EP2408972B9 - Automotive roadsweeper - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a self-propelled sweeper with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Sweepers can sweep a floor surface such as a road, walkway or parking lot. At least one sweeping brush acts on the floor surface to be cleaned and leads the debris to a suction mouth, from which the debris is transferred into a dirt container. For this purpose, the dirt container by a suction unit with negative pressure be-aufschlagt, so that forms a suction flow from the suction mouth to the dirt container and from this to the suction unit. The sweepers are usually self-propelled, for example in the form of a vehicle, wherein the dirt container can be arranged in the rear region of the vehicle and the vehicle can have a driver's cab in the front region. The suction line, which connects the suction mouth with the dirt container, usually opens in the region of a front relative to the direction of travel of the sweeper container wall in the dirt container.

Sweepers of this type are from the US 4,754,521 known. Here, the suction mouth is disposed between a steerable front wheel and two non-steerable rear wheels, and the suction line extends from the suction mouth in the vertical direction up to an opening of the front container wall of the dirt container. In the transition region between the intake pipe and the dirt container, the suction flow undergoes a deflection by 90 °. The suction flow runs inside the dirt container against the direction of travel of the sweeper to the rear and meets a filter device. From the filter device, the suction flow passes into a suction channel, which is formed in the form of a vertical tube and is arranged centrally in the direction of travel in the dirt container. To the Increase the intake of debris from the floor surface to be cleaned in the US 4,754,521 proposed to arrange a conveyor belt within the suction with carrying pockets over which the suction material can be raised in the vertical direction.

Sweepers of this kind are also from the EP 1 988 214 A2 . EP 1 772 563 A1 and the EP 1 772 564 B1 known. Both documents describe a sweeper in which the debris is transferred by means of a suction flow from the suction mouth in the dirt container. A portion of the sucked suction air is then directed back to the floor surface to be cleaned, whereas the remaining suction air is discharged from a suction unit to the environment.

Object of the present invention is to develop a self-propelled sweeper of the type mentioned in such a way that it has an improved stability and steering stability and achieved with the least possible use of energy an improved cleaning result.

This object is achieved by a self-propelled sweeper with the features of claim 1.

In the sweeping machine according to the invention, the suction channel is at least partially integrated in the dirt container. This allows a particularly compact and flow-optimized design of the suction channel, so that its flow resistance can be kept low. At least one inlet region of the suction channel is arranged laterally next to the outlet of the suction line which opens into the dirt container. As a result, the incoming suction air can be separated particularly effectively from entrained debris within the dirt container. The over the rear line section and the outlet of the suction line entering the dirt container suction flow throws the debris preferably in the direction of the front container wall of the dirt container direction. The debris can therefore be thrown within the dirt container in the direction of the rear container wall - based on the direction of travel of the sweeper - and / or in the direction of the lid. Instead, the suction air can undergo a 180 ° deflection within the dirt container so that it can pass from the outlet of the suction line to the at least one inlet region of the suction channel, which is arranged next to the outlet of the suction line.

The arrangement of the outlet of the intake laterally adjacent to the at least one inlet region of the suction channel has the consequence that the entrained debris can detach from the suction flow and lower in the dirt container. Thus, an effective separation of the sweeping material from the suction flow is achieved without the need for elaborate filter devices having a high filter fineness. Such high filtration filtration devices provide significant flow resistance and require the use of a powerful suction turbine. In contrast to this, due to the effective separation of the sweeping material from the suction flow due to the arrangement of the at least one inlet region of the suction channel, a filter device with a high filter fineness can be omitted laterally next to the outlet of the suction line. This in turn makes it possible to use a suction unit with lower power consumption and thus with lower energy consumption, without affecting the cleaning result is affected.

The suction unit of the sweeper is arranged according to the invention below the dirt container. The focus of the sweeper can thereby be kept relatively low. This increases the tipping stability of the sweeper. In addition, the steerability of the sweeper is improved by the lowest possible center of gravity.

