FR2924322A1 - Aspirator e.g. water filtration aspirator, for use in e.g. glass squeegee, has water-air separator for directing gas phase in suction chamber and liquid phase and particles in filtering reservoir in which liquid phase is preserved - Google Patents

Abstract

The aspirator has a water-air separator (1) for directing a gas phase in a suction chamber (60) and a liquid phase and particles in a filtering reservoir (22) in which the liquid phase is preserved. The filtering reservoir has an annular shaped peripheral section (103) to carry out centrifugation of aspirated flow of air charged with particles and/or liquid before the flow enters into baffles. An inner partition (106) is separated from another inner partition at the baffles for creating venturi effect.

Description

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner in which circulates, in a housing, a flow of air sucked in particles and / or liquid, between an inlet nozzle and a communication port with a suction chamber.

The invention relates to the suction of mixed streams composed of air, water, and particles in suspension. It relates particularly to the field of household appliances, in particular steam cleaners or window cleaning appliances, or the like.

The water filtration aspirators comprise a suction device which drives a flow of air, charged with particles as well as liquid, through a liquid contained in a tank, where the filtration of the particles is effected by bubbling. The air is discharged to the outside after the passage, in some cases, in a water-air separator system. In these devices, filtration is carried out at the bottom, these devices are designed only for use in vertical tank position, which makes their use impossible for portable devices.

Steam-emitting devices for cleaning, suck back particles and water from the condensation of steam. The liquid must be separated before returning clean air to the environment without water or particles. The water droplets must be separated from the air stream and removed before passing through the suction module and before being released into the atmosphere. WO 0154798 discloses a water filtration aspirator with conventional filters, such as plastic membranes or foam polymers, resistant to water.

These devices are unsatisfactory because pore clogging by dirty water or unfiltered fine particles always occurs quickly. As a result, there is a loss of power and work must be interrupted to clean or replace the filter. Indeed, no static filter system is able to permanently stop the passage of water, because of the permeability necessary for the passage of air. The prior art has attempted to solve these problems, the passage of water beyond the filter, as well as clogging of the filter, by an increase in the internal volume of the device, which affects its maneuverability, or by a large reduction in the air flow, which affects its suction efficiency, these techniques for the purpose of removing dirty water from the filter. The maintenance of the filters, their disassembly, their cleaning, their regular exchange, pose problems of hygiene, difficulty of cleaning, and cost. The document US01 / 0015132 describes a conical separator with vertical vertical blades, which, alone, has disadvantages: a restricted air flow, because of the proximity of the slats necessary for good efficiency, but which limits the passage area of air, therefore detrimental to performance. Or a bulky tank, or a brewing water-air little dynamic reducing the quality of filtration, or finally the need for additional filters. On the same principle, slit or finned rotors are known. In a first variant, such a rotor is attached to a turbine, and friction occurs at groove-tongue sealing means which are essential to prevent the entry of particles into the area of the suction turbine, which requires regular maintenance. In a second desired economic variant, the separator is integral with the turbine, and generally fixed on the metal inlet of the latter, by an axis on dimensioned length, in extension of the drive of the turbine and limiting the entrance of the turbine. in the air. It has been attempted to solve the problem of airflow obstruction, by extending a first separator fixed directly to the inlet of a turbine by overmoulding or the like, by adding additional separator modules to the shaft, which cause significant unbalance 3 problems due to the long length, which is detrimental due to vibration. In addition, in the case of a small device, the long length makes the device very bulky and inconvenient.

An accumulation of turbines can increase the depression required for the passage of air, but without improving the air flow desired, this technique automatically leads to additional power consumption and over-charging. It is still known to increase the diameter of the separator, thus providing a greater total area of slots and fins, but requiring the use of a seal independent of the turbine, type grooves and tongues mentioned above . Finally, the separation of the motorization of the turbine and that of the finned separator makes it possible to act on the speeds of rotation. To compensate for these drawbacks, the suction device must then be, generally, either over-powered or bi-motorized, therefore expensive and bulky, or consolidated by a stronger axis, or by an oversized assembly. Otherwise, the device is quickly deteriorated due to vibrations, or lack of power of depression. Such water filtration vacuums are therefore not entirely satisfactory. GB 2 382 042 discloses a water-air separator with a rotating brush which blocks the flow of air charged with particles and through which the flow of air is forced through. The elements suspended in the air are fixed by capillarity, in particular water, guided along the brush bristles under the effect of the centrifugal force, and ejected towards a peripheral wall, at a distance from the brush, then towards collection and evacuation areas. Large pressure losses of the air flow in baffles require over-charging of the suction device, and therefore result in a rise in the noise level. The efficiency is imperfect, due to an outlet of the air flow which is either radial or axial annular and very far from the axis of rotation. The serialization of several brushes, or even traditional filtering means with porous materials, shows that the arrangement with a single brush is not sufficient, in this case, to completely solve the problem posed which is to completely separate the water from the water. air flow when passing through the separator. Moreover, such a combination of several separation means mounted in series inevitably leads to a large increase in volume and weight, which makes it more difficult to apply in the field of portable home appliances, where performance, compactness and lightness are sought. . Applicant's patent application FR 06 02951 makes it possible to appreciably improve the reliability, with a water-air separator for vacuum cleaner, between a water tank and an air suction pipe connected through a communication orifice. constituted by a suction cone, comprising a chamber in which is mounted rotatably about an axis a filtration means, permeable to air, and designed adapted to convey at its periphery by centrifugation the captured water, or the chamber comprises a bearing flange perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the filtering means, which forms closure means in cooperation with the support flange.

