Cleaning device for cleaning a surface

The present invention relates to a nozzle arrangement (10) for a cleaning device (100) for cleaning a surface, the nozzle arrangement comprising: —a brush (12) rotatable about a brush axis (14), the brush being provided with flexible brush elements (16) having tip portions (18) for contacting the surface to be cleaned (20) and picking up dirt and/or liquid particles (22, 24) from the surface (20) during the rotation of the brush (12), wherein the brush (12) is at least partly surrounded by a nozzle housing (28) and protrudes at least partly from a bottom side (30) of the nozzle housing (28), —a squeegee element (32) which is spaced apart from the brush (12) and attached to the bottom side (30) of the nozzle housing (28) on a first side (31) of the brush (12) where the brush elements (16) enter the nozzle housing (28) during the rotation of the brush (12), wherein the squeegee element (32) is configured for wiping dirt and/or liquid particles (22, 24) across or off the surface to be cleaned (20) during a movement of the cleaning device (100) —a deflector (150) for contacting the brush (12) and deflecting the brush elements (16) during the rotation of the brush (12), and —a restriction element (27) for at least partly restricting air from getting sucked into the nozzle housing (28) at a second side (29) of the brush (12) where the brush elements (16) leave the nozzle housing (28), wherein the restriction element (27) is, seen in a rotation direction (26) of the brush (12), arranged behind the deflector (25), such that the brush elements (16), during the rotation of the brush (12), contact the deflector (25) before passing the restriction element (27) and then leaving the nozzle housing (28) at the bottom side (30), and the restriction element (27) comprises a mechanically flexible element that is, due to its flexibility, configured to follow an outer surface of the brush (12) and to contact the tip portions (18) during the rotation of the brush (12).

This application is the U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/076510, filed on Dec. 13, 2013, which claims the benefit of International Application No. 12198327.4 filed on Dec. 20, 2012. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a surface, and in particular to a nozzle arrangement for such a cleaning device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hard floor cleaning these days is done by first vacuuming the floor, followed by mopping it. Vacuuming removes the coarse dirt, while mopping removes the stains. From the state of the art many appliances, especially targeting the professional cleaning sector, are known that claim to vacuum and mop in one go. Appliances for the professional cleaning sector are usually specialized for big areas and perfectly flat floors. They rely on hard brushes and suction power to get water and dirt from the floor. Appliances for home use often use a combination of a hard brush and a double-squeegee nozzle. Like the appliances for the professional sector these products use the brush to remove stains and the squeegees in combination with an under-pressure to lift the dirt from the floor.

The squeegee elements are usually realized by a flexible rubber lip that is attached to the bottom of the cleaning device and merely glides over the surface to be cleaned, thereby pushing or wiping dirt particles and liquid across or off the surface to be cleaned. An under-pressure, usually generated by a vacuum aggregate, is used to ingest the collected dirt particles and liquid.

Many of the known prior art vacuum cleaners use an agitator (also denoted as adjutator) with stiff brush hairs to agitate the floor. These stiff hairs show a rather good scrubbing effect, which enable to use the brush particularly for removing stains. However, the performance on drying the floor is rather low, since such an agitator is not able to lift liquid from the floor. The object of vacuuming and mopping the floor with actively sprayed water all in one go is therefore not solved with these devices in a sufficiently satisfactory manner.

WO 2010/041184 A1, which has been filed in the name of the applicant, shows an alternative cleaning device which is able to pick up dirt and liquid from the floor in one go. The cleaning device disclosed therein makes use of two separate brushes that are aligned in parallel to each other. These brushes rotate at high speeds, one running clockwise and the other one counterclockwise. In this way, the adjacent peripheries travelling together with a sufficiently high velocity to project the dirt and/or liquid particles vertically upwards with a considerable force in the form of a substantially flat jet. In contrast to the prior art devices named before, the two brushes used therein are not realized as agitators, but are equipped with flexible soft bristles.

It has been identified that such two rotating brushes generate an unwanted turbulent air blow outside the nozzle housing, which occurs as a result of the fact that the soft brushes are deflected/indented by the surface to be cleaned. The brushes thereby act as a kind of gear pump which pumps air from the inside of the nozzle housing to the outside. This blowing effect can cause dirt and/or liquid particles to be blown away from the brushes, such that they are out of reach from the brushes and could then not be ingested by the vacuum cleaner.

