Vacuum cleaner floor nozzle and vacuum cleaner

Abstract

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle comprising a floor nozzle housing (1), an electric motor (3) with a gearbox (6), and a gearbox (4) housed within the floor nozzle housing (1), wherein the gearbox (4) comprises a hard component (41) configured to accommodate part of the motor (3) and the gearbox (6), and a soft component (21) arranged on an outer surface of the hard component (41). The invention further relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle and a vacuum cleaner. In particular, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle comprising a floor nozzle housing, an electric motor with a gear, and a gear box housed in the floor nozzle housing, as well as to a vacuum cleaner containing the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle.

[0002] Such an electrically powered vacuum cleaner floor nozzle often features a brush roller, with the electric motor being designed to transfer kinetic energy to the brush roller via the gear mechanism, usually with the aid of a toothed belt. This motor and the gear mechanism generate vibrations during operation and thus noise audible to the user of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle. These noises should therefore be reduced as much as possible. A good vibration-damping drive mount to the housing components of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle is essential to prevent the transmission of vibrations and emitted noise. At the same time, the gear mechanism must be sealed as well as possible from any dust chamber. Therefore, a soft mount, precise positioning, and the best possible seal are required.

[0003] A well-known example is the Kobold EB400 automatic electric brush (Vorwerk SE & Co.KG, Wuppertal, Germany), which uses two rubber components to mount the drive and seal it against the dust chamber, while the gear box is formed by an additional hard plastic component. This means that at least three components are required to decouple the drive, seal the drive against the suction chamber, and secure the gear. Some of these components are made of elastomers and are therefore very expensive to manufacture. These three components also have to be assembled. However, installing such flexible components results in high assembly costs, as they must be installed manually and with great sensitivity. Furthermore, the space required for these three components is considerable. Furthermore, leaks can occur, particularly when sealing the suction chamber, due to tolerances or deviations during assembly.

[0004] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle and a vacuum cleaner which are designed to fulfil the functions of decoupling the drive, sealing the drive to the suction chamber and fixing the gear in such a way that assembly is simple and component and assembly costs are low.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle having the features of patent claim 1 and a vacuum cleaner having the features of patent claim 10. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

[0006] The advantages achieved with the invention include a reduction in component manufacturing costs by reducing the four components - i.e. gearbox, the two rubber parts and the cover - to a single component. This also means that assembly costs are significantly reduced, as flexible parts in particular require time-consuming assembly. The injection-molded soft component enables sealing, including decoupling, to a side wall of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle, thereby reducing installation space. The seal and thus suction performance increases because gaps become smaller or disappear due to the material bond between the hard and soft components. The installation space of the entire drive unit is also significantly reduced, and a slimmer design can be achieved, for example. In addition, a dead zone, i.e. an area of ​​the nozzle in which no roller engages laterally, can be reduced, thus increasing nozzle performance.Tolerances are also reduced due to the integral design, as the tolerances of multiple components add up, and better overall quality can be achieved.

[0007] The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle, comprising a floor nozzle housing, an electric motor with a gear, and a gear box, which are housed in the floor nozzle housing. The gear box has a hard component designed to accommodate part of the motor and the gear, and a soft component arranged on an outer surface of the hard component. The hard component forms a stable framework, while the soft component provides sealing and decoupling advantages. This allows the aforementioned advantages to be achieved. The gear can be designed, for example, as a belt drive.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the soft component is arranged on the outer surface of the hard component in the form of one or more rings. This allows the motor to rest only on the soft component and can be decoupled. At the same time, the construction is stiffened so that the motor can be installed very easily. Preferably, the soft component is arranged on the outer surface of the hard component in the form of several rings.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the soft component has support elements that are arranged and designed to position the gear box in the floor nozzle housing. The support elements for positioning the gear box in the floor nozzle housing are preferably designed as support rectangles that are arranged above and below the hard component. Position and direction information refer to a working position of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle. Positioning in the floor nozzle housing is preferably achieved at the top and bottom using support rectangles, which enables good positioning within the floor nozzle and at the same time achieves good decoupling thanks to the soft fit in the housing parts. The support elements for positioning the gear box in the floor nozzle housing are preferably designed as a projecting part of the ring(s) that are arranged on the outer surface of the hard component.

