CN114766967B

CN114766967B - Surface cleaner

Info

Publication number: CN114766967B
Application number: CN202210293470.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 托马斯·罗比厄; 菲利波·科斯塔; 于尔根·祖格尔; 马蒂亚斯·克里格; 汉内斯·贝尔茨; 海科·施耐德
Original assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2017-09-13
Filing date: 2018-02-26
Publication date: 2024-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-26
Also published as: WO2019052692A1; EP3681361B1; CN111093449A; CN114766967A; EP3681361A1; EP4201282A3; EP4201282A2; CN111093449B; DE102017121208A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surface cleaner, which has: a housing in which a suction unit is arranged for forming a suction flow; and having a suction nozzle in flow connection with the suction unit for sucking the liquid-air mixture; and having a separating device for separating liquid from the liquid-air mixture sucked up and having a liquid reservoir for containing the liquid to be separated, wherein the liquid reservoir is detachably held on the housing and can be emptied via a tank emptying opening. In order to improve the surface cleaner in such a way that the liquid reservoir can be emptied in a simple manner without the risk of liquid escaping from the liquid reservoir during subsequent operation of the surface cleaner, it is provided according to the invention that the reservoir emptying opening can be sealed off hermetically by the closing wall of the housing and can be freely accessed by removing the liquid reservoir from the housing.

Description

Surface cleaner

The present application is a divisional application of a chinese patent application of PCT application number PCT/EP2018/054674, national application number 201880059317.9, entitled "surface cleaner", filed on 26 months of 2018, and entering the national stage of china on 12 months of 2020, 3.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a surface cleaner having: a housing in which a suction unit is arranged for forming a suction flow; and having a suction nozzle in flow connection with the suction unit for sucking the liquid-air mixture; and having separation means for separating liquid from the sucked liquid; and having a reservoir for containing the liquid to be separated, wherein the reservoir is removably retained on the housing and is capable of being emptied via a tank emptying opening.

Background

By means of such a surface cleaner, surfaces, such as floor surfaces, tiled wall surfaces, table tops or glass surfaces, in particular window panes, can be cleaned.

The surface cleaner can be guided along a surface to be cleaned and has a housing in which a suction unit is arranged for creating a suction flow. The suction unit is in fluid connection with the suction nozzle, so that, for example, a mixture of liquid and air can be sucked from the surface to be cleaned or from a cleaning element of the surface cleaner which is in contact with the surface. For example, a cleaning roller, a cleaning pad, or a cleaning fabric may be used as the cleaning member. The liquid can be separated from the sucked-up liquid-air mixture by means of a separation device. The sucked air may flow to the suction unit and be discharged from the suction unit to the surroundings via the at least one exhaust opening, while the separated liquid may be collected in a liquid reservoir. The liquid storage tank may be separated from the housing and emptied via a tank emptying opening.

Surface cleaners of the aforementioned type are known from WO 2017/108090 A1. In this surface cleaner, the liquid reservoir has a reservoir housing and a filling device and is removable from the housing, and in order to empty the liquid reservoir, the filling device must be removed from the reservoir housing. This makes it difficult to operate the surface cleaner when draining the reservoir.

WO 2015/007427 A1 discloses a surface cleaner, in which the reservoir has a reservoir drain opening in a wall section remote from the housing, which can be closed by a plug. In order to empty the reservoir, the user must remove the plug from the reservoir drain opening, and after draining the reservoir, the user must notice that the user has to re-close the reservoir drain opening with the plug, otherwise there is a risk of liquid escaping from the reservoir during use of the surface cleaner.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to develop a surface cleaner of the type mentioned at the outset such that it can be emptied in a simple manner without the risk of liquid escaping from the reservoir during the subsequent operation of the surface cleaner.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a surface cleaner of the generic type in that the tank drain opening is sealed off by a closure wall of the housing and is freely accessible by removing the liquid reservoir from the housing.

The concept incorporated in the present invention is that it is simplified for the user to empty the reservoir by allowing the reservoir to be emptied via a reservoir drain opening which is sealingly closed by the closing wall of the housing once the reservoir is connected to the housing. If the liquid reservoir is separated from the housing, the tank drain opening is no longer closed by the closing wall of the housing, but rather the tank drain opening is freely accessible and open, so that the tank can be drained via the tank drain opening. After the draining, the user can connect the reservoir again to the housing, and this results in the reservoir draining opening again being hermetically closed. Thus, it is very simple for the user to empty the reservoir without the risk that liquid may escape from the reservoir during subsequent operation of the surface cleaner after the reservoir is empty.

Advantageously, the tank emptying opening can bear sealingly against the closing wall with a sealing device interposed. The sealing means may be retained on the reservoir or on the closure wall.

Preferably, the sealing device is designed as a molded seal, which is connected to the closing wall or the reservoir in a material-locking manner.

