WO2011009599A1

WO2011009599A1 - Mobile cleaning device

Info

Publication number: WO2011009599A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/004453
Authority: WO
Inventors: Harald Vogelgesang
Original assignee: Vogelgesang Ag
Priority date: 2009-07-23
Filing date: 2010-07-21
Publication date: 2011-01-27
Also published as: DE202009010329U1

Abstract

The invention relates to mobile cleaning device (4), comprising a water supply unit (14), a pump unit (10) for generating a water overpressure, and a manually operable discharge unit for discharging the water. The pump unit is designed for a water pressure range between 1.5 bar and 15 bar.

Description

description

Mobile cleaning device

The invention relates to a mobile cleaning device with a water supply unit, with a pump unit for generating a water overpressure, as well as with a manually operable discharge unit for discharging the water.

Such mobile cleaning devices are well known as steam blasting equipment. The known steam jet devices have a water connection to which a hose line of a domestic water system can be connected. Such steam jet devices have pumping units which can generate high pressures between 20 bar and 1000 bar. For this reason, the steam jet devices are also referred to as high-pressure cleaning devices.

For many applications, such a high-pressure cleaner is not suitable. Thus, the cleaning of sports and leisure equipment, especially bicycles, with a high-pressure cleaner is disadvantageous. The cleaning of animals, especially pets (dogs), horses or the like, is not possible with a high-pressure cleaner. The object of the invention is to provide a mobile cleaning device of the type mentioned, which allows an application in areas that are not accessible to steam jet equipment.

This object is achieved in that the pump unit is designed for a water pressure range between 1, 5 bar and 15 bar. By the solution according to the invention, a mobile low-pressure cleaning device is provided which enables a cleaning of objects or living beings in application areas that can not be covered by high-pressure cleaning devices. The solution according to the invention is based on the recognition that the high pressure in steam jet devices is decisive for the fact that certain areas of application can not be operated. The solution according to the invention thus advantageously allows the cleaning of sports or leisure equipment such as bicycles or the like, as well as the cleaning of animals such as dogs or horses, without sports or leisure equipment or animals are affected by the water jet.

In an embodiment of the invention, a water reservoir is provided as a water supply unit, to which the pump unit is connected. Through the water storage, the mobile cleaning device is independent of the water supply through a building-side waterworks connection. Rather, according to the invention, the required water is carried along with the mobile cleaning device. The water tank is designed to be refillable to allow refilling at any time.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the pump unit receiving housing part is provided, which is releasably connectable to the water tank. Preferably, this housing part for receiving the functional units of the cleaning device as the pump unit, the Battery or a battery and corresponding control components provided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one storage container forming the water reservoir is provided, which is arranged below the housing part. The storage container is designed dimensionally stable and preferably designed flat and wide by having a base surface whose length and width dimensions are substantially greater than a height of the storage container. Such a low center of gravity ensures a secure state of the storage container, especially since the storage container is arranged below the housing part. When filled memory results in a low center of gravity for the entire cleaning device. Preferably, the storage container forms a bottom of the cleaning device and corresponding functional units are arranged above this storage container. This gives the cleaning device overall a low center of gravity, as soon as the storage container is filled with water. This ensures for the cleaning device a high stability and therefore a high stability. Preferred storage volumes for the storage container are between 5 and 20 liters (I).

In a further embodiment of the invention, the pump unit is designed electrically. The power supply for the pumping unit can be effected via a battery or a rechargeable accumulator, which are arranged on the cleaning device. Alternatively or additionally, a power connection for an external power source, in particular a vehicle-side on-board electrical system (12 V) or a house power network (230 V) may be provided.

The solution according to the invention is particularly suitable for entrainment in a motor vehicle. As a result, the A cleaning device according to the invention for cleaning sport or leisure equipment to be accommodated in the vehicle, such as bicycles, or for cleaning animals to be accommodated in the motor vehicle, in particular dogs. In addition, the mobile cleaning device may also be provided for cleaning wheels and tires, if the motor vehicle was previously traveling in dirt terrain.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a power supply for the pump unit and a controller for the pump unit is integrated in the housing part. In a further embodiment of the invention, the control unit comprises a pressure regulator, which is designed for a continuous pressure adjustment of the pump unit. Preferably, the pressure regulator is an electronic controller.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one further water container is provided which can be connected in liquid-conducting manner to the storage container or a further water container. This makes it possible, as needed, to change the water supply required for the operation of the cleaning device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one connection opening for a communicating connection of the respective container volumes is provided on the storage container and on each water container. Preferably, these connection openings are closed, as long as they are not needed.

