Self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device

• US 20070136981A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wessel-Werk GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Wessel-Werk GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Dilger, Horst, Riehl, Klaus-Dieter, Kaffenberger, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,127,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/00 Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/00 Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device for cleaning smooth and textile floor coverings, particularly in the private home sector. The device has a housing, a vacuum blower, an electrically driven cleaning roller, an electrical drive mechanism, control electronics, and a power source. The maximal electric power of the self-propelled vacuum-cleaning tool lies between 150 watts and 300 watts during cleaning operation, whereby between 120 watts and 220 watts are allocated to the vacuum blower, between 10 watts and 40 watts are allocated to the electrical roller drive for the cleaning roller, and between 5 watts and 40 watts are allocated to the drive mechanism, and whereby the control electronics have a power demand of less than 5% of the maximal electric power.

Claims

1. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device for cleaning smooth and textile floor coverings, comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum blower in the housing;

a cleaning roller driven by an electrical drive, in the housing;

an electrical drive mechanism in the housing;

control electronics disposed within the housing; and

a power source connected to the vacuum blower, electrical drive of the roller, electrical drive mechanism and control electronics;

wherein a maximal electric power of the self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device lies between 150 watts and 300 watts during cleaning, wherein between 120 watts and 220 watts are allocated to the vacuum blower, between 10 watts and 40 watts are allocated to the electrical drive for the cleaning roller, and between 5 watts and 40 watts are allocated to the drive mechanism, and wherein the control electronics have a power demand of less than 5% of the maximal electric power.

2. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a maximal electric power of the drive mechanism is less than 15% of a maximal electric power of the vacuum blower.

3. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery unit.

4. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a fuel cell.

5. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning roller is configured as a brush roller or a blade roller with continuous or segmented soft blades.

6. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism has two drive motors, each of which has a drive wheel assigned to it, and wherein steering of the vacuum-cleaning tool takes place by variably turning the drive motors on and off.

7. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a variable power control of the drive assigned to the cleaning roller, or of the vacuum blower, or of the drive mechanism, said power control varying the power supplied as a function of a composition of the floor covering or the degree of dirtiness.

8. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the drive of the roller is programmed so that a lower travel speed is provided on textile floor coverings than on smooth floor coverings.

9. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the vacuum blower is programmed to have a lower speed of rotation on textile floor coverings than on smooth floor coverings.

10. A self-propelled vacuum-cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism has a device for height adjustment, which can be manually activated or is controlled automatically, as a function of the composition of the floor covering.