Device for cleaning surfaces

Abstract

Device for cleaning surfaces, with a cleaning head (11) comprising at least one base part (13) and at least one brush arrangement (15), in particular a cylindrical brush roller, attached to the base part (13), and a fluid drive (17) for the brush arrangement (15), which is at least partially integrated into the base part (13), which is designed to convert the flow energy of a fluid supplied to the base part (13) under pressure by means of a fluid supply line (21) into a cleaning movement of the brush arrangement (15), wherein a fluid ejection element (23) fed by the fluid supply line (21) is rotatable about a rotation axis (R1) by means of a handle and the fluid drive (17), in particular a turbine or a paddle wheel, is operated differently depending on the rotational position of the fluid ejection element (23), wherein the handle on the one hand and the fluid ejection member (23) on the other hand are designed as separate rotatable components and are coupled to one another in a driving manner via a transmission device (40), characterized by that the transmission device (40) comprises a gear (41, 45).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for cleaning surfaces, comprising a cleaning head which comprises at least one base part and at least one brush arrangement, in particular a cylindrical brush roller, attached to the base part, and a fluid drive for the brush arrangement which is at least partially integrated into the base part and which is designed to convert the flow energy of a fluid supplied to the base part under pressure by means of a fluid supply line into a cleaning movement of the brush arrangement, wherein a fluid ejection element fed by the fluid supply line is rotatable about a rotational axis by means of a handle and the fluid drive, in particular a turbine or a paddle wheel, is operated differently depending on the rotational position of the fluid ejection element.

[0002] Such devices are generally known, for example, from DE 10 2011 103 537 A1. There is a need to expand the possible applications of such devices and to facilitate their operation.

[0003] WO 2007 / 047672 A1 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] In a device according to the invention, the handle, on the one hand, and the fluid ejection element, on the other hand, are designed as separate rotatable components and are drive-coupled to one another via a transmission device. The transmission device enables adaptation of the power transmission path between the handle and the fluid ejection element to a specific application. In particular, the positions of the rotational axes of the handle and the fluid ejection element can differ due to the transmission device. Furthermore, the power transmission can be carried out with a step-up or step-down ratio, so that the angles of rotation covered by the handle and the fluid ejection element differ. The fluid drive can be actuated in different directions of rotation depending on the rotational position of the fluid ejection element, so that the fluid drive can be operated by rotating the handle in different directions of rotation.If necessary, the fluid drive can also be deactivated in at least one rotational position of the fluid ejection device, meaning that the fluid drive is deactivated in that rotational position. By simply turning the handle, a user can switch between two or more different operating positions, e.g., between different rotational directions of the brushes and / or between "rotating" and "not rotating" (e.g., rotating or stationary brush).

[0005] According to the invention, the transmission device comprises a gearbox.

[0006] Further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0007] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to Fig. 1, which shows a cleaning head of a cleaning device according to the invention in a partially cut-away side view.

[0008] In the illustrated embodiment, a cleaning head 11 of a cleaning device according to the invention comprises two brush arrangements 15 arranged on both sides of a base part 13, of which Fig. 1, only one is visible. The brush assemblies 15 are connected to the base part 13 in such a way that a fluid drive 17 integrated into the base part 13 simultaneously sets both brush assemblies 15 in a rotating cleaning movement around a common brush axis 19 in the same direction of rotation.

[0009] Such a basic structure is known, for example, from DE 10 2011 103 537 A1 mentioned above, to which express reference is made in this regard.

[0010] The fluid drive 17 is supplied with pressurized fluid, in particular water, via a fluid supply line 21. The fluid supply line 21 is connected at an end facing away from the cleaning head 11 to a fluid pressure source (not shown), such as a commercially available high-pressure cleaner. The other end of the fluid supply line 21 is connected via a movable fluid connection 22 to a jet pipe element 23, which is mounted on the base part 13 for rotation about a first axis of rotation R1 and forms a fluid ejection element. The jet pipe element 23 can be specially designed with an exchangeable nozzle element (not shown). In principle, the jet pipe 23 could also be omitted, and an end section of the fluid supply line 21 provided with outlet openings could form a fluid ejection element.During operation of the cleaning device, a turbine 29 of the fluid drive 17 is subjected to a fluid jet via an outlet opening 27 of the jet pipe element 23. After leaving the fluid drive 17, the fluid flows out through passage openings 31 of the brush assemblies 15 in order to wet the bristles or the object to be cleaned.

[0011] The end section 33 of the fluid supply line 21 is mounted on the base part 13 by means of a first pivot bearing 35 for rotation about a second rotation axis R2 and can be coupled to a main section of the fluid supply line 21 (not shown), e.g., designed as a lance, via a rotationally entraining coupling 37, for example in the form of a hexagonal profile. As shown, the end section 33 of the fluid supply line 21 is designed with a cranked shape or is provided with a "bend" 2 to accommodate the unavoidable sagging of the - usually relatively long - main section of the fluid supply line 21. The main section of the fluid supply line 21 serves as a handle for guiding the cleaning head 11.

