DISPOSABLE CONTAINER FOR CONSTRUCTION-GRADE VACUUM CLEANERS

Description

This claims priority to European Patent Application EP24214480.6, filed on November 21, 2024 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a disposable container for collecting dust in a vacuum cleaner, in particular in construction-grade vacuum cleaners.

BACKGROUND

A construction-grade vacuum cleaner (or else industrial vacuum cleaner) is a high-performance piece of construction equipment which has been developed specifically for sucking up dirt, dust and even liquids on construction sites or in workshops. Construction-grade vacuum cleaners can be divided into wet and dry vacuum cleaners according to their field of use. In particular, dry vacuum cleaners can be divided into two main variants: construction-grade vacuum cleaner with suction bags and without suction bags. Both have different modes of operation and provide different advantages and disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A construction-grade vacuum cleaner with suction bags guides the sucked-up dirt into a special bag which has to be regularly exchanged or emptied. The sucked-up dirt and dust are collected directly in the bag, which minimizes contact with the dirt. This is advantageous particularly in the case of fine dust. The suction bag is used here not only as a collecting vessel. The bag is air-permeable and serves as a filter for the suction air flow. However, this also means that the suction capacity can rapidly decrease when the bag fills up. It is frequently necessary to ensure that the bag is not overfilled. Also, such air-permeable suction bags are not suitable for handling hazardous substances, since the latter are often fine-grained and can thus inadvertently emerge from the suction bag. Finally, the dust may block the pores of the filter bag, especially in construction applications, before the bag is full.

Construction-grade suction cleaners without suction bags collect the dirt directly in a collection container which is emptied after use. It is advantageous in this case that no running costs for bags arise and the collection containers have a greater capacity. On the other hand, it is known that, during emptying of the container, the sucked-up dust is easily released again, which can lead to increased dust exposure for the user.

In particular, construction-grade vacuum cleaners are frequently used in conjunction with hazardous substances such as mineral dust, quartz or hardwood dust. To date, there has hardly been any consideration of the disposal of these substances, once collected in the dust container. This results in significant health risks, since pollutants in the vacuum cleaner are often emptied without regard to the user's health.

On the basis of the above-mentioned problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction-grade vacuum cleaner which enables simple and safe disposal of hazardous substances and at the same time has long maintenance intervals.

The present invention provides a disposable container for collecting dust in a vacuum cleaner, in particular in a construction-grade vacuum cleaner, the disposable container comprising the following:

an inlet opening, which is connectable to a suction hose connection of the vacuum cleaner;

a suction opening, which is connectable to a filter of the vacuum cleaner, the inlet opening and the suction opening being configured to be detachably connected to the vacuum cleaner.

The present invention is in particular a combination of a bag-operated and bag-less suction device. The disposable container illustrated here, in particular in contrast to the conventional suction bag, does not serve as a filter, but is pore-free. In other words, the disposable container is air-impermeable. The air/dust mixture of the air flow is separated by a separate filter, as is customary in the case of bag-less vacuum cleaners. Accordingly, the disposable container has a suction opening, which is connectable to the separate filter of the vacuum cleaner. Particles which are separated from the air flow by the filter thus drop back into the disposable container and can be removed together with the latter cleanly and simply from the interior of the vacuum cleaner. According to the invention, the disposable container is disposed of together with the particles. In particular, the disposable container does not have to be emptied, which previously caused harmful particles to be released again. Thus, the present invention makes use of the advantages of both technologies. Firstly, the deposited dust can be removed safely and quickly from the construction-grade vacuum cleaner. Secondly, the maintenance intervals are much longer, since the air flow is cleaned up by the separate filter, and the filter can be regularly cleaned, as is well known in the prior art.

According to a further embodiment, the disposable container is produced from a disposable material. According to a further embodiment, the disposable container is produced from recycled material. As a result of the use of recycled materials for the disposable container, the latter is not only safer for the user, but also environmentally friendly. For example, the material may even be a repeatedly recycled material, as a result of which the disposable container where possible can be reused together with the collected particles.

According to a further embodiment, the disposable container is produced from cellulose having a basis weight of 180g/sqm to 600g/sqm. For example, the material of the disposable container may be cardboard packaging which, firstly, is favourable in production and, secondly, has the necessary strength in order to securely enclose the dust particles. The use of natural celluloses for producing the disposable container furthermore has the advantage that the latter can be reused together with the construction material, in particular in the processing of natural materials. For example, the disposable container can be produced from cardboard packaging, which can be recycled directly together with wood dust collected in the interior of the disposable container.

