FR2617390A1 - MOBILE SENSOR DEVICE FOR CENTRALIZED SUCTION SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Suction device usable on at least one level (1) of a building, of the type comprising a suction tube (6) held in the hand and connected by a flexible tube (7) to a suction duct (8) connected itself to a centralized suction collector (2), characterized in that at least the suction duct (8) can be wound up preferably automatically on a movable winding device mounted on a vehicle (5) and driven by the displacement of the same, the suction duct (8) being separable from the said collector (2).

Description

The present invention generally relates to a suction device

usable on at least one level

  of a building and maneuverable manually.

  It essentially relates to a suction device of the type comprising a suction nozzle held by hand and connected by a flexible pipe to a suction pipe itself connected to a collector

centralized suction.

  The invention finds particular application in the industrial cleaning of buildings or multi-storey buildings, such as internal cleaning

offices and premises.

  There is known a suction device usable on at least one level of a building. This device consists on the one hand, to connect on a central vertical suction manifold, one or more vacuum suction collectors equipped with suction ports which are installed in parallel in a fixed manner, at each level of the building, and of on the other hand, to connect a flexible pipe, successively on each of the suction mouths of the same sub-collector, to ensure the suction on the entire surface of the level considered. Each sub-manifold has suction mouths which are fixed. Thus, a suction nozzle and its accessories such as a soil sensor or a brush, can be connected to one of these suction mouths

  through the hose.

  However, such a suction device, with fixed-station suction mouths - on a given level of the building, requires a sub-collector installation over a large length, on the horizontal plane of each level of the building. This installation is carried out during construction and

  the layout of the building or building.

  In addition, the large number of suction mouths implies a greater risk of plugging or leakage. In addition, any repair or maintenance of the sub-collectors and their suction mouths leads to a partial dismantling of the installation by

  level, which is long and impractical.

  Moreover, such a suction device

  requires a lot of manipulations for the user, -

  who must connect and disconnect the hose on the different mouths as the surface portions are vacuumed. In addition, this suction device requires the user to move in a limited working radius when the hose is connected to a suction port of a

sub-collector given.

  The present invention aims to overcome all the aforementioned drawbacks in the case of a conventional suction device, eliminating the installation of one or more sub-collectors arranged on the same level of a building, while allowing suction on the entire surface

considered of the same level.

  The suction device, according to the invention, fulfills a function identical to a traditional suction device and also makes it possible to create a fictitious suction mouth that is mobile to any

  anywhere on the building level.

  The solution according to the present invention, to solve this technical problem, consists of a suction device usable on at least one level of a building of the type comprising a suction nozzle held by hand and connected by a flexible hose to a suction pipe itself connected to a centralized suction manifold, characterized in that at least the suction pipe is preferably windable automatically on a mobile winding device, manually movable and is disconnectable from said manifold. By means of such a mobile winding device, o automatically winds the suction pipe which itself is connected to a centralized suction manifold, a movable suction mouth is then created. This suction device, by its mobility, allows the suction on the entire surface of the level concerned without any connection operation and disconnection of the hose on the suction line. Therefore, all the problems existing with the suction devices previously

known are deleted.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the flexible hose is itself rollable, preferably automatically on another associated roller device.

at first.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, each winding device is mounted on a vehicle

common manually movable.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, each winding device comprises a preferably cylindrical rotating drum with a vertical axis, and a means for automatically guiding the winding of the pipe.

  hose or suction line on the drum.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the aforesaid vehicle is a carriage on which each winding device is mounted and the movement of an associated drum is slaved to the rotation of at least one carrying or driving wheel of said carriage, preferably, selectively disengageable. The invention will be better understood, and other purposes, features and details thereof will become more clearly apparent on reading the

  explanatory description which will follow, made with reference

  to the accompanying schematic drawings, given solely by way of nonlimiting example illustrating a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which: - Figure 1 is a view of the installation of the suction device according to the invention; , in a building; - Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 4, showing the entire suction device; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III of FIG. 2, and shows in FIG.

  tearing off the lower part of the device; -

  - Figure 4 is a view along the arrow IV of Figure 3, showing the winding device on which is wound the flexible hose, provided with a braking system; FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the automatic winding system by

reminder of the hose.

  Referring to Figure 1, the suction device, manually operable, is located on a level i of a building. This device is mobile over the entire surface of level 1 and is connected to a

  fixed installation in the building.

  The fixed installation comprises a central vertical suction collector 2, which extends substantially over the height of the building, necessary to serve all the levels thereof, and a conventional suction installation 3 which is situated in floor of the building, and on which is fixed the vertical collector 2. This collector 2 has a suction mouth 4 at each level or floor of the building. The suction device according to the invention is in the form of a vehicle 5 movable manually. It comprises a suction nozzle 6 held by hand and connected by a flexible hose 7 to a suction pipe 8. The latter is itself connected to the central vertical suction manifold 2, for example.

  through the suction mouth 4.