WO 2010/041184 A1 has found a solution to account for this unwanted blowing effect. Therein, two deflectors are used, one for each brush. These deflectors deflect/indent the bristles of the brush at a position, seen in rotation direction, before the bristles of the brush contact the surface to be cleaned. These deflectors have the function to press the bristles of the brush together by deflecting them. In this way air, which is present in the space between the bristles, is pushed out of the space. When the bristles are, after leaving the deflectors, moved apart from each other again, the space in between the bristles increases so that air will be sucked into brush, wherein an under-pressure is created that sucks in the dirt and/or liquid particles. This under-pressure compensates for the air flow that is generated by the rotating brushes.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,209,384 A discloses a street sweeping machine comprising a single rotary brush and an up-curved sheet metal hood that is mounted over the upper forward portion of the brush in order to facilitate gathering of the dirt by the brush and to control the discharge therefrom.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,944 A discloses a powered sweeping machine, particularly suitable for efficiently removing light and heavy weight litter from surfaces such as parking lots, warehouse floors and the like. The machine includes a main frame carrying a hopper and a powered brush. The brush operates through an opening in the lower side of a brush housing. The hopper is separated into a debris receiving compartment and a filter compartment. An air fan and an associated duct recirculates air from the far end of the debris compartment to a zone adjacent the brush.

AU 29608 89 A discloses a further industrial sweeping apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle arrangement that shows a good cleaning performance, while it preferably is of small size, easy to use and less cost-intensive for the user. Preferably, the above-mentioned blowing effect is overcome in an even more efficient way. The invention is defined by the independent claims.

One aspect of the invention provides a nozzle arrangement comprising:

a brush rotatable about a brush axis, the brush being provided with flexible brush elements having tip portions for contacting the surface to be cleaned and picking up dirt and/or liquid particles from the surface during the rotation of the brush, wherein the brush is at least partly surrounded by a nozzle housing and protrudes at least partly from a bottom side of the nozzle housing,

a drive unit for rotating the brush,

a squeegee element which is spaced apart from the brush and attached to the bottom side of the nozzle housing on a first side of the brush where the brush elements enter the nozzle housing during the rotation of the brush, wherein the squeegee element is configured for wiping dirt and/or liquid particles across or off the surface to be cleaned during a movement of the cleaning device,

a deflector for contacting the brush and deflecting the brush elements during the rotation of the brush, and

a restriction element for at least partly restricting air from getting sucked into the nozzle housing at a second side of the brush where the brush elements leave the nozzle housing,

wherein the restriction element is, seen in a rotation direction of the brush, arranged behind the deflector, such that the brush elements, during the rotation of the brush, contact the deflector before passing the restriction element and then leaving the nozzle housing at the bottom side, and wherein the restriction element comprises a mechanically flexible element that is, due to its flexibility, configured to follow an outer surface of the brush and to contact the tip portions during the rotation of the brush.

The above-mentioned object is furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, achieved by a cleaning device comprising the above-mentioned nozzle arrangement and a vacuum aggregate for generating an under-pressure in a suction area between the nozzle housing and the brush.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. It shall be understood that the claimed nozzle arrangement has similar and/or identical preferred embodiments as the claimed cleaning device and as defined in the dependent claims.

Similar as proposed in WO 2010/041184 A1 the brush, which is used according to the present invention, is equipped with thin flexible bristles, which are herein generally denoted as flexible brush elements. Due to these flexible brush elements the brush is, in contrast to agitators with hard/stiff brush elements, able to not only pick up dirt particles, but also to pick up liquid.

In contrast to the solution provided in WO 2010/041184 A1 only one single brush (not two counter-rotating brushes) is provided according to the present invention. In addition thereto the cleaning device according to the present invention is furthermore equipped with a squeegee element, which may also be simply denoted as squeegee. The squeegee element is preferably realized as a flexible rubber lip that is configured to glide over the surface to be cleaned and thereby wipe dirt and/or liquid particles across or off the floor during a movement of the cleaning device. The combination of a single rotating brush with flexible bristles, a squeegee and a vacuum aggregate for generating an under-pressure within the nozzle housing allows to easily ingest dirt and/or liquid particles at the same time. With such a cleaning device a surface may thus be cleaned from coarse dirt and mopped with liquid at the same time.

The squeegee element is preferably arranged on a first side of the brush where the brush elements enter the nozzle housing during the rotation of the brush. The squeegee element is thus arranged on the side of the brush, where the dirt particles and liquid droplets are released from the brush. Due to the flexibility of the brush elements, the brush elements act as a kind of whip that smashes off the dirt and/or liquid particles as soon as they are during their rotation released from the surface to be cleaned. This relies on the fact that the flexible brush elements are bent or indented as soon as they come into contact with the surface to be cleaned and straighten out as soon as they lose contact from the floor. This principle will be explained in detail further below.