The liquid reservoir advantageously forms a liquid collecting device which can be connected to the housing in a detachable manner together with the separating device, wherein the separating device has a cover which covers the tank opening of the liquid reservoir and has a tank emptying opening. In this embodiment of the invention, the reservoir in combination with the separating device forms an integrally detachable structural unit in the form of a liquid collecting device which is designed to separate and collect liquid from the sucked liquid/air mixture. The separation of the liquid from the sucked liquid-air mixture takes place with the use of a separation device and the separated liquid is collected in a liquid reservoir. The liquid storage tank has a tank opening that is covered by a covering portion of the separation device. The cover has a canister drain opening. For emptying the reservoir, the reservoir can be detached from the housing together with the separating device, which results in free access to a reservoir emptying opening arranged on the cover, so that the reservoir can be emptied via the reservoir emptying opening without removing additional closing elements, such as plugs. After the reservoir has been emptied, it can be connected again with the housing together with the separating device. This results in the tank emptying opening being hermetically closed by the closing wall of the housing.

Advantageously, the liquid collection device can be snapped in a detachable manner with the housing.

Advantageously, the separating device has a separating unit which is held on the cover and which is immersed in the reservoir, wherein liquid can be separated from the sucked-up liquid-air mixture by means of the separating unit. In this embodiment of the invention, the separation of the liquid takes place in a reservoir. For this purpose, a separation unit immersed in the liquid storage tank is held on a cover portion that covers the opening of the tank. The suction flow caused by the suction unit passes through the separation unit and the reservoir.

The tank emptying openings are advantageously arranged offset with respect to the separation unit.

Preferably, the separation unit has an inlet channel for the sucked liquid-air mixture, at least one flow diverting element for diverting the liquid-air mixture and an air outlet channel for discharging the sucked air to the suction unit, wherein an inlet opening into the inlet channel and an air outlet opening into the air outlet channel are arranged on the cover, wherein the inlet opening is in flow connection with the suction nozzle via the suction line, and wherein the air outlet opening is in flow connection with the suction unit via the air outlet line. In this embodiment of the invention, the cover of the separating device has an inlet opening and an air outlet opening in addition to the tank emptying opening. The inlet opening is in flow connection with the suction nozzle via a suction line, and an inlet channel immersed into the reservoir is coupled with the inlet opening. The air outlet opening is in flow connection with the suction unit via an air outlet line. Inside the reservoir, the air exit channel is located in front of the air exit opening. The sucked-up liquid-air mixture can thus be sucked out of the suction nozzle into the inlet channel via the suction line and the inlet opening. Downstream of the inlet channel with respect to the suction flow, the separation unit has at least one flow diverting element with which the liquid-air mixture is diverted. This results in the liquid being separated on the flow diverting element and collected in the reservoir. The air can then reach the suction unit via the air exit channel, the air exit opening and the air exit line and be discharged from the suction unit to the surroundings via the at least one exhaust opening.

Preferably, the separation unit has an inner tube and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube in the circumferential direction to form an annular space, wherein the inlet passage and the air outlet passage are arranged in the inner tube and the annular space is arranged downstream of the at least one flow diverting element and forms a swirl chamber. In this embodiment, the separation of the liquid from the sucked-up liquid-air mixture takes place in several stages. The liquid-air mixture reaches the at least one flow diversion element via the inlet channel, on which the liquid is separated off as described above. Downstream of the flow diverting element, droplets that may still be entrained by the air may be separated in an annular space that constitutes a swirling chamber, swirling the air and thereby reliably separating the droplets from the air. Subsequently, air may be sucked up via the air exit channel. The separation unit has a very compact design, since the air outlet channel is arranged together with the inlet channel in the inner tube of the separation unit such that the inner tube of the separation unit is surrounded by the outer tube to form an annular space.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the annular space surrounding the inner tube has an annular space inlet arranged downstream of the at least one flow diverting element and at least one annular space outlet opening into the exit channel.

Advantageously, the at least one annular space outlet opens into the exit channel in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the exit channel. This supports vortex formation inside the annular space.

Preferably, the annular space has two annular space outlets arranged offset from each other in the circumferential direction.

In particular, it can be provided that the two annular space outlets are diametrically opposite one another.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the annular space inlet opens into the annular space in the axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the outlet channel.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flow diverting element is arranged on the end of the inlet channel remote from the cover. In this embodiment of the invention, the sucked-up liquid-air mixture impinges on the flow diverting element on the end of the inlet channel remote from the cover, on which the liquid-air mixture is diverted, so that the liquid is separated.

The flow diverting element arranged on the end of the inlet channel remote from the cover is preferably designed as a hollow body which is configured with a hollow body inlet line arranged in alignment with the inlet channel and with at least one hollow body outlet line oriented at an angle to the hollow body inlet line. The suction flow caused by the suction unit flows through the hollow body inlet line and the at least one hollow body outlet line, wherein the suction flow undergoes a diversion for separating the liquid.

Advantageously, the hollow body has two hollow body exit lines remote from each other.

Advantageously, the at least one hollow body exit line is oriented perpendicular to the hollow body entry line. In this embodiment, the suction flow is deflected by 90 ° when it is transferred from the hollow body inlet line to the hollow body outlet line, so that a particularly effective separation of the liquid from the sucked-up liquid-air mixture results.