Documents EP 1 112 712 A1 and EP 1048260 A2 describe means for filtration by water, where a flow of air causes the water while creating a turbulent mixture, difficult to reconcentrate, causing a quantity of water droplets difficult to retain in a large air flow, greater than 30 dm3 / second in a sled type device, for example. The need for a filter or complementary grid requires regular and tedious maintenance. These techniques generally do not allow to exceed 25 dm3 / s, at most 30 dm3 / s for a vacuum type sled. Depression is independent of this result because it only affects the ability to move particles. These known techniques diverge from each other only by the positioning of baffles and supply ducts, all require large tanks. The complexity of the elements affecting filtration makes it possible to position the tank only in a single position with little variability. It is particularly difficult to filter well, first the dust with water, then to separate this charged water from the airflow, all in a restricted volume, and moreover in different positions in space. To these filtration difficulties is added the variability of the air flow due to air inlet obstructions on the accessories, especially during their contact with the parts to be cleaned. Indeed, a low flow is detrimental to good filtration of dry particles, more precisely by the liquid filter element which, to be effective, must be accompanied by a dynamic, homogeneous and regular mixture. The dry particles not trapped by the liquid then obstruct any additional filter, and cancel the effect of permanent air flow specific to this type of filtration, or, more seriously, are released into the ambient air. The production of steam in the field of household appliances, especially in appliances generating a water heater for the production of hot water or steam, whether instantaneous or boiler, always requires the present of electrical grounding safety, provided in the power cord, due to the simultaneous presence of metal bodies, water, and electricity. This safety is not essential in a simple vacuum cleaner because of the general use of class 2 electric motors. Applicant's patent application FR 06 10563 already makes it possible to eliminate this security, thanks to an insulating covering of the metal parts. authorizing their type 2 classification. The disadvantages of a ground conductor are the higher cost of the cable, and the impossibility of using a cable winder, in particular automatic, with identical cable length, whereas the market instead requires increasing cable lengths. The invention proposes to further improve the size-power ratio, the lightness, the cost and the simplicity of manufacture of the steam generating means. To further improve these different devices, and to meet the needs of the market in portable devices, particularly in vapor cleaners, it is important to provide solutions compatible with a low mass, from 1.5 kg to 4 kg for manual use, and small footprint. For a given size and airflow, the device must provide high air velocity performance in the separator as well as in the tank.

The object of the invention is to solve these main difficulties by proposing a vacuum cleaner with water filtration, in which the trajectory of the suction flow is optimized to improve the separation of the particles upstream of the suction. In a preferred version, the invention comprises an improved water-air separator, adaptable to any type of water filtration vacuum cleaner and suction apparatus suitable for sucking liquid. In a completed version, the invention includes a steam generator to overcome the earth safety conductor, which allows the use of a cable winder even for a device of very small volume and mass, in particular of mass less than 2 kg. The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner in which circulates, in a casing, a suction flow of air charged with particles and / or liquid, between an inlet nozzle and a communication port with a suction chamber, characterized by the it comprises a water-air separator designed capable of guiding firstly the gas phase in said suction chamber, and secondly the liquid phase and the particles in a tank in which said liquid phase is preserved . According to a characteristic of the invention, said water-air separator comprises a sparging reservoir which comprises at least one peripheral vein of substantially annular shape designed to perform a centrifugation of said flow before entering baffles at which partitions spaced apart. from one another create a venturi effect.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended figures in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic, partial and sectional view; longitudinal version of a basic version of a sparge tank that includes a water filtration vacuum cleaner according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic partial view in longitudinal section of a preferred version of this reservoir; - Figure 3 is a schematic view, partial and in longitudinal section of the tank in the up position of the vacuum cleaner - Figure 4 is a schematic partial view in longitudinal section of the tank in the stitched position of the vacuum cleaner; - Figure 5 is a schematic partial view in section of a water-air separator, equipping a vacuum cleaner according to the invention, in a preferred embodiment; Figure 6 is a partial detail view of Figure 5; FIG. 7 is a schematic partial view in perspective of a pre-separator that can be used with the separator of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a water filtration aspirator according to the invention; FIG. 9 is a schematic partial view, in longitudinal section, of an apparatus according to FIG. 8, without a sparging tank, and comprising a water-air separator according to FIG. 5; FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective and partially decarénée, of a version of the aspirator with separator air-water and without tank of sparging; FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective and partially decarénée, of a preferred version of the vacuum cleaner with air-water separator and with a splash tank in the basic version of FIG. 1; FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating the cooling air path in the vacuum cleaner, in one embodiment with evacuation of the air sucked from the front of a ventilation turbine, and laterally on each side of it; - Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view of the air-water separator of Figure 6 with side air outlets; - Figure 14 is a schematic partial view in section of steam generating means equipping an electrical household appliance, including a water filter vacuum cleaner according to the invention; FIG. 15 is a schematic and perspective view of a water filtration vacuum cleaner with a lower cable winder; FIG. 16 is a schematic view, from above, of a water filtration vacuum cleaner with a cable winder incorporated between the central body and a lateral tank; FIG. 17 is a schematic, partial and longitudinal sectional view of a variant of a bubbler tank with a float; FIG. 18 is a schematic view illustrating the cooling air path in the vacuum cleaner in a so-called back-by-pass variant with evacuation of the air sucked by the upper part of the apparatus and peripherally by the rear of the ventilation turbine, using a shell enveloping the engine and separating the two air flows; - Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 14 showing a flat resistance; - Figure 20 is a schematic view, partially open, and in perspective of a peripheral rear pass version of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention; - Figure 21 is a schematic partial view in longitudinal section showing the liquid gas separator valve system forming overflow safety valve; - Figure 22 is a detail in a longitudinal section of an ogival separator according to Figure 5 or 6.

The invention relates to the separation of fluids contained in gases, in particular in the field of household appliances, including liquid, water filtration, and steam cleaning aspirators called steam vacuums, and the like.

The invention is applicable to any gas and any liquid. In the following description is made in particular reference to a particular application where the gas is air, and the liquid is water. The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner 100 in which circulates, in a casing, a suction flow of air charged with particles and / or liquid, between an inlet nozzle 3 and a communication orifice with a suction chamber 60. According to the invention, it comprises a water-air separator 1, interposed between the upstream pipe 2 and the suction means, and designed capable of orienting firstly the gas phase in the suction chamber 60, and of on the other hand, the liquid phase and the particles in a reservoir in which this liquid phase is preserved. In a preferred embodiment, this vacuum cleaner 100 is water-filtered, and comprises a sparging tank 22 in which circulates a flow of air sucked in particles and / or liquid, between an inlet nozzle 3 and a port 119 communicating with a suction chamber 60, at an upstream pipe 2, upstream of the suction means, in particular in the form of a turbine 10. In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 100 according to the invention can be used manually, or on a mobile support type brush or portable. In a preferred application as illustrated in the figures, it is a portable handheld device. According to the invention, the sparging tank 22 comprises at least one peripheral stream 103, at least partially, of substantially annular shape designed capable of performing a centrifugation of said stream before entering baffles.

