Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L1/00—Cleaning windows
  • A47L1/06—Hand implements
  • A47L1/08—Hand implements with provision for supplying liquids, e.g. cleaning agents

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.
• a hot cleaning liquid or a hot steam is of great benefit for removing greasy soiling. Since temperatures above 100 ° C. are particularly advantageous, cleaning devices which bring steam at temperatures above 100 ° C. to the surface to be cleaned have the desired cleaning properties.
• High-pressure cleaning devices are known from the patents DE-A1-35 30 954, EP-A1-0 263 196, DE-C2-35 26 024 and DE-C1-37 32 173.
• Commercial high-pressure cleaning devices with hot steam are extremely unwieldy for many cleaning jobs, since they comprise a pressure vessel with a high-pressure pump, a heating and evaporation device and pressure-resistant lines to the spraying device.
• a cleaning device is known from German utility model DE-GM-75 34 556, which provides a heating surface under a water-soaked cleaning cloth.
• the device is simple, but cannot heat the water of the cleaning cloth or the steam produced to the desired temperatures of over 100 ° C. At high temperatures of the heating surface, there would be a fire risk after the cleaning cloth dries out. In addition, there is a great risk of burns for the cleaning staff when changing the cleaning cloth.
• AT-A-303 300 and FR-A-2 218 867 describe hand-held devices which use steam to clean smooth surfaces. In both devices, liquid is introduced into a kind of boiler room, heated and then applied in the form of steam to the surface to be cleaned.
• the object of the invention is now to describe a hot steam cleaning device which can be handled easily and without risk and which brings dry steam to the surface to be cleaned at temperatures of over 100 ° C.
• the hot steam is generated in the immediate vicinity of the area to be treated. There is therefore no need for unwieldy hot steam lines which cool the hot steam and which are dangerous in the event of leaks.
• the cleaning liquid is atomized directly onto the heating surface and evaporated there.
• the middle direction of the atomized liquid jet and that of the steam flowing out of the steam generation chamber form an angle of at least 90 ° with one another.
• the heating surfaces can be made larger, which results in a better evaporation rate. This is particularly the case if the atomizing device is arranged in such a way that the atomizing of the cleaning liquid is directed against a bottom thereof, which is located opposite the opening (s) of the steam generating chamber and in particular comprises, at least partially, the heating surface .
• the steam generated on the heating surface and the spray flow from the atomizing device to the heating surface thus form a type of counterflow.
• a guide device is preferably provided.
• This guide device can consist of the steam generating room itself, the heating surfaces preferably occupying a large area of this guide device, but it can also include a steam line which guides the steam generated in the steam generating room to the wiper device.
• the steam can preferably be heated further and / or possibly brought to an increased, predetermined pressure within the steam generating chamber.
• the hot steam flows through at least one opening from the steam generation space, possibly directly onto the surface to be treated.
• a steam line can also be provided which has outlet openings for the steam in the area of the wiper device, so that the steam is applied to the surfaces to be cleaned in a targeted and specific manner, for example distributed over the length of a specially shaped wiper device can.
• the cleaning device according to the invention is thus designed as an essential, unpressurized, open system which is safe to handle. Due to the arrangement according to the invention, the heating time is comparatively short; the descaling that may be necessary is simple.
• the guide device can optionally be supplemented by a blower device, in which a fan is preferably provided in the area of the outlet opening of the steam chamber.
• a blower device in which a fan is preferably provided in the area of the outlet opening of the steam chamber.
• the steam flow can also be changed in that the outlet opening of the steam room is provided with a valve which only allows steam to escape if a pressure has built up in the steam room which is above a predetermined value.
• the steam can be passed through a heating device, which preferably consists of a heatable heating medium, such as copper or aluminum wool.
• the heating medium is preferably heated by the heating plate, but possibly by its own heat source.
• the temperature of the steam is kept within a predetermined range by means of at least one temperature sensor and one control device.
• the temperature sensor preferably measures the temperature of the heating surface, but it can optionally directly measure the temperature of the steam, preferably before exiting the steam room. Since the steam temperature depends on the temperature of the heating surface, on the liquid flow and possibly on the steam pressure in the steam room, the control device controls the feeding of the heating surface, the liquid flow generated by a conveying device and possibly the steam pressure generated by means of a controllable valve.
• the liquid that is formed on the surface to be cleaned can be returned to the liquid container via a liquid return. This can be of advantage when cleaning large and / or areas that are not particularly accessible because it means that the cleaning liquid has to be refilled less often.
• the conveying device which conveys the cleaning liquid from the container to the heating surface, can also act as a suction device for the liquid to be returned, in order to save space, preferably two-way valves both in the liquid return and in the liquid line be provided.
