Vacuum cleaner with electrostatically charged components

• US 6,199,244 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vorwerk & Company Interholding Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (Vorwerk & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Vorwerk & Company Interholding Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (Vorwerk & Company KG)
• Inventors: Meyer, Frank, Rodemann, Thomas, Zeeb, Gerd, Jacobs, Carsten, Hilgers, Stefan, Iglseder, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/412,245
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 15/15.1, 153/39, 153/83, 154/151
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/40 Cleaning implements actuated by electrostatic attraction; Devices for cleaning same; Magnetic cleaning implements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/60 Gas-bags surrounded by separate containers of inert gas

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner for cleaning floors or carpets, having a suction mouth (6), a base plate (5), which encloses the suction mouth (6), and a suction line, electrostatic charging of parts of the vacuum cleaner being provided in order to assist the dust uptake. In order advantageously to provide the vacuum cleaner with the dust uptake being assisted by electrostatic charging, the base plate (5) is electrostatically charged, and the electrostatic charging is carried out by a separate generator (8) provided in the vacuum cleaner.

Claims

1. Vacuum cleaner for cleaning floors or carpets, comprising:

an electrostatic charging generator, a base plate defining a suction mouth, and a suction line connecting with the mouth,

wherein the base plate is electrically conductive for reception of an electrostatic charge from the charging generator in order to assist dust uptake.

2. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a brush adjacent to the base plate and being provided with bristles for acting on a floor covering, wherein with respect to a material of the floor covering, the bristles are selected to be far apart in a triboelectric series from the material of the floor covering.

3. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein, for adapting the vacuum cleaner for use on wool carpets or polyamide carpets, the bristles are made of polypropylene to attain a desired triboelectric relationship between the bristles and the carpets.

4. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the base plate and a material in the suction line are selected with reference to the triboelectric series.

5. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising a connection of the brush to the generator wherein the connection enables the brush to receive an electric potential for providing an electric charge, or alternatively to be grounded.

6. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the base plate is metallic and the bristles are made of an electrically conductive material.

7. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the bristles are arranged in bristle rows, and the bristle rows, independently of one another, can be subjected to an electric potential or can be grounded.

8. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, further comprising contacts provided on the brush for connection to the generator to attain electric charging of the brush.

9. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, further comprising a commutator positioned adjacent the brush for receiving the contacts, and wherein the contacts slide along the commutator during rotation of the brush.

10. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein a bristle or a bristle row is charged in an angle-of-rotation region of the brush which corresponds to contact of the brush on the carpet.

11. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the suction mouth and the base plate are made of an insulating plastic material, and upstream of the suction mouth, in flow direction, a metal part, projecting into an air duct, is provided for corona discharge, and a counter-electrode is provided in the suction line.

12. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the metal part is a metal roller.

13. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the metal part is a rotatable disc.

14. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the surface of the metal part is polished.

15. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the surface of the metal part is rough.

16. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the counter-electrode is constructed to withstand a high voltage of from 5 to 15 kV or higher.

17. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a brush and a drive belt serving concurrently to impart motion to the brush and to drive the generator.

18. Vacuum cleaner for cleaning floors or carpets, comprising:

an electrostatic charging generator, a base plate defining a suction mouth adapted to connect with a suction line, a brush located in a suction path of the mouth, and a drive unit;

wherein at least one of the brush and the base plate is electrically conductive for reception of an electrostatic charge from the charging generator in order to assist dust uptake, and the drive unit imparts motion to the brush while driving the generator.

19. Vacuum cleaner for cleaning floors or carpets, comprising:

an electrostatic charging generator, a base plate defining a suction mouth adapted to connect with a suction line, a brush located in a suction path of the mouth, and an electrical circuit;

wherein the brush is electrically connected by the circuit to the generator for reception of an electrostatic charge from the charging generator in order to assist dust uptake, and the circuit provides alternatively for grounding or charging of the brush.