  The suction nozzle 6 may be equipped at its free end with a soil sensor 9 or various

  accessories such as squeegees or brushes.

  The suction pipe 8 is preferably rollable automatically on a winding device mounted on the vehicle 5. Thus during the vehicle movement in stages, away from the suction mouth 4, the suction pipe progressively unfolds. to. to allow aspiration on the

  the entire level per surface area of it.

  The suction pipe 8, disconnectable from the central vertical collector 2, is of great length: for example between about 10 and 40 meters, and preferably between 20 and 30 meters. The flexible pipe 7 has a length for example of about 10 meters. The latter makes it possible to suck up a portion of a given area and to perform the internal cleaning of offices or premises. The vehicle that can be moved manually can be

  such as a sled or sled such as a sled.

  FIG. 2 represents the mobile suction device according to the invention, presenting itself under

the shape of a carriage.

  As shown in Figure 2, the carriage comprises two cylindrical drums 10 and 11 which are each vertical axis 12 and 13 and supported on a frame 14 preferably provided with a pad for damping shocks and which does not leave a trace when the vehicle strikes the walls of the building. With reference to FIG. 4, vertical uprights 15 connect the frame 14 to a preferably tubular handle 16 which surrounds the two drums 10 and 11. When the suction device does not work, the tubular handle 16 can receive the nozzle suction 6, which facilitates the

storage of the device.

  The chassis is equipped with five wheels. Two pairs of carrying wheels 17 and 18 are located respectively at the opposite ends of the chassis 14. These wheels 17 and 18 are advantageously orientable. Furthermore, a driving wheel 19 rolling on the ground 1 is located under the middle part of the frame 14 and is not orientable but has its axis perpendicular to the direction

longitudinal of the frame 14.

  Thus, the user can move the carriage manually, by pulling or pushing it, by means of

the tubular handle 16.

  Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the winding device on which is wound the suction pipe 8, further comprises the rotary drum 10 vertical axis 12, a bar 20 parallel to the axis 12 of the drum 10. This bar 20 is positioned on the chassis 14 of the suction device according to the winding diameter of the suction pipe (8) and is externally spaced from the side wall 22 of the drum 10. The vertical bar 20 is provided with an idle rotating roller 24 guiding the suction pipe 8. This roller 24 is mounted freely sliding on the vertical bar 20. The suction pipe is then helically wound in at least one layer, in particular with contiguous turns, around of the drum 10, while being guided by the roller 24 which slides upwards or downwards from the bar following the winding or unwinding of the suction pipe 8. To facilitate the winding of the suction pipe , the drum 10 may comprise in its lower part, a helical groove. The latter makes it possible to prime the helical winding of the

suction line 8.

  Moreover, the movement of the drum 10 is controlled by the rotation of the drive wheel 19. More specifically, the drum 10 is driven by the wheel 19 of the truck via a friction transmission system which is composed as follows : a driven friction wheel 26, driven by the driving wheel 19 turning while rolling on the ground, is in rubbing contact with a plateau

  or a ring 27 forming the base of the drum 10.

  The drive wheel 26 is driven by the wheel 19 by means of a transmission comprising a belt 28 passing over two pulleys 29 and 30 coaxially secured to each other.

respectively wheels 19 and 26.

  This transmission system is selectively engageable or disengageable respectively by tensioning and relaxing the transmission belt 28. The tensioning causing the driving of the driven wheel 26 while the relaxation of the belt 28 causes the sliding thereof ci on the pulleys 29 and 30 so that the driven wheel 26 is not driven. The tensioner and expander comprises a spreader 31 pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on a horizontal axis 32 and an end, located in the vicinity of the upper or lower run of the belt 28, for example above the upper run, carries a roller 33, roller or shoe susceptible, by tilting of the rudder in a direction or in the opposite direction, to deviate from said strand to relax the belt 28 or to come into contact and press on said strand to tension the belt 28. control of the rudder 31 can be manual or preferably by means of a pedal 34 carried by the end of a tilting lever 35 mounted at an intermediate point on a horizontal axis 36 and the other end is connected releasably to the free end of the rudder 31. For this purpose, the end of the lever slides in a guide rail 37 integral with the

rudder 31.

  To engage, the operator presses the pedal 34 by its foot to lower it in the position shown in solid lines. This lowering rotates the rudder 31 in the counterclockwise direction of rotation in FIG. 2 so that the roller 33, roller or pad, comes to press the belt 28 so as to tension it sufficiently to drive the wheel. 26. In this engaged position, the lever arm 35 bent, preferably at right angle, will be substantially vertical position so that its upper end 38 is a top dead center.

  thus blocking the rudder 31 in its strained position.