The integrated into the dirt container portion of the suction channel extends within the dirt container along the front wall of the container and along the bottom wall thereof. The suction channel is preferably rounded, so that the suction flow is subject to the lowest possible flow resistance.

Preferably, the outlet of the suction line and the at least one inlet region of the suction channel are arranged in the region of the front container wall of the dirt container. This allows the suction material entering via the outlet of the suction line to be thrown from the region of the front container wall to the rear container wall and thereby to obtain a particularly long separation distance, within which the suction air can separate from the sweeping material.

Preferably, a rear line section of the intake passage passes through the suction channel. This allows a particularly compact design.

It is particularly advantageous if the outlet of the suction line is arranged between inlet regions of the suction channel. For example, it can be provided that in each case an inlet region of the suction channel is arranged on both sides of the outlet. This allows a symmetrical with respect to the outlet Actuation of the dirt container with negative pressure on the suction, whereby the flow resistance of the suction and thus the energy consumption of the suction unit can be kept particularly low.

A further inlet region of the suction channel can be arranged above the outlet of the suction line.

It may be provided that a filter device is arranged on the at least one inlet region of the suction channel. However, this can be made relatively simple, since already due to the arrangement of at least one inlet region of the suction duct next to the outlet of the suction line, an effective separation of the sweeping material is achieved by the suction air. It can be provided, for example, that the filter device is formed by a sieve or a grid with a relatively large permeability.

It is advantageous if the suction line has a front line section which connects the suction mouth to a rear line section of the suction line, is oriented obliquely to the vertical and has a straight course. The rectilinear course of the front pipe portion of the suction pipe reduces the flow resistance of the suction flow, so that the power consumption of the sweeper can be further reduced. The straight course of the front pipe section with respect to the vertical oblique orientation also reduces the risk of clogging of the intake pipe.

The front line section of the suction line is preferably designed in the form of a suction hose. Thereby, the manufacturing cost of the sweeper can be kept low, and also the assembly of the sweeper is simplified. The suction hose can have a shape-stabilizing reinforcing element, for example a helical wire helix integrated in the suction hose.

It is particularly advantageous if the front line section of the intake line is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the rear line section of the intake line. The two line sections are not rigidly coupled together in such a configuration, but they can rather be rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the front line section. This causes a further simplification of the assembly of the sweeper and also has the consequence that the front line section of a steering movement of the sweeper can follow in a simple manner.

A rotatable connection of the front line section with the rear line section is particularly advantageous when the sweeper has a chassis with a front and a rear frame part, which are connected to each other via a hinge, and the front line section of the intake pipe is connected to the front joint part and the rear pipe section of the suction pipe is connected to the rear frame member. The use of a chassis with two hingedly interconnected frame parts improves the steerability of the sweeper, in particular, this may have a relatively small steering radius. It is particularly suitable for sweeping narrow floor surfaces, for example, winding parking spaces. The front pipe section of the suction pipe may be fixed to the front joint part, and the rear pipe section of the suction pipe may be attached to the rear joint part. The rotatable connection of the two line sections ensures that the steerability of the sweeper is not affected by the suction line.

It is advantageous if the front line section with its suction end facing away from the rear end is freely movable with a - preferably arranged on the dirt container - adapter is connected to the rear line section connects. The adapter may for example be designed in the form of a sleeve into which the rear end of the front line section dips. It can also be provided that the adapter is designed as a pipe piece, on which the rear end of the front pipe section is attached.

Conveniently, the rear end of the front line section can be connected without tools to the adapter and can be rotated relative to the latter about the longitudinal axis of the front line section. It can be provided, for example, that the adapter is designed as a sleeve into which the rear end of the front line section can be used without the use of a tool, wherein the rear end is rotatable relative to the sleeve. The rear end can be picked up with clearance from the sleeve.

