EP2030551B1 - Upright vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The cleaner has a motor blower (11) for production of low pressure acting on a surface to be cleaned. A flexible hose (52) is guided from a base unit (2) into a dust collector. A component is fluidically formed as a flexible hose (52) or a hose-tube-combination behind an interface. A brush motor (20) of a brush roller (17) is disengageable independent of the base unit in a suction operation. A disengaging unit disengages the motor independent of the base unit in suction operation after the removal of the hose or the hose-tube-combination from a holder at an upper body.

Description

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner Upright type with a torso with dust collector, with a bottom unit which is movable by a chassis on the surface to be cleaned and which comprises a motor driven by a brush roller, wherein the upper body relative to the bottom unit is mounted at least pivotally and can be locked in a parking position in which the vacuum cleaner occupies a substantially vertical position on the surface to be cleaned, with a motor fan for producing a negative pressure acting on the surface to be cleaned, and with an air line leading from the bottom unit into the dust collecting container, which has an interface and strömungsmaßig behind the interface comprises a formed as a hose or tube-tube combination component that is laid out halterbar outside of the upper body and after separation in the interface one of the ground unit un dependent suction operation allows, wherein the drive motor of the brush roller in the independent of the ground unit suction is switched off.

The following describes three types of vacuum cleaner that differ in their construction and operation. As common features all have a motor-driven blower, a dust collection room and one or more adapted to the particular purpose tillage equipment.

The vacuum cleaner has a housing which is rotatable on rollers and / or skids on the soil to be processed. In the housing, the engine fan and the dust collector are arranged. The soil treatment device - here called floor nozzle - is connected via a suction hose, possibly with an intermediate suction pipe with the Staubsammetraum. The housing is brought into the desired position during the suction process by pulling on the suction tube.

When hand vacuum cleaner also the motor fan and the dust collector are arranged in a housing. From the housing extends on one side of a suction pipe, which connects a floor nozzle with the dust collector, and on the other hand a handle, with which the housing is maneuvered into the desired position.

Uprights do not have such a rigorous structure as the two types mentioned above. An essential feature of an upright is a movable floor unit, which carries a torso with a large dust collector. The two parts are pivotally mounted to each other and usually fixable in a park position in which the upper body is approximately vertical when the ground unit is in the use position on a horizontal ground. In this position, the upright is automatic. During the suction process, this locking is released and tilted the upper body by a certain angle in a working position. The swivel angle depends on the one hand on the size of the user and on the other hand from the respective use. A handle on the upper body is used to guide the entire device. In order to provide the user in addition to the suction with the ground unit additional handling options in which he can aspirate, for example, higher-altitude objects, the air line has an interface and fluid behind the interface formed as a hose or hose-tube combination component, see for example WO 2007/008770 A1 or EP 0 708 613 B1 , In this case, a piece of pipe is held in a plug-in receptacle in most cases. After removing the tube piece from the plug-in receptacle different suction attachments can be placed on the suction end and the resulting arrangement can be used as in a conventional vacuum cleaner. During such operation, the upright is in most cases in the park position where the upper body is locked to the ground unit. In order to prevent the footprint from being overstressed, it is known to turn off the brush motor during such operation. In known embodiments, switches are provided which detect the detent position and disconnect the brush motor from the power supply.

The document WO 2006/015309 A2 describes a vacuum cleaner according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

During the standard suction operation with the floor unit, it may happen that the user wishes to discover higher levels of soiling on trim strips or the like and to aspirate them by means of the hose or the hose-pipe combination. He will usually hold with one hand, the upper body in the tilted position on the handle and remove with the other hand, the hose or hose-tube combination of the designated holder and perform the suction. The brush motor is not switched off because the upright is not in the parking position.

The invention thus raises the problem to improve a vacuum cleaner of the type mentioned in that in a suction operation with the hose or hose-pipe combination outside the parking position an excessive stress on the footprint of the bottom unit is prevented.

According to the invention, this problem is achieved by means which automatically switch off the brush motor in the suction operation independent of the ground unit after the removal of the hose or the tube / tube combination from a holder on the upper body. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention will become apparent from the following subclaims.

The achievable with the present invention consist in the greatest possible protection of the floor covering under the ground unit even in those cases where the upright is not in the parking position is located. In addition, overheating of the brush motor is avoided and energy saved.

