[0001] The invention relates to the industrial vacuum cleaner sector. In particular, the
invention concerns an industrial vacuum cleaner, for liquid substances, with detection
device of the level of filling of its collection tank.
[0002] Industrial vacuum cleaners, in mobile or fixed version, are machines able to vacuum
material, either powders or liquids, in large quantities. They are machines designed
to operate for long periods of time in extreme conditions and with the possibility
of rapidly discharging the vacuumed material.
[0003] Conventional vacuum cleaners for liquids essentially comprise at least one vacuum
turbine, containment means of the liquid substances vacuumed (generally a cylindrical
tank to which a vacuum brush is connected with a flexible hose) and an electrical
control unit of the various functions generally positioned on the lid of the tank,
which also acts as supporting base for the vacuum turbine.
[0004] The turbine draws in air, creating a vacuum pressure in the collection tank: the
vacuumed air draws with it the liquids, which fill said tank.
[0005] It is important to be able to know how full the liquid collection tank is, both for
the purpose of checking normal operation of the vacuum cleaner, and for safety purposes,
to prevent the vacuumed liquids in excess from escaping from the collection tank and
reaching the turbine and the electrical components, causing inevitable damages.
[0006] Detection devices of the level reached by liquids in the collection tank of vacuum
cleaners are known.
[0007] A prior art detection device of the level reached by liquids in the tank comprises:
- a housing obtained in said tank, for example projecting from the cylindrical wall;
- a float, provided inside said housing, and movable vertically as a result of the hydrostatic
thrust exerted on it by the liquid increasing in the tank;
- a micro switch, also provided in said housing, generally of reed type, on the cylindrical
body of which said float is movable, adapted to cooperate with said float, which comprises
a magnet adapted to cause the change of status of said micro switch;
- a wired connection that joins said micro switch to the electrical control unit of
the various functions of the vacuum cleaner.
[0008] When the liquid in the tank has reached a predefined maximum safety level, the float
is raised by the same liquid, so as to operate said micro switch, causing closing
of the electrical circuit connected to said electrical control unit.
[0009] When the status of the micro switch changes, the electrical control unit stops the
turbine of the vacuum cleaner to prevent further liquids from being introduced into
the tank.
[0010] The change of state signal is transmitted from the micro switch to the electrical
control unit by means of said wired connection that joins the housing positioned in
the tank to the control unit associated with the lid.
[0011] Unfortunately, a wired connection can be subject to undesirable malfunctions. A wired
connection, without protection, can in fact be accidentally tampered with, for example
with detachment, even partial, of the cable, without faults and problems being indicated.
Therefore, there is the risk of the device failing to correctly detect that the maximum
filling level has been reached, and of excess liquids being vacuumed, with the drawbacks
described above.
[0012] The operator, in vacuum cleaners of small size, after having disconnected the cable
from the control unit to remove the lid and empty the tank, may reconnect the cable
incorrectly, or even forget to connect it, making the maximum level indicator device
useless.
[0013] Even more disadvantageously, the vacuumed liquid inside the collection tank often
reaches conditions of turbulent motion, thereby creating vortices. The waves created
by the liquid in its swirling movement can accidentally raise and lower the float
several times, causing a succession of changes of status of the micro switch, even
before the maximum filling level is reached in the tank. Continuous contacts and releases
of the micro switch cause continuous pulses to generate a control signal to stop the
turbine. In this way, the device is activated and deactivated continuously, without
carrying out its correct function, causing the operator to disconnect the signal cable
to deactivate the device.
[0014] WO0042893A2 discloses an example of an industrial vacuum cleaner for liquid substances with detection
device of the level of filling of its tank according to the prior art.
[0015] The object of the invention is to eliminate these problems, producing an industrial
vacuum cleaner with detection device of the level of filling with improved technical
and functional performances with respect to prior art devices, with particular attention
to management of consumptions.