As already mentioned, the separation unit held on the cover preferably has an outer tube and an inner tube. In this case, it is advantageous if the outer tube is longer than the inner tube, wherein the at least one hollow body exit line passes through the outer tube in an end section protruding from the inner tube. The outer tube held on the cover thus extends away from the cover beyond the at least one hollow body away from the line. The outer tube may have an opening on its end side facing away from the cover, through which the suction flow can reach into the outer tube. In the region between the at least one hollow body exit line and the opening of the end face of the outer tube, the suction flow can undergo a further deflection, which supports the separation of the liquid.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a further improved separation effect is achieved in that the flow cross section of the outer tube decreases with increasing axial distance from the end of the inner tube.

In order to avoid that liquid can enter the outer tube from the reservoir via the end-side opening when the surface cleaner is moved along the surface to be cleaned, in particular when the speed or direction changes suddenly, a protective cover is arranged on the end of the outer tube remote from the cover in an advantageous embodiment of the invention. The shield constitutes an anti-flooding protector that prevents liquid from entering the outer tube.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the closing wall of the housing has a closing element for closing the tank drain opening, which closing wall sealingly closes the tank drain opening of the liquid storage tank when the liquid storage tank is connected to the housing. The closing element advantageously matches the shape of the tank emptying opening. By matching the closing element to the shape of the tank discharge opening, it is ensured in a structurally simple manner that the closing wall can sealingly close the tank discharge opening.

The closed ring is connected to the tank drain opening in an energy-saving, advantageously form-locking (formschiussig) and/or force-locking (kraftschiussig) manner. In this embodiment, the closing element forms a form-and/or force-locking connection with the tank opening when the tank is connected to the housing.

Preferably, the closure element forms a plug which can be inserted into the tank drain opening when the reservoir is connected to the housing. Thus, when the reservoir is connected to the housing, the plug extends into and closes the canister drain opening. If the reservoir is detached from the housing, the plug will release the tank drain opening, so that the reservoir can be drained via the tank drain opening in a simple manner.

Advantageously, the closing element has a closing body on which the elastically deformable sealing element is arranged.

It is particularly advantageous if the closure body is connected to the closure wall in one piece, so that the closure wall, including the closure body, forms a one-piece plastic molding. An elastically deformable sealing element is arranged on the closure body.

It is particularly advantageous if the sealing element is connected to the closure body in a material-locking manner. The sealing element can be glued to the closure body, for example.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sealing element together with the closure body forms an injection molded part having two parts. The closure body may form a hard part of the injection molded part, while the sealing element may form a soft part of the injection molded part. In particular, the sealing element may be composed of a rubber-elastic material.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the liquid reservoir has a reservoir housing and a filling device, wherein the reservoir housing has a reservoir connection and the filling device can be connected to the reservoir connection in a liquid-tight manner, and wherein the filling device has a filling channel and a vent channel immersed in the reservoir housing. And wherein the filling device has a tank drain opening through which the liquid storage tank can drain after being detached from the housing. The liquid separated from the sucked-up liquid-air mixture can pass via the filling channel into the tank housing of the liquid reservoir, wherein the air located in the tank housing can be discharged simultaneously via the exhaust channel. After the liquid storage tank has been detached from the housing, the tank housing can be emptied via the tank emptying opening of the filling device without the filling device having to be separated from the tank housing for this purpose.

The filling channel and the venting channel sink into the tank housing such that their end regions remote from the tank connection are spaced apart from the tank connection. In contrast, the tank drain opening can be designed in the manner of a tank drain channel which actually extends only in the region of the tank connection opening and does not protrude significantly into the tank housing.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the filling device has a connecting piece which can be connected to the can connection in a plug-type manner and which has a can drain opening. The connecting piece can advantageously be inserted into the tank connection and carries on its outer side a sealing ring which can be brought into abutment in a fluid-tight manner against the inner side of the tank connection.

Advantageously, the filling device can be connected in a fluid-tight manner to the closing wall of the housing. The liquid-tight connection between the housing and the filling device ensures that liquid separated from the sucked-up liquid-air mixture can reach the tank housing via the filling channel of the filling device without the risk of liquid leaking out accidentally.

Preferably, the filling device has a flange and the closing wall has a connecting piece, wherein the connecting piece can be connected to the flange in a plug-type manner with the sealing element interposed therebetween.

For example, it can be provided that the connecting piece of the closing wall is immersed in the collar of the filling device when the reservoir is connected to the housing. If the reservoir is detached from the housing, the flange of the filling device will release the nipple of the closing wall.

The sealing element which can be positioned between the flange of the filling device and the connecting piece of the closure wall is advantageously connected in a material-locking manner to the connecting piece of the closure wall.

For example, it may be provided that the sealing element is bonded to the flange.

It is particularly advantageous if the closure wall, including the connecting piece, together with the sealing element arranged on the connecting piece forms an injection molded part having two parts, wherein the sealing element forms a soft part and the closure wall, including the flange, forms a hard part of the injection molded part.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing of the surface cleaner has an inner housing and an outer housing, wherein the inner housing accommodates the separating device and the suction unit and the outer housing encloses the inner housing, and wherein the inner housing has a closing wall. The provision of the inner and outer housings enables an optimised exterior design of the surface cleaner in order to give the surface cleaner a high quality appearance without thereby compromising the technical function of the surface cleaner. In order to achieve the best technical function of the surface cleaner, the inner housing, which accommodates the separating means and at least also the suction unit, can have a shape that matches the shape of the separating means and the suction unit, which meets the technical requirements and functions of the surface cleaner, while the outer housing can be optimized largely independently of these technical requirements and functions in such a way that the surface cleaner has an attractive shape configuration and can be moved by the user along the surface to be cleaned in a simple manner. The reservoir is removably attachable to the housing and removable from the housing for emptying. In order to sealingly close the tank drain opening of the tank, the inner housing has a closing wall as already described above, which sealingly closes the tank drain opening when the tank is connected to the housing.