It is expedient if the means are designed as switching cams arranged on the hose or on the hose-pipe combination and as switches arranged in the upper body. In this case, the switching cam may be formed as arranged on a pipe grip hook and the switch can be arranged behind a breakthrough in a receptacle for the pipe handle. In this way, in addition to the shutdown a guide aid is generated when hanging the pipe handle and guarantees the safe whereabouts of the handle in the designated receptacle.

Figuren 1 bis 6

den erfindungsgemäßen Staubsauger in verschiedenen Gesamtansichten;

Figur 7

die Bodeneinheit des Staubsaugers in Explosionsdarstellung;

Figur 8

den Oberkörper des Staubsaugers in Explosionsdarstellung;

Figur 9

den Oberkörper in der Rückansicht mit Teilen der Luftleitung in Explosionsdarstellung;

Figur 10

einen Schnitt durch den Oberkörper im Übergangsbereich des Schlauchs in den Oberkörper;

Figuren 11a bis d

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt des Oberkörpers im Bereich der Rohrgriff- Aufnahme, jeweils im Längs- und Querschnitt bei eingehängtem und ausgehängtem Haken;

Figur 12

die elektrische Schaltskizze des Uprights.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. It shows

FIGS. 1 to 6

the vacuum cleaner according to the invention in various overall views;

FIG. 7

the bottom unit of the vacuum cleaner in an exploded view;

FIG. 8

the upper body of the vacuum cleaner in an exploded view;

FIG. 9

the upper body in the rear view with parts of the air duct in exploded view;

FIG. 10

a section through the upper body in the transition region of the tube in the upper body;

FIGS. 11a to d

an enlarged section of the upper body in the region of the tube handle recording, in each case in the longitudinal and cross section with hinged and unhooked hook;

FIG. 12

the electric circuit diagram of the upright.

The in the FIGS. 1 to 6 Upright vacuum cleaner shown in various views, hereinafter referred to as Upright 1, consists essentially of a bottom unit 2, an upper body 3 and a joint arranged therebetween, which will be described later.

The upright 1 can from an upright position (see FIGS. 1 to 3 ), in which he is latched and then stands free, after releasing the locking (see FIG. 7 ) into a tilted ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and even in a fully extended position ( FIG. 6 ) to be brought. For this purpose, ground unit 2 and upper body 3 are a horizontal axis X in use (see FIG FIG. 5 ) mounted to each other pivotally. The joint, which allows the pivoting movement, is referred to below as a tilting joint. In addition, the upright in the tilted position, as well as in FIG. 5 shown rotated about an axis Y. By turning the upper body 3 by means of the device handle 4 about this axis and simultaneous By pushing or pulling the upright, the user can control the floor unit 2 around curves. The corresponding joint is referred to in the text as a hinge.

The ground unit 2, in FIG. 7 shown in exploded view, comprises a housing, which is formed by a housing insert 5, a rear housing lower part 6, a front housing lower part 7, a bumper strip 8 and a cover part 9. The housing insert 5 acts as a carrier for a number of electrical and mechanical components, and the aforementioned housing parts are attached to it. It forms with the rear housing lower part 6 with the interposition of an engine compartment seal 10, a space for receiving an engine blower 11, which generates the vacuum necessary for suction operation. On the suction side, a sealing ring 13 is arranged around the fan inlet 12, which is also supported on the two aforementioned housing parts 5 and 6. On the opposite side rubber buffer 14 are inserted. For deep cleaning of carpets protrudes into the suction port 15, an opening in the front housing lower part 7 and the base plate 16 attached thereto, a brushing roller 17 which is resiliently mounted on two lateral wings 18 and 19 and driven by a brush motor 20 via a belt 21. The parts 22 and 23 represent a two-piece belt cover. The brush motor 20 is also secured to the housing insert 5, the rockers 18 and 19 are pivotally mounted there. The two housing bases 6 and 7 carry the chassis of the upright, which is formed of front wheels 24 and 25 and rear wheels 26 and 27. The rear wheels 26 and 27 are connected to stabilize by means of an axle 28 and adjustable via a respective wheel mechanism 29 and 30 in their position. To illuminate the driveway on the housing insert 5, a board 31 is attached to LED's 32, which is covered to the front by a lens 33. The viewing window 33 is held in a recess 34 in the bumper 8.

