System Formed of Suction Device and Hand-Held Power Tool, and Method for Operating the System

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a system that includes at least one suction device and at least one hand-held power tool. The method includes establishing a communications link between the suction device and the hand-held power tool by means of at least one suction device communication unit and at least one hand-held power tool communication unit, and transmitting at least one communication signal by means of the communications link from the hand-held power tool, in particular the hand-held power tool communication unit, to the suction device, in particular the suction device communication unit. When the suction device is switched on, at least one start signal is sent to the hand-held power tool, the hand-held power tool being activatable only if the start signal is received by the hand-held power tool.

Claims

1. A method for operating a system having at least one suction device and at least one hand-held power tool, the method comprising: establishing a communication link between the suction device and the hand-held power tool with at least one suction-device communication unit and at least one hand-held power tool communication unit; transmitting at least one communication signal via the communication link from the hand-held power tool to the suction device; in response to the suction device being switched on, sending at least one start signal to the hand-held power tool; activating the hand-held power tool only if the start signal is received by the hand-held power tool.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: generating at least one actuation signal with a manual switch of a signal generator unit of the hand-held power tool; transmitting the at least one actuation signal to a signal processing unit of the hand-held power tool; and transmitting the at least one actuation signal, as a first signal of the at least one communication signal, to the suction device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: acquiring at least one connection signal from the hand-held power tool and the suction device via a signal generator element of the signal generator unit; transmitting the at least one connection signal to the signal processing unit; and transmitting the at least one connection signal, as a second signal of the at least one communication signal, to the suction device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: receiving the at least one communication signal with the suction device; switching a suction-device drive unit on if the at least one communication signal includes the at least one actuation signal and the at least one connection signal; and after switching the suction-device drive unit on, converting the at least one communication signal into the start signal with the suction device communication unit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: generating at least one test signal for testing a connection of the suction device to the hand-held power tool with a sensor element of a sensor unit of the suction device; and converting the at least one test signal into at least one control signal for controlling at least one of the suction device and the hand-held power tool.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: transmitting the control signal from the suction device to the hand-held power tool; with the signal processing unit, receiving and processing the control signal and/or forwarding the control signal to a control unit of the hand-held power tool; and controlling the hand-held power tool open-loop and/or closed loop control with the control unit.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: stopping the suction device and the hand-held power tool if the control signal is a stop signal; and enabling operation of the suction device and the hand-held power tool if the control signal is an active signal.

8. A system comprising: at least one suction device comprising at least one suction-device communication unit; and a hand-held power tool comprising at least one hand-held power tool communication unit, wherein the suction-device communication unit and the hand-held power tool communication unit are configured to establish a communication link and to transmit at least one communication signal via the communication link from the hand-held power tool to the suction device, and wherein, in response to the suction device being switched on, the suction device is configured to send at least one start signal to the hand-held power tool and the hand-held power tool is configured to activate only if the start signal is received by the hand-held power tool.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, the hand-held power tool further comprising: a signal generator unit having at least one signal generator element and at least one manual switch configured to generate an actuation signal; and a signal processing unit configured to receive, process and/or forward signals from at least the signal generator unit.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, the suction device further comprising a sensor unit (220) having at least one sensor element configured to generate a test signal.

11. The system (100) as claimed in 9, the hand-held power tool further comprising at least one suction-device connection element, and the signal generator element is arranged on the at least one suction-device connection element.

12. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the signal generator element is arranged on an accessory of the hand-held power tool that is configured to be mechanically and/or electrically connected to the hand-held power tool.

13. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the signal generator element is a mechanical signal generator element.

14. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the signal generator element is an electrical signal generator element.

15. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the signal generator element is an optical signal generator element.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the at least one communication signal includes transmitting the at least one communication signal from the hand-held power tool communication unit to the suction device communication unit.

17. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one test signal is for testing a mechanical connection of the suction device to the hand-held power tool.

18. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stopping of the suction device and the hand-held power tool includes stopping a drive unit of the hand-held power tool, and the enabling operation of the suction device and the hand-held power tool includes enabling operation of the drive unit.

19. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the signal generator element is arranged on a suction device connection element of the accessory.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The invention is explained below on the basis of preferred embodiments. In the following, the drawings show:

[0044] FIG. 1 a schematic view of a system according to the invention comprising a hand-held power tool and a suction device;

[0045] FIG. 2 a flow diagram of a method according to the invention for operating the system according to the invention;

[0046] FIG. 3 a schematic view of the system according to the invention comprising the hand-held power tool, a connected accessory for the hand-held power tool, and the suction device;

[0047] FIG. 4a a schematic detail of a mechanical signal generator element;

[0048] FIG. 4b a schematic detail of an electrical sensor element;

[0049] FIG. 4c a schematic detail of an electrical signal generator element and of an electrical sensor element;

[0050] FIG. 4d a schematic detail of an optical signal generator element and of an optical sensor element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0051] Shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system 100 according to the invention comprising a hand-held power tool 300 and a suction device 200. In this embodiment, the hand-held power tool 300 is realized, by way of example, as a hand-held circular saw 302. The hand-held power tool 300 is preferably a battery-operated hand-held power tool. It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to battery-operated hand-held power tools, but may also be applied in the case of mains-operated or pneumatically operated hand-held power tools that have a suction-device connection element 312, 314. In a first embodiment of the invention, the suction-device connection element 312 is directly and immediately connected to a hand-held power tool housing 310.

