Suction Apparatus and Separating Unit for a Suction Apparatus with a Shielding Ejection And/Or Compacting Element

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2024 203 012.0, filed Mar. 28, 2024; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The invention relates to a separating unit for a suction apparatus, in particular for a cordless and/or handheld vacuum cleaner. The invention also relates to a suction apparatus having the separating unit.

A suction apparatus, in particular an upright vacuum cleaner, typically includes a suction unit which can be carried and guided by a user using their hand. The suction unit has a fan which is operated with electrical energy from an electrical energy storage device of the suction unit. The fan is embodied to generate a suction air flow in order to suck dirt particles through the suction mouth of the suction unit into the separating unit of the suction unit, with the separating unit having a collecting container for dirt particles. In order to increase the suction power of the suction unit, the suction air flow is preferably introduced into the separating unit and/or guided inside the separating unit in such a way that the suction air flow inside the separating unit flows around the central filter unit of the separating unit in a cyclone-like manner.

The separating unit can have an ejection and/or a compacting element which is embodied to be moved inside the collecting container in order to compact the dirt in the collecting container or to convey the dirt out of the collecting container.

UK Patent GB 25 39 343 B describes a vacuum cleaner with a plunger for emptying the collecting container of the vacuum cleaner. European Patent Application EP 4 410 170 A1 describes a separating unit with a scraper element.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a suction apparatus and a separating unit for a suction apparatus with a shielding ejection and/or compacting element, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which make particularly reliable and convenient compacting and/or ejecting of dirt in or out of the collecting container of the separating unit of a suction unit possible, in particular in order to provide consistently high suction even with relatively long use of the suction unit.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a separating unit for a suction apparatus, wherein the separating unit comprises a collecting container for particles of dirt, which is surrounded by a housing wall, the collecting container extends along a longitudinal axis, the separating unit includes an ejection and/or a compacting element which is embodied to be moved inside the collecting container, starting from an initial position along the longitudinal axis to a compacting position in order to compact particles of dirt disposed in the collecting container and/or to eject them from the collecting container, and the separating unit is embodied in such a way that a radial force, with which the ejection and/or compacting element acts in the radial direction on an inside of the housing wall, is lower at the compacting position than at the initial position.

Advantageous embodiments are defined, in particular, in the dependent claims, described in the following description or represented in the accompanying drawings.

According to one aspect, a separating unit for a suction apparatus is described. The separating unit includes a collecting container surrounded by a housing wall. The separating unit can have a longitudinal axis, and the housing wall of the collecting container can be (circular) cylindrical around the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis can run centrally inside the collecting container. The housing wall can correspond, for example, to the circumferential surface of a hollow cylinder and/or the longitudinal axis can correspond to the vertical axis of the hollow cylinder. The collecting container can extend from a first front side (for example, front face or front plane) along the longitudinal axis through to a second front side (for example, front face or front plane). The first front side can face the fan of the suction apparatus. A cover for emptying the collecting container can be disposed on the opposing second front side.

Along the longitudinal axis from the first front side through to the second front side the collecting container can have a specific total length (for example, between 10 cm and 20 cm). Further, the collecting container can have a specific total diameter (for example between 8 cm and 12 cm) transversely to the longitudinal axis (that is to say, in the radial direction to the longitudinal axis).

The first front side (at which the fan is disposed) can run substantially completely inside a specific transverse plane which is disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. The second front side (at which the cover is disposed) can run inside a plane which is disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis, with it being possible for the inclined arrangement of the second front side, and in particular of the cover, to be advantageous for emptying the collecting container.

The collecting container typically has an inlet opening disposed on the housing wall and which is preferably closed and/or covered by a (flexible) flap. The flap can be made of a plastics material, in particular of a flexible and/or elastic plastics material. The inlet opening is preferably disposed on the top of the collecting container (which is provided to be oriented upwards during operation). Further, the inlet opening is preferably disposed at the first front side of the collecting container. At least the inlet opening of the first front side of the collecting container along the longitudinal axis is preferably closer than the opposing second front side of the collecting container.

The separating unit can also include a filter unit disposed in the collecting container and which is embodied to retain particles of dirt from the suction air flow (which has entered the collecting container through the inlet opening) at the surface of the filter unit, with the surface of the filter unit preferably being (circular-) cylindrical around the longitudinal axis. The separating unit is preferably embodied in such a way that the suction air flow which has entered the collecting container through the inlet opening flows around the filter unit in a cyclone-like manner (along the circumferential direction). For this purpose, the separating unit can be embodied in such a way that suction air flow which has entered the collecting container through the inlet opening has a flow direction which runs substantially in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis.