Advantageously, the connection openings are connected to one another via plug-in connections, to which securing means for locking the assembled containers are assigned. Preferably, the securing means are designed as mechanical locking or locking means and for a transfer to a locking position or in a release order can be operated without tools. Preferably, the securing means are designed as quick-acting closures. This allows for quick assembly or disassembly.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the water container is designed as a flexible water bag or as dimensionally stable container with corresponding to the storage container connection dimensions. A flexible water bag can be accommodated in a particularly space-saving manner, especially when entrained in a motor vehicle, as long as it is not filled. Preferably, a connecting opening of the water bag serving as a filling opening, as well as a corresponding filling opening of the dimensionally stable container, have a sealed closure in order to prevent leakage of water when filled.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the discharge unit comprises a one-handed operated syringe with in particular adjustable spray nozzle. This allows ergonomically favorable operation of the cleaning device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a bottom side of the cleaning device is provided with a slip protection. The anti-slip device can be provided by elastomeric elements in the region of the bottom side. Suitable elastomeric elements are rubber or silicone rings or other shaped elastomeric elements such as pins, support legs o the like. A suitable anti-skid device can also be achieved by other elements with a high static friction coefficient.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a receiving device is provided, on which the cleaning device is releasably securable, wherein the receiving device is provided with securing elements for vehicle-fixed positioning in a vehicle interior. The cradle serves as a docking station for the mobile cleaning device and is preferably anchored vehicle-fixed. For this purpose, the securing elements of the receiving device can be designed such that they can be connected to corresponding holders in a loading space of a motor vehicle.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a heating device for heating the auszubringenden by the discharge water is provided. As a result, a temperature of the water is possible to achieve a pleasant water temperature for the animals especially when spraying animals. Also, when cleaning winter sports equipment, the snow or ice residues, a heated water jet leads to a faster cleaning.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, one of which is illustrated by the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a mobile according to the invention

Cleaning device in its arrangement in a cargo compartment of a passenger car and

Fig. 2, the cleaning device of FIG. 1 in an enlarged, perspective exploded view.

A motor vehicle in the form of a passenger car 1 has a loading area 2 in a rear area, which can be closed at the rear by a pivotable tailgate. The loading space 2 has a load compartment floor 3. In addition, a socket 5 is integrated in a side wall of the loading space via which a vehicle-side on-board power supply system can be tapped. The vehicle-side on-board power supply system preferably has a voltage of 12 V. On the load compartment floor 3 of the loading space 2 sits a mobile cleaning device 4, which is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2. The mobile cleaning device 4 is a water jet cleaning device that operates in the low pressure range with water pressures between 1, 5 bar and 15 bar. A significant advantage of the mobile cleaning device 4 is that with the cleaning device a water supply can be permanently carried. The cleaning device 4 has one or more water reservoirs for the water storage. The cleaning device 4 also has a pump for generating the required water pressure. Depending on the embodiment, this pump may be mechanical or electrical.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric pump unit 10 is provided. The pumping unit 10 is accommodated in a functional housing 7 serving as a housing part of the cleaning device, in which also further functional units of the cleaning device 4 are arranged. The pump unit 10 is preceded by a filter system in a manner not shown, so that the cleaning device can be fed with unfiltered water from a stream or a stagnant water without the pump unit 10 is damaged. The pump unit 10 is associated with a control unit comprising an electronic pressure regulator. The pressure regulator is not shown in Fig. 2. The pressure regulator is associated with a thumbwheel 9, which is provided for manual pressure adjustment and is arranged in the region of an upper side of the functional housing. The thumbwheel 9 is infinitely rotatable and allows via the pressure regulator a continuous adjustment of the pressure generated by the pump unit 10. The thumbwheel 9 has two scale areas 9a and 9b. The one scale area 9a defines a higher pressure range, the scale range 9b a lower pressure range. Both pressure ranges are complementary to the total water pressure range between 1, 5 bar and 15 bar, the Pump unit 10 can generate. The scale area 9b for the lower pressure range is symbolized in such a way that an operator can recognize that this scale range is suitable for the spraying of animals, in particular of dogs. The scale area 9a is provided with a warning symbolism which allows the operator to recognize that this pressure range is not suitable for cleaning animals. Suitable symbolism may be red scale for the higher pressure range and green for the lower pressure range.

The pressure regulator is infinitely adjustable only in the scale areas 9a and 9b. For a higher pressure range, a lock is provided. This lock is assigned mechanically to the setting wheel 9. So that the lock can be overcome, the thumbwheel 9 must be pressed or raised briefly. By a corresponding axial height displacement of the adjusting wheel 9 thus also the higher pressure ranges of the pressure regulator can be controlled.

In an embodiment of the invention, not shown, a heating device is additionally integrated in the functional housing, which serves to heat the auszubringenden water. The heater is preferably intended to heat the water reservoir. But it is also possible to make according to another embodiment of the invention, the heater in the manner of a water heater, wherein the sucked by the pumping unit water passes through the water heater.

