SUCTION DEVICE

Abstract

A suction unit is proposed which comprises a suction apparatus, a dirt collection container, a filter device, wherein the dirt collection container is connected in terms of flow via the filter device to the suction apparatus, and a cleaning device for the filter device, wherein the cleaning device forms a noise source for noise emissions in a frequency range below 2000 Hz, and wherein at least one perforated-plate resonator is associated with the cleaning device, wherein the at least one perforated-plate resonator has a chamber with a chamber space and with a chamber wall and has at least one perforated plate which covers the chamber space, and wherein the at least one perforated plate is connected, actively with respect to sound, to the cleaning device.

Claims

1. A suction unit comprising: a suction apparatus; a dirt collection container; a filter device, wherein the dirt collection container is connected in terms of flow via the filter device to the suction apparatus; and a cleaning device for the filter device, wherein the cleaning device forms a noise source for noise emissions in a frequency range below 2000 Hz; and wherein at least one perforated-plate resonator is associated with the cleaning device, wherein the at least one perforated-plate resonator has a chamber with a chamber space and with a chamber wall and has at least one perforated plate which covers the chamber space; and wherein the at least one perforated plate is connected, actively with respect to sound, to the cleaning device.

2. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one perforated-plate resonator is, with respect to geometric dimensions and arrangement and form of openings in the at least one perforated plate, dimensioned with respect to the at least one noise source such that a noise reduction at the maximum level of at least 2.5 dB is realized by means of the at least one perforated-plate resonator.

3. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning device comprises an external-air valve device.

4. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one noise source generates noises owing to a pressure change.

5. The suction unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the noise source generates banging noises.

6. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one perforated-plate resonator is arranged with the at least one perforated plate opposite the cleaning device.

7. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one perforated plate is arranged on the chamber wall.

8. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one perforated plate of the at least one perforated-plate resonator has a first side, which faces toward the chamber space, and a second side, which is situated opposite the first side, wherein a multiplicity of openings is provided in the at least one perforated plate, which openings extend continuously between the first side and the second side.

9. The suction unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side is of planar form.

10. The suction unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first side and the second side are parallel to one another.

11. The suction unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the openings, on the first side, open into the chamber space and, on the second side, face toward the at least one noise source.

12. The suction unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the openings, on the second side, open into a duct which is connected, actively in terms of sound, to the at least one noise source.

13. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one sound-conducting duct which leads from the at least one noise source to the at least one perforated plate.

14. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one perforated plate forms an enclosure within which the at least one noise source is arranged.

15. The suction unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the chamber wall of the at least one perforated-plate resonator at least partially forms a housing wall of the cleaning unit.

16. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber wall has a top wall, which is situated opposite the at least one perforated plate, and has a wall which is situated between the top wall and the at least one perforated plate.

17. The suction unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one perforated plate and the top wall are oriented parallel.

18. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber space has a (hollow) cuboidal shape.

19. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber wall has a first transverse wall, a second transverse wall, a first longitudinal wall, a second longitudinal wall and a top wall, wherein the first transverse wall and the second transverse wall are spaced apart and face one another, the first longitudinal wall and the second longitudinal wall are spaced apart from one another and face one another, the first transverse wall and the first longitudinal wall are oriented transversely with respect to one another, and the top wall is oriented transversely with respect to the first transverse wall, the second transverse wall, the first longitudinal wall and the second longitudinal wall.

20. The suction unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least one of (i) the first transverse wall and the second transverse wall are oriented parallel, and (ii) the first longitudinal wall and the second longitudinal wall are oriented parallel.

21. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber wall is produced at least partially from an acoustically hard material.

