Patent Application
20250017432
The present invention relates to a floor cleaning device, preferably a floor scrubbing device, particularly preferably a scrub vacuum floor cleaning device, comprising:
A floor cleaning device having the features of the generic term of claim 1 is known from WO 2020/234904 A1. A coil spring surrounding a region of the guide member that connects the guide member and the floor unit is arranged between a guide member and the floor unit. One end of the coil spring is firmly attached to the floor unit and the other end to the guide member. As a result, the spring force holds the guide member at an angle of approximately 90 degrees relative to the floor unit in a neutral position. If a user pivots the guide member out of the neutral position relative to the floor unit, the coil spring generates a counteracting restoring force in the direction of the neutral position. The restoring force increases with the size of the pivot angle relative to the neutral position.
If this floor cleaning device is put into operation and operated by a user, the user will realize that the neutral position of the guide member comes with ergonomic disadvantages. If an operator's hands grasp the guide member, the operator's feet will collide with the floor unit. If the operator's feet are apart from the floor unit, the operator will have to stretch their arms to hold the guide member in the neutral position. However, keeping the arms stretched for long is uncomfortable and a disadvantage in terms of ergonomics. During operation, an operator will hence pivot the guide member out of the neutral position towards their body to avoid having to hold the guide member with their arms stretched. In this position, however, the operator must work against the restoring force generated by the coil spring so that the guide member does not return to its neutral position due to the restoring force of the coil spring. Depending on the strength of the restoring force, it may also be compensated with a torque about the pivot axis in the pivot direction that results from the weight of the guide member. However, the more an operator pivots the guide member, the more the operator will have to work against the restoring force so that pivoting to large pivot angles is hardly possible or not possible at all.
As another prior art document, reference is made to the granted European patent EP 3 031 378 B1, from which a floor cleaning device providing means for switching the device between an operating position and a space-saving transport or storage position as required is known. In the operating position, the guide member is freely pivotable relative to a floor unit. The guide member can thus be easily pivoted toward a user so that the latter can easily grasp the guide member. Pivoting freely further allows large pivot angles, which are particularly necessary to adopt the space-saving position. However, when freely pivoting the guide member, a rather significant portion of the guide member's weight rests upon the user or the user's arms during the entire pivot operation.
In the case of the floor cleaning devices known from the prior art, an operator must accept to carry a rather significant load on their arms and body when the guide member is pivoted relative to the floor unit. Furthermore, in the case of the floor cleaning device known from WO 2020/234904 A1, it will hardly be possible to completely or at least almost completely pivot the guide member relative to the floor unit into a position in which the floor cleaning device would have a low height because the restoring force increases inevitably as the pivot angle increases. Therefore, compact stowage or storage of the floor cleaning device is hardly possible.
One object of the invention is to provide a floor cleaning device of the type described above that overcomes at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a floor cleaning device of the type described above that enables a user to adopt a comfortable operating position.
This object is achieved with a floor cleaning device of the type described above that provides a spring member that is operatively connected to the floor unit and the guide member in such a way that, when pivoting from the neutral position in a first pivot direction to a deflected position, a righting torque acting on the guide member and resulting from the spring force about the first pivot axis in the direction of the neutral position increases in a first angular range and decreases in a subsequent second angular range.
The righting torque reduces the guide member's weight resting on the operator outside the neutral position. In the second angular range, the righting torque decreases, making pivoting in the first pivot direction within the second angular range easy to perform by the operator, requiring no excessive effort. This can be achieved, for example, by the weight of the guide member without a user having to act in the second angular range in the direction of the first pivot direction. A compact position of the floor cleaning device where, for example, the guide member is fully pivoted relative to the neutral position, can thus be achieved with little effort on part of an operator. In the first angular range, the increasing righting torque in the first pivot direction can completely or at least partially compensate for an equally increasing torque around the first pivot axis, which is the result of, for example, the weight of the guide member. Therefore, the guide member and hence the entire floor cleaning device are very easy to guide especially in the first angular range. Overall, the invention makes the guide member comfortable to guide by an operator, ensuring overall pleasant and ergonomic operation of the floor cleaning device. In other words, the floor cleaning device can be operated very smoothly.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the spring member may have on one side of the first pivot joint a first mounting point coupled to the guide member at least in the first and second angular ranges and spaced from the first pivot axis. The force generated by the spring is thus introduced into the guide member at a predetermined location. It is to be noted that the mounting point may be part of a coupling device coupling the spring member to the guide member. In fact, mounting point and coupling device can be used as synonyms.