• a drainage tube for receiving the liquid accumulating on the surface to be cleaned which is assigned to the scraper and in particular extends along this, enables the liquid to be absorbed well, especially if it is in the form of a liquid in the area adjacent to the scraper Sponge strip trained wiper strip is embedded.
• a sponge strip could serve alone as a liquid receiver, from which the liquid is then returned to the container, albeit generally less effectively.
• Another possibility of taking up the liquid accumulating on the surface again is to arrange two wipers one behind the other, the wiper arranged in the wiping direction as the second wiper having channel-like recesses which the liquid into a liquid receiver, be it in the form of a sponge strip or in the form of a collecting channel.
• An arrangement for returning the liquid can also be provided here. If a temperature sensor is assigned to the heating surface, there is the possibility that it supplies a control signal to the pump on the liquid line device when a certain temperature is reached, so that it is only switched on when the heating surface is hot enough. This ensures that cleaning liquid which has not yet been evaporated cannot also escape from the steam generating space.
• Shape of a handheld device 2 shows a cross section through a steam generating device according to the invention
• FIG.3b shows a detail section along B-B in FIG. 3b
• FIG. 4 shows a container for cleaning liquid with a line connection to the hand-held cleaning device
• 5 shows a section through a hand-held cleaning device
• Wiper device and pivotable mounting arm and Figure 5a shows a detail from Figure 5 with an embodiment variant of a steam generating device according to Figure 2;
• FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram for a cleaning liquid return
• FIG. 6a shows a detail section along A-A of FIG. 6
• FIGS. 7a and 7b each show a section through two alternative wiping devices, each with two wipers.
• An exemplary embodiment of a steam cleaner according to FIG. 1 is designed as a hand-held device 1 which receives a steam generating device 2, a liquid line device 3 and a container 4 for the cleaning liquid.
• the container 4 is in this embodiment play arranged in the area of a grip surface 1a, on which the steam cleaner is held.
• the container 4 can be filled with cleaning liquid through a closable filling opening (not shown).
• the line device 3 leads the cleaning liquid from the container 4 to the steam generating device 2 at the free end of the cleaner 1.
• a wiping device 5 is provided, which preferably consists of a rubber scraper.
• the liquid line device 3 comprises a delivery device 3a, which preferably consists of a pump. If necessary, this can be operated manually; Preferably, however, an electric pump is used, which is fed by means of a battery, a rechargeable battery or preferably via a mains connection. If necessary, a device can also be provided for conveying the liquid, which changes the volume of the container 4 available for the liquid, preferably with a displacement device, such as a piston or a balloon-like device, inside the container 4. The drive of this displacement device is carried out mechanically, preferably with an electric motor or by means of a pressure medium which is brought to the desired pressure, if appropriate manually.
• a delivery device 3a which preferably consists of a pump. If necessary, this can be operated manually; Preferably, however, an electric pump is used, which is fed by means of a battery, a rechargeable battery or preferably via a mains connection.
• a device can also be provided for conveying the liquid, which changes the volume of the container 4 available for the liquid,
• the conveying device 3 a consists of a pump, it must be ensured that liquid can be drawn in in any position of the hand-held device 1, even if the container 4 is only slightly full. This can be achieved by means of at least two intake manifolds in regions of the container 4 arranged opposite one another. In the case of a rigid container 4, a check valve is necessary in order to ensure that the liquid to be replaced by air.
• the container 4 is designed so that its volume always corresponds to the amount of liquid filled; this is preferably achieved in that the container wall consists of elastic material, as described in more detail with reference to FIG.
• a line device 3 could also be provided, which conveys the liquid in a fine-pored medium by means of the capillary force.
• the steam generating device 2 of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention according to FIG. 2 has a housing 6 with a — in this case cup-shaped — heating surface 8.
• a heating device 8a which is preferably operated electrically, but optionally also generates the necessary heat by means of gas combustion or via microwaves.
• a cover 7 acts as thermal insulation, so that as much of the heat as possible is supplied to the heating surface 8 and no hot spots which can be touched from the outside occur. In addition, it effects an insulation of the electrical parts of the device against possibly penetrating moisture.
• a nozzle holder 9 is provided in the housing 6 and is held on the housing 6.
• An atomizing device is attached to the side of the nozzle holder 9 facing the heating surface 8, which preferably consists of at least one nozzle 10. However, atomization can also be carried out using ultrasound.
• the steam generating space 14, which is delimited by the heating surface 8 and the housing 6, has at least one opening 13, which lets the steam escape in the direction of the surface to be cleaned.
