Patent Application
20170172361
The invention relates to a vacuuming apparatus having a vacuum cleaner, a suction hose which is connected to the housing of the vacuum cleaner, and a filter bag, in particular a disposable filter bag made of nonwoven material.
The description of the prior art and the invention is based on the following Standards, definitions and measurement methods.
VO 666/2013: COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 666/2013 of 8 Jul. 2013, implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for vacuum cleaners.
VO 665/2013: COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) No 665/2013 of May 3 2013, supplementing Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of vacuum cleaners.
Nominal input power: The nominal input power in W means the electric input power declared by the manufacturer, wherein for appliances that are enabled to function also for other purposes than vacuum cleaning only the electric input power relevant to vacuum cleaning applies (VO 666/2013, Annex II, section 2, lit. k).
EN 60312: EN 60312 designates—unless explicitly otherwise stated—Standard DIN EN 60312-1 (VDE 0705-312-1) in the edition of January 2014: Vacuum cleaners for household use—Part 1: Dry vacuum cleaners—Methods for measuring the performance (IEC 60312-1: 2010, modified +A1:2011, modified); German version EN 60312-1:2013.
Determination of air data: The air data of a vacuum cleaner is determined according to EN 60312 section 5.8. Thereby, the measuring device B according to section 7.3.7.3 is used. Where motor/fan units are measured apart, i.e. without the vacuum cleaner housing, then measuring device B is also used. For necessary intermediate parts, where appropriate for connection to the measuring chamber, the explanations in section 7.3.7.1 apply.
Input power of a vacuum cleaner: The input power P1 of a vacuum cleaner with a predetermined aperture (orifice) is determined according to EN 60312 section 5.8. Thereby, the measuring device B according to section 7.3.7.3 is used. For necessary intermediate parts, where appropriate for connection to the measuring chamber, the explanations in section 7.3.7.1 apply.
Input power of a motor/fan unit: The input power P1 of a motor/fan unit with a predetermined aperture, as well, is determined according to EN 60312 section 5.8. Thereby, the measuring device B according to section 7.3.7.3 is used. For necessary intermediate parts, where appropriate for connection to the measuring chamber, the explanations in section 7.3.7.1 apply.
Average electrical rated input power of a vacuum cleaner: The average input power of a vacuum cleaner is conducted with the experimental setup for determination of air data according to EN 60312, section 5.8. The measuring chamber device B is used. For necessary intermediate parts, where appropriate for connection to the measuring chamber, the explanations in section 7.3.7.1 apply. The average rated input power is defined as
P=0.5(Pf+Pi)
Pf=Input power in watts after 3 minutes operation on the measuring chamber at aperture 9 (rated diameter d0=50 mm).
Pi=Input power in watts after further 20 sec operation on the measuring chamber at aperture 0 (rated diameter d0=0 mm).
Average electrical rated input power of the motor/fan unit: The average electrical rated input power of a motor/fan unit is conducted with the experimental setup for determining the air data according to EN 60312 section 5.8. Therefore, the motor/fan unit is directly connected to the measuring chamber (device B). For necessary intermediate parts, where appropriate for connection to the measuring chamber, the explanations in section 7.3.7.1 apply. The average input power is defined as
P
m=0.5(Pf+Pi)
Pf=Input power in watts after 3 minutes operation on the measuring chamber at aperture 9 (rated diameter d0=50 mm).
Pi=Input power in watts after further 20 sec operation on the measuring chamber at aperture 0 (rated diameter d0=0 mm).
Average input power during the determination of the functional characteristics with a filled dust container: The average input power when determining the functional characteristics with a filled dust container is determined in compliance with EN 60312. Deviating from this Standard, the measuring is conducted with the measuring chamber B at aperture 8. The average input power during determination of the functional characteristics with a filled filter bag is defined as being the average value of the input power with an empty filter bag and the input power with a filled filter bag. For suctioning the test dust and the maximum suctioned quantity (filled filter bag), the conditions from section 5.9.2, in particular also the conditions from 5.9.2.3 apply.
