U.S. patent application number 12/231643 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Horst Dilger, Dieter Kaffenberger, Klaus-Dieter Riehl.
Application Number | 20100050373 12/231643 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41723189 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100050373 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kaffenberger; Dieter ; et
al. |
March 4, 2010 |
Suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner has a housing, a vacuum
mouth disposed on the floor side in the housing, a cleaning roller
mounted to rotate in the housing and driven by an electric motor,
and a rechargeable battery unit for the energy supply of the
electric motor. Via a rear connecting piece, the suction nozzle can
be connected to a suction tube or a suction hose of a vacuum
cleaner. The electric motor has a rated power of between 50 and
watts, and the rechargeable battery unit has an energy density,
relative to its total volume, of more than 200 watt-hours per liter
(Wh/L).
Inventors: |
Kaffenberger; Dieter;
(Wiehl, DE) ; Dilger; Horst; (Morsbach, DE)
; Riehl; Klaus-Dieter; (Drolshagen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ROSLYN
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
41723189 |
Appl. No.: |
12/231643 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/383 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/10 20130101;
A47L 9/0411 20130101; H01M 10/052 20130101; H01M 50/20
20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/383 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/26 20060101
A47L005/26 |
Claims
1. A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a housing; a
vacuum mouth disposed on a floor side in the housing; a cleaning
roller mounted to rotate in the housing and driven by an electric
motor; a rechargeable battery unit for supplying energy to the
electric motor; and a rear connecting piece for connecting the
housing to a suction tube or a suction hose of the vacuum cleaner,
wherein the electric motor has a rated power of between 50 and 150
W (watts) and the rechargeable battery unit has an energy density,
relative to its total volume, of more than 200 Wh/L (watt-hours per
liter).
2. The suction nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the
rechargeable battery unit contains at least one battery selected
from the group consisting of a lithium-ion rechargeable battery, a
lithium-polymer rechargeable battery, a lithium/manganese dioxide
rechargeable battery, a lithium-nanophosphate rechargeable battery,
and a lithium/lithium cobalt oxide rechargeable battery.
3. The suction nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the
rechargeable battery unit is provided with at least one
rechargeable battery that has a non-tubular outer contour and that
is matched to a shape of an installation space present in the
housing.
4. The suction nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the
rechargeable battery unit has rechargeable batteries which are
shaped differently from each other and which are disposed
separately at locations spaced apart from one another.
5. The suction nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the energy
capacity of the rechargeable battery unit and the rated power of
the electric motor are matched to one another, in such a manner
that operating time on one rechargeable battery charge is longer
than 30 minutes, regardless of the type of floor covering.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a suction nozzle for a vacuum
cleaner, having a housing, a vacuum mouth disposed on the floor
side in the housing, a cleaning roller mounted to rotate in the
housing and driven by an electric motor, and a rechargeable battery
unit for the energy supply of the electric motor. Via a rear
connecting piece, the suction nozzle can be connected to a suction
tube or a suction hose of a vacuum cleaner. Cleaning of a floor
covering takes place particularly effectively, at the suction
nozzle, because of a combination of the intake air flow passing
through the suction nozzle and the movement of the cleaning roller.
Since the suction nozzle is equipped with the rechargeable battery
unit as an energy supply, connection to an external voltage source
is not necessary during operation, and so the suction nozzle can be
used and handled flexibly.
[0003] 2. The Prior Art
[0004] Suction nozzles having the features described above are
known from German Patent Nos. DE 3900577 A1 and DE 29802879 U1, and
in various embodiments from practice. Because of the usual design
criteria, these suction nozzles, which have a rechargeable battery
unit as the energy supply, are equipped with relatively weak drive
motors having an electric power of at most 30 watts, in contrast to
suction nozzles that have a cleaning roller and are connected to an
external voltage source. Decisive factors in the design of the
suction nozzle include not only the costs for the electric motor
and the rechargeable battery unit, but, in particular, the weight,
reliability and overall volume of the suction nozzle. In this
connection, the intake air flow contributes decisively to the
cleaning effect of the known suction nozzles and is supported only
to some extent by the cleaning roller. Thus, in the case of the
known suction nozzles having a cleaning roller driven by a
rechargeable battery, the air power at the suction nozzle is
typically much greater than the electric power of the electric
motor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
suction nozzle that exhibits improved cleaning properties, and is
easy to handle.