In the function housing 7, a rechargeable accumulator 11 is also integrated, which serves to power the pump unit 10. The accumulator 11 is rechargeable by means of a connectable to the electrical system power cable 13. Alternatively, the pump unit 10 can be equipped with a stationary, in particular 230 V domestic-powered connected to the network. For this purpose, provided with a corresponding plug power cable 12 is provided. Preferably, a cable drum is integrated in the functional housing 7, to which the corresponding power cable can be wound up.

The functional housing 7 is designed cylinder-like around in the illustrated embodiment. Preferably, the functional housing 7 is composed of a bottom part and a lid part, wherein the bottom part and the lid part are releasably connected to each other. The lid part has a handle 8, which serves as a carrying handle for the entire mobile cleaning device.

The functional housing 7 is placed on a dimensionally stable storage container 14, which is also designed like a cylinder around and is matched in its dimensions to the functional housing 7. The storage container 14 is made as well as the functional housing 7 made of a dimensionally stable plastic. The storage container 14 has a substantially circular base. The storage container 14 has a bottom and a cover side, which connect in one piece to the peripheral edge and ensure a tight interior. The top side has eccentrically to its center a connection piece 17 which is open at the top in operation and serves to receive the auszubringenden water through the pump unit 10. The connecting piece 17 also serves as a filling opening for filling with water. Preferably, the connecting piece 17 has a closable membrane, which ensures a tight closure of the storage container 14, as long as no functional connection to the pump unit 10 of the functional housing 7 or an opening for filling is provided.

A bottom side of the storage container 14 is also provided with a closure membrane which connects to another storage The storage container 22 also has a connecting piece 25 which can penetrate through the bottom-side membrane of the storage container 14 and can establish a communicating connection between the receiving chambers of the two storage containers 14 and 22. Also, the storage container 22 may be analogous to the storage container 14 on the bottom side provided with a closure membrane to allow the re-attaching another storage container. This makes it possible to stack a plurality of storage containers 14, 22 one above the other and thus to increase the available water supply. All storage containers are matched in their dimensions to one another in such a way that they are stackable flush with one another.

The storage containers 14 and 22 preferably have an inner diameter of 32 cm. As a result, every centimeter in the height of the storage container corresponds to 1 I of volume. This means that over the height of the storage container, a simple volume scaling can be applied by 1 cm corresponds to 1 I (liter) capacity.

Characterized in that the at least one storage container 14 is disposed below the functional housing 7, the cleaning device 4 in assembled functional state and filled with storage container 14 has a low center of gravity, which prevents tilting of the cleaning device 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage container 14 has a storage volume of about 10 l and the storage container 22 has a storage volume of about 20 l. The storage container 14 and also the storage container 22 have a height which is substantially smaller than a diameter of the storage container 14 or 22. A storage container forming a lower closure which is substantially identical to the storage containers 14 and 22 may be formed, may have a continuous bottom side, without having a corresponding sealing membrane.

The functional housing 7 and the storage container 14 as well as the storage container 22 can be connected to one another via manual and tool-free operated quick-release closures 15, 16, 23, 24. For this purpose, the edge regions of the adjacent end faces of the functional housing 7, of the storage container 14 and of the storage container 22 are preferably matched to one another in such a way that circumferential plug profilings result, which are designed to correspond to one another. This makes it possible to position the functional housing on the storage container 14 or the storage container 22 and secure in this position. The snap fasteners 15, 16, 23, 24 are then complementary to the locking of the corresponding housing parts together. Preferably, quick-release fasteners are provided at a plurality of points distributed over the circumference of the housing parts.

The storage container 14 is also provided with a lateral connection piece 18, to which a further storage container in the form of a water bag 19 can be connected. For this purpose, the water bag 19 in the region of its connection opening on a connecting piece 20 which is form-fitting and play-free on the connecting piece 18 can be plugged. A locking unit 21 serves to fix the connecting piece 20 on the connecting piece 18. The locking unit 21 is manually operated and therefore manually in their locking or release position can be transferred. The flexible water bag 19 may be provided in different sizes in a modular manner. Preferably, sizes between 5 I and 20 I are provided. All sizes of the water bag 19 have the same connection piece 20 and the same locking unit 21 to allow the alternative connection to the connecting piece 18 of the storage container 14. On the bottom side, each storage container 14, 22 has an elastomer ring 26, which is received in a corresponding groove on the bottom side of the storage container 14, 22. This serves as a slip protection to allow a secure state of the cleaning device 4 on a corresponding surface.