Air flow: The air flow is determined according to EN 60312 with the measuring chamber device B. The air flow may be determined with different apertures. According to EN 60312, at an aperture, a diameter of 30 mm is measured. If, deviating therefrom, it is measured with another aperture, this is indicated. In the prior art, this air flow is often also referred to as volume flow or suction air flow.
Air flow drop: The air flow drop is determined in compliance with EN 60312 section 5.9 with the measuring chamber according to device B. Deviating from this Standard, the measuring chamber is equipped with a 40 mm perforated plate (30 mm according to the Standard). The vacuum values hf in the measuring chamber are converted according to section 7.3.7 into an air flow. The difference of the air flow with an empty filter bag and the air flow with a charged filter bag is designated as air flow drop.
Disposable filter bags: A disposable filter bag or disposable bag in the meaning of the present invention are understood as being throwaway filter bags.
Flat bags: A flat bag is understood as being filter bags whose filter bag wall is formed of two single layers of filter material having the same surface area such that the two individual layers are joined only at their peripheral edges to one another (the term same surface area of course does not exclude that the two individual layers differ from one another due to the fact that one of the layers has an entry opening).
The connection of the individual layers can be implemented by weld or adhesive seams along the entire circumference of the individual layers.
Alternatively, the filter bag may also be formed by a single layer in that a single layer of filter material is folded around one of its axes of symmetry and the remaining open peripheral edges of the resulting two partial layers are welded or glued (so-called tubular bag). Such manufacturing therefore requires several (e.g. three) weld or glue seams. Two of these seams form the filter bag edge, the third seam can also form a filter bag edge or may be located on the filter bag surface.
Each of the aforementioned single layers of filter material may comprise several nonwoven material layers, as it is usual nowadays for filter bags made of nonwoven material.
The weld or adhesive seams may also be formed as letterfold.
Flat bags may also comprise so-called side folds. These side folds can thereby completely folded apart. A flat bag with such side folds is shown, for example, in DE 20 2005 000 917 U1 (see there
Filter bags with surface folds: EP 2 366 320 Al and EP 2 366 321 Al disclose filter bags with surface folds in the meaning of the present application.
Suction capacity: The suction capacity is the product of negative pressure [kPa] and air flow [Its] and is denoted according to EN 60312 by P2.
Degree of efficiency: The degree of efficiency of the motor/fan unit or a vacuum cleaner is calculated from the suction power P2 and the input power according to EN 60312 section 5.8 (cf. in particular section 5.8.4, 4th paragraph). For this, the motor/fan unit or the vacuum cleaner are connected to the measuring chamber (device B). For necessary intermediate parts, where appropriate for connection to the measuring chamber, the explanations in section 7.3.7.1 apply. The rated diameter do of the used apertures may be derived from the table in section 7.3.7.3. The degree of efficiency for an available aperture is calculated by using
η[%]=(P2/P1)*100.
Thereby, P1 is the input power of the vacuum cleaner (with predetermined aperture) and P2 is the air power (with predetermined aperture), thus, the product of air flow (cf. above) and vacuum (cf. below).
Negative pressure in the measuring chamber with predetermined aperture: The negative pressure in the measuring chamber with a predetermined aperture occurs according to EN 60312 section 5.8. For this, the motor/fan unit is directly connected to the measuring chamber (device B). For necessary intermediate parts, where appropriate for connection to the measuring chamber, the explanations in section 7.3.7.1 apply. The rated diameter do of the used apertures may be derived from the table in section 7.3.7.3.
