Surface cleaning device

Abstract

The invention relates to a surface cleaning device (210) with a housing (212) in which a suction unit (306) is arranged, and with a suction nozzle (216) in flow communication with the suction unit (306) for suctioning a liquid-air mixture, and with a separation device (258) for separating liquid from the suctioned liquid-air mixture, and with a liquid tank (218) for receiving the separated liquid, wherein the liquid tank (218) is detachably held on the housing (212) and can be emptied via a tank emptying opening (322).In order to be able to empty the liquid tank (218) easily without the risk of liquid escaping from the liquid tank (218) during subsequent operation of the surface cleaning device (210), the tank emptying opening (322) can be tightly closed by a closing wall (254) of the housing (212) and is freely accessible by detaching the liquid tank (218) from the housing (212), wherein the closing wall (254) has a closing element (278), and wherein the liquid tank (218) has a tank housing (310) and a filling device (316) which has the tank emptying opening (322).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a surface cleaning device with a housing in which a suction unit is arranged to form a suction flow, and with a suction nozzle in flow communication with the suction unit for extracting a liquid-air mixture, and with a separation device for separating liquid from the extracted liquid-air mixture, and with a liquid tank for receiving the separated liquid, wherein the liquid tank is detachably held on the housing and can be emptied via a tank drain opening.

[0002] With the help of such a surface cleaning device, a surface, for example a floor surface, a tiled wall surface, a table surface or, for example, a glass surface, especially a window pane, can be cleaned.

[0003] The surface cleaning device can be guided along the surface to be cleaned and has a housing containing a suction unit to create a suction flow. The suction unit is connected to a suction nozzle, allowing a mixture of liquid and air to be extracted, for example, from the surface to be cleaned or from a cleaning element of the device that is in contact with the surface. A cleaning element can be, for example, a cleaning roller, a cleaning pad, or a cleaning cloth. A separator allows liquid to be separated from the extracted liquid-air mixture. The extracted air can flow back to the suction unit and be released into the environment through at least one exhaust vent, while the separated liquid can be collected in a liquid tank.The liquid tank can be separated from the housing and emptied via a tank drain opening.

[0004] A surface cleaning device of the aforementioned type is known from WO 2017 / 108090 A1. In this surface cleaning device, the liquid tank has a tank housing and a filling device and can be removed from the housing; however, to empty the liquid tank, the filling device must be removed from the tank housing. This makes handling the surface cleaning device more difficult when emptying the liquid tank.

[0005] From WO 2015 / 007327 A1, a surface cleaning device is known in which the liquid tank has a tank drain opening on a wall section facing away from the housing, which can be closed with a plug. To empty the liquid tank, the user must remove the plug from the tank drain opening, and after emptying the liquid tank, the user must ensure that the tank drain opening is closed again with the plug, as otherwise there is a risk that liquid will escape from the liquid tank during use of the surface cleaning device.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop a surface cleaning device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it can be emptied in a simple manner without the risk of liquid escaping from the liquid tank during the subsequent operation of the surface cleaning device.

[0007] This problem is solved by a surface cleaning device with the features of claim 1.

[0008] The invention incorporates the idea that emptying the liquid tank can be simplified for the user by providing a tank drain opening that is tightly sealed by a closing wall of the housing as soon as the liquid tank is connected to the housing. When the liquid tank is disconnected from the housing, the drain opening is no longer sealed by the housing's closing wall, but is freely accessible and open, allowing the tank to be emptied. After emptying, the user can reconnect the liquid tank to the housing, which then results in the drain opening being tightly sealed again.Emptying the liquid tank is therefore very easy for the user, without the risk of liquid escaping from the liquid tank during subsequent operation of the surface cleaning device after the liquid tank has been emptied.

[0009] The housing's closing wall, which tightly seals the liquid tank's discharge opening when the tank is connected to the housing, has a closing element for closing the discharge opening. The closing element is advantageously adapted to the shape of the discharge opening. By adapting the closing element to the shape of the discharge opening, it can be ensured in a structurally simple way that the closing wall can tightly seal the discharge opening.

