Abstract
Surface-treatment appliance having a base arrangement, which in a functional position can be displaced on a surface which is to be treated, and having a guide part articulated on the base arrangement and intended for controlling the base arrangement manually. An arcuate guide is provided on the base arrangement, on which can be displaced in a linear manner a carriage body. The carriage body is connected to the guide part and is supported on the arcuate guide, at least in the radial direction, by at least two supporting points, which are spaced apart from one another along the arcuate guide.
Claims
1. A surface-treatment appliance having a base arrangement, the base arrangement in a functional position being displaceable over a surface to be treated, the surface-treatment appliance having a guide part articulated on the base arrangement for controlling the base arrangement manually, the surface-treatment appliance further including an arcuate guide on the base arrangement, a carriage body displaceable on the arcuate guide in a linear manner, the carriage body being connected to the guide part and supported on the arcuate guide, at least in a radial direction, by at least two supporting points spaced apart from one another along the arcuate guide, the guide part being connected to the carriage body by a joint element having a joint axis oriented essentially parallel to a guide plane of the arcuate guide, the joint element permitting movement of the guide part relative to the carriage body about the joint axis.
2. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate guide is curved continuously and in the same direction.
3. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate guide extends in the form of a circular arc over an angle of at least largely 90.
4. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate guide extends over the base arrangement.
5. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the carriage body has at least one supporting element, the supporting element comprising a sliding element or a rolling element supported on the arcuate guide in the radial direction and forming at least a first one of the two supporting points.
6. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 5, wherein the carriage body has at least one counter-support element comprising a sliding counter-support element or a rolling counter-support element supported on the arcuate guide opposite the supporting element, as seen in the radial direction, the counter-support element forming at least a second one of the two supporting points.
7. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the carriage body is supported on the arcuate guide in a lateral direction such that a torque acting about a longitudinal axis of the guide part is transmitted to the arcuate guide, and therefore to the base arrangement, via the carriage body.
8. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate guide has a round cross-section and the carriage body engages around the cross-section, at least in part, via at least one bearing sleeve.
9. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate guide extends in the form of a circular arc over an angle of at least largely 120.
10. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate guide extends in the form of a circular arc over an angle of at least largely 180.
11. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate guide is configured as a segment of a circle and has first and second spaced-apart terminal ends attached to the base arrangement at an upper side thereof, and the guide plane is defined by first and second points corresponding to the first and second terminal ends of the arcuate guide and a third point corresponding to a location on the arcuate guide disposed between the first and second points.
12. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the guide part has a longitudinal axis and the joint element permits movement of the portion of the guide part relative to the carriage body about the joint axis of the joint element such that the portion of the guide part is movable into a position in which the longitudinal axis thereof is oriented transversely to the guide plane.
13. A surface-treatment appliance comprising: a base arrangement mounting a surface-treatment element thereon, said base arrangement being configured for displacement over a surface to be treated; an arcuate guide mounted on said base arrangement; a carriage body mounted on said arcuate guide for linear displacement therealong, said carriage body being supported in a radial direction at two supporting points spaced apart from one another along said arcuate guide; and an elongate guide handle configured for manually manipulating said base arrangement, said guide handle being connected to said carriage body for movement therewith along said arcuate guide relative to said base arrangement, said guide handle being connected to said carriage body by a joint element, said joint element permitting movement of said guide handle relative to said carriage body about an axis defined by said joint element.
14. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 13, wherein said arcuate guide is configured as a segment of a circle and has a circumferentially extending portion, said carriage body being mounted on said circumferentially extending portion of said arcuate guide for linear displacement therealong, said two supporting points being circumferentially spaced from one another along said arcuate guide.
15. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 14, wherein said guide handle is connected to said carriage body for movement therewith along said circumferentially extending portion of said arcuate guide to vary a position of said guide handle relative to said base arrangement.
16. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 13, wherein said guide handle has a longitudinal axis and said joint element permits movement of said guide handle relative to said carriage body about the axis of said joint element and into a position in which the longitudinal axis of said guide handle is oriented transversely to a guide plane, said guide plane being defined by first and second points corresponding to terminal ends of said arcuate guide disposed adjacent said base arrangement and a third point corresponding to a location on said arcuate guide disposed between said first and second points.
17. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 13, wherein said arcuate guide is arc-shaped and terminates at first and second ends, said first and second ends being attached to said base arrangement at an upper side thereof, said carriage body being linearly displaceable along and relative to said arcuate guide between said first and second ends thereof.
18. The surface-treatment appliance according to claim 17, wherein said guide handle has a longitudinal axis and said joint element permits movement of said guide handle relative to said carriage body about the axis of said joint element such that said guide handle is movable into a position in which the longitudinal axis thereof is oriented transversely to a guide plane, said guide plane being defined by first and second points respectively corresponding to said first and second ends of said arcuate guide and a third point corresponding to a location on said arcuate guide disposed between said first and second points.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated with reference to the drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a surface-treatment appliance according to the invention having a base arrangement, an arcuate guide, a carriage body and a guide part,
(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a surface-treatment appliance according to the invention, wherein the arcuate guide is mounted on the base arrangement such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis,
(4) FIGS. 2a and b each show a schematic plan view of the surface-treatment appliance according to FIG. 2 in a first position (FIG. 2a) and a second position (FIG. 2b), which is shifted in relation to the first position,
(5) FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a surface-treatment appliance according to the invention, wherein the guide part is connected to the carriage body by means of a joint element,
(6) FIGS. 4a and b show, in a schematic plan view (FIG. 4a) and a sectional view (FIG. 4b) taken along a section line A-A according to FIG. 4a, a carriage body and a region of a first embodiment of an arcuate guide for a surface-treatment appliance according to FIGS. 1 to 3,
(7) FIGS. 5a and b show, in a schematic plan view (FIG. 5a) and a sectional view (FIG. 5b) taken along a section line B-B according to FIG. 5a, a carriage body and a region of a further embodiment of an arcuate guide for a surface-treatment appliance according to FIGS. 1 to 3, and
(8) FIGS. 6a and b show, in a schematic sectional view (FIG. 6a) corresponding to the view according to FIGS. 4b and 5b and a cross section (FIG. 6b) taken along section line C-C according to FIG. 6a, a carriage body and a region of a further embodiment of an arcuate guide for a surface-treatment appliance according to FIGS. 1 to 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(9) The surface-treatment appliances 1, 1a and 1b according to the invention are each provided in the form of a scrubbing suction machine for cleaning floor surfaces. Quite apart from this, it is, of course, also possible for the solution according to the invention to be used in conjunction with surface-treatment appliances which are configured in a manner different from such a scrubbing suction machine.
(10) As far as the structural and functional features are concerned, the embodiments of surface-treatment appliances 1, 1a and 1b according to the invention are constructed in an essentially corresponding manner. To that extent, components and portions which are identical for the surface-treatment appliances 1 to 1b are provided with identical reference signs. In order to avoid repetition, such identical components and portions are not explained separately for each of the embodiments. Functionally identical components and portions which nevertheless differ in design have been designated by identical reference-sign numbers with lower-case letters added.
(11) As can be seen with reference to FIG. 1, the surface-treatment appliance 1 has a base arrangement 2 and a guide part 3, which is articulated on the base arrangement 2. In a functional position which can be seen with reference to FIG. 1, the base arrangement 2 can be displaced on a surface 4 which is to be treated. The base arrangement 2 has a surface-treatment tool 6, which can be driven by means of a drive 5 and is in the form of a floor-scrubbing roller. In order to transmit driving forces, the drive 5 is connected to the surface-treatment tool 6 via a force-transmission element 7 in the form of a belt drive. The drive 5 is secured on the base arrangement 2 in a manner which will not be described in any more detail, but is known. The surface-treatment tool 6 is connected to the base arrangement 2 by means of a longitudinally extending connecting element 8. The base arrangement 2 also has a suction-strip arrangement 9, which is assigned to the surface-treatment tool 6. The suction-strip arrangement 9 can be provided in order to suction up dirty water which arises during the wet cleaning of the floor surface 4. In addition, the base arrangement 2 has an end wheel 10, which in the functional position is supported on the surface 4 which is to be treated. In addition, it is readily clear to a person skilled in the art here that, instead of the aforementioned components, it is possible for the base arrangement to be provided as an alternative, or in addition, with further components adapted to the respective treatment purpose. For example, instead of the roller-like surface-treatment tool 6 which has its circumference positioned against the surface 4 which is to be treated, the base arrangement 2 can have a plate-like surface-treatment tool, which can have its end surface positioned against the surface 4 which is to be treated. To that extent, it is also the case that providing the suction-strip arrangement 9 is not imperative.
(12) The guide part 3 is configured in the form of a longitudinally extending shaft and is provided for controlling the base arrangement 2 manually. For this purpose, at its end region which cannot be seen specifically, and is directed away from the base arrangement 2, the guide part 3 has at least one grip in order for the surface-treatment appliance 1 to be guided manually by an operator. To that extent, the base arrangement 2 can be displaced, and positioned, on the surface 4 which is to be treated by virtue of the operator introducing corresponding forces and/or moments via the guide part 3.
(13) As can also be seen with reference to FIG. 1, an arcuate guide 11 is provided on the base arrangement 2. A carriage body 12, which is connected to the guide part 3, can be displaced linearly on said arcuate guide 11 along a schematically indicated guide direction 13 of the arcuate guide 11. The carriage body 12 is supported on the arcuate guide 11 at least in the radial direction R by means of at least two supporting points P1, P2 which are spaced apart from one another along the arcuate guide 11. As a result of this linear displacement capability of the carriage body 12 along the arcuate guide 11, the guide part 3 can be shifted in an arcuate manner out of the angular position in relation to the base arrangement 2 which can be seen with reference to FIG. 1, for example, into an angular position W1 and/or an angular position W2, both indicated by dashed lines in the illustration of FIG. 1, and any desired number of intermediate positions. In order to achieve such linear displacement capability of the carriage body 12, the latter is supported with slide-bearing and/or rolling-bearing action on the arcuate guide 11 in a manner which is yet to be explained in more detail and can be seen, in particular, with reference to FIGS. 4a to 5b.
(14) As can also be seen with reference to FIG. 1, the arcuate guide 11 is curved continuously and in the same direction and, to that extent, is made to extend in the form of a circular arc over an angle of at least largely 180. Quite apart from this, sufficient angular movement capability of the guide part 3 in relation to the base arrangement 2 can be achieved even when the arcuate guide 11 is made to extend over an angle of at least largely 120 or of at least largely 90.
(15) It is also the case that the arcuate guide 11 is secured at each of its end regions on a front region 15 of the base arrangement 2 and on a rear region 16 of the base arrangement 2. To that extent, the arcuate guide 11 is made to extend over the base arrangement 2, in particular over the length thereof. An apex 17 of the arcuate guide 11 here is arranged, essentially as seen in relation to a longitudinal direction L, centrally between the front region 15 and the rear region 16 of the base arrangement 2.
(16) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment in the form of the surface-treatment appliance 1a that, as far as its design and functional configuration are concerned, corresponds essentially with the surface-treatment appliance 1 according to FIG. 1. In order to avoid repetition, it is only the differences exhibited by the surface-treatment appliance 1a in relation to the surface-treatment appliance 1 which will be discussed hereinbelow.
(17) To that extent, the surface-treatment appliance 1a differs essentially in that the arcuate guide 11a is mounted on the base arrangement 2a such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis 18. The pivot axis 18 is located at least largely in a guide plane F of the arcuate guide 11a, said guide plane being defined by three imaginary points, for example front and rear end points and the apex 17, arranged along the arcuate guide 11a. For this purpose, the arcuate guide 11a is connected in a pivotable manner to the rest of the components of the base arrangement 2a via a front articulated joint 19a and a rear articulated joint 19b. This gives rise to pivoting capability of the arcuate guide 11a, said pivoting capability being oriented transversely to the linear displacement capability of the carriage body 12 along the arcuate guide 11a. In this way, the arcuate guide 11a, together with the carriage body 12 and the pivot axis 18 and/or the front and rear articulated joints 19a and 19b, forms a kind of universal-joint arrangement. This kind of joint arrangement provides for on-the-spot rotation of the base arrangement 2a, by means of a torque D applied to the guide part 3, essentially irrespective of the angular position of the guide part 3 in each case. If the torque D is applied to the guide part 3, for example, with reference to the direction of rotation indicated in FIG. 2, this gives rise to planar rotation of the base arrangement 2a about a vertical axis H in a manner corresponding to a direction of rotation U which can be seen with reference to FIG. 2. Such kinematics of the surface-treatment appliance 1a are depicted in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b. In a first position, which can be seen with reference to FIG. 2a, the base arrangement 2a is arranged in an essentially centered state above an imaginary point P of the surface 4 which is to be treated. The pivot axis 18 here is oriented horizontally in relation to the surface 4 which is to be treated andas seen in relation to the drawing plane of FIGS. 2a and bvertically. In respect of the imaginary vertical axis H (FIG. 2), the arcuate guide 11a has been pivoted to the right, as seen in relation to the drawing plane, and thus assumes an angular position of approximately 45 in relation to the surface 4 which is to be treated. The carriage body 12 is positioned on the arcuate guide 11a in the region of the rear articulated joint 19b, wherein the guide part 3 projects obliquely upward in relation to the surface 4 which is to be treated andas seen in relation to the drawing plane of FIGS. 2a and bdownward to the right. Proceeding from the first position, which can be seen with reference to FIG. 2a, the introduction of a torque D acting about the longitudinal axis of the guide part 3 causes the base arrangement 2a to rotate in the counterclockwise direction or counter to the direction of rotation U which can be seen with reference to FIG. 2. During this rotation, the guide part 3 remains in an essentially unaltered position in relation to the surface 4 and rotates through approximately 90 about its longitudinal axis. On account of the essentially unaltered position of the guide part 3, and of the above-described rotation of the base arrangement 2a, the torque D causes the guide part 3, and the carriage body 12 arranged on the guide part 3, to move relative to the base arrangement 2a and the arcuate guide 11a. During this relative movement, the carriage body 12 makes its way along the arcuate guide 11a. The arcuate guide 11a, in contrast, is tilted in relation to the base arrangement through approximately 90 about the pivot axis 18. Of course, it is also possible for the base arrangement 2 to rotate on the spot through more than the 90 which can be seen with reference to FIGS. 2a and b.
(18) In addition, the pivot axis 18 is made to extend essentially parallel to the surface 4 which is to be treated. It is, of course, also possible for the pivot axis 18 to be arranged in an inclined state in relation to the surface 4 which is to be treated.
(19) The surface-treatment appliance 1b, which can be seen with reference to FIG. 3, differs from the surface-treatment appliances 1 and 1a according to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, essentially in that the guide part 3b is connected to the carriage body 12 by means of a joint element 20. The joint element 20 has a joint axis 21. The joint axis 21 is oriented essentially parallel to the guide plane F of the arcuate guide 11, in which the carriage body 12 can be displaced linearly. The joint element 20 is designed in the form of an articulated joint, and therefore, as seen in relation to the drawing plane of FIG. 3, the guide part 3b can be pivoted out of said drawing plane and into the same. In this way, the arcuate guide 11, together with the carriage body 12 and the joint element 20, forms, as it were, a kind of universal-joint arrangement. Regardless of the differences in design in relation to the joint arrangement of the surface-treatment appliance 1a according to FIG. 2, this joint arrangement here has essentially a corresponding functionality in terms of kinematics. To that extent, the base arrangement 2 of the surface-treatment appliance 1b can thus be rotated on the spot in the same manner as the base arrangement 2a of the surface-treatment appliance 1a.
(20) FIGS. 4a to 6b show further details relating to the design providing for the support and linear displacement capability of the carriage body 12 on the arcuate guide 11.
(21) A first configuration which provides for this support can be seen with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b. To give a clearer representation, the carriage body 12a here is indicated merely by dashed lines. The carriage body 12a has a supporting element 22a supported on the arcuate guide 11a in the radial direction R. The supporting element 22a is designed in the form of a rolling element 23. The rolling element 23 is barrel-shaped and is supported in the radial direction R against an inner guide path 24 of the arcuate guide 11a, as seen in relation to the radial direction R. In this way, the supporting element 22a forms the supporting point P1 of the carriage body 12a. Instead of the barrel-shaped configuration of the rolling element 23, it is also possible, of course, to provide a ball-shaped, cone-shaped, needle-shaped or similar configuration. The carriage body 12a also has a counter-support element 25a supported on the arcuate guide 11a from the opposite side in relation to the supporting element 22a, as seen in the radial direction R. The counter-support element 25a is configured, in a manner corresponding to the supporting element 22a, in the form of a rolling element 23 and is supported on an outer guide surface 26 of the arcuate guide 11a, as seen in relation to the radial direction R. To that extent, the counter-support element 25a forms a second one of the supporting points P1, P2, namely the supporting point P2.