[0006] This object is achieved, according to the invention, in that
the electric motor has a rated power of between 50 and 150 watts,
and the rechargeable battery unit, relative to its total volume,
has an energy density of more than 200 watt-hours per liter. The
invention is based on the recognition that the synergy effects of
the electrically driven cleaning roller, on the one hand, and of
the intake air flow, on the other hand, are not optimally utilized
in the known suction nozzles of the type in question. Because the
rated power of the electric motor is at least 50 watts and
preferably between 80 and 150 watts, very reliable and thorough
cleaning of different textile floor coverings is possible. The
cleaning roller is typically provided with helical brush strips,
which are disposed around the circumference. As an additional or
alternative example, however, lamellae made of an elastic material
may also be provided. Because of the high electric power of the
nozzle according to the invention, the depth of penetration of the
cleaning elements of the roller brush can also be increased.
Because of the high energy density of the rechargeable battery
unit, in excess of 200 Wh/L, the improvement in cleaning ability is
also accompanied by a compact structure and by good ease of
handling of the suction nozzle.
[0007] Preferably, the energy capacity of the rechargeable battery
unit is greater than 40 Wh (watt-hours), and particularly
preferably, the energy capacity is between 50 Wh and 100 Wh. The
suction nozzle according to the invention is suitable for cleaning
almost all commercially available floor coverings, and effective
cleaning can be achieved, in particular, on carpets and carpeted
floors. Only extremely deep-pile carpets, whose fibers may become
entangled in the cleaning roller, are not suitable for being
cleaned with the suction nozzle according to the invention. The
electric motor and the energy capacity of the rechargeable battery
unit are preferably matched to one another, in such a way that an
operating time of at least 30 minutes per rechargeable battery
charge is assured, regardless of the type of floor covering to be
cleaned with the suction nozzle. A sufficiently long operating time
means that interruption for charging or replacing the rechargeable
battery unit can be avoided during typical use of the suction
nozzle in private homes. For the preferred use in private homes, an
operating time of longer than one hour is not needed, in most
cases, and so the maximum operating time achievable with one
rechargeable battery charge should typically be between 30 minutes
and one hour. Besides the total weight, which in the operative
condition of the suction nozzle is preferably less than 2.5 kg and
particularly preferably less than 1.5 kg, a uniform weight
distribution is desirable from the viewpoint of easy handling. For
example, the electric motor and the rechargeable battery unit may
be disposed on opposite sides of the housing, in order to balance
the suction nozzle.
[0008] The rechargeable battery unit may also be provided with
differently shaped rechargeable batteries, which are disposed
separately at locations spaced apart from one another. Particularly
effective use of the available installation space, and particularly
uniform weight distribution are possible by such a configuration of
the rechargeable battery unit.
[0009] Within the scope of the invention, the rechargeable battery
unit can be disposed in a fixed or movable manner, on or in the
housing. For example, the rechargeable battery unit can be pushed
into the housing or fastened to an external holder. In this regard,
an exchangeable configuration permits simple replacement of a
defective or discharged rechargeable battery unit by a charged
replacement unit kept in readiness, and the operating time can also
be prolonged without difficulty, if necessary. With an exchangeable
configuration of the rechargeable battery unit, charging in an
external charging station is possible. Even with an exchangeable
configuration of the rechargeable battery unit, charging without
separation from the suction nozzle can also be possible during an
idle period. Depending on the configuration of the suction nozzle,
the housing or the rechargeable battery unit is provided with a
readily accessible charging connection. Finally, a holder that
simultaneously functions as a charging station can also be provided
for the suction nozzle, as an accessory.