[0010] According to the invention, the liquid tank comprises a tank housing and a filling device, wherein the tank housing has a tank connection and the filling device can be connected to the tank connection in a liquid-tight manner, and wherein the filling device has a filling channel and a venting channel that extend into the tank housing, and wherein the filling device has a tank emptying opening through which the liquid tank can be emptied after being detached from the housing. Liquid separated from the extracted liquid-air mixture can enter the tank housing of the liquid tank via the filling channel, while air present in the tank housing can simultaneously be released via the venting channel. After detaching the liquid tank from the housing, the tank housing can be emptied via the tank emptying opening of the filling device without having to separate the filling device from the tank housing.

[0011] The filler channel and the vent channel extend into the tank housing, allowing their ends, facing away from the tank connection, to maintain a distance from it. In contrast, the tank drain opening can be designed as a drain channel that extends practically only around the tank connection, without protruding noticeably into the tank housing.

[0012] Ideally, the tank drain opening can be sealed to the closing wall with the insertion of a sealing device. The sealing device can be held against the liquid tank or the closing wall.

[0013] Preferably, the sealing device is designed as a molded seal that is materially bonded to the closing wall or to the liquid tank.

[0014] The closing element is advantageously connectable to the tank drain opening by a positive fit and / or a force fit. In such a design, the closing element forms a positive fit and / or a force fit with the tank drain opening when the liquid tank is connected to the housing.

[0015] Preferably, the closing element forms a plug that can be inserted into the tank drain opening when the liquid tank is connected to the housing. The plug thus protrudes into the tank drain opening and closes it when the liquid tank is connected to the housing. When the liquid tank is detached from the housing, the plug releases the tank drain opening, allowing the liquid tank to be easily emptied via the drain opening.

[0016] It is advantageous if the closing element has a closing body on which an elastically deformable sealing element is arranged.

[0017] It is particularly advantageous if the locking element is integrally connected to the locking wall, so that the locking wall, including the locking element, forms a single-piece molded plastic part. The elastically deformable sealing element is arranged on the locking element.

[0018] It is particularly advantageous if the sealing element is bonded to the locking body by a material-bonded connection. For example, the sealing element can be glued to the locking body.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sealing element, together with the closing body, forms a two-component injection-molded part. The closing body can form a hard component of the injection-molded part, and the sealing element can form a soft component. In particular, the sealing element can be made of a rubber-elastic material.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the filling device comprises a connecting piece that can be plugged into the tank connection and that includes the tank emptying opening. The connecting piece is advantageously pluggable into the tank connection and has a sealing ring on its outer surface that can be formed against the inner surface of the tank connection to create a liquid-tight seal.

[0021] It is advantageous if the filling device can be connected to the housing's closing wall in a liquid-tight manner. The liquid-tight connection between the housing and the filling device ensures that any liquid separated from the extracted liquid-air mixture can enter the tank housing via the filling device's filling channel without the risk of unintentional leakage.

[0022] Preferably the filling device has a collar and the closing wall has a pipe socket, wherein the pipe socket can be pluggably connected to the collar with the insertion of a sealing element.

[0023] For example, it may be designed so that the pipe fitting of the closing wall immerses in the collar of the filling device when the liquid tank is connected to the housing. When the liquid tank is detached from the housing, the collar of the filling device releases the pipe fitting of the closing wall.

[0024] The sealing element, which can be positioned between the collar of the filling device and the pipe stub of the closing wall, is advantageously connected to the pipe stub of the closing wall in a material-bonded manner.

[0025] For example, it may be provided that the sealing element is glued to the collar.

[0026] It is particularly advantageous if the closing wall including the pipe stub, together with the sealing element arranged on the pipe stub, forms a two-component injection molded part, wherein the sealing element forms a soft component and the closing wall including the collar forms a hard component of the injection molded part.