Due to the position of the squeegee element, the dirt and/or liquid particles that are released/smashed away from the brush will hit against the squeegee element, bounce forth and back between the squeegee and the brush, and will finally be ingested by the vacuum aggregate. Some of the dirt and/or liquid particles will however re-spray onto the floor. However, this effect of re-spraying is overcome according to the present invention, since the squeegee element acts as a kind of wiper that collects these re-sprayed particles, so that also these particles may be ingested by the vacuum aggregate.

One of the central features of the cleaning device according to the present invention is the usage of a deflector and a restriction element. Similar as proposed in WO 2010/041184 A1 the deflector contacts the brush and deflects the brush elements during the rotation of the brush. This deflector has, similar as proposed in WO 2010/041184 A1, the function to press the brush elements together by deflecting them. In this way air, which is present in the space between the brush elements, is pushed out of the space. When the brush elements are, after leaving the deflector, moved apart from each other again, the space in between the brush elements increases so that air will be sucked into the brush, where an under-pressure is created that sucks in dirt and/or liquid particles. The deflector therefore compensates for the above-mentioned blowing effect of the brush that is generated by the rotating brush at the position where it leaves the nozzle housing right before coming into contact with the floor.

In contrast to the solution proposed in WO 2010/041184 A1 a restriction element is provided in addition to the deflector. This restriction element is configured to at least partly restrict air from getting sucked into the nozzle housing at a second side of the brush where the brush elements leave the nozzle housing. This second side is the side of the brush that is opposite the brush's first side, where the squeegee element is arranged. On this second side of the brush it should be prevented that too much air is getting sucked into the nozzle housing, as this would result in less under-pressure, i.e. increase the absolute pressure within the so-called suction area in the nozzle housing. By at least partly restricting air from getting sucked into the nozzle housing at the above-mentioned second side of the brush, the restriction element therefore prevents a loss of under-pressure in the areas of the nozzle housing where the under-pressure is needed to ingest the dirt and/or liquid particles.

The restriction element therefore acts as a kind of sealing at the second side of the brush and thereby minimizes the requirements to the vacuum aggregate. A relatively small vacuum aggregate may therefore serve to apply a sufficiently high under-pressure within the nozzle housing. Such small vacuum aggregates are not only less space-consuming, but also cheaper, so that production costs may be saved. On the other hand, small vacuum aggregates are less noisy compared to large powerful vacuum aggregates.

Regarding this fact it would of course be optimal to almost completely seal the nozzle housing at the second side of the brush where the brush elements leave the nozzle housing. However, in this case the above-mentioned blowing effect caused by the indentation of the brush during floor contact would not be overcome, since then no air at all counteracting the blowing effect could enter the nozzle housing at this side (at the second side of the brush).

On the other hand, only providing a deflector as proposed in WO 2010/041184 A1 would in the case of a single brush-squeegee-combination (as proposed herein) not be capable of fulfilling the above-mentioned sealing properties that prevent an unwanted loss of under-pressure within the nozzle housing. Without an additional restriction element the deflector would on the one hand allow enough air to get sucked into the nozzle housing at the second side of the brush in order to cancel out the unwanted blowing behavior, which, however, on the other hand would significantly reduce the under-pressure within the nozzle housing. The restriction element alone would serve to overcome the latter-mentioned problem, but would not be able to counteract the unwanted blowing effect. It is thus exactly the combination of the deflector and the restriction element that makes the cleaning device according to the present invention so valuable.

In contrast to a situation where only a deflector would be provided, so that air could immediately enter the brush after being deflected/indented by the deflector, the restriction element forms a restriction wall that follows the stretching brush elements and at least partly seals the nozzle housing in this area. This causes a local under-pressure in the brush in the area where the brush passes the restriction element. Because of this under-pressure air enters the brush as soon as the restriction wall ends before the brush elements come into contact with the floor. This under-pressure causes an air flow that cancels out the above-mentioned blowing effect of the brush.

From the foregoing it should become apparent that for a correct function of the cleaning device it is important that the restriction element is, seen in a rotation direction of the brush, arranged behind the deflector. In this way the brush elements contact the deflector during the rotation of the brush before passing the restriction element and then leaving the nozzle housing at the bottom side.

The usage of a restriction element has a further positive effect. The restriction element also serves as a kind of flow equalizer that facilitates a constant flow-rate of air entering the nozzle housing.

The main part of the dirt and/or liquid particles are collected and ingested from the surface at a first side of the brush, i.e. between the brush and the squeegee element. This first side of the brush shall be herein also denoted as suction inlet. The flow equalizing property is especially important due to the behavior of the squeegee element. The behavior of the squeegee element is different depending on the direction of movement of the cleaning device. This shall be explained in the following.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the squeegee element comprises a switching unit for switching the squeegee element to a closed position, in which the squeegee element is adapted to push or wipe dirt and/or liquid particles across or off the surface to be cleaned, when the cleaning device is moved on the surface in a forward direction in which the squeegee element is, seen in the direction of movement of this cleaning device, located behind the brush, and for switching the squeegee element to an open position in which dirt and/or liquid particles from the floor can enter the suction area through an opening between the squeegee element and the surface to be cleaned, when the cleaning device is moved on the surface in a backward direction in which the squeegee element is, seen in the direction of movement of the cleaning device, located in front of the brush.

