mentioned in combination certainly define an advantageous overall object, they can also be used independently of one another. An independent protection for the individual features of the subclaims and the embodiments described here according to Figures 1 to 18 is therefore reserved.

List of reference symbols:

1

Wet / dry vacuum device

2

casing

3

Suction nozzle

4th

Handle

5

stalk

6

Fresh water tank

7th

Dirty liquid tank

8th

Intake duct

9

Slosh protection

10

Dirty liquid tank connection

11

swimmer

12

Upper guide means

13

Retaining edge

14th

Long hole for guiding the upper guide means

15th

Float guide

16

Air outlet

17th

Lateral guide means

Claims (14)

Wet / dry vacuum device (1) with • a housing (2), • a suction unit arranged in the housing (2), • At least one suction nozzle (3) which is in flow connection with the suction unit and • with a dirty liquid tank (7) to hold dirty liquid that is separated from a suction material flow sucked in via the suction nozzle (3), the dirty liquid tank (7) • an air outlet (16) through which the dirty liquid tank (7) is in flow connection with the suction unit, and • has a float (11) for monitoring the fill level and / or for reducing the power consumption or for switching off the suction unit, which is mounted in a float guide (15), and wherein the float guide (15) is designed in such a way that the float (11) is driven by buoyancy depending on the level of the dirty liquid tank (7) in a swimming movement along a straight or curved swimming direction between a first stop on which the float (11) is is in an operating position and a second stop, on which the float (11) is in a closed position, can be moved back and forth, and
wherein the air outlet (16) is released when the float (11) rests against the first stop and is at least partially closed when the float (11) rests against the second stop, characterized in that the float (11) and float guide (15) are designed in this way are that the float (11) is guided relative to the swimming direction during the swimming movement and, when the closed position is reached, automatically executes an additional locking movement in addition to the swimming movement, the locking movement being a pivoting or rotating movement of the float (11) around an angle to the swimming direction Is the axis of rotation and the float (11) as a result of the locking movement due to tilting in the float guide and the associated build-up of frictional forces between the float guide (15) and the float (11) and / or by positive interlocking of an abutment edge of the float (11) and a corresponding abutment edge, which is provided in particular on the float guide (15), can be released against displacement in the swimming direction in the direction of the operating position is fixed. Wet / dry vacuum device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the float (11) and the float guide (15) are designed such that the float (11) in the operating position and inclined relative to the swimming direction is blocked in the swimming direction and only on reaching a critical level of the liquid in the dirty liquid tank (7) and the associated buoyancy becomes movable in the swimming direction, the lifting of the blockage by resetting the locking movement and the associated resetting of the swimmer's inclination and / or the associated loosening of the through the interlocking of the abutment edges caused positive locking is effected. Wet / dry vacuum device (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the float (11), the float (11) and the float guide (15) are designed such that the float (11) is additionally in an intermediate position between the first stop and the second stop is rotatable or pivotable, the float (11) having a second, spaced from the first abutment edge, which engages behind an abutment edge of the float guide (15) when rotated in the intermediate position. Wet / dry suction device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the float is detachably fixed by interlocking the abutment edge of the float (11) and a corresponding abutment edge of the float guide (15), wherein the dirty liquid tank connection (10) is one in the Has a dirty liquid tank (7) protruding guide stub, in particular in the form of a guide cage or a pipe socket with a round or non-round cross-section and the float (11) in a section of the float guide (15) forming Guide connector is slidably mounted and a lower edge of the guide connector forms the abutment edge of the float guide (15). Wet / dry vacuum device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower edge of the guide stub protrudes inwards towards the float (11) to increase the frictional resistance and / or to form a form-fitting recoil protection with a braking element or edge. Wet / dry vacuum device (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the float (11) has a jacket surface with a round or angular cross-section and the abutment edge on the float side is formed by a retaining groove embossed in the jacket surface. Wet / dry vacuum device (1) according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that the guide support is designed as a pipe socket and in its wall has at least one elongated hole running parallel to the swimming direction into which the float (11) with laterally protruding guide means ( 12) engages, the ends of the elongated hole in particular forming the first and second stops. Wet / dry suction device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the float (11) the retention force for a given shape of the float (11) is set by an inhomogeneous density distribution within the body of the swimmer (11) such that the Float (11) is released at the critical level by resetting its inclination relative to the swimming direction by the buoyancy force. Wet / dry suction device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the float (11) is designed in such a way that the float (11) compared to a float (11) with a homogeneous density distribution of the same shape one upwards, in the direction of the dirty water tank connection (10) has shifted focus. Wet / dry suction device (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the inhomogeneous density distribution is realized by cavities of different sizes in the body of the swimmer (11) formed by means of ribs. Wet / dry suction device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wet / dry suction device (1) has a control which is able to detect the change in the power consumption of the suction unit as a result of the closure of the air outlet (16) and upon detection a changed power consumption via a signal device to indicate to the user a critical fill level and / or be able to reduce the power of the suction unit. Wet / dry suction device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the float guide (15) and / or the float (11) are designed in such a way that the air outlet (16) with continuously increasing liquid level in the dirty liquid tank (7) from a critical fill level is continuously closed, and the controller is designed such that it continuously monitors the motor current of the suction unit and compares it with a reference value and at least one threshold value is stored, the exceeding of which is interpreted as a detection of the changed power consumption. Wet / dry vacuum device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one second threshold value is stored, the control being designed in such a way that when a first threshold value is reached the user is shown a critical level of the dirty liquid tank (7) via the signal device and when a second threshold value is reached, the power of the suction unit is reduced or completely switched off. Wet / dry suction device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wet / dry suction device (1) has a suction channel (8) opening from the suction nozzle into the dirty liquid tank (7) with a pipe socket and around the pipe socket of the suction channel (8) a disk-like slosh protection (9) is arranged which, starting from the pipe socket, extends at least on one side in the direction of the wall of the dirty liquid tank (7) extends, the slosh protection (9) extending at an angle, in particular a right angle to the pipe socket of the suction channel (8) in the direction of the downward sloping wall of the dirty liquid tank (7) when used as intended and the cross-sectional area of the dirty liquid tank (7), the is arranged below the pipe socket of the suction channel (8), at least 60%, preferably at least 90% and more preferably completely closed.

Images