Average cross-sectional area of the suction hose: For determining the average cross-sectional area of the suction hose, the cross-section of the suction hose is measured at 10 positions evenly distributed over the suction hose length and the average value of these measurements is determined. The first measurement thereby is conducted at the one end of the hose and the tenth measurement at the other end of the hose. The measurement of the cross-section is determined by means of limit gauges for internal dimensions, which correspond to the form of the cross-sectional area to be measured. Hoses, which change their cross-sectional area, the limit gauge is introduced into the suction hose in the direction of the enlarging cross-sectional area. Apart from uneven cross-sectional areas, thereby, also the cross-section areas of spirally or helically wound or otherwise structured suction hoses may be determined. Specifically, this method may also be used for conical suction hoses.
Bag surface of a filter bag: The bag surface of a filter bag denotes the surface, which is located between the lateral weld seams determining the outer form of the filter bag. Side folds and surface folds have to be taken into account. The area of the charging door including a weld seam encompassing this opening is subtracted from the surface. This exclusively refers to the theoretically usable surface. Differences of the flow conditions in the bag or due to an incomplete unfolding of the filter bag are not taken into account. For filter bags not being flat bags, of course all additional surfaces (e.g. block bottom bags with side and front surfaces) are consulted for determining the bag surface.
Volume filter receptacle: The volume may be determined from the 3D drawing data of the vacuum cleaner or by means of volumetric measurement with water or granulate.
Deflector device: Deflector devices for deflecting air in the meaning of the application are for example disclosed in WO 2007 059936 A1, WO 2007 059937 A1, WO 2007 059938 A1, and WO 2007 059939 A1
Spacing unit: A spacing unit refers to a device, by means of which it is secured that a gap is maintained between the filter bag and the wall of the filter bag receptacle. Specifically, the spacing unit may consist of a bottom and/or at least a side wall and/or a cover, thus, partly or entirely encompassing the filter bag. Thereby, attention must be paid to the fact that the contact surface between filter bag and spacing unit is as small as possible. The spacing unit may be made of arbitrary materials and may be removably or permanently installed. In case filter bags with surface folds are employed, a spacing unit may be used, which is especially adapted to these surface folds. From WO 2012 126612 (in particular FIGS. 3 and 4), it may be learnt how such a spacing unit is configured.
Efficient vacuum cleaner: An efficient vacuum cleaner has an energy efficiency class B or better (according to VO 665/2013, ANNEX I) and simultaneously, a cleaning performance class C or better (according to VO 665/2013, ANNEX I).
The requirements imposed on devices for vacuum cleaning in the past years are subject to a clear conversion.
As of 2017, VO 666/2013 requires to limit the nominal input power of vacuum cleaners to below 900 W. The regulation VO 665/2013 leads to the fact that in the long run, the annual energy consumption of a vacuum cleaner should be below 10 kWh. This results in an input power of a vacuum cleaner of below 300 W. The user of devices for vacuum cleaning, however will expect that the cleaning performance does not deteriorate, compared to devices for vacuum cleaners, as they are nowadays implemented with an essentially higher input power. This is also taken into account in VO 665/2013 by e.g. determining the requirement for an A evaluation (carpet cleaning performance class) for the dust pick-up for carpets to 91%.
Thus, for example the vacuum cleaner Miele S 8340, one of the vacuum cleaners, which nowadays are classified in the state of the art as being particularly energy efficient, during the determination of the air data (according to EN 60312 section 5.8.4) at aperture 8 (40 mm) and an input power P1 of 1310 W (power level at the vacuum cleaner symbol “hard floor, severely soiled carpets and carpeted floors”, in the following brief “max”) achieves a resulting suction air flow of 38.5 l/s. The resulting air flow during an input power P1 of 704 W (power level at the device symbol “high-quality velour carpets, rugs and runners, in the following brief “carpet”) is insufficient regarding a satisfactory dust pick-up. Thus, with an input power of 704 W (at aperture 8), only an air flow of 30.0 l/s is achieved.
The situation in respect of the air flow even deteriorates with filling the filter bag when using the vacuum cleaner.
In order to guarantee an efficient suctioning, air flows of at least 33 l/s are preferable.