It is advantageous if the suction unit has a suction turbine whose axis of rotation is vertically aligned. The vertical orientation of the rotary axis of the suction turbine reduces Corioliskräfte when moving the sweeper by curves. The mechanical load on the bearings of the suction turbine can be reduced and this in turn causes a longer life of the sweeper.

In order to minimize the formation of dust when sweeping a floor surface, it is advantageous if the sweeper has a water tank which is connected to nozzles arranged in the region of the at least one sweeping brush for spraying water onto the floor surface to be swept. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the water tank is designed trough-shaped and forms a top-side recording, in which the dirt container is immersed. The water tank thus surrounds at least a lower part of the dirt container at least over a partial area of its circumference. Preferably, the dirt container is in his lower area completely surrounded by the water tank. The water tank reduces the noise pollution of the sweeper.

The noise-damping effect of the water tank is particularly large in a preferred embodiment in that the water tank forms a lower-side receptacle which receives the suction turbine of the suction unit. The suction turbine is thus surrounded on its upper side and at least over part of its circumference by the water tank, which significantly dampens the noise generated by the suction turbine.

Conveniently, the upper-side receptacle of the water tank is connected via a passage to the lower-side receptacle.

The passage may form a suction unit facing the end portion of the suction channel. At this end, the inlet of the suction unit can connect. On the upper side, the passage of the integrated into the dirt container area suction channel can connect, which can extend within the dirt container to the at least one inlet region. The suction channel can thus be defined by the dirt container and the passage of the water tank.

In a preferred embodiment, the sucked air is discharged from the suction turbine to a diffuser. This is preferably arranged on the outside of the water tank or on the rear container wall of the dirt container. The diffuser causes a homogeneous air distribution and ensures that the environment is affected as little as possible by the exhaust air of the sweeper.

As already explained, it can be provided that a front line section of the suction line is connected via an adapter, for example a sleeve, to the rear line section of the suction line. The adapter is formed in a preferred embodiment of the invention from the water tank.

In particular, it can be provided that the adapter is designed as a tank area in the form of a double-walled sleeve which rotatably receives the rear end of the front line section, wherein the rear end can be inserted without the use of a tool in the sleeve. In the flow direction of the suction flow, the rear line section of the suction line, which passes through the suction channel, can adjoin the adapter.

It is particularly advantageous if the water tank is designed as a one-piece plastic molding. This allows a further reduction in the manufacturing and assembly costs of the sweeper.

Also, the dirt container is preferably designed as a one-piece or multi-part plastic molded part, which is covered by one or more cover parts.

It can be provided that the dirt container has a container lower part, which is designed as a one-piece plastic molded part.

The dirt container is preferably pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis, so that it can be tilted backwards for emptying.

It when the dirt container is mounted pivotably about a horizontal pivot axis on the water tank is particularly advantageous. He can be swung out in a simple manner for emptying from the top-side recording of the water tank.

It is advantageous if the dirt container in combination with the water tank and the suction unit forms an assembly in the form of a vehicle body, which can be placed on a footprint of the sweeper and detachable from this.

Conveniently, the vehicle body can be locked to the footprint.

The footprint may for example be formed by support rails on which the vehicle body can be placed and along which the vehicle body is displaceable.

Reached the vehicle body on the support rails its end position, it can be locked automatically in a preferred embodiment with the support rail.

Figur 1:

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer selbstfahrenden Kehrmaschine;

Figur 2:

eine Schnittansicht eines Fahrzeugaufbaus der Kehrmaschine aus Figur 1 entlang der Fahrzeuglängsachse mit einem Schmutzbehälter, einem Wassertank und einem Saugaggregat, und

Figur 3:

eine Schnittansicht des Fahrzeugaufbaus aus Figur 2 quer zur Fahrzeuglängsachse.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a schematic side view of a self-propelled sweeper;

FIG. 2:

a sectional view of a vehicle body of the sweeper FIG. 1 along the vehicle longitudinal axis with a dirt container, a water tank and a suction unit, and

FIG. 3:

a sectional view of the vehicle body FIG. 2 transverse to the vehicle's longitudinal axis.

