GB2489664A

GB2489664A - A cleaning device with a blowing arrangement.

Info

Publication number: GB2489664A
Application number: GB201104848A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Snell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-23
Filing date: 2011-03-23
Publication date: 2012-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-23
Also published as: GB201104848D0; GB2489664B

Abstract

A cleaning device comprises a conduit 26 for supplying air and an interruption device 28 for interrupting the blowing of air from the conduit 26 whereby a pulsed supply of air is provided. The device can be a vacuum cleaner that includes a cleaner body (12, figure 1a), a cleaning head 40 and the cleaning device for supplying air to or near the cleaning head 40. The cleaning device may further comprising a reservoir 26 for storing air upstream from the interruption device 28. The interruption device 28 may be rotary valve. A method of cleaning a surface is additionally disclosed, the method comprising the steps of providing a supply of air to or near the surface to be cleaned and interrupting the supply of air to produce a pulsed supply of air.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANING DEVICES

Field of the invention

This invention relates to cleaning devices and in particular vacuum cleaners.

Background of the Invention

Many cleaning devices have been developed in a drive towards faster, more efficient and more effective cleaning. Such devices are generally provided with motors for providing a large inflow of air through a vacuum cleaner head to create adequate pickup of dirt an, revolving brushes are utilized to loosen the dirt and debris enabling it to be drawn into the vacuum head in the air flow.

Prior Art

CN Patent application number CN101579214 discloses the use of air blown into a suction vacuum cleaner head to disturb dust and debris thereby improving cleaning effect.

GB Patent number GB2402607 discloses a cleaner that has two cleaning modes that of a suction cleaner and that of a blow cleaner by appropriate selection of a manually operated switch.

European Patent application number EP2255708 discloses another method of changing the air pressure in a vacuum cleaner to easily enable it to be used for two different cleaning situations. In this invention, two chambers are provided having a manually operated switch between them. When the switch is open, a large air flow is provided with a small vacuum and when it is shut, a small airflow and high vacuum are created.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is a cleaning device comprising: a conduit for supplying air; and an interruption device for interrupting the supply of air from the conduit whereby a pulsed supply of air is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention there is a vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body; a cleaning head; and a cleaning device having a conduit for supplying air to or near the cleaning head and an interruption device for interrupting the supply of air from the conduit whereby a pulsed supply of air is provided to or near the cleaning head.

The cleaning device is manufactured as an integral part of a vacuum cleaner or is retrofit. The device has the advantage that it is relatively small and of flexible configuration (size and shape of parts) making it easy to be retrofit externally or preferably internally to a vacuum cleaner. This flexibility also means that it is easy to incorporate the device into a vacuum cleaner design as in most cases this should be achieved without the need to change the external moulding of a vacuum cleaner which is advantageous as such changes necessitate expensive and time consuming re-tooling.

Preferably, the conduit supplies air to the cleaning head. This is particularly advantageous if the cleaning head includes rotatable bristles or brushes for loosening dirt and debris from a surface. Preferably, the air is supplied to the distal side of the brushes from any air suction as this produces the most effective cleaning affect.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning device further comprises a reservoir for storing air upstream from the interruption device. The use of a reservoir can result in more effective air blasts or pulses as air pressure can be built up and used to aid the supply of air.

Preferably, the interruption device is a rotary valve.

According to a third aspect of the invention is provided a method of cleaning a surface comprising the steps of: providing a supply of air to or near the surface to be cleaned; and interrupting the supply of air to produce a pulsed supply of air.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figures Ia and lb are perspective views of a device according to the invention; Figures 2a and 2b are perspective views of a second device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a cross-section through a device according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a graph of pressure over time showing the effect of a device according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the illustrated embodiment

Figure Ia shows a vacuum cleaner 10 having a body 12 and a collection bin 16. Dirt, dust and debris is collected using a cleaning head 40 attached to the body 12 via a hose 20,30. Air is sucked in through the cleaning head 40 and along the inside 46 of the hose 20,30 until the hose attaches 24 to the vacuum cleaner body 12; here the air is filtered using one or more filters 32 and dirt deposited in the collection bin or bag 16. The air is then exhausted through an outlet 38 or the cleaner body 12. Suction is provided using a suction motor housed in the vacuum cleaner body 12 which draws the air through the hose 20,30. The collection bin 16 includes a handle 18 for opening/emptying the bin and wheels 14 are provided to enable movement of the cleaner.