According to another embodiment of the invention a distance to the first pivot axis of a force vector acting on the first mounting point due to the spring force may decrease in the first angular range and/or in the second angular range at least at phases when pivoting in the first pivot direction. This makes it possible for a lever arm of the spring force to decrease relative to the pivot axis. As a result, a factor that contributes to the righting torque can be reduced.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the distance is at a maximum in the neutral position. This makes it possible for a factor contributing to the righting torque to be at a maximum in the neutral position.
According to another aspect of the invention, it may be provided that the first mounting point in the first angular range and/or second angular range at least at phases performs a movement along a segment of a circle about the first pivot axis.
According to another development of the invention, it may be provided that a spring length of the spring member increases at least at phases in the first angular range and in the second angular range when pivoting in the first pivot direction.
According to one aspect of the invention, it may be provided that the spring member is a tension spring.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that a spring length of the spring member decreases at least at phases in the first angular range and in the second angular range when pivoting in the first pivot direction.
According to one aspect of the invention, it may be provided that the spring member is a compression spring.
According to one embodiment, it may be provided that the spring member has a spring stiffness that is adjustable by an operator, in particular a spring constant. This means that the spring force and thus the righting torque generated can be adapted to the weight of the guide member or the operator's preferences.
According to another embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the spring member includes a spring-damper member. The spring-damper combination causes the spring member to produce a spring effect and a damping effect at the same time. Pivot movements around the first pivot axis are thus less jerky. Furthermore, a pivot movement of the guide member can fade more quickly.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the spring member has an in particular adjustable spring constant.
Alternatively, it may be provided that the spring member has a progressive or degressive spring characteristic or a combination thereof. It may be provided that the spring characteristic is initially configured as progressive and then as degressive. It may further be provided that the spring characteristic is configured as progressive in the first angular range and as degressive in the second angular range when pivoting about the first pivot axis in the first pivot direction.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the spring member is further operatively connected to the floor unit and the guide member in such a way that the righting torque at least one pivot angle relative to the neutral position in the first angular range and/or in the second angular range compensates for a torque acting on the first pivot joint about the first pivot axis, in particular a torque resulting from the weight of the guide member. In this way, a comfortable operating position can be created for the operator where they have to carry little or no weight with their body. Overall, this brings the advantage of smooth operation of the guide member, which on the one hand ensures that the load on the operator is very low especially at small pivot angles, and on the other hand enables the operator to effortlessly pivot the guide member about the first pivot axis with large pivot angles. Particularly at large pivot angles, especially in the first pivot direction in an angular range after compensation, the weight of the guide member can support further pivoting in the first pivot direction or even cause it without the operator exerting any force.
According to one aspect of the invention, it may be provided that compensation occurs at a pivot angle ranging between 70 and 20 degrees, preferably between 50 and 20 degrees, particularly preferably between 45 and 20 degrees relative to the neutral position.
According to another aspect of the invention, it may be provided that compensation occurs at a pivot angle of 45, 30, 25 or 20 degrees relative to the neutral position.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may further be provided that the spring member is further operatively connected to the floor unit and the guide member in such a way that the spring force exhibits a sinusoidal curve in the first and/or second angular range. This makes it possible for the spring force of a spring to exhibit a non-linear, increasing curve despite the spring constant. This means that the spring force initially increases strongly in the first angular range, with the increase in spring force decreasing as pivoting increases in the first pivot direction. Due to the sinusoidal shape, an almost linear curve can even be achieved initially, at least for small pivot angles.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that in the first and/or second angular range, the righting torque combines properties of a sinusoidal and cosinusoidal shape, in particular a curve corresponding to the product of the sinusoidal and cosinusoidal shape.
