SUCTION FOOT ASSEMBLY FOR A FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE
20230363606 · 2023-11-16
Inventors
- Christian TABELING (Stockelsdorf, DE)
- Gerd STAHLKOPF (Büchen, DE)
- Heinrich KATENHUSEN (Bad Oldesloe, DE)
Cpc classification
A47L9/009
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47L5/30
HUMAN NECESSITIES
F16B2/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
A47L11/4055
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A47L5/30
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47L7/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47L9/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47L11/40
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A suction foot assembly having a suction foot with a suction foot holder, a coupling portion, and a suction foot interface. One of the coupling portion and a coupling end of the suction foot interface has a pin portion. The other of the coupling portion and the coupling end has first and second clamping elements that are mutually opposite, have free ends, and run concavely in such a manner that a receptacle portion in which the pin portion is received is formed between the clamping elements. The mutual spacing of the free ends of the clamping elements is less than the spacing of the clamping elements in the receptacle portion. One or both clamping elements is/are elastically deformable to permit the pin portion to be moved by way of the free ends out of the receptacle portion and into the latter.
Claims
1. A suction foot assembly for attaching to a floor cleaning machine (1), having a suction foot (37) having a base (39) to which are attached a front suction lip (45) and a rear suction lip (47) which, extend away from the base (39) and are mutually spaced apart in such a manner that a suction chamber (55) is delimited by the suction lips (45, 47) and the base (39), wherein the edges (49, 51) of the suction lips (45, 47) that are distal from the base (39) extend in a contact plane and are configured to bear on a floor area (11) to be cleaned; having a suction foot holder (33) which is connected to the base (39) and has a coupling portion (35); having a suction foot interface (23) which extends between a coupling end (25) and a machine end (27); wherein the machine end (27) is configured to be attached to a floor cleaning machine (1); wherein one of the coupling portion (35) and the coupling end (25) has a pin portion (57) which extends along a pin axis (59) that runs parallel to the contact plane; wherein the other of the coupling portion (35) and the coupling end (25) has a first clamping element (63) and a second clamping element (65) which are mutually opposite, have free ends (69) and run concavely in such a manner that a receptacle portion (67) in which the pin portion (57) is received is formed between the clamping elements (63, 65); wherein the mutual spacing of the free ends (69) of the clamping elements (63, 65) is less than the spacing of the clamping elements (63, 65) in the receptacle portion (67); and wherein one or both clamping elements (63, 65) is/are elastically deformable in such a manner that the pin portion (57) can be moved, perpendicularly to the direction of extent of the latter, by way of the free ends (69) out of the receptacle portion (67) and into the latter.
2. The suction foot assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pin portion (57) and the receptacle portion (67) are configured in such a manner that the pin portion (57) is pivotable relative to the clamping elements (63, 65) about the pin axis (59).
3. The suction foot assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pin portion (57) is provided on the coupling end (25), and the first clamping element (63) and the second clamping element (65) are provided on the coupling portion (35).
4. The suction foot assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base (39) extends from a first end (41) to a second end (43), and wherein the pin axis (59) runs parallel to a connecting line (61), extending parallel to the contact plane, between the ends (41, 43) of the base (39).
5. The suction foot assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plug-in member (71) which extends along a first longitudinal axis (73) is attached to one of the base (39) and the suction foot holder (33), and wherein on the other of the base (39) and the suction foot holder (33) is provided a holding portion (95) in which a receptacle region (99) is configured; wherein the plug-in member (71) is received in the receptacle region (99) and is in an inserted position; wherein the receptacle region (99) is designed so that the latter extends along a second longitudinal axis (97); wherein the second longitudinal axis (97) runs parallel to the contact plane; and wherein the plug-in member (71) and the receptacle region (99) are designed in such a manner that the plug-in member (71) for receiving in the receptacle region (99) is able to be inserted into the receptacle region (99) along the second longitudinal axis (97) up to the inserted position, wherein the first longitudinal axis (73) and the second longitudinal axis (97) coincide and the plug-in member (71) in the inserted position is pivotable relative to the holding portion (95) about the second longitudinal axis (97).
6. The suction foot assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second longitudinal axis (97) and the pin axis (59) are mutually spaced apart and parallel.
7. The suction foot assembly according to claim 5, wherein the plug-in member (71) has an interior (77), wherein one of the interior (77) and the receptacle region (99) is connected to the suction chamber (55); and wherein the other one of the interior (77) and the receptacle region (99) is connected to a suction connector (83) for a suction hose (85), which is provided on the plug-in member (71) or the holding portion (95), and in the inserted position the receptacle region (99) is connected to the interior (77).
