Suction cleaning apparatus and method for operating a suction cleaning apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a suction cleaning apparatus including an acting device for acting on an area to be cleaned, a suction unit device for generating a suction flow, and a liquid separator, wherein the liquid separator has a chamber having a peripheral wall and a rotor which is arranged in the chamber so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein at least one outlet opening for liquid is arranged on the peripheral wall, and wherein a holding tank for liquid is provided which is fluidically connected to the at least one outlet opening for liquid.

1 . A suction cleaning apparatus comprising
 an acting device for acting on an area to be cleaned;   a suction unit device for generating a suction flow; and   a liquid separator;   wherein the liquid separator has a chamber having a peripheral wall and a rotor which is arranged in the chamber and is rotatable about a rotational axis;   wherein at least one outlet opening for liquid is arranged on the peripheral wall; and   wherein a holding tank for liquid is provided which is fluidically connected to the at least one outlet opening for liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is part of the suction unit device and is arranged and configured such that it effects a negative pressure during operation of the suction cleaning apparatus to generate the suction flow. 
     
     
         3 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is arranged and configured such that the liquid separator is formed as a centrifugal separator and, during operation of the suction cleaning apparatus, flings liquid droplets radially outwardly toward the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         4 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
 the rotational axis is oriented parallel at least to a partial region of the peripheral wall;   the chamber is cylindrical or conical-portion-shaped at least in a partial region;   the chamber is at least approximately rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis.   
     
     
         5 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
 a mouth normal of the at least one outlet opening for liquid is oriented transversely to the rotational axis;   the at least one outlet opening for liquid is in the form of a slot;   the at least one outlet opening for liquid or a supply region to the at least one outlet opening for liquid extends over at least 50% of a height of the peripheral wall;   during proper operation of the suction cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface that is horizontal with respect to the direction of gravity, at least one of i) the at least one outlet opening for liquid and ii) the holding tank for liquid lies below the rotational axis with respect to the direction of gravity.   
     
     
         6 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet opening for liquid is associated with a supply region, in particular with at least one of the following:
 the supply region has at least one flow region which leads to the at least one outlet opening for liquid, wherein, when cleaning a surface which is horizontal with respect to the direction of gravity, a flow of liquid toward the at least one outlet opening in the flow region is driven by gravity;   at the supply region, the peripheral wall is inclined relative to the rotational axis;   the supply region is funnel-shaped.   
     
     
         7 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising a drive motor, which is associated with the chamber and which drives a rotational movement of the rotor. 
     
     
         8 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising a central tube, which protrudes into the chamber and which is fluidically connected to the acting device, with an air-laden dirty fluid being introduced into the chamber by the central tube. 
     
     
         9 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
 the central tube is positioned coaxially with the rotational axis;   the rotor contacts the central tube or is spaced apart from the central tube by a gap;   the rotor has a central region to which the air-laden dirty fluid is supplied axially by the central tube, with a radial deflection taking place at or adjacently to the central region;   an annular space is formed in the chamber around the central tube;   the chamber has an inlet opening for an air-laden dirty fluid, said inlet opening being formed on the central tube;   a ratio of an inner diameter of the central tube in the supply of the air-laden dirty fluid to the rotor to an outer diameter of the rotor is in the range between 0.1 and 0.5.   
     
     
         10 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein an air supply device is associated with the rotor, by which false air is suppliable to the rotor. 
     
     
         11 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
 the air supply device comprises one or more gaps between the central tube and the rotor;   the air supply device comprises one or more openings of the central tube to an interior of the chamber;   at least one false air valve is arranged on the central tube.   
     
     
         12 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one dip tube is associated with the chamber for removing air and in particular dry air, with at least one outlet opening for air being formed on the at least one dip tube. 
     
     
         13 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
 the at least one dip tube is oriented parallel or transverse to the rotational axis;   the at least one dip tube is at least one of i) oriented parallel to and ii) spaced apart from a central tube by which an air-laden dirty fluid is introduced into the chamber;   an end face of the at least one dip tube is at least one of i) spaced apart from an end face of the central tube and ii) spaced apart from the rotor;   the at least one dip tube has a smaller length than the central tube;   the at least one outlet opening for air is spaced apart from the peripheral wall;   the at least one dip tube has circular-segment-shaped delimiting walls adapted to the peripheral wall;   the at least one dip tube is positioned above the rotational axis with respect to the direction of gravity during proper operation of the suction cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface that is horizontal with respect to the direction of gravity;   the at least one dip tube has an extension in the form of a collar at one end face, which extension is in particular sharp-edged.   
     
     
         14 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the at least one dip tube is fluidically connected to the acting device and the acting device has at least one outlet opening for air. 
     