In the drawing, a self-propelled sweeper 10 is shown schematically with a chassis 12, which has a front in the direction of travel 13 frame member 14 and a rear frame member 16 in the direction of travel. The two frame parts 14 and 16 are connected via a hinge 17 about a vertical pivot axis 18 pivotally connected to each other.

At the front frame member 14, two steerable front wheels are rotatably mounted, in the drawing, only a front wheel 20 can be seen. Between the two front wheels, a suction mouth 22 is arranged.

In the direction of travel 13 in front of the front wheels 20, at least one dish-shaped sweeping brush 24 is mounted on the front frame part 14, which can be rotated by means of a brush motor 25 about a nearly vertically oriented axis of rotation 26 in rotation. By means of the sweeping brush 24, a floor surface, such as a street, a walkway or a parking lot, swept, with the debris is fed to the suction mouth.

Above the front frame part 24, a driver's cab 28 is arranged, in which a user of the sweeper 10 can sit on a driver's seat 29.

At the rear frame member 16 two rotatable about a common axis of rotation rear wheels are mounted, in the drawing, only a rear wheel 30 can be seen. The rear frame member 16 carries a support member 32 having a footprint carrying a vehicle body 34. The vehicle body 34 is formed by a dirt container 36 in combination with a water tank 38 and a suction unit 40 arranged below the dirt container 36 and the water tank 38 and can be removed from the footprint if necessary.

The suction unit 40 comprises a drive motor 42 and a suction turbine 44 which is rotated by the drive motor 42 about a vertically oriented turbine axis 46 in rotation. The drive movement of the drive motor 42 is transmitted via a gear 48 to the suction turbine 44.

The water tank 38 is formed as a one-piece, trough-shaped plastic molded part and has an upper-side receptacle 50 and a lower-side receptacle 52, which are connected to each other via a passage 53. The lower-side receptacle 52 receives the suction turbine 44, which is covered by the water tank 38 and surrounded in the circumferential direction largely by the water tank 38.

In the top-side receptacle 50 of the water tank 38 of the dirt container 36 dives with a container base 54, which is a one-piece plastic molding is formed and covered by a two-piece container shell 56. The container top 56 is formed by a front container lid 58 and a rear container lid 60. The front container lid 58 is detachably connected to the container base 54, in the illustrated embodiment, it is bolted to the container base 54. The rear container lid 60 is hinged to the container base 54 and can be pivoted outwardly about a horizontal pivot axis 62 to release the container interior 64.

The container lower part 54 has a front container wall 66, a bottom wall 68 and a rear container wall 70 and two side walls 71, 72, based on the direction of travel. As in particular from FIG. 3 As can be seen, a central portion of the front container wall 66 and the bottom wall 68 is covered on the inside by an arcuate channel wall 74 which, in combination with the covered portion of the front container walls 66 and the bottom wall 68, defines a central channel portion 73 of a suction channel 77. To the central channel portion 73 is connected to the bottom wall 68 of the passage 53, which defines a rear channel portion 76 of the suction channel 77, and on the inside of the front container wall 66 connects to the central channel portion 73, a front channel portion 79 of the suction channel 77 at.

The central channel section 73 and the front channel section 79 of the suction channel are integrated into the dirt container 36 and are penetrated by a rear line section 78 of a suction line 80, which connects the suction mouth 22 with the container interior 64. The rear pipe section 78 is formed by a pipe section 81 and a to the pipe section 81 subsequent manifold 88 formed. The manifold 88 faces towards the corner region 90 of the container interior 64 between the rear container lid 60 and the rear container wall 70. In addition to the rear conduit section 68, the suction conduit 80 comprises a rectilinear, obliquely oriented to the vertical front conduit section 82 in the form of a flexible a helically bent wire coil 84 reinforced suction hose 86th

The manifold 88 passes through the front channel section 79 of the suction channel 77 and forms with its mouth opening an outlet 89 of the suction line 80. A respective inlet region 91 or 93 of the suction channel 77 is arranged laterally next to the outlet 89. Another inlet region 95 of the suction channel 77 is located above the outlet 89. This will be off FIG. 3 clear. The inlet regions 91, 93 and 95 are covered by a filter device in the form of a sieve 92, which is arranged between the container lower part 54 and the front container lid 58.