According to a further embodiment, the disposable container has a filter which is connected to the suction opening and covers the suction opening. According to this embodiment variant, the filter is part of the disposable container and is likewise a disposable article. The filter may, for example, be connected fixedly, that is to say non-detachably, to the wall of the disposable container. As a result, even without an outlet valve, when the disposable container is removed, dust is prevented from escaping therefrom and putting the user at risk. Alternatively, the filter can be connected detachably, i.e. exchangeably, to the wall of the disposable container. This is advantageous in particular whenever the filter is not made from recyclable material although the wall of the disposable container is. It should also be mentioned at this juncture that the filter of the present invention is a separate filter, i.e. is not an air-permeable region of the wall but rather a filter fabric which differs from the material and the construction of the wall.

According to a further embodiment, the inlet opening has an inlet valve, the inlet valve being preferably preloaded into a closed state. The inlet valve can prevent dust particles from being able to escape again from the construction-grade vacuum cleaner when the disposable container is removed. As a result of the preloading into the closed state, this safety mechanism is automatically actuated, with the result that the user is protected from dust particles just by the removal of the disposable container.

According to a further embodiment, the inlet valve is configured in such a way that, when a suction hose is inserted into the vacuum cleaner, the inlet valve is transferred from its closed state into its open state.

According to a further embodiment, the suction opening has a suction valve, the suction valve being preferably preloaded into a closed state.

According to a further embodiment, the suction valve is configured in such a way that, when the disposable container is inserted into the vacuum cleaner, the suction valve is transferred from its closed state into its open state.

According to a further embodiment, the inlet valve and/or the suction valve have/has a flap which is pivotable between a closed state and an open state, wherein the flap is preloaded into the closed state via a spring element.

According to a further embodiment, the inlet valve and/or the suction valve have/has an elastically deformable membrane which is preloaded into a closed state and is configured in such a way that the membrane elastically deforms during the transfer from the closed state into the open state.

According to a further embodiment, the inlet valve and/or the suction valve are/is configured in such a way that the inlet valve is transferred from the closed state into the open state by a suction air flow in the vacuum cleaner.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a construction-grade vacuum cleaner having a suction hose connection for connecting a suction hose and having a turbine for generating a suction air flow, the construction-grade vacuum cleaner having at least one filter, which is arranged between a collection container and the turbine, and the construction-grade vacuum cleaner having an above-mentioned disposable container.

According to a further embodiment, the inlet opening of the disposable container is detachably connected to the suction hose connection of the construction-grade vacuum cleaner, wherein the suction opening of the disposable container is detachably connected to the filter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages can be found in the following description of the figures. The figures, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them to form further useful combinations.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section through a construction-grade vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section through a disposable container according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section through a disposable container according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary illustration of a construction-grade vacuum cleaner 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The construction-grade vacuum cleaner substantially comprises a collection container 8 and a suction head 9. The suction head 9 is positioned detachably on the collection container 8. The collection container 8 substantially comprises an encircling wall surface 15 and a bottom 16. The encircling wall surface 15 and the bottom 16 form a cavity 17. The collection container 8 in turn serves to collect and retain dirt particles that are picked up by means of the drawn-in air flow LS. The dirt particles are not illustrated in the figures.

The suction head 9 has a suction device 10, for example a turbine, for generating a negative pressure. By means of the negative pressure, ambient air can be drawn into the interior of the construction-grade vacuum cleaner 1 from the outside. The turbine 10 is connected to a filter 7 via a feeder pipe 11. In the embodiment illustrated here, the filter is positioned in a filter cassette receptacle 12. The filter cassette receptacle 12 has substantially the shape and the external volume of a corresponding filter cassette and serves to receive and hold the filter cassette.

The filter 7 is positioned in the suction head 9, between the suction device 10 and the collection container 8. A parting plane 13 extends between the suction head 9 and the collection container 8. Furthermore, the suction head 9 has an inlet pipe 14 with a first end 14a and a second end 14b. The first end 14a of the inlet pipe 14 is located outside the suction head 9 and serves as a suction hose connection for connecting and holding a vacuum cleaner hose in terms of flow. The vacuum cleaner hose is not illustrated in the figures.

The second end 14b of the inlet pipe 14 is directed into the interior of the collection container 8. Through the second end 14b of the inlet pipe 14, the air/dust mixture sucked in in the air flow flows into the interior of the collection container 8.

