ES2635738T3 - Suction hole of vacuum cleaning machines - Google Patents

Abstract

An aspiration orifice (1) of an aspiration machine (10) adapted to aspirate waste from the ground (S) and comprising: a channel (2) adapted to be placed directly in contact with the external wastes that must be aspirated and being said channel (2) defined in part by a cover (4) of metallic material and partly by the ground (S); an inlet opening (3) adapted to enable said waste to enter said suction machine (10); a throttling element (5) adapted to vary the area of said inlet opening (5) and consisting of a prismatic housing having a triangular base and an axis parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the flow direction when in operation, the prismatic housing comprising an obstruction surface (5a), a second upper face (5b) and a base surface (5c); a hinge (6), which comprises an axis of rotation parallel to said floor (S) and arranged at the corner opposite said clogging surface (5a), suitable for freely fixing said throttling element (5) a said cover (4), so as to allow the debris to impact on said base surface (Sc) and, while advancing, activate said throttle element (5) by arranging it in the open position or in an intermediate position, causing an automatic variation of said area of said inlet opening (3) according to the size of said waste; characterized in that said channel (2) comprises a first section (2b) extending from an outer front opening (2a) to said inlet opening (3) and converging from said outer front opening (2a) to said inlet opening (3) only along section planes parallel to said floor (S), and said suction hole comprises actuator means (8) for the throttle element (5), said actuator means (8) acting on a clamp ( 5b) rigidly connected to said throttle element (5) and which is operated by an operator, who can, during operation and in any case, control the position of said throttle element (5).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Suction hole for floor cleaning vacuum machines

The present invention relates to a suction orifice for vacuum cleaning machines for floors, of the type indicated in the preamble of the first claim.

It is known that the suction machines, used to clean the streets, are provided with a suction hole connected to a suction system suitable for the aspiration of waste. They generally also comprise one or more brushes to carry the debris near the aspiration hole.

The aspiration orifice constitutes a fundamental part in the aspiration machines. In particular, the aspiration orifice defines an aspiration opening through which the passage of the aspirated waste occurs.

The area of the suction opening greatly affects the operation of the machine. In fact, if this area is wide, the machine can catch bulky debris but the vacuum in the opening is weaker due to Bernoulli's law. On the contrary, if the area is reduced, the vacuum in the opening is higher and, therefore, debris and dust that are not very bulky can be better trapped, but the machine cannot vacuum the bulky debris. Some suction holes are therefore provided with an adjustment element adapted to make it possible for the operator to vary the area of the suction opening depending on the size of the debris to be aspirated. This element comprises an air block that partially overlaps the suction opening and varies the section thereof.

The air blocking is activated by suitable mechanisms controlled by the operator that increases the area of the suction opening in the presence of large-scale waste, such as bottles and cans, or reduces it in the presence of dust or other small-scale waste.

Some suction holes of suction machines are disclosed in documents US4395794A and NL1027590C2, while an aspiration hole according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in document EP0072039A2.

The known technique mentioned above has some important drawbacks.

A first major problem is represented by the fact that the aspiration process is not optimal either from the point of view of the quality of the cleaning operation or from the point of view of energy consumption during this process.

In fact, to optimize the process, the operator is obliged to continuously vary the area of the suction opening and, therefore, to act on the appropriate operating elements without interruption, which obviously cannot be achieved optimally.

Therefore, to avoid aspiration problems due to the presence of large debris, the operator normally leaves the blockage by completely raised air so that the maximum possible area is open and the aspiration of any waste is allowed, regardless of size . This choice causes a reduction in the quality of cleaning. In fact, the larger section causes a vacuum reduction in the aspiration chamber and, therefore, the aspiration capacity is reduced, which leads to the impossibility of sucking dust and small debris.

To obviate said problem, the maximum area of the aspiration opening is particularly reduced in general and, therefore, the aspiration of bulky waste is not allowed. A further defect is that, when the aspiration opening is partially closed, there is a large pressure difference between the outer region and the region within the aspiration hole, which consequently determines the appearance of turbulence that will worsen the quality of cleaning.

In this situation, the technical task that underlies the present invention is to devise an aspiration orifice for vacuum machines for floor cleaning that is capable of essentially avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks.

Within the scope of this technical task, it is an important objective of the invention to obtain an aspiration orifice for vacuum machines for floor cleaning that makes possible the optimal cleaning of the streets that is carried out easily in any condition.