[0027] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing of the surface cleaning device comprises an inner housing and an outer housing, wherein the inner housing accommodates the separation device and the suction unit, and the outer housing surrounds the inner housing, and wherein the inner housing includes the closing wall. The provision of an inner housing and an outer housing makes it possible to optimize the external design of the surface cleaning device in order to give it a high-quality appearance without impairing its technical function.To achieve optimal technical performance of the surface cleaning device, the inner housing, which contains the separator and at least the suction unit, can have a shape adapted to the form of the separator and suction unit, meeting the technical requirements and functions of the surface cleaning device. The outer housing, largely independent of these technical requirements and functions, can be optimized to give the surface cleaning device an attractive design and allow the user to easily move it along the surface to be cleaned. The liquid tank is detachably connected to the housing and can be removed for emptying.To tightly seal the tank drain opening of the liquid tank, the inner housing has the closing wall already explained above, which tightly seals the tank drain opening when the liquid tank is connected to the housing.

[0028] The inner housing, together with the separation unit and suction unit positioned within it, can form an assembly that can be mass-produced and pre-assembled cost-effectively. Depending on the requirements for the external design of the surface cleaning device, different outer housings can then be used to surround the inner housing.

[0029] It is advantageous if the inner housing has a first inner housing part and a second inner housing part, wherein the separation device is arranged in the first inner housing part and the suction unit in the second inner housing part, and wherein the two inner housing parts are connectable to each other, in particular detachably connectable.

[0030] For example, it may be provided that the two inner housing parts can be screwed or snapped together.

[0031] In addition to the suction unit, a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention includes an electrical control unit and at least one rechargeable battery in the second inner housing part. In such an embodiment, the inner housing, together with the separation device, the suction unit, the control unit, and the at least one rechargeable battery, forms an assembly that fulfills all the technical requirements and functions of the surface cleaning device and can be tested for compliance with these requirements and functions during the assembly of the surface cleaning device, for example, for leaks.

[0032] It is advantageous if the first inner housing part has the closing wall that tightly seals the tank emptying opening of the liquid tank when it is connected to the housing.

[0033] The closing wall preferably forms a bottom wall of the first inner housing part.

[0034] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first inner housing part has a hood which can be connected to the bottom wall in a liquid-tight manner and together with the bottom wall defines a separation chamber in which the separation device is arranged.

[0035] The separation device can, for example, include a baffle plate. The aspirated liquid-air mixture can impact the baffle plate, whereby liquid is separated from the liquid-air mixture and can then be fed into the liquid tank, while the air can be released into the environment via the suction unit.

[0036] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the outer housing comprises a first outer housing part and a second outer housing part, which together form an outer housing shell that surrounds the inner housing in the circumferential direction.

[0037] It is particularly advantageous if the outer housing has a third outer housing section that covers the underside of the inner housing facing away from the suction nozzle. This third outer housing section can, for example, form a base for the surface cleaning device, allowing it to be placed upright on a surface.

[0038] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the surface cleaning device has a handle that can be grasped by the user to guide the surface cleaning device along the surface to be cleaned.

[0039] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the surface cleaning device forms a portable window cleaning device. For this purpose, the suction nozzle can have at least one squeegee blade, and the window cleaning device can be moved along the surface to be cleaned, in particular along a window pane, in the manner of a manual window squeegee.

[0040] The following description of an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in conjunction with the drawing, serves for further explanation. The drawing shows: Figure 1: a perspective view of an embodiment of a surface cleaning device with a suction nozzle and a liquid tank, which are detachably held on a housing; Figure 2: a perspective view of the surface cleaning device made of Figure 1 , wherein the suction nozzle and the liquid tank are separate from the housing; Figure 3: a sectional view of the surface cleaning device made of Figure 1 , wherein the liquid tank is connected to the housing; Figure 4: an enlarged view of detail X from Figure 3 Figure 5: a sectional view of the surface cleaning device made of Figure 1 , whereby the liquid tank is detached from the housing; Figure 6: an enlarged view of detail Y from Figure 5Figure 7: a perspective view of the liquid tank of the surface cleaning device made of Figure 1 Figure 8: a first perspective view of a filling device for the liquid tank made of Figure 7 Figure 9: a second perspective view of the filling device of the liquid tank made of Figure 7 Figure 10: a perspective exploded view of the housing of the surface cleaning device Figure 1 with an inner housing and a three-part outer housing; Figure 11: a perspective exploded view of the inner housing of the surface cleaning device made of Figure 1 Figure 12: a perspective view of a closing wall of the inner housing of the surface cleaning device made of Figure 1 .