The ability to switch the squeegee element from an open to a closed position depending on the movement direction of the cleaning device enables a good cleaning result in a forward as well as in a backward stroke of the nozzle. The open configuration is in order to allow the dirt to enter when the squeegee approaches dirt and liquid on the floor before the brush. In the closed position the squeegee closes the gap to the floor, or in other words wipes or glides over the surface, when the brush approaches the dirt or liquid on the floor before the squeegee.

In order to guarantee the switching mode the squeegee element is preferably realized by a flexible rubber lip that, depending on the movement direction of the cleaning device is adapted to flex about the longitudinal direction of the rubber lip. This rubber lip preferably comprises at least one stud which is arranged near the lower end of the rubber lip, where the rubber lip is intended to touch the surface to be cleaned. The at least one stud is being adapted to at least partly lift the rubber lip from the surface, when the cleaning device is moved on the surface in a backward direction, in which the rubber lip, seen in the direction of movement of the cleaning device, located in front of the brush. Due to this lifting of the rubber lip in a backward stroke of the nozzle, coarse dirt may enter the nozzle also in a backward stroke through the opening created between the squeegee element and the surface to be cleaned. When moving the cleaning device on the surface in the opposite forward direction the stud is free from contact to the floor, leaving the rubber lip freely glide over the floor in order to pick-up dirt and water particles from the floor.

It becomes apparent that due to this flipping behavior of the squeegee the flow rate of air entering the suction inlet is different in a forward stroke than in a backward stroke of the nozzle. In the forward stroke the squeegee kind of closes the suction inlet, which in turn decreases the flow rate and increases the under-pressure within the nozzle housing (i.e. decreases the absolute pressure within the nozzle housing). In the backward stroke the squeegee on the other hand gets lifted to open the suction inlet from this side, such that the flow rate of air getting sucked into the nozzle housing in this area increases. In other words, this leads to a rather large air leakage enabling additional air to enter the suction inlet through the created openings between the squeegee and the floor. As a result, the under-pressure within the nozzle housing decreases (i.e. the absolute pressure within the nozzle housing increases).

Since the above-mentioned restriction element at least partly seals the nozzle housing at the second side of the brush, it facilitates a constant flow rate of air entering the suction inlet (between the brush and the squeegee) independent of the movement direction of the cleaning device. In case only a deflector would be used (without a restriction element), the sealing function at the second side of the brush would, especially in the forward stroke when the pressure difference over the deflector is relatively high, not be sufficient. The relatively short restriction path provided by such a deflector would not be sufficiently long to enable a sufficiently large restriction for air to enter. Therefore, small and low-power consuming vacuum aggregates could not be used to generate the required under-pressure within the nozzle housing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the restriction element comprises a mechanically flexible element. Alternatively, the restriction element may be realized as a mechanically flexible element. Due to its flexibility such a mechanically flexible element may almost perfectly follow an outer surface of the brush and thereby only contact the tip portions of the brush during the brush's rotation.

Due to the under-pressure that is generated within the nozzle housing, the mechanically flexible restriction element therefore gets almost automatically sucked against the brush. In contrast to the deflector, which actively deflects/indents the brush elements, the brush elements are not indented when being contacted by the flexible restriction element. As the restriction element is actively sucked against the outer surface of the brush, a very good sealing effect may be realized in between the restriction element and the brush.

The mechanical flexibility of the restriction element also has a further advantage. Since it only contacts the tip portions of the brush in a very soft manner, the friction caused between the brush and the restriction element is decreased as much as possible. Otherwise, if this low friction was not guaranteed, larger and more powerful motors (drive unit) would have to be used for rotating the brush with sufficiently high accelerations.

In order to being able to realize a restriction element that almost perfectly adapts its shape to the outer contours of the brush the restriction element is, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, made of a sheet of fabric material, rubber or plastic. Such a very thin sheet of fabric material, rubber or plastic is not only due to its mechanical flexibility but also due to its low weight almost perfectly adaptive to the shape of the brush as soon as an under-pressure is applied. It generates almost no friction. Exemplary fabric materials that may be used for this purpose are nylon, polyester, etc.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the deflector is also made of a mechanically flexible material. However, the deflector does not have to be as flexible as the restriction element, since it has to be suitable for deflecting/indenting the brush elements as mentioned before. A too stiff deflector could on the other hand damage the brush elements and thereby increase wear and tear of the brush. Therefore, the deflector may be also made of rubber, so that wear and tear of the brush elements is minimized as much as possible.