The aforementioned technical task and the specified objectives are achieved by means of an aspiration orifice of vacuum cleaning machines for floors, as claimed in the attached claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are highlighted in the dependent claims.

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The features and advantages of the invention are clarified hereinafter by the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention in reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1a is an axonometric view of the suction orifice according to the invention, in a first position; Figure 1b is an axonometric view of the suction orifice according to the invention, in a second position; Figure 2a is a side view of the suction hole according to the invention;

Figure 2b shows the section of Figure 2a with the suction hole in a further configuration and in the middle section;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the suction orifice according to the invention; Y

Figure 4 shows an aspiration machine provided with an aspiration hole according to the invention.

Referring to the aforementioned figures, the aspiration orifice of aspiration machines for floor cleaning according to the invention is generally identified by reference number 1.

It is adapted to suck or trap debris of reduced dimensions, such as dust and the like, or large debris, such as bottles, cans or other debris that can accumulate on the ground S, particularly in streets or the like. Specifically, with the term "large dimensions" any waste is identified that has dimensions generally of the order of centimeters and preferably included between 3 cm and 10 cm.

The suction hole 1 is adapted to be arranged in a suction machine 10, known per se. The suction machine 10 comprises, in a nutshell, at least one suction hole 1, one or more brushes 11 adapted to carry the waste that must be removed to the suction hole 1, an adjustment system 12 adapted to vary the distance of the suction hole 1 from the floor S and define a working position in which the hole 1 is essentially in contact with the floor S and a non-work or rest position in which the hole 1 rises from the floor S.

The aspiration machine 10 further comprises: an aspiration system 13 adapted to create the vacuum within a container or tank 14 in communication for fluid passage with the aspiration hole 1 through a transport conduit 15. This vacuum creates an aspiration flow F that enters the suction hole 1 and is adapted to allow the debris to be aspirated and collected within the container 14.

In particular, the suction port 1 defines a channel 2 connected to the inner volume of the container 14 by means of the transport duct 15 and adapted to be directly in contact with the external debris to be collected.

From a structural point of view, the channel 2 is defined in part by a cover 4 of metallic material and partly by the floor S. The cover 4, therefore, defines the lateral edges 4a, the upper edge 4b and the edge rear 4c of channel 2, while the lower edge is preferably defined by the floor S and the front edge, or the front opening 2a is left open to aspirate the debris. The lateral edges 4a and rear 4c are then preferably provided with seals 4d to guarantee their contact with the floor S.

Finally, suitable wheels 7 or slides are fixed to the cover 4 to define the distance of the hole 1 from the floor S in said working position.

The channel 2 advantageously comprises a first section 2b that converges from the front opening to the inside of the channel 2. The convergence is adequately defined only along section planes of the channel 2 parallel to the ground S, while in a perpendicular direction to ground the height of channel 2 remains constant preferably. The convergence of the first section preferably achieves a reduction of normal section area included between 60% and 80%. The front opening 2a, which is the maximum value of section 2b, achieves the important result of increasing the cleaning path (60% - 80%).

The channel 2 also comprises a second section 2c, in communication for fluid passage with the first section and the transport conduit 15. In this second section 2c, the cover 4 is therefore connected to the transport conduit 15. Said conduit Transport 15 is preferably defined by a tubular structure connected to the inner volume of container 14.

The first and second sections 2b and 2c of channel 2 are ideally divided by an inlet opening 3 that extends at right angles to the direction of the suction flow F.

In said inlet opening 3, the suction hole 1 further comprises a throttle element 5 adapted to vary the area of the inlet opening 3. In particular, the throttle element 5 defines an open position (fig. 2a) in the area of the entrance opening 3 has the maximum extension and a closed position (fig. 2b) in which the area of the entrance opening 3 has a minimum extension. The two open and closed positions are finally defined by suitable limit switches and, in the closed position (fig. 2b) the area of the inlet opening 3 is preferably limited to a fraction included between a middle and a fifth and is more preferably equal to about a quarter, in relation to the area of

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the inlet opening defined by the throttle element 5 in the closed position (fig. 2b).

The throttle element 5 is adapted to automatically vary the area of the inlet opening 3 depending on the dimensions of said waste to be collected.

