Steam cleaner

STEAM CLEANER

p0002The invention relates to an apparatus according to the generic term of claim 1.

p0003For removing greasy soiling the Ver¬ is use of a hot cleaning liquid or vapor heis- sen of great benefit. Since temperatures above 100 ° C are particularly advantageous, have cleaning equipment, bringing the steam at temperatures above 100 ° C to be cleaned Flä¬ che, the desired cleaning property. High-pressure cleaning devices are known from the patents DE-A1-35 30 954, EP-A1-0 263 196, DE-C2-35 26 024 and DE-C1-37 32 173. Commercial High Pressure Cleaning equipment with hot steam for many cleaning extremely un¬ handy, since they comprise a pressure vessel with a high-pressure pump, a heating and vaporization device and flameproof lines to spray. The use of these devices involves great danger due to possible leaks between the steam generating device part and the place where the steam is used for cleaning purposes. Sicherheitsven¬ tile must be provided. In longer, flameproof Lei¬ tions can also cool the vapor, so that the temperature is Dampftem- when hitting the surface to be cleaned insufficiently high.

p0004a cleaning device is known from the German utility model DE-GM 75 34 556, which provides a heating surface under ei¬ nem waterlogged cleaning cloth. The device is simple, but can not heat up to the desired temperatures of over 100 ° C the water of Reinigungstu¬ Ches or the resulting vapor. At high temperatures, the heating would be after drying of Reinigungstu¬ Ches fire. In addition, there is a great risk of burns for the cleaning personnel when changing the cleaning cloth. The AT-A-303 300 and FR-A-2218867 describe Handge¬ devices that steam for cleaning smooth surfaces verwen¬ the. In both devices, fluid is introduced into a kind of boiler, heated and then applied in the form of steam to the surface to be cleaned. Both of these two assemblies as well as in the CH-A-492 440 be¬ signed, in which the cleaning liquid is sprayed from a nozzle into the interior of a tubular heater in the direction of steam flow is, however, not be excluded that a large part of liquid evaporates un-, either from the steam in the form of Flüssigkeitsteil¬ chen entrained, or ge directly to the wiper injected (as may be the case especially in the CH-A-492 440), arrives at the surfaces to be cleaned.

p0005The inventive task is to describe a hot steam-cleaning device that is easy and risk-free to handle and dry steam with temperatures of about 100 ° C to the surface to be cleaned brings.

p0006According to the invention, this is achieved by realizing the characterizing features of claim 1.

p0007Advantageous improvements are described in the features of the dependent claims ab¬.

p0008The hot steam is generated in the immediate vicinity of the area to be treated. Thus, no cumbersome, the hot steam cooling, and dangerous in case of leakages hot steam lines needed. The cleaning liquid is sprayed directly on the heating surface and evaporates there. The average direction of the atomised liquid jet and the effluent from the steam generating space vapor close to each other an angle of at least 90 °.

p0009L Thus, the possibility is reduced that the Flüssigkeits¬ particles are entrained by the vapor. a higher degree of atomization achieved - Furthermore, since larger Zerstäubungskegel be possible - for example, compared with that described in CH-A-492 440 arrangement. The Heiz¬ surfaces can be formed large-area, a bes¬ sere evaporation rate is the result. This is particularly the case when the sputtering apparatus is net so angeord¬ that the atomization of the cleaning liquid against a - the or the openings of the steam generating chamber opposite - facing the same floor, in particular the heating surface, at least partially, comprises , The vapor generated on the heating surface and the sprinkling stream of the atomizing device to the heating surface thus form a kind of counter-flow. To zen to unterstüt¬ this flow, a guide device is preferably provided. This guide device can consist of the Dampferzeu¬ generation area itself, preferably chen the Heizflä¬ take once a large portion of this guiding device, but it can also additionally a steam line um¬ grasp that passes the produced in the steam generating chamber steam to the wiper device. can Dampferzeugungs¬ space within the steam are preferably further heated and / or optionally introduced GE to an elevated, predetermined pressure.

p0010The superheated steam flows through at least one opening of the steam generation chamber, possibly directly on to behan¬ delnde area. Alternatively, a steam line to be planned, which openings in the wiper device Austritts¬ having the steam so that the steam and selectively distributed in a certain way, for example, over the length of a specially shaped wiping device, are applied to the surfaces to be cleaned can.

