GB2474122A

GB2474122A - Battery or mains driven brush for a vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2474122A
Application number: GB1016351A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dieter Kaffenberger; Horst Dilger
Original assignee: Wessel Werk GmbH
Current assignee: Wessel Werk GmbH
Priority date: 2009-10-02
Filing date: 2010-09-29
Publication date: 2011-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-29
Also published as: CN102058349A; FR2950794B1; DE102009048053A1; GB2474122B; US20110078871A1; CN102058349B; FR2950794A1; GB201016351D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a brush attachment for a vacuum cleaner with a rotatable brush roller and an electric motor for driving the brush roller. The brush attachment is provided with an electrical connection for external power supply to the electric motor, as well as a fixedly installed or exchangeable DC low-voltage power supply, also for supplying power to the electric motor. During normal operation, the brush attachment can optionally be powered by the external power supply or independent of the electricity grid by using the DC low-voltage power supply. The flexibility in power source allows the brush attachment to be used with extension hoses, or other vacuums, that do not have means for conveying mains power to the attachment.

Description

Title of the Invention

VACUUM-CLEANER BRUSH ATTACHMENT

Description

The invention relates to a brush attachment for a vacuum cleaner with a housing provided with an opening on the bottom, as well as an air passage with a connector at the end for connection to the suction side of a vacuum cleaner to a suction pipe or to a hose, and a brush roller rotatable in the opening on the bottom and an electric motor for driving the brush roller.

The connector through which the suction air stream can flow can be designed as a rotating/pivoting joint that permits vertical deflection of an attached suction tube or suction hose and can additionally be rotated around its longitudinal axis.

EP 0 338 513 BI describes a brush attachment with the described characteristics that has an electrical connection to an external power supply for the electrical motor. The electrical connection is mounted at the connector on the rear side of the housing and is provided with contacts engage counter contacts when the suction tube is connected. Electrical lines running along the suction tube connect the counter contacts with an electrical connection at the vacuum cleaner and form part of the external electricity supply. The brush attachment is suitable for cleaning textile and smooth floor coverings. It is disadvantageous that the brush attachment can only be used in combination with a suction tube specially equipped for an external electricity supply for the electrical motor driving the roller brush. The brush attachment cannot be connected directly to the suction hose, for example, for vacuuming spaces that are difficult to reach, or wall or cushion surfaces. This limits handling as well as the uses of the brush attachment. In practice, brush attachments that have an external electricity supply are essentially only used for cleaning large floor surfaces.

DE 298 02 879 Ui describes a rechargeable battery-operated brush attachment for a vacuum cleaner. It has the design described above, as well as an exchangeable DC low-voltage power supply in the housing to supply electridty to the electrical motor. The low-voltage power supply consists of a rechargeable battery that can be inserted into a receptacle in the housing, and that must be removed from the housing for recharging in an external charging unit. The rechargeable battery-operated brush attachment is universally usable and can optionally be attached to a commercial suction tube or directly to a suction hose. Its operating time is limited by the capacity and the battery charge of the rechargeable battery block. It is disadvantageous that in the case of long use, the vacuuming operation must be interrupted again and again in order to switch out the rechargeable battery block and recharge it. Rechargeable battery-operated brush attachments are therefore only occasionally used in practice, and for vacuuming of smaller surfaces.

The object of the invention is to provide a brush attachment for a vacuum cleaner that combines the advantages of use of a brush attachment operated by using line power and a rechargeable, battery-operated brush attachment.

The object of the invention and the attainment of this object is a brush attachment for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1. The basic design of this brush attachment has a housing with an opening on the bottom, as well as an air passage with connector at the end for the connection to the suction side of a vacuum cleaner to a suction pipe or to a hose, a brush roller rotatable n the opening on the bottom, and an electric motor for driving the brush roller, in accordance with the invention, the brush attachment is provided with an electrical connection to an external power supply for the electric motor, as welt as also to a DC low-voltage power supply that is fixedly or exchangeably mounted in the housing, also for supplying voltage to the electric motor. The arrangement is made in such a way that the brush attachment can be operated during normal use, optionally with the external power supply or also independent of the power grid with a DC low-voltage power supply.

The electrical connection is preferably set up for an external power supply of 230V alternating current, and designed as part of a plug and socket connection. The electrical connection, for example in the form of a socket, can be located on the outside of the housing. It is also within the scope of the invention that the electrical connection is integrated into the connector of the housing that is located at the end and has electrical contacts that come in contact with counter contacts during connection of a suction tube or a connection port upon connection of the suction tube, that are firmly mounted at the suction tube or the connection port and are a part of the external electricity supply. The connector is thereby always designed in such a way that it can also be connected without electrical contact with a conventional suction tube or the end piece of a suction hose. As an alternative to a power supply that is integrated into the suction tube or the connection port, the external power can also be supplied by a separate connection cable.

The brush attachment in accordance with the invention combines the advantages of a device that is powered by electricity from the power grid and a rechargeable, battery-powered device. For cleaning large floor surfaces the brush attachment should be run with an external power supply for the electric motor. For occasional use cleaning smaller floor surfaces and/or cushion surfaces, the brush attachment can be run off the rechargeable battery so that the brush attachment can be combined with commercial suction tubes and suction hoses that do not have any electrical contacts.

For further structural designs of the brush attachment, a number of possibilities are suggested. As electric motor, for example, a universal motor, in particular a brushless universal motor, a so-called BLDC motor can be used that can be powered by alternating current as well as with direct current and that distinguishes itself by a particularly compact structure. Further, a direct-current motor can be used that is connected to an upstream transformer and/or rectifier. As DC low-voltage power supply, one or more dry cells or rechargeable batteries can be used, for example. Further, a suitable DC low-voltage power supply is a portable fuel cell that differentiates itseff with respect to conventionat rechargeable batteries and batteries by lower weight, faster recharging, a longer life cycle, and a longer period of operation is.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A brush attachment for a vacuum cleaner with a housing provided with an opening on the bottom, as well as an air passage with a connector at the end for connection to the suction side of the vacuum cleaner to a suction pipe or to a hose, a brush roller rotatable in the opening on the bottom, and an electric motor for driving the brush roller, the brush attachment being provided with an electrical connection for an external power supply for supplying the electric motor, as well as a DC low-voltage power supply that is fixedly or exchangeably mounted in the housing and that also serves to supply power to the electric motor, and during normal operation can be operated optionally using the external power supply or independent of the power grid by using the DC low-voltage power supply.
2. The brush attachment according to claim 1, characterized In that the electric connection for an external power supply is configured for 230 V alternating current.
3. The brush attachment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electric motor for direct-current and alternating current is a suitable brushless BLDC motor.
4. The brush attachment according to claim I or 2, characterized in that the electric motor has an upstream transformer and/or a rectifier.
5. The brush attachment according to one of claims I to 4, characterized in that the DC low-voltage power supply comprises one or more dry-cell batteries, rechargeable batteries or a fuel cell.
6. The brush attachment according to one of claims I to 5, characterized in that the electrical connection to the external power supply is provided with electric contacts mounted at the connector on the rear of the housing and upon connection of the suction tube or a connection port on the suction side of a vacuum cleaner come in contact with counter contacts that are mounted on the suction tube or the connection port and are a part of the external power supply.