The inner housing together with the separating device positioned in the inner housing and the suction unit positioned in the inner housing can form a structural assembly which can be produced and preloaded in large quantities at low cost. Depending on the requirements of the shape design of the exterior of the surface cleaner, a different outer housing surrounding the inner housing may then be used.

Advantageously, the inner housing has a first inner housing part and a second inner housing part, wherein the separating device is arranged in the first inner housing part and the suction unit is arranged in the second inner housing part, and wherein the two inner housing parts can be connected to one another, in particular can be connected in a detachable manner.

For example, it can be provided that the two inner housing parts can be screwed or snapped onto one another.

In addition to the suction unit, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, an electrical control device and at least one rechargeable battery are arranged in the second inner housing part. In this embodiment, the inner housing, together with the separating device, the suction unit, the control device and the at least one rechargeable battery, forms a structural component which meets all technical requirements and functions of the surface cleaner and which can be tested for, for example, tightness when the surface cleaner is installed.

Advantageously, the first inner housing part has a closing wall which sealingly closes a tank drain opening of the liquid tank when the liquid tank is connected to the housing.

The closing wall preferably constitutes the bottom wall of the first inner housing part.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first inner housing part has a cap which can be connected in a fluid-tight manner to the bottom wall and which delimits, together with the bottom wall, a separation chamber in which the separation device is arranged.

The separating device may, for example, have a baffle. The sucked-up liquid-air mixture impinges on a baffle, from which liquid is separated, which can then be fed to a liquid reservoir, while air can be discharged to the surroundings by means of a suction unit.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the outer housing has a first outer housing part and a second outer housing part, which together form an outer housing jacket, which surrounds the inner housing in the circumferential direction.

It is particularly advantageous if the outer housing has a third outer housing part which covers the underside of the inner housing facing away from the suction nozzle. The third outer housing part may for example constitute a standing surface for the surface cleaner, so that the surface cleaner can stand in an upright position on the standing surface.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the surface cleaner has a handle which can be gripped by a user in order to guide the surface cleaner along the surface to be cleaned.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the surface cleaner forms a portable window wiper. For this purpose, the suction nozzle may have at least one wiper lip, and the window wiper may be moved in the manner of a manual window wiper along the surface to be cleaned, in particular along the window pane.

Drawings

The following description of two advantageous embodiments of the invention is provided in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

fig. 1: a side view of a first embodiment of a surface cleaner having a suction nozzle removably retained on a housing and a liquid collection apparatus is shown;

fig. 2: a cross-sectional view of the surface cleaner is shown along line 2-2 in fig. 1;

fig. 3: a side view of the surface cleaner of fig. 1 is shown with the liquid collection apparatus removed from the housing;

fig. 4: showing a side view of the liquid collection device;

fig. 5: a perspective view of the liquid collection device is shown in an exploded view;

fig. 6: showing a side view of the separation device of the liquid collection apparatus;

fig. 7: a cross-sectional view of the separation device is shown along line 7-7 in fig. 6;

Fig. 8: a cross-sectional view of the separation device is shown along line 8-8 in fig. 7;

fig. 9: a cross-sectional view of the separation device is shown along line 9-9 in fig. 6;

fig. 10: a perspective view of a second embodiment of a surface cleaner having a suction nozzle and a reservoir removably retained on a housing;

fig. 11: a perspective view of the surface cleaner of fig. 10 is shown with the suction nozzle and reservoir separated from the housing;

fig. 12: a cross-sectional view of the surface cleaner of fig. 10 is shown with the reservoir connected to the housing;

fig. 13: an enlarged view showing detail X of fig. 12;

fig. 14: a cross-sectional view of the surface cleaner of fig. 10 is shown with the reservoir removed from the housing;

fig. 15: an enlarged view showing detail Y of fig. 15;

fig. 16: showing a perspective view of the reservoir of the surface cleaner of fig. 10;

fig. 17: a first perspective view of the filling device of the fluid reservoir of fig. 16 is shown;

fig. 18: a second perspective view showing a filling device of the liquid storage tank of fig. 16;

fig. 19: a perspective view of the housing of the surface cleaner of fig. 10 is shown in an exploded view, the housing having an inner housing and a three-piece outer housing;

FIG. 20 illustrates in exploded view an inner housing of the surface cleaner of FIG. 10;

Fig. 21: a perspective view of the closing wall of the inner housing of the surface cleaner of fig. 10 is shown.

Detailed Description

A first advantageous embodiment of a surface cleaner according to the invention is schematically shown in fig. 1 to 9, which generally takes up the reference number 10. In the embodiment shown, the surface cleaner 10 is designed as a manually guided hard surface cleaner with which liquid can be sucked from a hard surface, for example a window pane, or from a table top, or for example also from a tiled wall or shower cubicle.

