Vacuum cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9259128-B2
Application number	US-201214008010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2012
Priority date	Apr 14, 2011
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning device comprises a unit ( 1 ) for aerodynamically affecting dust particles and/or a surface to be cleaned. The unit ( 1 ) comprises a housing ( 30 ) having a housing wall ( 31 ) encompassing two internal sections ( 20, 22 ), and a movable surface ( 11 ) arranged at an interface of the two sections ( 20, 22 ), wherein a portion ( 32 ) of the housing wall ( 31 ) delimiting a first section ( 20 ) is provided with at least one opening ( 21 ), and wherein means for actuating the movable surface ( 11 ) are arranged in a second section ( 22 ). A portion ( 33 ) of the housing wall ( 31 ) delimiting the second section ( 22 ) is adapted to at least hinder exchange of air between an inside of this section ( 22 ) and an outside of the housing ( 30 ) at the location of this section ( 22 ), in order to at least hinder a migration of dust to the second section ( 22 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Vacuum cleaning device with a unit for aerodynamically affecting dust particles and/or a surface to be cleaned in order for the particles to become dislodged from the surface and to become airborne, the unit comprising:
a housing having a housing wall encompassing a first internal space and a second internal space, wherein a first portion of the housing wall delimiting the first internal space is provided with at least one opening via which the first internal space is in communication with an outside of the unit;
a movable surface arranged at an interface of the first and second internal spaces;
means for actuating an oscillation in the movable surface, the actuating means being arranged in the second internal space; and
means for equalizing a pressure in the first internal space with a pressure in the second internal space, wherein the pressure equalization means comprises at least one component configured to equalize the pressures via at least one of (i) actively controlling an extent to which a second portion of the housing wall delimiting the second internal space is capable of allowing air to pass, and (ii) varying a ratio between a volume of the first internal space and a volume of the second internal space other than by oscillating the movable surface.

2. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the housing wall delimiting the second internal space of the unit is fully closed.

3. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the housing wall delimiting the second internal space of the unit is provided with at least one opening, and wherein the pressure equalization means comprises at least one valve movable between a position for closing the at least one opening and a position for leaving the at least one opening open.

4. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure equalization means comprises a cylinder and spring configuration for allowing for a displacement inside the housing of a whole of (i) the movable surface and (ii) the actuating means.

5. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure equalization means comprises a flexible membrane which is arranged in the second portion of the housing wall delimiting the second internal space.

6. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein a whole of (i) the movable surface and (ii) the actuating means is movably arranged in the housing via the pressure equalization means, wherein the pressure equalization means further comprises a cylinder for guiding the whole of (i) the movable surface and (ii) the actuating means in a predetermined direction, and a resilient spring coupled between (a) the whole of (i) the movable surface and (ii) the actuating means and (b) the housing wall.

7. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure equalization means comprises at least one component configured to vary a volume of the second internal space, the unit further comprising:
at least one component for (i) measuring a pressure difference between the first internal space and the second internal space, and (ii) controlling, via a control signal, the pressure equalization means for varying the volume of the second internal space to a volume at which the pressure difference is eliminated.

8. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 7 , further wherein the pressure equalization means that varies the volume of the second internal space comprises a tube-shaped member and a piston which is movably arranged inside the tube-shaped member, wherein the portion of the housing wall delimiting the second internal space is provided with an opening, and wherein the tube-shaped member is connected to the housing at the position of the opening.

9. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure equalization means comprises a component having (i) a passage extending between the first internal space and the second internal space and (ii) a valve movable between a position for closing the passage and a position for leaving the passage open, the unit further comprising:
at least one component for (i) measuring a pressure difference between the first internal space and the second internal space, and (ii) controlling, via a control signal, the valve to move the valve to a position at which the pressure difference is eliminated.

10. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein a whole of (i) the movable surface and (ii) the actuating means is movably arranged in the housing via the pressure equalization means, wherein the pressure equalization means further comprises a movable arranged frame for moving the whole of (i) the movable surface and (ii) the actuating means in a predetermined direction, wherein the whole of (i) the movable surface and (ii) the actuating means is attached to the movable arranged frame, the unit further comprising:
at least one component for (i) measuring a pressure difference between the first internal space and the second internal space, and (ii) controlling, via a control signal, the movable arranged frame to move the whole of the movable surface and the actuating means to a position at which the pressure difference is eliminated.

11. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein an oscillating movement of the movable surface causes air to alternately be (i) drawn into the first internal space through the opening from various directions at the opening, and (ii) expelled from the first internal space through the opening in the form of a directed jet.

12. Vacuum cleaning device with a unit for aerodynamically affecting dust particles and/or a surface to be cleaned in order for the particles to become dislodged from the surface and to become airborne, the unit comprising:
a housing having a housing wall encompassing a first internal space and a second internal space, wherein a first portion of the housing wall delimiting the first internal space is provided with at least one opening via which the first internal space is in communication with an outside of the unit;
a movable surface arranged at an interface of the first and second internal spaces;
means for actuating an oscillation in the movable surface, the actuating means being arranged in the second internal space; and
means for equalizing a pressure in the first internal space with a pressure in the second internal space, wherein said pressure equalization means comprises a portion of the housing wall having at least one opening in the portion of the housing wall in between the first internal space and the second internal space, further wherein the second internal space is in communication with an outside of the unit via only the first internal space.

Assignees

• Suijver Jan Frederik
• Kooijman Gerben
• Ouweltjes Okke
• Lammers Jeroen Herman
• Van Der Woude Rene Henk
• Koninkl Philips Nv

Inventors

• Suijver Jan Frederik
• Kooijman Gerben
• Ouweltjes Okke
• Lammers Jeroen Herman
• Van Der Woude Rene Henk

Classifications

• A47L9/0483 Primary

  Reciprocating or oscillating tools, e.g. vibrators, agitators, beaters · CPC title

• A47L9/0461 Primary

  Dust-loosening tools, e.g. agitators, brushes · CPC title