WO2009095055A1

WO2009095055A1 - Low noise floor cleaning appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2009095055A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/010361
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen Merz; Dietmar Schneider; Brunhold Roppelt
Original assignee: Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2008-02-01
Filing date: 2008-12-06
Publication date: 2009-08-06
Also published as: DE102008008069A1; EP2240061A1; EP2240061B1; CN101932275B; CN101932275A

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cleaning appliance (10) having a housing, on the underside of which is arranged at least one drivable cleaning tool (16) for removing dirt from a surface to be cleaned, and a vacuum unit for vacuuming off the dirt and a dirt container for accommodating the vacuumed dirt. The aim of the invention is to reduce the noise produced by such an appliance. The appliance according to the invention is characterized by comprising an exhaust air guiding unit (200) by means of which an exhaust air flow of the exhaust air of the vacuum unit can be directed towards at least one cleaning tool.

Description

BOTTOM CLEANING DEVICE WITH LOWER NOISE DEVELOPMENT

The invention relates to a floor cleaning device with a housing, on the underside at least one drivable cleaning tool for removing dirt from a surface to be cleaned is arranged, and with a suction unit for sucking the dirt and a dirt container for receiving the sucked dirt.

In such a floor cleaning device, the suction unit usually has to provide a high suction power in order to be able to suck the dissolved dirt from the surface to be cleaned. This is typically done by the suction unit comprising a high speed fan. Due to the high speed of the blower, the exhaust air of the

Saugaggregates a high flow velocity, which leads to a strong noise. For noise reduction has been proposed to equip the floor cleaning device with sound-absorbing elements or to let the exhaust air of the suction unit at an area of the floor cleaning device, which is as far away as possible from the user's hearing.

US Pat. No. 3,940,826 describes using the example of a steam cleaning machine to remove the exhaust air from the suction unit to reduce noise on the surface to be cleaned.

Object of the present invention is to develop a floor cleaning device of the type mentioned in such a way that it has a lower noise.

This object is achieved in a generic floor cleaning device according to the invention that the floor cleaning device has an exhaust air duct means by which an exhaust air flow of the exhaust air of the suction unit can be aligned to at least one cleaning tool.

If the exhaust air of the suction unit meets the cleaning tool due to the guidance by means of the exhaust air guiding device, it is spatially distributed as a result of this movement. It has been shown that the noise of the floor cleaning device is thus effectively reduced.

If the floor cleaning device has more than one cleaning tool, it can be provided that an exhaust air flow of the exhaust air of the suction unit can be aligned by means of the exhaust air guiding device to a plurality of cleaning tools, in particular to each cleaning tool.

It is advantageous if the exhaust air flow can be aligned by means of the exhaust air guiding device to the side of the at least one cleaning tool which faces away from the surface to be cleaned. It has been shown that in this way the noise reduction can be increased. In addition, it is avoided by the orientation of the exhaust air flow on the side facing away from the cleaning surface of the cleaning tool that is located on the surface to be cleaned dirt from the exhaust air flow undesirably distributed spatially.

For an additional reduction of the noise, it is advantageous if the at least one cleaning tool rotates about an axis of rotation or oscillating drivable and the exhaust air flow by means of the exhaust air guiding device is transversely to the axis of rotation on the at least one cleaning tool aligned. In this case, the exhaust air flow can be detected and spatially distributed by the rotating or oscillating movement of the cleaning tool.

The at least one cleaning tool preferably has cleaning bristles and the exhaust air stream can be aligned with the cleaning bristles by means of the exhaust air guiding device. Due to the cleaning bristles, the exhaust air flow can be detected and distributed particularly effectively by the cleaning tool, whereby a considerable noise reduction can be effected. Therefore, the teaching according to the invention has a particularly noise-reducing effect in a floor cleaning appliance whose cleaning tool has cleaning bristles, i. the cleaning tool is formed, for example, as a brush roller or disc brush.