The air generated by the engine fan 11 is blown through an opening 35 in the housing insert 5 and a corresponding opening 36 in the cover part 9 in the environment. In the opening 36, a filter frame 37 is used, which receives a not shown exhaust filter for cleaning the air blown out of fines. The filter frame 37 is covered by a grid receptacle 38 and a grid 39 in the lid part 9 and is interchangeable from there.

Both the tilting joint and the pivot joint between the base unit 2 and the upper body 3 described later are formed by a rigid, fork-shaped channel component. This component also includes parts of the air duct from the suction port 15 to the upper body 3 and the air guide from the upper body 3 to the exhaust opening (openings 35 and 36). The component is referred to below as fork 40. It consists of two plastic parts, an upper shell 41 and a lower shell 42, which are interconnected by welding. To realize the tilting joint, the two ends 43 (right) and 44 (left) of the fork 40 are pivotable in recesses 45 provided therefor and 46, to avoid abrasion, they are each surrounded by metal bushings 47 and 48. The left in the direction of travel fork 44 is designed as hollow and coupled via a seal 49 with the blower inlet 12. At the right in the direction of travel fork 43 a bearing pin 50 is formed. It also has an opening 51 which is connected via an elastic tube 52 to the suction port 15. In order to prevent the inside of the bottom unit 2 when tilting the upper body 3, the connecting region of the two fork ends 43 and 44, hereinafter referred to as fork web 53, surrounded by a front cover 54 and a rear cover 55 on the bottom unit 2, which perform the pivoting movement of the fork 40 with. The space between the front and rear cover and the housing insert 5 is bridged by aperture 56 and 57. At the left fork end 44, the first 58 of two cable channels 58 and 59 is attached. Furthermore, the fork ends 43 and 44 carry toothed segments 60 and 61 which cooperate with the wheel mechanisms 29 and 30. At the fork web 53, a trim cover 62 is attached to a connection cable, not shown. To keep the upright in the upright position ( FIGS. 1 to 3 ), a stepping lever 63 is mounted on the housing insert 5, which engages in this position in the left fork end 44 and thus prevents the pivoting movement of the fork 40. By depressing the lever 63, the locking position can be released. In the latched position is also prevented by two spring-loaded bolts 64 and 65 a rotational movement. The air ducts, which are formed by the fork ends 43 and 44, are combined in the region of the fork web 53 to a first portion 66 of a coaxial line.

FIG. 8 shows the upper body 3, also in exploded view. Carrying component of the upper body 3 is a rear wall 67. It forms the rear portion of a dust chamber 68, which in turn receives a filter bag, not shown in the drawing as a dust collector. The edge of the dust chamber 68 is surrounded by a seal 69, the side of a cover strip 70 is fixed for cables, not shown. In the lower area a hinge bearing 71 is attached to the rear wall 67. The dust chamber 68 is closed at the front by an upper housing part 72, which is articulated via hinges 73 and torsion springs 74 pivotally mounted on the hinge bearing 71. The upper part 72 carries a closure 75, a dust bag receptacle 76 and a filter change indicator 77. It also disguises the hinge bearing 71. In the upper part, the rear wall 67 carries the electronics 78 of Uprights, which is completely arranged on a receptacle 79 and as pre-tested component component is mounted. On the recording, a lever 81 for switching off the brush motor 20 is arranged via a torsion spring 80. In addition, it provides the holder for the handle tube 82 with the device handle 4. The electronics 78 is covered by a cap 84, which also serves for attachment to various controls and display elements and their accessories (lens 85, knob 86).

An elaborate air duct ensures that dirt-laden air can either be sucked in via the suction mouth in the floor unit or via a telescopic tube with possibly connected suction attachments such as crevice nozzle, furniture brush, upholstery nozzle, etc. For this purpose, the suction air from the suction port 15 via the elastic tube 52 and the right fork end 43 through the inner tube of the first portion 66 of the coaxial line in the fork web 53 into the inner tube of a second section 87 of the coaxial line. This section 87 is continued in the rear wall 67 and there again separated into two separate lines. The further air path leads through a Saugkanalstück 88 in a manifold 89. In the manifold 89 is loosely - and therefore removable - a telescopic tube 90 inserted, which passes via a pipe handle 91 in a flexible suction hose 92. The suction hose 92 is held in a receptacle 93 provided therefor, as well as in FIG. 3 is recognizable. Via a pivoting arc 94, the air enters a channel 83 (see FIG. 10 ), which extends over the entire length of the rear wall 67. The channel 83 is formed from the rear wall 67 itself and an attached air duct piece 95. Subsequently, an arcuate neck 96, which consists of the rear wall 67 and partly of the electronic receptacle 79, the dirt-laden suction air in the area of the dust bag receptacle 76 and there in a dust bag, not shown. After the suction air has flowed through the dust bag in the dust chamber and has been cleaned of dust, it passes through a motor protection filter - in the figure, only the frame 97 is shown for holding the filter - in the outer ring of the second portion 87 of the coaxial line and from there the first section 66 via the left fork 44 to the engine fan 11th

