Suction device and method for operating a suction device

• US 10,548,450 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Hess, Stefan, Eckstein, Daniel, Holzwarth, Guenther, Steinbach, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Golightly, Eric W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rivera-Cordero, Arlyn I
• Application Number:
  US14/984,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20160106288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4086 Arrangements for steam generation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/0229 Suction chambers for aspirating the sprayed liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2230/01 Cleaning with steam
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/00 Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0321 using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid E04F17/126 takes precedence

Abstract

A suction device, including a suction unit, a suction line arrangement that is fluidically connected to the suction unit, a fluid supplying arrangement, a discharge arrangement for fluid, which is fluidically connected to the fluid supplying arrangement, and a guide element that is couplable to the discharge arrangement and the suction line arrangement and that guides fluid from the discharge arrangement into the suction line arrangement, for cleaning the suction line arrangement.

Claims

1. A suction device, comprising:

a suction unit;

a suction line arrangement that is fluidically connected to the suction unit;

a fluid supplying arrangement;

a discharge arrangement for fluid, which is fluidically connected to the fluid supplying arrangement; and

a guide element that is couplable to the discharge arrangement and the suction line arrangement and that guides fluid from the discharge arrangement into the suction line arrangement, for cleaning the suction line arrangement;

wherein the guide element includes at least one duct through which fluid from the discharge arrangement is configured to flow into the suction line arrangement;

wherein a first receptacle for the suction arrangement and a second receptacle for the discharge arrangement are provided on the duct and the duct being outside of the suction arrangement and the discharge arrangement;

wherein there is associated with the guide element a sensor, which detects correct positioning on at least one of the suction line arrangement and the discharge arrangement; and

wherein the guide element includes a sealing arrangement for fluid-tight attachment of the discharge arrangement and fluid-tight attachment of the suction line arrangement.

2. The suction device according to claim 1, comprising a control arrangement, and wherein the sensor delivers a signal to the control arrangement in the event of correct positioning on at least one of the suction line arrangement and the discharge arrangement.

3. A suction device, comprising:

a suction unit;

a suction line arrangement that is fluidically connected to the suction unit;

a fluid supplying arrangement;

a discharge arrangement for fluid, which is fluidically connected to the fluid supplying arrangement; and

a guide element that is couplable to the discharge arrangement and the suction line arrangement and that guides fluid from the discharge arrangement into the suction line arrangement, for cleaning the suction line arrangement;

wherein the guide element includes at least one duct through which fluid from the discharge arrangement is configured to flow into the suction line arrangement;

wherein a first receptacle for the suction arrangement and a second receptacle for the discharge arrangement are provided on the duct and the duct being outside of the suction arrangement and the discharge arrangement;

wherein the duct of the guide element is enclosed such that fluid flowing from the discharge arrangement into the suction line arrangement is retained within the guide element; and

wherein the guide element includes a sealing arrangement for fluid-tight attachment of the discharge arrangement and fluid-tight attachment of the suction line arrangement.

4. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the guide element is adapted for attachment to at least one of a discharge mouth of the discharge arrangement and a suction mouth of the suction line arrangement.

5. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the guide element is a part that is detachable from at least one of the suction line arrangement and the discharge arrangement and is arranged on the suction device, or is a part separate or separable from the suction device.

6. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the suction line arrangement and the discharge arrangement are mechanically connected to one another at least in a partial region.

7. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein without the guide element the discharge arrangement and the suction line arrangement are separated from one another fluidically.

8. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the suction line arrangement includes at least one of at least one tube and at least one hose.

9. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the discharge arrangement includes at least one of at least one tube and at least one hose.

10. The suction device according to claim 3, said suction device taking the form of a mobile device.

11. The suction device according to claim 3, said suction device taking the form of a steam device which is configured to discharge steam.

12. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the guide element is detachable from the discharge arrangement and/or the suction line arrangement, and wherein the guide element is configured to be attached to the discharge arrangement and/or the suction line arrangement before cleaning the suction line arrangement.

13. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the duct is a fluid-tight enclosure directing a fluid-tight transfer of fluid from the discharge arrangement to the suction line arrangement.

14. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the guide element takes the form of a support element on which a suction tube of the suction line arrangement is placeable.

15. The suction device according to claim 14, comprising a mounting for the suction tube, by means of which the suction tube is fixable on the suction device.

16. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the fluid supplying arrangement includes at least one of a clean water supplying arrangement, a cleaning agent supplying arrangement, a supplying arrangement for a mixture of cleaning agent and clean water, and a steam generator.

17. The suction device according to claim 16, wherein clean water, or a mixture of clean water and cleaning agent, or steam is provided as the cleaning fluid for the suction line arrangement.

18. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein there is associated with the guide element a sensor, which detects correct positioning on at least one of the suction line arrangement and the discharge arrangement.

19. The suction device according to claim 18, wherein the sensor is arranged on the guide element.

20. The suction device according to claim 18, wherein the sensor takes the form of a switch, and wherein a switch actuation is performed by a particular positioning of at least one of the suction line arrangement and the discharge arrangement on the guide element.

21. The suction device according to claim 3, comprising a control arrangement which, in a cleaning mode, automatically performs a cleaning procedure of the suction line arrangement.

22. The suction device according to claim 21, comprising a pump which, in the cleaning mode, conveys fluid in the discharge arrangement and is controlled by the control arrangement.

23. The suction device according to claim 22, wherein fluid is conveyed for a particular first duration.

24. The suction device according to claim 22, wherein the control arrangement controls the suction unit.

25. The suction device according to claim 24, wherein the suction unit is operated for a particular second duration after the conveying of fluid in the discharge arrangement has been switched off.