DE102018111499B3 - Floor cleaning machine with combined suction and discharge line - Google Patents

Abstract

Shown and described is a floor cleaning machine for cleaning a floor surface (5), with a chassis for moving the floor cleaning machine (1) over a floor surface (5) to be cleaned, with a dirty water tank (17), with a suction device (37) which is designed to pressurize the dirty water tank (17) with a cleaning device that can be engaged with it for cleaning the bottom surface (5), the cleaning device having a receiving device (7) configured to collect dirty water from the bottom surface (5) and connected to the dirty water tank (17) via a suction pipe (23), wherein in the dirty water tank (17) there is provided a riser pipe (31) connected to the suction pipe (23) and from the floor area (19) of the dirty water tank (17) extends between the suction line (23) and an outlet opening (35) provided on the riser (31), wherein d The outlet opening (35) is arranged in an upper region of the dirty water tank (17) and wherein a closable opening is provided in the bottom region (19) on the riser pipe (31).

Description

The present invention relates to a floor cleaning machine for cleaning a floor surface having a landing gear for moving the floor cleaning machine over a floor surface to be cleaned, a dirty water tank, a suction device configured to apply negative pressure to the dirty water tank, and a cleaning device for cleaning the bottom surface can be engaged therewith, the cleaning device having a receptacle configured to receive dirty water from the bottom surface and connected to the dirty water tank via a suction line.

Floor cleaning machines are for example off US 4 333 202 A and AU 2 081 397 A known.

Conventional floor cleaning machines such as scrubber driers have a landing gear for moving the floor cleaning machine over a floor surface to be cleaned, and on the machine frame of the floor cleaning machine, a cleaning device is provided which can engage with the floor surface to be cleaned while applying cleaning liquid from a fresh water tank to the floor surface. Furthermore, the cleaning device has a receiving device, which is usually designed as a suction foot, with which dirty water can be taken up by the floor surface to be cleaned. For this purpose, the receiving device is connected via a suction line with a provided on the floor cleaning machine recovery tank. In the waste water tank, a negative pressure in relation to the ambient pressure can be generated with the aid of a suction device designed, for example, as a suction turbine. By this negative pressure dirty water is drawn in the region of the receiving device of the floor surface to be cleaned by the suction line in the recovery tank.

When the waste water tank has been completely filled, it is necessary to empty it. For this purpose, it is provided in the prior art that the recovery tank has a discharge opening, on which a drain hose is provided, via which the dirty water can be discharged into a drain in the ground.

In addition, such scrubber-driers also have an additional drain port in a bottom region of the fresh-water tank so that it can be completely emptied, for example, for transporting the machine. Also from this drain connection often another tube away, so that the fresh water can be removed in a controlled manner.

The structure with the discharge opening, the drain port and the hoses has proven to be relatively expensive, and the existing next to the suction hoses complicate the operation of such floor cleaning machines.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a floor cleaning machine in which the structure of the elements for discharging dirty water from the recovery tank is made simpler than is the case in the prior art.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a floor cleaning machine having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are described in the subclaims.

The floor cleaning machine according to the invention initially has a chassis for moving the floor cleaning machine over a floor surface to be cleaned. In this case, the floor cleaning machine can be designed both as a so-called ride-on machine, in which a seat for the driver is provided on the machine, as well as a machine in which the operator goes behind the machine. In addition, the wheels of the chassis need not necessarily be driven.

The floor cleaning machine furthermore has a dirty water tank and a suction device, which is designed to apply negative pressure to the dirty water tank, wherein the suction device can be designed as a suction turbine.

Furthermore, a cleaning device is provided on the floor cleaning machine, which can be brought to clean the floor surface with this engaged. For example, the cleaning device may have a brush head, which can be lowered onto the floor surface to be cleaned or lifted off it, it being possible for fresh water added with cleaning agent to be added to the area of the brush head. In addition, the cleaning device has a receiving device which is designed to receive dirty water from the bottom surface, and which is connected to the dirty water tank via a suction line. As a result, waste water from the area of the receiving device, for example in the form of a suction foot, is drawn through the suction line into the recovery tank via the negative pressure generated by the suction device in the dirty water tank.

Furthermore, in the floor cleaning machine according to the invention in the dirty water tank, a riser is provided, which is connected to the suction line and extending from the bottom region of the dirty water tank between the suction line and provided on the riser outlet opening. In this case, the outlet opening is arranged in an upper region of the dirty water tank, and the sucked dirty liquid can pass from the outlet opening into the dirty water tank.