According to a further embodiment the restriction element comprises a plurality of slits that are arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the brush axis. These slits are small longitudinal openings within the restriction element. They facilitate dirt and liquid particles on the floor to encounter the brush through the restriction element. The restriction element in this case has several flexible strips or flaps that are separated from each other via the very thin slits. These flexible strips of the restriction element may also overlap each other. In any case it must be guaranteed that the slits are not too large, since this would again result in a lost of under-pressure within the nozzle housing.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the restriction element is connected to the deflector and the deflector is attached to the nozzle housing. The deflector could, for example, be fixedly arranged at an interior part of the nozzle housing and the restriction element could be directly attached to the deflector. However, it is to be noted that the deflector and the restriction elements may also be realized as separate parts that may be separately attached or fixed to the interior of the nozzle housing. In any case it is preferred that the restriction element is arranged very close to the deflector, such that the above-mentioned properties of the deflector-restriction element-combination may be achieved. According to another embodiment the deflector and the restriction element may be both separately connected to the nozzle housing and the flexible restriction element may lay over the deflector. The first part of the restriction element that lays over the deflector in this case has the deflector function, whereas the other part of the restriction element (not laying over the deflector) serves for the above-mentioned air restriction properties.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the restriction element and the deflector are arranged on the second side of the brush where the brush elements leave the nozzle housing during the rotation of the brush, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side with respect to the brush axis.

The first side is the side where the squeegee is arranged. This means that the squeegee is arranged on one side of the brush (the first side) and the deflector as well as the restriction element are arranged on the other side of the brush (second side). All three elements (the squeegee element, the deflector and the restriction element) are preferably arranged on the interior of the nozzle housing. The first side of the brush, i.e. the space between the brush and the squeegee, is the side where the suction inlet is located, i.e. from where the dirt and/or liquid particles picked up by the brush are being lifted and ingested.

In the following the specific properties of the brush, which enable the brush to pick up dirt and/or liquid particles at the same time (in contrast to an agitator), will be explained in detail.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the linear mass density of a plurality of the brush elements is, at least at the tip portions, lower than 150 g/10 km, preferably lower than 20 g/10 km.

In contrast to brushes often used according to the prior art, which are only used for stain removal (so-called adjutators), a soft brush with flexible brush elements as presented here also has the ability to pick-up water from the floor. Due to the flexible microfiber hairs that are preferably used as brush elements, dirt particles and liquid can be picked up from the floor when the brush elements/micro-fiber hairs contact the floor during the rotation of the brush. The ability to also pick-up water with a brush is mainly caused by capillary and/or other adhesive forces that occur due to the chosen linear mass density of the brush elements. The very thin micro-fiber hairs furthermore make the brush open for coarse dirt. The micro-fiber hairs also have the advantage that the hairs serve as a flow restriction when passing the restriction element. Stiff hairs of an adjutator could instead not do so.

It is to be noted that the linear mass density as mentioned, i.e. the linear mass density in gram per 10 km, is also denoted as Dtex value. A very low Dtex value of the above-mentioned kind ensures that, at least at the tip portions, the brush elements are flexible enough to undergo a bending effect and are able to pick-up dirt particles and liquid droplets from the surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, the extent of wear and tear of the brush elements appears to be acceptable within this linear mass density range.

The experiments carried out by the applicant have proven that a Dtex value in the above-mentioned range appears to be technically possible and that good cleaning results can be obtained therewith. However, it has shown that cleaning results can be further improved by applying brush elements with an even lower upper limit of the Dtex value, such as a Dtex value of 125, 50, 20 or even 5 (in g/10 km).

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drive unit is adapted to realize a centrifugal acceleration at the tip portions of the brush elements which is, in particular during a dirt release period when the brush elements are free from contact to the surface during rotation of the brush, at least 3,000 m/s2, more preferably at least 7,000 m/s2, and most preferably 12,000 m/s2.

It is to be noted that the minimum value of 3,000 m/s2in respect of the acceleration which is prevailing at the tip portions at least during a dirt release period when the brush elements are free from contact to the surface during the rotation of the brush, is also supported by results of experiments which have been performed in the context of the present invention. These experiments have shown that the cleaning performance of the device according to the present invention improves with an increase of the angular velocity of the brush, which implies an increase of the acceleration at the tip portions of the brush elements during rotation.

When the drive unit is adapted to realize centrifugal accelerations of the brush elements in the above-mentioned ranges, it is likely for the liquid droplets adhering to the brush elements to be expelled as a mist of droplets during a phase in which the brush elements are free from contact to the surface to be cleaned.