The Miele S 8340 uses a motor/fan unit, the characteristics of which, thus, the air data of which are shown in
The average electrical input power of the vacuum cleaner clearly has to be discriminated from the average electrical input power of the motor/fan unit, as the entire average electrical input power of the motor/fan unit basically is implemented with the air flow to be achieved, whereas the average electrical input power of the vacuum cleaner is also spent for compensating the flow losses resulting from the flow paths in the vacuum cleaning device (from the bottom nozzles to the air outlet of the device—without motor/fan unit).
The average electrical input power of the motor/fan unit regarding the Miele S 8340 is 1121 W (max) and/or 622 W (carpet). Implementing this average input power, at aperture 8 (this aperture more or less corresponds to the conditions being available for vacuum cleaning hard floors), an air flow of approximately 55.5 l/s (max) and approximately 43.7 l/s (carpet) can be achieved, which when using this motor/fan unit in the Miele S 8340, finally leads to the air flows already indicated above for aperture 8 (which then actually are also available for vacuum cleaning) of 38.5 l/s (max) and 29.9 l/s (carpet).
The suction hose of the Miele S 8340 has an average cross-sectional area of approximately 9.1 cm2.
In view of the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, the objective technical problem underlying the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaning apparatus with filter bags according to which the efficiency compared with the devices disclosed in the prior art is improved and according to which, when determining the air data pursuant to EN 60312 (section 5.8.4) at aperture 8 (40 mm), a suction air flow of more than 33 l/s is achieved, and wherein the average electrical input power of the vacuum cleaner is as low as possible so that the energy efficiency class B pursuant to VO 665/2013 or better is achieved, thus, an efficient vacuum cleaner in the meaning of the present invention is implemented.
This problem is solved by an apparatus for vacuum cleaning according to claim 1.
This comprises a vacuum cleaner with a suction hose connected with the housing of the vacuum cleaner and a filter bag, in particular a disposable filter bag made of nonwoven material, wherein the vacuum cleaner has a motor/fan unit with an average electrical input power of 1000 W and 200 W. Thereby, the motor/fan unit is configured such that with an average electrical input power of between 1000 W and 800W, a negative pressure in the measuring chamber at aperture 6 (23 mm) of greater than 4.0 kPa results, between 799 W and 600W a negative pressure in the measuring chamber at aperture 6 of greater than 10.0 kPa results, and a negative pressure in the measuring chamber at aperture 8 of greater than 3.4 kPa results; between 599 W and 400 W, a negative pressure in the measuring chamber at aperture 6 of greater than 7.0 kPa results, and a negative pressure in the measuring chamber at aperture 8 of greater than 2.5 kPa results; and between 398 W and 200 W a negative pressure in the measuring chamber at aperture 6 of greater than 4.0 kPa results, and a negative pressure in the measuring chamber at aperture 8 of greater than 1.4 kPa results.
This specific characteristic of the motor/fan unit differs from the characteristic of motor/fan units usually implemented in devices for vacuum cleaning.
The differences of the air data between the present invention and the prior art are illustrated in
Surprisingly, it has turned out that a motor/fan unit as specified above in combination with a suction hose and an average cross-sectional area of at least 9.5 cm2 may be implemented particularly efficiency-enhancing for vacuum cleaners and together with the disposable filter bags made of nonwoven material are comparable in their cleaning performance with apparatuses for vacuum cleaning as being nowadays only available with a significantly higher input power.
Therefore, the suction hose needs to have an average cross-sectional area of at least 9.5 cm2, specifically at least 11 cm2 or most specifically at least 13 cm2. This cross-sectional area should also not fall essentially below these values regarding the pipe section, which forms the connection in the vacuum cleaner between suction hose and filter bag.