22. The suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sound absorption material is arranged in at least part of the chamber space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a suction means (vacuum cleaner) as an example of a cleaning unit;

[0040] FIG. 2 is an enlarged illustration of an external-air valve device of the suction means as per FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective partial view of the suction means as per FIG. 1 with a perforated-plate resonator; and

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the perforated-plate resonator as per FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] An exemplary embodiment of a suction means (vacuum cleaner) 10 as an example of a cleaning unit, which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 in a sectional view, has a dirt collection container 12 onto which a suction head 14 is mounted. The vacuum cleaner 10 is formed as an example of a vacuum cleaner apparatus and as a stand-alone unit (as an autonomous unit). The dirt collection container 12 has a suction inlet 16 to which, in the conventional manner, a suction hose 18 can be connected. The suction head 14 seals off the dirt collection container 12 at the top side and forms a suction outlet 20 on which a filter device 21 with an (at least one) filter 22 is held. The filter 22 is adjoined by a suction-extraction line 24 by means of which the dirt collection container 12 is connected in terms of flow to a suction apparatus 26. The suction apparatus 26 comprises an electric motor device 25 with an (at least one) electric motor 27 and a blower 28 which is driven in rotation by the electric motor 27.

[0044] During operation of the vacuum cleaner 10, the dirt collection container 12 is charged with negative pressure by the suction apparatus 26, such that a suction flow illustrated in FIG. 1 by the arrows 30 is generated. Under the action of the suction flow 30, suction air laden with dirt can be sucked into the dirt collection container 12 via the suction inlet 16, which suction air can then be extracted by suction by the suction apparatus 26. The suction air can be discharged to the surroundings by the suction apparatus 26 via exhaust-air openings 29 (FIG. 7) of the suction head 14.

[0045] The suction air flows through the filter 22, such that entrained solids particles are deposited on the dirty side 32, which faces toward the dirt collection container 12, of the filter 22. It is therefore necessary for the filter 22 to be cleaned from time to time, because otherwise it forms an increasing flow resistance, whereby the suction action of the vacuum cleaner 10 is impaired.

[0046] For the cleaning of the filter 22, a cleaning device which is in the form of an external-air valve device 33 and which has an (at least one) external-air valve 34 is arranged above the filter 22 in the suction head 14 (as illustrated on an enlarged scale in FIG. 2). Said external-air valve comprises a valve holder 36 which is arranged positionally fixedly in the suction head 14 and which forms a valve seat for a movable valve body in the form of a valve disk 38. The valve disk 38 is acted on with a closing force in the direction of the valve holder 36 by means of a closing spring 40. The closing spring 40 is restrained between a plate-like filter holder 42, which has a multiplicity of flow passages and which is arranged positionally fixedly in the suction head 14, and the valve disk 38. In addition to the closing spring 40, the filter holder 42 bears a resilient stop element in the form of a stop spring 44. The latter has in particular (preferably in the same way as the closing spring 40) a linear characteristic curve. Said stop spring is for example in the form of a helical spring. By contrast to the closing spring 40, the stop spring 44 is not under preload when the valve disk 38 is in the closed position. Only when the valve disk 38 lifts off from the valve seat of the valve holder 36, the stop spring 44 comes into contact with the underside of the valve disk 38 and is compressed slightly during a further movement of the valve disk 38. Said stop spring thus exerts an increasing restoring force on the valve plate 38 and accelerates the movement of the valve disk 38 proceeding from its closed valve position (illustrated in FIG. 2) via an open valve position back into the closed valve position. In the open valve position, the valve disk 38 assumes a spacing to the valve holder 36 which forms the valve seat.

[0047] The valve holder 36 has a multiplicity of passage openings (not illustrated in the drawing), the mouth regions of which are closed by the valve disk 38 when the latter assumes its closed valve position. At the level of the valve holder 36, the suction head 14 has a lateral opening 46. External air can flow into the passage openings of the valve holder 36 via the lateral opening 46. If the valve disk 36 assumes its open valve position spaced apart from the valve holder 36, the lateral opening 46 is connected in terms of flow via the passage openings of the valve holder 36 to the suction-extraction line 24, and external air can impinge on the clean side 48, which is averted from the dirt collection container 12, of the filter 22. If the valve disk 38 assumes its closed valve position, the flow connection between the lateral opening 46 and the suction-extraction line 24 is shut off.