This vein 103 may develop at any opening angle, even greater than one turn. Preferably, as can be seen in FIG. 1 or 2 or 17, the sparging reservoir 22 is delimited by at least one radially external partition 101, with constant or progressive curvature, without any obstacle or sudden change in concavity, which defines, with a first internal partition 106 which is a jet deflector, a vein 103 for circulating the inflow of air loaded with liquid or / and particles. In a particular embodiment, as can be seen in the figures, this reservoir 22 is of substantially planar shape, and may in particular comprise, between the external partition 101 and the first internal partition 106, one or more lateral cheeks connected in a sealed manner, by gluing. , welding, molding or the like. The reservoir 22 may in particular be framed by a first substantially flat lateral cheek, and a second lateral cheek spherical cap or the like. The shape of the side cheeks is dictated by the capacity of the tanks and / or accessories they contain, by the ergonomic requirements of the device. In the case of a very compact device, a substantially equal spherical or polyhedral shape with facets 11, cubic or other, offers the optimal interior volume for the smallest space, therefore also the lowest weight. The vein 103 preferably develops in a substantially circular plane, or the like, so as to create the conditions, under the effect of the suction transmitted by the orifice 119, of a vortex rejecting the flow, by centrifugation which has for the effect of grouping together such liquid or solid elements, in the vicinity of the outer wall 101. The flows comprising liquid or dry particles are represented by arrows solid line, purified air flows are represented in dashed arrows. In the simplest version, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the flow circulates, inside the splash tank 22, along the external partition 101. A baffle with a return at the level of an internal partition 113 flap the liquid phase and tends to fall in a lower peripheral zone 22A of the tank 22, variable according to the inclination of the device, forming a liquid receptacle.

The air is in turn sucked by the orifice 119, which it reaches after having bypassed a baffle partition 116 after passing through a chamber 108. This simplified version does not make it possible to filter dry dust in all positions. in space, the liquid filter element to be near an outlet 150. It is nevertheless a very economical version well suited for a glass cleaner. In a preferred version, as visible in FIG. 2, the vein 103 centrifugates the flow before it enters baffles at which partitions 106 and 107, spaced apart from one another, create a venturi effect. . The end 105 of the first internal partition 106 farthest from the inlet nozzle 3 is spaced from the outer partition 101 by a small distance dl, so as to accelerate the speed of the flow. The flow path downstream of the vein 103 12 continues in a chamber 111, limited on the outside by a partition 113, preferably extended by a partition 114, along which the liquid phase of the flow flows, after having streamed along the outer wall 101. A second internal partition 107, further from the outer partition 101 than the first inner partition 106, and disposed substantially parallel thereto on the side of an end 105 that comprises the latter , defines a first receptacle 115 for the collected liquid. Preferably, the first 106 and second 107 internal partitions are substantially parallel to the outer partition 101, at least in the vicinity of the end 105. The shape of the second internal partition 107 is such that the possible excess of liquid s' flows on the inner wall 106A of the first inner partition 106, which inner wall 106A defines a second receptacle 109 for the collected liquid. In particular, the first partition 106 and the second partition 107 are curved, and their centers of curvature are situated on the same side of the second partition 107, towards the interior of the sparging reservoir 22, that is to say in the away from the outer partition 101. Preferably, as shown in Figure 2, the average radius of curvature of the first partition 106 is greater than that of the second partition 107.

This second internal partition 107 has an end 108 located further downstream of the flow than the end 105 of the first internal partition 106, and which is located at a distance d2 from the outer wall 101 which is greater than the distance d1. The conditions are thus met to create a venturi effect, and to force the call of liquid in a turbulence zone 110 in the form of a jet sprayed against or towards the partition 113, in the direction of upstream towards the downstream of the flow, which is useful especially when the vacuum 100 is in an extreme angular position such that the water is no longer in direct contact with the particle stream and can momentarily no longer perform its role of filter. This venturi solution is applicable in a variant visible in FIG. 17, as well as in other configurations requiring a mixture of air and water, on suction-type or broom-type vacuum cleaners, and in particular having perpendicular flat tank partitions. or horizontal. It can use all known venturi effect systems: vortex, diaphragm, nozzle, convergent inlet or divergent outlet, or propulsive. It will be understood that the substantially circular shape of the reservoir 22 and of the vein 103 allow the apparatus 100 to be operated in different positions, in particular if the user rotates it about an axis substantially perpendicular to the different flow streams in the different veins and baffles that includes the reservoir 100, including normal to the plane of the figure in the example of Figure 2. Therefore, the particular arrangement of the second internal partition 107 and the inner wall 106A of the first internal partition 106 is particularly advantageous because any overflow of the liquid collected in the first receptacle 115 contributes either to feed the second receptacle 109 or to drive the excess liquid in the turbulence zone 110 which allows to bring this liquid back, after run-off on partitions 113 and 114, in the first receptacle 115. The second receptacle 109 tends, meanwhile, to be emptied permanently by the venturi effect between the ends 105 and 108, and to feed the turbulence zone 110, and therefore, consequently, to fill the first receptacle 115. Advantageously, a drain plug 43 is disposed at this first receptacle 115. Downstream in the flow direction of flow, the partition 114 is extended by a partition 116 which baffles and prohibits the passage of liquid, while the air flow along 14 this partition 116 in a chamber 117, then, in the sense contrary, along another partition or the other face 116A of the partition 116, in a chamber 118, before its evacuation through the orifice 119. This air flow, discharged in whole or part of its impurities according to the configuration of the apparatus, and represented in dashed arrows in FIG. 2, is then sucked up to the suction chamber, and in a preferred version, through a separator 1 to be freed of liquids and / or particles therefrom residual.

