ES3035990T3 - Suction device for a domestic vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The suction device (9) comprises a main housing (12) including an air inlet portion (14) provided with air passage openings (15); a suction motor (17) arranged in the main housing (12) and including an air inlet opening (18) located opposite the air passage openings (15); and a sound absorbing element (21) fixed to the main housing (12) and at least partially covering the air passage openings (15), the sound absorbing element (21) being made of porous material and comprising at least one through hole (25) that is located opposite at least a portion of the air passage openings (15). (Automatic translation with Google Translate, no legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Suction device for domestic vacuum cleaners

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of domestic vacuum cleaners that allow vacuuming dust and debris present on a surface to be cleaned, which can be, for example, paving slabs, parquet, laminate, carpet or a rug.

State of the art

A household vacuum cleaner includes, in a known manner, a suction device comprising:

- a main housing comprising an air passage opening, and

- a suction motor arranged in the main housing and comprising an air inlet opening located opposite the air passage opening, the suction motor being configured to generate an air flow through the air passage opening and the air inlet opening.

This configuration of the suction device generates considerable turbulence upstream of the air inlet opening and, therefore, the flow of a turbulent airflow through the air inlet opening of the suction motor. The noise generated by the pneumatic flow circulating upstream of the suction motor is therefore significant, as is the noise generated by the suction motor itself, which is uncomfortable for the user. Furthermore, these turbulences induce high pressure losses within the suction device, which negatively affects its suction performance.

Document EP 4 056 087 A1 discloses a suction device for a domestic vacuum cleaner according to the preamble of claim 1.

Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks in whole or in part.

The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular in providing a suction device having a simple and economical structure, while limiting the noise generated by said suction device and presenting improved suction performance.

To this end, the present invention relates to a suction device for a domestic vacuum cleaner, comprising:

- a main housing comprising an air intake part, such as an air intake grille, provided with a plurality of air passage openings,

- a suction motor arranged in the main housing and comprising an air inlet opening located opposite at least a part of the air passage openings provided in the air intake part, the suction motor being configured to generate an air flow through the air passage openings and the air inlet opening, and

- a sound absorption element fixed to the main housing and arranged upstream of the air intake portion, the sound absorption element being made of porous material and at least partially covering the air passage openings, the sound absorption element comprising a first face facing the air passage openings and a second face opposite the first face, the sound absorption element including at least one through hole opening respectively into the first and second faces of the sound absorption element and located opposite at least a portion of the air passage openings.

In other words, said at least one through hole has a diameter such that the section of the through hole encompasses several air passage openings.

The presence of the sound-absorbing element limits turbulence upstream of the air inlet opening and evens out the airflow circulating around the air inlet opening and toward the interior of the intake motor. The noise generated by the pneumatic flow circulating upstream of the intake motor is thus reduced by eliminating this turbulence.

Furthermore, the airflow, which passes through the sound-absorbing element and then through the air passage openings provided in the air intake section, becomes uniform at the inlet of the fan blades fitted to the suction motor.

This helps reduce load noise due to stationary aerodynamic forces exerted on the fan blades and noise from shear stresses in the turbulent flow around the blades.

Furthermore, the combination of the sound-absorbing element and the perforated air intake portion (which then form a kind of Helmholtz resonator) makes it possible to attenuate the amplitude of the sound waves propagating upstream of the suction motor over a significant spectral frequency band. Thus, the specific configuration of the suction device according to the present invention makes it possible to significantly reduce the noise generated by the pneumatic dynamic flow through the suction device and the noise generated by the suction motor, while limiting the pressure losses generated within the suction device.

The presence of at least one through hole also prevents any blockage of the air flow through the sound-absorbing element in the event of obstruction.