p0011SUBSTITUTE SHEET The inventive cleaning device is thus designed as i essential unpressurized, open system that si cher's handling. The inventive arrangement An¬ the heating time is comparatively short; the optionally necessary descaling designed to be simple.

p0012To reinforce the steam flow, the Führungsvorrich¬ can be complemented by a blower device direction optionally by a fan is provided preferably in the region of the outlet opening of the steam chamber. The Damp - Ström can optionally also be changed so that the outlet opening of the steam chamber is provided with a valve which only allows the vapor to escape when .hat constructed in the vapor chamber a pressure that is above a predetermined value.

p0013For further heating of the steam the steam can according to the invention are passed through a heating device, which preferably consists of a heatable heat medium, such as copper or aluminum wool. The heat medium is preferably heated from the hot plate, but possibly by a separate heat source.

p0014The temperature of the steam is maintained according to the invention by at least one temperature sensor and a Regelvorrich¬ direction within a predetermined range. The temperature sensor preferably measures the temperature of Heiz¬ area, but it can optionally direct the steam temperature, preferably prior to discharge from the steam spatial measure. Since the steam temperature depending on the temperature of the heating surface, from liquid flow, and optionally the vapor pressure in the vapor chamber, the Regelvorrich¬ controlled device the supply of the heating surface, the liquid flow generated by a Fördervor¬ direction and possibly the steam pressure generated by means of a controllable valve. The resulting image on the surface to be cleaned liquid can to reduce liquid consumption, thereby increasing the useful life of the steam cleaner, be conducted through a liquid recycle back to the liquid container to-. This may be in the cleaning of large and / or not very easily accessible areas of advantage, since thus the cleaning fluid must be less frequently replenished.

p0015The conveyor, which promotes the cleaning liquid from Be¬ tank to the heating surface, can in order to save space, are also effective as a suction device for the returnee liquid, preferably two-way valves, both in the fluid recirculation and in the fluid line be provided.

p0016A drainage tube for receiving the accumulating on the surface to be cleaned liquid, which is the stripper zugeord¬ net and in particular extends along this, enables a good absorption of the liquid, especially when it is in the adjoining the scraper in the form of a sponge strip formed wiper strip is embedded. In principle, could serve as a liquid receiver such sponge bar alone, from the then - albeit generally less effective - the liquid is recycled into the container Be¬.

p0017Another possibility, the fluid at the surface resulting Flüs¬ resume is succession to arrange two strippers, the channel-like as the second arranged wipers in wiping direction recesses auf¬ has that the liquid in a liquid receiver, either in the form of a sponge strip or in the form of a Sam¬ melkanals derive. Again, an arrangement for repayment of the liquid may be provided. If a temperature sensor of the heating surface assigned, so there is the possibility that this reaching a be¬ certain temperature a control signal to the pump at the Flüs¬ sigkeits pipe apparatus feeds, so this is only switched on when the heating surface is hot enough. Da¬ with it is achieved that can not leak out even non-evaporated Reini¬ transfer fluid from the steam generating chamber.

p0018The drawings illustrate the invention with reference to schematically illustrated embodiments. Show it:

p00191 is a overview of a steam cleaner in

p0020The form of a hand-held device; 2 shows a cross section through an inventive steam generating device;

p00213a and 3b show alternative arrangements for the management of

p0022Vapor to the wiper device, 3b in exploded view as; Figure 3c shows a detail section along BB of Figure 3b 4 shows a container for cleaning liquid with tap device connection to the manual cleaning device; Figure 5 shows a section with through a manual cleaning device

p0023Wiper and swiveling mounting arm and 5a shows a detail from Figure 5 with an embodiment of a vapor generating apparatus according to Figure 2;

p00246 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning liquid recirculation, wherein 6a shows a detail section along AA of Figure 6, and 7a and 7b respectively a section through two alternative wipers with two strippers.