The formed as a suction hose 86 front line portion 82 of the intake pipe 80 is connected via an adapter 100 to the rear line section 78. The adapter 100 is configured in the form of a double-walled sleeve 102, which is defined by the water tank 38. The rear end 104 of the suction hose 86 is rotatably inserted into the sleeve 102 and can be rotated relative to the sleeve 102 about the longitudinal axis 106 of the suction hose 86. The rotatable connection of the front conduit section 82 via the sleeve 102 to the rear conduit section 78 allows the suction hose 86 connected to the front frame member 14 of the chassis 12 is to turn when steering the sweeper 10 about the longitudinal axis 106.

The entire vehicle body 34 can be removed from the support member 32 and placed on the support member 32 as needed. With the help of a locking device, the vehicle body 34 can be locked to the support member 32.

The water tank 38 is connected via a known per se and therefore not shown in the drawing to achieve a better overview water pipe with nozzles 108 in flow communication, which are held on the sweeping brush 24. By means of a water pump, also not shown in the drawing, water can be pumped from the water tank 38 to the nozzles 108. Via the nozzles 108, the water can be sprayed onto the floor surface to be swept. As a result, when dusting a dust development can be kept low.

During operation of the self-propelled sweeper 10, the container interior space 64 of the dirt container 36 is acted upon by the suction unit 40 with negative pressure. For this purpose, the suction unit 40 is in fluid communication with the container interior 64 via the rear channel section 76 formed by the passage 53, the middle channel section 73 and the front channel section 79 of the suction channel 77. The container interior 64 in turn is connected via the manifold 88 and the pipe section 81 of the rear pipe section 78 and the front pipe section 82 with the suction port 22 in flow communication. As a result, starting from the suction mouth 22 via the suction line 80, a suction flow can be achieved to the dirt container 36 and from this via the suction channel 77 to the suction unit 40. The suction air can be discharged from the suction unit 40 via a rear side held on the vehicle body 34 diffuser 110 to the environment.

By means of the suction flow generated by the suction unit 40, debris can be transferred from the suction mouth 22 into the dirt container 36. The debris enters the container interior 64 via the outlet 89 of the suction line 80 and is thrown by the suction flow into the corner region 90 between the rear container lid 60 and the rear container wall 70, whereas the suction air reverses its flow direction in the container interior 64 by 180 ° and then via the screen 92 and the inlet portions 91, 93 and 95 enters the suction channel 77, from which it passes to the suction unit 40 and then to the diffuser 110.

The suction flow thus experiences within the dirt container 36, a deflection by 180 °. This results in a particularly effective separation of the entrained sweeping result. The debris enters the lower region of the dirt container 36. This lower region is surrounded by the water tank 38, which forms a noise protection and also covers the suction turbine 44 and largely surrounds in the circumferential direction. The water tank 38 also defines the sleeve 102, via which the rearward conduit portion 78 is rotatably connected to the forward conduit portion 82 of the intake conduit 80.

The dirt container 36 is pivotally supported on the water tank 38. For emptying it can be tilted relative to the water tank 38 about a horizontal pivot axis 112 to the rear. For this purpose, not shown in the drawing, the skilled person known piston-cylinder units be used. When pivoting the dirt container 36, the rear line section 78 lifts off from the sleeve 102, which is formed by the water tank 38. When pivoting the dirt container 36 of the rear line section 78 again takes its voltage applied to the sleeve 102 position in which it is aligned with the front line section 82.