FIG. 17 illustrates another variant, which has a downward direction of inverted air coming out of an orifice 151, and provided with a float 152 acting as an overflow. A partition 153 extends the partition 106 and prohibits any passage of purified air, which must pass through the chamber 108 and then overlap a curved partition 154. This has the advantage of retaining soiled water, in case of reversal of the device horizontally. This complementarity thus offers the faculty of being able to work in all positions in space.

Such a spiral-shaped baffle, which can rotate several times, and constituting a real spiral from the periphery of the tank, ensures a constant and effective separation regardless of the air flow, in all positions in space. In the device of FIG. 17, the separation is independent of the gaseous volume flow rate, which varies according to the accessories used, the positioning and the surface to be cleaned. These turns are wound either horizontally or vertically more suitable for the usual straight tanks on vacuum cleaners sleds.

This system has, by its design in contrario curve of angular partitions, the peculiarity of not reducing the flow of air. In the context of vertically superimposed turns it is particularly suitable for the separation of liquids or dry particles and more efficient than a cyclonic system much less efficient in case of fall in the speed of the suction flow. FIG. 3 illustrates a working position. in which the vacuum cleaner 100 is pitched up, with the inlet nozzle 3 turned upwards. In this configuration, all the liquid is returned to the receptacle 115, and the vein 103 carrying particles in the air could not be filtered by liquid, if there was the venturi effect at the end 105 which, by the jet 110, allows the mixing of the dry particles and the liquid for their filtration. Figure 4 illustrates a working position in which the vacuum cleaner 100 is in a dive, with the inlet nozzle 3 facing downwards. In this configuration, the liquid is returned to the receptacles 115 and 109, as well as to the end 104 of the vein 103, and is therefore always in contact with the aspirated dry particles. Naturally, the partitions internal to the tank 22 take on shapes and sizes that vary according to the type of apparatus 100, depending on the positions of the filling, emptying, communication and filling positions as well as on the inclinations permissible for the device, be it a broom, a manual or a laptop. In particular, the partition 154 does not join the two walls of the reservoir, and thus allows the use of the device lying on its side. In the simplest version of the aspirator 100, the orifice 119 communicates directly with a chamber. suction 60, and the sucked air is discharged outside at a downstream pipe 4, without passing through the tank 22.

The air is removed from its water by a separator 20. In the case of Figure 10, the water flows through the passage 119 to go into the tank 22. In the case of Figure 11, the passage 119 allows the return of air to the separator 20, and the flow of residual water retained by it 16 to go to the reservoir 22, in which the majority is retained. In a preferred version, for maximum efficiency, the vacuum cleaner 100 according to the invention comprises a liquid-gas separator 1 arranged in a particular manner. This separator 1 comprises means for channeling the flow of gas between an upstream pipe 2 and a downstream pipe 4 intended to evacuate the purified gas freed from any liquid and any impurity. At the level of the upstream pipe 2 arrives, under the effect of suction or pressurization means, either a flow of liquid-laden gas directly from the inlet nozzle 3, or a particle-laden gas flow and or liquid already cleared of a large portion of its particles and its liquid phase during its journey in the sparger tank 22. These upstream pipes 2 and downstream 4 are connected by a communication port 13. The separator 1 comprises , rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 8 inside the upstream pipe 2, at least one filtration means 19, permeable to gas, and designed adapted to convey at its periphery, by centrifugation, the captured liquid . The separation between the water and the air is carried out during the meeting between the gas flow and a filtration means 19, which is interposed on the passage of the flow, inside the chamber or the channel formed by means channel, and which closes the communication port 13, and which is mounted fixed or preferably rotatable inside one or the other upstream pipe 2 or downstream 4, preferably the upstream pipe 2. From preferably, the filtration means 19 is driven by a rotational movement about an axis of rotation 8, which is preferably that of a turbine 10 generating the depression and which is driven by motorization means 7, particular electric. It can also be driven by independent drive means, or by a turbine driven by the flow passing through the separator 1. In a particular version, the separator 1 comprises means for adjusting its rotational speed according to the difference pressure between the upstream and downstream pipes 4 and / or the flow rate of the gas flow in the separator 1.

According to the invention, the filtration means 19 consists of an ogival separator 20, provided with fins or / and radial brushes, fixed on a turbine 10 movable in rotation downstream of the communication orifice 13, and with which it communicated by the latter.

In the case of a household vacuum cleaner 100, in particular linked to steam spraying means for cleaning, the air flow is loaded into water droplets. This flow is driven, under the effect of the depression created by at least one turbine 10, to the ogival separator 20 which eliminates these droplets and any humidified particles, which would be entrained in the mist formed upstream during the bubbling in the tank The liquid is captured by a barrier effect obtained by the rotation of the filtration means 19, which is permeable to gas, around its axis of rotation 8, in combination with the capillarity along this filtering means. , which allows to guide radially, by centrifugation, to its periphery, drops of liquid or / and particles present in the flow sucked. A high speed of rotation of the filtration means 19 prevents the direct passage of the flow of liquid through the filter means by its intervals. The speed of rotation of the separator, the number of fins and their shape, the width of the intervals between fins, are adaptable depending on the configuration of the device and desired performance. The filtration means 19 is kept radially away from the walls of the upstream pipe 2 so as to allow the droplets of liquid or water to be projected onto the wall of the latter under the effect of its rotation. A portable apparatus as shown in FIG. 9 advantageously comprises, in a chamber at the level of the upstream pipe 2, a zone for collecting water 21 delimited by a casement deflector 11, and communicating via the orifice 119 with the sparging tank 22. The casing deflector 11 forms a partition between the upstream pipe 2 and the downstream pipe 4, and has an axial opening of diameter less than the largest diameter of the separator and ogival and which is preferably single so as to avoid any spurious gas flow. The collection zone 21 is substantially annular, around the periphery of the filtration means 19, is large enough to prevent the formation of a vortex, and allows the free flow of water drops along the wall, without local accumulation which would be prejudicial to the proper functioning of the separator 1.