• a steam outlet valve 37 is arranged in the opening 13, which only allows the steam to escape temporarily, preferably when the pressure in the steam room 14 exceeds a predetermined value. This is preferably done via an actuator 38, which receives the actuating signal via a controller R (see below).
• a steam line 26, which directs the steam to the wiper device, can also be provided at the steam outlet, as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 2, for guiding the steam.
• the temperature of the emerging steam is above 100 ° C., preferably in the range from 120 ° C. to 140 ° C.
• the temperature of the heating surface 8 is in accordance with the desired vapor temperature in the range of 160 ° C to
• At least one temperature sensor 32 is provided to control the steam temperature or the temperature of the heating surface 8.
• the temperature signal is fed to a control device R, which controls the supply to the heating device 8a.
• the regulating device R can optionally also regulate the conveying device 3a and / or the steam outlet valve 37 in the opening 13.
• the pump 3a is preferably only switched on when the heating surface 8 has reached a specific, predetermined temperature. A switching signal is then sent to the pump via the temperature sensor 32. This can be done in particular by means of a limiter B.
• a steam heating device which preferably consists of a vapor-permeable heat medium, such as copper or aluminum wool, which heat medium is preferably arranged in the space 14b not filled by the atomizing cone and is heated via the heating surface 8, which in this case heats up then should extend further towards the opening 13.
• the cleaning liquid is located in a container 4a made of elastic material, which in turn is arranged in a stable housing 4b.
• This stable housing 4b has an opening 31; the elastic container 4a is thus under atmospheric pressure and will contract or will be compressed when the volume of liquid is reduced.
• the cleaning liquid is filled into the container 4a via a closable filling opening 27 and is removed via the outlet opening 28 by means of the pump 3a.
• a closing valve 36 is opened via an actuating member 39. Entry and exit openings 27 and 28 are common to the two containers 4a and 4b.
• the elastic container 4a and the stable housing 4b are tightly connected to one another in the region of these openings.
• the pump 3a can deliver liquid from this in any position of the cleaning device after the cleaning liquid has been filled into the container 4a, the filling opening 27 has been closed and the outlet opening 28 has been opened.
• the container must always be filled completely.
• 3a and 3b show two possibilities for applying the steam to the surface to be treated.
• 3a shows an elongated wiper device 5 r to which steam is conducted via a steam line 26a which is T-shaped here, the steam being able to exit from steam outlet openings 29.
• a steam line 26a which is T-shaped here, the steam being able to exit from steam outlet openings 29.
• Such a design is particularly suitable for window cleaning devices, possibly in a manner corresponding to FIG. 4, in which case the steam generating device can also be accommodated in a device part 15 (FIG. 4).
• the steam line should be as short as possible and be thermally insulated.
• FIG. 3b Another possibility of steam guidance is shown in FIG. 3b, in which the steam line in the area of the wiping device 5 'is designed in the form of a triangle with steam outlet openings 29 distributed over the circumference of this triangle.
• a clamping device for example in the form of a snap device 30 , is used to hold a wiping cloth 35 (FIG. 3c), which means that larger areas, such as floor areas, can also be easily worked on. Due to the triangular shape of the wiper device 5 ', floor corners can also be reached.
• the scraper 5a4 is also a triangular shape at die ⁇ ser wiper device 5 1, the sponge-like wiping "strip" 5b4 fills the interior of. 3c shows a section along BB of FIG. 3b. It can be clearly seen how the wiper flap 35 clamped by the snap device 30 spans the surface lying between the wipers 5a4.
• a further exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 provides a device part 15, separate from the hand-held cleaning device 1, for the container with the cleaning liquid and for the conveying device.
• a flexible line connection 16 leads from the device part 15 to the hand-held cleaning device.
• the line connection 16 comprises a liquid line, a supply line for the heating device 8a (FIG. 2) and optionally control lines of the regulating device for regulating the conveying device.
• the device part 15 can be hung from the cleaning personnel by means of a carrying device consisting of at least one carrying strap 18, laterally over a shoulder, or can be carried on the back like a backpack.
• the light hand-held device 1 and the flexible line connection 16 enable the use of force to be minimized when cleaning.
• the device part 15 could also stand on a mobile frame and thus free the personnel from carrying them. If the device part 15 is always at a greater height than the surface to be cleaned, a conveyor device for the cleaning liquid can be dispensed with, since the liquid reaches the heating surface due to gravity.
• a hand-held cleaning device 1 provides a wiper device 5, consisting of a scraper 5a and a wiper strip 5b.