Due to the flow-optimized course of the suction line 80 and the arrangement of the outlet 89 of the suction line 80 in the region of the front container wall 66 between the inlet regions 91, 93 and 95 of the suction channel 77, an effective suction flow can be achieved by means of the suction unit 40, so that debris from the suction mouth 22 and can be transferred to the dirt container 36. The suction unit 40 may in this case have a relatively low energy consumption.

Due to the arrangement of the suction unit 40 below the dirt container 36 and the arrangement of the water tank 38 between the dirt container 36 and the suction unit 40, the sweeper 10 has a relatively low center of gravity. The risk that the sweeper tilts 10 on uneven ground can be kept very low.

Since the turbine axle 46 of the suction unit 40 is vertically aligned, Coriolis forces can be kept low when moving the sweeper 10. This in turn makes it possible to reduce the mechanical load on the bearings of the suction turbine 44.

Claims (14)

1. Automotive sweeper with wheels (20, 30) for travelling along a ground surface and with at least one rotatingly drivable sweeping brush (24) for sweeping the ground surface and with a dirt container (36) adapted to be acted upon with a vacuum by a suction unit (40) via a suction conduit (77) and connected via an intake line (80) to a suction port (22) for the purpose of receiving sweepings, wherein the suction conduit (77) is integrated into the dirt container (36) at least in sections, and wherein the outlet (89) of the intake line (80) opening into the dirt container (36) is arranged next to at least one inlet area (91, 93, 95) of the suction conduit (77), characterized in that the suction unit (40) is arranged beneath the dirt container (36), and the area of the suction conduit (77) integrated into the dirt container (36) extends within the dirt container (36) along its front container wall (66) and along its bottom wall (68).
2. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the outlet (89) of the intake line (80) and the at least one inlet area (91, 93, 95) of the suction conduit (77) are arranged in the region of the front container wall (54) of the dirt container (36).
3. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a rear line section (78) of the intake line (80) passes through the suction conduit (77).
4. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the outlet (89) of the intake line (80) is arranged between inlet areas (91, 93) of the suction conduit (77).
5. Automotive sweeper as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intake line (80) has a front line section (82) which connects the suction port (22) to a rear line section (78) of the intake line (80), is aligned at an angle to the vertical and extends in a straight line.
6. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 5, characterized in that the front line section (82) is designed as a flexible suction hose (86).
7. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the front line section (82) is rotatable about its longitudinal axis (106) relative to the rear line section (78).
8. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 7, characterized in that the sweeper (10) has a chassis (12) with a front and a rear chassis part (14, 16) connected to one another via a joint (17), wherein the front line section (82) of the intake line (80) is connected to the front chassis part (14) and the rear line section (78) of the intake line (80) is connected to the rear chassis part (16).
9. Automotive sweeper as defined in any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the front line section (82) is connected with its rear end (104) facing away from the suction port (22) to an adapter (100) adjoined by the rear line section (78).
10. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the rear end (104) of the front line section (82) is adapted to be connected to the adapter (100) without tools and is rotatable relative to it.
11. Automotive sweeper as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction unit (40) has a suction turbine (44), the axis of rotation (46) of which is aligned vertically.
12. Automotive sweeper as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sweeper (10) has a water tank (38) connected to nozzles (108) arranged in the region of the at least one sweeping brush (24) for spraying water onto the ground surface to be swept, wherein the water tank (38) is of a trough-like design and forms on the upper side a receptacle (50) in which the dirt container (36) engages, and wherein the water tank (38) forms an adapter (102) connecting a front line section (82) of the intake line (80) to a rear line section (78) of the intake line (80).
13. Automotive sweeper as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dirt container (36) has a container lower part (54) designed as a one-piece plastic moulded part.
14. Automotive sweeper as defined in claim 12, characterized in that the dirt container (36) is mounted on the water tank (38) so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis (112).

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