WO2010072426A1

WO2010072426A1 - Cleaning attachment for vacuum cleaners

Info

Publication number: WO2010072426A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/058183
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Bisges; Thorsten Krüger; Hans-Jürgen ARNING; Patrick Wichmann
Original assignee: Melitta Haushaltsprodukte Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft; Reinhausen Plasma Gmbh
Priority date: 2008-12-23
Filing date: 2009-06-30
Publication date: 2010-07-01
Also published as: DE102008063053A1; EP2344283B1; US20120131761A1; JP2012513261A; EP2344283A1; CN102264484A

Abstract

A cleaning attachment, in particular for a vacuum cleaner, comprises a housing (3), a connection (18) for a suction tube, a suction opening (6) for ambient air, a plasma generator (2) arranged in the housing (3, 63) for generating plasma, and at least one cleaning opening (10, 14) or a channel on which a mixture of plasma and air impinges on a surface (11) to be cleaned before the mixture is suctioned off into the housing (3) and through the connection (18). Thus the cleaning attachment can treat the air and impurities in a disinfecting and odor-neutralizing manner.

Description

Cleaning attachment for vacuum cleaner

The present invention relates to a cleaning attachment according to the preamble of claim 1.

There are vacuum cleaner attachments and floor nozzles are known by means of which a cleaning of textile surfaces, such as mattresses and upholstery is possible. The impurities are sucked in, but no odors can be neutralized. In addition, germs and spores can be vacuumed only badly and therefore remain in the textile.

In addition, there are UV lamps that are superficially effective and kill germs and spores there. However, it is not possible to reach an area within the textile with it so that the effectiveness is very limited. In addition, it can come, especially in living areas with high humidity, to fungal attack on the walls. This mold has hitherto mostly been combated with aggressive chemical agents.

EP 1 330 976 discloses a suction head for a vacuum cleaner in which by means of an ion generator negative and positive ions are generated, which electrically charge the bristles of a brush roller. As a result, due to increased electrostatic dirt particles are better attracted. A cleaning or disinfection of surfaces by killing of organic germs and a

Eliminating odors is not possible. In addition, the ion generators can become contaminated by sucked dirt particles, so that subsequent cleaning of sucked air is not possible.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning attachment for

To create a vacuum cleaner that allows deep cleaning and removes odors efficiently. This object is achieved with a cleaning attachment with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the cleaning attachment comprises a housing, a connection for a suction tube, an intake opening for ambient air, a plasma generator arranged in the housing for generating plasma, and at least one

Cleaning s Opening or a channel where a mixture of plasma and air strikes a surface to be cleaned before the mixture is sucked into the housing and through the port. As a result, the cleaning attachment can also treat the air and contaminants in a sterilizing and odor-neutralizing manner. Through a cleaning hole or the channel is the

Air / plasma mixture passed along or in a surface to be cleaned. The plasma is ozone-containing, so that germs and spores are killed. The surface cleaning is carried out by the formation of a flow profile at the cleaning opening without liquid or chemical additives. Such cleaning is therefore particularly material compatible and does not affect the use of the

Object.

Preferably, the housing is divided by a gas-permeable partition in a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber. This ensures that a flow from the overpressure chamber into the vacuum chamber takes place. It is of course also possible not to form the partition gas-permeable, so that no direct flow between the two chambers occurs, but only through the cleaning port. The ambient air is sucked in by a blower, preferably a fan. As a result, an overpressure forms, which ensures an increased penetration depth of the plasma into the surface to be cleaned. Preferably, the flow resistance of the gas-permeable partition is adjustable. This allows activated air to enter the vacuum chamber and also neutralizes odors and germs there.

In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one cleaning opening has an outflow opening for the outflow of the mixture of plasma and air and an inflow opening for the inflow of the mixture into the housing. This ensures by the pressure and flow conditions that the mixture of air and plasma for a predetermined flow section except flows half of the housing and is used there for cleaning. The distance between the outflow opening and the inflow opening can be formed as a strip with a width between 0.5 cm and 5 cm, preferably learning to 2 cm. This ensures that after the killing of germs on the surface to be cleaned the dead organic remains are sucked into a negative pressure area of the essay.