Finally, according to the invention, a closable opening is provided in the bottom region on the riser. Through the closable opening, it is possible to discharge the dirty water from the recovery tank in such a way that first the receiving device is arranged above a drain provided in the bottom and then the opening is opened. As a result, the dirty water can flow through the suction line and the receiving device, and there is no additional hose required in addition to the suction line. In this approach, the user does not come in contact with dirty parts. It is only necessary to open the opening, for example, by an actuating mechanism, which can also be actuated from outside the dirty water tank.

Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment, the suction line may be formed as a flexible hose or have a flexible hose portion, wherein the suction line may be releasably attached to the receiving device, such as the squeegee. In this case, the recovery tank can also be emptied in such a way that first the suction line is released from the receiving device and connected, for example, with a drain in the ground. Subsequently, in turn, the opening in the riser is opened, and the dirty water flows through the suction line.

According to the invention, characterized in that the suction line is connected to a riser whose outlet opening is in the upper region of the dirty water tank, then, when the opening is closed in the riser, dirty water are sucked into the recovery tank. However, if the opening in the lower part of the riser is opened, the dirty water can drain off again. By this construction, it is possible that the suction pipe can be used both for filling the dirty water tank and for emptying, which simplifies the construction of the floor cleaning machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the opening may be configured as a closable valve, so that the opening can be opened and closed in a simple manner. In another preferred embodiment, the suction line has a first connection section, which is provided in the bottom region of the dirty water tank. In addition, the riser extends in this case between a second connection portion and the outlet opening, wherein the first and the second connection portion are releasably connected to each other. In this embodiment, the closable opening is formed by releasing the terminal portions from each other so that dirty water from the dirty water tank can then flow into the suction pipe through the first terminal portion. This opening is closed by the fact that the second, provided on the riser connection portion is connected to the first connection portion.

Thus, the connection between the first and second terminal portions has an open and a closed position, and more preferably, the second terminal portion can be moved away from the first terminal portion to transfer the connection from the closed to the open position. Further, the second terminal portion may be moved toward the first terminal portion to transfer the connection from the open to the closed position. Thus, the opening of the connection can be realized simply by moving the terminal portion. It is particularly preferred if the first connection portion is formed fixed to the recovery tank.

Furthermore, in a preferred manner, the second connection section can be immovable relative to the riser, so that a displacement movement of the connection section can be achieved by a movement of the riser.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible that the first port portion is formed as a receiving opening and the second port portion as a nozzle, which can be sealingly inserted into the receiving opening, wherein the connection is in the closed position when the nozzle is sealingly inserted into the receiving opening, and wherein the compound is in the open position when the nozzle is spaced from the receiving opening. In this embodiment, the detachable connection between the terminal portions is realized in a simple manner. In addition, if the receiving opening is formed in a bottom surface of the dirty water tank in a further preferred manner, a complete outflow of dirty water from the recovery tank can be realized.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the neck may be fixedly provided on the riser, wherein the riser is linearly away from and towards the bottom surface displaceable. Then the opening on the riser can be opened and closed simply by moving the riser up or down.

In a preferred embodiment, the floor cleaning machine may comprise a fresh water tank having a drain port in a lower area, the drain port connected to the suction pipe, and the connection having a valve. In this embodiment, in addition to the dirty water tank and the fresh water tank can be drained via the suction line, or residual water can be drained for cleaning it. For this it is only necessary to open the valve in the connection between the drain port and the suction line.

In a particularly preferred manner, the bottom region of the fresh water tank is arranged below the bottom region of the dirty water tank. Then, the suction line may extend from the bottom region of the dirty water tank to the bottom region of the fresh water tank and from there to the receiving device, wherein the connection connection may be made very short. In particular, then a space-saving arrangement can be realized, in which the suction line extends through the fresh water tank.

In a preferred embodiment of a floor cleaning machine, the receiving device may be formed as a suction, which has two mutually spaced sealing lips which extend away in operation from the bottom surface to be cleaned and between which a suction chamber is formed, wherein the suction line is connected to the suction chamber.

• 1 eine Schnittansicht des hinteren Teils eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Bodenreinigungsmaschine im Saugbetrieb ist,
• 2 eine Schnittansicht des Ausführungsbeispiels aus 1 beim Ablassen des Schmutzwassertanks ist,
• 3 eine Schnittansicht des Ausführungsbeispiels aus 1 beim Ablassen des Frischwassertanks ist und
• 4 eine Schnittansicht des hinteren Teils eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Bodenreinigungsmaschine ist.