     
         15 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a first end cover and a second end cover between which the peripheral wall lies. 
     
     
         16 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
 the first end cover is positioned facing the acting device;   a central tube runs through the first end cover toward the rotor or the central tube is seated on the first end cover;   at least one dip tube runs through the first end cover for removing air from the chamber or the at least one dip tube is seated on the first end cover;   the first end cover is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the rotational axis.   
     
     
         17 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
 the rotor is adjacent to the second end cover and in particular closer to the second end cover than to the first end cover;   with respect to an extension of the rotational axis, a drive motor is arranged behind the second end cover;   a rotary bearing for the rotor is arranged on the second end cover;   the second end cover is oriented transversely to the rotational axis.   
     
     
         18 . The suction cleaning apparatus comprising an acting device for acting on an area to be cleaned, a suction unit device for generating a suction flow, and a liquid separator, or in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a filter is arranged between the acting device and the liquid separator. 
     
     
         19 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the filter is formed as a coarse dirt filter. 
     
     
         20 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the filter is arranged upstream of a chamber of the liquid separator. 
     
     
         21 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein, with respect to a flow direction of an air-laden dirty fluid, the filter is arranged upstream of a central tube by which the air-laden dirty fluid is introduced into a chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein a flow path for an air-laden dirty fluid from the acting device to a chamber of the liquid separator has a deflection region, and wherein the filter is arranged at the deflection region. 
     
     
         23 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the filter is arranged so to be removable from the suction cleaning apparatus and, in particular, can be removed from a housing outer side. 
     
     
         24 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein, during operation of the suction cleaning apparatus, the rotor is operated at a rotational speed at which foam is broken down in the chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein, during operation of the suction cleaning apparatus, the rotor has a rotational speed in the range between 1,000 revolutions per minute and 100,000 revolutions per minute. 
     
     
         26 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the rotor lies in the range between 20 mm and 150 mm. 
     
     
         27 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet opening for liquid is sharp-edged at least at a delimiting wall. 
     
     
         28 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the at least one outlet opening for liquid is wedge-shaped with an acute wedge angle at least on one side. 
     
     
         29 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the acting device is or comprises at least one of the following:
 a wiper for liquid;   a cleaning roller, which is covered with a textile material, for example;   a suction nozzle;   a dipping edge for a textile material;   at least one suction opening for an air-laden dirty fluid and at least one channel, which leads to the liquid separator;   at least one outlet opening for air and at least one channel, which leads to the liquid separator.   
     
     
         30 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising a battery device for supplying electrical energy. 
     
     
         31 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 30 , comprising a housing which has a handle opening, the battery device being arranged on a web which delimits the handle opening. 
     
     
         32 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein a drive motor for the rotor follows the chamber and wherein the battery device follows the drive motor. 
     
     
         33 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising a housing with a bottom side, and wherein the holding tank for liquid is seated removably on the bottom side. 
     
     
         34 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the holding tank for liquid has a first region, a second region following the first region, and a third region following the second region, with liquid being introduced from the at least one outlet opening for liquid via the second region. 
     
     
         35 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the first region and the third region each have a greater height than the second region, and in particular wherein the cross-section of the holding tank for liquid is C-shaped or U-shaped. 
     
     
         36 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the third region is positioned opposite a drive motor when the suction cleaning apparatus is fitted with a holding tank for liquid. 
     
     
         37 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the first region is positioned facing the acting device when the suction cleaning apparatus is fitted with a holding tank for liquid. 
     
     
         38 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , said suction cleaning apparatus being embodied as a hand-held or hand-guided suction cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         39 . The suction cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , said suction cleaning apparatus being formed as an extraction apparatus or spray extraction apparatus for textile materials. 
     
     
         40 . A method for operating a suction cleaning apparatus, said cleaning apparatus comprising an acting device for acting on an area to be cleaned, a suction unit device for generating a suction flow, and a liquid separator, wherein the liquid separator has a chamber having a peripheral wall and a rotor which is arranged in the chamber and is rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein at least one outlet opening for liquid is arranged on the peripheral wall, and wherein a holding tank for liquid is provided which is fluidically connected to the at least one outlet opening for liquid, said method comprising
 generating a negative pressure by a rotor of the liquid separator,   sucking an air-laden dirty fluid into a chamber of the liquid separator, wherein the liquid separator acts as a centrifugal separator with the rotating rotor, and   discharging separated liquid to a holding tank for liquid via at least one outlet opening for liquid, which is arranged on the peripheral wall of the chamber.   
     
     
         41 . The method in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein an air-laden dirty fluid sucked in is passed through a filter before entering the liquid separator. 
     
     
         42 . The method in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein dry air is discharged from the chamber by at least one dip tube.