[0041] In the Figures 1 to 12Figure 210 schematically illustrates an advantageous embodiment of a surface cleaning device according to the invention. In this embodiment, the surface cleaning device 210 is designed as a hand-held hard surface cleaning device with which liquid can be extracted from a hard surface, for example, a window pane, a table surface, a tiled wall, or a shower cubicle.

[0042] The surface cleaning device 210 can be moved along the hard surface by the user, similar to a manual window squeegee. The surface cleaning device 210 is, in particular, a portable window cleaning device.

[0043] The surface cleaning device 210 has a housing 212 which forms a base 214 on its underside, so that the surface cleaning device 210 can be kept in an upright position, as is the case particularly in the Figure 1 , 2 , 3 and5 It is shown to be placed on a surface.

[0044] In addition to the housing 212, the surface cleaning device 210 has a suction nozzle 216 and a liquid tank 218, which can be detachably connected to the housing 212.

[0045] The suction nozzle 216 has at its free end, facing away from the housing 212, a first flexible squeegee lip 220 and a second flexible squeegee lip 221, which are held at a suction opening 222. A suction line 224 connects to the suction opening 222, passes through a suction nozzle housing 226, and protrudes from the suction nozzle housing 226 with its end section 228, which faces away from the squeegee lips 220 and 221.

[0046] As can be seen particularly from the Figures 3 , 5 and 10As can be clearly seen, the housing 212 has an outer housing 230 and an inner housing 232. The outer housing 230 is formed by a first outer housing part 234, a second outer housing part 236, and a third outer housing part 238. The first outer housing part 234, in combination with the second outer housing part 236, forms an outer housing shell 240 that completely surrounds the inner housing 232 in the circumferential direction. The third outer housing part 238 forms an outer housing base 242, which forms the base 214 and covers the underside of the inner housing 232.

[0047] The first outer housing part 234 forms a gripping opening 244, and together with the second outer housing part 236, the first outer housing part 234 forms a handle 246 which can be gripped by the user with one hand, allowing him to reach through the gripping opening 244 with his fingers.

[0048] The inner housing 232 comprises a first inner housing part 248 and a second inner housing part 250, which are detachably connected to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the first inner housing part 248 is screwed to the second inner housing part 250.

[0049] The first inner housing part 248 is formed by a hood 252 and a closing wall 254. This is made in particular of Figure 11 Clearly. The hood 252 and the closing wall 254 surround a separation chamber 256 in which a separation device 258 is arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, the separation device 258 is formed by a baffle plate 260.

[0050] The closing wall 254 forms a bottom wall 262 of the first inner housing part 248, which is essentially plate-shaped. In addition to the bottom wall 262, the closing wall 254 forms an air outlet channel 264 projecting into the separation chamber 256, which carries the baffle plate 260 at its end projecting into the separation chamber 256. In the illustrated embodiment, the baffle plate 260 can be locked to the air outlet channel 264. An air inlet opening 270, covered by the baffle plate 260, is arranged between the baffle plate 260 and the air outlet channel 264, through which suction air from the separation chamber 256 can flow into the air outlet channel 264.

[0051] The closing wall 254 also forms a liquid outlet channel 272 in the form of a pipe stub 273, which projects into a tank receptacle 274 bounded by the first outer casing part 234 and the third outer casing part 238. A first sealing element 276 is integrally formed on the pipe stub 273, which surrounds the pipe stub 273 in the circumferential direction.