Advantageously, the floor cleaning device comprises a receiving space for the suction unit and at least one cleaning space formed on the housing for receiving at least one cleaning tool, wherein the exhaust air guide device forms at least one exhaust duct through which the receiving space is flow-connected with at least one cleaning room. In the receiving space, the suction unit is arranged, the exhaust air can be removed through at least one exhaust duct in at least one cleaning space formed on the housing, in which at least one cleaning tool is recorded taken. This makes it possible to align the exhaust air flow targeted and structurally simple manner to the cleaning tool to effect a noise reduction.

If more than one cleaning room is provided on the floor cleaning appliance, then it is possible for a plurality of cleaning rooms, in particular each cleaning room, to be connected to the receiving space via at least one exhaust air duct. Moreover, it is possible that more than one cleaning tool is arranged in a cleaning room and that the exhaust air flow is aligned only to one or more, in particular all of these cleaning tools.

It can be provided that a separate and, for example, formed by a hose exhaust duct is provided which connects the receiving space with at least one cleaning chamber. For example, the ends of the hose can be immersed in the receiving space and in the cleaning room.

In order to achieve a compact design of the floor cleaning device, however, it is advantageous if the housing limits the exhaust air duct at least in sections.

In a structurally simple way, this is preferably achieved in that a the exhaust air duct limiting portion of the housing is formed as an opening of the housing.

Conveniently, the housing comprises a wall bounding the at least one cleaning chamber and forming at least one outlet opening of an exhaust air duct. The exhaust air flow into the clean- tion space introduced and aligned with a cleaning tool arranged therein.

Preferably, the at least one outlet opening is arranged on a portion of the at least one cleaning space bounding wall, which is opposite to that side of the at least one cleaning tool, which faces away from the surface to be cleaned. This makes it possible to align the exhaust air flow on one side of the cleaning tool, which faces the surface to be cleaned, in order to achieve the advantage already described above.

It is advantageous if the at least one cleaning tool is elongate and if the at least one outlet opening is arranged approximately opposite the center of the at least one cleaning tool, with respect to its longitudinal extension. This makes it possible to align the exhaust air flow approximately to the center of the cleaning tool so that it can be grasped and distributed by as large a region of the cleaning tool as possible, thereby achieving an effective noise reduction.

Preferably, the at least one outlet opening has a cross-sectional area that is greater than the minimum cross-sectional area of the exhaust air channel. This makes it possible to reduce the flow velocity of the exhaust air flow as it leaves the outlet opening relative to the speed which is present in the region of the minimum cross-sectional area of the exhaust air duct. By reducing the flow rate The distribution of the exhaust air flow through the cleaning tool is promoted.

As already mentioned, it is favorable if the exhaust air duct is limited at least in sections by the housing. Furthermore, it is advantageous for the floor cleaning appliance to comprise a cover part which can be detachably connected to the housing and has a first partial section delimiting at least one exhaust air duct at least in sections. As a result, for example, given the possibility to limit at least one exhaust duct through the housing and the cover. Since the cover is detachably connectable to the housing, it can be solved by this and so the exhaust duct are at least partially opened. This is for example advantageous if there are unwanted objects in the exhaust duct and block them.

Advantageously, the cover has a second portion, wherein the receiving space for the suction unit between the second portion and the housing is formed. This gives the floor cleaning appliance a simple construction, because this gives the possibility to use the cover both for sectionally limiting at least one Abluftka- channel as well as for forming the receiving space for the suction unit. On the cover, the suction unit can be held so that it can be solved together with the cover from the housing. It can also be provided that the suction unit can be fixed by means of the cover on the housing.

The cover part preferably has a cover lower part, with which the cover part can be detachably connected to the housing, and a cover upper part, which detachably connectable to the cover bottom. By loosening the cover lower part of the housing, the entire cover can be separated from the housing to expose the suction unit or, if it is held on the cover, to separate together with the cover from the housing. By loosening the top cover of the cover bottom, it is possible to release the receiving space only partially, about to gain access to the suction unit. This can be advantageous, for example, if maintenance and / or cleaning work has to be carried out on the suction unit without it being necessary to remove the suction unit completely from the receiving space.

Advantageously, the housing has at least one functional device receptacle for at least one functional device of the floor cleaning device. This makes it possible to arrange the at least one functional device on the housing and possibly to fix it, so that the floor cleaning device can be given a technically simple construction in addition to a compact design. In addition, this makes it possible to provide the floor cleaning appliance with service-friendliness, for example such that a plurality of functional device receivers are formed close to one another on the housing, which are easily accessible.