Combining the above-mentioned parameters for the linear mass density of the flexible brush elements with the parameters for the acceleration of the tips of the brush elements yields optimal cleaning performance of the rotatable brush, wherein practically all dirt particles and spilled liquid encountered by the brush are picked up by the brush elements and expelled at a position inside the nozzle housing.

A good combination of the linear mass density and the centrifugal acceleration at the tip portions of the brush elements is providing an upper limit for the Dtex value of 150 g/10 km and a lower limit for the centrifugal acceleration of 3,000 m/s2. This parameter combination has shown to enable for excellent cleaning results, wherein the surface is practically freed of particles and dried in one go. Using this parameter combination has also shown to result in very good stain removing properties. The ability to also pick-up liquid/water with a brush is mainly caused by capillary and/or other adhesive forces that occur due to the chosen linear mass density of the brush elements and the occurring high speeds with which the brush is driven.

The combination of the above-mentioned parameters concerning the linear mass density and the realized centrifugal acceleration at the tip portions of the brush elements is not found on the basis of knowledge of the prior art. The prior art is not even concerned with the possibility of having an autonomous, optimal functioning of only one rotatable brush which is used for cleaning a surface and is also able to lift dirt and liquid.

In order to realize the above-mentioned centrifugal accelerations at the tip portions of the brush elements, the drive unit is, according to an embodiment of the present invention, adapted to realize an angular velocity of the brush which is in a range of 3,000 to 15,000 revolutions per minute, more preferably in a range of 5,000 to 8,000 revolutions per minute, during operation of the device. Experiments of the applicant have shown that optimal cleaning results can be obtained, when the brush is driven at an angular velocity which is at least 6,000 revolutions per minute.

However, the desired accelerations at the tip portions of the brush elements do not only depend on the angular velocity, but also on the radius, respectively on the diameter of the brush.

It is therefore, according to a further embodiment of the invention, preferred that the brush has a diameter which is in a range of 10 to 100 mm, more preferably in a range of 20 to 80 mm, and most preferably in a range of 35 to 50 mm, when the brush elements are in a fully outstretched condition. The length of the brush elements is preferably in a range of 1 to 20 mm, more preferably in a range of 8 to 12 mm, when the brush elements are in a fully outstretched condition.

According to a further embodiment, the vacuum aggregate is configured to generate an under-pressure within the suction area in a range of 3 to 70 mbar, preferably in a range of 4 to 50 mbar, most preferably in a range of 5 to 30 mbar.

In contrast to the above-mentioned pressure ranges that are generated by the vacuum aggregate, state of the art vacuum cleaners need to apply higher under-pressures in order to receive acceptable cleaning results. However, due to the above-mentioned combination of the special brush with flexible brush elements, the squeegee element, the deflector and the restriction element, very good cleaning results may already be realized in the above-mentioned pressure ranges. Thus, also smaller vacuum aggregates may be used. This increases the freedom in the selection of the vacuum pump.

The presented cleaning device may further comprise a positioning unit for positioning the brush axis at a distance to the surface to be cleaned that is smaller than the radius of the brush with fully outstretched brush elements, to realize an indentation of the brush part contacting the surface to be cleaned during operation, which indentation is in a range from 2% to 12% of the brush diameter.

As a result, the brush elements are bent when the brush is in contact with the floor. Hence, as soon as the brush elements come into contact with the floor during rotation of the brush, the appearance of the brush elements changes from an outstretched appearance to a bent appearance, and as soon as the brush elements lose contact with the floor during rotation of the brush, the appearance of the brush elements changes from a bent appearance to an outstretched appearance. The same brush characteristics occur when the tip portions of the brush contact the first deflection surface of the first deflection element.

A practical range for an indentation of the brush is arranged from 2% to 12% of a diameter of the brush relating to a fully outstretched condition of the brush elements. In practical situations, the diameter of the brush as mentioned can be determined by performing an appropriate measurement, for example, by using a high-speed camera or a stroboscope which is operated at the frequency of a rotation of the brush.

A deformation of the brush elements, or, to say it more accurately, a speed at which deformation can take place, is also influenced by the linear mass density of the brush elements. Furthermore, the linear mass density of the brush elements influences the power which is needed for rotating the brush. When the linear mass density of the brush elements is relatively low, the flexibility is relatively high, and the power needed for causing the brush elements to bend when they come into contact with the surface to be cleaned or with the first deflection surface is relatively low. This also means that a friction power which is generated between the brush elements and the floor or the first deflection surface is low, whereby any damages are prevented. Other advantageous effects of a relatively low linear mass density of the brush elements are a relatively high resistance to wear, a relatively small chance of damage by sharp objects or the like, and the capability to follow the surface to be cleaned in such a way that contact is maintained even when a substantial unevenness in the floor is encountered.