[0010] Alternatively or additionally, the soft component has support elements arranged and designed to compensate for tolerance fluctuations in the motor and drive bearings. The support elements designed to compensate for tolerance fluctuations are preferably designed as support points. Defined support points allow for effective compensation of tolerance fluctuations in the motor and drive bearings. The hard component can have a recess in which the soft component is arranged, so that the electric motor rests on the soft component on support elements in the form of support points.

[0011] The soft component preferably has a bulkhead arranged on the outer surface of the hard component in order to integrate an air supply and exhaust for the engine cooling system. The integrated bulkhead allows the air supply and exhaust for the engine cooling system to be integrated as a function, whereby positioning during assembly is greatly simplified and incorrect assembly is virtually impossible. This is due to the fact that the hard component provides the framework that holds the soft component in position. Another positive aspect for cooling is that the area of ​​the soft component can be reduced to a minimum, so that the engine is less thermally insulated and can dissipate its heat more effectively during operation. The bulkhead is preferably annular in shape so that it surrounds the outer surface of the hard component in a ring.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the hard component has positioning ribs, on whose outer surfaces the soft component is arranged, and / or positioning ribs are formed by the soft component, wherein the positioning ribs are designed to position the gear box in the floor nozzle housing. Using the positioning ribs, which are coated with or formed from the soft component, the positioning of the drive unit can be optimally adjusted during the development process. These define the position in all three axes. This allows for optimal positioning and optimal decoupling.

[0013] The soft component preferably has a sealing geometry that connects to the suction chamber of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle. Because the soft component forms a sealing geometry that connects to the suction chamber, no dirt or air flow can pass between the hard component and the soft component, thus achieving an improved sealing effect. The sealing geometry is preferably designed as a seal that surrounds the hard component and, after assembly, lies between the suction chamber and the hard component.

[0014] The soft component preferably has an additional sealing geometry that connects to a side wall of the floor nozzle housing. This creates a seal, including decoupling, from the side wall. The additional sealing geometry is preferably a seal that surrounds the hard component and, after assembly, is located between the side wall and the hard component.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the hard component is made of PA 66. The soft component is preferably made of TPE (thermoplastic polymer), TPV (thermoplastic vulcanizates), and / or TPU (thermoplastic urethanes). These materials are advantageous for the hard component and the soft component, respectively, because they do not yield at high temperatures. Furthermore, a material used for the soft component preferably exhibits sufficient compression set even at high temperatures.

[0016] Preferably, the hard component is formed as an injection-molded part, and the soft component is molded onto the hard component. This makes the gearbox cost-effective and easy to manufacture.

[0017] The invention further relates to a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to one or more of the previously described embodiments. The vacuum cleaner can be designed, for example, as a floor vacuum cleaner or a cordless stick.

[0018] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows schematically and not to scale. Fig. 1 a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to the invention; Fig. 2 another perspective view of the Fig. 1 shown vacuum cleaner floor nozzle; Fig. 3 another perspective view of the Fig. 2 shown vacuum cleaner floor nozzle; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the Fig. 2 shown engine and gearbox; Fig. 5 a perspective view of the Fig. 4 shown gearbox; and Fig. 6 another perspective view of the Fig. 4 shown gearbox,

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to the invention. The vacuum cleaner floor nozzle comprises a floor nozzle housing 1 and a connecting part 2 for connection to a vacuum cleaner.

[0020] Fig. 2 shows another perspective view of the Fig. 1 shown vacuum cleaner floor nozzle. Fig. 2 corresponds to the view in Fig. 1 with the difference that part of the floor nozzle housing 1 is removed, whereby components housed in the floor nozzle housing 1 such as an electric motor 3, a gear box 4 and a brush roller 5 are visible.