[0012] By rotating the jet pipe element 23 about the first rotation axis R1 relative to the base part 13, the direction in which the fluid exits the outlet opening 27 can be changed. In particular, the design is selected such that switching between two different fluid exit directions can be achieved by rotating the jet pipe element 23 and with it the outlet opening 27 by 180°. For illustration, Fig. 1 both positions of the outlet opening 27 are shown simultaneously.

[0013] Depending on the rotational position of the jet pipe element 23 and thus the outlet direction of the fluid from the outlet opening 27, the turbine 29 is actuated either in one direction of rotation or in the opposite direction of rotation, so that by rotating the jet pipe element 23 it is possible to switch between a forward operation and a reverse operation with respect to the direction of rotation of the brush arrangements 15.

[0014] To enable a user to reverse the direction of rotation of the brush assemblies 15 by turning the handle, a transmission device 40 is provided, which is designed to convert a rotational movement of the handle about the second rotational axis R2 into a rotational movement of the jet pipe element 23 about the first rotational axis R1. The transmission device 40 comprises an input gear 41 drivingly connected to the end section 33 of the fluid supply line 21 and an output gear 45 seated on an intermediate shaft 43, which mesh with one another to thus form a spur gear. Since the input gear 41 and the output gear 45 have different numbers of teeth, the power is transmitted between the end section 33 of the fluid supply line 21 and the intermediate shaft 43 with a gear ratio.

[0015] The intermediate shaft 43 is mounted on the base part 13 by means of a second pivot bearing 47 so as to be rotatable about a third rotational axis R3 running parallel to the second rotational axis R2 and is coupled to the jet pipe element 23 in a drive-effective manner via a flexible shaft 49. The flexible shaft 49 is guided in a bent course so that the first rotational axis R1 and the third rotational axis R3 are aligned at an acute angle to one another. Due to the transmission, turning the handle by a small angle of rotation, e.g. by 30°, is sufficient to turn the jet pipe element 23 by 180°. Switching between forward and reverse operation is therefore particularly easy for a user. If required, additional switching positions can also be provided, e.g. a switching position with the fluid drive 17 deactivated. The rotational positions of the handle assigned to the respective different operating states can be set for a user, e.g.be easily adjustable using a locking mechanism and, in particular, be clearly noticeable.

[0016] In the illustrated embodiment, as mentioned, a lance-like main section of the fluid supply line 21 forms the handle. In contrast, a not-illustrated embodiment of the invention provides for the fluid supply line to be designed as a separate component from the handle, e.g., as an external hose. The fluid supply line could, for example, lead via a connection with a rotary union into an arrangement comprising an intermediate shaft and a flexible shaft, which are designed as hollow shafts for this purpose.

[0017] The invention enables cleaning devices to switch easily and quickly between different operating states. List of reference symbols 11 Cleaning head 13 Base part 15 Brush arrangement 17 Fluid drive 19 Brush axis 21 Fluid supply line 22 movable fluid connection 23 jet pipe element 27 Exit opening 29 Turbine 31 Passage opening 33 end section 35 first pivot bearing 37 Clutch 40 transmission device 41 Input gear 43 Intermediate shaft 45 Output gear 47 second pivot bearing 49 flexible shaft R1 first rotation axis R2 second rotation axis R3 third rotation axis

Claims

[1] Device for cleaning surfaces, with a cleaning head (11) comprising at least one base part (13) and at least one brush arrangement (15), in particular a cylindrical brush roller, attached to the base part (13), and a fluid drive (17) for the brush arrangement (15), which is at least partially integrated into the base part (13), which is designed to convert the flow energy of a fluid supplied to the base part (13) under pressure by means of a fluid supply line (21) into a cleaning movement of the brush arrangement (15), wherein a fluid ejection element (23) fed by the fluid supply line (21) is rotatable about a rotation axis (R1) by means of a handle and the fluid drive (17), in particular a turbine or a paddle wheel, is operated differently depending on the rotational position of the fluid ejection element (23), wherein the handle on the one hand and the fluid ejection member (23) on the other hand are designed as separate rotatable components and are coupled to one another in a driving manner via a transmission device (40), characterized by , that the transmission device (40) comprises a gear (41, 45). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the handle is rotatable about a rotation axis (R2) different from the rotation axis (R1) of the fluid ejection member (23). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the transmission device (40) is designed to convert a rotary movement of the handle with transmission or reduction into a rotary movement of the fluid ejection member (23). [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transmission device (40) comprises a flexible or bendable shaft (49). [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the transmission device (40) comprises a spur gear, wherein in particular an input gear (41) of the gear, which is drivingly connected to the handle, meshes with an output gear (45) of the gear, which is drivingly coupled to the fluid ejection member (23), wherein the input gear (41) and the output gear (45) have different numbers of teeth. [6] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fluid supply line (21) is integrated into the handle or formed by it. [7] Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the fluid supply line is designed as a separate component from the handle. [8] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that one end of the fluid supply line (21) is connected to the fluid ejection member (23) via a movable fluid connection (22).

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