The (cylindrical) filter unit and the (cylindrical) collecting container preferably have the same central longitudinal axis. The collecting area for receiving the sucked-up particles of dirt is typically disposed between the surface of the filter unit and the inside of the housing wall of the collecting container.

The separating unit includes an ejection and/or a compacting element which is embodied to be moved inside the collecting container in order to compact particles of dirt disposed in the collecting container and/or to eject them from the collecting container (via the second front side). The ejection and/or compacting element can be embodied, in particular, to be moved, starting from an initial position, disposed, for example at the first front side, along the longitudinal axis via the surface of the filter unit (in particular in the direction of the second front side of the collecting container). Movement of the ejection and/or compacting element can optionally be manually induced by a user using a grip. The grip can be moved, for example, along the longitudinal axis (in the direction of the second front side) in order to move the ejection and/or compacting element along the longitudinal axis.

The ejection and/or compacting element can be moved, in particular, along the longitudinal axis from the initial position (disposed at the first front side) through to a compacting position (facing the second front side). The compacting position and the initial position can be spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis by 50% or more, in particular by 70% or more, of the total length of the collecting container.

The ejection and/or compacting element is preferably embodied as a ring with an inner edge which faces the surface of the filter unit and an outer edge which faces the housing wall, in particular the inside of the housing wall. The outer edge of the ejection and/or compacting element can be embodied as an (annular) shield, as outlined below. The ejection and/or compacting element is typically embodied to clean the surface of the filter unit when the annular ejection and/or compacting element is moved along the longitudinal axis in the direction of the compacting position.

The separating unit is preferably embodied in such a way that the force, with which the ejection and/or compacting element acts in the radial direction on the inside of the housing wall of the collecting container, is lower at the compacting position than at the initial position. The force acting in the radial direction is referred to as the “radial” force in this document. The separating unit can be embodied, in particular, in such a way that the radial force, with which the ejection and/or compacting element acts in the radial direction on the inside of the housing wall, decreases smoothly, in particular linearly, along the movement path, starting from the initial position through to the compacting position (for example at least in a section of the movement path or over the entire movement path).

Alternatively or in addition, the separating unit can be embodied in such a way that the distance (in the radial direction) between the outer edge of the ejection and/or compacting element and the inside of the housing wall of the collecting container is lower at the initial position than at the compacting position. In particular, the distance (in the radial direction) along the movement path can decrease smoothly, in particular linearly, starting from the initial position through to the compacting position. The radial distance can be, for example, zero in the initial position. Otherwise, the radial distance in the compacting position can be greater than zero.

Adjustment of the radial force and/or of the radial distance between the ejection and/or compacting element and the housing wall along the longitudinal axis makes it possible to reliably prevent particles of dirt finding their way to the back (facing the first front side) of the ejection and/or compacting element during suction operation. Further, a convenient and reliable compacting and ejecting function can still be provided. Overall, high separation efficiency and/or suction power can thus still be provided even after relatively long use.

The adjustment of the force and/or of the distance between the ejection and/or compacting element and the housing wall can be induced particularly efficiently by the diameter of the inside of the housing wall at the compacting position being greater, in particular between 1% and 5% greater, than at the initial position. The diameter of the inside of the housing wall can increase smoothly, in particular linearly, for example along the movement path, starting from the initial position through to the compacting position.

In a preferred example, the inside of the housing wall is conical, wherein the longitudinal axis corresponds to the vertical axis of the conical inside of the housing wall. An angle between 0.5° and 2.5° can be formed between the inside of the housing wall and the longitudinal axis.

The housing wall can have, for example, a thickness in the radial direction, which is lower at the compacting position than at the initial position. The thickness of the housing wall can decrease smoothly, for instance linearly, in particular along the longitudinal axis.

Adjustment of the housing wall of the collecting container along the longitudinal axis makes it possible to adjust the radial force and/or the radial distance between the ejection and/or compacting element and the inside of the housing wall particularly efficiently and reliably.

The (annular) ejection and/or compacting element can have a (cylindrical) side wall which faces the inside of the housing wall. The ejection and/or compacting element is preferably embodied in such a way that the side wall of the ejection and/or compacting element at the initial position and at the compacting position, in particular along the entire movement path from the initial position through to the compacting position, is spaced apart from the inside of the housing wall of the collecting container and/or does not touch the inside of the housing wall of the collecting container.