p0025An inventive embodiment of a Dampfreini¬ gers according to Fig.l is designed as a hand-held device 1, which accommodates a steam generating device 2, a liquid Leitungsvor- device 3 and a reservoir 4 for the cleaning liquid. The container 4 is in this embodiment play in the field a gripping surface 1a arranged at which the steam cleaner is kept. By a closable filling opening (not shown), the container 4 with the cleaning liquid can be filled. The Leitungsvorrich- device 3 performs the cleaning liquid from the container 4 to the steam generating device 2 at the free end of the cleaner 1 at this free end a wiper device hen vorgese¬ 5, which is preferably of a be¬ stripper rubber. During the cleaning process, steam is brought by the steam generator 2 on the surface to be cleaned, the dirt can be removed and is carried along by the movement of the cleaner 1 in the direction of the gripping surface 1a by the wiper fifth

p0026The fluid connection device 3 comprises a conveying device 3, which preferably consists of a pump. This may optionally be manually operated; preferred wise but used an electric pump that is mit¬ means of a battery, a battery, or preferably fed via a network connection. Optionally, for conveying the liquid to a device be provided, which changes the liquid volume available to the container 4, preferably generating device having a displacer, such as a piston or a balloon-like device, in the interior of the container 4. The drive of the displacement apparatus preferably takes place mechanically with an electric motor or by means of a pressure medium - is brought to the desired pressure - if appropriate, manually.

p0027If the conveyor 3a of a pump, so it must be ensured that in any position of the handheld device 1 even with a low degree of filling of the container 4 liquid can be aspirated. This can by at least two Ansaugstut¬ zen be achieved in oppositely disposed portions of the container. 4 In a rigid container 4, a check valve is necessary to the liquid weggepumpte ability to replace air. Optionally, the container 4 is designed so that its volume always corresponds to the filled liquid amount; This is preferably achieved in that the container wall consists of elastic material, as described in more detail with reference to Fig.2.

p0028It could also be provided a cable device 3, which promotes the liquid by the capillary force in a fine-pore medium.

p0029The steam generating device 2 of an inventive embodiment according to Figure 2 has a housing 6 with a - on heating surface 8 - cup-shaped here. In direct contact with the heating surface 8 .sich is a heating device 8, which is preferably operated electrically, if appropriate but also by gas combustion or via Mikro¬ waves the necessary heat generated. A cover 7 acts as meisolation Wär¬, so that where possible the heat of the heating surface 8 is supplied and no glad, occur outside touchable points. He also provides insulation of electrical equipment parts against any penetrating Feuch¬ activity.

p0030In the housing 6, a nozzle holder 9 is provided, which is held on the housing. 6 At which the heating surface 8 facing side of the nozzle holder 9, a sputtering apparatus is mounted, which is be¬ preferably from at least one nozzle 10th The atomization can also be effected by means of ultrasound. To the nozzle 10 performs a feed line 11, which is part of the liquid-conducting device 3rd About this Lei¬ device 11, the cleaning liquid reaches the nozzle 10, wel¬ che liquid finely atomized in the heating surface 8 sprays. By receiving the contact heat liquid particles are vaporized on the heating surface eighth The steam generating space 14 which is limited by the heating surface 8 and the housing 6, has at least one opening 13, which can release steam aimed towards the surface to be cleaned. Optionally, a steam vent is in the opening 13 arranged 37, which allows the vapor to escape only temporarily, preferably when the pressure in the vapor chamber 14 exceeds a predetermined value. This happens ge preferably via an actuator 38, which signal is replaced by the Stellsi¬ via a regulator R (see below). Also, the steam outlet, as indicated by dashed lines in Figure 2, for guiding the steam a steam line 26 may be provided which passes the steam to the wiper device.

p0031The steam emitted is the invention according to above 100 ° C, preferably in the range from 120 ° C to 140 ° C. The temperature of the heating surface 8 is to the desired temperature-deposited in the range of 160 ° C to

p0032220 ° C. To control the steam temperature or the temperature of the heating surface 8 at least one temperature sensor 32 vor¬ is seen. The temperature signal is supplied to a control device R, which regulates the supply of the heating device 8a. The control device R can optionally also Förder¬ device 3a and / or regulate the steam vent 37 in the opening. 13 Preferably, the pump 3 is only switched on when the heating surface 8 a certain has reached vorge passed temperature. Then, a switching signal is supplied to the pump via the temperature sensor 32nd This can be achieved in particular by means of a limiter B.