[0016] The aim is achieved with an industrial vacuum cleaner for liquid substances with
detection device of the level of filling of its collection tank, wherein said vacuum
cleaner comprises:
- at least one vacuum turbine;
- a collection tank of the vacuumed liquid products;
- an electrical control unit for controlling the various functions;
- a detection device of the level of liquid reached in said tank, comprising a housing
obtained in said tank, a float, provided inside said housing, and a micro switch,
wherein said float, rising as a result of the increase in the level of liquid, cooperates
with said micro switch to change its status and generate a control signal, manageable
by said electrical control unit, to stop said at least one vacuum turbine upon reaching
a predefined maximum level of filling;
- transmission means of said control signal from said detection device to said electrical
control unit,
characterized in that:
- said detection device comprises a circuit board comprising an emitter of an electromagnetic
wave control signal, said control signal being generated as a result of the change
in status of said micro switch;
- said electrical control unit comprises a receiver adapted to receive said electromagnetic
wave control signal,
wherein said transmission means of said control signal are of wireless type.
[0017] In a preferred variant of the invention, said wireless technology is of radio wave
type.
[0018] According to a first aspect of the invention, said emitter comprises battery power
supply means, and said receiver comprises connection means to an electrical power
supply network with interposition of a transformer.
[0019] Advantageously, said emitter comprises means for setting the duration of said control
signal generated.
[0020] In a particularly preferred variant of the invention, said electrical control unit
comprises resettable blocking means of said at least one turbine, activated by the
first pulse generated by said control signal.
[0021] Moreover, said resettable blocking means comprise a selector switch of manually controlled
type.
[0022] In particular, said resettable blocking means comprise a lever adapted to operate
said selector switch from the outside of the lid of the vacuum cleaner where said
electrical control unit is housed.
[0023] According to a further aspect of the invention, said resettable blocking means comprise
visual signalling means of the blocked condition of said at least one turbine.
[0024] The advantages deriving from the constructional aspects indicated above consist in
the reliability and safety of the detection device of the level reached by the liquids
inside a collection tank of an industrial vacuum cleaner.
[0025] The use of wireless technology ensures optimal performance without the risk of malfunction:
in fact, no cable is exposed outside the vacuum cleaner. Wireless technology, in particular
electromagnetic waves, always ensures transmission of the control signal from the
emitter to the receiver.
[0026] The circuit board comprises setting means that allow setting of the maximum emission
time of the control signal, with significant savings in terms of energy absorption
and consequent increased duration of the power supply battery of the emitter.
[0027] In addition to the economic saving, machine downtimes for maintenance and to replace
used parts are avoided.
[0028] The resettable blocking means of said turbine inhibit the operation of the turbine
at the first pulse generated by the micro switch: the control unit manages the control
signal only once, preventing the device from continuing to activate and deactivate
due to repeated oscillations of the float, at the mercy of the waves generated by
swirling of the flow of vacuumed liquid.
[0029] Moreover, even if the tank were to remain full, due to failure to empty it, the duration
of the control signal limited by the timer would prevent the battery from becoming
rapidly depleted.
[0030] The visual signalling means of the blocked condition of the turbine facilitate the
work of the operator, immediately referred to the operations to reset the device.
[0031] These and other advantages of the invention will be more apparent below from the
description of a preferred embodiment, provided by way of non-limiting example, and
with the aid of the figures, wherein:
Fig. 1 represents, in a front plan view, an industrial vacuum cleaner for liquid substances
with detection device of the level of filling according to the invention;
Figs. 2 and 3 represent, in a vertical section along two planes orthogonal to each
other, the device according to the invention, in a first operating configuration of
the vacuum cleaner with which it is associated;
Fig. 4 represents, in a vertical section, the device of Fig. 2 in a second operating
configuration of the vacuum cleaner with which it is associated;
Fig. 5 represents, in an exploded axonometric view, a particular component of the
invention.
[0032] With reference to Fig. 1, there is illustrated an industrial vacuum cleaner 1 for
liquids comprising:
- a vacuum turbine 3;
- a cylindrical collection tank 4 of the vacuumed liquids L, provided with a coupling
14 for a vacuum tube (not illustrated), with a lid 15 also acting as supporting base
for said vacuum turbine 3, with wheels 16 and with a handle 17;
- an electrical control unit 5 of the various functions positioned on said the lid 15
of said tank 4.
[0033] Said vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a detection device 2 of the level of liquid L reached
in said tank 4.
[0034] With particular reference to Figs. 2-5, said device 2 comprises:
- a housing 6 obtained in said tank 4 and projecting from its lateral wall;
- a float 7 adapted to generate a magnetic field, free to move vertically inside said
housing 6;
- a micro switch 8, of reed technology type, on which said float 7 slides;
- transmission means of a control signal from said detection device 2 to said electrical
control unit 5.