[0010] The electric motor is typically coupled with the cleaning
roller via a gear mechanism, such as a belt or a toothed-gear
arrangement. In principle, however, a direct drive in a coaxial
arrangement is also conceivable, in which case the electric motor
is disposed at one end of the cleaning roller or integrated into
the cleaning roller. Preferably, an electronic control for
controlling the speed and/or torque of the electric motor is also
provided. For example, the forces acting on the cleaning roller can
depend very greatly on the surface to be cleaned, and increased
friction can occur, for example, in the case of a deep-pile
carpeted floor. Speed and/or torque control can take place in
response to the instrumentally determined electric current
intensity, the signals of sensors of the suction nozzle, and/or in
response to manual inputs. For example, sensors that determine the
floor composition or the degree of dirtiness can be provided on the
underside of the housing of the suction nozzle. An array of
switches could also be provided on the upper side of the housing,
thus allowing a user to select various modes of operation.
[0011] In one embodiment, the rechargeable battery unit is based on
a lithium-ion system. In this case, the rechargeable battery unit
can be formed from at least one lithium-ion rechargeable battery,
one lithium-polymer rechargeable battery, one lithium/manganese
dioxide rechargeable battery, or one lithium/lithium cobalt oxide
rechargeable battery. The cell structure of the lithium-polymer
rechargeable batteries permits the manufacture of thin film
batteries, and so lithium-polymer rechargeable batteries can be
manufactured in almost any desired shapes, and, in particular, even
in irregular shapes. Lithium-polymer rechargeable batteries can
fill irregular interstices, and thus make optimal use of space.
Lithium/manganese dioxide rechargeable batteries have particularly
high operating safety, and so special protective circuits are not
absolutely necessary. Furthermore, lithium/manganese dioxide
rechargeable batteries can be manufactured inexpensively, and they
do not contain any heavy metals, and thus can be handled with
relatively few problems during disposal and in the event of
defects.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the
rechargeable battery unit is based on a lithium-ion system, the
rechargeable battery unit can be provided with a rechargeable
battery having an electrode whose surface is configured as a
nanostructure, in which case the surface area is increased by a
factor of 5, and preferably at least by a factor of 10, compared
with a smooth surface. The maximum charging and discharge current
is determined essentially by the surface area of the electrode.
Because of the increase in surface area due to nanostructuring,
very large charging and discharge currents can be achieved even
with a rechargeable battery having a large capacity and a
correspondingly large amount of electrochemically active material.
Regarding a suction nozzle, for example, rapid charging can be
achieved in a very short time interval of typically less than 10
minutes, and preferably less than 5 minutes. Furthermore, an
elevated discharge current can also be drawn for a short time, for
example to clean a very dirty floor section. With a rechargeable
battery having a nanostructured electrode, this battery can be
designed, for example, as a lithium-nanophosphate rechargeable
battery.
[0013] For optimal use of space, the rechargeable battery unit may
be provided with a rechargeable battery that has an outer contour
different from tubular batteries. The outer contour is matched to
the shape of the installation space present in the housing. In
contrast to conventional tubular rechargeable batteries, the
described configuration permits the rechargeable batteries to be
disposed in otherwise unused interstices, whereby the use of volume
is improved and the outside dimensions of the suction nozzle can be
decreased. Furthermore, it is known from portable devices used in
the field of entertainment electronics and equipped with
lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, that the use of a replacement
rechargeable battery that is not matched precisely to the charging
electronics can cause destruction of the rechargeable battery and
of the device itself. In extreme cases, the rechargeable battery
may explode or catch fire. By virtue of an irregular,
non-standardized geometry of the rechargeable battery unit and of
the associated housing space, the use of unauthorized replacement
rechargeable batteries can be largely precluded.
[0014] In addition to the described measures, the suction nozzle
can also be optimized in terms of flow technology. For this
purpose, continuous transitions can be provided along the flow path
of the intake air, in order to reduce turbulence and friction.
