Suction Apparatus and Separating Unit for a Suction Apparatus Having a Flap

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2024 203 003.1, filed Mar. 28, 2024; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The invention relates to a suction apparatus and a separating unit for a suction apparatus, in particular for a wireless and/or hand-held vacuum cleaner.

A suction apparatus, in particular a handheld vacuum cleaner, typically includes a suction unit that can be carried and guided by a user by hand. The suction unit has a fan that is operated using electrical energy from an electrical energy storage device of the suction unit. The fan is configured so as to generate a suction air flow in order to suck impurities through the suction mouth of the suction unit into the separating unit of the suction unit, wherein the separating unit has a collection container for impurities. 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 within the separating unit in such a manner that the suction air flow within the separating unit flows in a cyclonic manner around the central filter unit of the separating unit.

German Patent Application DE 10 2021 203 242 A1 describes a dirt separator for a vacuum cleaner having a guide element.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a suction apparatus and a separating unit for a suction apparatus having a flap, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which further optimize the inflow of the suction air flow into the separating unit of a suction apparatus, in particular in order to improve the absorption of coarse dirt and/or the suction performance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a separating unit for a suction apparatus, the separating unit comprising a collection container that is enclosed by a housing wall, the collection container has an inlet opening that is disposed on the housing wall and is closed using a flap, the flap has a total surface for covering the inlet opening, the flap is fastened to the housing wall at a main edge of the total surface, the flap has a main desired bending point on the main edge, which enables the total surface to be bent about a main bending axis, the flap has an additional linear desired bending point, which enables a partial area of the total surface, which faces away from the main edge, to be bent about an additional bending axis, and the flap is configured in such a manner that the partial area of the total surface of the flap is bent away from the housing wall by a force that acts on the flap from the outside, thereby exposing a partial area of the inlet opening that corresponds to the partial area of the total surface.

Advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the dependent claims, described in the following description or illustrated in the attached drawing.

In accordance with one aspect, a separating unit for a suction apparatus is described. The separating unit includes a collection container that is enclosed by a housing wall. The separating unit can have a longitudinal axis, and the housing wall of the collection container can be configured as a (circular) cylinder around the longitudinal axis. The housing wall can, for example, correspond to the shell surface of a hollow cylinder. The collection container also has an inlet opening that is disposed on the housing wall and is closed using a (flexible) flap. The inlet opening is preferably disposed on the upper side of the collection container (which is intended to be oriented upwards during operation).

The separating unit can further include a filter unit that is disposed in the collection container and is configured so as to retain dirt particles from a suction air flow (that has entered the collection container through the inlet opening) on the surface of the filter unit. The separating unit is preferably configured in such a manner that the suction air flow that enters the collection container through the inlet opening flows in a cyclonic manner around the filter unit. The separating unit can be configured for this purpose in such a manner that the suction air flow that enters the collection container through the inlet opening has a flow direction that runs substantially in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis.

The flap at the inlet opening can have a total surface for (completely) covering the inlet opening. Further, the flap can be fastened to the housing wall at a main edge of the total surface. The main edge can be oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis.

The flap has a linear desired bending point, which enables a partial area of the total surface of the flap, which faces away from the main edge, to be bent about an additional bending axis. The desired bending point is spaced apart from the main edge of the total surface. Furthermore, the desired bending point (and the associated additional bending axis) can subdivide the total surface of the flap into the partial area and into a remainder that is complementary thereto. The desired bending point can be configured in such a manner that the partial area can be bent (in particular rotated) about the additional bending axis with respect to the rest of the total surface.

The desired bending point can be implemented as a local (linear) thinning and/or by a locally changed material of the flap. In particular, the flap can have a thinner and/or different material locally along the additional bending axis (compared to the areas of the total surface without a desired bending point). The linear desired bending point can be configured in particular as a film hinge, in particular if the flap is made of a plastic, in particular a flexible plastic.

The desired bending point can be implemented by a localized (linear) profiling of the flap, in particular the surface of the flap. The profiling can be disposed on the outer side of the flap (which faces away from the collection container) and/or on the inner side of the flap (which faces the collection container). In this manner, a desired bending point can be provided in a particularly flexible and efficient manner.

The flap is configured in such a manner that the partial area of the total surface of the flap is bent away from the housing wall (into the collection container) by a force that acts on the flap from the outside (in the radial direction), thereby exposing a partial area of the inlet opening that corresponds to the partial area of the total surface. The flap can in particular be configured in such a manner that the partial area of the total surface of the flap is bent away from the housing wall and into the collection container by the suction air flow that acts on the flap from the outside and/or by a (relatively large) dirt particle that is carried along by the suction air flow.