According to one aspect of the invention, it may be provided that the first pivot axis is substantially parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned. It may further be provided that, in the operating state, a longitudinal axis of the guide member in the neutral position is substantially perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This helps to achieve a neutral position that is comfortable for the user and from which the pivoting can take place.
Alternatively, it may be provided that, in the operating state, the longitudinal axis of the guide member in the neutral position is arranged at an angle around the pivot axis of the floor surface to be cleaned. The angle preferably ranges between 1 and 45 degrees, particularly preferably between 10 and 30 degrees.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may further be provided that the floor unit is assigned a direction of advance that is parallel to a floor surface to be cleaned and that, in the neutral position, a longitudinal axis of the guide member is arranged essentially perpendicular to the direction of advance. This has the effect that, when the floor cleaning device is used in a conventional manner, pivoting about the first pivot axis takes place towards an operator and away from an operator.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may further be provided that the spring member is further operatively connected to the floor unit and the guide member in such a way that the value of the spring force in the neutral position is zero. This has the effect that the righting torque in the neutral position is zero as well and thus the spring member has no influence on the guide member in the neutral position. If the first angular range is adjacent to the neutral position, in the first angular range, a spring force and righting torque are zero at the beginning.
Alternatively, the value of the spring force in the neutral position may not be equal to zero. It may be provided that the value of the spring force exceeds at least one predefined threshold value. It may further be provided that the spring member is biased in the neutral position.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that, when pivoting in the first pivot direction, the second angular range is followed by a third angular range in which the righting torque has a negative sign. This means that the righting torque no longer acts in the direction of the neutral position of the guide member or in the direction opposite to the first pivot direction, but rather acts away from the neutral position or in the direction of the first pivot direction due to the negative sign. This is of particular advantage if, for example, a parking position is provided for the floor cleaning device where the guide member is not arranged in the neutral position but in a position in which it is pivoted about the first pivot axis relative to the floor unit. The spring member thus pushes the guide member into the parking position in the third angular range. On the one hand, this makes it easier for a user to bring the floor cleaning device into the parking position. At the same time, the opposing righting torque reliably keeps the floor cleaning device in the parking position. This makes it possible, for example, to safely transport the floor cleaning device in its parking position. On the other hand, operation is comfortable for the user both in the first angular range and in the second angular range as the guide member does not weigh heavily on the operator's hands but is instead supported by the acting righting torque. At the same time, the guide member can be pivoted freely around the first pivot axis, which makes operation much easier. Overall, the floor cleaning device can thus be operated very smoothly.
According to another aspect of the invention, it may be provided that in the third angular range, the value of the righting torque increases when pivoting in the first pivot direction. If a parking position is provided, the guide member is pushed into the parking position more strongly as pivoting increases in the third angular range in the first pivot direction. The parking position can be maintained reliably.
According to one aspect, it may be provided that the spring characteristic of the spring member is configured as progressive in the third angular range when pivoting about the first pivot axis in the first pivot direction.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may further be provided that the spring member is further operatively connected to the floor unit and the guide member in such a way that at the transition from the second angular range to the third angular range, a force vector acting on the first mounting point due to the spring force runs through the first pivot axis. This helps to achieve that the righting torque at the transition from the second angular range to the third angular amounts to zero. This creates a kind of an apex at which the direction of the righting torque is reversed.
In this connection, it may be provided that the spring member is further operatively connected to the floor unit and the guide member in such a way that at the transition from the second angular range to the third angular range, the spring force does not amount to zero. While there is a spring force acting, it does not generate a righting torque about the first pivot axis.
According to another embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that pivoting in the first pivot direction is not possible beyond the second or third angular range. This helps to limit pivoting about the first pivot axis in the first pivot direction. This can be achieved, for example, by the guide member making contact with the floor unit. For example, a defined parking position may be provided for the floor cleaning device.
