Device for carrying out work on a surface and method for operating the device

• US 20030074752A1
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Konrad, Jurgen
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/49.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/02 Power-driven machines or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/38 Machines, specially adapted for cleaning walls, ceilings, roofs, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool

Abstract

To treat a surface by a device attracted to the surface by vacuum, it is necessary in most cases to guide a working device with a certain contact pressure over the surface. To be able to set the contact pressure of the working device with little effort, the device according to the invention rests at three points on the surface, one support point being formed by the working device. The force of attraction of the device against the surface is, therefore, accurately distributed to the working device and the other two supports so that the pressure force of the working device can be specifically varied and also controlled by varying the vacuum between the device and the surface.

Claims

1. A device for carrying out work on a surface, comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum disposed at said housing and producing a vacuum between said housing and the surface;

a working device for treating the surface, said working device connected to said housing;

at least one support connected to said housing for supporting said housing against the surface; and

said working device and said at least one support supporting said housing against the surface in a three-point support.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said working device has a support point;

said at least one support is two supports having support points; and

said support points of said two supports and of said working device form an isosceles triangle having a base disposed between said support points of said two supports.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one support is one support having a support point;

said working device is elongated and has a section with an extension disposed next to said support point of said one support; and

said working device supports said housing against the surface along said section.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support is a drive for moving said housing on the surface.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said drive has a variable drive direction.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support is a means for moving said housing on the surface.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said moving means has a variable drive direction.

8. The device according to claim 1, including a vacuum detecting device for detecting a measure of the vacuum between said housing and the surface.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said vacuum detecting device is disposed at said housing.

10. The device according to claim 1, including a means for detecting a measure of the vacuum between said housing and the surface.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said vacuum detecting means is disposed at said housing.

12. The device according to claim 1, including a pressure detector for detecting a measure of a pressure force of said working device against the surface.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said pressure detector is disposed at said housing.

14. The device according to claim 1, including a means for detecting a measure of a pressure force of said working device against the surface.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said pressure detecting means is disposed at said housing.

16. A device for carrying out work on a surface, comprising:

a housing;

a means for producing a vacuum between said housing and the surface, said vacuum producing means disposed at said housing;

a working device for treating the surface, said working device connected to said housing;

at least one support connected to said housing for supporting said housing against the surface; and

said working device and said at least one support supporting said housing against the surface in a three-point support.

17. A method for operating a device for carrying out work on a surface, which comprises:

providing a housing having;

a vacuum;

a working device for treating the surface, the working device having a support point; and

at least one support having a support point for supporting the housing against the surface, the working device and the at least one support supporting the housing against the surface in a three-point support; and

activating the vacuum to produce a pressure force against the surface, which pressure force, taking into account a point of application of the pressure force on the housing and a configuration of the support point of the at least one support and of the support point of the working device, leads to a predetermined pressure force of the working device against the surface.

18. The method according to claim 17, which further comprises determining a measure of the vacuum between the housing and the surface with a vacuum detecting device and utilizing the measure as an actual variable for controlling the vacuum.

19. The method according to claim 17, which further comprises determining a measure of the vacuum between the housing and the surface with a pressure detector and utilizing the measure as an actual variable for controlling the vacuum.

20. The method according to claim 17, which further comprises detecting a measure of a pressure force of the working device against the surface with a vacuum detecting device and utilizing the measure to achieve a predetermined value for the measure to control the vacuum.

21. The method according to claim 17, which further comprises detecting a measure of a pressure force of the working device against the surface with a pressure detector and utilizing the measure to achieve a predetermined value for the measure to control the vacuum.

22. A method for operating a device for carrying out work on a surface, which comprises:

providing a housing having;

a vacuum;

a working device for treating the surface, the working device having a support point; and

at least one support having a support point for supporting the housing against the surface, the working device and the at least one support supporting the housing against the surface in a three-point support; and

activating the vacuum to produce pressure force against the surface and a corresponding predetermined pressure force of the working device against the surface dependent upon a point of application of the pressure force on the housing and a configuration of the support point of the at least one support and of the support point of the working device.