WO1998018377A1

WO1998018377A1 - A device for sucking in loose particles

Info

Publication number: WO1998018377A1
Application number: PCT/SE1997/001809
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bertil Eriksson
Original assignee: Split Vision Development Ab
Priority date: 1996-10-30
Filing date: 1997-10-29
Publication date: 1998-05-07
Also published as: SE9603959D0; SE9603959L

Abstract

A device in drain water conduits (1) from one or more units (3) receiving drain water, in which the conduit (1) in question is connected to a means adapted to generate an exhaust air flow in the conduit from a room in which a unit connected thereto is located so that the unit by this is adapted to function as an exhaust air means, comprises means (5) for substantially air-tightly connecting a conducting means (12) receiving particles and communicating with the exterior to said exhaust air conduit for sucking free particles, such as dust, dirt particles and the like, from a room of a building through the conducting means.

Description

A DEVICE FOR SUCKING IN LOOSE PARTICLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a device according to the preamble of the appended claim 1.

Known devices of this type are usually called vacuum cleaners, and they are used for sucking in all types of small particles, such as dust, sand and the like, primarily from floors in homes and other premises. Conventional such vacuum cleaners have a bag for trapping the particles sucked in and they blow the air sucked in out into the room in question again through the means generating the flow of air, i.e. a fan. This means in the practice that a very great amount of so-called micro particles are blown out into the room again, and a larger number of micro particles are by a great part of the vacuum cleaners avail- able on the market in this way blown out again from the vacuum cleaner then the number of particles sucked into the vacuum cleaner. These micro particles give rise to allergies and asthma problems.

In order to find a remedy to this inconvenience there has been suggested a vacuum cleaner having a "filter bag" with water intended to bind the micro particles resulting from the vacuum cleaning. Unfortunately, it has turned out that the micro particles bound in the damp environment was generating a risk of a development of cultures of bacteria therein, especially if the person using the vacuum cleaner is not careful enough to ensure frequent discharging thereof.

Another attempt to solve the problem mentioned above has been to provide a so-called central vacuum cleaner, which has meant that particular vacuum cleaner conduits have been arranged in the walls of a building and these have been connected to a powerful fan and taps to this conduit system have been arranged in different rooms of the building for connection of a hose thereto for vacuum cleaning of the room in question. This solution results in a disappearance of the particles into the conduit system, so that spreading of micro particles in the room in question is avoided, but this solution with an amount of conduits incorporated in the walls is both costly to realise and comparatively labourous to maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type defined in the introduction, which finds a remedy to the drawbacks mentioned above of such devices already known.

This object is according to the invention obtained by providing such a device with a means for substantially air-tightly con- necting the exhaust side of the means for generating a flow of air to an exhaust air conduit running from a room of a building for blowing the air sucked in to the conducting means in this conduit for transporting it away in the direction of the exhaust air of the conduit.