The casing deflector 11 allows the device to be held in multiple positions, while guaranteeing its operation, even if the unit is turned over, which is particularly advantageous for a portable device. Preferably, its profile is bell-shaped, substantially parallel to that of a turbine deflector 12 mounted on the front face of a turbine 10 and which comprises the axial communication port 13 between the upstream pipe 2 and the pipe downstream 4, and the clearance between them is a few millimeters, especially 1 to 3 mm. In the preferred case of using an ogival separator 20, it is preferably fixed on such a turbine deflector 12, on the largest possible diameter, by bonding, welding, or the like, at junction points 20B . If the turbine 10 does not have a deflector 11, the arch separator 20 can also be mounted directly thereon. Fixing the ogival separator 20 directly on the upstream face of the turbine 10, and on the largest diameter possible, allows to benefit from a large diameter passage which results in a lower axial speed of the air and therefore a more efficient separation, 19 and a center of gravity of the separator closer to its drive source. Preferably, the ogival separator 20 has its largest diameter near the orifice 13, which it overflows widely, and it narrows away from the orifice 13, especially until joining the axis in a version preferred as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9. This equilateral separator 20 may be of relatively small length relative to its diameter, in particular less than or equal to once the latter, so as to eliminate any unbalance problem. If, at the limit, the ogival separator 20 may be of conical or truncated conical shape, in a preferred version, the choice of a domed ogival shape has the advantage of not offering a flat front to the incoming air flow. , which avoids any turbulence harmful to the free flow of air. The curved shape makes it possible to obtain, on any longitudinal section passing through its axis, a peripheral zone that is longer than in a conical version, and thus offers a high separation power, while decreasing the speed of passage of the air, for a small footprint and extremely low vibration level. Preferably, the ogival separator 20 comprises, extending substantially parallel to its axis of rotation 8, a return 20A to cap the casing deflector 11 to form a baffle, and which may consist of an overflow of the fins or bristles of the separator Fig. 20 is a downward-facing, partially overlapping crankcase baffle 11. As shown in Fig. 21, the bifurcated separator 20 is preferably one-piece and has a solid cap 170 toward the front of the apparatus. To prevent the infiltration of water, the separator 20 is composed of alternating fins: inner fins 171 extending the cap and separated by spaces in which are interspersed peripheral fins 173 which form the bulk of the ogival body. The inner fins 171 are each extended by an overhanging portion 172, which causes water to be removed, and prevents water from seeping at the junction between inner fins 171 and peripherals 173. The effectiveness of this single separation means allows the total separation of the liquid contained in the incoming gas flow. Its operation is economical. This avoids the need to mount several separators in series, which is always harmful vibratory. It is understood that any loss of load on the air flow is detrimental to the performance of the device on which it is installed. The extremely simple assembly of the separator 1 according to the invention, with a reduced number of components, as can be seen in FIG. 5, and without unnecessary gas circulation, makes it possible to limit the pressure losses to a minimum. If, for ease of implementation, the axis of rotation 8 of the filtering means 19 is parallel to the flow in the area of the filtering means 19, their relative orientation may be different without departing from the invention. In a preferred version, the turbine 10, preferably molded of plastic, is fixed on a consolidation plate 14, preferably metal, which has a single attachment point 15 on the shaft 9 of a motor constituting the means of motorization 7, and which allows a better resistance at the axis, and resistance to deformation of the plastic related to the strong centrifugal force exerted on the vanes of the turbine. Advantageously, the body of the separator 1 is molded, and the upstream pipe 2, the downstream pipe 4, the pipe means and the casing deflector 11 constitute a one-piece member which defines the orifice 13. The turbine 10 is rotatable in a convergence chamber 160 of the air sucked downstream of the filtration means 19, which chamber is preferably part of the same molded monobloc member. The chamber preferably comprises gas deflection channels, to a peripheral or bypass end 5 radially connected to the downstream pipe 4, or by radially upstream return 21 by reversing the air thus rejected. Lateral outlets of the downstream pipe 4 and the convergence chamber C can also be reversed and in the same way allow the evacuation of the air downstream of the apparatus. The downstream pipe 4 communicates, preferably, with air outlets 301 of large area, and / or large section, for example hollow bodies 300 interposed between a central body of the vacuum cleaner 100 and side cheeks that includes the latter, so as to reduce as much as possible the sound emission, which is further reduced by sound-absorbing elements or coatings in these hollow bodies 300. The molded design of the channeling means which constitute the body of the separator 1 has an economic advantage of the makes simplification of assembly, and a gain in weight and volume.

Advantageously, the surfaces and the interior elements, the turbine or turbines, the walls of the various channels and chambers, are covered with a coating or soundproofing treatment. The rotation speed of the filtration means 19 is typically more than 20000 revolutions per minute and preferably close to 25000 revolutions per minute. According to an alternative embodiment, it is envisaged at least one additional device 40 for separating the liquid-gas flow, upstream of the filtration means 19 in the separator 1, so as to perform a first separation, in particular particles, in particular case of dry work or if in the case of the use of the separator according to the invention in a vacuum filter water, the user fails to fill the bubbling chamber with water. Advantageously, such a complementary separation device 40 comprises a screen or filter, in particular a pleated filter. This additional separation device can be fixedly mounted as shown in Figure 5, or mobile in rotation about the axis of the ogival separator 20. This device 40 is preferably of generally frustoconical shape.