It is advantageous if the at least one functional device receptacle in the form of a recess formed on the housing is formed, for example in the form of a groove and / or a trough, which is formed in the housing. Preferably, the functional device receptacle is arranged on an upper side of the housing in order to allow a user easy access.

It is advantageous if a functional device receptacle forms a dirt container receptacle in which the dirt container can be detachably arranged. The dirt container can be removed from the dirt container receptacle, for example, for emptying and then be arranged in this again.

The floor cleaning appliance is particularly easy to service if at least one functional device or a cover which covers at least one functional device is accessible from the dirt container receptacle after removal of the dirt container. By removing the dirt container from the dirt container receptacle, at least one functional device or, if appropriate, its cover is thus released, so that it can be reached in a comfortable manner. It is even more preferable if, after removal of the dirt container from the dirt container receptacle, a plurality of functional devices or optionally their covers are freely accessible. After loosening the dirt container from the dirt container receiving at least one functional device or an optionally existing cover thereof is freely accessible in such a configuration. This gives, for example, a user of the floor cleaning device the opportunity to achieve a functional device of the floor cleaning device in a convenient manner, for example, perform a visual inspection and replace the functional device as needed. He only has to remove the dirt container from the dirt container receptacle. men. Simple maintenance and / or repair work can therefore easily be carried out even by a layman. Functional devices that are not to be manipulated by the user but that should be accessible to a service technician can be covered by a cover. The cover is accessible after removal of the dirt container from the dirt container receptacle. A service technician can remove the cover with the aid of a suitable tool, thereby gaining access to functional devices to which, for example, an electrical voltage can be applied. These functional devices can then be easily checked and replaced if necessary. The floor cleaning device is thus characterized by a high degree of service friendliness.

It can be provided that a functional device receptacle receives a fluid pump for conveying a cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid serves to pressurize the surface to be cleaned. It is typically water, to which a cleaning chemical may be added to increase the cleaning effect. The liquid pump is in electrical connection with an electrical power supply. It is therefore advantageous if it is covered by a cover for protection against contact. By removing the dirt container from the dirt container receptacle cover is accessible. The liquid pump can therefore be easily replaced by a service technician when needed.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one functional device receptacle receives at least one liquid line that can be connected to the fluid pump. The liquid line is conveniently located in a nutförmi- deepening. Preferably, the liquid line is transparent, it can be configured for example in the form of a transparent tube. This allows a user a simple visual inspection, ie he can check, for example, whether the liquid line is clogged or leaking. If necessary, he can replace the line without calling a service technician.

It is advantageous if the fluid pump can be connected to at least one fluid line and / or if two or more fluid lines can be connected to one another by means of plug connections, since this makes it easier for a user to easily access the fluid pump from the fluid line and / or the fluid lines separate.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one Funktionsseinrichtungsauf- at least one electrical device of the floor cleaning device receives. The electrical device may be, for example, a control and / or regulating device, an electrical switching and / or connecting device or the like. The electrical device is preferably covered by a cover for protection against contact.

Conveniently, at least one functional device receptacle receives at least one electrical line that can be connected to the electrical device, which is preferably accommodated in a groove-shaped depression formed on the housing.

The serviceability of the floor cleaning device is further enhanced by the fact that the electrical device with at least one electric Line and / or that two or more electrical lines are connected to each other by means of plug-in connections. The connectors can be separated in particular by a service technician, which allows him to easily replace an electrical line and / or the electrical device.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the suction unit, which typically has an electric motor drive for a turbine, can be connected to one or more electrical lines by means of plug connections.

A compact design of the floor cleaning device can be achieved if the housing has at least one opening for passing an electrical line and / or a liquid line. For example, it can be provided that a cleaning liquid is conducted to the underside of the housing by means of a liquid line, which is passed through an opening formed on the housing, in order to act on the surface to be cleaned.