p0033For increasing the steam temperature, a steam heating device is optionally provided, which preferably consists of a vapor-permeable heat medium, such as copper or aluminum wool, which heating medium is preferably placed in the non-filled with the Zerstäubungskegel space 14b and is heated by the heating surface 8, which in this case then further erstrek- against the opening 13 toward ken should. The cleaning fluid is housed in a container 4 made of elastic material, which is in turn arranged in a rigid housing 4b. This stable housing 4b has an opening 31; so is the elastic sawn container 4a under atmospheric pressure and will contract at Verringe¬ tion of fluid volume or it is compressed. The cleaning liquid is fed via a closable filling opening 27 in the container 4a einge¬ filled and removed via the outlet opening 28 by means of the pump 3a. For this, a closing valve 36 is opened account membered a Betä¬. 39 The inlet and outlet 27 and 28 respectively are the two containers together 4a and 4b. In the area of ​​these openings, the elastic container 4a and 4b stable housing are sealed together. Thus, the pump 3a in each layer of the cleaner, the nach¬ filled the cleaning liquid in the container 4a, the filling opening is closed 27 and 28 Austrittsöffnunf were opened, promote liquid therefrom. The Be¬ containers is to fill always full.

p0034In 3a and 3b show two possibilities for the application of steam are displayed on the area to be treated. 3a shows an elongated wiper 5_r passes to the out via a T-shaped here steam line 26a is steam, the steam can escape from the steam outlet openings 29th Such training has to insbeson dere for window cleaning equipment to, where appropriate, in ei¬ ner of Figure 4 corresponding manner, in which case the Steamer also generating device in a device component 15 (Figure 4) can be accommodated. However, one should, as is clear from the security considerations described above, in such a case be ei¬ nem the steam line formed and thermally insulated as short as possible. Advantageously offers itself - for example, for use as Bodenreioigungsgerät - a one Handstaubsauger similar configuration to where the steam generating device near the wiper device is arranged. Another way the steam control is shown in Figure 3b, in which the steam line is formed in the region of the wiper device 5 'in the form of a triangle, distributed over the perimeter of the triangle steam discharge ports 29. A clamping device, spielsweise in the form of a snap device 30 , serves to receive a wiping flap 35 (Figure 3c), which also groES sere surfaces, such as floor surfaces are to be machined easily. As a result of the triangular shape of the wiper device 5 'are also accessible bottom corners. The stripper 5a4 is at die¬ ser wiper 5¹ also a triangular shape, the spongy wiper "bar" 5b4 fills the interior of. Figure 3c shows a section along BB of Figure 3b. It's good to see how the fixed clamped by the snap device 30 mop 35 spans the area lying between the stripper 5a4.

p0035Another embodiment provides it indungsgemässes according Fig.4 separate from the manual cleaning device 1 part by devices part 15 of the container with the cleaning liquid and for the conveyor before. From device component 15 performs a flexible line connection 16 for manual cleaning device. The cable connection 16 according to the invention comprises a fluid line, a supply line for the heating device 8 (Figure 2) and, optionally, control lines of the control apparatus for controlling the conveyor. For power supply of the equipment part 15 is preferably a power connector 17, but possibly a battery or a battery, is provided.

p0036The device component 15 can be hung from the cleaning staff by means of a supporting device consisting of at least one strap 18, laterally on a shoulder or worn as a backpack on the back. The lightweight handset unit 1 and the flexible wiring 16 allow the Rei¬ up the fabrication minimize power use. The device component 15 could also be on a mobile frame, thus freeing the staff from wearing. When the device component 15 always at a greater level than to reini¬ ing surface, so can be dispensed with a conveyor device for the cleaning liquid, as the liquid passes by gravity to the heating surface.

p0037A manual cleaning device 1 according to Figure 5 provides a Wischvor¬ device 5 consisting of a scraper and a wiper strip 5a 5b before. The wiper strip 5b is preferably made of sponge-like material, solves the aufgeweich¬ from the steam th dirt and receives a portion of the remainder is carried by the wiper 5a. The wiper strip 5b is attached to the handset unit 1, that it can be easily replaced. The replacement is necessary to replace most polluted Wischlei¬ through clean can.

