TWI657784B - Nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle for sucking dirt and/or dust on the ground, in particular coarse particles and particles, by a suction airflow, and has a pump for guiding the suction airflow. a suction channel, a housing including an upper casing, a suction chamber and a sealing lip, wherein the suction chamber is formed below the upper casing, the suction passage is in communication with the suction chamber, the sealing lip is at least partially The suction chamber is defined. According to the invention, the sealing lip has a plurality of reinforcing members arranged to be spaced apart from one another. This provides a nozzle that has good pumping power for both coarse and fine particles.

Description

Nozzle Field of invention

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle for sucking dirt and/or dust on the ground, in particular coarse particles and particles, by a suction airflow, and has a pump for guiding the suction airflow. a suction channel, a housing including an upper casing, a suction chamber and a sealing lip, wherein the suction chamber is formed below the upper casing, the suction passage is in communication with the suction chamber, the sealing lip is at least partially The suction chamber is defined.

Background of the invention

Vacuum cleaner nozzles, also known as accessories or nozzles or hard nozzles or electric brushes, depending on the particular application, are well known in practice. A vacuum cleaner having such a nozzle typically has a basic housing for receiving an electric blower motor for generating a suction airflow. The nozzle is typically fluidly sealed to the vacuum cleaner via a flexible hose and/or an operating tube. In the case of a suction robot, the nozzle is usually integrated in the basic housing. The nozzle can be placed on the ground through the bristles and/or the elastic sealing lip. The dust particles and/or dirt particles sucked away from the floor to be treated, which is to be cleaned, are collected by a suction air flow to a dust filter bag which is usually disposed in a dust collecting chamber in the basic casing.

Contaminants or dust that need to be absorbed from the ground are classified into coarse particles and fine particles according to their particle size. On the one hand, there are disclosed nozzles which are optimized for absorbing coarse particles, and there are also nozzles for particularly efficiently absorbing particles. For example, conventional hard nozzles are generally not designed to absorb coarser dirt. There is also a nozzle that manually switches between absorbing coarse particles and absorbing particles by, for example, a foot button. For this purpose, for example, a bristles can be extended from the nozzle by means of the foot button, which increases the distance of the nozzle from the ground in order to better absorb or absorb the coarse particles. Therefore, the nozzles disclosed in the prior art generally can only meet one of several conflicting requirements, that is, either perform coarse particle absorption or perform particle absorption, or must be manually different by the user. Switch between working modes.

Summary of invention

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle which has good suction power for both coarse particles and fine particles.

The solution of the present invention to achieve the above object is the subject matter of claim 1. See the attached item for a better improvement.

The invention is based on a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner for sucking dirt and/or dust on the ground, in particular coarse particles and particles, by a suction airflow, having a suction channel for guiding the suction airflow a housing comprising an upper casing, a suction chamber and a sealing lip, wherein the suction chamber is formed below the upper casing, the suction passage is in communication with the suction chamber, the sealing lip at least partially defining the The suction chamber is characterized in that the sealing lip has a plurality of reinforcing members spaced apart from each other for reinforcement.

Accordingly, a key point of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of stiffeners for reinforcing the sealing lip, wherein a non-reinforced region of the sealing lip is provided between the reinforcing members. The strengthening of the sealing lip may refer to direct strengthening or indirect strengthening, which will be described in detail below. That is, the sealing lip itself has such reinforcements (ie, is directly reinforced) or is provided with additional components that are different from the sealing lip, which indirectly strengthens the sealing lip.

Furthermore, the terms used to describe the arrangement of the components of the nozzle are selected as follows, thereby establishing the position and orientation of the nozzle when it is in the state of ground suction in the operating mode. That is, the upper casing defines the suction chamber upwardly during operation.

According to a preferred refinement of the invention, the sealing lip defines the suction chamber in the direction of the feed of the nozzle. That is, the sealing lip of the nozzle with such a modification constitutes the front limit of the suction chamber, in other words, the sealing lip is arranged at the front in terms of the feed direction in the operating mode of the nozzle.

In this case, the reinforcing members arranged to reinforce the sealing lips are arranged such that the flow rate of the suction air flow is greater in the reinforcing region of the sealing lip than in the unreinforced state. That is, the unreinforced sealing lip is more susceptible to deformation due to the increased flow cross section due to the suction flow in the flow direction, thereby reducing the flow rate. Reinforcing the sealing lip reduces the leakage rate and thus the pumping power. This improves particle absorption because it further reduces the pressure in the suction chamber. In addition, the reinforcing members for reinforcing the sealing lips are spaced apart from each other, so that the suction power absorbed by the particles can be increased without affecting the good coarse particle absorption. that is, In the region of the gap between the stiffeners, i.e. in the region of the sealing lip which is free of reinforcement, the coarse particles can still easily reach below the suction opening behind the sealing lip and can be absorbed.

In a preferred refinement of the invention, in accordance with a preferred refinement of the invention, the reinforcements are at least partially constructed such that reinforcements of different strengths are realized over the width of the sealing lip. According to this aspect, for example, a sharp change in stiffness between the unreinforced region of the sealing lip and the reinforcing region can be prevented. In particular, the stiffness of the sealing lip follows a function such as a spline function, a sine function, or a parabola. This makes it possible to increase the area where the coarse particles enter the suction chamber well through the suction nozzle, thereby increasing the coarse particle absorption. Due to the originally provided reinforcing members, the negative pressure in the suction chamber is still high, so the absorption of particles is also improved.

These reinforcements for reinforcing the sealing lip have different construction schemes. In particular, the stiffeners may indirectly strengthen or directly strengthen the sealing lip as previously described. In view of the above, according to a preferred refinement of the invention, the reinforcements are at least partially formed by a plurality of support elements which are independent of the sealing lip, the support elements being sucked in the feed direction of the nozzle The sealing lip is supported outwardly inside the cavity. According to a preferred refinement of the invention described above, the sealing lip defines the suction chamber towards the front in the feed direction of the nozzle, in which case the sealing lips are supported from the rear. The indirect strengthening portions of the sealing lip function to significantly reduce the extent to which the sealing lips are deformed by the suction airflow as compared to the case where no supporting members are provided, thereby reducing the degree of deformation of the sealing lip The aforementioned leakage rate increases the negative pressure in the suction chamber.

The size of the support elements can be selected in different ways. According to a preferred refinement of the invention, the height of the support elements, ie their vertical extent in the operating state of the nozzle, is selected such that when the nozzle is placed on the ground, The lower end of the support member is spaced a distance from the ground. Although placing the lower end of the support member on the ground further reduces the leakage rate of the suction airflow through the underside of the sealing lip, even in the case where the end of the support member is spaced from the ground, the suction chamber can be significantly increased. Negative pressure without causing damage to the ground or frictional noise or scratching noise when the nozzle moves to the ground.

The support elements can be attached to different parts of the nozzle. The support members are preferably connected to the upper casing. More preferably, the support elements are integral with the upper casing. In addition to providing a very stable construction, this also enables a simple and efficient manufacturing process of the nozzle.

In addition to the aforementioned indirect reinforcement, the present invention also includes a direct reinforcement scheme. According to a correspondingly preferred refinement of the invention, the reinforcements are at least partially formed by a plurality of reinforcement members of the sealing lip. That is, the sealing lip itself has a different stiffness along its width, thereby forming regions where the sealing lip is reinforced, the regions being separated by the region of the sealing lip that is not so reinforced.

It is therefore particularly preferred that the stiffeners are formed by a plurality of material thickenings of the sealing lip. Alternatively or additionally, the sealing lip can be made of different materials having different stiffnesses. In addition, it should be mentioned that, according to a preferred refinement of the invention, the direct reinforcement scheme can also be combined with the indirect reinforcement scheme, that is to say, according to the solution, the sealing lip is provided There is at least one support element which in turn has at least one reinforcement member.

With regard to the nozzle of the present invention, good coarse particle absorption is achieved by the fact that the reinforcing members for reinforcing the sealing lip are spaced apart from each other. That is, between the reinforcements, the coarse particles can still easily enter the suction chamber below the suction nozzle and can be absorbed. In order to further increase the coarse particle absorption, according to a preferred refinement, the sealing lip has a plurality of slits. The present inventors have found that the gaps only slightly reduce the negative pressure and particulate absorption, but significantly improve the coarse particle absorption, as the coarse particles can more easily reach the suction nozzle and enter the suction chamber.

The lengths of the slits are always equal in principle. According to a preferred refinement of the invention, the length of the slits varies over the width of the sealing lip. This makes it possible, for example, to match the arrangement of the sealing lip of the sealing lip. More preferably, according to the solution, at least a portion of the slits, preferably all of the slits, are disposed in regions other than the stiffeners of the sealing lip. This applies both to the case where the length of the gap is always equal and to the case where the length of the slit varies over the width of the lip.

In addition, in the operating state of the nozzle, the gaps can in principle be extended obliquely, that is to say at an angle to the perpendicular to the surface of the sealing lip. According to a preferred refinement, the slits extend vertically or substantially vertically. Further, the length of the slits is preferably from 5 mm to 15 mm, further preferably from 8 mm to 12 mm, and particularly preferably from 9 mm to 11 mm. Further, in terms of sizing the nozzle of the present invention, the width of the reinforcing members is preferably 62 mm or less. In addition, the distance between the reinforcing members is preferably 20 mm or more.

The nozzle described herein preferably refers to a hard nozzle or electric brush. The hard nozzle is suitable for suctioning hard floors such as floor tiles or wooden floors. Since the surface to be sucked is very smooth, the hard nozzle can achieve high strength cleaning. The electric brush is typically provided with a preferably electrically driven or turbine driven brush that is positioned within the suction chamber and that is to be pumped to the ground. Such brushes separate more dirt from the ground and then absorb the dirt with a suction stream and suck it away.

According to a preferred refinement of the invention, a second sealing lip is provided which delimits the suction chamber in the feed direction of the nozzle, wherein the second sealing lip likewise has a plurality of reinforcing surfaces for reinforcement The firmware for the interval setting. In particular, such a second sealing lip is preferably disposed in the following situation: the nozzle is an electric brush. Furthermore, the preferred embodiment described above with regard to the first sealing lip also applies in principle to the second sealing lip.

According to a further preferred refinement of the invention, the suction chamber is constructed as a tunnel extending on at least one side, preferably at least partially exposed on both sides, transverse to the feed direction of the nozzle. This is especially desirable when the nozzle is a power brush. The tunnel is exposed laterally on at least one side, so that not only the absorption of particles under the nozzle, that is, the absorption of particles in the suction chamber formed by the tunnel, but also in the region other than the nozzle, that is, Partial absorption of the tunnel is carried out at least partially in the lateral direction. The above solution can increase the effective width of the particle removal by the nozzle during the ground suction process as compared to the physical width of the suction chamber formed by the tunnel of the nozzle. That is, according to this preferred refinement of the invention, the particles are actually sucked away in the vicinity of the nozzle, i.e. where the tunnel is exposed outwards.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Detailed description.

1,10‧‧ ‧ nozzle

2‧‧‧Upper shell

3‧‧‧ suction crossing

4‧‧‧Aspiration chamber

5‧‧‧ sealing lip, first sealing lip

6‧‧‧ gap

7‧‧‧Firmware

8‧‧‧Double-row bristles

9‧‧‧ sealing lip, second sealing lip

11‧‧‧ brushes

12‧‧‧ housing

13‧‧‧孔口

1 is a perspective view of a bottom surface of a nozzle constructed as a hard suction nozzle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a sealing lip in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a sealing lip according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a nozzle constructed as an electric brush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; And Fig. 5 is a side view of the nozzle constructed as an electric brush shown in Fig. 4.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, the underside of a nozzle 1 constructed as a hard suction nozzle in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The nozzle 1 shown in Fig. 1 is in a position opposite to its working state, that is, the bottom surface faces upward. The suction nozzle 1 has an upper casing 2 in which a circular suction passage opening 3 is provided. Starting from the suction channel 3, the suction channel of the nozzle 1 transitions into a suction tube which is not further illustrated.

In Fig. 1, above the upper casing 2, i.e. under the upper casing 2 in the operating state of the suction nozzle 1, a suction chamber 4 is constructed, in the direction of the feed in the true sense of operation of the nozzle 1 The suction chamber is defined forward by a sealing lip 5. The term "front" in this context refers to an area that indicates the front area during the surface cleaning of the nozzle 1 in the suction mode of operation.

The sealing lip 5 is provided with a plurality of slits 6 on one side and on the other side There are several reinforcements 7. The reinforcing members 7 are integral with the upper casing 2 and are spaced apart from each other. The height of the stiffeners 7 is lower than the height of the sealing lip 5. That is, when the sealing lip 5 is placed on the ground to be sucked during the operation of the suction nozzle 1, the reinforcing members 7 are spaced apart from the ground.

In the region where the stiffeners 7 are spaced apart from each other, the sealing lip 5 is provided with a slit 6 which is formed as a pair of slits, respectively. That is, two slits 6 are provided in each of the spacing regions between the two reinforcing members 7. The generally triangular suction chamber 4 is defined rearwardly and laterally by a double row of bristles 8.

The arrangement of the stiffeners 7 relative to the sealing lip 5 and the distribution of the slits 6 in a preferred embodiment of the invention can be seen in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the sealing lip 5 is bounded on each side by a stiffener 7. The stiffeners 7 project laterally beyond the end of the sealing lip 5. The orientation in Figure 2 is the same as the orientation in Figure 1. That is, during the operation of the suction brush, the area facing the ground is also pointed upward in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the sealing lip 5 and the reinforcement 7 for reinforcing the sealing lip 5. As shown in Figure 3, the slits 6 have different lengths and are not only disposed within the area defined by the spacing regions between the stiffeners 7. Among them, the reinforcing members 7 do not have the straight shape shown in FIG. 2, but have a curved shape. In this way, the sealing lip 5 can be reinforced with a variation along the width of the sealing lip 5.

Furthermore, Figure 4 shows a nozzle 10 constructed as an electric brush in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The nozzle 10 is likewise shown from the bottom and has a rear sealing lip 9 in addition to a front sealing lip 5 which collectively defines the front and rear portions of the suction chamber 4. a brush 11 is provided in the suction chamber 4, which can be borrowed It is rotated transversely to the feed direction of the nozzle 10 by an electric drive unit, not further illustrated, so that the ground to be sucked is brushed, so that more dirt and dust on the ground can be removed.

The first sealing lip 5 and the second sealing lip 9 each have a plurality of reinforcing members 7 which are arranged to be spaced apart from one another. The arrangement of the sealing lips 5, 9 and the stiffener 7 is in principle identical to the arrangement shown in Figure 2, but the number of stiffeners 7 is increased. Furthermore, the sealing lips 5, 9 are provided with a number of slits not shown here in order to absorb the coarse particles, as explained in detail above.

As shown in Fig. 5, another essential feature of the present embodiment is that the suction chamber 4 is constructed as a tunnel that is partially exposed on both sides and extends transversely to the feed direction of the nozzle 10. Figure 5 does not show the nozzle 10 in the supine position as shown in the other figures, but rather shows the orientation of the nozzle 10 when it is in the true working mode. That is, the suction nozzle 10 is placed with its bottom surface on the ground to be suctioned. As shown in Figure 5, the housing 12 of the nozzle 10 has a lateral opening 13 on its side facing the ground. Figure 5 shows this on one side; however, the apertures 13 are provided on both sides of the nozzle 10.

With the lateral opening 13 of the housing 12 of the nozzle 10, not only the absorption of particles under the nozzle 10 can be performed. Specifically, the nozzle 10 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention also has a suction effect in an area other than the housing 12. That is, in addition to the suction nozzle 10, particles are also absorbed outside the suction nozzle 10, i.e., the side of the suction nozzle 10 that is adjacent to the lateral opening 13 in the casing 12 of the suction nozzle 10. This increases the effective suction width of the nozzle 10 and absorbs more particles.

Claims (10)

A vacuum cleaner nozzle for sucking dirt and/or dust on the ground, in particular coarse particles and particles, by a suction airflow, having a suction channel for guiding the suction airflow, and an inclusion An upper casing, a suction chamber and a sealing lip, wherein the suction chamber is formed below the upper casing, the suction passage is in communication with the suction chamber, the sealing lip at least partially defining the suction chamber The sealing lip has a plurality of reinforcing members spaced apart from each other for reinforcement, wherein the sealing lip has a plurality of slits, and wherein at least a portion of the slits are disposed on the sealing lip The firmware is in the outer side area. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the sealing lip defines the suction chamber toward the front in the feeding direction of the nozzle. A nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reinforcements are at least partially constructed such that reinforcements of different strengths are achieved over the width of the sealing lip. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the reinforcements are at least partially comprised of a plurality of support members independent of the sealing lip, the support members supporting the sealing lip outwardly from the interior of the suction chamber. The nozzle of claim 4, wherein the height of the support members is selected such that when the nozzles are placed on the ground, the lower ends of the support members are spaced from the ground. The nozzle of claim 4, wherein the support members are preferably integrally connected to the upper casing. The nozzle of claim 5, wherein the support members are preferably integrally connected to the upper casing. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the reinforcements are at least partially comprised of a plurality of reinforcement members of the sealing lip. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the length of the slit varies across the width of the sealing lip. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein a second sealing lip is defined, the second sealing lip defining the suction cavity in a rearward feeding direction of the nozzle, wherein the second sealing lip also has a plurality of A stiffener used to enhance the spacing between each other.