Experiments have shown that the combination of the aforementioned motor/fan unit and the aforementioned suction hose with an average input power when determining the functional characteristics with a filled dust container of approximately 670 W, which entirely also meet the future energy policy requirements is sufficient for producing an air flow of more than 41 l/s (with an empty filter bag) and, thus, for achieving a suctioning result being more than satisfactory.
The filter bag preferably may have a bag surface (area) of between 1000 cm2 and 4000 cm2.
The suction hose may at least partially tapers conically and may have a greater cross-sectional area at one end near to the motor/fan unit than at an end distant to the motor/fan unit. In this case, the suction hose may have a minimum and maximum cross-sectional area and the minimum diameter of the suction hose may be reduced about at least 5%, specifically at least 20% in comparison to the maximum diameter. For example, the smallest diameter of the conical suction hose at the near end may be 35 mm and 47 mm at the distant end. Alternatively, the suction hose may continuously have a cylindrical form. Apart from the good handling, a conical form of the suction hose may also increase the power capacity of the vacuum cleaner.
Moreover, also other cross-sectional forms of the suction hose (conically tapered or with a consistent cross-section) are possible, as long as the claimed cross-sectional areas are observed.
The suction hose may have a length of 1 m to 3 m.
A suction pipe connected to the suction hose may have a diameter of more than 30 mm, preferably more than 33 mm, and particularly preferred more than 36 mm.
The motor/fan unit at aperture 7 (30 mm) may have a degree of efficiency according to EN 60312 of at least 35%, preferably of at least 38% and particularly preferred of at least 40%. This embodiment of the invention results in a particularly efficient apparatus for vacuum cleaning.
According to an embodiment of the above described invention including the above indicated embodiments of the invention, the vacuum cleaner has a spacing unit.
This may thereby comprise a bottom and/or at least a side wall and/or a cover. Thus, the spacing unit may encompass the filter bag partly, at least on one side of the filter bag or entirely. Due to this, the filter bag is at least partly spaced from at least one inside housing wall of the apparatus for vacuum cleaning. In case the spacing unit is intended to entirely encompass the filter bag, it will then have a bottom, a cover, and a number of side walls corresponding to the filter bag receptacle
Preferably, the spacing unit is formed such that between the bottom and/or the at least one side wall and/or the cover there are provided overflow paths, i.e. fluid connections. Thereby, the complete surface of the filter bag may be exploited in order to suction air form the filter bag into the motor/fan unit.
Furthermore, the spacing unit may be integrally formed with the filter receptacle (filter bag accommodation chamber) of the vacuum cleaner. Alternatively, it may also be provided as separate unit, which may completely be removed from the filter bag receptacle.
Due to the above measures, a decrease of the filter capacity due to attachment of the filter surface to an internal wall of the filter receptacle may (entirely or partly) be avoided.
According to an embodiment of the aforementioned apparatus, therein it may be arranged in the following order against the air flow direction (in a direction opposite to the air flow direction): an air suction opening inside the at least one side wall or inside the bottom or inside the cover, through which during operation of the vacuum cleaner air from the filter bag receptacle is sucked into the motor/fan unit, a motor protection filter support, and the spacing unit, wherein the spacing unit is arranged spaced apart from the motor protection filter support.
Thereby, it is ensured that between motor protection filter support and filter bag, there is always a distance and that the filter bag does not cover the motor protection filter support that would lead to the fact that the air from the filter bag is only sucked from the area of the filter bag, which covers the motor protection filter.
The spacing unit thereby may be configured in form of a perforated plate and/or in form of a grid and/or in form of bars, bar-shaped sections, brackets, bracket-shaped sections, ribs, rib-shaped sections and/or pins.
The motor protection filter support regarding these embodiments may be configured such that a motor protection filter in the motor protection filter support e.g. is retractable. Thereby, the material of the motor protection filter may have a sufficient internal strength in order to for example be retracted, or it may be equipped with a frame or stabilizing element (e.g. a net). This enables to change the motor protection filter in an easy manner.