By providing a dust retention flap on the collection container of a separating unit, which has one or more additional desired bending points, the quality of the separating unit can be increased in an efficient and reliable manner in relation to the reception of coarse dirt and in relation to the optimized orientation of the flow direction of the suction air flow (in order to increase the suction power).

The flap can have multiple linear desired bending points, which in each case enable a partial area of the total surface, which faces away from the main edge, to be bent about in each case an additional bending axis. The different desired bending points can each have a different distance from the main edge. For example, multiple desired bending points that are disposed parallel to the main edge can be provided at different distances from the main edge. By using a flap having multiple desired bending points, the quality for receiving dirt particles of different sizes can be further improved.

The flap can have two linear desired bending points, which each have an additional bending axis, wherein the additional bending axes are oriented differently from one another, and optionally intersect (on the flap). In this manner, it is possible to cause a particularly precise orientation of one or more partial areas of the total surface in order to further optimize the flow direction of the suction air flow.

The flap can have a main desired bending point (directly) on the main edge, which enables the total surface to be bent about a main bending axis. The main bending axis can run parallel to the longitudinal axis. It is thus possible to enable a bending of the total surface about the main bending axis. In addition, it is possible to enable a further bending of the partial area of the total surface about the additional bending axis. The partial area can thus have a total bending (for example with a total bending angle), which is composed of the bending of the total surface about the main bending axis (with a first bending angle) and the additional bending of the partial area about the additional bending axis (with a second bending angle).

The additional bending axis can run parallel to the main bending axis. In this manner, the separating unit can be optimized for the reception of different large dirt particles.

Alternatively, the additional bending axis can run obliquely with respect to the main bending axis, in particular at an angle of between 10° and 45° with respect to the main bending axis. By using a desired bending point with an obliquely running additional bending axis, the flow direction of the suction air flow can be further optimized.

The additional bending axis can be oriented in relation to the longitudinal axis in such a manner that the partial area of the total surface of the flap, which is bent about the additional bending axis, causes an impulse on the suction air flow in the direction of the longitudinal axis. For this purpose, the additional bending axis is oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis, in particular at an angle of 5° or more with respect to the longitudinal axis. In this manner, a suction air flow can be caused in an efficient manner within the collection container, which flows in a helical manner around the filter unit and to an end face of the collection container, with the result that the dirt particles from the suction air flow are concentrated on the end face of the collection container. In this manner, the durability of the separating unit (between emptying processes) can be increased in an efficient and reliable manner.

The flap can be configured in such a manner that the bending of the partial area about the additional bending axis has a greater bending angle than the bending of the total surface about the main bending axis, in particular if the volume flow of the suction air flow that is acting on the flap from the outside is equal to or less than a predefined volume flow threshold value (i.e., in particular if the suction air flow has a relatively small volume flow). In this manner, it is possible to cause a particularly optimal flow direction of the suction air flow within the collection container.

With the objects of the invention in view, there is concomitantly provided a suction apparatus, in particular a hand-held vacuum cleaner, which includes the separating unit described in this document. The suction apparatus further includes a fan that is configured so as to cause 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.

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 having a flap, 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 explained in the introduction, the present document deals with causing a particularly advantageous inflow of the suction air flow into the separating unit of a suction apparatus, in particular in order to ensure a permanently high suction performance and a reliable absorption of coarse dirt.

Referring now in this context to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, tothereof, there is seen an exemplary (handheld) vacuum cleaner(as an example of a suction apparatus), which has a suction unitwith an electrical energy storage device. The suction unithas a (hand) gripthat can be gripped by a user with one hand in order to hold the suction unit. The fan of the suction unitcauses a suction air flow through the suction mouthof the suction unit, via the separating unitof the suction unit, to the fan. The suction unitcan be configured so as to be used independently as a suction apparatus.

An accessory,can be connected to the suction unitvia a coupling. In the illustrated example, the suction unitis connected via a couplingto a suction pipe, which in turn is connected via a couplingto a floor nozzle.

illustrate different views of a suction unitand a separating unit. The suction air flowthat is caused by the fanis sucked through the suction mouthof the suction unitinto the separating unit. The separating unithas an outer housing wall, which encloses a filter unit. A collection container is formed by the housing wall. The suction air flowis sucked through an (inlet) openingthat is formed on the housing wallinto the collection container that is enclosed by the housing wall. In this case, the suction air flowis preferably oriented during introduction into the collection container in such a manner that the suction air flowcirculates in a cyclonic manner around the (circular-cylindrical) filter unit. The suction air flowis further sucked through the surface of the filter unittoward the central longitudinal axisof the separating unit. In this case, the impurities from the suction air floware retained on the surface of the filter unit, and remain in the collection areathat is formed between the filter unitand the housing wall.

