Cleaning device with rotating brushes

Abstract

 A cleaning device for cleaning a surface, which comprises at least one brush (3,4) rotatable in a rotation direction and movable over the surface to be cleaned and at least one spoiler (14) pressing against the bristles of the brush at a location before the location where the bristles contact the surface to be cleaned.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a surface, the cleaning device comprises at least one brush rotatable in a rotation direction and movable over the surface to be cleaned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] By such a device which is known from US-1,694,937 the rotatable brush is being used to aid in the loosening and removal of dirt and foreign material from the surface to be cleaned. To perform the cleaning action the brush is pressed against the floor. Hereby the area between two consecutive bristles of the brush varies during one rotation about the axle of the brush.

[0003] As is schematically illustrated in fig. 1 air will be expelled from the brush in the direction indicated by arrow P1 from the brush when contact is made with the surface to be cleaned. The air will be expelled from position A to position B. From position B, air will be sucked in a direction indicated by arrow P2 into the brush to compensate for the increasing volume between the bristles, until the bristles have lost contact with the surface (position C). The airflow in the direction indicated by arrow P2 towards the brush aids the cleaning action of the brush. However the airflow in the direction indicated by arrow P1 away from the brush is detrimental to the cleaning action since dirt will be blown away.

[0004] Another disadvantage of this known device is that drops of water fall back on the surface and need to be removed by a separate wiper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved cleaning device whereby dirt excitation due to an airflow away from the brush and/or dropping of water back tot he surface is easily being prevented.

[0006] This object is achieved by the cleaning device according to the invention in that the cleaning device comprises at least one spoiler pressing against the bristles of the brush at a location before the location where the bristles contact the surface to be cleaned.

[0007] Since the bristles are pressed together by the spoiler air will be pushed out of the area between the bristles. Between the spoiler and the surface to be cleaned, the bristles will be moved apart and the area between the bristles will increase so that air will be sucked into the brush. Because the air is sucked into the brush close to the position where the brush is pressed together by the surface to be cleaned, the blowing of air caused by the surface to be cleaned is compensated for.

[0008] In case that the cleaning device is being used for cleaning a surface with liquid whereby the water or cleaning liquid must be removed from the surface, the spoiler which can be attached to the housing of the cleaning device will also prevent water against the inside of the housing from dripping on the surface. Also water on the outside of the housing will flow in the direction of the spoiler and will be guided back into the brush. The water guided back into the brush by the spoiler will be used again for the cleaning action before moving upwards and away from the surface to be cleaned.

[0009] An embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that the bristles are indented by the spoiler to an extend that suction between the bristles when losing contact with the spoiler is larger than expellation of air from between the bristles when contacting the surface to be cleaned.

[0010] With such indention of the bristles by the spoiler a net air flow towards to the brush will occur near the surface.

[0011] The axle of the brush is kept at a certain predetermined distance from the floor, for example by means of wheels connected to a housing of the cleaning device.

[0012] Another embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that the indention of the bristles by the spoiler is larger than the indention of the bristles by the surface to be cleaned.

[0013] Also in this situation the net air flow by the brush will be directed towards the brush.

[0014] A further embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that the cleaning device comprises at least two brushes rotatable in opposite directions directed towards each other at the surface to be cleaned, whereby at least two spoilers are provided pressing against the bristles of the brushes, each spoiler is located on a side of a brush remote from the other brush.

[0015] Due to the two brushes rotating in opposite direction a very effective cleaning operation is obtained since each location on the surface to be cleaned will be contacted by both brushes. Furthermore the dirt will be collected between the brushes and can easily be moved in upwards direction to a debris collecting chamber.

[0016] A further embodiment of the cleaning device is characterized in that the spoiler is adjustable with respect to the brush. In this manner the pressure between the spoiler and the brush can be varied. Moreover one can compensate for possible wear of the bristles.

[0017] To prevent dripping from water near ends of the brush, an embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that the cleaning device is provided with at least one side spoiler pressing against the bristles of the brush located near an end of the brush.