[0048] In a central region, the valve holder 36 bears an electromagnet 50. The electromagnet 50 is surrounded in a circumferential direction by a ring-shaped space 52 into which a guide sleeve 54 integrally formed on the top side of the valve disk 38 protrudes. The guide sleeve 54 receives a magnetizable element, for example in the form of an iron plate 56, which in the closed valve position of the valve disk 38 bears against a free face edge 58 of the electromagnet 50 and, in combination with the electromagnet 50, forms a closed magnetic circuit.

[0049] The electromagnet 50 is electrically connected via a current supply line to an (electronic) control device 62 arranged in the suction head 14. A supply current is fed by the control device 62 to the electromagnet 50 during normal suction operation of the vacuum cleaner 10. Owing to the magnetic field which forms, the valve disk 38 is reliably held in its closed position. The holding force of the electromagnet 50 is assisted by the spring force of the closing spring 40.

[0050] If the current supply to the electromagnet 50 is shut off by the control device 62, the magnetic holding force acting on the valve disk 38 is eliminated, and the valve disk 38 is lifted from the valve seat counter to the action of the closing spring 40 owing to the pressure difference which acts on said valve disk and which results from the external pressure of the external air present in the region of the valve holder 36 and the internal pressure within the suction-extraction line 24. External air can then flow into the suction-extraction line 24 through the passage openings of the valve holder 36 in an abrupt manner, and the filter 22 is impinged on with external air on its clean side 48 in an abrupt manner. This leads to a mechanical vibration of the filter 22. Furthermore, external air flows through the filter 22 in the counterflow direction, that is to say counter to the flow direction 30 that prevails during normal suction operation. This results in effective cleaning of the filter 22.

[0051] In one exemplary embodiment, the energy supply to the vacuum cleaner 10 is realized by means of a rechargeable battery device. The latter comprises, for example, two rechargeable batteries.

[0052] The battery device comprises for example one or more lithium-ion accumulators. These are arranged, laterally adjacent to the suction apparatus 26, in a battery compartment 68 of the suction head 14. The battery compartment 68 is accessible to the user, for the purposes of exchanging the batteries, by means of an outwardly pivotable flap 70.

[0053] The electronic control device 62 is arranged above the suction apparatus 26 in the suction head 14 and is electrically connected to the batteries 64 via supply lines. A pushbutton 82 which can be activated manually by the user is connected to the control device 62 at the input side, which pushbutton is arranged on the top side of the suction head 14. The user can (manually) trigger a filter cleaning process by actuating the pushbutton 82.

[0054] The external-air valve device 33 in the suction means 10 is a noise source for banging noises. The sudden (“abrupt”) pressure change which leads to a reversed flow direction through the filter 22 leads to low-frequency banging noises. The relevant frequency range normally lies considerably below 1000 Hz. The pressure drop is abrupt and has a time duration of for example less than 0.05 seconds. The pressure change is in particular 50 mbar (5 kPa) or more.

[0055] For the noise reduction with regard to said noise source, the suction means 10 is equipped with a perforated-plate resonator 84 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). The perforated-plate resonator 84 is associated with the external-air valve device 33 as noise source, and said perforated-plate resonator is connected, actively with respect to sound, to said external-air valve device.

[0056] The perforated-plate resonator 84 has (FIG. 4) a chamber 85 with a chamber wall 86. Said chamber wall 86 delimits a chamber space 88. The chamber space 88 is closed off by a perforated plate 90.

[0057] In one exemplary embodiment (FIG. 4), the perforated plate 90 is supported on the chamber wall 86 and is arranged on the latter. For example, the chamber wall 86 is connected to the perforated plate 90.

[0058] In one embodiment, the chamber wall 86 comprises a top wall 92. Said top wall 92 is situated spaced apart from and opposite the perforated plate 90. The chamber space 88 is formed between the top wall 92 and the perforated plate 90.

[0059] In one embodiment, the perforated plate 90 and the top wall 92 are situated parallel to one another.