Furthermore, the vacuum power can also be increased by minimizing
the proportion of leakage air, which enters not through the vacuum
mouth but through gaps and crevices in the housing. For this
purpose, it is possible, for example, to provide housing gaskets
between parts of the housing, or sealing lips or sealing strips at
articulated joints. A connecting piece at the rear side of the
suction nozzle is typically connected to the housing via an
articulated joint. To prevent leakage air from entering at this
articulated joint, the intake air path inside the articulated joint
can be bridged by inserting a flexible, airtight suction hose.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
[0016] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote
similar elements throughout the several views:
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a suction nozzle according to the invention;
and
[0018] FIG. 2 shows the suction nozzle parked in a charging
station, and connected to a vacuum cleaner for floors.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a
suction nozzle 1 according to the invention, for a vacuum cleaner
2, having a housing 3, a vacuum mouth 4 disposed on the floor side
in the housing 3, a cleaning roller 6 mounted to rotate in the
housing 3 and driven by an electric motor 5, and a rechargeable
battery unit 8 comprising two rechargeable batteries 7a, 7b for the
energy supply of electric motor 5. Electric motor 5 has a rated
power of between 50 watts and 150 watts. The rechargeable battery
unit formed from a large first rechargeable battery 7a and a small
second rechargeable battery 7b has an energy density of more than
200 Wh/L (watt-hours per liter) relative to its total volume, and
so it has an energy capacity of more than 40 watt-hours and
preferably between 50 watt-hours and 100 watt-hours, despite its
compact construction. With rechargeable battery unit 8, suction
nozzle 1 can be operated for longer than 30 minutes on one
rechargeable battery charge, regardless of the type of floor
covering. Rechargeable batteries 7a, 7b are based on a lithium-ion
system. Suitable examples are lithium-ion rechargeable batteries,
lithium-polymer rechargeable batteries, lithium/manganese dioxide
rechargeable batteries, lithium-nanophosphate rechargeable
batteries, or lithium/lithium cobalt oxide rechargeable
batteries.
[0020] Rechargeable batteries 7a, 7b of rechargeable battery unit 8
are inserted exchangeably into housing 3, from the rear, and first
large rechargeable battery 7a is disposed on one side of the
housing and of electric motor 5, while the second smaller
rechargeable battery 7b as well as an electronic controller 9 are
disposed on the other side of the housing. A uniform weight
distribution is achieved by such a configuration. Furthermore, a
total weight of less than 1.5 kg for suction nozzle 1 contributes
to the ease of handling. Electronic control 9, which can also be
connected to sensors of suction nozzle 1, is used to control the
speed and torque of electric motor 5. Electric motor 5 is coupled
to cleaning roller 6 via a toothed belt 10. Cleaning roller 6 is
designed as a roller brush having brush strips 11 disposed
helically around the circumference.
[0021] In order also to optimize the cleaning effect of the intake
air, an optimally streamlined air path having continuous flow
transitions is provided inside suction nozzle 1. Furthermore, to
minimize the proportion of leakage air, a housing gasket 14 is
provided between an upper part 12 and a lower part 13 of housing 3,
while a flexible suction hose 16 is provided in the region of the
tiltable connection between housing 3 and a suction-tube connection
15.
[0022] The exchangeable configuration of the rechargeable battery
unit 8, comprising two rechargeable batteries 7a, 7b, makes it
possible, in principle, to remove rechargeable batteries 7a, 7b for
charging or, in particularly simple manner, even to replace them
with corresponding replacement rechargeable batteries. Preferably,
however, rechargeable battery unit 8 can be charged during an idle
period, without being separated from suction nozzle 1. FIG. 2 shows
suction nozzle 1 parked in a charging station 17 during an idle
period, but still connected to a vacuum cleaner 2 via a suction
tube 18. When vacuum cleaner 2 is not in use, suction nozzle 1 is
stored in charging station 17, so that recharging and maintenance
charging of the rechargeable battery unit 8 by means of charging
electronics takes place in the charging station 17. By storing
suction nozzle 1 in charging station 17, it is always possible to
ensure a full charge, and, additionally, also a long service life
of rechargeable battery unit 8.
[0023] Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many
changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *