FR2871046A1 - Suction nozzle for low power upright vacuum cleaner, has suction passage delimited by front wall and rear wall such that front wall forms arc of circle symmetric with respect to middle of passage - Google Patents

Abstract

The nozzle has a soleplate (26) to be moved on a surface to be cleaned, by wheels (36). The soleplate is covered by a cap and has a suction passage (28) opened towards the surface and extends on the length of the nozzle by connecting two lateral edges of the nozzle. The passage is delimited by a front wall (38) and a rear wall (39) such that the front wall forms an arc of circle symmetric with respect to middle of the passage. An independent claim is also included for wastes collecting electric apparatus of upright vacuum cleaner type.

Description

2871046 VACUUM CLEANER

  The present invention relates to a dust suction nozzle, and more particularly to an improvement of the waste collection efficiency by such a nozzle.

  The present invention is aimed at low power vacuum cleaners, such as those held by hand by a handle and resting on the ground by a nozzle connected to the body of the vacuum cleaner. In the remainder of the description, the term broom vacuum will designate such devices.

  Broom vacuum cleaners frequently have batteries that allow them greater ease of use, but further limit the available power.

  Many documents describe brush vacuums, especially in the particular structure of the constituent subassemblies, or in the specific arrangement of the cleaning accessories.

  For example, the document EP 1 033 101 describes a broom vacuum cleaner whose handle is collapsible.

  However, few documents are devoted to the vacuum nozzle of these devices, thus testifying to the little research done on the increase and / or optimization of this body of waste collection.

  Thus, the document US 5,107,567 describes a brush vacuum connected to the sector, the nozzle of this vacuum having a central suction opening, bordered on one side by a brush operated by a pedal located at the cover of the nozzle. The latter is equipped with small wheels. In an improved embodiment, the brush is arranged in the suction channel and the nozzle has large wheels facilitating its movement.

  However, no indication mentions a search or optimization of the characteristics of the nozzle to increase the suction efficiency of the product.

  One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a suction nozzle for vacuum cleaner low power, whose efficiency has been optimized for the available power, to improve the waste collection efficiency for such devices .

  The present invention is achieved with the aid of a suction nozzle of substantially rectangular shape, comprising a soleplate intended to move on a surface to be cleaned by means of wheels or pads, said soleplate being covered by a hood , and having a suction channel open to the surface to be cleaned and extending over the width of the nozzle by connecting the two side edges of said nozzle, and a connecting tube to the body of the vacuum arranged at the rear of the nozzle, said tube being connected to the suction channel towards the middle thereof by a conduit, characterized in that the suction channel is delimited by a front wall and a rear wall, and in that the front wall forms a symmetrical circular arc with respect to the middle of the channel.

  The arcuate shape of the front edge delimiting the suction channel allows when the nozzle is moved forward on carpeted surfaces, firstly to solicit the carpet pile differently by a movement having a lateral component and on the other hand to avoid presenting a frontal leading edge which can make it difficult to move the nozzle on such surfaces.

  Advantageously, the rear wall delimiting the suction channel has the same configuration, forming a circular arc symmetrical with respect to the front wall.

  As the suction channel extends over the width of the nozzle, it is necessary to optimize the value of its surface in contact with the soil to be cleaned.

  Indeed, a too large surface would make the displacement of the nozzle difficult. Thus, the radius of curvature presented by the front wall and / or rear delimiting of the suction channel is greater than 500 mm and preferably less than 1000 mm.

  In these same considerations, the effectiveness of the nozzle placed on a vacuum cleaner, given its low power, has good values when the width of the suction channel at the side edges of the nozzle is less than 15 mm, and when the width of the suction channel in the middle is between 20 and 25 mm.

  In order to increase the efficiency of waste collection on carpet-type floors, the front and rear walls delimiting the suction channel are prominent with respect to the sole. These walls are in a way scraping rules that allow when they pass on the floors mentioned, on the one hand to scrape the carpet hairs, and on the other hand to eject the dust when the hair resumes its position, after the solicitation of the walls.