It is to be noted that pivot angle is generally understood to mean the angle relative to the neutral position when the guide member pivots about the first pivot axis relative to the floor unit.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the spring force has a sinusoidal curve in the third angular range.
According to one aspect of the invention, it may be provided that at the transition from the first angular range to the second angular range, the pivot angle relative to the neutral position ranges between 80 and 10 degrees, preferably between 70 and 30 degrees. This makes operation of the floor cleaning device comfortable, with no or only little load on the operator. At the same time, it is also easy to pivot the device beyond a pivot angle of more than 45 degrees.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that at the transition from the first angular range to the second angular range, the pivot angle relative to the neutral position is substantially 70 degrees.
According to another aspect of the invention, it may be provided that at the end of the second angular range facing away from the neutral position, the pivot angle relative to the neutral position is at least 70 degrees, preferably at least 80 degrees, particularly preferably at least 90 degrees.
According to another aspect of the invention, it may be provided that at the end of the third angular range facing away from the neutral position, the pivot angle relative to the neutral position is at least 70 degrees, preferably at least 80 degrees, particularly preferably at least 90 degrees.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the spring member does not exert any spring force on the guide member in a fourth angular range when pivoting from the neutral position in a second pivot direction opposite to the first pivot direction. This allows the guide member to pivot freely in the fourth range.
One embodiment of the invention may provide for the first mounting point to be decoupled from the guide member at least at phases with regard to pivoting from the neutral position in a second pivot direction opposite to the first pivot direction in a fourth angular range in such a way that the spring member does not exert any spring force on the guide member. Simple pivoting may thus be performed in the fourth angular range without the influence of the spring member.
According to one aspect, it may be provided that the fourth angular range is adjacent to the first angular range. It may be provided that the neutral position of the guide member connects the first angular range to the fourth angular range.
One embodiment of the invention may provide that the first mounting point is configured on a sled that can be moved in a sled guide relative to the guide member when pivoting from the neutral position in the second pivot direction. This enables a guided movement of the mounting point decoupled from the guide member in the fourth angular range.
According to another aspect of the invention, it may be provided that the sled guide specifies an arc-shaped movement of the sled relative to the guide member, the center of the circular arc shape being arranged on the first pivot axis. This ensures that the spring member does not experience any change in spring force in the fourth angular range. Overall, simple pivoting of the guide member about the first pivot axis in the fourth angular range can be achieved.
According to another development of the invention, it may be provided that the sled touches a sled stop in the first angular range and/or second angular range and/or third angular range when pivoting from the neutral position in the first pivot direction. When the sled touches the sled stop, starting from the neutral position, the spring force can thus be generated between the floor unit and the guide member.
According to one aspect of the invention, it may be provided that the spring member has a second mounting point arranged on the floor unit.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the joint assembly has a second pivot joint enabling a pivot movement of the guide member relative to the floor unit about a second pivot axis. This helps to achieve the guide member's overall increased ability to pivot relative to the floor unit. This makes the floor cleaning device flexible and easy to operate.
According to one aspect of the invention, it may be provided that the second pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis.
According to another aspect of the invention, the second pivot axis may be substantially parallel to the direction of advance in the neutral position. This ensures overall good ease of use or handling of the floor cleaning device.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the tool is movable relative to the floor surface by means of a drive. Thus, at least part of the cleaning performance of the floor cleaning device can be provided by means of the drive. This may increase an operator's performance by surface area. Ease of use may be improved as well.
According to another embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the floor cleaning device is configured to produce an advance effect with respect to the floor surface in the direction of advance. This may improve ease of use for an operator.
One embodiment may provide that the tool at least partially generates the advance effect in the operating state. This allows the number of necessary components of the floor cleaning device to be reduced. There is no need for a separate propulsion unit for generating an advance effect. This may save costs.
According to one aspect, it may be provided that the spring member is coupled to the floor unit and/or the guide member via a cable pull, a linkage, a lever and/or a transmission.