This shape facilitates, when the axis of the separator is vertical 22 with the upstream pipe 2 in the lower position, the self-cleaning of the sieve by runoff of the liquid: thus and under the action of the rotation at high speed, the sieve constituting the device 40 is little or not clogged, and opposes a very low pressure drop to the flow. Still upstream, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, the separator 1 advantageously incorporates at least one pre-separator 41, in the form of a closed casing on the upstream side with the exception of an opening 42, communicating with at least one turn that imparts vortex or cyclonic movement downstream to the flow of liquid and particle-laden gas prior to suction. In the particular case of FIGS. 5 and 7, the pre-separator 41 is upstream of the crossing of the complementary separating device 40 and of the passage in the separator 20. This pre-separator 41 thus performs a first peripheral drive of the liquid and particles it contains. In a preferred version, this pre-separator 41 cyclonic effect directs them in a tank 22 of bubbling or dirty water. It is usable whatever the type of device. The use of several pre-separators 41 makes it possible to generate a continuous or repetitive spiral effect, vertical or horizontal. This description illustrates the case of a vacuum cleaner 100 with water filtration, where the flow sucked to the inlet nozzle 3 is directed towards the sparging tank 22 for its water filtration. This separator 1, comprising a separator 20 is usable for other variants of household appliances, as shown in Figure 9, where the inlet nozzle 3 directly guides the flow sucked to the separator 20 ogival , if necessary preceded by a pre-separator 41 and / or a complementary separating device 40. In the example of FIG. 10 there is no sparging reservoir, the reservoir 22 is a reservoir of water. dirty water which collects the liquid and the particles from the collection zone 21 between the casing deflector 11, the separator 1, and the casing 6 by a channel 119. The liquid-gas separator according to the invention has numerous advantages. It does not get clogged, unlike separators formed with porous filters impermeable to water. Its pressure drop is constant over time, which means that the suction power of an appliance that incorporates such a separator 1 remains constant over time. Indeed, it allows the maintenance of a flow rate of gas, especially air, constant because the separator according to the invention is self-cleaning and can not clog or foul. As a result, the user has no unpleasant maintenance to perform. The liquid-gas separation efficiency is very good, which reduces the release of particles into the environment, and also prevents excessive humidification of the surrounding atmosphere. This separator makes it possible to design a simplified gas circuit, and its morphology makes it possible to improve the compactness and the reduction of the cost of the apparatus in which it is mounted.

In the particular case of its use in a household appliance such as a vacuum cleaner 100, the separator 1 according to the invention has the advantage of allowing the constitution of a removable filter body adaptable between the body and the tubes of a vacuum cleaner conventional particle, while allowing the removal of the paper bag, suction of liquids or maintaining a constant air flow. The use of the principle of water filtration coupled with the use of a separator 1 according to the invention adapts advantageously to any type of household appliance, especially steam. Preferably, as can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 11, the vacuum cleaner 100 comprises means for generating an air flow, in particular in the form of motorization means 7 driving a turbine 10, and comprises, in a 6, between an upstream pipe 2 and a downstream pipe 4, at least one such separator 1. This vacuum cleaner 100 is very compact, and comprises a reservoir of clean liquid 30 supplied by a filling orifice 34 preferably provided with a filter cartridge 33, for example anti-scale resin. This tank 30 is connected by a pump 31 to steam generating means 32, constituted by at least one heating element 201 comprising at least one metallic filament embedded in one or more elements consisting exclusively of ceramic-based materials and comprising minus one spray chamber. The latter is preferably constituted by a helical space or the like between two bodies nested one inside the other, at least one of these nested bodies being a ceramic body incorporating, embedded, such a metal filament.

Referring now to Figure 21, it can be seen that the vacuum cleaner comprises a valve 180 placed in the path of the air flow loaded with water droplets and particles, in a channel 181 or at the outlet of the latter. This valve 180 is mounted hinged pivotally and may be hollow so floating, concave, convex, grooved, flat, V, double or any other shape to adapt to said surrounding channels. Under the effect of plating against the valve 180, the liquid particles are then re-concentrated and then projected against walls 184 to flow to a reservoir 182. This valve 180 can also be placed directly at the outlet of the reservoir 182 or all other necessary places without departing from the invention. The air thus freed from its impurities can move towards an outlet channel 183. In the case where the reservoir 182 is full, the separating valve 180 can also act as a safety device and close the passage of the air towards the channel 183 by its float effect, and / or by the too strong thrust of the liquid gas mixture coming directly from the tank. The heating element 201 preferably comprises at least one electrical resistor 200 according to the applications FR 06 10563 and PCT / FR2007 / 05 2423 of the same applicant. This heater 201 can be used alone in a wide variety of applications, including household appliances, especially boiler use: coffee maker or electric kettle, or for a sole or / and an iron boiler. The electrical resistance 200 is further improved as seen in FIG. 14: a core 131 serves as a support for at least one filament 130, connected to the sector by its ends 132 and 133. This core 131 is embedded in a ceramic body 134 which has an inlet 138 of liquid, preferably water to generate steam. This liquid circulates, preferably at the periphery of the body 134, in one or more channels 135 to one or more outlet ports 138A. Preferably, such a channel 135 is spiral, so as to lengthen the path of the liquid, so as to obtain a fine vapor outlet, unlike the simple ordinary heating tube which also ejects water under the effect of the steam pressure already formed. The body 134 cooperates, at an outer surface 134A, with an inner surface 137A that includes a housing 137. The latter is preferably a ceramic tube, which incorporates at least one resistor 140, in particular spirally wound and embedded in the ceramic, and connected to the sector by its ends 141 and 142. The body 134 and the housing 137 are assembled by complementary surfaces, respectively 143 and 143A, in particular in the form of a thread and a tapping. The housing 137 has a steam outlet orifice 139 generated by the heating of the liquid introduced into the inlet 138, under the effect of the filament (s) 130 and the resistance (s) 140. Preferably, the total power or the resistors 140 is between 3 and 4 times those of the filament or filaments 130, for example respectively 1500W and 500W, for an electrical resistance 200 with a length of 10 to 15 cm. The filament 130 may be spirally disposed on the core 131, with in this case a larger diameter. In both cases, a total power of 2000W can be obtained for a length of the order of 10 to 11 cm, and a diameter of about 5 cm. The housing 137 is, again, advantageously isolated on its outer surface by a fiber or ceramic insulation, or the like, retained by a holding housing, for example plastic. This design is not limited to the tubular shape, and such steam generation means 32 are usable, whatever the geometry of implantation, for any type of boiler, in particular with an outer or inner shielding to withstand the pressure .