[0018] Water inside the housing of the cleaning device will fall either on the spoiler or on the side spoiler and will be guided back into the brush. No stripes or droplets will occur on the cleaned surface. If droplets on the surface will occur, this will be an indication that the brushes have been worn and should be replaced by new fresh brushes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cleaning device according to the invention,

Fig.3 is a schematic side view of a part of the cleaning device as shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4a and 4b are respectively a schematic side view of a brush with a spoiler according to the invention and a graph indicating the volume between the bristles of the brush while rotating the brush,

Fig. 5a and 5b are a schematic side view and bottom view of the cleaning device according to the invention,

Fig. 6-8 are bottom views of the several other embodiments of the spoilers according to the invention,

Fig. 9-11 are perspective views of other embodiments of the spoiler according to the invention.

Like parts are indicated by the same reference numbers in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a cleaning device 1 according to the invention, comprising a housing 2 in which two brushes 3, 4 are rotatably mounted around axles 5, 6. The brushes 3, 4 are driven by a motor (not shown). The motor might be located on any suitable position whereby via gears of belts the brushes 3, 4 are being rotated with a speed of 5000-10,000 rotations per minute. The diameter of the brushes for example is 4 cm à 6 cm. The length of the brush is for example about 25 cm. Brush 3 is rotatable in a clockwise direction, indicated by arrow P3 and brush 4 is rotatable in a counter clockwise direction, indicated by arrow P4 around the respective axles 5, 6. The housing 2 is provided with wheels (not shown) keeping the axles 5, 6 at a predetermined distance of the surface to be cleaned. The housing 2 is connected via a steering joint to a stick 7 which is provided on a side remote of the housing 2 with a handle 8. The cleaning device 1 is furthermore provided with a tank 9 for water or other cleaning liquid. A power cord 10 enters the handle 8 and is guided through the stick 7 to the motor for rotating the brushes 3, 4 and the device (not shown) for feeding water from the container 9 into a brush from which it is spread on to the surface to be cleaned.

[0021] The housing 2 comprises a debris collecting chamber 11, the entrance 12 of which is located between the brushes 3, 4. The brushes 3, 4 are fully enclosed except at the bottom by the housing 2. For sake of clarity the side cover has been removed. Near the bottom of the housing 2 two longitudinal spoilers 13, 14 are provided extending parallel to the axles 5, 6 and partly into the brushes 3, 4. The function of the spoilers 13, 14 will now be explained with reference to the drawings 3, 4a and 4b.

[0022] As can be seen in fig. 3 the brushes 3, 4 rotate in opposite directions P3, P4, which directions are directed towards each other near the surface to be cleaned 16. The bristles 17 of the brushes 3, 4 rub over the surface to be cleaned 16 and the dirt and other materials are being disconnected from the surface to be cleaned 16 and are being moved upwards in the direction of arrow P5 into the entrance 12 of the debris collecting chamber 11. When the bristles 17 of the brushes 3, 4 reaches the spoilers 13, 14 the bristles 17 are pressed together whereby the volume between the bristles is being reduced. Hereby air is being expelled from the brushes 3, 4, which air is guided along the walls 18 of the housing 2. By further rotating of the brushes 3, 4 the bristles 17 lose contact with the spoilers 13, 14 whereby the area between the bristles is being enlarged and air will be sucked into the brushes 3, 4. By further rotating the bristles 17 will be pressed against the surface to be cleaned 16 whereby air will be expelled from the area between the bristles 3,4. The net air flow between the spoilers 13, 14 and the surface to be cleaned 16 is in the directions indicated by the arrows P6, P7 towards the brushes 3, 4 respectively. Such a net air intake by the brushes 3, 4 will for example occur if the indention of the brushes 3, 4 by the spoilers 13, 14 is greater than the indention of the brushes 3, 4 by the surface to be cleaned 16. The indention by the spoilers 13, 14 of the brushes 3, 4 is for example 5 mm while the surface to be cleaned 16 indents the brushes 3, 4 for example only 3 mm. The spoilers press against the bristles of the brush at a location before the location where the bristles contact the surface to be cleaned as seen in the direction of rotation.

[0023] Fig. 4A shows brush 3 and different angles Φ whereby the bristles come in contact with the spoiler 13 (near Φ = a), lose contact with the spoiler 13 (Φ = b), start with losing contact with the surface to be cleaned 16 (Φ = c) and have fully lost contact with the surface to be cleaned 16 (Φ = d). When moving from Φ = b to Φ = d the volume between the bristles is at its minimum at Φ = c.