Preferably, the housing has at least one opening, through which a medium can be sucked in by the suction unit. This gives, for example, the possibility of forming the housing as part of a suction channel upstream of the suction unit. In particular, an opening formed on the housing can form an interface between a dirt pick-up device, which receives the dirt detached from the surface to be cleaned, and a suction tube, via which the dirt passes into the interior of the dirt container. The ease of service of the floor cleaning device can be further improved if the above-described perforations of the housing and / or optionally thereto assignable seals and / or filters are freely accessible to a user after removal of the dirt container from the Schmutzbe- hälteraufnahme.

It is advantageous if the floor cleaning device has two cleaning tools in the form of rotatably mounted on the housing brush rollers and a drive device for the brush rollers, which is arranged in the housing between them and has a drive axis which is parallel to the axes of rotation of the brush rollers. By means of two brush rollers, a thorough cleaning of the surface to be cleaned can be made. The arrangement of the drive means between the brush rollers in the housing allows a compact design of the floor cleaning device. The coaxial alignment of the brush rollers and the drive means makes it easier to transmit the drive force from the drive means to the brush rollers in a structurally simple manner.

The floor cleaning appliance can be designed as a scrubber-drier, in which a cleaning liquid is applied to the surface to be cleaned in order to facilitate the removal of the dirt by means of the brush rollers.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention düng used in conjunction with the drawings, the detailed explanation of the invention. Show it: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a floor cleaning device according to the invention with a housing on which a dirty water tank and a fresh water tank are placed;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the housing of the floor cleaning device;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2, wherein also the dirty water tank and the fresh water tank of the floor cleaning device are shown;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 2, wherein also the dirty water tank and the fresh water tank of the floor cleaning device are shown and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an upper housing part, a cover, a suction unit and a two-part cover for the suction unit of the floor cleaning device of Figure 1 in an exploded view.

In the drawing, a preferred embodiment of a floor cleaning device according to the invention is schematically shown, which is presently designed as a scrubber 10. It has a housing 12, on the underside 14, two cleaning tools in the form of two brush rollers 16 and 18 are rotatably mounted about two axes of rotation 20 and 22 respectively. The axes of rotation 20 and 22 are parallel to a surface to be cleaned and are aligned perpendicular to a direction of cleaning of the scrubber 10 in FIG.

To move the scrubber 10 forward or backward along the cleaning direction 24 serves a at the top 26 of the housing 12 about a parallel to the axes of rotation 20 and 22 extending pivot axis pivotally mounted push bar 28. The push bar 28 is in a known and therefore not explained manner with a Not shown pivoting mechanism in operative connection, by means of which arranged on the underside 14 of the housing 12 support rollers 30, 31, 32 and 33 can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction. If the push bar 28 is pivoted out of the vertical, the support rollers 30, 31, 32 and 33 can be raised relative to the brush rollers 16 and 18, so that the brush rollers 16 and 18 contact the surface to be cleaned.

On the upper side 26 of the housing 12, a dirt container 34 in the form of a dirty water tank 36 is placed, on which in turn a fresh water tank 38 is placed. The dirty water tank 36 and the fresh water tank 38 are explained in more detail below.

The housing 12 comprises a housing lower part 40 and an upper housing part 42, wherein the housing lower part 40 forms two cleaning chambers 44 and 46, in which the brush rollers 16 and 18 are arranged (Figures 3 and 4). The cleaning chambers 44 and 46 are bounded laterally and above by dome-shaped boundary walls 48 and 50, respectively, into which spraying devices 52 and 54 are inserted at the top.

The spraying devices 52 and 54 can be supplied in a manner described below, a cleaning liquid, which in the cleaning rooms 44th and 46 can be sprayed to apply to the surface to be cleaned with the cleaning liquid. In the present case, water is used as the cleaning liquid to which a cleaning chemical may be added to increase the cleaning effect.

Between the brush roller 16 and a first transverse side 56 of the housing 12 and between the brush roller 18 and a second transverse side 58 of the housing 12, dirt-collecting devices in the form of suction bars 60 and 62 are arranged between the housing lower part 40 and the housing upper part 42. These can be subjected to negative pressure as described below in order to suck off a mixture of detached dirt and cleaning fluid, the so-called "dirty liquor", from the surface to be cleaned.