Figure 19 illustrates a variant on the same principle, between two ceramic bodies incorporating resistors 140, a labyrinth 155, preferably spiral, is used for heating or vaporization of water, in an extremely compact volume.

The wide variety of forms achievable for the resistance 200 advantageously allows it to replace the heating bodies of electric kettles and coffee makers, and allows its coupling to a plastic or ceramic container to make a boiler. Such a boiler is particularly economical and efficient. By using such an electrical resistance 200 made entirely of ceramic, the insulation in class 2 is ensured and it is not necessary to perform a grounding. This makes it possible to use a power cable with only two wires, which makes it possible to be housed either on a winder 53 located in the apparatus 100, for example in a clean liquid reservoir 30, or between a side cheek 22 or 30 and a central casing 6, either on a winder or a winding support 54 at the periphery, in particular of the base, for example between feet or casters 55 that this device 27 comprises. The use of automatic cable winders small electric becomes possible for all types of steam vacuums. The steam produced by the means 32 is preferably brought to a cleaning implement, such as squeegee or other, fixed on an inlet nozzle 3 of the upstream pipe 2. Preferably, this apparatus 100 comprises two cheeks, the one consisting of a clean liquid reservoir 30, the other of a sparging reservoir 22, one of which may contain a housing for the reel 53. This reservoir of clean liquid 30 advantageously incorporates an anti-scale cartridge, in particular of resin. These cheeks are joined, on the side of a service nozzle 3 on the upstream pipe 2, by one or more housing elements 6, said before, including in particular the steam generating means 32 and the pump 31. The part of the apparatus 100, said upper, downstream of the nozzle 3 and the upstream pipe 2, incorporates the separator 1 and the drive means 7. Between the separator 1 on the one hand and the lateral cheeks 22 and 30, d ' on the other hand, air outlet channels 300 of the largest possible area are advantageously provided on a wide periphery of the apparatus, the lateral cheeks 30 and 22 acting as acoustic insulators by a double-shell effect. Under this upper part is provided a control handle 50, at which is located the center of gravity 51 of the apparatus 100 in charge of liquid. The hand of the operator is thus introduced, at a rear opening 56, as in a glove between the side cheeks and the upper part, it is protected from aggression by the front portion of the housing 6. The apparatus 100 is able to operate in all positions in space thanks to the casing baffles 21. The operator manipulates it in all these positions, without particular fatigue, since it maintains it at its center of gravity. Preferably, the vacuum cleaner 100 according to the invention is traversed by a cooling air circuit. An outside air inlet 200 is provided, preferably close to the handle 50, and may include a baffle 201 optionally provided with an air filter. A pipe brings this fresh air into a chamber 202 located at one end of the motorization means 7 of the turbine 10. Advantageously, these means 7 are fixed on a partition separating this chamber 202 from another chamber 203 in which is located the Another end of the motorization means 7. These are traversed by the flow of fresh air from the chamber 202 to the chamber 203, the air exits through an orifice 204 in a pipe 205 which leads into a chamber 206 surrounding the steam generation means 32, that it thus contributes to cooling, before it leaves the apparatus through at least one outlet mouth 207. The latter communicates advantageously with the outlet channels of the air sucked downstream of the downstream chamber 4, made in the form of chambers located between the central body comprising the handle 50 and the lateral cheeks. These provisions provide better comfort to the operator, and preserve the hull and ensuring a good aging. The cooling air is advantageously mixed with the air coming from the downstream pipe 4, and then benefits from its dynamic by venturi effect.

In an advantageous variant, the circulation of the sucked air extracts, by the venturi effect, at the level of an extraction channel, the air present in the zone surrounding the suction motor, and thus creates an air flow. cooling, without requiring any moving member such as a propeller or the like, thereby making the manufacture less expensive. In short, according to the invention, three types of air outlets, called bypass, are preferentially usable: lateral exit from the front of the device, that is to say the side of the nozzle entrance 3, with double cheek; 29 side exit from the rear of the apparatus, that is to say on the opposite side to the inlet nozzle 3, in the upper part or by the side, with possible removal of a tank part, with double plays; - peripheral output to the rear of the device and in the upper part with a motor sealing box. The cooling air is advantageously evacuated by the handle 50 of the apparatus. A particularly interesting embodiment of such an apparatus 100 is a steam window squeegee with a vacuum, a vacuum mass of about 1.5 kg, for a clean liquid reservoir 30 and a bubbling tank 22 each about 500 ml , and for which an installed power of 400W, or even 200W, is enough to carry out a cleaning of quality, without fatigue for the operator. On such an apparatus, a turbine 10 with a diameter of 76 mm, and a separator with a diameter of 52 mm, for example, allow an air flow rate of 15 to 20 liters per second, compatible with a good efficiency of suction and separation. In the case of a simple vacuum cleaner with no steam production, the inlet of the apparatus may be provided with a tube, for venturi routing a liquid from a tank of clean or slightly soiled liquid, so to moisten these dusts, and then separate by the different separation means described above. The invention also relates to an iron with at least one heater 201 for steam generation and / or heating of the sole.

Claims (24)