The term "automatically" means that the operator must not expressly intervene to vary the area of the entrance opening 3, but said area is automatically increased to aspirate said large-scale waste and automatically reduced to aspirate small-scale waste such as dust and Similar.

This automatic character is obtained by means of the throttle element 5 adapted to move freely between said open position (fig. 2a) and said closed position (figs. 1b and 2b). Consequently, when no force is exerted by the debris that is being sucked into the throttle element 5, said element is arranged in the closed position (fig. 2b) since it is, for example, stimulated only by weight or by elements suitable elastics. On the contrary, when the presence of debris is exerting sufficient force, the throttling element assumes the open position (fig. 2a).

In a possible variant, the automatic closed and open positions can be obtained by suitable sensors that detect the presence of large debris and by actuating means for the throttle element 5, as described hereinafter.

In detail, the throttle element 5 comprises an obstruction surface 5a adapted to overlap the inlet opening 3 to reduce the area thereof. It also has a prismatic housing (figs. 1b, 2b) that has a triangular base and an axis parallel to the ground S and perpendicular to the flow direction F. A first lateral face of the prismatic housing constitutes the obstruction surface 5a, a second upper face 5b constitutes a hooking surface and a third lower face constitutes a base surface 5c which preferably forms part of the upper edge 4b of the channel 2.

The throttle element 5 is also fixed to the cover 4 in a way that admits movement, preferably by means of a hinge 6 whose axis of rotation is parallel to the ground S and arranged at the opposite corner of the clogging surface 5a. Furthermore, the throttling element is preferably free with respect to the rotation around said hinge 6 and, therefore, reduces the inlet opening 3 by restricting its height but leaving the width the same.

The throttle element 5 is also supported by an elastic element 9 adapted to exert force in a direction opposite to the force of gravity, preferably in a magnitude that does not exceed the force of gravity itself and adapted to lighten the force exerted down on element 5.

As previously described, element 5 defines an open position and a closed position. In particular, in the open position (fig. 2b), the clogging surface 5a does not interfere with the inlet opening 3 and the base surface 5c is aligned with the upper edge 4b, the total height of the opening from the ground S to the base surface 5c. In the closed position (fig. 2b), on the contrary, the base surface 5c interferes with the inlet opening 3 to the maximum and the obstruction surface 5a is disposed within the channel 2, the total height of 2-5 cm being the opening from the floor S to the base surface 5c. The suction port 1 further comprises actuator means 8 for the throttle element 5, which preferably consist of a cylinder 8a, preferably electric, operated by fluid, which acts on a clamp 8b rigidly connected to the throttle element 5 itself.

In an alternative embodiment that is not part of the claimed invention, the suction port 1 may also comprise sensors that detect the presence of large debris, infrared sensors, lasers or the like, for example.

The operation of the suction hole 1 described above in terms of structure is as follows.

When an operator uses the suction machine 10, he / she drives and drives it, by means of the driving system, the motor and the wheels of known type, along the floor S of streets or the like to be cleaned.

In particular, the adjustment system 12 puts the hole 1 in the working position, the aspiration system 13 creates the vacuum in the container 14 and the brushes 11 carry the debris into the aspiration hole 1.

The vacuum created in the tank 14 is transmitted to the transport duct 15 and to the aspiration hole. Therefore, the vacuum gives rise to said flow F that transfers the waste from the ground S to the tank.

In particular, the debris enters the hole 1 through the front opening 2a. The opening 2a is very wide and, therefore, captures a large amount of debris, but in said opening the air flow F is rather slow. The waste passes through the first convergent section 2b, while the area becomes narrower and the speed of

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F flow increases, due to Bernoulli's law, making waste move faster.

The debris then reaches the inlet opening 3 and the throttling element 5, in which two cases must be distinguished.

In the first case, the wastes have small dimensions, in particular dust, leaves or the like. Therefore, the debris does not interfere with the throttling element 5 that maintains the closed position (fig. 2b). In this position, the area of the inlet opening 3 is minimal and, also due to Bernoulli's law, the flow rate F is very high. Waste, therefore, is optimally trapped.

In a second case, when the wastes are large, as already mentioned, the wastes interfere with the throttling element 5 that is lifted by the wastes themselves against the weight of the element 5, possibly made lighter by the elastic element 9. In particular, the debris impacts the base surface 5c and while moving forward they actuate the element 5 by arranging it in the open position (fig. 2a) or in an intermediate position. Thus, bulky waste can also be trapped automatically without operator intervention.