  Another parameter, little studied elsewhere, is the depth of the suction channel in the nozzle. Given the characteristics of the product and especially the low power of the engine, good performance was obtained by gradually changing the depth of the channel from the edges to the center. The best results have been obtained when the suction channel has an increasing depth of the lateral edges towards the center, this depth being less than 2 mm at the edges, and between 5 and 8 mm towards the center, before the connection with the conduit.

  The present invention finds its full application in combination with an electric waste recovery device type brush vacuum, comprising a frame inside which is housed in particular a motor, a waste separation device, said apparatus having a finished handle by a handle, and a nozzle connected to the frame of the vacuum cleaner by a tube, the latter being in a ventilation connection with the waste separation device, said nozzle having at least one of the characteristics mentioned above.

  Advantageously, the electrical power of the engine of the apparatus is less than 500 W, the characteristics of the nozzle having been specifically studied for low power.

  In order to confer greater ease of use of the apparatus, its motor 5 is powered by batteries housed in the frame of the apparatus, thus making the device autonomous without having to connect it to the network for its use.

  The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 presents a schematic overview of a brush vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the suction nozzle according to the invention, Figure 3 is a bottom view of the nozzle, Figure 4 is a view along the axis AA of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a view. along the axis BB of Figure 3, Figure 6 is a side view of the nozzle, slightly in perspective, Figure 7 is a view of the front of the nozzle, in perspective, without the protective cover, Figures 8 and 9 are side views of the nozzle, respectively with the brush retracted and the brush output.

  The vacuum cleaner 1 shown in FIG. 1 is of the broom type, and thus comprises a frame 2, extended upwards by a handle 4. The frame contains, in a manner known per se, a motor 6, a waste separation device 10 Aeraulic connection with the engine. According to the example presented, the waste separation device is a dust bag, but an inertia or cyclonic separation device can be envisaged in the context of the present invention. The separation device is housed in a removable compartment 12, to facilitate the cleaning or replacement of the waste separation device.

  The motor can be powered by the mains or, preferably, using rechargeable batteries 8. The power of the vacuum cleaner as illustrated and having batteries, is 300 W. The start of the vacuum cleaner is provided by a switch 14 preferably located near the handle 4.

  The frame 2 is connected to a nozzle 20 via a pipe 16 in aeraulic connection with the waste separation device. This tubing is connected to the nozzle by an elbow tube 18 hinged to the nozzle.

  The nozzle 20 is symmetrical with respect to the x-x 'axis of the tube 18. It comprises a sole 26 clearly visible Figure 6, capped with a cover 24, on which are mounted four wheels 36 to facilitate the movement of the nozzle. The sole has an opening directed towards the surface to be cleaned and constituting the suction channel 28, extending from one side edge to the other of the nozzle, being delimited by two front walls 38 and rear 39 forming the edges of the channel. This channel is aeraulically connected to the elbow tube 18 by a pipe 29 visible in FIGS. 5 and 7, which opens into the suction channel through an opening 30, substantially in the middle of the suction channel.

  The nozzle also comprises two tear strips 32 arranged on either side of the suction channel. Furthermore, a brush 34 extending substantially over the width of the nozzle, is arranged near the front edge of the nozzle. A control pedal 22, situated at the level of the nozzle of the nozzle, makes it possible to raise and lower the brush relative to the sole of the nozzle, with the aid of an actuating plate 23 levering on the brush 34.

  The present invention relates primarily to the characteristics of the suction channel 28, in relation to the low power presented by the engine.

  One of the characteristics of this channel is its increase in section from the side edge of the nozzle to the center of the nozzle and the opening 30. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the respective increase in the width of the channel. and its depth.

  Thus, Figure 3, the width of the suction channel at the side edges of the nozzle, denoted 1, is of the order of 13 mm. The width of this same channel, near the opening 30, marked L, is of the order of 22 mm.

  In addition, this increase in the width of the suction channel is continuously progressive by the arcuate shape of the front wall 38 of the channel, in particular to have better air flows in said channel.

  Moreover, as clearly visible in FIG. 4, the suction channel is more and more deep when one passes from one of the lateral edges of the nozzle to the central opening 30, by a progressive slope given to the wall. 40 delimiting the depth of the channel. Thus, at the edges, the opening is of the order of 2 mm, with a slight rise on the edges of about 1 mm, while near the opening 30, the depth of the suction channel denoted h is 6 mm.