In its center, the housing 12 has a drive space 64 formed between the lower housing part 40 and the upper housing part 42, which receives a drive device 66 whose axis of rotation 68 is aligned parallel to the axes of rotation 20 and 22 of the brush rollers 16 and 18 respectively. An 11 bare driving force provided by the drive device 66 can be transmitted to the brush rollers 16 and 18 by means of gear means, which are known per se and are not shown in the drawing, in order to drive them in rotation to clean the surface to be cleaned.

The upper housing part 42 has on the upper side 26 a dirty water tank receptacle 70 in the form of a trough-shaped depression, which is formed in the upper side approximately plate-shaped upper housing part 42 (Figure 5). In the direction of rotation, the trough-shaped depression is bounded by a partially interrupted edge 72.

In the dirty water tank 70, the dirty water tank 36 can be used by a user without tools and removed from this tool again without tools. The scouring machine 10 is presented to a user after removing the dirty water tank 36 and the fresh water tank 38 in accordance with the plan view shown in FIG. 2, except for the push bar 28 (not shown).

The fresh water tank 38 is, as already mentioned, placed on the dirty water tank 36 and with this via fasteners in the form of clamping brackets 74 and 76 detachably connectable. For transporting the dirty water tank 36 and the fresh water tank 38 is a transport device in the form of a transporting bracket 78 which is pivotally mounted on the dirty water tank 36 about a parallel to the axes of rotation 20 and 22 extending axis of rotation and 38 can cover the fresh water tank during transport.

A cleaning liquid which can be closed by means of a lid 80 can be used to fill a cleaning liquid into the fresh water tank 38. Via an extraction line 82 running within the fresh water tank 38, the cleaning liquid can be supplied to an outlet nozzle 84, which is arranged on a bottom wall 85 of the fresh water tank 38 (FIG. 3).

The dirty water tank 36 has a bottom wall 86 with two openings, of which only one opening 88 can be seen in FIG. On each of them, turned upwards, a respective pipe socket 92 or 94 is arranged, over which two suction pipes 96 and 100 are slipped, the open ends of which are located in the interior 100 of the dirty water tank 36.

If the dirty water tank 36 is arranged in the dirty water tank receptacle 70, the apertures 88 of the bottom wall 86 with two perforations 102 or 104 (FIG. 2), which are formed in the upper housing part 42, come to cover. Sealing elements 106 and 108 are disposed between the dirty water tank 36 and the upper housing part 42 at the openings 102 and 104, respectively.

Of the openings 102 and 104 of the upper housing part 42 are in the direction of the surface to be cleaned pipe sections 110 and 112, which are connected to the suction bars 60 and 62 (Figure 3). In this way, there are flow connections of the suction bars 60 and 62 via the pipe sections 110 and 112, the pipe socket 92 and 94 and the suction pipes 96 and 98 in the interior 100 of the dirty water tank 36, wherein the upper housing part 42 to a certain extent exerts an "interface function" ,

The bottom wall 86 of the dirty water tank 36 also has a further opening 114, from which a pipe socket 116 protrudes upwards, over which a U-shaped suction pipe 118 is slipped (FIG. 4).

In addition to the previously mentioned dirty water tank receptacle 70, further receptacles for functional devices of the scrubber 10 are formed on the upper housing part 42, as is clear from FIGS. 2 and 5, ie for devices which perform necessary functions for operating the scrubber 10. Namely, a trough-shaped pump receptacle 120 for a liquid pump is formed on the upper housing part 42, which is not shown in the drawing, since it is detached from a cover 122. covers is, which is detachably connectable to the upper housing part 42. The pump receptacle 120 adjacent to a shaft-shaped electrical receptacle 124 is formed for an electrical connection device in the form of a power strip, wherein the power strip is also not shown in the drawing, since it is also covered by the cover 122.

The liquid pump is connected via a supply line 126 and a valve 128, which comes into fluid connection with the waste water tank 36 placed on the upper housing part 42 with the outlet pipe 84, with the removal line 82 and thus the interior of the fresh water tank 38 in fluid communication.

At the outlet of the liquid pump, two outgoing lines 132 and 134 are connected by means of a tee-shaped distributor line 130, wherein the distributor line 130 and the outgoing lines 132 and 134 are arranged in a groove-shaped line receptacle 135 formed on the upper housing part 42.