[0035] Said transmission means comprise an emitter 9 and a receiver 10 in communication
with each other.
[0036] Said emitter 9 is associated with a circuit board, in turn associated with said micro
switch 8, and is provided with battery power supply means 11.
[0037] Said receiver 10 is associated with said electrical control unit 5 and comprises
connection means to an electrical power supply network. A transformer (for example
230v-12v is interposed between said receiver 10 and said electrical power supply network.
[0038] Said emitter 9 and said receiver 10 communicate with systems based on wireless technology,
without cables and physical connections.
[0039] In the variant of embodiment illustrated said wireless technology is of electromagnetic
wave type, in particular radio wave type.
[0040] With reference to operation of the invention, said float 7, as a result of the vacuumed
liquid L reaching the maximum level MAX of filling of the tank 4, is thrust upward
in said housing 6, until its magnetic field interacts with said micro switch 8 (Fig.
4).
[0041] Cooperation of the magnetic field generated by the float 7 and the micro switch 8
generates a change of state of said micro switch 8.
[0042] Said change of state is managed by said circuit board to generate a control signal
that said emitter 9 will send via radio waves to said receiver 10 so that it is then
managed by the electrical control unit 5 on which the same receiver is provided.
[0043] Said control signal is thus adapted to cause said vacuum turbine 3 to stop upon reaching
a predefined maximum level MAX of filling of the tank 4 of the liquids.
[0044] Said emitter 9 comprises setting means (not illustrated) of the duration of said
control signal generated.
[0045] An optimal, but purely indicative, duration time of the control signal is of a few
seconds, for example 5 seconds.
[0046] Said electrical control unit 5 comprises reversible resettable blocking means (not
illustrated) of said at least one vacuum turbine 3, activated by the first pulse generated
by said control signal received by said receiver 10.
[0047] Said blocking means comprise visual signalling means 13 of the blocked condition
of said at least one turbine 3.
[0048] Said electrical control unit 5 comprises resetting means of said blocking means that
can be operated from the outside of said control unit, adapted to reactivate said
at least one turbine 3, once the vacuumed liquids L have been emptied from the tank
4.
[0049] Said resetting means comprise a selector switch 12 of manually controlled type. In
the variant illustrated (Fig. 1), to reset the blocking means of the turbine it is
necessary to position the selector switch 12 to OFF, corresponding to the vacuum cleaner
1 being switched off, and then to move it to ON and/or modulate it to the various
vacuum speeds of the turbine 3.
[0050] In possible variants of the invention, not illustrated, said resetting means comprise
a lever adapted to operate said selector switch. In this case, the movement of said
lever is also associated with reversal of the vacuum flow of the turbine, which no
longer flows into the liquid containment means, but in the opposite direction, with
the aim of discharging the liquid and emptying of the tank.
1. Industrial vacuum cleaner (1) for liquid substances with detection device (2) of the
level of filling of its collection tank, wherein said vacuum cleaner (1) comprises:
- at least one vacuum turbine (3);
- a collection tank (4) of the vacuumed liquid products (L);
- an electrical control unit (5) for controlling the various functions;
- a detection device (2) of the level of liquid reached in said tank (4), comprising
a housing (6) obtained in said tank (4), a float (7), provided inside said housing
(6), and a micro switch (8), wherein said float (7), rising as a result of the increase
in the level of liquid (L), cooperates with said micro switch (8) to change its status
and generate a control signal, manageable by said electrical control unit (5), to
stop said at least one vacuum turbine (3) upon reaching a predefined maximum level
of filling;
- transmission means of said control signal from said detection device (2) to said
electrical control unit (5),
characterized in that:
- said detection device (2) comprises a circuit board comprising an emitter (9) of
an electromagnetic wave control signal, said control signal being generated as a result
of the change in status of said micro switch (8);
- said electrical control unit (5) comprises a receiver (10) adapted to receive said
electromagnetic wave control signal,
wherein said transmission means of said control signal are of wireless type.
2. Industrial vacuum cleaner (1) with detection device (2) of the level of filling according
to claim 1, characterized in that said wireless technology is of radio wave type.
3. Industrial vacuum cleaner (1) with detection device (2) of the level of filling according
to claim 1, characterized in that said emitter (9) comprises battery power supply means (11), and said receiver (10)
comprises connection means to an electrical power supply network with interposition
of a transformer.