In the following, the present invention will be described with reference to a purely preferred embodiments showing drawing, wherein

• 1 is a sectional view of the rear part of a first embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention in the suction mode,
• 2 a sectional view of the embodiment 1 when draining the dirty water tank,
• 3 a sectional view of the embodiment 1 when draining the fresh water tank is and
• 4 a sectional view of the rear part of a second embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention is.

The 1 to 3 show the rear part of the first embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention 1 , and it can be seen that the floor cleaning machine 1 a chassis that has wheels 3 includes, with which the floor cleaning machine 1 over a floor surface to be cleaned 5 can be moved. Like that 1 to 3 can be further seen, the floor cleaning machine 1 According to the first embodiment, a mounted on the chassis cleaning device, the one in the 1 to 3 Brush head, not shown, which is provided with driven brushes, with the bottom surface 5 can engage, and in addition is configured, added with detergent fresh water on the floor surface 5 applied.

In addition to the brush head, the cleaning device has a suction device designed as a suction device 7 on, with the dirty water from the bottom surface 5 can be recorded in the manner described below. The squeegee has two mutually spaced sealing lips 9 . 11 on, transverse to the direction of movement of the floor cleaning machine 1 run and are substantially perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned 5 extend away. When the squeegee with the bottom surface 5 engages lie the downward facing edges of the sealing lips 9 . 11 on the floor to be cleaned 5 on, and between the sealing lips 9 . 11 becomes a suction room 13 educated.

Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine 1 in the lower part a fresh water tank 15 on top of that, from the brush head to the bottom surface 5 applied fresh water is added. The bottom area of the fresh water tank 15 is in the embodiment described here below the bottom of a dirty water tank 17 arranged, which also at the floor cleaning machine 1 is provided.

In the preferred embodiment described here is in the floor area 19 of the dirty water tank 17 in a floor space 20 a receiving opening is provided, and from the receiving opening extends a suction line 23 away, having a flexible hose section 25 includes. The suction line 23 passes through the fresh water tank 15 through and then on to the squeegee. The suction line connects 23 the suction room 13 with the dirty water tank 17 wherein the end of the flexible hose section 25 releasably connected with suction cup.

How the next 1 to 3 it can be seen on the part of the suction line 23 getting through the fresh water tank 15 extends, a drain port 27 via a manually or electrically closed valve 29 with the suction line 23 connected so that the interior and especially the lower area of the fresh water tank 15 with the suction line 23 is connected when the valve 29 is opened.

The receiving opening in the floor area 19 of the dirty water tank 17 serves as a firm on the recovery tank 17 attached first connection section 21 the suction line 23 , and from the receiving opening extends in the dirty water tank 17 a riser 31 upwards away, at the lower end of a trained as a connecting second connection section 33 is provided. The nozzle and thus the second connection section 33 are fixed and thus immovable on the riser 31 educated. The riser 31 is in the first embodiment described here so that overall rigid and is in the recovery tank 17 held in a linearly displaceable manner in the vertical direction. Thus, the second connection section 33 by moving the riser 31 be moved, with the riser 31 towards or away from the floor area 19 of the dirty water tank 17 emotional.

The riser 31 can be connected via the nozzle, when it is inserted into the receiving opening, sealingly connected to the suction line, so that a connection between the connecting portions of the suction line 23 and the riser 31 closed is. To here a sealing connection between the first connection section 21 at the suction line 23 , ie the receiving opening, and the second connecting section 33 on the riser 31 , namely to achieve the neck, is provided in the embodiments described herein in the receiving opening, not shown in the figures lamellar seal.

If the nozzle by a sliding movement of the riser 31 but is pulled upwards out of the receiving opening and the connection between the connecting sections is then opened, but is in the bottom area of the dirty water tank 17 an opening on the riser 31 formed by the dirty water in the riser 31 and in the suction line 23 can get.

The riser 31 extends from the second connecting portion designed as a connecting piece 33 and thus of the suction line 23 upwards to an outlet opening 35 , these being at the top of the dirty water tank 17 is arranged.

Finally, at the wastewater tank 17 a suction device 37 provided in the form of a suction turbine, not shown in detail, through which the internal volume of the dirty water tank 17 in relation to the environment of the floor cleaning machine 1 can be acted upon by a negative pressure.