(22) In particular in order to achieve play-free and essentially direction-independent support of the carriage body 12a, the latter has further rolling elements 23, each supported along the radial direction R on those regions of the arcuate guide 11a which are directed away from the supporting element 22a and the counter-support element 25a. To that extent, these two rolling elements 23 form a further supporting element 27a and a further counter-support element 28a.
(23) In addition, the carriage body 12a is supported on the arcuate guide 11a in the lateral direction L, i.e. in a direction transverse to a main extent of the arcuate guide, such that a torque D (FIG. 2) acting about a longitudinal axis of the guide part 3, 3b can be transmitted to the arcuate guide 11a, and therefore to the base arrangement 2, 2a, via the carriage body 12a. For this purpose, the carriage body 12a has a plurality of guide elements 29a arranged one behind the other along the arcuate guide 11a. The guide elements 29a are supported on opposite outer surfaces of the arcuate guide 11a along the lateral direction L and are each designed in the form of a barrel-shaped rolling element.
(24) A further design for the linear displacement capability of the carriage body 12 on the arcuate guide 11 can be seen with reference to FIGS. 5a and 5b. The configuration illustrated there differs from the configuration which can be seen with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b essentially in that the supporting elements 22b, 27b and the counter-support elements 25b, 28b are designed in the form of sliding elements 30. Accordingly, it is also the case that the guide elements 29b for supporting the carriage body 12b laterally on the arcuate guide lib are designed in the form of sliding elements.
(25) A further design for the linear displacement capability of the carriage body 12 on the arcuate guide 11 can be seen with reference to FIGS. 6a and 6b. The configuration illustrated there differs from the embodiments according to FIGS. 4a and 4b, and also FIGS. 5a and 5b, essentially in that there is an arcuate guide 11c provided, which has a round cross section. The arcuate guide 11c here is produced from a round material of solid cross section. Of course, it is also possible for a tubular hollow cross section to be provided instead for the arcuate guide 11c. The arcuate guide 11c has a carriage body 12c engaging around it in the circumferential direction. As is depicted with reference to FIG. 6a, a lower portion of the carriage body 12c, as seen in relation to the drawing plane of FIG. 6a, can be taken to be a supporting element 22c. Accordingly, an upper portion 25c of the carriage body 12c can be taken to be a counter-support element 25c, which is supported on the arcuate guide 11c from the opposite side in relation to the supporting element 22c, as seen in the radial direction. As can be seen with reference to the cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 6b, the carriage body 12c has a bearing sleeve 31. The bearing sleeve 31 engages all the way around the circular-cylindrical cross section of the arcuate guide 11c in the circumferential direction. Instead of engagement all the way around in this way, it is possible to provide for, for example, engagement only part of the way around. This latter is the case, for example, when the bearing sleeve 31 is slit or is subdivided into sub-elements, which is intended to be depicted in FIG. 6b by means of the schematically indicated parting plane S. The bearing sleeve 31 extends continuously along the arcuate guide 11c and essentially over the entire length of the carriage body 12c. It is also possible, instead, to provide two bearing sleeves which are considerably shorter than the bearing sleeve 31, in which case the bearing sleeves are arranged opposite one another at the ends of the carriage body 12c. The bearing sleeve 31 here is provided in the form of a separate machine element, which is connected to the rest of the components of the carriage body 12c. As an alternative, the bearing sleeve 31 can be formed in one piece with the carriage body 12c. The carriage body 12c can be displaced with slide-bearing action along the arcuate guide 11c by means of the bearing sleeve 31. To that extent, the bearing sleeve 31 is designed in the form of a sliding sleeve. It is also possible, instead, for the bearing sleeve 31 to be configured in the form of a linear ballbearing, which is known in principle, and this makes it possible for the carriage body 12c to be displaced with rolling-bearing action on the arcuate guide 11c.
(26) It is, of course, possible for the above-described configurations providing for the support of the carriage bodies 12a, 12b and 12c on the respective arcuate guide 11a, 11b and 11c to be provided on the surface-treatment appliance 1, 1a and 1b irrespective of the embodiment of the latter in each case.