[0060] The perforated plate 90 has a first side 94. The first side 94 faces toward the chamber space 88. Said first side furthermore faces toward the top wall 92. The perforated plate 90 furthermore comprises a second side 96. The second side 96 is situated opposite the first side 94. The perforated plate 90 extends between the first side 94 and the second side 96.

[0061] The second side 96 of the perforated plate 90 faces, actively with respect to sound, toward the noise source (in the case of the suction means 10, the external-air valve device 33). Sound waves can propagate from said noise source toward the perforated plate 90 and enter the chamber space 88 through openings (“holes”) in the perforated plate 90.

[0062] In one exemplary embodiment (FIG. 4), the first side 94 and the second side 96 are parallel to one another. The perforated plate 90 is then correspondingly of planar form.

[0063] In one exemplary embodiment, the perforated-plate resonator 84 comprises a first transverse wall 98 and a second transverse wall 100. These are spaced apart from one another.

[0064] They are for example oriented parallel to one another.

[0065] The first transverse wall 98 and the second transverse wall 100 are seated on the top wall 92 and project transversely beyond said top wall.

[0066] Furthermore, the perforated-plate resonator 84 comprises a first longitudinal wall 102 and a second longitudinal wall 104. The first longitudinal wall 102 and the second longitudinal wall 104 are spaced apart from one another and face toward one another.

[0067] The first longitudinal wall 102 and the second longitudinal wall 104 are for example formed parallel to one another.

[0068] The first longitudinal wall 102 and the second longitudinal wall 104 are seated on the top wall 92 and project beyond the latter. The first longitudinal wall 102 and the second longitudinal wall 104 lie transversely with respect to the first transverse wall 98 and the second transverse wall 100. The first transverse wall 98, the second transverse wall 100, the first longitudinal wall 102 and the second longitudinal wall 104 form a (lateral) wall 106 which is seated on the top wall 92 and which laterally closes off the chamber space 98. The perforated plate 90 is in turn arranged on said wall 106 and is supported in particular on end sides of said wall 106.

[0069] In one exemplary embodiment, the first transverse wall 98, the second transverse wall 100, the first longitudinal wall 102 and the second longitudinal wall 104 are of straight form. The transverse walls 98, 100 are arranged at right angles to the longitudinal walls 102, 104. The chamber space 88 has in this case a hollow cuboidal shape.

[0070] The chamber wall 96 is formed in particular from an acoustically hard material with a reflectance of greater than 94%, which accordingly exhibits a low absorption capacity for sound.

[0071] Openings (“holes”) 108 are arranged in the perforated plate 90, which openings extend continuously between the first side 94 and the second side 96. At the first side 94, the openings open into the chamber space 88. At the second side 96, the openings 108 open into a duct 110 (FIG. 1) which conducts sound. The duct 110 is arranged between the noise source, that is to say the external-air valve device 33, and the perforated plate 90.

[0072] A multiplicity of openings 108 is formed on the perforated plate 90. Said openings are in particular provided in a regular arrangement. Said openings are in particular arranged on grid points of a two-dimensional grid. Elementary cells of said grid are for example squares, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles etc.

[0073] In one exemplary embodiment, the openings 108 have a circular cross section. They thus have a (hollow) cylindrical shape.

[0074] A direction of extent 112 of an opening 108 is for example oriented parallel to the transverse walls 98, 100 or longitudinal walls 102, 104. The direction of extent 112 is in particular perpendicular to the first side 94 and second side 96 of the perforated plate 90. Said direction of extent is furthermore in particular oriented perpendicular to the top wall 92.

[0075] A sound-absorbing material 114 such as mineral fiber wool may be arranged in the whole of, or in part of, the chamber space 88.

[0076] The perforated-plate resonator 84 is a perforated-plate absorber which has sound-absorbing characteristics. The sound-absorbing action is improved by means of an acoustically hard form of the chamber wall 86, that is to say by means of correspondingly low sound absorption capacities of the chamber wall 86.