Preferably, the cleaning attachment is designed such that a volume flow through the suction opening is less than a volume flow through the connection for a suction pipe, preferably by more than 20%. As a result, in addition to the mixture of plasma and air, further ambient air in the area of the cleaning opening is sucked in, which improves the cleaning performance.

For a self-sufficient energy supply, a power storage device for supplying the plasma generator is preferably provided.

In addition, the cleaning attachment can additionally have a device for mechanical cleaning, in particular a rotating brush roller. The brush roller can be arranged between the outflow opening for the outflow of the mixture of plasma and air and the inflow opening for the inflow of the mixture into the housing.

For a compact construction, the plasma generator can have one or more moldings which at least partially surround the brush roller.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the power supply, a generator is provided, which is connected to a drive or the brush roller with a belt drive and thereby converts the kinetic energy of the brush roller or the impeller into electrical energy.

In a preferred embodiment, the plasma generators are parallel to the

Brush roller arranged, whereby a high plasma density is generated by utilizing the full case width immediately in the vicinity of the brush roller. A further preferred embodiment provides for an arrangement of plasma generators perpendicular to the brush roller. In this case, the plasma generator is shaped such that it partially encloses the brush roller and thus likewise generates a high plasma density in the vicinity of the brush roller.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a housing is provided on which a rubber seal is provided on all sides along the outer edges of the support surface of the housing on the surface to be cleaned. Thus, an optimization of the flow profile of the air / plasma mixture on or in the surface to be cleaned can be achieved. In addition, an increased intake of polluted air by a higher vacuum cleaner performance can be achieved, whereby an increased negative pressure is built up.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to several embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

Fig. Ia, b is a side view and a sectional plan view of a cleaning attachment according to the invention; Fig. 2a, b is a side view and a sectional plan view of another

Embodiment of a cleaning attachment according to the invention; 3 a, b is a sectional side view of a variant with replaceable plasma generator and blower. Fig. 4 is a side view of an imple mentation variant with an external

Power supply; and

Fig. 5a, b is a sectional side view of a variant embodiment with an internal power generator

In Fig. Ia and Ib, a cleaning attachment 1 is shown, which has a plurality of plasma generator 2 in a housing 3. In this case, ambient air is sucked by means of a blower 5, preferably a fan, through a suction port 6 into a positive pressure chamber 7 of the housing 3, as shown by the arrows 4. At least partially ozone-containing plasma from the ambient air is produced at the plasma generators 2. The overpressure chamber 7 is delimited by a gas-permeable partitions 9 of negative pressure areas in the housing 3. The mixture of plasma and air is passed to a discharge opening 10 at a bearing surface of the housing 3 to the surface to be cleaned 1 1, as shown by the arrows 8. On the housing 3, a rotatable brush roller 12 is arranged with bristles 13 or rubber lips on the outside, which is partially surrounded by a portion 17 of the partition wall 9. The Bύrstenwalze 12 serves for the mechanical cleaning of the surface 1 1 and forms part of the separation between the pressure chamber 7 and a vacuum chamber.

Through the discharge opening 10, the mixture of plasma and air is applied to the surface to be cleaned 1 1, and flows there at a channel or at the

Outside of the housing 3 on the surface to be cleaned 1 1 over. Subsequently, the mixture and, if necessary, soiling from the surface 1 1 is sucked through a suction opening 14 in the cleaning attachment 1.

Through the gas-permeable partition 9 occurs partially formed plasma / air mixture from the pressure chamber 7 in the vacuum chamber in which it comes into a vortex chamber 15 for mixing with the sucked polluted air from the surface 1 1, as shown by the arrows 20. The plasma / air mixture then passes through a vacuum cleaner connection 18 in a vacuum cleaner. The flow resistance of the gas-permeable partition wall 9 can be adjustable, for example, by a screen structure with passages whose passage cross-sections are variable, by a higher flow resistance reduces the amount of sucked mixture of ambient air and plasma.

To power the plasma generator 2 and the blower 5 is a, integrated in the housing 3 power storage 19 is provided. The plasma generator 2 in this case has a plurality of rods or tubes which extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush roller 12 and these partially surrounded. On the rods or tubes discharge electrodes in the form of plates, strips and / or windings are provided, which serve for the production of plasma.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show a modified embodiment of the cleaning attachment 1 of FIG. 1, in which the same components are identified by the same reference numeral. Chen are designated. The cleaning attachment has in the housing 3 more

Plasma generator 22 which are strip-shaped and extend transversely to a rotational axis of a brush roller 32. The plasma generator 22 are formed bent and enclose de brush roller 32 partially.

Another embodiment of a cleaning attachment is shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. In this case, a plasma generator 42 is arranged with a blower 45 on a removable module 46. Thereby, the plasma generator 42 and the blower 45 can be cleaned at regular intervals or replaced with a new module. Other components in their operation correspond to the previous embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows a cleaning attachment with a modified power supply. Here, a current storage 78 is attached to a housing 3 of the cleaning attachment. This is brought by a plug connection 79 in connection with the power supply of a vacuum cleaner 80. As a result, the current memory 78 can be fed and, depending on the need, a plasma generator 62 or a fan 65, the required electrical energy delivered. Other components correspond in their operation to the previous embodiments.

In Fig. 5a) and b) cleaning attachment is shown with a generator 98 which is connected via a belt drive 99 with a brush roller 92. During the movement of the cleaning attachment over a surface, the generator converts kinetic energy through the sucked air into electrical energy, with which it then operates the plasma generator 82 and the fan 85, if necessary also via the current storage 19.

Other ways of power supply, for example in the form of a battery, capacitors, etc. are also possible. reference numeral

Cleaning attachment 1

Plasma generator 2, 22, 42, 62, 82

Housing 3

Streamline - ambient air 4,

Blower 5, 45, 65, 85

Suction opening 6

Overpressure chamber 7

Flow arrow 8

Partition wall 9, 17

Outflow opening 10

Surface 11

Brush roller 12, 32, 92

Bristles 13

Suction opening 14

Vortex chamber 15

Flow arrow 16

Vacuum cleaner connection 18

Power storage 19, 78

Module 46

Plug connection 79

Vacuum cleaner 80

Generator 98

Belt drive 99

Claims

claims

1. cleaning attachment, in particular for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a) a housing (3), b) a connection (18) for a suction pipe, c) at least one suction opening (6) for ambient air, d) at least one in the housing (3 ) arranged plasma generator (2, 22, 42, 62, 82) for generating plasma, and e) at least one cleaning opening (10, 14) or a channel on which or a mixture of plasma and air to a surface to be cleaned (π) impinges.

2. Cleaning s on set according to claim 1, characterized in that in the housing (3) a fan (5) adjacent to the suction opening (6) is arranged.

3. Cleaning attachment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plasma generator (2, 22, 42, 62, 82) in a pressure chamber (7) is arranged.

4. Reinigungsaufs atz according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (3, 63) by a gas-permeable partition (9) in a pressure chamber (7) and a vacuum chamber is divided.

5. Cleaning attachment according to claim 4, characterized in that the flow resistance of the gas-permeable partition wall (9) is adjustable.

6. cleaning attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one cleaning s opening a Ausströmöff- opening (10) for discharging the mixture of plasma and air and an inflow opening (14) for flowing the mixture into the housing ( 3, 63).

7. Cleaning attachment according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cleaning attachment is designed so that a volume flow through the suction port (6) is less than a flow through the connection (18) for a suction tube, preferably by more than 20%.

8. Cleaning attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a current memory (19, 79) for supplying the plasma generator (2, 22, 42, 62, 82) is provided.

9. Cleaning attachment according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized marked, that a device for mechanical cleaning on a support surface on a surface to be cleaned (1 1) on the housing (3, 63) is mounted.

10. Cleaning attachment according to claim 9, characterized in that a rotatable brush roller (12) is provided for mechanical cleaning between the outflow opening (10) for discharging the mixture of plasma and air and the inflow opening (14) for flowing the mixture into the Housing (3, 63) is arranged.

11. Cleaning attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plasma generator (22) has one or more moldings which enclose the brush roller at least partially.

12. Cleaning attachment according to one of the preceding claims, character- ized in that a generator is provided, which is coupled to an impeller or the brush roller and thereby converts the kinetic energy of the brush roller or the impeller into electrical energy.