The surface cleaner 10 has a housing 12 on which a suction nozzle 14 and a liquid collection apparatus 16 are removably retained. The housing 12 forms a handle 18 that can be grasped by a user with one hand to guide the surface cleaner 10 along a surface to be cleaned. In the drawings, the surface cleaner 10 is shown in an upright position in which the longitudinal axis 20 of the surface cleaner 10 is oriented vertically and the suction nozzle 14 is disposed above the housing 12. However, the surface cleaner 10 can be used not only in an upright position by a user, but also in any orientation, for example the surface cleaner 10 can be operated horizontally, that is to say with the longitudinal axis 20 oriented horizontally, or for example also in a inverted state. This facilitates the user guiding the surface cleaner 10 along, for example, a window pane or a table top.

Below the handle 18, a suction unit 22 is arranged in the housing 12, which suction unit has a suction turbine 24 and a motor 26 driving the suction turbine 24. Beside the motor 26, a rechargeable battery 28 and control electronics 30 are arranged in the housing 12. To switch the motor 26 on and off, a manually operable switching element 32 is positioned on the end of the handle 18 remote from the suction unit 22.

The suction nozzle 14 is removably retained on the housing 12 and has a first wiper lip 34 and a second wiper lip 36 positioned over a suction opening 38. A suction line 40 is coupled with the suction opening 38.

The liquid collection device 16 is also removably retained on the housing 12. It includes a reservoir 42 and a separator 44. The reservoir 42 and the separator 44 together form a structural assembly that can be integrally separated from the housing 12.

The reservoir 42 has a tank opening 46 which is designed in the manner of a sleeve. The separating apparatus 44 has a cover 48 which covers the tank opening 46 and comprises a molded seal 50 which dips into the tank opening 46 and sealingly closes it.

A separator unit 52 is held on the cover 48, which separator unit dips into the reservoir 42. The separation unit 52 has an inner tube 54 and an outer tube 56 surrounding the inner tube 54 in the circumferential direction. The inner tube 54 is divided into an inlet passage 60 and an air outlet passage 62 by an angled partition 58. The inlet channel 60 and the air outlet channel 62 are oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 of the surface cleaner 10, i.e. the longitudinal axis 67 of the air outlet channel extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 of the surface cleaner 10. The inlet channel 60 is in flow connection with the suction line 40 via an inlet opening 64 of the cover, and the air outlet channel 62 is in flow connection with an air outlet line 68 via an air outlet opening 66, which extends through the handle 18 and up to the suction unit 22.

On the end of the inlet channel 60 downstream from the inlet opening 64, a flow diverting element 70 in the form of a T-shaped hollow body is arranged, which has a hollow body inlet line 72 oriented in alignment with the inlet channel 60 and two hollow body outlet lines 74, 76 oriented away from each other and perpendicular to the hollow body inlet line 72, respectively.

The outer tube 56 is formed in two parts and includes a first outer tube section 78 and a second outer tube section 80 coupled thereto. The first outer tube section 78 encloses the inner tube over its entire length to form an annular space 82 that extends all the way to the cover 48. The second outer tube section 80 is coupled with the end of the first outer tube section 78 remote from the cover 48 and protrudes beyond the inner tube 54 relative to the longitudinal axis 20 of the surface cleaner 10 such that the outer tube 56 as a whole has a length greater than the inner tube 54.

The flow cross-section of the second outer tube section 80 decreases with increasing distance from the first outer tube section 78. The second outer tube section 80 is traversed by the two hollow body exit lines 74, 76 of the flow diverting element 70. This is particularly apparent from fig. 8.

The free end of the second outer tube section 80 remote from the first outer tube section 78 forms an opening 84 which is partially covered by a protective cover 86. As is apparent in particular from fig. 6 and 7, the protective cover 86 has a base 88 which is arranged at a distance from the opening 84 and partially covers the opening 84, and a jacket 90 which is integrally connected to the base 88 and extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range of at least 180 °, wherein the jacket completely surrounds the opening 84 of the second outer tube section 80 on the side facing the housing 12. The boot 86 is retained on the second outer tube section 80.

An annular space 82 circumferentially surrounding the inner tube 54 extends from the cover 48 to the free end of the first outer tube section 78, and an annular space inlet 92 extending circumferentially of the inner tube 54 is formed on its end remote from the cover 48. The air outlet channel 62 is closed off on its end facing away from the cover 48 on the end side, but is in flow connection with the annular space 82 via two opposing annular space outlets 94, 96. This is particularly apparent from fig. 9.

In addition to the inlet opening 64 and the air outlet opening 66, the cover 48 also has a tank emptying opening 98 which is arranged offset relative to the separating unit 52 and which, in the installed state of the liquid collecting device 16, covers a closing wall 100 of the lower housing 12. A sealing device 102 is arranged on the closing wall 100. This is clearly evident in particular from fig. 3. In the installed state, in which the liquid collecting device 16 is held on the housing 12, the inlet opening 64, the air outlet opening 66 and the tank emptying opening 98 rest in a liquid-tight and flow-tight manner against the sealing means 102.

As already mentioned, the liquid collection device 16 is detachably connected to the housing 12. For this purpose, the reservoir 42 is formed with a support wall 104, which rests on a retaining wall 106 of the housing 12, which is designed in a stepped manner. The retaining wall 106 is arranged at the level of the suction unit 22 and extends up to a bottom wall 108 of the housing 12.