• the wiper strip 5b preferably consists of a sponge-like material, loosens the dirt softened by the steam and picks up part of it, the rest is carried along by the wiper 5a.
• the wiper strip 5b is fastened to the handheld device 1 in such a way that it can be easily replaced. The replacement is necessary in order to be able to replace dirty wiping strips with clean ones.
• the gripping surface 1a is connected to the part 1b via a joint 19 in such a way that different angles of inclination between the parts 1a and 1b can be set.
• the part 1b of the cleaning device 1 which carries the wiper device 5 should also be able to be rotated with respect to the handle part 1a.
• a guiding device is provided on part 1a or 1b, preferably a wheel, which, in addition to the wiping device, serves as a further support point on the surface to be cleaned, so that the steam cleaner 1 can be optimally guided on the surface to be cleaned.
• a wiping bar can also be provided on the wiper device 5, which is preferably designed as a part that can be folded away or inserted into a suitable recess on the wiper device.
• 5a shows in detail the design of the alternative steam generating device 2a (V in FIG. 5).
• the cleaning liquid is fed via the feed line 11 into the atomizing device, atomized via the nozzle 10 and sprayed through the nozzle holder interior 14a against the heating surface 8 ', which in this case is purely flat.
• the heating device 8a and the heating surface 8 ' are covered by the cover 7.
• the resulting steam flows through holes 9a in the nozzle holder 9 from the space 14a into a steam chamber 14b between the housing 6 and the nozzle holder 9.
• the nozzle holder 9 is connected by means of a flange between a holder projection 6a of the housing 6 and the heating surface 8 1 ge hold.
• the steam generation space 14 is closed off by a cover 12 adjoining the housing 6. In the cover 12 there is the opening 13 for the steam outlet and optionally the steam outlet valve 37, according to FIG.
• a temperature sensor 32 is also provided here.
• FIGS. 6 and 6a The principle for a liquid return 20 can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 6a, according to which the liquid accumulating on the surface to be cleaned can be returned to the container 4.
• a drainage tube 21 is arranged in the wiper strip 5b1, which is provided here as a sponge triangle between the V-shaped wipers 5a1.
• This drainage tube 21, which is provided with fine holes that are only passable for the liquid and for the smallest dirt particles, can be clamped in a groove-shaped recess 25 of the wiper strip 5b1, or it can be pushed into a corresponding borehole.
• wiper strip 5b1 and drainage tube 21 should be able to be cleaned or replaced independently of one another and used again.
• the liquid absorbed via the drainage tube 21 is then exchanged via a dirt filter 22, which is advantageously exchangeable is either (directly indicated by dashed lines) fed directly to the container, or sucked in by the pump 3a1 via a two-way valve 24 and conveyed into the container 4.
• Another two-way valve 23 blocks or opens the liquid line leading to the heating surface 8; however, suction and pumping can also be combined.
• a special design of the stripper 5a1 can also be seen from FIG. 6, to which a relatively small wiping "bar" 5b1 is assigned.
• the drainage tube 21 thus also extends only over a small part of the area to be cleaned which can be swept by the stripper 5a1.
• the drainage tube - like the wiper strip - could be V-shaped and thus extend over the entire length of the scraper 5a1. If the hand-held cleaning device is designed in accordance with FIGS. 1, 3 or 4, the drainage tube will preferably be arranged parallel to the entire stripper along the stripper.
• FIG. 7a and 7b show alternative designs of wiping devices.
• two wipers 5 a 2 and 5 a 3 lying parallel to one another are provided, which are arranged one behind the other in the wiping direction.
• the steam that has reached the surface to be treated from the outlet opening 29 condenses there and is drawn off by the first stripper 5a2.
• the second scraper 5a3 also draws any remaining liquid from the surface, but the majority of the liquid can run through channel-like recesses 33 provided in this scraper 5a3 into a sponge wiper strip 5b2, which operates in the manner described above can be exchangeable and / or contains a drainage tube 21 as a liquid return.
• FIG. 7b shows an alternative embodiment with two wipers 5a2 and 5b2 "arranged one behind the other, in which case the second wiper 5b2 'has no recesses.
• the suction takes place by means of a sponge 5b2 arranged in front of this scraper, in which in turn a drainage tube 21 is accommodated.

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• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=4236272

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Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (9)

Citations (10)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 1991
  • 1991-08-30 CH CH2548/91A patent/CH681209A5/de not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1992
  • 1992-08-28 EP EP92918340A patent/EP0639060A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-08-28 WO PCT/EP1992/001988 patent/WO1993004623A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-08-28 AU AU24699/92A patent/AU2469992A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (10)

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