  To disengage the drive system, the operator lifts the pedal 34 from the substantially horizontal position upward low up to the extreme high position shown in dashed lines in Figure 2, thereby tilting the crossbar 31 in the direction of rotation clockwise, which relaxes the belt 28 causing it to slide on the pulleys

29 and 30.

  According to another embodiment, the friction transmission system can be replaced by a gear-driven positive transmission system or by a system of pulleys and belts.

  or chains, with associated disengaging device.

  Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the other winder device on which is wound the flexible hose 7, comprises the rotary drum 11 with vertical axis 13 and a bar 21 parallel to the axis 13 of the drum 11. In a similar manner at the first winding device, this bar 21 is positioned on the frame 14 of the carriage according to the winding diameter of the flexible pipe (7) and is externally spaced from the side wall 23 of the drum 11. The vertical bar 21 is also provided

  an idle rotating roller 25 for guiding the flexible pipe 7.

  This roller 25 is mounted freely sliding on the vertical bar 21. The flexible hose is helically wound in at least one layer, in particular with contiguous turns, around the drum 11. The roller 25 while sliding along the vertical bar 21, allows to guide the winding or unfolding of the flexible pipe 7. Also here, to facilitate the winding of the flexible pipe, the drum 11 may comprise, in its lower part, a helical groove which serves to initiate the helical winding . of

flexible hose 7.

  With reference to FIG. 4, this retractor device comprises locking means, unlockable, for the rotation of the drum 11. These locking means are in the form of a self-locking brake which consists of a shoe 39 which comes into rubbing contact with the plate 40 forming the base of the drum 11. A rocking lever 41 is mounted on a horizontal pivot 42 and comprises, at one of its ends, the pad 39 providing frictional braking of the plate 40, and at its opposite end a pedal 43. In addition, the locking system comprises a return spring 44 acting on the lever 41 to constantly urge it to the braking position (contact of the pad 43 with the drum plate 11). By lowering the pedal 43, the pad 39 moves away from the plate 40 of the drum 11. The drum 11 is then unlocked and free to rotate for the unwinding of the flexible hose 7. When no traction is exerted on the flexible hose 7, the brake is applied continuously. The drum 11 is thus blocked automatically when the user draws by means of the flexible pipe 7 partially unwound. When the user unwinds the flexible hose 7 by simply pulling, the brake is then unlocked automatically by tilting the lever 41 in the direction of rotation of the clockwise in FIG. 4 and any beginning of inadvertent rotation of the drum 11 in the direction of winding causes the automatic locking of the drum

11 by applying the brake.

  Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 2, this same winding device comprises an elastic return member ensuring the automatic entraining of the drum 11 in the winding direction. The return system consists on the one hand of a doll 45 coaxially secured to the plate 40 of the rotary drum 11, and on the other hand to a relatively long single or multiple elastic cord 46 (of the "Sandow" type), of which one end is attached to the doll 45 at an attachment point 47 and the other end is fixed to the chassis of the carriage after having passed one or more times on four idle pulleys 48 respectively mounted at the four corners of the frame 14 on axes 49 substantially parallel to

the axis 12 of the drum 11.

  Referring to the diagram shown in the figure, the cord 46 passes around the four pulleys 48 (cord shown in solid line). According to another embodiment, the bead 46 passes around three pulleys (cord represented in "mixed" line or in "interrupted" line). According to FIG. 5, the operation of the return system is as follows. When the flexible pipe 7 is wound on the drum 11, the cord 46 is in the relaxed position, that is to say that it undergoes only an initial pre-stress. As soon as the operator manually unwinds the flexible hose 7, by simple pulling, in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5, the drum 11 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. this fact, the doll 45 is also driven solidarily in the same direction, which causes the winding of the cord 46 on the doll 45. Thus, the cord 46 is stretched by causing an elastic reaction to return said cord in the opposite direction on the 11. Then, when the operator lowers the pedal 43 shown in Figure 4 (the pad 39 away from the plate 40), the drum 11 is released and driven automatically in the winding direction by the expansion of the elastic cord 46. The flexible hose 7 then automatically winds up on the

drum 11.

  According to another embodiment, the elastic return member may be in the form of a spring

recall.

  With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the flexible pipe 7 is connected to the suction pipe 8 by a connecting tube 50 which comprises rotating joints 51 and 52 sealed to the depression. These rotary joints 51 and 52 are respectively coaxial vertical axes 12

  and 13 of rotation of the cylindrical drums 10 and 11.

  The cylindrical drums 10 and 11 are hollow.

  Their interior volumes 53 and 54 constitute storage spaces for cleaning and / or suction utensils such as floor sensors, brushes, rags, cleaning products and others. These volumes can also constitute a storage space for a garbage bag in which the user will for example pour the contents

office baskets.