According to an embodiment of all above described apparatuses, a filter bag retaining plate accommodation may be provided, which is in respect of the vacuum cleaning apparatus arranged foldable or may be completely removed from the vacuum cleaner. This measure enables a particularly easy changing of the filled vacuum cleaner filter bags.
In all above described embodiments, the filter bag may be provided in form of a flat bag. The flat bag shape is the most common form for nonwoven material bags, as bags with this form are very easy to produce. In contrast to the paper filter material used with filter bags made of paper, nonwoven material is only difficult to be permanently folded due to the high resilience so that the production of more complex bag forms, as for example block bottom bags or other bag forms with bottom actually is possible, however, is very complicated and expensive.
The filter bag may specifically have surface folds.
Moreover, the filter bag may be equipped with at least one deflector device. Accordingly, the above mentioned spacing unit may be configured for accommodating filter bags with surface folds.
The different embodiments may be implemented as claimed individually or combined with one another.
In the vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the invention, a motor/fan unit having a specific characteristic in combination with a suction hose with a relatively large diameter is applied. This combination surprisingly leads to an efficient vacuum cleaner in the meaning of the invention, thus, a vacuum cleaner falling into an energy efficiency class B or better (according to VO 665/2013, ANNEX I) and simultaneously, into a cleaning performance class C or better (according to VO 665/2013, ANNEX I).
The motor/fan unit is characterized by a high volume flow, a high air capacity (power) and a high efficiency degree at aperture 7 (30 mm) and 8 (40 mm). The respective values are listed in table 1.
In
As already mentioned earlier, for comparison,
In table 1, the relevant measured values for an exemplary embodiment of the motor/fan unit according to the invention and a motor/fan unit according to the prior art are compared with one another. With a low average electrical input power, the air data at aperture 7 and aperture 8, as well as the air capacity at aperture 7 and aperture 8, and the degree of efficiency at aperture 7 and aperture 8 for the exemplary embodiment are significantly higher than for the prior art. For example, the air capacity at aperture 8 and with an average electrical input power of approximately 480 W regarding the exemplary embodiment is approximately 70% higher than regarding the prior art with an average electrical input power of 622 W.
With a comparable input power, the degree of efficiency and the air flow of the embodiment according to the invention are superior to the motor/fan unit of the prior art. Specifically, with a relatively low average electrical input power with the relevant apertures corresponding to the real situation on hard and carpeted floors, a very good air flow may be achieved, with which a good cleaning performance class may be realized.
In
The used spacing unit is in detail shown in
For the average cross-sectional area of the embodiment according to the invention, thus, a value of 15.6 cm2 occurs. The used filter bag has a surface of app. 1800 cm2. The used material was Material MTTS9, which is to be obtained from Eurofilters N.V., Lieven Gevaertlaan 21, 3900 Overpelt, Belgium. This is a multi-layer filter material with a dust holding layer and a meltblown fine filter layer. The filter bag comprises a deflection device in the form of a slit nonwoven material made of Material LF75, which may be also obtained from Eurofilters N.V., Lieven Gevaertlaan 21, 3900 Overpelt, Belgium.
Moreover, the embodiment according to the invention corresponds to the prior art as already explained earlier. Even with an average input power of only app. 670 W with an empty filter bag, a volume flow of 41 1/s is achieved; after filling with 400 g DMT type 8 and by using a spacing unit, still a volume flow of nearly 37 l/s is achieved.
Thus, the achievable volume flows are considerably higher than in the prior art, according to which with an average input power of app. 698 W, only a volume flow of 30 l/s with an empty filter bag can be achieved. After filling with 400 g DMT 8 dust, the volume flow even declines below 27 l/s and, therefore, lies app. 10 l/s lower than the embodiment according to the invention.
In the following table, air data for Miele S 8340 (max and carpet) according to the prior art as well as according to the above described embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention are summarized:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14163579.7 | Apr 2014 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2015/055137 | 3/12/2015 | WO | 00 |