According to an advantageous embodiment, it may be provided that the spring member is substantially arranged in or on the floor unit or in or on the guide member and coupled to the floor unit or the guide member, in particular the first or second mounting point, via a cable pull, a linkage, a lever and/or a transmission.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the second pivot axis is in a pivot axis plane that is perpendicular to the floor surface and contains a direction vector defining the direction of advance.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the guide member can be temporarily fixed or supported relative to the floor unit with regard to pivoting about the first pivot axis, in particular in the first pivot direction. This may improve ease of use.
According to one aspect to the invention, it may be provided that the joint assembly comprises a connecting member connecting the first pivot joint to the second pivot joint, wherein the connecting member is pivotable relative to the floor unit about the first pivot axis and the guide member is pivotable relative to the connecting member about the second pivot axis.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the guide member comprises a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the second pivot axis and, in the neutral position, perpendicular to the first pivot axis.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the tool of the floor unit comprises at least one rotationally driven brush, a rotationally driven plate, a rotationally driven disk, a rotationally driven polygonal cleaning member or the like having an axis of rotation which, in the operating state, is substantially parallel to the floor surface.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the tool has a first tool member having a first axis of rotation which, in the operating state, is parallel or slightly inclined, preferably at an angle of 0.5 to 2.5 degrees, particularly preferably 1.5 degrees, relative to a perpendicular to the floor surface, and that the tool has a second tool member having a second axis of rotation which, in the operating state, is also parallel or also slightly inclined, preferably at an angle of 0.5 to 2.5 degrees, particularly preferably 1.5 degrees, relative to the perpendicular to the floor surface, the first and second tools being configured to rotate in opposite directions, the first and second axes of rotation being inclined in opposite directions of rotation.
According to one aspect of the invention, the floor cleaning device may further comprise a particle pick-up unit, for example a vacuum unit configured to suck up particles and/or liquid from the floor surface. This may improve cleaning performance.
It may be provided that the vacuum unit comprises at least one vacuum turbine arranged on the floor unit or the guide member and configured to generate a negative pressure.
According to one embodiment, the floor cleaning device comprises a holding tank or waste water container configured to collect the particles sucked up and/or the liquid, wherein the holding tank is in particular arranged on the guide member or the floor unit such that it can be removed.
According to another embodiment, the floor cleaning device may comprise a cleaning agent tank or a fresh water container configured to provide a cleaning agent to the at least one tool preferably via a supply device, wherein the cleaning agent tank is arranged on the floor unit or on the guide member. This may enhance cleaning performance. The cleaning agent may be water or water with a cleaning agent additive.
In the context of the application, the terms tank and container can be used as synonyms.
In the following, embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the figures. In the drawings:
A joint assembly 16 comprises a first pivot joint 18 enabling the guide member 14 to pivot relative to the floor unit 12 about a first pivot axis A. The joint assembly 16 further comprises a second pivot joint 20 enabling the guide member 14 to pivot relative to the floor unit 12 about a second pivot axis B. The first pivot axis A and the second pivot axis B are arranged at a distance from and orthogonally to one another on a connecting member 22 connecting the first pivot joint 18 to the second pivot joint 20.
Two brush-type tools 24, 26 are assigned to the floor unit. They protrude from a floor unit housing 28 in the direction of a floor and are also driven by a drive device arranged in the floor unit housing 28 and not shown in further detail. The tools 24, 26 are inclined relative to a floor surface in such a way that, in an operating state of the floor cleaning device 10, the rotation of the tools 24, 26 produces an advance effect in a direction of advance V. Two spaced transport rollers 30, 32 are arranged on a front, upper side of the floor unit housing 28. Furthermore, a vacuum bar 34 is arranged on the floor unit housing 28 as a component of a vacuum unit extending in an arc behind the floor unit housing 28 and at least partially enclosing it. Support wheels 36 are arranged on the vacuum bar 34, of which only one is visible in the present case and the second is covered by the floor unit 12. Furthermore, a receptacle 38 serving as a receptacle for a battery supplying power to the floor cleaning device 10 is attached to the floor unit 28. A hose connection member 40 to which a vacuum hose 42 of the vacuum unit is coupled is further configured on the upper side of the floor unit 12.