Thanks to the utilisation according to the invention of an exhaust air conduit already present in the building as receiver of the air blown out from the device according to the invention, it may in a simple way and to a very low cost be ensured that no micro particles, bacteria, mould, spores and mites continues to swirl around in the room in question after the vacuum cleaning.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said connecting means is adapted to connect the exhaust side of the means for generating a flow of air to a draining conduit con- nected to a unit receiving drain water and adapted to act as an exhaust air means. Such an utilisation of the draining conduit both as exhaust air conduit and as means for receiving the air blown out from a vacuum cleaner is very advantageous for reasons easy to understand. Such an exhaust air conduit does never run out to the exterior or has any indirect connection to any supply air conduit, so that there is no risk that particles present in the exhaust air of the vacuum cleaner will again come out into the environment where people and animals live.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises a means for completely or partly trapping particles sucked into the conducting means, and this means is arranged in the path of the air flow upstream of the connection point of the connecting means to the exhaust air conduit. This corresponds to a conventional vacuum cleaner, so that a conventional vacuum cleaner with vacuum cleaner bag may in this way be used, but the problem of microparticles blown out into the room may nevertheless be eliminated.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the means for generating a flow of air may be adapted to blow out the particles sucked into the conducting means into said exhaust air conduit. Thus, the device has in this case no means, such as a vacuum cleaner bag, for trapping the particles sucked in, but the particles sucked in are simply transported further on to the exhaust air conduit for taking care thereof further downstream therein.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the connecting means comprises first coupling means adapted to cooperate with second coupling means of the exhaust air conduit for air-tightly connecting the exhaust side of the means for generating a flow of air to the exhaust air conduit, and accord- ing to a first alternative the coupling means of the connecting means is adapted to cooperate for coupling to second coupling means arranged at a through recess in a wall of said exhaust air conduit, and according to a second alternative the coupling means of the connecting means is adapted to cooperate cou- pling with a second coupling means of a unit receiving drain water and connected to a draining conduit functioning as an exhaust air conduit. The first alternative is advantageous by enabling an arrangement of "taps" for the connecting means in the wall of a room, which may be comfortable but primarily an arrangement of such taps for outputs is made possible also in rooms having no units receiving drain water, which is a requirement of the second alternative, but which has the advantage that no particular taps are required in any walls of the building in question, but a connection may easily take place at the units receiving drain water, such as draining gutters, wash stands or the like.

As a consequence of the solution according to the invention of the problem mentioned above the present invention also com- prises a device in drain water conduits from one or more units receiving drain water, in which the conduit in question is connected to a means adapted to generate a flow of exhaust air in the conduit from a room in which a unit connected thereto is located, said unit being by that adapted to function as exhaust air means.

Such a device is known through for example US 606 417. This device already known fulfils for different reasons not the ventilation task thereof in a satisfying way, but it is also restricted with respect to the field of use thereof.

It is therefor an additional object of the present invention to provide such a device, the field of use of which has been broadened for better utilisation thereof. This object is according to the invention obtained by providing such a device with means for substantially air-tightly connecting a conducting means receiving particles and communicating with the exterior to said exhaust air conduit for sucking loose particles, such as dust, dirt particles and the like, from a room in a building through the conducting means.

Thus, it will by this be possible to utilise this exhaust air conduit for "vacuum cleaning", which it is very suited for. By such a device may the two largest crooks with respect to bad environment in a house been efficiently taken care of if desired, namely conventional vacuum cleaners blowing out micro particles and draining gutters having a gathering of bacteria, mould fungus and the like in an unusually disgusting environment should it be chosen to use a draining gutter as said exhaust air means.

According to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention said connecting means is adapted to connect the ex- haust air conduit to the exhaust side of a means for generating a flow of air being a part of an arrangement for sucking in particles for receiving air blown out from such an arrangement and transporting it away in the direction of the exhaust air in the conduit. An arrangement of the type of a conventional vacuum cleaner may by this be used in combination with the device, which results in the advantages already discussed above. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention said means for generating a flow of exhaust air in the drain water conduit is adapted to carry out the sucking of said particles into the exhaust air conduit through said conducting means. Such a construction of the device is advantageous, since it does not require any separate vacuum cleaner, but the means generating the flow of exhaust air being there in any way is also utilised for the vacuum cleaning function. It has turned out that this is in the practice well feasible, since a normal vacuum cleaner normally transport about 40 m³ air per hour, while for example a draining gutter functioning as an exhaust air means in a device of this type without any problem may transport 80 m³ air per hour.