[0024] Fig. 4B shows a graph whereby the volume between the bristles 17 is indicated at different angles Φ. As is clearly visible in the graph the volume between the bristles 17 is being reduced between the angles Φ = a and Φ = b whereby air is blowing in the direction indicated by arrow P8 along the walls 18 of the housing 2. Between the angles Φ = band Φ = c air is being sucked towards the brush 3 in the direction indicated by arrow P6. Also between the angles Φ = c and Φ = d air is being sucked towards the brush 3 however now in the direction indicated by arrow P7.

[0025] The cleaning device 1 according to the invention can be used for cleaning soft surfaces with carpet and hard surfaces. It can be used by only rotating the brushes 3, 4 but the cleaning can be supported by sucking vacuum by means of vacuum device in the entrance 12. Furthermore the device 1 can be used for wet cleaning of for example hard surfaces whereby water or a cleaning liquid is guided from the container 9 towards the brushes 3, 4 and the surface 16 is being wetted by the brushes 3, 4. It is also possible to spray water on the surface by means of a separate device in which case the cleaning device need not to be provided with a container 9. It is important that no water or cleaning liquid remains on the surface 16. The water or cleaning liquid will be removed by the brushes 3, 4 and guided into the entrance 12 towards the debris collecting chamber 11. As can be seen in fig. 5A some of the water droplets 19 will be collected against the wall 18 of the housing 2 and will flow back along the wall 18 and over the spoilers 13, 14 into the brushes 3, 4. Hereby the water droplets 19 are prevented from being dropped back on the surface to be cleaned 16. Also water on the outside of the housing 2 will be guided back to the brushes 3, 4 due to the shape of the housing, whereby the ends of the spoilers 13, 14 located in the brushes 3,4, form the lowest part of the housing.

[0026] The spoilers 13, 14 form part of a bottom plate 21 as indicated in Fig. 5b. To prevent water droplets 19 to fall back on the surface 16 near ends 20 of the cylindrical brushes 3, 4 the bottom plate 21 comprises side edges 22, whereby the distance between opposite side-edges 22 is shorter than the length of the brush 3,4. Water droplets 19 will either be guided by the side edges 22 of the bottom plate 21 towards a V-shaped nose 23 from which the droplets 19 will fall between the brushes 3, 4 and will be picked up by the brushes 3, 4 during a next passage of the brushes 3, 4 or the droplets will be picked up by the brushes when moving towards the V-shaped nose 23. The V-shaped nose 23 can also be another kind of protruding element.

[0027] Fig. 6 shows a bottom view of another embodiment of the cleaning device 31 according to the invention whereby each spoiler 13, 14 is connected to a carrier 32, 33 respectively. The carriers 32, 33 are connected to each other at their side edges by means of adjusting mechanisms 34. Each adjusting mechanism 34 comprises a rod 35 and an adjusting knob 36 whereby by rotating the adjusting knob 36 in or opposite to a direction indicated by arrows P9, P10 the spoilers 13, 14 will be moved apart or towards each other in the direction indicated by the double arrow P11. By adjusting the distance between the spoilers 13, 14 the pressure excerted on the brushes 3, 4 can be amended depending on the desired amount by which the bristles are pressed together. If the bristles are firmly pressed together no unwanted blowing will occur. However this might lead to extensive wear of the brushes and to an increase in the power needed to rotate the brushes. In case that the spoilers 13, 14 do not press together the bristles enough to prevent all unwanted blowing, an additional fan can be used to apply underpressure near the surface 16, which underpressure will prevent together with the spoilers that unwanted blowing will occur.

[0028] Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the cleaning device 41 according to the invention whereby the carriers 32, 33 of the spoilers 13, 14 are connected near the side edges by means of springs 42. These springs 42 will determine the force by means of which the spoilers 13, 14 are pressed against the brushes 3, 4. In case for example that the brushes 3, 4 are replaced and the diameter of the brushes 3, 4 is slightly different due for example to production tolerances, the spoilers 13, 14 can be moved towards each other in the directions indicated by arrows P12, P13 under the influence of the forces exerted by the springs 42 or can be moved apart against the forces exerted by the springs 42.