4. Industrial vacuum cleaner (1) with detection device (2) of the level of filling according
to claim 1, characterized in that said emitter (9) comprises means for setting the duration of said control signal
generated.
5. Industrial vacuum cleaner (1) with detection device (2) of the level of filling according
to claim 1, characterized in that said electrical control unit (5) comprises resettable blocking means of said at least
one turbine (3), activated by the first pulse generated by said control signal.
6. Industrial vacuum cleaner (1) with detection device (2) of the level of filling according
to claim 5, characterized in that said resettable blocking means comprise a selector switch (12) of manually controlled
type.
7. Industrial vacuum cleaner (1) with detection device (2) of the level of filling according
to claim 5, characterized in that said resettable blocking means comprise a lever adapted to operate said selector
switch (12) from the outside of the lid (15) of the vacuum cleaner (1) where said
electrical control unit (5) is housed.
8. Industrial vacuum cleaner (1) with detection device (2) of the level of filling according
to claim 5, characterized in that said resettable blocking means comprise visual signalling means (13) of the blocked
condition of said at least one turbine (3).
1. Industriestaubsauger (1) für flüssige Stoffe mit Vorrichtung zur Feststellung (2)
des Füllstandes seines Sammeltanks, wobei besagter Staubsauger (1) Folgendes umfasst:
- mindestens eine Vakuumturbine (3);
- einen Sammeltank (4) der abgesaugten flüssigen Produkte (L);
- eine elektrische Steuereinheit (5) zur Steuerung der verschiedenen Funktionen;
- eine Vorrichtung zur Feststellung (2) des in besagtem Tank (4) erreichten Flüssigkeitsstandes,
umfassend ein in besagtem Tank (4) erzieltes Gehäuse (6), ein Schwebekörper (7), der
in besagtem Gehäuse (6) bereitgestellt wird, und einen Mikroschalter (8), wobei besagter
Schwebekörper (7), der als Ergebnis der Zunahme des Flüssigkeitsstandes (L) aufsteigt,
mit besagtem Mikroschalter (8) zusammenarbeitet, um seinen Status zu ändern, und ein
Kontrollsignal zu erzeugen, das durch die besagte Steuereinheit (5) kontrollierbar
ist, um mindestens eine Vakuumturbine (3) anzuhalten, wenn ein vorher definierter
maximaler Füllstand erreicht worden ist;
- Übertragungsmittel des besagten Kontrollsignals von besagter Feststellungsvorrichtung
(2) zu besagter elektrischer Steuereinheit (5),
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:
- besagte Feststellungsvorrichtung (2) eine Schaltplatte mit einem Emitter (9) eines
elektromagnetischen Wellenkontrollsignals umfasst, wobei besagtes Kontrollsignal als
Ergebnis der Statusänderung des besagten Mikroschalters (8) erzeugt wird;
- besagtes elektrisches Kontrollsignal (5) einen Empfänger (10) umfasst, geeignet,
besagtes elektromagnetisches Wellenkontrollsignal zu empfangen,
wobei besagte Übertragungsmittel des besagten Kontrollsignals des drahtlosen Typs
sind.
2. Industriestaubsauger (1) mit Vorrichtung zur Feststellung (2) des Füllstandes gemäß
Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagte drahtlose Technologie des Radiowellentyps ist.
3. Industriestaubsauger (1) mit Vorrichtung zur Feststellung (2) des Füllstandes gemäß
Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagter Emitter (9) Batteriestromversorgungsmittel (11) umfasst, und besagter Empfänger
(10) Verbindungsmittel zu einem Stromversorgungsnetz mit Zwischenschaltung eines Transformators
umfasst.
4. Industriestaubsauger (1) mit Vorrichtung zur Feststellung (2) des Füllstandes gemäß
Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagter Emitter (9) Mittel zur Festlegung der Dauer des besagten erzeugten Kontrollsignals
umfasst.
5. Industriestaubsauger (1) mit Vorrichtung zur Feststellung (2) des Füllstandes gemäß
Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagte elektrische Steuereinheit (5) rücksetzbare Sperrmittel der besagten mindestens
einen Turbine (3) umfasst, die durch den ersten Impuls, der durch besagtes Kontrollsignal
erzeugt wird, aktiviert werden.