The (circular-cylindrical) collection container that is formed by the housing wallextends along the longitudinal axisfrom a first end face(which faces the fan) to a second end face(which faces away from the fan). A cover, which covers the collection container, can be disposed on the second end face. The covercan be opened (for example, unfolded), with the result that impurities can be removed from the collection areavia the second end facefrom the collection areaof the collection container.

An ejection and/or compression elementthat is configured so as to be moved along the longitudinal axiscan be disposed within the collection container. The ejection and/or compression elementcan, as illustrated in, be configured as a ring that is disposed around the filter unit. The ejection and/or compression elementcan extend in the radial direction (in relation to the longitudinal axis) from the surface of the filter unitto the inside of the housing wall.

In a basic state, the ejection and/or compression elementcan be disposed on the first end faceof the collection container. In addition, the ejection and/or compression elementcan be configured so as to be moved along the longitudinal axisfrom the first end faceto the second end face, with the result that the impurities that are disposed in the collection areaare pushed towards the second end faceby the ejection and/or compression element. In this manner, it can be rendered possible during the operation of the suction unitto compress the impurities that are disposed in the collection area(in the area of the second end face), with the result that the surface of the filter unitis substantially free of impurities, and thus a high suction power is still available. In addition, impurities can be conveniently pushed out of the collection container along the longitudinal axisvia the second end face(and the opened cover) by the ejection and/or compression elementin order to empty the collection container.

As illustrated, for example, in, the housing wallof the collection container has a framethat surrounds the openingto the collection areaof the collection container. In this case, the frameis preferably disposed in the immediate vicinity of the first end faceof the collection container. A flexible flapis disposed within the frame, which is configured in such a manner that the flapcloses the openingthat is bordered by the framewhen no suction air flowis caused by the fan, i.e. when no forces act on the flapin the radial direction from the outside into the collection container. The collection container can thus be closed by the flexible flap, with the result that it is possible to reliably avoid that impurities can fall out of the collection 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 pretension that pushes the flapthrough to the frame. In this manner, it can be caused in a particularly reliable manner that the flapis closed when no suction air flowis caused.

The flapis preferably made of a flexible material (for example, a flexible plastic), with the result that the flapis bent away from the frametowards the filter unitunder the influence of a force that acts on the flapfrom the outside (which is caused, for example, by the suction air flow), thereby exposing at least part of the opening. In this manner, the suction air flowcan be caused to pass into the collection container from the outside.

As can be seen from, the suction unitcan be configured in such a manner that the suction air flow, starting from the suction mouth, initially has a flow direction that is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. At the inlet openingand/or at the frame, the flow direction of the suction air flowis deflected by approximately 90°, with the result that the suction air flowflows into the collection container in the circumferential direction (and thus substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) through the inlet opening.

During the suction operation, the inlet openingis preferably disposed (in relation to the circumferential direction) on the top side of the housing wallof the collection container. In this manner, it can be caused that gravity acts on the impurities in the suction air flowin order to transport the impurities into the collection container. On the other hand, due to the orientation of the inlet opening, it can happen that (in particular relatively large) dirt particles remain on the outside of the flapand accumulate increasingly on the outside of the flapand possibly lead to clogging of the inlet opening.

The dirt that is disposed on the outside of the flapcan possibly fall off when the separating unitis separated from the suction unit, which can be perceived as unpleasant by a user. In addition, the suction operation must be interrupted in the presence of a blockage of the inlet opening, and the separating unit must be cleaned, which can also be perceived as uncomfortable.

The flappreferably has one or more desired bending points,(as shown by way of example in), through the use of which it is possible to increase the opening angle of at least a partial area of the flap. A desired bending point,can be configured in particular as a (film) hinge. The flapcan have a main hingethat runs along a (main) edge of the frameand that enables the entire flap(i.e., the total surface of the flap) to be opened. In addition, the flaphas one or more (linear) desired bending points, which each enable an additional opening of a respective partial area of the flap.

The flapcan, as illustrated by way of example in, have a total surface, for example, a rectangular total surface, wherein the total surfacecompletely covers the inlet opening. The total surfaceis delimited by a main edgeand one or more (in particular three) secondary edges. The main edgeis typically fixedly connected to the frameof the inlet opening, with the result that the flapcannot be moved away from the frameat the main edge. The one or more secondary edgesare not connected to the frameof the inlet opening, and can be moved away from the frame(due to influence of a radial force) in order to open the inlet opening.