[0052] In addition to the pipe stub 273, the closing wall 254 has a closing element 278, which forms a plug 280 and has a closing body 282 integrally connected to the pipe stub 273 and completely surrounded by a second sealing element 284. The second sealing element 284 is integrally connected to the first sealing element 276 and, together with the closing body 282, the pipe stub 273, and the remaining area of ​​the closing wall 274, forms a two-component injection-molded part, wherein the closing wall 254, including the pipe stub 273 and the closing body 282, forms a hard component of the injection-molded part, and wherein the two sealing elements 276 and 284 together form a soft component of the injection-molded part.

[0053] The second inner housing part 250 has an inner housing tray 288 and an inner housing cover 290, which accommodate two rechargeable batteries 292, 294, an electrical control unit 296, and an electric motor 298. The electric motor 298 can be inserted into an opening 300 in the inner housing tray 288, which is aligned with the air outlet duct 264 of the first inner housing part 248. Adjoining the opening 300, towards the air outlet duct 264, is a turbine chamber 302, which accommodates a suction turbine 304. The suction turbine 304 can be rotated by the electric motor 298 and, in combination with the electric motor 298, forms a suction unit 306 of the surface cleaning device 210. With the help of the suction unit 306, a suction flow can be achieved starting from the suction opening 222, under the effect of which a mixture of liquid and air can be extracted from a hard surface to be cleaned.The extracted mixture passes through the suction line 224 into the separation chamber 256 and strikes the baffle plate 260, where liquid is separated from the extracted liquid-air mixture. The extracted air can then pass through the air outlet duct 264 to the suction turbine 304 and be released from there into the environment via exhaust openings (not shown in the drawing).

[0054] The separated liquid can flow from the separation chamber 256 via the liquid outlet channel 272 to the liquid tank 218.

[0055] As can be seen particularly from the Figures 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 and 9As can be clearly seen, the liquid tank 218 has a tank housing 310, which forms a hollow body for receiving the separated liquid and has a tank connection 312 that forms a filling nozzle 314. In addition to the tank housing 310, the liquid tank 218 has a filling device 316, which projects into the tank housing 310 and has a filling channel 318, a venting channel 320, and a tank emptying opening 322. The filling channel 318 and the venting channel 320 extend to approximately the middle of the tank housing 310 and have opposite end sections 324, 326, through which the filling channel 318 and the venting channel 320, respectively, open into the tank housing 310.

[0056] The tank draining opening 322 is arranged at the level of the filler neck 314, offset from the filler channel 318 and the vent channel 320, and is designed as a tank draining channel 328, which, like the filler channel 318 and the vent channel 320, extends through a connecting piece 330 of the filling device 318. The connecting piece 330 closes the filler neck 314 and is surrounded by a sealing ring 332, which fits snugly against the inside of the filler neck 314.

[0057] Outside the tank housing 310, a collar 334 of the filling device 316 adjoins the closing wall 254 in the direction of the pipe nozzle 273.

[0058] The liquid tank 218 can be inserted into the tank receptacle 274. In doing so, the pipe stub 273, with the first sealing element 276 interposed, dips into the collar 234 of the filling device 216, the inside of the collar 334 forming a liquid-tight seal against the first sealing element 276. Simultaneously, when the liquid tank 218 is inserted into the tank receptacle 274, the closing element 278 of the closing wall 254 dips into the tank discharge opening 322, thus sealing the tank discharge opening 322 liquid-tight. This is particularly evident from the Figures 3 and 4 clearly.

[0059] During operation of the surface cleaning device 210, a mixture of liquid and air can be drawn into the separation chamber 256 via the suction line 224. This has already been mentioned. The liquid separated by the baffle plate 216 can then flow via the liquid outlet channel 272, in the form of the pipe fitting 273, to the filling channel 318 and from there to the tank housing 310. At the same time, air can escape from the tank housing 310 via the vent channel 320 and can then be extracted from the separation chamber 256 by the suction unit 306.