6. Industriestaubsauger (1) mit Vorrichtung zur Feststellung (2) des Füllstandes gemäß
Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagte rücksetzbare Sperrmittel einen Wahlschalter (12) des manuell kontrollierten
Typs umfasst.
7. Industriestaubsauger (1) mit Vorrichtung zur Feststellung (2) des Füllstandes gemäß
Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagte rücksetzbare Sperrmittel einen Hebel umfassen, um besagten Wahlschalter (12)
von außerhalb des Deckels (15) des Staubsaugers (1), wo besagte elektrische Steuereinheit
(5) untergebracht ist, zu betätigen.
8. Industriestaubsauger (1) mit Vorrichtung zur Feststellung (2) des Füllstandes gemäß
Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagte rücksetzbare Sperrmittel visuelle Signalisierungsmittel (13) des blockierten
Zustandes der besagten mindestens eine Turbine (3) umfassen.
1. Aspirateur industriel (1) pour substances liquides avec dispositif de détection (2)
du niveau de remplissage de son réservoir de collecte, où ledit aspirateur (1) comprend
:
- au moins une turbine d'aspiration (3) ;
- un réservoir de collecte (4) des produits liquides aspirés (L) ;
- une unité de contrôle électrique (5) pour le contrôle des différentes fonctions
;
- un dispositif de détection (2) du niveau de liquide atteint dans ledit réservoir
(4), comprenant un logement (6) obtenu dans ledit réservoir (4), un flotteur (7),
prévu à l'intérieur dudit logement (6), et un micro-interrupteur (8), où ledit flotteur
(7), se soulevant par effet de l'augmentation du niveau de liquide (L), coopère avec
ledit micro-interrupteur (8) pour modifier son état et générer un signal de contrôle,
gérable par ladite unité de contrôle électrique (5), pour arrêter ladite turbine d'aspiration
(3) au minimum, lorsqu'un niveau de remplissage maximum prédéfini est atteint ;
- des moyens de transmission dudit signal de contrôle entre ledit dispositif de détection
(2) et ladite unité de contrôle électrique (5),
caractérisé par le fait que :
- ledit dispositif de détection (2) comprend un circuit imprimé comprenant un émetteur
(9) d'un signal de contrôle à onde électromagnétique, ledit signal de contrôle étant
généré par effet du changement dans l'état dudit micro-interrupteur (8) ;
- ladite unité de contrôle électrique (5) comprend un récepteur (10) prévu pour recevoir
ledit signal de contrôle à onde électromagnétique,
où lesdites moyens de transmission dudit signal de contrôle sont de type sans fil.
2. Aspirateur industriel (1) avec dispositif de détection (2) du niveau de remplissage
selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que ladite technologie sans fil et de type à onde radio.
3. Aspirateur industriel (1) avec dispositif de détection (2) du niveau de remplissage
selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que ledit émetteur (9) comprend des moyens d'alimentation à batterie (11), et ledit récepteur
(10) comprend des moyens de connexion à un réseau d'alimentation électrique avec interposition
d'un transformateur.
4. Aspirateur industriel (1) avec dispositif de détection (2) du niveau de remplissage
selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que ledit émetteur (9) comprend des moyens pour définir la durée dudit signal de contrôle
généré.
5. Aspirateur industriel (1) avec dispositif de détection (2) du niveau de remplissage
selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que ladite unité de contrôle électrique (5) comprend des moyens de blocage réarmables
de ladite turbine (3) au minimum, activés par la première impulsion générée par ledit
signal de contrôle.
6. Aspirateur industriel (1) avec dispositif de détection (2) du niveau de remplissage
selon la revendication 5, caractérisé par le fait que lesdits moyens de blocage réarmables comprennent un interrupteur de sélection (12)
de type à contrôle manuel.
7. Aspirateur industriel (1) avec dispositif de détection (2) du niveau de remplissage
selon la revendication 5, caractérisé par le fait que lesdits moyens de blocage réarmables comprennent un levier prévu pour actionner ledit
interrupteur de sélection (12) depuis l'extérieur du couvercle (15) de l'aspirateur
(1) où ladite unité de contrôle électrique (5) est logée.
8. Aspirateur industriel (1) avec dispositif de détection (2) du niveau de remplissage
selon la revendication 5, caractérisé par le fait que lesdits moyens de blocage réarmables comprennent des moyens de signalisation visuelle
(13) de la condition de blocage de ladite turbine (3) au minimum.