A linear main desired bending point(for example, in the form of a film hinge), which enables a rotational movement of the total surfaceof the flapabout the linear main desired bending point(i.e. main bending axis), can be disposed on the main edge. The angle of rotation that is enabled by the main desired bending pointis typically limited (for example, to 45° or less, or to 30° or less) with the result that the total surfaceof the flapcan only be opened up to a certain opening angle by the force of the suction air flow. This has the advantage that the flow direction of the suction air flowthrough the inlet openinghas a particularly large directional component in the circumferential direction and only a relatively small directional component in the radial direction. In this manner, a robust cyclonic suction air flowcan be caused in a reliable manner within the collection container of the separating unit.

On the other hand, the limitation of the opening angle of the main desired bending pointat the main edgeof the flapcan lead to relatively large dirt particles getting stuck on the outside of the flap.

The flapcan therefore have at least one further (linear) desired bending point, which enables an additional rotation or bending of a partial areaof the total surfaceof the flapabout the respective desired bending point(i.e. about the respective bending axis). A further desired bending point(in particular a further film hinge) thus renders it possible for a partial areaof the total surface(which faces away from the main edge) to be able to move away from the framein addition (in particular under the influence of a relatively large dirt particle). As a result, the inlet openingcan be opened further in the corresponding partial area of the inlet opening, with the result that even relatively large dirt particles can get into the collection container.

The additional bending or turning away of a partial areaof the total surfaceof the flapis typically not caused by a suction air flow, which has only relatively small dirt particles. It is thus possible to ensure that the flow direction of the suction air flowhas a directional component, which is as large as possible, in the circumferential direction and only a relatively small directional component in the radial direction. On the other hand, the additional bending or turning away of the partial areaof the total surfaceof the flapcan be caused if a relatively large dirt particle, carried by the suction air flow, acts on this partial areaof the total surface(and thereby causes a relatively large force in the radial direction).

By additionally introducing one or more film hinges, which are disposed transversely, longitudinally, diagonally, on the front and/or on the rear side or also in a wide variety of combinations on the flexible or elastic dust retention flap, it is thus possible for the flap, in the case of relatively large particles and/or in the case of a relatively large amount of dirt in the suction air flow, to open further at least in one or more partial areasof the total surfaceand thus for no dirt to remain stuck between the flapand the inlet openingof the collection container. In addition, the wall orientation of the air flow(towards the inside of the housing wall) continues to exist for better dust separation. This wall orientation is produced (in the case of relatively high amounts of air) by the main film hinge(which runs, for example, along the longitudinal axis). In the case of relatively smaller amounts of air, one or more subsequent longitudinally extending further film hingescan cause the flap(at least one or more partial areas) to open. In this manner, even with a relatively small amount of air, it is possible to ensure a good wall orientation of the inflowing suction air.

During the suction operation of the suction unit, the first end faceof the collection container of the separating unitis typically oriented upward, while the second end faceof the collection container is oriented downward. Gravity thus acts on the impurities (for example, dust particles) that are disposed in the collection areaduring the suction operation, as a result of which at least some of the impurities are moved towards the second end face. As a result, during the suction operation, fewer impurities tend to be disposed in the vicinity of the first end facethan in the vicinity of the second end face. In order to maintain the highest possible suction power, it is therefore typically advantageous if the inlet openingfor the inlet of the suction air flowinto the collection container is disposed as close as possible to the first end faceof the collection container.

In order to keep the collection areaof the collection container of the separating unitas free of impurities as possible in the area of the inlet opening, and in order to thereby provide a permanently high suction power, it is advantageous if the suction air flowflows in a helical manner around the filter unitand towards the second end face. For this purpose, the flapat the inlet openingcan be configured so as to orient the suction air flowthat flows through the inlet openingin such a manner that the directional vector of the movement direction of the suction air flowhas a first vector component in the circumferential direction and a second vector component in the longitudinal direction. The pitch of the helical flow direction of the suction air flowcan be defined by the ratio between the first vector component and the second vector component.

The flapcan have one or more (linear) desired bending points, which render it possible to bend or rotate one or more corresponding partial areasof the total surfaceof the flapabout a respective (bending) axis, wherein the respective (bending) axis runs obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis. The normal vector that is perpendicular to the bending axis of a desired bending pointcan, in particular, have a directional component that is oriented towards the second end faceof the collection container. In this manner, it is possible to cause the suction air flowto be deflected towards the second end faceby the partial areaof the total surfaceof the flap, which partial area is bent about this bending axis, so that a helical suction air flowis thereby caused in the collection container of the separating unit.