At the surface which faces the compacting position and/or the second front side of the collecting container, the ejection and/or compacting element can also have a(n) (annular) shield which extends in the radial direction beyond the side wall of the ejection and/or compacting element to the inside of the housing wall of the collecting container.

The separating unit can be embodied in such a way that the radial force, with which the shield of the ejection and/or compacting element acts in the radial direction on the inside of the housing wall, is lower at the compacting position than at the initial position. The separating unit can, in particular, be embodied in such a way that the radial force, with which the shield of the ejection and/or compacting element acts in the radial direction on the inside of the housing wall, decreases smoothly, in particular linearly, along the movement path, starting from the initial position through to the compacting position.

Alternatively or in addition, the separating unit can be embodied in such a way that the distance (in the radial direction) between the shield of the ejection and/or compacting element and the inside of the housing wall of the collecting container is lower at the initial position than at the compacting position. In particular, the distance (in the radial direction) can increase smoothly, in particular linearly, along the movement path, starting from the initial position through to the compacting position. The radial distance can be, for example, zero in the initial position. Otherwise, the radial distance in the compacting position can be greater than zero.

The side wall of the ejection and/or compacting element can have a specific total diameter in the radial direction. The shield can extend, for example by 1% or more, in particular between 1% and 5%, of the total diameter of the side wall of the ejection and/or compacting element in the radial direction beyond the side wall of the ejection and/or compacting element. Alternatively or in addition, the ejection and/or compacting element can a specific (maximum) total height along the longitudinal axis. The shield can have a height of 5% or less, in particular between 1% and 5%, of the (maximum) total height of the ejection and/or compacting element along the longitudinal axis.

The radial force and/or the radial distance between the ejection and/or compacting element and the housing wall can thus be induced in a spatially concentrated manner by a (sealing) shield of the ejection and/or compacting element. It is thus particularly reliably possible to prevent particles of dirt finding their way to the back of the ejection and/or compacting element during suction operation. Further, the convenience and the reliability of the compacting and/or ejecting function can be increased further.

The (annular) shield and the side wall of the ejection and/or compacting element can particularly efficiently be made of the same material. Alternatively, the (annular) shield can be made of an elastic sealing material, so particles of dirt can be particularly reliably prevented from finding their way to the back of the ejection and/or compacting element during suction operation, and so the mobility of the ejection and/or compacting element along the longitudinal axis can be increased further.

The ejection and/or compacting element can have a surface (which faces the second front side and at which the optional shield is also disposed), wherein the surface acts on the suction air flow which has entered the collecting container when the ejection and/or compacting element is disposed in the initial position. The surface of the ejection and/or compacting element can run, at least in a segment, helically along the inside of the housing wall around the longitudinal axis. A helical guide surface for the suction air flow which has entered the collecting container can thus be provided by the ejection and/or compacting element. This can consequently induce the suction air flow inside the collecting container to flow helically around the longitudinal axis. This can consequently induce particles of dirt entrained with the suction air flow to be moved efficiently and reliably away from the inlet opening (in the direction of the second front side of the collecting container), so the particles of dirt cannot find their way to the back of the ejection and/or compacting element.

The surface of the ejection and/or compacting element can have an inclined section in which the normal vector of the surface is disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis. In the initial position, the inclined section of the surface of the ejection and/or compacting element can be disposed flush with the inlet opening in the radial direction. The helical flow direction of the suction air flow can be enhanced further by the inclination of the surface of the ejection and/or compacting element in order to prevent particles of dirt from finding their way to the back of the ejection and/or compacting element.

With the objects of the invention in view, there is concomitantly provided a suction apparatus, in particular a handheld vacuum cleaner, which comprises the separating unit described in this document. The suction apparatus also includes a fan which is embodied to induce a suction air flow from the suction mouth of the suction apparatus, through the inlet opening of the separating unit, through the filter unit and to the fan.

It should be noted that any aspects of the separating unit described in this document and the suction apparatus described in this document can be combined with one another in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined with one another in a variety of ways. Further, the features described in this document can be used individually or in combination for a separating unit in the different, described variants of the separating unit.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a suction apparatus and a separating unit for a suction apparatus with a shielding ejection and/or compacting element, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

As outlined in the introduction, the present document deals with inducing a particularly reliable and convenient compaction and/or ejection of particles of dirt in or from the collecting container of a suction apparatus, in particular in order to provide a high suction power even after relatively long use of the suction apparatus.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, tothereof, there is seen, in this connection, an exemplary (upright) vacuum cleaner(as an example of a suction apparatus) which has a suction unitwith an electrical energy storage device. The suction unithas a (hand) gripwhich a user can encompass with their hand in order to hold the suction unit. The fan of the suction unitinduces a suction air flow through the suction mouthof the suction unit, via the separating unitof the suction unitthrough to the fan. The suction unitcan be embodied to be used separately as a suction apparatus.