The liquid pump facing away from the ends of the outgoing lines 132 and 134 are connected via angled connecting pieces 136 and 138 which are arranged in trough-shaped receptacles 140 and 142, respectively, with the sprayers 52 and 54, respectively. The connecting pieces 136 and 138 pass through apertures 144 and 146, respectively, of the upper housing part 42. In this way, via the connecting pieces 136 and 138 by means of the liquid pump through the withdrawal line 82, the supply line 126, the connecting piece 130 and the outgoing lines 132 and 134 Reinigungsflüssig- be pumped to the spray 52 and 54 to apply to the surface to be cleaned with the cleaning liquid.

All connections of liquid-carrying components of scrubber 10 are designed as plug-in connections, i. the connector 130 is connected by means of a plug connection to the outlet of the liquid pump and to the outlet lines 132 and 134, which in turn are connected by means of plug connections via the connecting pieces 136 and 138 to the spray means 52 and 54, respectively. Similarly, the supply line 126 can also be plugged onto the valve 128 as well as onto the inlet of the liquid pump.

The use of plug connections allows a user to easily remove fluid-carrying lines during maintenance and / or repair of the scrubber-drier 10 in order to replace or clean them. Due to the ability to remove the dirty water tank 36 without tools, these liquid-carrying lines are him freely accessible after removal of the dirty water tank 36. In contrast to the liquid-carrying lines, the liquid pump and the connector strip are covered for protection against contact by the cover 122. This can be removed by a service technician with a suitable tool so that he can get to the liquid pump and the connector strip.

The electrical lines to be connected to the connector strip, of which only an ansatzweise an electrical line 148 is shown in Figure 2 in the form of a power cord in Figure 2, with this also by means of connectors connectable, which additionally increases the ease of service of the scrubber 10.

For sucking the dirty liquor from the surface to be cleaned into the inner space 100 of the dirty water tank 36, the scrubber 10 has a suction unit 150, with which a negative pressure can be generated in the interior 100 (FIGS. 3 to 5). The suction unit 150 can be driven by means of electrical energy and for this purpose comprises a motor 152 shown only schematically in FIGS. 3 and 4. The motor 152 can drive a turbine wheel, not shown in the drawing, which is also shown only schematically in its outline Turbinenradge- housing 154 is arranged. Via a bottom-side seal 156, the suction unit 150 is placed on an edge 158 of a trough-shaped receptacle 160, which is formed approximately in the middle of the upper side 26 of the housing upper part 42.

A cover member 162 covering the suction unit 150 can be detachably connected to the upper housing part 42, in the present case by screwing by means of screws 164a, 164b, 164c, 164d, 164e. The cover member 162 is in two parts and has a cover base 166 for releasably screwed to the housing upper part 42 and a Abdeckoberteil 168, which is releasably connectable to the Abdeckunterteil 166, in this case by screwing by means of two screws 170a, 170b (Figures 2 and 5).

The cover member 162 rests on the suction unit 150 on the upper side, so that by the screwing of the cover member 162 with the upper housing part 42, the suction unit 150 is subjected to a force in the direction of the upper housing part 42 becomes. The suction unit 150 is reliably held in this way in a receiving space 172 formed on the upper housing part 42 between the cover part 162 and the upper housing part 42.

For maintenance and / or repair of the suction unit 150, the cover 162 is freely accessible to a user after removing the dirty water tank 36 from the dirty water tank receptacle 70. For example, it is possible for a service technician to detach the cover top 168 from the cover bottom 166 in order to gain access to an upper region of the suction unit 150 facing away from the upper housing part 42. Should this restricted access not be sufficient for the maintenance and / or repair measure to be carried out, he can also solve the entire cover 162 from the upper housing part 42 and thus completely expose the suction unit 150. Since this is held on the upper housing part 42 solely by the application of force by the cover part 162, there is no need for any further release of mechanical connection means in order to detach the suction unit 150 from the housing 12. The scrubber 10 has in this way a particularly high ease of service.