In the FIG. 8 are also shown in the lower part of the components that serve for attachment and rotatable mounting of the upper body 3 to the fork 40. The first section 66 of the coaxial line is surrounded by an injected metal ring 98, which projects beyond the outer diameter of this section 66 and which is enclosed in two bearing shells 99 and 100, respectively. The bearing shells 99 and 100 are connected to the upper body 3. Thus, metal ring 98 and bearing shells 99 and 100 form the pivot of Uprights 1. In the connection of the upper body 3 and fork 40, the two sections 66 and 87 of the coaxial line with the interposition of a seal 101 are assembled.

The part of the air duct, which enables a suction operation independent of the floor unit 2, is in FIG. 9 shown in an exploded view. The manifold 89 forms the interface at which this part can be separated. In the manifold 89, the telescopic tube 90 is inserted and can be removed from there. The telescopic tube 90 is in turn releasably supported on the tube handle 91. On the rear wall 67 of the upper body a plurality of suction attachments, a furniture brush 102, a cushion nozzle 103 and a crevice nozzle 104 are attached externally, which can be selectively placed on the telescopic tube 90 or the tube handle 91. The tube handle 91 is connected to the flexible suction hose 92, wherein the Transition region from the handle 91 to the tube 92 by an upper bend protection 105 is wrapped. The flexible hose 92 is then connected to the pivoting bow 94, this second transition region from the hose 92 to the pivoting bow 94 is enveloped by a lower bend protection 106.

From the Figures 3 and 9 It can be seen that the receptacle 93, in which the telescopic tube 90, the tube handle 91 and the tube 92 is held, formed u-shaped and extending over almost the entire length of the two side surfaces 107 and 108 and the top 109 of the upper body 3 , On the left in the direction of travel side surface 108, in FIG. 9 Also shown on the left, only the second transition region with the pivotal bow 94 and the lower bend protection 106 is recessed. Both the Figures 3 and 9 as well as the sectional drawing FIG. 10 show that the receptacle 93 in the side surfaces 107 and 108 and in the top 109 is recessed. From the sectional drawing FIG. 10 It is also clear that the receptacle 93 in the second transition region on the left side 108 only has a quarter-circular cross-section. The arrangement of the receptacle 93 in the side surfaces 107 and 108 and on the top 109 of the Uprights 1 is achieved that the open side of the receptacle 93 in the parking position ( FIGS. 1 to 3 ) to the top and to the left and right side of the upright 1. After completion of the suction operation in independent of the ground unit 2 suction operation, the user can then simply insert the telescopic tube 90 in the manifold 89. As a further placement aid is a hook 110 on the pipe handle 91, which is pushed into an opening 111 in the receptacle 93. Telescope tube 90 and tube handle 91 are then received by the receptacle 93 of the right side wall 107. The flexible tube 92 thereby lays down independently in the part of the receptacle 93 facing the upper side 109. Subsequently, a slight lateral pressure is sufficient to stow the remainder of the tube 92 into the receptacle 93 on the left-hand side wall 108. The upper anti-kink 105 behind the tube handle 91 is made of a relatively soft plastic, such as TPE or PVC with 60 to 70 Shore A, and therefore can be easily pressed into the receptacle 93.

The FIGS. 11a to d and the FIG. 12 show that the hook 110 in addition to the guide aid for placement of the tubular handle 91 has a further function. The breakthrough 111, in the FIGS. 11a to d shown in an enlarged section of the upright in the area of the receptacle 93, is covered by the pressure plate 112 of a rotatably mounted rocker switch 113. The rocker switch 113 also includes a laterally molded extension 114 with an actuating slope 115 and a spring, not shown in the drawings in its hinge. Inside the upper body, a switch 116 is arranged, the contacts of which are closed by a pressure mushroom 117. The pressure fungus 117 is within the effective range of the extension 114.