An attachment,can be connected to the suction unitvia a coupling. In the represented example, the suction unitis connected via a couplingto a suction tubewhich is in turn connected via a couplingto a floor nozzle.

show different views of a suction unitand a separating unit. The suction air flowinduced by the fanis sucked through the suction mouthof the suction unitinto the separating unit. The separating unithas an outer housing wallwhich encloses a filter unit. The housing wallforms a collecting container. The suction air flowis sucked through an (inlet) openingformed on the housing wallinto the collecting container enclosed by the housing wall. Upon entering the collecting container, the suction air flowis preferably oriented in such a way that the suction air floworbits or circulates around the (circular-cylindrical) filter unitin a cyclone-like manner. The suction air flowis sucked further through the surface of the filter unitin the direction of the central longitudinal axisof the separating unit. The dirt particles from the suction air floware retained at the surface of the filter unit, and remain in the collecting areaformed between the filter unitand the housing wall.

The (circular-cylindrical) collecting container formed by the housing wallextends along the longitudinal axisfrom a first front side(facing the fan) through to a second front side(remote from the fan). A covercan be disposed at the second front side, which covers the collecting container. The covercan be opened (for example, folded open), so dirt particles from the collecting areacan be removed via the second front sidefrom the collecting areaof the collecting container.

An ejection and/or compacting elementcan be disposed inside the collecting container, and this element is embodied to be moved along the longitudinal axis. The ejection and/or compacting elementcan, as represented in, be embodied as a ring which is disposed around the filter unit. The ejection and/or compacting elementcan extend in the radial direction (in relation to the longitudinal axis) from the surface of the filter unitthrough to the inside of the housing wall.

The ejection and/or compacting elementcan be disposed in an initial position at the first front sideof the collecting container. Furthermore, the ejection and/or compacting elementcan be embodied to be moved along the longitudinal axisfrom the first front sidein the direction of the second front side, so the dirt particles disposed in the collecting areaare pushed in the direction of the second front sideby the ejection and/or compacting element. This thus makes it possible to compact the dirt particles disposed in the collecting area(in the region of the second front side), so the surface of the filter unitis substantially free from dirt particles, and thus a high suction power is still provided. Further, dirt particles can be conveniently pushed along the longitudinal axisvia the second front side(and the open cover) out of the collecting container by the ejection and/or compacting elementin order to empty the collecting container.

As represented, for example, in, the housing wallof the collecting container has a framewhich surrounds the (inlet) openingto the collecting areaof the collecting container. The frameis preferably disposed in the immediate vicinity of the first front sideof the collecting container. Disposed inside the frameis preferably a flexible flapwhich is embodied in such a way that the flapcloses the openingbordered by the framewhen the fandoes not induce a suction air flow, that is to say, when no forces are acting on the flapin the radial direction from outside into the collecting container. The collecting container can thus be closed by the flexible flap, so it is possible to reliably prevent dirt particles from falling out of the collecting container through the opening(for example, when the separating unitis separated from the suction unitin order to empty the separating unit).

The flapcan have a pre-tensioning which presses the flapin the direction of the frame. It is thus particularly reliably possible for the flapto be closed when no suction air flowis being induced.

The flapis preferably made of a flexible material (for example, of a flexible plastics material), so the flapis bent away from the framein the direction of the filter unitunder the influence of a force acting externally on the flap(which is induced, for example, by the suction air flow), and uncovers at least part of the openingin the processes. The suction air flowcan thus pass from outside into the collecting container.

As can be seen from, the suction unitcan be embodied in such a way that the suction air flow, starting from the suction mouth, initially has a flow direction which is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. At the inlet openingand/or at the framethe flow direction of the suction air flowis deflected by approximately 90°, so the suction air flowflows in the circumferential direction (and therewith substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis) through the inlet openinginto the collecting container.

During suction operation, the inlet openingis preferably disposed (in relation to the circumferential direction) at the top of the housing wallof the collecting container. Gravity thus acts on the dirt particles in the suction air flowin order to convey the dirt particles into the collecting container.