A plate-shaped cover element 174 rests on the edge 158 of the receptacle 160, which comprises a first opening 176 which is arranged below the fan wheel, and a second opening 178 which is arranged on the end of the cover element 174 facing away from the suction unit 150 (FIGS until 5). If the dirty water tank 36 is arranged in the dirty water receptacle 70, then the opening 178 engages with the opening 114 of the bottom wall 86 of the dirty water tank 36. Between the dirty water tank 36 and the cover 174 is a sealing filter element 180 is arranged. In this way, an intake passage 182 is formed between the cover element 174 and the upper housing part 42, via which the receiving space 172 through the pipe socket 116 and the suction tube 118 with the inner space 100 is in flow communication to the negative pressure.

The cover 174 is detachably connectable to the upper housing part 42, in this case by connecting elements in the form of two screws 184a, 184b (Figure 2). This makes it possible, after loosening the cover member 162 and the suction unit 150 from the housing 12 to release the cover member 174 from the housing 12, which may be required, for example, if there are foreign objects or the like in the intake passage 182 undesirably.

After loosening the dirty water tank 36 from the dirty water inlet 70, the filter element 180 is freely accessible, which has an advantageous effect on the serviceability of the scrubber 10, because this makes it possible to replace the filter element 180 in a simple manner or to clean.

Adjacent to the receptacle 160, the upper housing part 42 has a trough-shaped recess 188 bordered by an edge 186, which opens into a shaft 190 which forms an opening 192 of the upper housing part 42 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The shaft 190 is grasped by a wall 194 which engages in the direction of the underside 14 of the housing 12 into an opening 196 in the housing lower part 40. The opening 196 widens in the direction of the surface to be cleaned in order to open in the boundary wall 48 of the cleaning chamber. 44 to form an outlet opening 198 of an exhaust duct 200 formed in this way.

The exhaust duct 200 forms an exhaust air ducting device for the exhaust air of the suction unit 150, and it is limited except from the upper housing part 42 and the lower housing part 40 of a portion of the cover member 162 which covers the edge 186. Through the exhaust air channel 200, there is a flow connection between the receiving space 172 and the cleaning space 44, so that exhaust air discharged from the suction unit 150 can be conducted through the exhaust air channel 200 into the cleaning space 44.

A discharged from the suction unit 150 exhaust air flow can be passed in this way through the exhaust duct 200 through to the side facing away from the surface to be cleaned of the brush roller 16 and is effectively spatially distributed by this due to their rotational movement. This makes it possible to effectively reduce the usually very strong noise of the exhaust air flow of the suction unit 150.

The fact that the exhaust air flow is directed to the side of the brush roller 16 facing away from the surface to be cleaned, it can also be ensured that arranged on the surface to be cleaned dirt is not undesirable spatially distributed and the cleaning result is impaired.

Due to the widening of the cutout of the exhaust air duct 200 in the region in front of the outlet opening 198, the speed of the exhaust air stream decreases before it enters the cleaning chamber 44. Danger to the center of the brush roller 16, based on its longitudinal extent, directed. These design measures have proven to be particularly effective to cause a reduction in the noise of the scrubber 10.

In a variant of the scrubber 10 it can be provided that the cleaning chamber 46 is in flow communication with the receiving space 172 for the suction unit 150 via an exhaust duct to align an exhaust air flow of the suction unit 150 on the brush roller 18.

Due to the achievable noise reduction, the handling of the scrubber 10 is more user-friendly, and the risk of hearing loss of the user of the scrubber 10 due to excessive noise can be reduced.

Claims

1. Floor cleaning appliance with a housing, on the underside of which at least one drivable cleaning tool for removing dirt from a surface to be cleaned is arranged, and with a suction unit for sucking the dirt and a dirt container for receiving the sucked dirt, characterized in that the floor cleaning device ( 10) has an exhaust air guide device (200), by means of which an exhaust air flow of the exhaust air of the suction unit (150) on at least one cleaning tool (16) is alignable.

2. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhaust air flow by means of the exhaust air guide device (200) on the side facing away from the surface to be cleaned of the at least one cleaning tool (16) is alignable.

3. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one cleaning tool (16) about a rotational axis (20) rotatable or oscillating drivable and the exhaust air flow by means of the exhaust air guide means (200) transversely to the axis of rotation (20) on the at least one cleaning tool (16) is alignable.

4. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one cleaning tool

(16) has cleaning bristles and the exhaust air flow by means of the exhaust air guide means (200) is alignable to the cleaning bristles.

5. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor cleaning appliance (10) comprises a receiving space (172) for the suction unit (150) and at least one housing (12) formed cleaning space (44) for receiving at least one cleaning tool ( 16), wherein the exhaust air guiding device (200) forms at least one exhaust air duct (200) via which the receiving space (172) is flow-connected to at least one cleaning chamber (44).

6. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that the housing (12) delimits the exhaust air duct (200) at least in sections.

7. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that a the exhaust duct (200) delimiting portion of the housing (12) is formed as an opening of the housing (12).

8. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the housing (12) comprises a at least one cleaning chamber (44) delimiting wall (48) which forms at least one outlet opening (198) of an exhaust duct (200).

9. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one outlet opening (198) at a portion of the

at least one cleaning space (44) limiting wall (48) is arranged, which is opposite to that side of the at least one cleaning tool (16) which faces away from the surface to be cleaned.

10. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the at least one cleaning tool (16) is elongated and that the at least one outlet opening (198) approximately the center of the at least one cleaning tool (16), based on its longitudinal extent, arranged opposite one another is.

11. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the at least one outlet opening (198) has a cross-sectional area which is greater than the minimum cross-sectional area of the exhaust air duct (200).

12. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the floor cleaning device (10) with the housing (12) releasably connectable cover member (162) with at least one exhaust duct (200) at least partially delimiting the first section comprises.

13. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 12, characterized in that the cover part (162) has a second section, wherein the receiving space (172) for the suction unit (150) between the second section and the housing (12) is formed.

14. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the cover part (162) has a cover lower part (166), with which the cover part (162) is releasably connectable to the housing (12), and a Abdeckoberteil (168), the with the Abdeckunterteil (166) is releasably connectable.

15. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) at least one func onseinungsungsaufnahme (70, 120, 124, 135, 140, 142, 160) for at least one functional device (36, 130, 132, 134 , 136, 138, 150) of the floor cleaning appliance (10).

16. Floor cleaning device according to claim 15, characterized in that the at least one functional device receptacle (70, 120, 124, 135, 140, 142, 160) in the form of a housing (12) formed recess is formed.

17. Floor cleaning device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that a functional device receptacle (70) forms a dirt container receptacle (70), in which the dirt container (34) is detachably arrangeable.

18. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 17, characterized in that at least one functional device (130, 132, 134, 136, 138) or a cover (122, 162) which covers at least one functional device (150), after the removal of the dirt container (34 ) is freely accessible from the dirt container receptacle (70).

19. Floor cleaning device according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that a functional device receptacle (120) receives a liquid pump for conveying a cleaning liquid.

20. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 19, characterized in that at least one functional equipment receptacle (135) accommodates at least one liquid line (130, 132, 134, 136, 138) which can be connected to the liquid pump.

21. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the liquid pump with at least one liquid line (126, 130) and / or that two or more liquid lines (130, 132, 134, 136, 138) are connectable to each other by means of plug connections.

22. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that at least one functional device receptacle (124) accommodates at least one electrical device of the floor cleaning appliance (10).

23. Floor cleaning device according to claim 22, characterized in that at least one functional device receptacle receives at least one connectable to the electrical device electrical line.

24. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the electrical device with at least one electrical

Line (148) and / or that two or more electrical lines (148) are connectable to each other by means of plug connections.

25. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) has at least one opening (144, 146) for passing an electrical line and / or a liquid line (136, 138).

26. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) has at least one opening (102, 104) through which a suction medium from the suction unit (150) can be sucked.

27. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor cleaning appliance (10) comprises two cleaning tools in the form of rotatably mounted on the housing brush rollers (16, 18) and a drive means (66) for the brush rollers (16, 18) in the housing (12) is arranged between these and a drive axis (68) which is parallel to the axes of rotation (20, 22) of the brush rollers (16, 18).

28. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor cleaning appliance (10) is constructed as a scrubber-drier (10).