[0060] If the liquid tank 218 needs to be emptied, the user can remove it from the tank receptacle 274. The closing element 278 then releases the tank emptying opening 322. This is particularly evident from the Figures 5 and 6Clearly, the liquid tank 218, separated from the housing 212, can then be emptied via the tank drain opening 322 without having to disconnect the filling device 316 from the tank housing 310. The emptied liquid tank 218 can then be reinserted into the tank receptacle 274, whereby the tank drain opening 322 is again sealed liquid-tight by the closing element 278 and the pipe nozzle 273 is connected liquid-tight to the collar 334 of the filling device 316.

[0061] The surface cleaning device 210 according to the invention is thus characterized, among other things, by its simple handling, whereby the liquid tank 218 can be emptied in a simple manner.

Claims

1. Surface cleaning appliance having a housing (212) in which a suction assembly (306) for forming a suction flow is arranged, and having a suction nozzle (216) in flow connection with the suction assembly (306) for suctioning a liquid air mixture, and having a separating device (258) for separating liquid out of the suctioned liquid air mixture, and having a liquid tank (218) for accommodating the separated liquid, wherein the liquid tank (218) is releasably held on the housing (212) and can be emptied by way of a tank emptying opening (322), wherein the tank emptying opening (322) is tightly closable by a closing wall (254) of the housing (212) and is freely accessible by releasing the liquid tank (218) from the housing (212), and wherein the closing wall (254) comprises a closing member (278) for closing the tank emptying opening (322), characterized in that the liquid tank (218) comprises a tank housing (310) and a filling device (316), wherein the tank housing (310) comprises a tank connection (312) and the filling device (316) is connectable to the tank connection (312) in a liquid-tight manner, and wherein the filling device (316) comprises a filling channel (318) and a ventilation channel (320), which dip into the tank housing (310), and wherein the filling device (316) comprises the tank emptying opening (322).

2. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in that the tank emptying opening (322) can sealingly abut against the closing wall (254) with the interposition of a sealing device (284).

3. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the closing member (278) is connectable to the tank emptying opening (322) in a positive-locking and / or force-locking manner.

4. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the closing member (278) forms a plug (280), which is insertable into the tank emptying opening (322) when connecting the liquid tank (218) to the housing (212).

5. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the closing member (278) comprises a closing body (282) on which an elastically deformable sealing element (284) is arranged.

6. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 5, characterized in that the sealing element (284) is materially bonded to the closing body (282).

7. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the filling device (316) comprises a connection piece (330), which is connectable to the tank connection (312) in a pluggable manner and which comprises the tank emptying opening (322).

8. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the filling device (316) is connectable to the closing wall (278) of the housing (212) in a liquid-tight manner.

9. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 8, characterized in that the filling device (316) comprises a collar (334) and the closing wall (278) comprises a pipe connection piece (273), which is connectable to the collar (334) in a pluggable manner with the interposition of a sealing element (276).

10. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 9, characterized in that the sealing element (276) is materially bonded to the pipe connection piece (273).

11. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the housing (212) comprises an inner housing (232) and an outer housing (230), wherein the inner housing (232) accommodates the separating device (258) and the suction assembly (303) and the outer housing (230) surrounds the inner housing (232), and wherein the inner housing (232) comprises the closing wall (254).

12. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 11, characterized in that the inner housing (232) comprises a first inner housing part (248) in which the separating device (258) is arranged, and comprises a second inner housing part (250) in which the suction assembly (306) is arranged and which is connectable to the first inner housing part (248).

13. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 12, characterized in that an electrical control device (296) and at least one rechargeable battery (292, 294) are arranged in the second inner housing part (250).

14. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the first inner housing part (248) comprises the closing wall (254).

15. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 14, characterized in that the closing wall (254) forms a base wall (262) of the first inner housing part (248).

16. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with Claim 15, characterized in that the first inner housing part (248) comprises a hood (252), which is connectable to the base wall (262) in a liquid-tight manner and which together with the base wall (262) forms a separation chamber (256), in which the separating device (258) is arranged.

17. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the surface cleaning appliance (210) comprises a handle (246), which can be grasped by the user.

18. Surface cleaning appliance in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the surface cleaning appliance (210) is configured as a portable window cleaning appliance.

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