[0052] The suction device 200 comprises a suction-device housing 202, a suction-device power supply 204, a suction hose 206 and a dust collection device 210. Furthermore, the suction-device housing 202 comprises a suction-device operating unit 212. The suction-device operating unit 212 in this case has a suction-device operating element 214, by means of which the suction device 200 is operated by a user and generates switching signals. The switching signals control a suction-device drive unit 216 by open-loop and/or closed loop control. The suction-device operating element 214 is realized as a main switch. The main switch switches the suction-device drive unit 216 on and off. The suction-device power supply unit 204 supplies electrical power to the suction device 200 and, in this embodiment, is realized as a battery-operated suction device 200. The battery-operated suction device 200 is supplied with electrical power by means of a hand-held power tool battery pack. The hand-held power tool battery pack is not represented in greater detail. The suction hose 206 comprises a suction opening and can be detachably attached to the suction-device housing 202. The suction hose 206 is detachably connectable to a suction-device connection element 312 of the hand-held power tool 100 by means of a suction sleeve 208.

[0053] In this embodiment, the suction device 200 comprises a sensor unit 220 that has a sensor element 222. The sensor element 222 can generate a test signal. Here, the sensor unit 220 is arranged on the suction hose 206 and the sensor element 222 is connected to the suction sleeve 208. The test signal comprises connection information about whether the suction sleeve 208 has a mechanical connection to the suction-device connection element 312.

[0054] The suction device 200 further comprises a suction-device communication unit 240. The suction-device communication unit 240 is designed to establish a communication link 410 with the hand-held power tool 300. In addition, the suction-device communication unit 240 is arranged in the suction-device housing 202.

[0055] The hand-held power tool 300 includes the hand-held power tool housing 310, a drive unit 320, and a hand-held power tool power supply unit 326. The hand-held power tool housing 310 accommodates the drive unit 320, the drive unit 320 being designed to drive the hand-held power tool 300. The hand-held power tool power supply unit 326 supplies electrical power to the hand-held power tool 300 via the hand-held power tool battery pack. The hand-held power tool battery is not shown in greater detail in this case. In addition, the hand-held power tool 300 comprises a control unit 318 for controlling the drive unit 320 by open-loop and/or closed loop control.

[0056] In this embodiment, the hand-held power tool 300 comprises a signal generator unit 330. The signal generator unit 330 comprises a signal generator element 332 and a manual switch 334. The manual switch 334 generates an actuation signal when a user actuates the hand switch 334. The signal generator element 332 is arranged on the suction-device connection element 312. In this embodiment, the suction-device connection element 312 is formed a connection sleeve for the suction device 200. Further, the hand-held power tool 300 comprises a signal processing unit 340 for processing signals. In this embodiment, the signal processing unit 340 receives, processes and/or forwards the signals.

[0057] The hand-held power tool 300 further comprises a hand-held power tool 300 communication unit 350 for establishing the communication link 410 with the suction-device communication unit 240. The hand-held power tool 300 communication unit 350 is accommodated by the hand-held power tool 300 housing 310.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of a method of operating the system 100 according to the invention. In a method step 520, the suction device 200 is switched on. In a method step 522, a start signal is sent to the hand-held power tool 300 by means of the communication link 410. In this case, the suction-device communication unit 240 sends the start signal to the hand-held power tool 300 communication unit 350. In a method step 524, the hand-held power tool 300 communication unit 350 receives the start signal. In a method step 526, the hand-held power tool 300 can be activated, and the hand-held power tool 300 can be put into operation in the method step 526.

[0059] In a method step 502, the user actuates the manual switch 334 of the signal generator unit 330 of the hand-held power tool 300. This generates an actuation signal and sends it to the signal processing unit 340 of the hand-held power tool 300.

[0060] In a method step 504, a connection signal from the hand-held power tool 300 and the suction device 200 is acquired by means of the signal generator element 332 of the signal generator unit 330. The signal generator element 332 in this case detects whether the suction-device connection element 312, 314 and the suction sleeve 208 of the suction hose 206 are connected to each other. The connection signal is then transmitted to the signal processing unit 340.