FIG. 12 shows the electrical circuitry of the upright. In the following, only the energization of the brush motor 20, referred to in the figure as M2, and the associated switching operations will be explained. After pressing the mains ON and electric brush ON buttons on the handle, the two additional switches P1 and P2 are connected in series to the mains voltage and switch them on when the contacts to brush motor 20 or M2 are closed. The control of the brush motor 20 or M2 via the triac T2. P1 is the above switch behind the breakthrough in the tube handle receptacle. P2 is the switch mentioned above, which senses the locking of the upper body in the parking position and opens the contacts in this position. The starting point for the following description is the assumption that the switches power ON, electric brush ON and P2 are closed.

When inserting the hook into the breakthrough ( FIGS. 11a and b ) presses the hook on the actuator plate and turns the rocker switch clockwise. In this case, the extension 114 moves with its actuating slope 115 on the pressure fungus 117 of the switch 116 and P1 and the contacts of the switch 116 and P1 are closed. The brush motor 20 or M2 is energized and rotates the brush roller 17. Now takes the user the pipe handle 91 from the receptacle 93, he pulls the hook 110 from the opening 111. The spring exerts on the rocker 113 a force from which they rotates counterclockwise and returns to the position in which the pressure plate 112, the aperture 111 hidden (see FIGS. 11c and d ). The extension 114 passes from the engagement position with the pressure mushroom 117. In this case, the contacts of P1 are opened and the brush motor M2 is turned off.

FIG. 12 shows the electrical circuitry of the upright. In the following, only the energization of the brush motor 20, referred to in the figure as M2, and the associated switching operations will be explained. After pressing the mains ON and electric brush ON buttons on the handle, the two additional switches P1 and P2 are connected in series to the mains voltage and switch them on when the contacts to brush motor 20 or M2 are closed. The control of the brush motor 20 or M2 via the triac T2. P1 is the above switch behind the breakthrough in the tube handle receptacle. P2 is the switch mentioned above, which senses the locking of the upper body in the parking position and opens the contacts in this position. The starting point for the following description is the assumption that the switches power ON, electric brush ON and P2 are closed.

When inserting the hook into the breakthrough ( FIGS. 11a and b ) presses the hook on the actuator plate and turns the rocker switch clockwise. In this case, the extension 114 moves with its actuating slope 115 on the pressure fungus 117 of the switch 116 and P1 and the contacts of the switch 116 and P1 are closed. The brush motor 20 or M2 is energized and rotates the brush roller 17. Now takes the user the pipe handle 91 from the receptacle 93, he pulls the hook 110 from the opening 111. The spring exerts on the rocker 113 a force from which they rotates counterclockwise and returns to the position in which the pressure plate 112, the aperture 111 hidden (see FIGS. 11c and d ). The extension 114 passes from the engagement position with the pressure mushroom 117. In this case, the contacts of P1 are opened and the brush motor M2 is turned off.

Claims (4)

1. A vacuum cleaner (1) of the upright type, including an upper body (3) containing a dust collection container, a base unit (2) containing a brush roller (17) which is drivable by a motor (brush motor 20), a carriage permitting said base unit to move on the surface to be cleaned; the upper body (3) being supported such that it is at least tiltable relative to the base unit (2) and capable of being locked in a parked position in which the vacuum cleaner (1) assumes a substantially upright position when standing on the surface to be cleaned; the vacuum cleaner further including a motor/fan unit (11) for creating a partial vacuum to act on the surface to be cleaned, and an air conduit leading from the base unit to the dust collection container, said air conduit having an interface and including a section which is formed by a hose or hose/wand assembly and is located downstream of said interface, said section being arranged externally on the upper body (3) in such a manner that it is securable thereto and that, when disconnected in the region of the interface, it enables a vacuuming mode of operation which is independent of the base unit (2) and in which the brush motor (20) of the brush roller can be turned off,
   characterized by means which, during a vacuuming mode of operation which is independent of the base unit (2), will automatically turn off the brush motor (20) when the hose or hose/wand assembly is removed from a receiving structure on the upper body (3).
2. The vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1,
   wherein the means are provided by an actuating cam disposed on the hose or on the hose/wand assembly, and a switch (116, P2) provided in the upper body (3).
3. The vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 2,
   wherein the actuating cam is in the form of a hook (110) provided on a wand handle (91).
4. The vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 3,
   wherein the switch (116, P2) is disposed behind an aperture (111) in a receiving structure (93) for the wand handle (91).

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