In this example, the vacuum cleaner 10 is a cylinder cleaner, however the invention is as applicable to other types of cleaner, for example upright cleaners. The hose has a flexible porUon 30 and a rigid portion 20 this duality enables different sized users holding the handle 22 on the rigid portion to push the cleaning head 40 around a floor space with ease.

In order to improve cleaning efficiency, according to the invention air is discontinuously blown out through or adjacent to the cleaning head 40. Either some of the exhaust air is re-circulated and blown out through the cleaning head 40 or, a separate air supply is utilised.

Referring now to Figure ib, the hose 20,30 is provided with at least a partial double skin along its length enabling air to be sucked into 50 the vacuum cleaner using the suction motor and from 52 the direction of the vacuum cleaner to the head region 240 (Figure Ia).

Air blown 50 towards the cleaner head 40 is at least temporarily stored in a reservoir 26 before flowing out of the cleaning head 40 via a passage 42. In between the reservoir 26 and the cleaning head 40 an interruption device 28 is provided for interrupting the flow of air to the cleaning head 40 thus providing a pulsed air supply to the cleaning head 40.

Although this example shows the air flow to the cleaning head 52 as the radially outer air flow, the air flows can be reversed so the central portion of the hose has air flowing to the cleaning head rather than from the cleaning head.

Referring now to Figures 2a and 2b, an upright vacuum cleaner 110 is shown having a handle portion 120, a collecting region 130 which also houses the collecting bin, motor and control electronics and a cleaning head 140.

Air is sucked from 152 the cleaning head 140 in an air collecting region 160 and removed via a suction pipe 170 which connects to the collecting bin via filters (not shown). Air is also blown 150 into the cleaning head 140 to agitate dirt, dust and debris from a surface enabling more efficient cleaning. The air blown 150 into the cleaning head is not blown as a continuous flow, rather it is pulsed.

A reservoir 126 for storing air may be provided in the collecting region 130.

The use of a reservoir means that a volume of air can be stored between pulses enabling release of a volume of air however, a reservoir is not essential. If a pipe alone were used, pressure would build up between pulses which would result in air being forced out into the cleaning head.

Figure 3 shows another example of a device according to the invention. In this example, a reservoir 200 is connected to an air inflow pipe 250 and an air outflow pipe 260. A rotary valve 220 having at least one aperture or opening 230 is provided on the outflow pipe 260.

The device can be retrofit to an existing vacuum cleaner or formed integrally.

In use, air substantially continuously flows into the reservoir 200 but is only released as the aperture lines up with the outflow pipe providing a pulse of air through the outflow pipe 260.

Figure 4 shows a graph of air pressure over time. If air is blown into a cleaner head substantially continuously than the air pressure builds up gradually and uniformly over time as shown by dotted line 400. If the air is pulsed having substantially zero flow followed by a period of maximum flow, this results in a series of pressure spikes 410. The period or frequency of the pressure spikes is a function of various features of the interruption device.

In the examples described, a rotary valve has been utilised as the interruption device however, other devices may be used such as a one-way valve (similar to a heart valve) where a pulse of air is released once the pressure on the valve reaches a pre-defined value or a closure operated by a switch which is opened at a preset time period.

The use of pulsed air has a number of advantages. There is less delay waiting for pressure to build up as in a conventional system 400 before cleaning efficiency is improved. A blast of air provides the "double loading" of impact on a surface along with air flow making it more effective at disturbing dust and debris from a surface ready to be vacuumed up. The device may be more efficient in terms of energy use as less air is required and consequently less power may be required.

It is to be appreciated that these Figures are for illustration purposes only and other configurations are possible.

The invention has been described by way of several embodiments, with modifications and alternatives, but having read and understood this description further embodiments and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A cleaning device comprising: a conduit (26,250,260) for supplying air; and an interruption device (28,220) for interrupting the supply of air from the conduit (26,250,160) whereby a pulsed supply (410) of air is provided.
2. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body (12); a cleaning head (40,140); and a cleaning device having a conduit (26,250,260) for supplying air to or near the cleaning head (40,140,240) and an interruption device (28,220) for interrupting the supply of air from the conduit (26,250,260) whereby a pulsed supply (410) of air is provided to or near the cleaning head (40,140,240).
3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein, the conduit supplies air to the cleaning head (42,150).
4. A cleaning device according to any preceding claim further comprising a reservoir (26,126,200) for storing air upstream from the interruption device (28,220).
5. A cleaning device according to any preceding claim wherein, the interruption device (28,280) is a rotary valve (280).
6. A method of cleaning a surface comprising the steps of: providing a supply of air to or near the surface to be cleaned; and interrupting the supply of air to produce a pulsed supply of air.