A disposable container 18 is arranged inside the collection container 8, i.e. in the cavity 17, of the construction-grade vacuum cleaner 1. The disposable container 18 is arranged, in particular detachably, in the cavity 17 of the construction-grade vacuum cleaner 1. The disposable container 18 serves to collect dust which is sucked into the interior of the collection container 8 by the air flow LS. As is schematically indicated in FIG. 1, the disposable container 18 is sealingly connected, on the one hand, to the inlet pipe 14. On the other hand, the disposable container 18 is sealingly connected to the filter 7. Accordingly, the air flow LS is guided through the disposable container 18 from the inlet pipe 14 to the filter 7. The disposable container is illustrated in detail in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section through a disposable container 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The disposable container 100 can be produced, for example, from a lightweight disposable material. For example, the disposable container 100 is a cardboard container which, firstly, is lightweight and, secondly, can easily be recycled. Cardboard packaging is also a natural product which can be disposed of together with other natural particles in the air flow (for example wood particles).

The disposable container 100 has an inlet opening 102. The inlet opening 102 extends through a wall 106 of the disposable container 100. The disposable container 100 has a suction opening 104, which likewise extends through the wall of the disposable container 100.

The disposable container 100 is connected to the inlet pipe 114 via the inlet opening 102. For example, the inlet opening 102 can be pushed over the second end (14b), described in FIG. 1, of the inlet pipe 114. The inlet opening 102 is in particular detachably connected to the inlet pipe. The disposable container 100 is connected to a filter 120 via the suction opening 104. For example, the filter 120 can have a flange which can be pushed into the suction opening 104 after the disposable container has been inserted. The suction opening 104 is detachably connected to the flange of the filter 120.

During the operation of the construction-grade vacuum cleaner, an air/dust mixture is sucked into the disposable container 100 via the air flow (LS, FIG. 1). This takes place in particular because of the turbine which is arranged downstream of the filter and generates a negative pressure. The air flow enters the interior of the disposable container 100 via the inlet opening 102 and passes through the filter 120 after the air flow has left the disposable container 100 via the suction opening 104. During the flow through the filter 120, the dust or other particles contained in the air flow is/are retained, i.e. the particles cannot pass through the filter. The filled particles 122 drop onto the bottom of the disposable container 100. After a certain operating time, the disposable container 100 is full, i.e. the disposable container 100 cannot receive any further particles in its interior 108. The particles are removed together with the disposable container 100 from the collection container 8. For this purpose, the disposable container 100 can be removed quickly and easily from the inlet pipe 114 or from the filter flange.

Construction-grade vacuum cleaners are frequently also used when working with materials which are hazardous to health. The resulting particles therefore have to be safely stored within the disposable container not only during the suction operation, but also during replacement of the disposable container 100. In particular, it is highly important that the harmful particles can no longer escape from the interior 108 of the disposable container 100 when the disposable container 100 is replaced. For this reason, the disposable container 100 according to the invention can be equipped with valves which are preloaded into their closed position.

Exemplary embodiments of such valves are schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. An inlet valve 110 serves to close the inlet opening 102 as soon as the disposable container 100 is removed from the construction-grade vacuum cleaner. A suction valve 116 serves to close the suction opening 104 as soon as the disposable container 100 is removed from the construction-grade vacuum cleaner. The two valves illustrated in FIG. 2 are flaps which are preloaded into their closed position. For this purpose, the inlet valve 110 has a spring element 112, while the suction valve 116 has a spring element 118.

Although the valves are preloaded into their closed positions, the valves 110, 116 are shown in their open position in FIG. 2. In other words, in the installed state of the disposable container 100, the two valves 110,116 are in their open position. In the embodiment illustrated here, this is achieved, for example, in that the inlet valve 110 is transferred into its open position counter to the preloading of the spring element 112 when the inlet opening 102 is attached to the inlet pipe 114. The situation is similar with the suction valve 116. The suction valve 116 is transferred into its open position, shown in FIG. 2, by the flange of the filter 120 being inserted into the suction opening 104. In other words, as a result of the insertion of the inlet pipe 114 or of the filter flange, the valves 110,116, which are in the form of flaps, are pivoted from their closed position (not shown) into their open position. By means of the spring elements 112,118 already mentioned above, the valves 110,116 are automatically transferred into their closed position as soon as the disposable container 100 is removed from the construction-grade vacuum cleaner, i.e. as soon as the filter 120 is pulled out of the suction opening 104 or the inlet opening 102 is pulled out of the inlet pipe 114.