A factor which may play an additional role in the cleaning function of the rotatable brush is a packing density of the brush elements. When the packing density is large enough, capillary effects may occur between the brush elements, which enhance fast removal of liquid from the surface to be cleaned. According to an embodiment of the present invention the packing density of the brush elements is at least 30 tufts of brush elements per cm2, wherein a number of brush elements per tuft is at least 500.

Arranging the brush elements in tufts forms additional capillary channels, thereby increasing the capillary forces of the brush for picking-up dirt particles and liquid droplets from the surface to be cleaned.

As it has been mentioned above, the presented cleaning device has the ability to realize extremely good cleaning results. These cleaning results can be even improved by actively wetting the surface to be cleaned. This is especially advantageous in case of stain removal. The liquid used in the process of enhancing adherence of dirt particles to the brush elements may be provided in various ways. In a first place, the rotatable brush and the flexible brush elements may be wetted by a liquid which is present on the surface to be cleaned. An example of such a liquid is water, or a mixture of water and soap. Alternatively, a liquid may be provided to the flexible brush elements by actively supplying the cleansing liquid to the brush, for example, by oozing the liquid onto the brush, or by injecting the liquid into a hollow core element of the brush.

According to an embodiment, it is therefore preferred that the cleaning device comprises a unit for supplying a liquid to the brush at a rate which is lower than 6 ml per minute per cm of a width of the brush in which the brush axis is extending. It appears that it is not necessary for the supply of liquid to take place at a higher rate, and that the above-mentioned rate suffices for the liquid to fulfill a function as a carrying/transporting tool for dirt particles. Thus, the ability of removing stains from the surface to be cleaned can be significantly improved. An advantage of only using a little liquid is that it is possible to treat delicate surfaces, even surfaces which are indicated as being sensitive to a liquid such as water. Furthermore, at a given size of a reservoir containing the liquid to be supplied to the brush, an autonomy time is longer, i.e. it takes more time before the reservoir is empty and needs to be filled again.

It has to be noted that, instead of using an intentionally chosen and actively supplied liquid, it is also possible to use a spilled liquid, i.e. a liquid which is to be removed from the surface to be cleaned. Examples are spilled coffee, milk, tea, or the like. This is possible in view of the fact that the brush elements, as mentioned before, are capable of removing the liquid from the surface to be cleaned, and that the liquid can be removed from the brush elements under the influence of centrifugal forces as described in the foregoing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a schematic cross-section of a first embodiment of a nozzle arrangement10of a cleaning device100according to the present invention. The nozzle arrangement10comprises a brush12that is rotatable about a brush axis14. The brush12is provided with flexible brush elements16which are preferably realized by thin microfiber hairs. The flexible brush elements16comprise tip portions18which are adapted to contact a surface to be cleaned20during the rotation of the brush and to pick-up dirt particles22and/or liquid particles24from the surface20(floor20) during a pick-up period when the brush elements16contact the surface20.

Further, the nozzle arrangement10comprises a drive unit, e.g. a motor (not shown), for driving the brush12in a predetermined direction of rotation26. The drive unit is preferably adapted to realize a centrifugal acceleration at the tip portions18of the brush elements16which is, in particular during a dirt release period when the brush elements16are free from contact to the surface20during the rotation of the brush12, at least 3,000 m/s2.

The brush12is at least partly surrounded by a nozzle housing28. The arrangement of the brush12within the nozzle housing28is preferably chosen such that the brush12at least partially protrudes from a bottom side30of the nozzle housing28. During use of the device100, the bottom side30of the nozzle housing28faces towards the surface to be cleaned20.

Also attached to the bottom side30of the nozzle housing28is a squeegee element32. This squeegee element32is arranged such that it contacts the surface to be cleaned20during the use of the device100. The squeegee is used as a kind of wiper for pushing or wiping dirt particles22and/or liquid particles across or off the surface20when the cleaning device100is moved. The squeegee32extends substantially parallel to the brush axis14. The nozzle housing28, the squeegee32and the brush12together define a suction area34, which is located within the nozzle housing28. It is to be noted that the suction area34, in the meaning of the present invention, not only denotes the area between the brush12, the squeegee32and the nozzle housing28, but also denotes the space between the brush element16for the time during the rotation of the brush12, in which the brush elements16are inside the nozzle housing28. The suction area34denotes as well an area that is defined between the squeegee32and the brush12. The latter area will be in the following also denoted as suction inlet36, which opens into the suction area34.