[0021] Fig. 3 shows another perspective view of the Fig. 2 shown vacuum cleaner floor nozzle. Fig. 3 corresponds to the view shown in Fig. 2, with the difference that the brush roller 5 is not shown, revealing part of a gear 6. The gear 6 is housed in the gear box 4. The motor 3 is designed to drive the brush roller 4 via the gear 6.

[0022] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the Fig. 2. The motor 3 is partially arranged in the gearbox 4. The gearbox 4 has a hard component 41 and a soft component 42. The hard component 41 is designed to accommodate part of the motor 3 and the gearbox 6. The soft component 21 is arranged on an outer surface of the hard component 41. It is arranged on the outer surface of the hard component 41 in the form of several rings 426 and has support elements 421 designed to position the gearbox 4 in the floor nozzle housing 1.

[0023] The support elements 421 are designed as support rectangles, which are formed as protruding parts of the rings 426. The soft component 42 further comprises a bulkhead 423 to integrate the supply and exhaust air for the engine cooling system. The bulkhead 423 is arranged in a ring shape on the outer surface of the hard component 41. The gear box 4 has positioning ribs 422, which are designed to position the gear box 4 in the floor nozzle housing (not shown). The hard component 41 can have the positioning ribs 422, on the outer surfaces of which the soft component 42 is arranged and / or the positioning ribs 422 are formed by means of the soft component 42.

[0024] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the Fig. 4 shown gearbox. The Fig. The view shown in Figure 5 corresponds to the one in Fig. 4, with the difference that the motor is removed. The hard component 41 has a recess 43. The soft component 42 is arranged in the recess 43, so that the electric motor (not shown) rests on the soft component 42 on support elements 421 in the form of support points to compensate for tolerance fluctuations in the motor and drive bearings.

[0025] Fig. 6 shows another perspective view of the Fig. 4. The soft component 42 has a sealing geometry 424 to a suction chamber (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle and another sealing geometry 425 to a side wall (not shown) of the floor nozzle housing. The transmission 6 is designed as a belt transmission. List of reference symbols 1 floor nozzle housing 2 connecting part 3 Engine 4 Gearbox 41 Hard component 42 Soft component 421 support element 422 Positioning rib 423 bulkhead 424 Sealing geometry 425 additional sealing geometry 426 rings 43 recess 5 brushes 6 gearboxes

Claims

[1] Vacuum cleaner floor nozzle, comprising a floor nozzle housing (1), an electric motor (3) with a gear (6) and a gear box (4) which are accommodated in the floor nozzle housing (1), wherein the gear box (4) has a hard component (41) which is designed to accommodate at least part of the motor (3) and the gear (6), and a soft component (21) which is arranged on an outer surface of the hard component (41). [2] Vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to claim 1, characterized by that the soft component (42) is arranged on the outer surface of the hard component (41) in the form of one or more rings (426). [3] Vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the soft component (42) has support elements (421) which are arranged and designed to position the gear box (4) in the floor nozzle housing (1) and / or to compensate for tolerance fluctuations in the motor (3) and drive bearing. [4] Vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the soft component (42) has a bulkhead (423) arranged on the outer surface of the hard component (41) in order to integrate an inlet and outlet air for the engine cooling. [5] Vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the hard component (41) has positioning ribs, on the outer surfaces of which the soft component (42) is arranged and / or positioning ribs (422) are formed by the soft component (42), wherein the positioning ribs (422) are designed for positioning the gear box (4) in the floor nozzle housing (1). [6] Vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the soft component (42) has a sealing geometry (424) to a suction chamber of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle and / or has a further sealing geometry (425) to a side wall of the floor nozzle housing (1). [7] Vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the hard component is made of PA 6, PA 66 or PBT and / or the soft component is made of TPE (thermoplastic polymer), TPV (thermoplastic vulcanizates) and / or TPU (thermoplastic urethanes). [8] Vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the hard component (41) is designed as an injection-molded part and the soft component (42) is injection-molded onto the hard component (41). [9] Vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle according to one of the preceding claims.

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