In normal operation of the floor cleaning machine 1 According to the first embodiment, the neck is sealingly inserted into the receiving opening, and the flexible hose section 25 is with the suction chamber 13 connected to the squeegee. Thus, the connection formed by the connection of the connecting piece with the receiving opening is closed and thus also the closable opening in the riser 31 locked. If then through the suction turbine, a negative pressure in the recovery tank 17 is generated, can dirty water from the suction chamber 13 and thus from the bottom surface 5 sucked and into the waste water tank 17 be encouraged. In addition, parallel fresh water from the fresh water tank 15 conveyed to the brush head, possibly with detergent added and on the floor surface 5 applied.

When the dirty water tank 17 completely filled with dirty water, the floor cleaning machine can 1 to a drain 39 be moved in the ground, as in 2 showing either the squeegee above the drain 39 is arranged or the flexible hose section 25 pulled off the squeegee and in the drain 39 is arranged. Subsequently, the riser 31 moved vertically upwards, for example, in that this is pulled by means of a handle provided at the upper end upwards, so that the nozzle moves out of the receiving opening and by releasing the connection between the connecting portions a closable opening in the bottom region of the riser 31 is opened. Through this, the dirty water can then into the suction line 23 enter and drain. Thus, in this embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention, the suction line 23 both for sucking off the dirty water and for emptying the dirty water tank 17 used and no additional hose is required for emptying.

After emptying the waste water tank 17 is the nozzle by lowering the riser 31 inserted back into the receiving opening so that the opening in the riser 31 is closed again. Subsequently, the cleaning operation can be resumed, with dirty water again on the squeegee and the suction line 23 in the waste water tank 17 is pulled.

When the fresh water tank 15 cleaned and thereby at least once completely emptied, the floor cleaning machine 1 turn to a drain 39 be moved, with the squeegee or the end of the flexible hose section 25 at the drain 39 to be ordered. This is in 3 is shown. In this case, the valve will 29 opened, and water can from the fresh water tank through the suction line 23 flow away.

In addition, through the valve 29 still allows the section of the suction line 23 between the valve 29 and the receiving opening and the riser 31 to the outlet 35 to clean. For this purpose, on the one hand, the suction device 37 or the suction turbine put into operation and on the other hand, the valve 29 Open, allowing fresh water from the fresh water tank 15 in the suction line 23 can flow. This fresh water is due to the negative pressure generated by the suction turbine in the recovery tank 17 pulled so that thereby the suction line 23 and the riser 31 getting cleaned.

Thus, it is in the floor cleaning machine according to the invention 1 Not required according to the first embodiment, in addition to the suction line 23 provide additional hoses or lines to both the recovery tank 17 as well as the fresh water tank 15 To empty, so that the overall structure is simplified and fewer attachments on the outside of the machine are available.

In 4 is a second embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention 1 represented, which is constructed similar to the first embodiment and also on a chassis with wheels 3 a recording device 7 in the form of a suction cup, the suction chamber 13 between the sealing lips 9 . 11 via a suction line 23 with a dirty water tank 17 connected is. The suction line 23 is at one in the ground area 19 of the dirty water tank 17 provided receiving opening to the recovery tank 17 connected. In addition, in the receiving opening a on a riser 31 firmly provided nozzle are used sealingly. When the riser 31 however, relative to the wastewater tank 17 is lifted, the nozzle dissolves from the receiving opening, so that an opening is formed here, through the dirty water from the recovery tank 17 similar to the first embodiment, in the suction line 23 can flow. Furthermore, this embodiment also has a suction turbine, not shown, to in the recovery tank 17 to generate a negative pressure relative to the ambient pressure.

In contrast to the first embodiment, however, this second embodiment has no fresh water tank, which is arranged below the dirty water tank. Rather, the fresh water tank is not shown here in the drawing and attached elsewhere.