[0077] The dimensioning of the perforated-plate resonator 84 with regard to its geometrical dimensions and the arrangement and dimension of the openings 108 determines the effective frequency range for the sound absorption.

[0078] In the case of a geometrical construction of the perforated-plate resonator 84 as shown in FIG. 4 with a cuboidal chamber space 88 and transverse walls 98, 100 and longitudinal walls 102, 104 perpendicular to one another, wherein the wall 106 is in turn perpendicular to the perforated plate 90 and to the top wall 92, a center frequency f.sub.0 is calculated as

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}{f}_0=\frac{c}{2.Math.\pi }.Math.\sqrt{\frac{\mathrm{.Math.}}{d\left(l+2.Math.\pi .Math..Math.r/4\right)}}& \left(1\right)\end{array}$

[0079] Here, 1 is the thickness of the perforated plate 90 between the first side 94 and the second side 96 plus a mouth correction; d is the height of the chamber space 88 between the first side 94 of the perforated plate 90 and an inner side of the top wall 92; c is the speed of sound. (In this regard, see R. Lerch, G. Sessler, D. Wolf, “Technische Akustik” [“Technical acoustics”], Springer 2009, page 296). The stated formula applies to circular openings 108 with a diameter 2r.

[0080] The variable ε is calculated as

ε=opening area/total area  (2)

[0081] The opening area is in this case the opening area (mouth area) of an opening 108. The total area is the total area of the perforated plate 90 which is exposed to the noise source, that is to say which is impinged on by sound waves.

[0082] In the case of the suction means 10, the total area 10 corresponds to that area of the perforated plate 90 which faces toward the duct 110.

[0083] In a typical exemplary embodiment, in particular for a suction means with external-air valve device 33, the perforated-plate resonator 84 is configured such that the center frequency f.sub.0 is approximately 675 Hz.

[0084] For a suction means 10 with external-air valve device, it has been possible to realize a noise reduction of the maximum level by more than 2.5 dB, and for example by approximately 5 dB.

[0085] A perforated-plate resonator basically has the following characteristic variables: resonance frequency (center frequency), opening diameter, resonator height (height of the chamber space), thickness of the perforated plate, and hole spacing. For a specific application, said variables are set so as to yield a sufficient noise reduction at the maximum level, for example by more than 2.5 dB, for the relevant frequencies.

[0086] A perforated-plate resonator may also be used in conjunction with other cleaning units which comprise noise sources and in particular noise sources that generate banging noises.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0087] 10 Vacuum cleaner [0088] 12 Dirt collection container [0089] 14 Suction head [0090] 16 Suction inlet [0091] 18 Suction hose [0092] 20 Suction outlet [0093] 21 Filter device [0094] 22 Filter [0095] 24 Suction-extraction line [0096] 25 Electric motor device [0097] 26 Suction apparatus [0098] 27 Electric motor [0099] 28 Blower [0100] 29 Exhaust-air opening [0101] 30 Suction flow [0102] 32 Dirty side [0103] 33 External-air valve device [0104] 34 External-air valve [0105] 36 Valve holder [0106] 38 Valve disc [0107] 40 Closing spring [0108] 42 Filter holder [0109] 44 Stop spring [0110] 46 Lateral opening [0111] 48 Clean side [0112] 50 Electromagnet [0113] 52 Ring-shaped space [0114] 54 Guide sleeve [0115] 56 Iron plate [0116] 58 Face edge [0117] 62 Control device [0118] 64 Battery [0119] 68 Battery compartment [0120] 70 Flap [0121] 82 Pushbutton [0122] 84 Perforated-plate resonator [0123] 85 Chamber [0124] 86 Chamber wall [0125] 88 Chamber space [0126] 90 Perforated plate [0127] 92 Top wall [0128] 94 First side [0129] 96 Second side [0130] 98 First transverse wall [0131] 100 Second transverse wall [0132] 102 First longitudinal wall [0133] 104 Second longitudinal wall [0134] 106 Wall [0135] 108 Opening [0136] 110 Duct [0137] 112 Direction of extent [0138] 114 Sound-absorbing material