p0038The handheld device in accordance with Figure 5 consists of two parts, namely the gripping surface 1a and a portion 1b of the generating device and the Steamer 2a receives the wiper device 5th The grip surface 1a is connected via a joint 19 with the portion 1b such that different angles of inclination between the parts 1a and 1b are adjustable. Where appropriate, the wiper device 5 supporting part 1b of the cleaning ger device 1 with respect to the grip portion 1a can also be turned. Optionally, a guiding device is on the part 1a or 1b are provided, preferably a wheel, which is used together with the wiper device as a further support point on the surface to be cleaned, so that the steam cleaner 1 can be guided optimally to the surface to be cleaned. For heavily soiled surfaces, especially for machining floors, a scraper bar may be provided on the wiper device 5 also additionally containing, which is preferably designed as wegklappbares or in a suitable recess of the wiper device insertable part. 5a shows in detail the formation of the alternative steam generating device 2a (V in Figure 5). The liquid is thereby Reinigungs¬ stäubungsvorrichtung passed through the feed line 11 into the comminuted, atomised through the nozzle 10 and through the Düsenhaiterungs interior 14a against - sprayed heating surface 8 '- here purely surface. The heater 8 and the heating surface 8 'are thereby covered ab¬ through the lid. 7 The resulting vapor flows through holes 9a in the nozzle holder 9 from the space 14a into a vapor chamber 14b between the housing 6 and the nozzle holder 9. Bracket The Düsen¬ 9 by means of a flange between a holding sion projection 6a of the housing 6 and the heating surface 8¹ ge hold. The steam generating chamber 14 is 12.abgeschlossen by a subsequent to the housing 6 cover. In the cover 12, the opening 13 for the jet of steam trittund optionally, the steam discharge valve 37, correspondingly the Fig.2. Also here, a temperature sensor 32 is provided.

p0039In Figure 6 and 6a, the principle for a liquid recirculation can be seen 20 after the on the surface to reinigen¬ the resulting liquid can be led back to the container 4 zu¬. For this purpose, as from the detailed section of Figure 6a along AA of Figure 6 can be seen, in the wiper strip 5b1 provided here as a sponge triangle between the V-shaped scraper 5a1, a Drainage¬ arranged tubules 21st This Drainagerohrchen 21, which is provided with fine particles on the liquid and for smallest Schmutz¬ passable holes, can get caught in a groove-shaped recess 25 of the wiper strip 5b1 are, or eingescho¬ be ben in a corresponding hole. In both cases, the wiper strip 5b1 and Drai¬ should nagerohrchen 21 cleaned independently or ausge¬ exchanges and can be used again. The liquid taken from the Drainagerohrchen 21 will then use a strainer 22, which is advantageously exchangeable is either (indicated by dashed lines) directly to the container, or drawn in via a two-way valve 24 from the pump 3a1 and conveyed into the container. 4 Another two-way valve 23 closes or opens the heating surface 8 leading liquid line; However, suction and pumping process can also be combined.

p0040From Figure 6, a special design of the stripper can be seen 5a1, where a comparatively small wiping "bar" is assigned 5b1. This also the Drainagerohrchen 21 extends only over a small portion of the stripper 5a1 paintable, surface to be cleaned. Of course, could Drainagerohrchen - be formed a V-shape and thus extend over the entire length of the scraper 5a1 - as well as the wiper strip. In ei¬ ner training of manual cleaning apparatus according to the Fig.1,3 or 4 the Drainagerohrchen will be sorted in a preferred manner along the whole stripper parallel to this an¬.

p0041In Figure 7a and 7b alternative forms of Wischvor¬ directions are shown. In 7a two scrapers each par¬ allel lying intended 5a2 and 5a3, which are arranged in the wiping direction in succession. The from the outlet opening 29 onto the surface to be treated came steam condenses there and is drawn off from the first stripper 5a2. The second stripper 5a3 still attracts ver¬ failure fluid from the area from which most of the liquid can but 33 run in a sponge wiper strip 5b2 about this stripper 5a3 provided hene, channel-like recesses, the manner described above austausch¬ may be in cash and / or a Drainagerohrchen 21 keits feedback includes a liquid-. 7B shows an alternative embodiment with two series-arranged scrapers 5a2 and 5b2 ", in which case the second scraper 5b2 'has no recesses. The extraction is done by an arranged before this scraper sponge 5b2, in which in turn a Drainagerohrchen 21 housed.