[0061] If the signal generator element 332 cannot detect a connection of the suction-device connection element 312, 314 to the suction sleeve 208, no further action occurs in a method step 506, and the hand-held power tool 300 remains out of operation.

[0062] If the signal generator element 332 detects a connection of the suction device connection element 312, 314 to the suction sleeve 208, in a method step 508 the actuation signal and the connection signal are transmitted, as the communication signal, to the suction device 200. For this purpose, the signal processing unit 340 sends the actuation signal and the connection signal to the hand-held power tool 300 communication unit 350, which sends the actuation signal and the connection signal, as the communication signal, to the suction-device communication unit 240.

[0063] In a method step 510, the suction-device communication unit 240 receives the communication signal. The suction-device communication unit 240 processes the communication signal, the suction device drive unit 216 being switched on if the communication signal include the actuation signal and the connection signal. In particular, the suction-device drive unit 216 is switched on if the actuation signal and the connection signal are included in the communication signal.

[0064] Further, the suction-device communication unit 240 converts the communication signal into the start signal as soon as the suction-device drive unit 216 has been switched on in the method step 520. The start signal is then transmitted to the hand-held power tool 300 in the method step 522.

[0065] In a method step 530, a test signal is generated by means of the sensor element 222 of the sensor unit 220 of the suction device 200. The sensor element 222 checks whether, following the activation of the hand-held power tool 300, there is still a mechanical connection of the suction device 200, in this embodiment the suction sleeve 208, to the hand-held power tool 300, in this embodiment the suction-device connection element 312. The sensor element 222 then converts the test signal into a control signal for controlling the suction device 200 and the hand-held power tool 300.

[0066] If the mechanical connection of the suction device 200 and the hand-held power tool is still present, no further action is effected in a method step 532, and the hand-held power tool 300 can still be used with the suction device 200.

[0067] If, following the activation of the hand-held power tool 300, there is no mechanical connection of the suction device 200 to the hand-held power tool 300, the suction-device drive unit 216 is switched off in a method step 534. The control signal is then transmitted from the sensor unit 220 to the suction-device communication unit 240. In a method step 536, the suction-device communication unit 240 transmits the control signal to the hand-held power tool communication unit 350 by means of the communication link 410. In a method step 538, the hand-held power tool communication unit 350 receives the control signal and then transmits it to the signal processing unit 340. The control signal is then received by the signal processing unit 340, processed and transmitted to the control unit 318 of the hand-held power tool 300. In a method step 540, the control unit 318 controls the drive unit 320 by open-loop and/or closed loop control, and stops it in the absence of a mechanical connection of the suction sleeve 208 to the suction-device connection element 312.

[0068] Represented in FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the hand-held power tool 300 is realized, by way of example, as a hammer drill 304. Further, in the second embodiment, the hand-held power tool 300 has an accessory 306, in this case an extraction module, for extracting dust. The accessory 306 can be electrically and mechanically connected in a detachable manner to the hand-held power tool 300 of the second embodiment. By means of the electrical connection to the hand-held power tool 300, the accessory 306 is supplied with electrical power via the hand-held power tool power supply unit 326. The accessory 306 has a suction-device connection element 314, in this embodiment a connection sleeve for the suction device 200. In this case, the suction-device connection element 314 can be detachably connected to the suction sleeve 208 of the suction device 200. Further, in the second embodiment, the accessory 306 has a signal generator element 336. The method steps described in FIG. 2 can also be executed analogously for the second embodiment, with the difference that the signal generator element 336 detects the connection signal with the suction sleeve 208 and transmits it to the signal processing unit 340.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows embodiments of the signal generator element 332, 336 and of the sensor element 222. Represented in FIG. 4a is an embodiment of the signal generator element 332, 336 as a mechanical signal generator element 362. In this case, the mechanical signal generator element 362 is in the form of a mechanical switch for generating electrical signals. FIG. 4b shows the sensor element 222 as an electrical sensor element 252. In this case, the electrical sensor element 252 is a capacitive sensor board 254. The capacitive sensor board 254 measures changes in a dielectric constant and compares this with a stored reference value. This allows the suction device 200 to detect whether the mechanical connection of the suction device 200 to the hand-held power tool 300 has been established. FIG. 4c shows a further embodiment of the electrical sensor element 252, as well as an embodiment of the signal generator element 332, 336 as an electrical signal generator element 364. In FIG. 4c, the electrical sensor element 252 is in the form of an antenna 256, whereas the electrical signal generator element 364 is realized as a coil. Represented in FIG. 4d is an embodiment of the signal generator element 332, 336 as an optical signal generator element 366. In this embodiment, the optical signal generator element 366 is realized as a light source, in this case an LED. In this embodiment, the sensor element 222 is an optical sensor element 258. Here, the optical sensor element 258 is in the form of a light-sensitive sensor, for example a photodiode.