  This increase in three-dimensional section makes it possible to obtain very good waste collection results, since it allows, in a very gradual manner, to increase the air speeds at the edges of the nozzle, favoring the collection of waste.

  In addition, this gradual increase in section makes it possible to considerably reduce turbulence phenomena in the suction channel. Furthermore, the connection between the suction channel and the duct 29 through the opening 30 has been studied to limit the turbulence movements of the air, essentially by increasing the radii of curvature 42 of the walls forming the connection.

  In addition, the two walls 38, 39 are slightly prominent of the sole and provide a scraping effect on the ground before suction. This protrusion of the walls of the suction channel is clearly visible in FIG. 6. However, according to the example proposed, when the nozzle is placed on the wheels, the walls 38, 39 are situated at a distance of between 0.5 and 1 mm. from the floor, scraping thus occurring only on carpet-type floors or the wheels sink slightly into the ground.

  Another particularity of the nozzle as shown relates to the scraper brush 34 disposed near the front edge of the nozzle, which has notches to alternate scraping areas 44 with openings 40, 42 constituting suction areas of large waste, the central opening 42 being wider than the openings 40. Thus, when the brush is out, the passage of the nozzle on the ground allows not only to solicit the soil to be cleaned, and especially the carpet type of soil fibers but also to be able to suck large waste through the openings 40, 42, waste that would be pushed by the brush in the absence of said openings.

  Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the brush 34 is rotated out of the control pedal 22, the front part of the nozzle is raised, the front wheels 36 no longer rest on the ground and the nozzle then rests, at the back on the wheels, and at the front on the brush. This lifting of the nozzle avoids jamming large waste (ie those entering the suction channel through the openings 40, 42), facilitating their extraction of the nozzle through the various ducts.

Claims (1)

2871046 Claims   1. Suction nozzle (20) of substantially rectangular shape, having a sole (26) intended to move on a surface to be cleaned by means of wheels (36) or pads, said sole (26) being covered by a cover (24), and having a suction channel (28) open to the surface to be cleaned and extending over the width of the nozzle (20) by connecting the two side edges of said nozzle, and a connecting tube (18) to the body of the vacuum cleaner disposed at the rear of the nozzle (20), said tube being connected to the suction channel (28) towards the middle thereof by a conduit (29), characterized in that the suction channel (28) is delimited by a front wall (38) and a rear wall (39), and in that the front wall (38) forms a circular arc symmetrical with respect to the middle of the channel (28) .   2. Nozzle (20) vacuum cleaner according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rear wall (39) defining the suction channel (28) forms a circular arc symmetrical with respect to the front wall (38).   3. Nozzle (20) vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radius of curvature presented by the front wall and / or rear delimiting of the suction channel is greater than 500 mm and preferably less than 1000 mm.   4. Suction nozzle (20). according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width (1) of the suction channel (28) at the side edges of the nozzle (20) is less than 15 mm, and in that the width (L) the suction channel (28) in its middle is between 20 and 25 mm.   5. Nozzle (20) vacuum cleaner according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the front walls (38) and rear (39) defining the suction channel (28) are prominent with respect to the sole (26).   6. Nozzle (20) vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction channel (28) has a depth (h) increasing the lateral edges of the nozzle (20) towards the center, this depth (h) being less than 2 mm at the edges, and between 5 and 8 mm towards the center, before the connection with the conduit (29).   7. Apparatus (1) electric waste recovery brush type broom, comprising a frame (2) within which is housed in particular a motor (6), a waste separation device (10), said apparatus (1) having a handle terminated by a handle (4), as well as a nozzle (20) connected to the frame (2) of the apparatus (1) by a tube (16), the latter being in aeration connection with the device waste separation device (10), characterized in that the nozzle (20) is according to one of claims 1 to 6.   8. Apparatus (1) electric waste recovery device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the electric power of the engine (6) is less than 500 W. 9. Apparatus (1) electric waste recovery device according to the preceding claim, characterized in the motor (6) is powered by batteries (8) housed in the frame (2) of the apparatus.