The cover 48 has a retaining clip 110 which is substantially C-shaped in plan view and has a first elastically deformable side 112 and a second elastically deformable side 114. On the free ends of the side edges 112, 114, latching hooks 116 and 118, respectively, are held, which engage behind complementary latching projections 120 and 122 of the housing 12 in the installed state of the liquid collecting device 16. The latching hooks 116, 118 in combination with the latching projections 120, 122 form a latching connection which can be removed by the user by compressing the two side edges 112, 114 in order to remove the liquid collecting device 16 from the housing 12. The tank drain opening 98, which in the installed state is covered by the closure wall 100, is then freely accessible, so that the liquid storage tank 42 can be drained.

The surface cleaner 10 can be activated by a user by manipulating the switching element 32. Under the action of the suction unit 22, a suction flow is formed, which extends from the suction opening 38 via the suction line 40, the inlet opening 64 and the inlet channel 60 through the flow diversion element 70 into the liquid reservoir 42. The suction flow extends from the liquid tank 42 through the end-side opening 84 through the second outer tube section 80 into the annular space 82 and from there into the air outlet channel 62 via the two annular space outlets 94, 96 and from there into the suction unit 22 via the air outlet opening 66 and the air outlet line 68. Air may be discharged into the surrounding environment via the exhaust openings 124 of the housing 12. In the installed state of the liquid collecting device 16, the air discharge opening 124 is covered by the liquid reservoir 42, but an air gap is formed between the housing 12 and the liquid reservoir 42, via which air discharge can be discharged.

Liquid can be sucked up from a surface to be cleaned, such as a window pane or a table top, by means of the surface cleaner 10. The surface cleaner 10 can be guided by a user along a surface to be cleaned, wherein liquid can be scraped off by means of the wiper lips 34, 36 and fed to the suction opening 38. In the region of the suction opening 38, the liquid is caught by the suction flow of the suction unit 22, so that the mixture of liquid and air is fed via the suction line 40 to the separating device 44. The sucked-up liquid-air mixture flows through the inlet channel 60 and the hollow body inlet line 72 which is coupled to the inlet channel 60 and is subsequently deflected by 90 ° and discharged into the liquid reservoir 42 via the two hollow body outlet lines 74, 76. Wherein most of the liquid impinges on the wall of the liquid reservoir 42 and is separated there, whereas the air reaches the second outer tube section 80 via the end-side opening 84 and flows from this second outer tube section into the annular space 82 substantially in the axial direction via the annular space inlet 92. Inside the annular space 82, a swirling of the air is formed, since the air reaches the air outlet channel 62 in the radial direction only via the two annular space outlets 94, 96 and can then flow from the air outlet channel to the suction unit 22 via the air outlet line 68. Diverting the sucked-up liquid-air mixture by means of the flow diverting element 70 already results in a significant separation of the liquid. Further separation is achieved when bypassing the second outer tube section 80 and when entering the second outer tube section 80 via the end-side opening 84. The air swirls inside the annular space 82 constituting the swirling chamber so that the last droplets are also removed from the sucked air.

The separation of the liquid occurs independent of the orientation of the surface cleaner 10. In particular, when the surface cleaner 10 is in a lying position or a inverted position, separation of the liquid is also performed. Liquid residue that separates inside the annular space 82 during the reverse operation of the surface cleaner 10 may be temporarily stored in a region of the annular space 82 extending between the annular space outlets 94, 96 and the cover 48 during the reverse operation. Thus, there is virtually no risk that liquid may reach the air exit channel 62 and pass through it into the suction unit 22 even in a reverse operation.

During operation of the surface cleaner 10, the separated liquid is collected in the reservoir 42. If the liquid is to be emptied, it is only necessary for this purpose to disassemble the snap-lock connection between the liquid collecting device 10 and the housing 12 by compressing the two side edges 112, 114 and to remove the liquid collecting device 16 from the housing 12. The fluid reservoir 42 may then be easily emptied via the reservoir drain opening 98 without having to remove a separate reservoir closure member, such as a plug, from the fluid reservoir 42.

Thus, the surface cleaner 10 according to the invention is characterized by a reliable, posture-independent separation without the risk of liquid being discharged into the surroundings via the air discharge opening 124. In addition, the surface cleaner 10 according to the present invention is characterized by a simple operation in which the liquid reservoir 42 can be emptied in a simple manner.

A second advantageous embodiment of the surface cleaner according to the invention is schematically shown in fig. 10 to 21 and generally indicated by the reference numeral 210. In this embodiment, the surface cleaner 210 is likewise designed as a manually guided hard surface cleaner, with which liquid can be sucked from a hard surface (e.g. a window pane or a table top) or also from a tiled wall or shower cubicle, for example.

The surface cleaner 210 may be moved by a user along a hard surface in the manner of a manual window wiper. The surface cleaning apparatus 210 constitutes in particular a portable window wiper.

The surface cleaner 210 has a housing 212 which forms a standing surface 214 on the underside, so that the surface cleaner 210 can stand in an upright position on a standing surface, as is shown in particular in fig. 10, 11, 12 and 14.