The suction device may also have one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one through-hole has a cylindrical or truncated cone shape. According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one through-hole has a circular cross-section.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first face of the sound absorbing element bears against the air intake portion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the sound absorbing element has a maximum transverse dimension that is greater than the maximum transverse dimension of the air intake portion.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound absorbing element has a maximum transverse dimension that is greater than the diameter of the air inlet opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound absorbing element has a generally rectangular shape.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the air intake portion is substantially flat and has a generally circular shape.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the air intake portion and the air inlet opening are arranged substantially coaxially. This configuration of the suction device makes it possible to attenuate the amplitude of the sound waves propagating upstream of the suction motor in an even wider spectral frequency range.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound absorbing element is an acoustic foam.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound absorption element is made of open-cavity porous material.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound absorbing element is acoustically porous, and advantageously is made of acoustically porous material.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second faces of the sound absorbing element are substantially parallel.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound-absorbing element is generally parallelepiped-shaped. According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound-absorbing element has a thickness of between 5 and 40 mm.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one through-hole is located, at least partially, opposite the air inlet opening. In other words, an orthogonal projection of the at least one through-hole on a reference plane perpendicular to the motor axis of the suction motor coincides, at least partially, with an orthogonal projection of the air inlet opening on said reference plane. This configuration of the sound-absorbing element makes it possible to further improve the acoustic performance of the sound-absorbing element.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the motor shaft of the suction motor is secant with the at least one through hole.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one through hole and the air inlet opening are arranged substantially coaxially. This configuration of the suction device makes it possible to attenuate the amplitude of the sound waves propagating upstream of the suction motor in an even wider spectral frequency range.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one through-hole has a diameter between 10% and 150%, and advantageously between 100% and 140%, of the diameter of the air inlet opening. According to one embodiment of the invention, the ratio of the diameter of the at least one through-hole to the diameter of the air inlet opening is between 1 and 1.5, and for example, between 1 and 1.35.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the through hole has a passage section that is substantially identical to the passage section of the air inlet opening.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one through hole has a diameter between 30 and 40 mm.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each air passage opening has a diameter between 1 mm and 3 mm.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the air inlet opening and the air intake portion are spaced apart from each other by a separation distance that is less than or equal to 2 cm.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound absorbing element has a thickness greater than the separation distance.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the main housing includes a receiving housing in which the acoustic absorption element is housed.

This configuration of the main housing ensures a stable position for the sound-absorbing element. According to one embodiment of the invention, the main housing includes a retaining wall extending around the air intake portion and the sound-absorbing element, the air intake portion and the retaining wall at least partially delimiting the receiving housing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining wall has a shape complementary to that of the sound-absorbing element. This configuration of the main housing allows for simple and cost-effective attachment of the sound-absorbing element to the main housing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining wall includes a flow guide portion located upstream of the sound-absorbing element and configured to guide the airflow generated by the suction motor toward the sound-absorbing element. Advantageously, the flow guide portion converges toward the sound-absorbing element.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the retaining wall delimits an insertion opening that opens into the receiving housing, the sound absorbing element being configured to be inserted into the receiving housing through the insertion opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction motor has a motor shaft and the sound absorbing element extends substantially perpendicular to the motor shaft.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction motor includes a fan and an electric motor configured to drive rotation of the fan.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the suction device includes an air expulsion circuit comprising at least one air expulsion opening provided in the main housing and through which the air flow generated by the suction motor is expelled towards the outside of the suction device, and an air expulsion duct that fluidically connects an air outlet opening of the suction motor to the at least one air expulsion opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the air discharge circuit further includes a filtration element configured to filter the air flow flowing through the at least one air discharge opening. According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound absorption element includes a single through-hole. However, according to another embodiment of the invention, the sound absorption element could include multiple through-holes. These holes may be distributed, for example, regularly distributed, around the central axis of the air inlet opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the air intake portion is formed by a perforated plate. According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction device is configured such that at least a portion of the air flow generated by the suction motor flows through the sound-absorbing element and toward the air passage openings.