8. The suction foot assembly according to claim 5, wherein the plug-in member (71) is provided on the base (39), and the interior (77) is connected to the suction chamber (55); and wherein the plug-in member (71) has a suction connector (83) which is connected to the interior (77).
9. The suction foot assembly according to claim 8, wherein the suction connector (83) is disposed on a first end face (81) of the plug-in member (71) that extends perpendicularly to the first longitudinal axis (73).
10. The suction foot assembly according to claim 9, having a suction hose (85) having connector port (87), wherein the suction hose (85) is configured to be connected indirectly or directly to a waste liquid tank of a floor cleaning machine (1); wherein the connector port (87) and the suction connector (83) are designed so that the connector port (87) can be inserted into the suction connector (83), and in the inserted state can be pivoted relative to the suction connector (83) about the first longitudinal axis (73); wherein the plug-in member (71) on the suction connector (83) has a first slot (91) which extends through a wall of the plug-in member (71) and which has a first locking portion (93) that runs in a radial plane in relation to the first longitudinal axis (73); wherein the first slot (91) towards the first end face (81) has a first opening; wherein the holding portion (95) has a second slot (103) which is open towards a second end face (101) on the holding portion (95), wherein the second end face (101) points in the same direction as the first end face (81), and which has a second locking portion (105) that runs in a radial plane in relation to the second longitudinal axis (97); wherein the first locking portion (93) and the second locking portion (105) overlap one another when the plug-in member (71) is in the inserted position; wherein the connector port (87) has a locking element (89) which extends radially away therefrom; and wherein the slots (91, 103) are designed in such a manner that the locking element (89), when inserting the connector port (87) into the suction connector (83), by displacing and pivoting the connector port (87) relative to the suction connector (83) can be moved into the first locking portion (93) and the second locking portion (105).
11. The suction foot assembly according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear suction lips (45, 47) extend away from the base (39) in a mutually parallel manner.
12. The suction foot assembly according to claim 1, wherein the machine end (27) of the suction foot interface (23) is pivotable relative to the floor cleaning machine (1) about a vertical axis (31).
13. The suction foot assembly according to claim 5, wherein the plug-in member (71) has an interior (77), wherein one of the interior (77) and the receptacle region (99) is connected to the suction chamber (55); and wherein the one of the interior (77) and the receptacle region (99) is connected to a suction connector (83) for a suction hose (85), which is provided on the plug-in member (71) or the holding portion (95).
14. The suction foot assembly according to claim 13, wherein the one of the suction connector (83) is connected to the interior the plug-in member (71) is in the inserted position.
15. A floor cleaning machine having a running gear (7) with wheels (5), so that the running gear (7) is designed to be moved across a floor area (11) to be cleaned, and having a machine housing (3); wherein provided on the machine housing (3) is a scrubbing deck (13) having cleaning elements for engaging with the floor area (11) to be cleaned; and a suction foot assembly (17) that includes a base (39), front and rear suction lips (45, 47), a suction foot holder (33), and a suction foot interface (23), the front and rear suction lips (45, 47) being attached to and extending away from the base (39), the front and rear suction lips (45, 47) being mutually spaced apart and cooperating with the base (39) to delimit a suction chamber (55), the front and rear suction lips (45, 47) having respective edges (49, 51) that are distal from the base (39) and which extend in a contact plane, the front and rear suction lips (45, 47) being configured to bear on a floor area (11) to be cleaned, the suction foot holder (33) being connected to the base (39) and having a coupling portion (35), the suction foot interface (23) extending between a coupling end (25) and a machine end (27), wherein the machine end (27) is coupled to the machine housing (3); wherein one of the coupling portion (35) and the coupling end (25) has a pin portion (57) which extends along a pin axis (59) that runs parallel to the contact plane; wherein the other of the coupling portion (35) and the coupling end (25) has a first clamping element (63) and a second clamping element (65) which are mutually opposite, have free ends (69) and run concavely in such a manner that a receptacle portion (67) in which the pin portion (57) is received is formed between the clamping elements (63, 65); wherein the mutual spacing of the free ends (69) of the clamping elements (63, 65) is less than the spacing of the clamping elements (63, 65) in the receptacle portion (67); and wherein one or both clamping elements (63, 65) is/are elastically deformable in such a manner that the pin portion (57) can be moved, perpendicularly to the direction of extent of the latter, by way of the free ends (69) out of the receptacle portion (67) and into the latter.
16. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 15, wherein the machine end (27) is mounted on the machine housing (3) or the scrubbing deck (13) so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis (31), wherein the vertical axis (31) runs perpendicularly to the contact plane when the floor cleaning machine (1) is disposed on a floor area (11) to be cleaned.
Description
DRAWINGS
[0037] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0038]
[0039]
[0040]
[0041]
[0042]
[0043]
[0044]
[0045]
[0046] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0047]
[0048] It can moreover be derived from
[0049] The combination of the scrubbing deck 13 and the suction foot assembly 17 is illustrated in a perspective illustration in
[0050] The exemplary embodiment of a suction foot assembly 17 according to the present disclosure firstly has a suction foot interface 23 which is also illustrated in
[0051] As can be derived from
[0052] Finally, the suction foot assembly 17 has a suction foot 37 which is releasably attached to the suction foot holder 33 in a manner yet to be described in more detail hereunder, wherein the suction foot 37, as can be derived from
[0053] The connection between the coupling end 25 of the suction foot interface 23 and the coupling portion 35 of the suction foot holder 33 will be described hereunder in particular with reference to
[0054] As can be derived in particular from
[0055] Provided on the coupling portion 35 of the suction foot mounting 33 are first clamping elements 63 and, lying opposite the first clamping elements 63, second clamping elements 65, wherein the pairs of clamping elements 63, 65 are disposed so as to be mutually parallel. The clamping elements 63, 65 are configured in such a manner that said clamping elements 63, 65, when viewed in each case from the opposite clamping element, run concavely such that a receptacle portion 67 is configured between the clamping elements 63, 65 and a free end 69 is joined said receptacle portion 67. Owing to the concave profile of the clamping elements 63, 65, the spacing between said clamping elements 63, 65 in the region of the free ends 69 is less than in the region of the receptacle portion 67. As a result of this construction of the clamping elements 63, 65, and as a result of the suitable choice of the diameter of the pin portions 57, it is possible that the pin portions 57, proceeding from the free ends 69 of the clamping elements 63, can be inserted into the receptacle portions 67, wherein the clamping elements 63, 65 are slightly elastically deformed in the process. Likewise, the pin portions 57 can be pressed out of the receptacle portions 67 when a sufficiently great force perpendicular to the pin axis 57 is exerted on the suction foot mounting 33, or the suction foot 37 connected thereto. As a result of this latching connection between the suction foot holder 33 and the suction foot interface 23 an overload protection is thus implemented in a simple manner such that the suction foot 37 can ultimately be released from the machine housing 3 of the floor cleaning machine 1 when said suction foot 37 contacts an obstacle, so that the suction foot 37 can yield and damage to the suction foot 37 can be avoided.
[0056] Since the cross section of the pin portion 57 is furthermore designed so as to be circular, the coupling portion 35 and thus the suction foot holder 33 can be pivoted relative to the suction foot interface 23 about the pin axis 59.
[0057] The construction of the connection between the suction foot holder 33 and the base 39 of the suction foot 37 will be described hereunder.
[0058] As can be derived from
[0059] It can be derived from
[0060] It can furthermore be derived from
[0061] It can finally be seen in
[0062] When the plug-in member 71 is inserted along the first longitudinal axis 73, or the second longitudinal axis 97, completely into the receptacle region 99 such that the plug-in member 71 is in the inserted position, as is shown in
[0063] This arrangement of the first and the second slots 91, 103 enables the plug-in member 71 to be coupled to the holding portion 95. When the plug-in member 71 is inserted along the second longitudinal axis 97 into the receptacle region 99 completely up to a detent, the suction hose 85 by way of the connector port 87 is inserted into the suction connector 83 up to a detent, wherein the connector port 87 in the process is pivoted such that the locking elements 89 move into the first and second locking portions 93, 105. In this way, by connecting the suction hose 85 to the suction connector 83 in the plug-in member 71, the connection between the plug-in member 71 and the holding portion 95 is simultaneously locked such that the plug-in member 71 can no longer be moved along the second longitudinal axis 97 out of the holding portion 95. Moreover, the connection between the base 39 of the suction foot 37 and the suction foot holder 33 is also used for establishing the fluidic connection between the suction hose 85 and the suction chamber 55 in the suction foot 37.
[0064] In the exemplary embodiment described here the plug-in member 71 is attached to the base 39 of the suction foot 37, while the holding portion 95 is provided on the suction foot holder 33. However, it is also conceivable that the suction foot holder 33 has a plug-in member which in this instance is received in a receptacle region on the base 39 of the suction foot 37. In such an alternative, the receptacle region of the holding portion is connected to the suction chamber, and a suction connector for the suction hose 85 can be provided either on the holding portion or on the plug-in member.