The automatic closure of the inlet opening 102 and of the suction opening 104 during the removal of the disposable container effectively prevents the particles 122 located in the cavity 108 from being able to escape from the disposable container 100 again. The disposable container 100, which is preferably produced from natural materials, can then be disposed of together with the particles 122. The user thus no longer comes into contact with the particles 122.

In the embodiment described above, the valves 110, 116 are transferred into their open position by contact with parts of the vacuum cleaner, here by contact with the inlet pipe 114 or the filter connector. In an alternative embodiment variant, the valves can also be opened by the air flow within the construction-grade vacuum cleaner. According to this example, the valves are closed as long as the construction-grade vacuum cleaner is inactive, i.e. as long as no air flow is generated by the turbine. As soon as the construction-grade vacuum cleaner is switched off, i.e. there is no air flow, the valves automatically close as a result of the preloading described above. Accordingly, the disposable container according to this embodiment is already sealed when the construction-grade vacuum cleaner is switched off and not first after the disposable container has been removed.

It should be noted at this juncture that a multiplicity of different valve types can be used in the disposable container 100 according to the present invention. For example, one valve or both valves can be configured as a membrane valve. The membrane valve is configured in such a way that it deforms from its closed position as soon as the disposable container is inserted into the construction-grade vacuum cleaner. In relation to the embodiment variant illustrated in FIG. 2, the membrane of the valves can open, for example, by deformation, when the inlet opening 102 is pushed over the inlet pipe 114. The membrane of the suction valve (shown solely schematically as alternate embodiment in FIG. 2 as SM) can accordingly deform elastically when the filter connector is introduced into the suction opening. Finally, it is also conceivable to design the valves as ball valves, which in turn are preloaded into the closed position.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section through a disposable container 200 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the disposable container 200 is detachably connected to a suction head 9. Although this is not illustrated in detail, the suction head 9 according to FIG. 3 also has a suction device for generating a negative pressure.

The disposable container 200 has an inlet opening 202 and a suction opening 204. Similarly to the embodiment from FIG. 2, the inlet opening 202 can be connected to an inlet pipe which serves to connect a suction hose to the disposable container. The suction opening 204 is detachably connected to a suction channel of the suction head 9. In contrast to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, however, no filter is arranged in the suction head. Rather, a filter 220 is part of the disposable container. The filter 220 covers the suction opening 204 on the inside or on the outside. In other words, the filter 220 can be arranged on an inner side or outer side of the wall 206 of the disposable container 200.

In the embodiment variant illustrated here, the filter 220 is fixedly connected to the wall 206. The filter 220 is thus not detachable from the wall 206 without destroying the disposable container. Regardless of whether the filter 220 is arranged on the inside or outside of the wall 206, it completely covers the suction opening 204 in such a way that air/dust mixture which flows through the interior 208 of the disposable container 200 can leave the interior 208 only via the filter 220. Dust particles 222, which are filtered out of the air/dust mixture by the filter 220, are deposited on the bottom of the disposable container 200. Dust particles of this type cannot escape via the suction opening 204 through the integrated filter 220 even after the disposable container 200 has been removed from the construction-grade vacuum cleaner.

An inlet valve 210 serves to close the inlet opening 202 as soon as the disposable container 200 is removed from the construction-grade vacuum cleaner. The inlet valve 210 is a flap which is preloaded into its closed position. For this purpose, the inlet valve 210 has a spring element.

Although the inlet valve 210 is preloaded into its closed position, it is illustrated in its open position in FIG. 3. The automatic closure of the inlet opening 102 during the removal of the disposable container effectively prevents the particles 222 located in the cavity 208 from being able to escape from the disposable container 100 again. The disposable container 100, which is preferably produced from natural materials, can then be disposed of together with the particles 222 and the filter 220. The user thus no longer comes into contact with the particles.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the figures, but results from a combination of all the features disclosed herein.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 Construction-grade vacuum cleaner

7 Filter

8 Collection container

9 Suction head

10 Suction device

11 Feeder pipe

12 Filter cassette receptacle

13 Parting plane

14 Inlet pipe

14a First end

14b Second end

15 Wall surface

16 Bottom

17 Cavity

18 Disposable container

100, 200 Disposable container

102, 202 Inlet opening

104, 204 Suction opening

106, 206 Wall

108, 208 Cavity

110, 210 Inlet valve

112 Spring element

114 Inlet pipe

116 Suction valve

118 Spring element

120, 220 Filter

122, 222 Particle

LS Air flow

SM membrane