The present invention further relates to a household vacuum cleaner, such as a canister vacuum cleaner, which includes a suction device according to the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the household vacuum cleaner includes:

- a housing comprising an engine compartment in which the suction device is housed, and - a suction nozzle arranged in the housing and through which air carrying debris can be drawn into the housing, the air inlet opening being fluidically connected to the suction nozzle. According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction nozzle is arranged in a front portion of the housing. According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction motor is configured to generate an air flow through the suction nozzle and the air inlet opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the household vacuum cleaner includes a debris separation and collection device located upstream of the suction motor and configured to retain debris carried by the airflow generated by the suction motor. Advantageously, the debris separation and collection device is removably mounted in the housing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the waste separation and collection device is of the cyclonic type.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the household vacuum cleaner includes a connecting duct configured to fluidically connect an air outlet of the waste separation and collection device to the air passage openings provided in the main housing.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one air expulsion opening is oriented towards the waste separation and collection device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sound absorption element is configured to extend substantially horizontally when the box rests, for example by means of its wheels, on a horizontal surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor shaft is configured to extend substantially vertically when the box rests, for example by means of its wheels, on a horizontal surface.

Brief description of the figures

In any case, the invention will be better understood with the help of the following description with reference to the attached schematic drawings, which represent, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of this cleaning head.

Figure 1 is a partial top perspective view of a household vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the household vacuum cleaner of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a suction device belonging to the domestic vacuum cleaner of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the suction device of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top view of the suction device of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the suction device of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the suction device of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a suction motor belonging to the suction device of Figure 3.

In this document, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are defined in relation to the direction of the airflow generated by the suction motor.

Figures 1 to 8 represent a domestic vacuum cleaner 2, such as a sled vacuum cleaner, which includes in particular a box 3, also called vacuum cleaner body, comprising a suction nozzle 4 through which air carrying debris into the box 3 is intended to be sucked. Advantageously, the suction nozzle 4 is arranged on a front part of the box 3. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the box 3 is equipped with wheels 5 to ensure movement of the box 3 on a surface to be cleaned.

The domestic vacuum cleaner 2 may also include a flexible hose (not shown in the figures) connected, for example in a removable manner, to the suction nozzle 4, and a suction accessory (not shown in the figures) such as, for example, a rigid telescopic tube which can receive, at its end opposite the flexible hose, a removable suction head.

The household vacuum cleaner 2 also comprises a waste separation and collection device 6 which can be mounted, for example, in a removable manner, in the box 3. Advantageously, the waste separation and collection device 6 is of the cyclonic type and includes a waste collection container 7 and a cyclonic separation chamber 8 which is annular and which is delimited externally by a side wall of the waste collection container 7.

The domestic vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a suction device 9 which is housed in a motor compartment 11 delimited by the box 3 and which is located downstream of the waste separation and collection device 6.

The suction device 9 comprises a main casing 12 which delimits an internal housing 13. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the main casing 12 includes a lower fairing 12.1 and an upper fairing 12.2 assembled together, for example, by screwing or snapping.

The main casing 12 includes an air intake portion 14, such as an air intake grille, fixed to the upper cowling 12.2 and provided with a plurality of air passage openings 15. Each air passage opening 15 may, for example, have a diameter between 1 mm and 3 mm. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the air intake portion 14 is flat and has a circular shape. The air intake portion 14 may, for example, be formed by a perforated plate superimposed on the upper cowling 12.2.

As shown in Figure 2, the household vacuum cleaner 2 includes a connecting duct 16 configured to fluidically connect an air outlet of the waste separating and collecting device 6 to the air passage openings 15 provided in the main casing 12.

The suction device 9 further comprises a suction motor 17, also called a motor fan, which is arranged in the internal housing 13 of the main casing 12 and which comprises an air inlet opening 18 fluidically connected to the suction nozzle 4 and located opposite at least a part of the air passage openings 15 provided in the air intake part 14. Advantageously, the air intake part 14 and the air inlet opening 18 are arranged coaxially.

The suction motor 17 is configured to generate an air flow through the suction nozzle 4, the waste separation and collection device 6, the connecting duct 16, the air passage openings 15 and the air inlet opening 18. In a known manner, the suction motor 17 includes a fan 17.1 and an electric motor 17.2 configured to drive the rotation of the fan 17.1. The suction motor 17 may further include a fan cover 19 that at least partially covers the fan 17.1 and defines the air inlet opening 18.