261739M

  According to FIGS. 1 to 5, the operation of the suction device that can be used on at least one level

is the next.

  In a first step, the user sets up the mobile carriage 5 on a given level 1 of the building. It then connects the free end of the suction pipe 8 to the suction mouth 4 which is arranged on the central vertical suction manifold. Then, depending on the surface portion that the use desires to suck, the carriage 5 is moved manually using the tubular handle 16. However, the carriage 5 is moved by translation of the entire device suction. Such a displacement causes, by means of the friction transmission system, the rotation of the drum 10 on which the suction pipe 8 is wound. Thus, the suction pipe 8 is unrolled by section.

  rectilinear relative to the displacement of the carriage.

  The winding of the suction pipe 8

  is carried out according to the same principle.

  It is also possible to move the carriage 5 without rotating the drum 10, that is to say without causing the unwinding or winding of the suction pipe 8. It is sufficient to raise the pedal 34 to disengage the transmission system. This release device allows the user to change level or floor, or to store the device after disconnecting from the suction port 4 of the vertical suction manifold

centralized 2.

  In a second step, once the user has chosen the desired surface portion sucked, he leaves the carriage in the off position and then unwinds manually the flexible hose 7 which is wound on the drum 11. The unfolding is done manually by simply pulling the free end of the

flexible hose 7.

  -When the user unrolled a sufficient length of the hose 7, the brake is activated automatically. So the user can work

in a given radius.

  The suction is advantageously carried out when the flexible hose 7 is equipped at its end.

  a suction nozzle 6 extended by a soil sensor.

  When the user has completed the suction of a surface portion, it releases the self-locking brake by pressing the pedal 43 which causes the relaxation of the elastic return member, which causes the automatic winding of the flexible hose 7 by rotation of the drum 11, before moving the carriage

mobile 5.

  Thus, the suction device according to the invention allows the suction on the entire surface of the level considered, and is manipulation

practical, simple and fast.

Claims (17)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N S   1. Suction device for use on at least one level (1) of a building, manually operable, of the type comprising a suction nozzle (6) held by hand and connected by a flexible pipe (7) to a pipe suction unit (8) itself connected to a centralized suction manifold (2), characterized in that at least the suction pipe (8) is preferably automatically rollable on a movable, manually movable device   is disconnectable from said collector (2).   2. Suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible hose (7) is itself preferably rollable automatically   on another winding device associated with the first.   3. Suction device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each winder is mounted on a vehicle (5) common manually movable. Suction device according to claim 3, characterized in that the vehicle is rolling or slippery.   5. Suction device according to one of   preceding claims, characterized in that each   winder device comprises a preferably cylindrical rotating drum (10, 11) with a vertical axis (12, 13) and means for automatically guiding winding of the flexible pipe (7) or of the suction pipe (8) on the drum (10, 11). 6. Suction device according to   claim 5, characterized in that the means of -   aforementioned guide is constituted by a bar (20, 21) positioned according to the winding diameter of the suction pipe (8) and parallel to the axis (12, 13) of the drum (10, 11) and externally spaced the side wall (22, 23) of the drum (10, 11) and a grooved roller (24, 25) slidably rotating on said bar (20, 21).   7. Device according to one of claims 3   to 6, characterized in that the aforesaid vehicle is a carriage (5) on which is mounted each winding device and in that the movement of an associated drum is slaved to the rotation of at least one wheel carrier or driving said truck , preferably, so selectively disengaged.   8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the drum (10) is driven by a wheel (19) of the carriage (5) via a transmission system such as for example a friction transmission system or drive transmission   positive by gears, belts, or chains.   9. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the suction pipe (8) is helically wound in at least one layer around the rotary drum (10).   10. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, in the other winding device, the flexible pipe (7) is helically wound in at least   a layer around the rotating drum (11).   11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the other aforementioned retractor comprises locking means, unlockable, the implementation rotation of the drum (11).   12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the other aforementioned retractor is provided with an elastic return member for driving   automatic drum (11) in the winding direction.   13. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the flexible pipe (7) and the suction pipe (8) are interconnected by a connecting tube (50) having rotary joints (51, 52) sealed to the Depression.   14. Device according to claims 5 and   13, characterized in that the rotary joints (51, 52) are respectively coaxial with the vertical axes (12, 13)   rotating cylindrical drums (10, 11).   15. Device according to one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the length of the suction pipe (8) is between 10 and 40 meters,   and preferably between 20 and 30 meters.   16. Device according to one of claims 5   at 15, characterized in that the drums (10, 11) are hollow. 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the inner volumes (53, 54) of the hollow drums (10, 11) constitute spaces of   storage of utensils and / or garbage bag.