According to a preferred further development of the embodiment last mentioned the connecting means comprises second coupling means arranged at the exhaust air conduit and adapted to couple the exhaust air conduit to an air conducting means running from said room, and said second coupling means are adapted to be air-tightly connected to first coupling means at one end of a flexible elongated conducting means, which is adapted to form said conducting means receiving particles and communicating with the exterior. The device may through this easily be utilised for vacuum cleaning by connecting such a flexible elongated conducting means, such as a hose of bellows-type, to the exhaust air conduit at suitable locations in different rooms of a building.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises means for regulating the power of said means generating the exhaust air flow for conversion thereof between a power position for sucking air thereinto from said conducting means and a power position for normal generation of an exhaust air flow from said unit receiving drain water. The fan connected to the drain water conduit may by this be adapted to how said exhaust air conduit is used for the moment.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention said exhaust air conduit is adapted to receive the main part of the particles sucked in from the room in question, and it comprises means connected to said exhaust air conduit and providing liquid for trapping particles sucked into the conduit by this liquid. It is in this way possible to utilise the water transported in the exhaust air conduit or in any other separate exhaust air conduit, which has a collecting reservoir in common with the ex- haust air conduit in question, to bind dust and other particles sucked in through the device. It is particularly advantageous to utilise so-called "green" water, which is water emanating from kitchen drainage, since this has a layer of grease/oil on the surface thereof, which binds the dust well, so that such a low moisture content is achieved that a material mass convertible into pellets or "soil improvement" may be formed.

Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention will appear from the following description and the other de- pendent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

With reference to the appended drawing, below follows a de- scription of preferred embodiments of the inventions cited as examples.

In the drawing:

Fig 1 is a very schematic view illustrating a part of a conduit receiving drain water and intended to function as exhaust air conduit and having means for enabling a utilisation thereof in vacuum cleaning,

Fig 2 is a view of a part of the device according to fig 1 being enlarged with respect to fig 1 and a little bit more detailed,

Fig 3 is a view illustrating a means for coupling an air conducting means to a draining gutter being a part of a device ac- cording to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig 4 illustrates how a conventional vacuum cleaner has been modified according to the invention and connected to the exhaust air conduit illustrated in fig 1 and 2, and

Fig 5 illustrates a device according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, which utilises the means generating the exhaust air flow in the exhaust air conduit for vacuum cleaning.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A conduit 1 receiving drain water is very schematically illus- trated in fig 1 , and it is adapted to also function as an exhaust air conduit by the connection of a means 2 in the form of a fan generating an exhaust air flow from a room thereto. The unit 3 in question receiving drain water, which here is a draining gutter, is for this sake designed as an exhaust air means, i.e. it allows a flow of air produced by the fan 2 from the room through the draining gutter to the conduit 1 . It is here also shown how the conduit 1 may have an additional exhaust air intake position 4 in the ceiling region of the room in question, but this is not at all any necessity.

A series of such separate exhaust air conduits are preferably arranged in parallel with different units receiving drain water located therein, such as washbasins, draining gutters, water closets, sinks and the like. These conduits may be connected to a fan each or a fan in common to several conduits may be arranged.

It is very schematically illustrated in fig 1 how the device has a second coupling means 5 for connection of the exhaust air conduit 1 to means extending out into the room in question for sucking in particles in the exhaust air conduit in a way to be explained further on.

It is illustrated in fig 2 how a second coupling means 5 for con- nection to a first couplings means of an air conducting means not shown may be arranged at a through recess in a wall of the exhaust air conduit 1 for arranging it hidden in a wall 6 of a room at an accessible place. A corresponding recess 7 is carried out through the wall and the clothing thereof, and this re- cess 7 and the coupling means 5 are hidden by a covering means 8 for not degrading the appearance of the wall.

An alternative possibility for connecting the exhaust air conduit 1 to an air conducting means for sucking particles from a room is illustrated in fig 3, in which said second coupling means 9 is here adapted to air-tightly connect to a unit functioning as an exhaust air means in the form of a draining gutter 3. The second coupling means 9 is designed to be secured in a suitable way to the draining gutter after removing the grating thereof, when vacuum cleaning is desired.