The suction motor 17 also comprises at least one air outlet opening 20 through which the air flow is intended to exit the suction motor 17 and can flow into the inner housing 13. The or each air outlet opening 20 may be provided, for example, in a lower part of the motor housing of the suction motor 17.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the suction motor 17 has a motor shaft A which extends substantially vertically when the box 3 rests, by means of its wheels 5, on a horizontal surface.

The suction device 9 also comprises a sound absorption element 21 fixed to the main housing 12 and arranged upstream of the air intake part 14.

The sound-absorbing element 21 is made of porous material, for example, an open-cavity porous material. Thus, the pores, also called cavities or cells, of the sound-absorbing element 21 are filled with air and function to dissipate the acoustic energy of the incident acoustic waves into heat within the structure of the porous material. Advantageously, the sound-absorbing element 21 is an acoustic foam, such as a cellular polyurethane foam and, in particular, an open-cell polyurethane foam.

The sound absorbing element 21 may have, for example, a net density of between 26 and 30 kg/m3 (measured according to ISO 845), a compressive strength at 40% penetration of between 2.0 and 4.0 kPa (measured according to ISO 3386/1), a tensile strength of between 190 and 210 kPa (measured according to ISO 1798) and for example about 200 kPa, an elongation at break of between 320 and 370% (measured according to ISO 1798) and for example about 350%, and a cell diameter of between 440 and 450 pm (measured according to the Recticel/T.013.4 method).

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the main housing 12, and more specifically the upper fairing 12.2, includes a retaining wall 22 extending from an outer surface of the upper fairing 12.2 and extending around the air intake portion 14 and the sound absorption element 21. The air intake portion 14 and the retaining wall 22 at least partially delimit a receiving housing 23 in which the sound absorption element 21 is housed.

As shown in Figure 4, the retaining wall 22 defines an insertion opening 24 opening into the receiving housing 23. The sound absorbing element 21 is configured to be inserted into the receiving housing 23 through the insertion opening 24.

Advantageously, the retaining wall 22 includes a retaining portion 22.1, which extends substantially parallel to the motor axis A and which is configured to cooperate with the sound absorption element 21, and a flow guide portion 22.2, which is located upstream of the sound absorption element 21 and which is configured to guide the air flow, generated by the suction motor 17, towards the sound absorption element 21. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the flow guide portion 22.2 converges in the direction of the retaining portion 22.1 and, therefore, in the direction of the sound absorption element 21.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the sound-absorbing element 21 extends perpendicularly to the motor axis A and is configured to extend horizontally when the housing 3 rests, for example, by means of its wheels 5, on a horizontal surface. The sound-absorbing element 21 may, for example, be generally parallelepiped-shaped and have a generally rectangular shape. The sound-absorbing element 21 may, for example, have a thickness between 5 and 40 mm.

The sound-absorbing element 21 comprises a first face 21.1 facing the air passage openings 15 and a second face 21.2 opposite the first face 21.1. Advantageously, the first and second faces 21.1, 21.2 of the sound-absorbing element 21 are substantially parallel, and the first face 21.1 of the sound-absorbing element 21 abuts, i.e. rests, against the air inlet portion 14 such that the sound-absorbing element 21 at least partially covers the air passage openings 15. The suction device 9 is thus configured such that at least a portion of the air flow generated by the suction motor 17 flows through the sound-absorbing element 21 and in the direction of the air passage openings 15.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the sound-absorbing element 21 includes a single through-hole 25 opening, respectively, into the first and second faces 21.1, 21.2 of the sound-absorbing element 21 and located opposite at least part of the air passage openings 15. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the through-hole 25 has a cylindrical shape and a circular section. Advantageously, the through-hole 25 and the air inlet opening 18 are arranged coaxially.