1. Vacuum cleaner (100) in which circulates, in a casing (6), a suction flow of air charged with particles and / or liquid, between an inlet nozzle (3) and a hole (119) for communication with a suction chamber (60), characterized in that it comprises a water-air separator (1) designed able to orient on the one hand the gas phase in said suction chamber (60), and other part of the liquid phase and the particles in a reservoir (22) in which said liquid phase is retained. 2. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said water-air separator (1) comprises a sparge tank (22) which comprises at least one peripheral vein (103) of substantially annular shape designed capable of performing centrifugation of said stream before entering baffles at which partitions (106; 107) spaced apart from each other create a venturi effect. 3. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said bubble reservoir (22) is delimited by at least one outer wall (101) radiated, constant curvature or evolution defining, with a first internal partition (106). ), said vein (103), which, under the effect of an aspiration transmitted by said orifice (119), rejects said flow, and in particular the liquid or solid elements, in the vicinity of said outer partition (101). 4. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, downstream of said vein (103), said flow flows in a chamber (111), limited on the outside by at least one partition (113) along from which flows the liquid phase of said stream, after having streamed along said outer wall (101), and a second internal partition (107) further from said external partition (101) than said first partition internal (106), and disposed substantially parallel to the latter on the side of an end (105) that comprises the latter, defines a first receptacle (115) for said liquid phase. 5. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second internal partition (107) has a shape such that any excess liquid in said receptacle (115) flows on an inner wall (106A) of the first inner partition (106), which inner wall (106A) thus defines a second receptacle (109) for the liquid phase, and said second inner partition (107) having an end (108) further downstream of the flow than said end (105) of said first internal partition (106), and at a distance from said outer wall (101) greater than that of the latter, so as to create a venturi effect, and to force the call of liquid in a turbulence zone (110) in the form of a jet sprayed against said partition (113). 6. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, between said upstream pipe and said suction chamber, a liquid-gas separator (1) which comprises, between said upstream pipe ( 2) and a downstream pipe (4) connected by a communication orifice (13) rotatably mounted around an axis of rotation (8) inside said upstream pipe (2), a filtration means ( 19), permeable to gas, and designed adapted to convey at its periphery by centrifugation of the captured liquid, said filtering means (19) constituting means for sealing said communication orifice (13) on the side of the latter located towards said pipe upstream (2), and comprising a separator ogival (20) provided with fins or / and radial brushes, fixed on a turbine (10) movable in rotation 32 downstream of said communication port (13) and with which it communicates by the latter. 7. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said turbine (10) comprises on its upstream side a turbine baffle (12) on which is fixed said ogival separator (20) and which comprises an axial orifice of communication (13) between said upstream pipe (2) and said downstream pipe (4), and that said suction chamber comprises a housing baffle (11) forming a partition between said upstream pipe (2) and said downstream pipe (4) and which has an axial opening of diameter smaller than the largest diameter of said arch separator, and which is designed to form a liquid collection zone (21) communicating via said orifice (119) with said bubble reservoir (22) . 8. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said ogival separator (20) is monobloc, and comprises, towards the front of the apparatus a cap (170) full, and, alternately, inner fins (171) extending said cap (170) and separated by spaces in which are interspersed peripheral fins (173) which form the ogival body, said inner fins (171) being each extended by a portion (172) in overflow for the extracting water, and preventing the infiltration of water at the junction between inner fins (171) and peripherals (173). 9. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said separator (1) comprises at least one pre-separator (41) in the form of a closed casing on the upstream except an aperture (42) communicating with at least one turn which imparts a vortex or cyclonic downstream movement of the liquid and particle-laden gas stream before it is sucked, thereby performing a first peripheral entrainment of the liquid and particles contained in this stream, and that it orients in a tank (22) of bubbling or dirty water. 10. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two side cheeks, one consisting of a reservoir of clean liquid (30), the other of a sparging tank (22), which are joined, on the side of said inlet nozzle (3), by one or more housing elements (6), said before, including means for generating steam (32), and that it comprises a said upper part, downstream of said tip (3), which incorporates said separator (1) and drive means (7) for driving at least one turbine (10) in said suction chamber, and in which upper part is provided a control handle (50), at which is located the center of gravity (51) of said vacuum cleaner (100) in charge of liquid. 11. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a rear opening (56) designed to allow the introduction of the hand of an operator as in a glove between said side cheeks, said part upper, and said front portion of said housing (6). 12. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a steam generator vacuum and water filtration. 13. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circulation of the sucked air is designed capable of extracting, by venturi effect, at the level of an extraction channel, the present air in a zone 30 surrounding a suction motor, and thus to create a flow of cooling air, the cooling air path in the vacuum cleaner in a so-called rear bypass variant is done with evacuation of the air sucked from the upper part of the apparatus and peripherally from the rear 34 of a ventilation turbine, using a shell enveloping the engine and separating the two air flows 14. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air outlet, called bypass, is a side exit from the front of the device, with double cheek. 15. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the air outlet is output side by the rear of the device, that is to say on the opposite side to the input nozzle (3), at the top or side, with double cheek. 16. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the air outlet is peripheral towards the rear of the device and in the upper part with a sealing housing of the engine. 17. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling air is discharged by the handle (50) of the apparatus. 18. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circulation of the sucked air extract, by venturi effect, at an extraction channel, the air present in the surrounding area. the suction motor, and thus creates a flow of cooling air 19. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a reservoir of clean liquid (30) connected by a pump (31) to steam generating means (32) constituted by at least one heating element (201) comprising at least one metallic filament embedded in one or more elements consisting exclusively of ceramic-based materials and comprising at least one vaporization chamber. 20. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said vaporization chamber. is constituted by a helical space or the like between two bodies nested one inside the other, at least one of these nested bodies being a ceramic body incorporating, embedded, such a metallic filament. 21. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said heating body (201) comprises at least one electrical resistance (200) comprising a core (131) serving to support at least one filament (130). said core (131) embedded in a ceramic body (134), which has a liquid inlet (138) which flows in at least one channel (135) to at least one outlet (138A), said body (134) ) cooperating, at an outer surface (134A), with an inner surface (137) having a ceramic housing (137) incorporating at least one resistor (140) and having an outlet (139) steam generated by the heating of the liquid introduced into said inlet (138), under the effect of the filament (s) (130) and the resistance (s) (140). Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a power cable, housed on a winder (53) located in a side cheek that includes said vacuum cleaner. 23. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that it comprises a power cable, housed on a winder or a winding support (54) periphery of the base of said vacuum cleaner . 24. Vacuum cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one air-water separator valve (180), forming overflow safety valve, floating or not, flat concave shapes. , convex, V-shaped, grooved, single or doubled designed adapted to be pivotally articulated mounted, arranged in opposition to a flow of air laden with liquid and / or particles, causing obstacle to the passage of this air flow for reconcentration liquid flow suspended in the gas flow by plating effect and / or forming overflow safety under the effect of the excessive accumulated thrust of the air 36 and said liquid or the bubbling of these two elements from a reservoir .