When, as a variant, the presence of sensors is provided, the activation or not of the actuator means 8 is caused by said sensors.

In addition, in any case, the operator can decide whether to keep the throttle element 5 in a selected position by means of actuator means 8.

When the wastes 3 have entered the inlet opening 3, they reach the second section 2c of the channel 2 and, subsequently, the duct 15 and the container 14, where they accumulate and are then taken to the landfill or the like.

The suction hole 1 achieves important advantages.

In particular, due to the automatic actuation of the throttle element 5, the operator is not obliged to intervene continuously and manually in suitable operating elements.

At the same time, the suction port 1 can aspirate waste of any size in an optimal manner.

The efficiency of the hole 1 is then increased by the funnel-shaped configuration of the first section 2a of the channel 2.

The invention is susceptible to variations that fall within the scope of the inventive idea as defined by the dependent claims.

All the elements as described and claimed can be replaced by equivalent elements and the details, materials, shapes and dimensions can be of any nature or magnitude.

Claims (10)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 1. A suction hole (1) of a suction machine (10) adapted to aspirate waste from the ground (S) and comprising: a channel (2) adapted to be placed directly in contact with the external debris that must be aspirated and said channel (2) being defined partly by a cover (4) of metallic material and partly by the ground (S); an inlet opening (3) adapted to allow said waste to enter said suction machine (10); a throttling element (5) adapted to vary the area of said inlet opening (5) and consisting of a prismatic housing having a triangular base and an axis parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the direction of flow when in operation, the prismatic housing comprising an obstruction surface (5a), a second upper face (5b) and a base surface (5c); a hinge (6), comprising a rotation axis parallel to said floor (S) and arranged in the opposite corner to said clogging surface (5a), suitable for freely fixing said throttling element (5) to said cover (4), so as to allow the debris to impact on said base surface (Sc) and, while advancing, activate said throttle element (5) by arranging it in the open position or in an intermediate position, causing an automatic variation of said area of said inlet opening (3) according to the size of said wastes; characterized by that said channel (2) comprises a first section (2b) extending from an outer front opening (2a) to said inlet opening (3) and converging from said outer front opening (2a) to said inlet opening (3) only along section planes parallel to said floor (S), and said suction orifice comprises actuator means (8) for the throttle element (5), said actuator means (8) acting on a clamp (5b) rigidly connected to said throttle element (5) and which is operated by an operator, which can, during operation and in any case, control the position of said throttle element (5). 2. An aspiration orifice (1) according to claim 1, wherein said throttling element (5) is susceptible to movement by the force exerted by said wastes present in said suction orifice (1) and having large dimensions. 3. An aspiration orifice (1) according to claim 2, wherein said throttling element (5) is available in an open position in which the area of said inlet opening (3) has the maximum extent and in a closed position in which the area of said inlet opening (3) has the minimum extension, said throttling element (5) being able to move freely between said positions and being in the closed position when no external force acts on it . 4. An aspiration orifice (1) according to claim 1, comprising sensor means adapted to verify the presence of large debris and actuator means (8) adapted to move said throttle element (5) and which move automatically depending on the information of said sensor means. 5. An aspiration orifice (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, which defines a channel (2) adapted to be placed directly in contact with the external debris to be aspirated and comprising a first section (2b) that it extends from an outer front opening (2a) to said inlet opening (3), and the first section (2b) being a section that converges from said outer front opening (2a) to said inlet opening (3). 6. An aspiration orifice (1) according to claim 5, wherein said convergence results in a section variation included between 60% and 80%. A suction orifice (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said throttle element (5) is adapted to vary the area of the inlet opening (3) to a fraction included between a means and one fifth. 8. A suction hole (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said throttling element (5) is secured to said cover (4) by a hinge (6) whose axis of rotation is parallel to the ground (S) A suction hole (1) according to claim 7, wherein said throttle element (5) comprises a base surface (5c) and said cover (4) defines an upper edge (4b) of said channel (2) ) and said base surface (5c), in said open position, continues to said upper edge (4b). 10. An aspiration orifice (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising an element elastic (9) that, when said machine is in operation, is adapted to exert a force on said throttle element (5) that is opposite to the force of gravity in a magnitude that does not exceed the force of gravity itself and suitable for lightening the force exerted downward on said element (5).