The through hole 25 may have, for example, a diameter between 10% and 150% of the diameter of the air inlet opening 18. Advantageously, the ratio of the diameter of the through hole 25 to the diameter of the air inlet opening 18 is between 1 and 1.5, and more specifically between 1 and 1.35. The through hole 25 may have a passage section that is substantially identical, for example identical, to the passage section of the air inlet opening 18. The through hole 25 may have, for example, a diameter between 30 and 40 mm.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the air inlet opening 18 and the air intake portion 14 are spaced apart and separated by a gap distance of less than or equal to 2 cm. Advantageously, the sound-absorbing element 21 has a thickness greater than the gap distance.

The suction device 9 also comprises an air ejection circuit 26 comprising an air ejection opening 27 (see Figure 6) opening onto an external surface of the main casing 12 and through which the air flow generated by the suction motor 17 is expelled towards the outside of the suction device 9. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the air ejection opening 27 faces the waste separation and collection device 6.

The air expulsion circuit 26 further comprises an air expulsion duct 28 which fluidically connects the internal housing 13 and, therefore, the air outlet opening 20 of the suction motor 17, to the air expulsion opening 27.

The air discharge circuit 26 further includes a filter element 29 configured to filter the air flow flowing through the air discharge opening 27. The filter element 29 may, for example, be at least partially housed in the air discharge opening 27 and be located at the rear of the waste separation and collection device 6.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sound-absorbing element 21 could include several through holes 25, each of which opens respectively into the first and second faces 21.1, 21.2 of the sound-absorbing element 21. Said through holes 25 may be distributed, for example regularly distributed, around the central axis of the air inlet opening 18. Said through holes 25 could also be arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry passing through the central axis of the air inlet opening 18.

Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which is provided solely as an example. Modifications, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substituting technical equivalents, are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. Suction device (9) for domestic vacuum cleaner (2), comprising: - a main housing (12) comprising an air intake part (14) provided with several air passage openings (15), - a suction motor (17) arranged in the main housing (12) and comprising an air inlet opening (18) located opposite at least a part of the air passage openings (15) provided in the air intake part (14), the suction motor (17) being configured to generate an air flow through the air passage openings (15) and the air inlet opening (18), and - a sound absorption element (21) fixed to the main housing (12) and arranged upstream of the air intake part (14), the sound absorption element (21) being made of porous material and at least partially covering the air passage openings (15), the sound absorption element (21) comprising a first face (21.1) facing the air passage openings (15) and a second face (21.2) opposite the first face (21.1), characterized in that the sound absorption element (21) includes at least one hole through (25) which opens respectively into the first and second faces (21.1, 21.2) of the acoustic absorption element (21) and which is located opposite at least a part of the air passage openings (15). 2. Suction device (9) according to claim 1, wherein the first face (21.1) of the sound absorption element (21) rests against the air intake part (14). 3. Suction device (9) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sound absorption element (21) has a maximum transverse dimension which is greater than the maximum transverse dimension of the air intake part (14). 4. Suction device (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air intake portion (14) is substantially flat and has a generally circular shape. 5. Suction device (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air intake portion (14) and the air inlet opening (18) are arranged substantially coaxially. 6. Suction device (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sound absorption element (21) is an acoustic foam. 7. Suction device (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one through hole (25) is located at least partially opposite the air inlet opening (18). 8. Suction device (9) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one through hole (25) has a cylindrical or truncated conical shape. 9. Suction device (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one through hole (25) has a circular section. 10. Suction device (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one through hole (25) and the air inlet opening (18) are arranged substantially coaxially. 11. Suction device (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one through hole (25) has a diameter between 10% and 150% of the diameter of the air inlet opening (18). 12. Suction device (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein each air passage opening (15) has a diameter between 1 mm and 3 mm. 13. Suction device (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the air inlet opening (18) and the air intake part (14) are spaced apart from each other by a separation distance that is less than or equal to 2 cm. 14. Suction device (9) according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the main housing (12) includes a receiving housing (23) in which the acoustic absorption element (21) is housed. 15. Suction device (9) according to claim 14, wherein the main housing (12) includes a retaining wall (22) extending around the air intake portion (14) and the sound absorption element (21), the air intake portion (14) and the retaining wall (22) at least partially delimiting the receiving housing (23). 16. Domestic vacuum cleaner (2) including a suction device (9) according to any of the preceding claims.