In addition to the housing 212, the surface cleaner 210 also has a suction nozzle 216 and a reservoir 218, which can be detachably connected to the housing 212.

The suction nozzle 216 has a first flexible wiper lip 220 and a second flexible wiper lip 221 on its free end facing away from the housing 212, which are held on the suction opening 222. The suction line 224 is coupled to the suction opening 222, which extends through the suction nozzle housing 226 and with its end section 228 remote from the wiper lips 220, 221 out of the suction nozzle housing 226.

As best seen in fig. 12, 14 and 19 in particular, the housing 212 has an outer housing 230 and an inner housing 232. The outer housing 230 is formed from a first outer housing portion 234, a second outer housing portion 236, and a third outer housing portion 238. The first outer housing portion 234 in combination with the second outer housing portion 236 form an outer housing jacket 240 that completely surrounds the inner housing 232 in a circumferential direction. The third outer housing portion 238 forms an outer housing bottom 242 that forms the standing surface 214 and covers the bottom side of the inner housing 232.

The first outer housing portion 234 forms a grip opening 244 and together with the second outer housing portion 236 forms a handle 246 that can be gripped by a user with one hand, wherein the user can grasp with fingers through the grip opening 244.

The inner housing 232 has a first inner housing portion 248 and a second inner housing portion 250 that are removably connected to one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the first inner housing portion 248 is screwed with the second inner housing portion 250.

The first inner housing portion 248 is formed by a cover 252 and a closing wall 254. This is particularly apparent from fig. 20. The hood 252 and the closing wall 254 enclose a separation chamber 256, in which separation chamber 256 a separation device 258 is arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, separation device 258 is formed by baffle 260.

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 is also constructed with an air outlet channel 264 which projects into the separation chamber 256 and carries a flap 260 at its end which projects into the separation chamber 256, which flap 260 can in the embodiment shown be snapped into engagement with the air outlet channel 264. Between the baffle 260 and the air outlet channel 264 there is arranged an inlet opening 270 covered by the baffle 260, via which suction air can flow from the separation chamber 256 into the air outlet channel 264.

The closing wall 254 is also constructed with a liquid outlet channel 272 in the form of a nipple 273 which protrudes into a tank receptacle 274, which is delimited by the first outer housing part 234 and the third outer housing part 238. The first sealing element 276 is molded onto the adapter 273 and circumferentially surrounds the adapter 273.

In addition to the connection tube 273, the closing wall 254 also has a closing element 278 forming a plug 280 and a closing body 282 integrally connected to the connection tube 273, which is completely surrounded by a second sealing element 284. The second sealing element 284 is integrally connected to the first sealing element 276 and forms an injection molded part with the closure body 282, the connecting tube 273 and the remaining region of the closure wall 274, wherein the closure wall 254, including the connecting tube 273 and the closure body 282, forms a hard part of the injection molded part, and wherein the two sealing elements 276, 284 together form a soft part of the injection molded part.

The second inner housing portion 250 has an inner housing slot 288 and an inner housing cover 290 which house two rechargeable batteries 292, 294 and an electrical control 296 and motor 298 therebetween. In this case, the motor 298 can be inserted into a recess 300 in the inner housing groove 288, which is oriented in alignment with the air outlet channel 264 of the first inner housing part 248. Coupled with the notch 300 in a direction toward the air exiting the channel 264 is a turbine cavity 302 that houses a suction turbine 304. Suction turbine 304 may be set in rotation by motor 298 and in combination with motor 298 constitute a suction set 306 of surface cleaner 210. By means of the suction unit 306, a suction flow can be realized starting from the suction opening 222, under the effect of which a mixture of liquid and air can be sucked from the hard surface to be cleaned. The sucked-up mixture reaches the separation chamber 256 via the suction line 224 and impinges on a baffle 260, wherein the liquid is separated from the sucked-up liquid-air mixture. The sucked air may then reach the suction turbine 304 via the air exit channel 264 and may be discharged by the suction turbine to the surroundings via a discharge opening not shown in the figures.

The separated liquid may pass from the separation chamber 256 to the reservoir 218 via the liquid exit channel 272.

As is apparent in particular from fig. 12, 14, 16, 17 and 18, the reservoir 218 has a reservoir housing 310 which forms a hollow body for receiving the separated liquid and has a reservoir connection 312 which forms a filling socket 314. In addition to the tank housing 310, the liquid reservoir 218 also has a filling device 316 which protrudes 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 up to approximately the middle of the tank housing 310 and have end sections 324, 326 remote from one another, via which the filling channel 318 or the venting channel 320 opens into the tank housing 310.

The tank emptying opening 322 is arranged offset from the filling channel 318 and the venting channel 320 at the level of the filling sleeve 314 and is designed as a tank emptying channel 328, which passes through the connection 330 of the filling device 318 like the filling channel 318 and the venting channel 320. The connecting piece 330 encloses the filling sleeve 314 and is surrounded by a sealing ring 332, which rests in a fluid-tight manner on the inner side of the filling sleeve 314.

On the outside of the tank housing 310, the closing wall 254 adjoins the flange 334 of the filling device 316 in the direction toward the adapter 273.