It is illustrated in fig 4 how a device according to the invention in the form of a modified vacuum cleaner 10 may be connected to a drain water conduit 1 functioning as an exhaust air conduit. The vacuum cleaner 10 has in a conventional way a means 20 generating a flow of air, arranged in the casing 1 1 thereof and schematically indicated, said means being connected by the low side thereof to a first air conducting means 12 in the form of a conventional vacuum cleaner hose with nozzle 13. How- ever, the device has a means 14 in the form of a covering plate 15 with an outlet connection piece 16 for air-tight connection of the exhaust side of the means generating a flow of air to a flexible elongated second air conducting means 17 being a part of a connecting means, the opposite end of said second air conducting means having a first coupling means 18 adapted to cooperate interconnectingly with said second coupling means 5 for connecting the second air conducting means 17 to the exhaust air conduit 1 . The coupling means 15 and 18 may for example utilise the principle of a bayonet coupling or a snap cou- pling for a quick and secure interconnection thereof. Although it is not shown in the figure, the vacuum cleaner is normally connected also to the electrical network, even if a battery-operated vacuum cleaner also is within the scope of the invention.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to conduct the exhaust air from the vacuum cleaner 10 to the exhaust air conduit 1 , so that not any micro particles swirls around in the room from the vacuum cleaner in the vacuum cleaning. The vacuum cleaner may have a conventional filter bag for trapping the dust sucked in through the nozzle 13, but it is also possible that it has no such bag and the dust is blown out through the conducting means 17 from the exhaust air conduit 1 and is transported by the exhaust air flow therein for binding the dust for example in a reservoir with kitchen drain water, which is ad- vantageous, since such water has a surface with grease and oil, which efficiently bind the dust, so that the moisture content in the slurry formed then may be brought below 70%, which is necessary for enabling the utilisation thereof for use for example as soil improving means. It may be desired to have any form of coarse filter in the vacuum cleaner so as to remove bigger particles such as pieces of paper, playblocks and the like, from the air flow conducted into the draining conduit 1.

A device according to an alternative embodiment is illustrated in fig 5, in which the means 2 (see fig 1 ) generating the exhaust air flow in the draining conduit 1 is adapted to take care of sucking of particles into the exhaust air conduit through a first conducting means 12. The device has a flexible elongated conducting means 19, which through a first coupling means 18 discussed further above is intended to be connected to a sec- ond coupling means 5 of the exhaust air conduit 1. Preferably, the device has a means 21 for regulating the power of said means for generating an exhaust air flow for conversion thereof between a power position for sucking in air from the conducting means 12 therein and a power position for normal generation of an exhaust air flow from a unit receiving drain water, in which this means preferably is arranged close to the second coupling means 5 for reacting upon connection of the coupling means 5 and 18 to each other or disconnecting thereof from each other.

The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the preferred embodiments described above, but many possibilities to modifications thereof would be apparent to a man skilled in the art, without departing from the basic idea of the invention.

It would for instance be well possible to carry out the connection to the exhaust air conduit through another unit for receiving drain water then a draining gutter.

"Tap" for vacuum cleaning through wall-throughs may of course be arranged in other rooms of a building than such having units receiving drain water through suitable wall-throughs.

It is evident that the means for connecting the exhaust air con- duit to an air conducting means for transport of small particles may be varied within a very wide area.

The means for generating a flow of air could be adapted to be hung or arranged in another way on a wall of a room having a second coupling means.

A bag or container collecting particles could be arranged immediately upstream of the second coupling means with respect to the path of the suction air.

Claims

1. A device for sucking in loose particles, such as dust, dirt- particles and the like, comprising means (20) for generating a flow of air having a low side and an exhaust side and a conducting means (12) receiving particles, communicating with the exterior and connected to the low side of the means generating a flow of air for sucking particles thereinto, characterised in that it comprises means (15-18) for substan- tially air-tightly connecting the exhaust side of the means for generating a flow of air to an exhaust air conduit running from a room of a building for blowing the air sucked in to the conducting means in this conduit for transporting it away in the direction of the exhaust air of the conduit.

2. A device according to claim 1 , characterised in that said connecting means (15-18) is adapted to connect the exhaust side of the means for generating a flow of air to a draining conduit (1 ) connected to a unit (3) receiving drain water and adapted to act as an exhaust air means.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises a means for completely or partly trapping particles sucked into the conducting means, and that this means is arranged in the path of the air flow upstream of the connection point (5) of the connecting means to the exhaust air conduit (1 ).