At its other end, the vacuum hose 42 is coupled to a waste water container 44 arranged on a shaft 45 of the guide member 14. Dirty water picked up by the vacuum bar 34 from the floor surface or a cleaning surface not shown can thus be conveyed into the waste water container 44 via the vacuum hose 42. The waste water container 44 is detachably coupled to the shaft 45.
A fresh water container 46 is further configured on the shaft 45 on a side of the shaft 45 opposite the waste water container 44. Fresh water can thus be supplied to the floor unit 12 and the floor in the area of the tools 24, 26 via a fresh water line not shown in detail. Fresh water is a liquid intended for cleaning. It need not necessarily be pure water. It may also be a cleaning agent or water with an added cleaning agent or an added cleaning substance.
A vacuum turbine 47 of the vacuum unit, which is coupled to the waste water container 44 and generates a negative pressure in the waste water container 44 to suck in the dirty water, is configured on the shaft 45 below the waste water container 44 and the fresh water container 46.
The guide member 14 or the shaft 45 has a longitudinal axis L that is perpendicular to the second pivot axis B. In the present case, the second pivot joint 20 is not deflected so that the longitudinal axis L is perpendicular to the first pivot axis A as well.
Handles 48, 50 that are round in shape and extend along a handle axis W that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L are arranged at a top end of the shaft 45. In the present case, the handle axis W is parallel to the first pivot axis A as well. Actuating members 52, 54 are also configured on the shaft 45 below the handles 48, 50. Functions of the floor cleaning device 10 can be activated or deactivated using the actuating members 52, 54.
The spring member according to the invention is not yet visible in detail because it is covered by the joint assembly 16. It will be discussed in more detail in connection with the following figures.
The Figure also shows the shaft 145 of the guide member 114, to which the fresh water container 146, the waste water container 144 and the vacuum turbine 147 are attached. In addition, the handles 148, 150 are arranged at the top end of the shaft 145.
The guide member 114 is coupled to the floor unit 112 through the joint assembly 116. More precisely, the guide member 114 is coupled to the second pivot joint 120 of the joint assembly 116. Further, a support bracket 156 coupling the joint assembly 116 or the first pivot joint 118 to the floor unit housing 128 of the floor unit 112 is configured on the floor unit 112. This type of attachment, however, is due to the schematic representation and could also be solved by directly attaching the first pivot joint 118 to the floor unit without a support bracket 118 as known from
The brush-type tools 124, 126 contacting a floor surface 158 to be cleaned are arranged on the floor unit 112. Furthermore, the receptacle 138 of the floor unit 112 is recognizable.
In addition, a spring member 160 according to the invention is shown, one end of which is coupled to a connecting member extension 162 of the shaft 145 via a first mounting point 164 and the other end of which is coupled to the support bracket 156 of the floor unit 112 via a second mounting point 166. The connecting member extension 162 forms an extension of the shaft 145 beyond the pivot joint 118 or the first pivot axis A and creates a distance between the first mounting point 164 and the first pivot axis A. The second mounting point 166 is arranged on the support bracket 156 at approximately the same height as the first pivot axis A. In the present case, the spring member 160 is configured as a tension spring that does not generate any force between the floor unit 112 and the guide member 114 when the guide member 114 is in the neutral position. In other words, the spring member 160 would not be deflected in the neutral position. In the present case, however, the guide member 114 is pivoted about the first pivot axis A relative to the floor unit 112 from the neutral position at a pivot angle of approximately 30 degrees in a first pivot direction S1. As a result, the spring member 160, in the present case a coil spring, is elongated and generates a spring force acting on the first mounting point 164 and pulling in the direction of the second mounting point 166 due to the free course of the spring member 160 between the two mounting points 164, 166. This spring force may be represented as a force vector oriented in the direction of the spring member 160 or from the first mounting point 164 to the second mounting point 166. This force vector is spaced from the first pivot axis A, thus generating a torque, i.e. a righting torque, that acts on the guide member 114 about the first pivot axis in the direction of the neutral position of the guide member 114.