In order to enable a secure mounting of the cleaning device 4 within a motor vehicle, in this case within the cargo space 2 of the passenger car 1, a receiving device, in the present case in the form of a docking station 27, is provided, which allows a positive fixation of the cleaning device in the vehicle. The docking station 27 is fixed to a corresponding holder of the cargo compartment floor 3 and provided with a non-slip bottom. The docking station 27 has recesses into which corresponding cams of a bottom of the storage container 14 or the storage container 22 can engage. This allows a positive connection of the cleaning device 4 with the docking station 27, so that the cleaning device 4 is secured in position within the vehicle. In addition, the docking station 27 may be associated with a locking unit which fixes the cleaning device 4 in the vertical direction at the docking station 27. Because the recesses and cams are used, the cleaning device 4 parallel to the load compartment floor 3, i. in the vehicle longitudinal direction and in the vehicle transverse direction to secure. The additional locking unit serves to secure the cleaning device 4 to the docking station 27 in the vehicle vertical direction. The docking station 27 may be provided instead of a non-slip bottom with hooks or eyelets to allow fixation to corresponding cargo space side brackets.

To the pumping unit 10, a discharge hose 30 is connected, which opens at its projecting from the functional housing 7 end into a single-handed syringe 6. The discharge hose 30 preferably has a length of at least 150 to 200 cm in order to allow ergonomic handling of the one-handed syringe 6. The one-handed syringe 6 has an actuating button 28 and an adjustable outlet nozzle 29. Through the outlet nozzle 29, an adjustment of the desired water jet is possible. Through the outlet nozzle 29, the jet shape and beam width of the exiting water jet is adjustable. The actuating button 28 releases the escape of the water jet or closes the outlet.

The functional housing 7 is designed as a plastic housing and preferably has a diameter between 250 and 350 mm. It is provided in addition to a cable winder with a hose reel for the discharge hose 30. It is provided on the bottom side with a connection area for connecting the connection piece 17 of the storage container 14. In addition, it has an electrical switch to turn the pump unit 10 on or off. The connection openings 17 and 25 of the storage containers 14 and 22 are designed relatively large area to allow filling of the storage containers 14, 22 in shallow waters. Accordingly, the storage containers 14, 22 are preferably designed so flat that they can be pressed in a shallow water below the water surface. At a height of 10 cm and an inner diameter of 32 cm, the storage container has a capacity of 10 1. For filling a present in the region of the connection openings 17, 25 sealing membrane is pressed against the force of a closing spring in a simple manner by hand down. As a result, the connection opening 17, 25 opens and water can flow into the storage container. When the manual load is removed, the spring force of the closing membrane closes the corresponding connection opening automatically again tightly.

Claims

claims

1. Mobile cleaning device with a water supply unit, with a pump unit for generating a water overpressure, and with a manually operable discharge unit for discharging the water,

characterized in that

the pump unit is designed for a water pressure range between 1, 5 bar and 15 bar.

2. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that a water reservoir (14, 19, 22) is provided as the water supply unit, to which the pump unit (10) is connected.

3. Cleaning device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pump unit receiving housing part (7) is provided, which is detachably connected to the water reservoir (14).

4. Cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one storage container forming the water reservoir (14, 22) is provided, which is arranged below the housing part (7).

5. Cleaning device according to claim 4, characterized in that the storage container (14) has a large width and a small height.

6. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pump unit is made electrically.

7. Cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that in the housing part (7) a power supply for the pumping unit (10) and a control unit for the pumping unit are integrated.

8. Cleaning device according to claim 7, characterized in that the control unit comprises a pressure regulator (9) which is designed for a continuous pressure adjustment of the pump unit (10).

9. Cleaning device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one further water container (19, 22) is provided, the liquid-conducting to the storage container (14) or another water container can be connected.

10. Cleaning device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one connection opening for a communicating connection of the respective container volumes is provided on the storage container (14) and on each water container (19, 22).

11. Cleaning device according to claim 10, characterized in that for the connection of a water container (19) to the storage container (14) or to another water container (22) a plug connection (18, 20) is provided, the securing means (21) for locking associated with the assembled containers (14, 19).

12. Cleaning device according to claim 11, characterized in that the securing means (21) comprise mechanical latching or blocking means which can be operated without tools for transfer to a locking position or in a release position.

13. Cleaning device according to claim 9, characterized in that the water container is designed as a flexible water bag (19) or as a dimensionally stable container (22) with to the storage container (14) corresponding terminal dimensions.

14. Cleaning device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge unit comprises a one-handed operated syringe (6) with in particular adjustable spray nozzle (29).

15. Cleaning device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bottom side of the cleaning device is provided with a slip guard (26).

16. Cleaning device according to the preamble of claim 1 or according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a receiving device (27) is provided, on which the cleaning device is releasably securable, wherein the receiving device is provided with securing elements for vehicle-fixed positioning in a vehicle interior ,

17. Cleaning device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a heating device is provided for heating the auszubringenden by the discharge unit water.