[0029] Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of a device 51 according to the invention whereby the spoilers 52, 53 are being made of flexible elements 52, 53 which can accommodate the differences in the diameter of the brushes 3, 4 according to for example production tolerances.

[0030] Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of a spoiler 61 of a cleaning device according to the invention which spoiler 61 comprises a holder 62 which is connected with the housing 2 of the cleaning device 1 and flexible pens 63 extending parallel to each other. The pens 63 are pressed against the brushes 3, 4 with their ends remote from the holder 62. Depending of the thickness of the pens 63 and the distance between the pens 63 the spoiler 61 will only function to prevent water being dropped back on the surface to be cleaned 16 or also for preventing unwanted blowing.

[0031] Fig. 10 shows another embodiment of a spoiler 71 according to the invention whereby a holder 72 is provided with flexible wires 73 along which water is guided back to the brushes 3, 4. If the distance between the wires 73 is relatively small and the wires are stiff enough, the wires 73 will also diminish the unwanted blowing.

[0032] Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of a spoiler 81 according to the invention whereby a holder 82 is provided with rigid pens 83. Also this spoiler 81 will prevent the dripping of water and will diminish the unwanted blowing.

[0033] The bottom plate 21 and the spoilers 13, 14 can be made from any suitable material like metal or plastic. The spoilers 13, 14 can be formed as a strip connected to or integrated with the housing 2.

[0034] It is possible to make the distance between the surface and the axles of the brushes 3, 4 adjustable to be able to amend the amount by which the bristles are pressed together. Preferably also the spoiler is adjustable with respect to the brush to adjust the pressure between the spoiler and the brush.

[0035] It is also possible to suck the debris and water away form the entrance 12.

[0036] For the bristles of the brush any kind of fibre, hair, wire-shaped element or other kind of element is suitable which will move apart when rotated at a certain speed and will be pressed together when contacting a surface to be cleaned.

[0037] If the spoiler does not press firmly enough against the bristles of the brushes, the airflow away from the brush might also be prevented by means of a vacuum system. In such a case the spoiler still prevents the leakage of water.

[0038] It is also possible to connect each spoiler with a spring to the housing. The forces exerted by the spring can be in vertical direction, horizontal direction or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. Cleaning device (1, 31, 41, 51) for cleaning a surface, the cleaning device comprises at least one brush (3, 4) rotatable in a rotation direction and movable over the surface to be cleaned, characterized in that the cleaning device comprises at least one spoiler (13, 14, 52, 53, 71, 81) pressing against the bristles (17) of the brush at a location before the location where the bristles contact the surface to be cleaned (16).

2. Cleaning device (1,31,41,51) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bristles (17) are indented by the spoiler (13, 14, 52, 53, 71, 81) to an extend that suction between the bristles when losing contact with the spoiler is larger than the expellation of air from between the bristles when contacting the surface to be cleaned.

3. Cleaning device (1, 31, 41, 51) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the indention of the bristles (17) by the spoiler (13, 14, 52, 53, 71, 81) is larger than the indention of the bristles by the surface to be cleaned (16).

4. Cleaning device (1, 31, 41, 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device comprises at least two brushes (3, 4) rotatable in opposite directions directed towards each other at the surface to be cleaned (16), whereby at least two spoilers (13, 14, 52, 53, 71, 81) are provided pressing against the bristles (17) of the brushes, each spoiler is located on a side of a brush remote from the other brush.

5. Cleaning device (1, 31, 41, 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device is provided with at least one side spoiler pressing against the bristles of the brush located near an end of the brush.

6. Cleaning device (1, 31, 41, 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device comprises a cleaning fluid chamber (9).

7. Cleaning device (1, 31, 41, 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device comprises a debris collecting container (11).

8. Cleaning device (1, 31, 41, 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device comprises a vacuum source for vacuum cleaning.

9. Cleaning device (1, 31, 41, 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spoiler comprises pen shaped elements (63, 83), the ends of which are being pressed against the bristles of the brush.

10. Cleaning device (31, 41) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spoiler is adjustable with respect to the brush.

Drawing