The fluid reservoir 218 may be placed into the reservoir housing 274. In this case, with the first sealing element 276 interposed, the connecting tube 273 is immersed into the flange 234 of the filling device 216, wherein the inner side of the flange 334 rests in a fluid-tight manner against the first sealing element 276. At the same time, when the liquid reservoir 218 is placed into the reservoir receptacle 274, the closure element 278 of the closure wall 254 dips into the reservoir evacuation opening 322, thereby closing the reservoir evacuation opening 322 in a liquid-tight manner. This is particularly apparent from fig. 12 and 13.

During operation of the surface cleaner 210, a mixture of liquid and air may be drawn into the separation chamber 256 via the suction line 224. This has already been pointed out. The liquid separated by the baffle 216 can then leave the channel 272 via a liquid in the form of a nipple 273 to a filling channel 318 and can be discharged from this filling channel to the tank housing 310. At the same time, air may escape from the tank housing 310 via the exhaust channel 320, which may then be drawn out of the separation chamber 256 by the suction set 306.

If the reservoir 218 is to be emptied, the user may remove it from the tank receptacle 274. Here, the closure member 278 releases the canister drain opening 322. This is particularly apparent from fig. 14 and 15. The reservoir 218, which is separate from the housing 212, can then be emptied via the reservoir emptying opening 322 without the filling device 316 having to be separated from the reservoir housing 310 for this purpose. The emptied liquid reservoir 218 can then be inserted into the reservoir receptacle 274, wherein the reservoir emptying opening 322 is again closed in a fluid-tight manner by the closure element 278 and the connecting tube 273 is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the flange 334 of the filling device 316.

Thus, the surface cleaner 210 according to the invention is characterized in particular by a simple operation in which the reservoir 218 can be emptied in a simple manner.

Claims

1. A surface cleaner, comprising: a housing (12; 212) in which a suction unit (22; 306) is arranged for forming a suction flow; and having a suction nozzle (14; 216) in flow connection with the suction unit (22; 306) for sucking a liquid-air mixture; and having a separating device (44; 258) for separating liquid from the liquid-air mixture that is sucked in and having a liquid reservoir (42; 218) for receiving the separated liquid, wherein the liquid reservoir (42; 218) is detachably held on the housing (12; 212) and can be emptied via a tank emptying opening (98; 322), characterized in that the tank emptying opening (98; 322) can be sealed off hermetically by a closing wall (100; 254) of the housing (12; 212) and can be accessed freely by detaching the liquid reservoir (42; 218) from the housing (12; 212), wherein the closing wall (254) has a closing element (278) for closing the tank emptying opening (322), and wherein the liquid reservoir (218) has a tank housing (310) and a filling device (316), wherein the tank housing (310) has a tank connection (312) and the filling device (316) can be connected in a liquid-tight manner with the tank connection (312), and wherein the device (318) has a sedimentation channel (320) and the filling device (316) has a filling opening (320).

2. The surface cleaner as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the closing element (278) can be connected to the tank emptying opening (322) in a form-locking and/or force-locking manner.

3. The surface cleaner of claim 1, wherein the closure link (278) constitutes a plug (280) that is insertable into the tank drain opening (322) when the reservoir (218) is connected to the housing (212).

4. The surface cleaner as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the closing element (278) has a closing body (282) on which an elastically deformable sealing element (284) is arranged.

5. The surface cleaner of claim 4, wherein the sealing element (284) is in material-locking connection with the closure body (282).

6. The surface cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filling device (316) has a connection (330) which is connectable in a plug-able manner with the tank connection (312) and which has the tank drain opening (322).

7. A surface cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling means (316) are connectable in a liquid-tight manner with a closing wall (278) of the housing (212).

8. The surface cleaner as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the filling device (316) has a flange (334) and the closing wall (278) has a nipple (273) which can be connected to the flange (334) in a plug-like manner with a sealing element (276) interposed.

9. The surface cleaner according to claim 8, characterized in that the sealing element (276) is connected to the adapter tube (273) in a material-locking manner.

10. The surface cleaner of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the housing (212) has an inner housing (232) and an outer housing (230), wherein the inner housing (232) houses the separating device (258) and the suction unit (303), and the outer housing (230) encloses the inner housing (232), and wherein the inner housing (232) has the closing wall (254).

11. The surface cleaner of claim 10, wherein the inner housing (232) has a first inner housing portion (248) in which the separation device (258) is arranged, and a second inner housing portion (250) in which the suction unit (306) is arranged, and wherein the second inner housing portion is connectable with the first inner housing portion (248).

12. The surface cleaner of claim 11, wherein an electrical control device (296) and at least one rechargeable battery (292, 294) are disposed in the second inner housing portion (250).

13. The surface cleaner of claim 11, wherein the first inner housing portion (248) has the closing wall (254).

14. The surface cleaner of claim 13, wherein the closure wall (254) constitutes a bottom wall (262) of the first inner housing portion (248).

15. The surface cleaner of claim 14, wherein the first inner housing portion (248) has a cover (252) connectable in a liquid-tight manner with the bottom wall (262) and defining with the bottom wall (262) a separation chamber (256) in which the separation device (258) is arranged.

16. The surface cleaner of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaner (10; 210) has a handle (18; 246) that can be grasped by a user.

17. The surface cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface cleaner (10; 210) is designed as a portable window wiper.