Furthermore, this second embodiment has an outside of the dirty water tank 17 operated lever mechanism on to the riser 31 raise and lower again. This is a through the wall 41 of the dirty water tank 17 extending and pivotally mounted shaft 43 intended. At the outside of the wastewater tank 17 lying end of the shaft 43 is an operating lever 45 firmly attached, so that the shaft 43 can be pivoted about its longitudinal axis. Am in the waste water tank 17 lying section of the shaft 43 are two arms 47 firmly hinged, which in turn at the upper end of the riser 31 are attached in the way that pins 49 on the riser 31 adjacent to the exit opening 35 in oblong holes at the free end of the arms 47 are included. If by means of the operating lever 45 the wave 43 is pivoted, thus becomes the riser 31 raised or lowered. In turn, the nozzle can be released from the receiving opening and thus the opening on the riser 31 in the ground area 19 of the dirty water tank 17 be opened. Thus, in this embodiment, the riser 31 be moved from the outside without the recovery tank 17 to have to open. In addition, the advantage is realized in this embodiment, that for emptying the dirty water tank 17 next to the suction line 23 No additional lines or hoses are required.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Floor cleaning machine

3

bikes

5

floor area

7

recording device

9

sealing lip

11

sealing lip

13

suction

15

Fresh water tank

17

Recovery tank

19

Floor area - wastewater tank

20

Floor area - wastewater tank

21

first connection section

23

suction

25

flexible hose section

27

drain port

29

Valve

31

riser

33

second connection section

35

outlet opening

37

suction

39

outflow

41

Wall - wastewater tank

43

wave

45

actuating lever

47

poor

49

pen

Claims (14)

Floor cleaning machine for cleaning a floor surface (5), with a running gear for moving the floor cleaning machine (1) over a floor surface (5) to be cleaned, with a waste water tank (17), with a suction device (37) which is designed to apply negative pressure to the dirty water tank (17), and with a cleaning device that can be engaged with it for cleaning the bottom surface (5), the cleaning device having a receiving device (7) configured to receive dirty water from the bottom surface (5) and connected to the dirty water tank (17 ) is connected via a suction line (23), wherein in the waste water tank (17) a riser (31) is provided, which is connected to the suction line (23) and the bottom region (19) of the dirty water tank (17) away between the suction line (23) and one on the riser (31 ) provided outlet opening (35), wherein the outlet opening (35) is arranged in an upper region of the dirty water tank (17) and wherein in the bottom region (19) on the riser (31) is provided a closable opening. Floor cleaning machine after Claim 1 wherein the suction line (23) has a flexible hose section (25) and is detachably connected to the receiving device (7). Floor cleaning machine after Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the opening is designed as a closable valve. Floor cleaning machine after Claim 1 or 2 in that the suction line (23) has a first connection section (21) which is provided in the bottom region (19) of the dirty water tank (17), wherein the riser (31) extends between a second connection section (33) and the outlet opening (35) and wherein the first and second terminal portions (21, 33) are detachably connected together. Floor cleaning machine after Claim 4 wherein the connection between the first and second terminal portions (21, 33) has an open and a closed position, the second terminal portion (33) being moved away from the first terminal portion (21) to open the connection from the closed to the open position Position to move, and wherein the second connection portion (33) is moved to the first connection portion (21) to transfer the connection from the open to the closed position. Floor cleaning machine after Claim 5 wherein the first connection portion (21) is fixedly formed on the dirty water tank. Floor cleaning machine after Claim 5 or 6 wherein the second connection portion (33) is immovable relative to the riser (31). Floor cleaning machine after Claim 6 or 7 wherein the first terminal portion (21) is formed as a receiving opening and the second terminal portion (33) as a nozzle, which can be sealingly inserted into the receiving opening, wherein the compound is in the closed position, when the nozzle in the receiving opening sealingly inserted is, and wherein the compound is in the open position when the nozzle is spaced from the receiving opening. Floor cleaning machine after Claim 8 wherein the receiving opening is formed in a bottom surface (20) of the dirty water tank (17). Floor cleaning machine after Claim 9 wherein the neck is fixedly provided on the riser (31) and wherein the riser (31) is displaceable straight away from and towards the bottom surface (20). Floor cleaning machine according to one or more of Claims 1 to 10 wherein there is provided a fresh water tank (15) having a drain port (27) in a lower portion, the drain port (27) being connected to the suction pipe (23), and the connection having a valve (29). Floor cleaning machine after Claim 11 wherein the bottom portion of the fresh water tank (15) is located below the bottom portion (19) of the dirty water tank (17). Floor cleaning machine after Claim 11 or 12 , wherein the suction line (23) extends through the fresh water tank (15). Floor cleaning machine according to one or more of Claims 1 to 13 wherein the receiving device (7) is designed as a suction foot, which has two mutually spaced sealing lips (9, 11) extending away from the to be cleaned bottom surface (5) and between which a suction chamber (13) is formed, and wherein the suction line (23) is connected to the suction space (13).

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