When the guide member 114 is pivoted about the first pivot axis A relative to the floor unit 112, the first mounting point 164 moves about the first pivot axis A on a circular arc. In interaction with the orientation of the spring member 160, this has the effect of the spring member 160 being elongated when the guide member 114 is pivoted about the first pivot axis A relative to the floor unit 112 in the first pivot direction S1. The first mounting point 164 moves away from the second mounting point 166. Hence, the spring force initially increases significantly. However, the further pivoting progresses, the less strong is the increase in the elongation of the spring member 112. Then, there is also a correspondingly less strong increase in spring force. At the same time, the force vector resulting from the spring force approaches the first pivot axis A the further pivoting progresses. The further pivoting progresses, the closer the force vector comes to the first pivot axis A. This is also due to the circular arc shape. When pivoting by about 90 degrees relative to the neutral position, the force vector even runs through the first pivot axis A such that the spring force is unable to generate a righting torque. This interaction of the varying spring force resulting from the arrangement of the spring member 160, the resulting course of the first mounting point 164 about the first pivot axis A, and the resulting varying distance of the generated force vector relative to the first pivot axis A causes the righting torque to increase in a first angular range and to decrease in an adjacent second angular range when the guide member 114 is pivoted about the first pivot axis A relative to the floor unit 112 from the neutral position in the first pivot direction S1. The second angular range is followed by a third angular range where the righting torque M is negative and its value increases.
To illustrate the operating principle on which the invention is based, reference is made to
This interaction of the varying spring force resulting from the arrangement of the spring member 160, the resulting course of the first mounting point 164 about the first pivot axis A, and the resulting varying distance of the generated force vector F relative to the first pivot axis A causes the righting torque M to increase in a first angular range and to decrease in an adjacent second angular range when the guide member 114 is pivoted about the first pivot axis A relative to the floor unit 112 from the neutral position in the first pivot direction S1. The second angular range is followed by a third angular range where the righting torque M is negative and its value increases with increasing pivoting in the first pivot direction. For example, the first angular range extends from 0 to approximately 70 degrees of the pivot angle α for a spring member 160 with a spring constant. The second angular range then extends, for example, from approximately 70 to 90 degrees of the pivot angle α. In the present case, the righting torque M is zero at the start of the first angular range since there is no spring force and zero as well at the end of the second angular range since there is no lever arm. In the present case, the first and the second angular ranges total in a pivot angle α of approximately 90 degrees. The third angular range starts at a pivot angle α of 90 degrees.
In comparison to
It can thus be seen that the effect according to the invention can also be achieved with the alternative arrangement of the spring member 260 and the mounting points 266, 264. Furthermore, the connecting member extension 262 could be omitted.
As in the second embodiment, the spring member 460 is a tension spring that does not generate any spring force in the neutral position. The sled 470 is movably mounted in the sled guide 468. Pivoting the guide member 414 about the first pivot axis A in the direction of the first pivot direction S1 leads to the spring forces and righting torques for the various pivot angles in the angular ranges as explained above. However, if the guide member 414 is pivoted about the first pivot axis A from the neutral position in a direction opposite to the first pivot direction S1 in a second pivot direction S2, no spring force and thus no righting torque is generated at least within a fourth angular range of the pivot angle α, as will be explained below in connection with
Overall, the guide member 414 can thus be pivoted about the first pivot axis A from the neutral position in the direction of the second pivot direction S2 in a fourth angular range and back into the neutral position without the spring member 460 exerting a spring force on the guide member 414. The fourth angular range is approximately 90 degrees. However, the sled guide 468 or the connecting member extension 462 may also have a different configuration, meaning that a larger or smaller fourth angular range may be provided. At the same time, the spring member 460 generates a spring force when the guide member 414 is pivoted about the first pivot axis A from the neutral position in the first pivot direction S1 relative to the floor unit 412. The fifth embodiment thus combines the advantages of free pivoting in the fourth angular range and the advantages of pivoting in the first, second and third angular ranges with the influence of the spring force and as explained above.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 119 016.9 | Jul 2021 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/070598 | 7/22/2022 | WO |