[0065] Moreover, it is to be pointed out once again that the concept for mounting a suction foot, in which a plug-in member 71 is inserted into the receptacle region 99 of a holding portion 95, is independent and inventive and is not limited to being used conjointly with the other aspects of the exemplary embodiment of a suction foot assembly described here. Rather, this concept can also be used in other constructions of suction foot assemblies in order to attach the suction foot 37 so as to be releasable and pivotable on a mounting.
[0066] Moreover, the connection between the base 39 and the suction foot holder 33 is designed such that the base 39 is pivotable relative to the suction foot holder 33 about the second longitudinal axis 97, the latter running parallel to the pin axis 59 and thus likewise parallel to the contact plane.
[0067] It can moreover be seen in
[0068] In the suction foot assembly 17 according to the exemplary embodiment described above, the suction foot 37 can be attached to the floor cleaning machine 1 in the manner described hereunder, or the suction foot 37 for maintenance and cleaning purposes can be released from the floor cleaning machine 1 in a simple manner.
[0069] For assembling the suction foot 37, the plug-in member 71 provided thereon must be inserted along the second longitudinal axis 97 into the receptacle region 99 of the suction foot holder 33 in the manner already described, wherein this is possible in a simple manner when the suction foot interface 23 is pivoted about the vertical axis 31 such that the holding portion 95 of the suction foot holder 33 is disposed in the lateral region of the machine housing 3 of the floor cleaning machine 1. When the plug-in member 71 in the inserted position is disposed in the receptacle region 99 of the suction foot holder 33, the connector port 87 of the suction hose 85 is inserted into the suction connector 83 in the plug-in member 71 in the manner already described, as a result of which the plug-in member 71, by virtue of the engagement of the locking elements 89 with the locking portions 93, 105 in the slots 91, 103, is also locked axially relative to the suction foot holder 33. The slots 91, 103 here are designed such that the locking elements 89 in the locked state are substantially horizontally aligned. In the event of tensile forces which may act in the suction hose 85, an extraction of the connector port 87 from the suction connector 83 is thus reliably avoided.
[0070] In the exemplary embodiment described here, the suction hose 85 is guided in a loop about the motor 19 of the scrubbing deck 13, and the other end of said suction hose 85 leads to the waste liquid tank of the floor cleaning machine 1.
[0071] If the suction foot 37 should contact an obstacle during the operation of the floor cleaning machine 1 in which the latter is moved over a floor area 11 to be cleaned, such that forces along the direction of movement 15 are exerted on said suction foot 37, the clamping elements 63, 65 can release themselves from the pin portions 57, and there is no risk of damage to the suction foot 37. An overload protection is thus in particular formed by the latching engagement between the clamping elements 63, 65 and the pin portions 57.
[0072] Since the suction foot 37 per se is mounted so as to be pivotable relative to the suction foot holder 33 about the first longitudinal axis 73 or the second longitudinal axis 97, and the suction foot holder 33 on the other hand is mounted on the suction foot interface 23 so as to be pivotable about the pin axis 59, the suction foot 37 can assume different vertical positions relative to the housing 21 of the scrubbing deck 13, depending on the wear of the cleaning elements in the scrubbing deck 13, wherein the contact plane in each of these positions can be aligned parallel to the floor area 11 to be cleaned.
[0073] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Signs 1 Floor cleaning machine 3 Machine housing 5 Wheel 7 Running gear 9 Operating bar 11 Floor area to be cleaned 13 Scrubbing deck 15 Direction of movement 17 Suction foot assembly 19 Motor (scrubbing deck) 21 Housing (scrubbing deck) 23 Suction foot interface 25 Coupling end 27 Machine end 29 Receptacle opening 31 Vertical axis 33 Suction foot holder 35 Coupling portion 37 Suction foot 39 Base 41 First end of suction foot 43 Second end of suction foot 45 Front sealing lip 47 Rear sealing lip 49 Lower edge of front sealing lip 51 Lower edge of rear sealing lip 53 Slot 55 Suction chamber 57 Pin portion 59 Pin axis 61 Connecting line 63 First clamping element 65 Second clamping element 67 Receptacle portion 69 Free end of clamping element 71 Plug-in member 73 First longitudinal axis 75 Rib 77 Interior 79 Connecting piece 81 First end face 83 Suction connector 85 Suction hose 87 Connector port 89 Locking element 91 First slot 93 Second locking portion 95 Holding portion 97 Second longitudinal axis 99 Receptacle region 101 Second end face 103 Second slot 105 Second locking portion 107 Detent