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the means for generating a flow of air is adapted to blow out the particles sucked into the conducting means (12) into said exhaust air conduit (1 ).

5. A device according to any of claims 1 -4, characterised in that the connecting means comprises first coupling means (18) adapted to cooperate with second coupling means (5) of the exhaust air conduit (1 ) for air-tight connection of the exhaust side of the means for generating a flow of air to the exhaust air conduit.

6. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that said couplings means (18) of the connecting means is adapted to cooperate coupling with second coupling means (5) arranged at a through recess in a wall of said exhaust air con- duit (1 ).

7. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that said coupling means (18) of the connecting means is adapted to cooperate coupling with a second coupling means (9) of a unit (3) receiving drain water connected to an exhaust air conduit (1 ) functioning as a draining conduit.

8. A device according to any of claims 1 -7, characterised in that the connecting means comprises a flexible elongated second conducting means (17) connectable through one end thereof to the exhaust side of the means for generating a flow of air, and which at the other end has means (18) for connection thereof to the exhaust air conduit (1 ).

9. A device to any of claims 1-8, characterised in that it comprises a conventional vacuum cleaner (10).

10. A device in drain water conduits (1 ) from one or more units (3) receiving drain water, in which said conduit is con- nected to a means (2) adapted to generate a flow of exhaust air in the conduit from a room in which a said unit connected thereto is located for ventilation purposes, said unit being by that arranged to function as exhaust air means, characterised in that it comprises means (5) for substantially air- tightly connecting a conducting means (12) receiving parti- cles and communicating with the exterior to said exhaust air conduit (1 ) for sucking loose particles, such as dust, dirt particles and the like, from a room in a building through the conducting means (12).

1 1. A device according to claim 10, characterised in that said connecting means is adapted to connect the exhaust air conduit (1 ) to the exhaust side of a means (20) for generating a flow of air being a part of an arrangement (10) for sucking in particles for receiving air blown out from such an arrangement and transporting it away in the direction of the exhaust air in the conduit.

12. A device according to claim 10 or 1 1 , characterised in that the connecting means comprises second coupling means (5, 9) arranged at the exhaust air conduit (1 ) and adapted to couple the exhaust air conduit to an air conducting means (12) running from said room.

13. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that said second coupling means (5) is adapted to cooperate with a through recess in a wall of the exhaust air conduit (1 ) for connecting said air conducting means there.

14. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that said second coupling means (9) is adapted to be air-tightly connected to a said unit (3) receiving drain water for connection to said air conducting means there.

15. A device accordinα to claims 1 1 and 12. characterised in that said second coupling means (5) is adapted to be air- tightly connected to first coupling means (18) at the end of a flexible elongated conducting means (17), which is adapted to be connected to the exhaust side of said means for gen- erating a flow of air at the other end thereof.

16. A device according to claim 10, characterised in that said means (2) for generating a flow of exhaust air in the drain water conduit is adapted to carry out said suction of said particles into the exhaust air conduit (1 ) through said conducting means (12).

17. A device according to claims 12 and 16, characterised in that said second coupling means (5) are adapted to be air- tightly connected to first coupling means (18) at one end of a flexible elongated conducting means (12, 19), which is adapted to form said conducting means receiving particles and communicating with the exterior.

18. A device according to claim 16, characterised in that it comprises means (21 ) for regulating the power of said means (2) generating a flow of air for conversion thereof between a power position for sucking air from said conducting means (12, 19) thereinto and a power position for normal generation of an exhaust air flow from said unit (3) receiving drain water.

19. A device according to any of claims 10-18, characterised in that said exhaust air conduit (1 ) is adapted to receive the main part of the particles sucked in from the room in question.

20. A device according to claim 19, characterised in that it comprises means connected to said exhaust air conduit (1 ) and providing liquid for trapping particles sucked into the conduit by this liquid.