A vacuum aggregate38, which is in these figures only shown in a schematic way, generates an under-pressure in the suction area34for ingesting dirt particles22and liquid particles24that have been encountered and collected by the brush12and the squeegee32. According to the present invention the under-pressure preferably ranges between 3 and 70 mbar, more preferably between 4 and 50 mbar, most preferably between 5 and 30 mbar. This under-pressure is, compared to regular vacuum cleaners which apply an under-pressure of around 70 mbar, quite low. However, due to the properties of the brush12, which will be explained further below, very good cleaning results may already be realized in the above-mentioned pressure ranges. Thus, also smaller vacuum aggregates38may be used. This increases the freedom in the selection of the vacuum pump.

During the rotation of the brush12dirt and/or liquid particles22,24will be encountered on the surface20and either launched towards the inside of the nozzle housing28or against the squeegee32. If the particles22,24are launched against the squeegee32they will get reflected therefrom. These reflected particles22,24will again reach the brush12and get launched again. In this way the particles22,24bounce forth and back between the brush12and the squeegee32in an more or less zigzag-wise manner after they are finally ingested by the vacuum aggregate38. Some of the dirt and/or liquid particles22,24will however get launched from the surface20in such a flat manner that they will be resprayed back onto the surface20in the area between the brush12and the squeegee32. Since the squeegee32acts as a kind of wiper, these particles22,24will not get launched out of the nozzle housing28again. Due to the under-pressure that is applied by the vacuum aggregate38these re-sprayed particles22,24will then also be ingested by the vacuum aggregate38.

FIG. 1furthermore illustrates one of the central features of the cleaning device100according to the present invention. A deflector25is arranged on a second side29of the brush12in the area where the brush elements16leave the nozzle housing28during the brush's rotation. This deflector25contacts the brush12and deflects the brush elements16during the rotation of the brush12. The deflector25is sometimes also denoted as spoiler. The deflector25projects from an interior of the nozzle housing28towards the brush12. The deflector25is preferably connected to the nozzle housing28. This connection may either be a releasable or a fixed connection.

The deflector25has the function to prevent an unwanted blowing effect of the brush12at the second side29, where the brush elements16leave the nozzle28during the rotation of the brush12. Without the deflector25the brush12would act as a kind of gear pump which pumps air from the inside of the nozzle housing28to the outside. This blowing effect would cause dirt and/or liquid particles22,24to be blown away, so that they could not be encountered anymore by the brush12(seeFIG. 2). The deflector25has the function to press the brush elements16together and to bend them as soon as they hit against the deflector25. In this way air, which is present in the space between the brush elements16, is pushed out of the space. This principle is schematically illustrated inFIG. 6. Therein, the arrow33indicates the air that is pushed out of the brush12due to the deflector25. The position where the air is blown out of the brush12is therefore changed from outside the nozzle housing28to the inside of the nozzle housing28. In the area where the brush elements16leave the nozzle housing28no such unwanted blowing effect occurs anymore.

If only a deflector25was provided, the brush elements16would move apart from each other directly after leaving the deflector25. The space in between the brush elements16would then increase immediately so that air would be sucked into the brush12right after the point where the brush elements16leave the deflector25. This air flow is schematically indicated by arrow33′ inFIG. 6. It should be noted that the air flow33′ does not only result from the effect mentioned before, but is also a result of the pressure difference of the pressure within the nozzle housing28compared to the pressure in the exterior.

It has however been found that a too strong air flow33′ on the second side29of the brush12could counteract some other advantageous properties of the cleaning device100. If this air stream33′ becomes too large, too much air would get sucked into the nozzle housing28on the second side29. This could lower the under-pressure within the suction area34, i.e. the absolute pressure within the suction area34would be increased. In order to still being able to generate a sufficiently high under-pressure within the suction area34a very powerful vacuum aggregate38would then have to be used. The inventors have however found a way to also overcome this problem.

As shown inFIG. 1, the nozzle arrangement10further comprises a restriction element27. This restriction element at least partly restricts air from getting sucked into the nozzle housing28at the second side29of the brush12. The restriction element27forms a kind of sealing right after the deflector25.

In contrast to the situation schematically illustrated inFIG. 6air will thus not get sucked into the brush12immediately after the brush elements16pass the deflector25. In contrast to the situation schematically illustrated inFIG. 6the restriction element27forms a kind of restriction wall that follows the stretching brush elements16after they have been deflected by the deflector25. The restriction element27thus creates a longer path for air to enter the nozzle. This results in an increased resistance/restriction, so that less air will enter the front side of the nozzle. Therefore, a local under-pressure is generated between the brush elements16in an area, which is inFIG. 1denoted with reference numeral35. Because of this under-pressure air enters the brush12as soon as the restriction wall27ends. The resulting flow cancels the blowing behavior of the brush12.

From the foregoing it becomes apparent that it is the combination of the deflector25and the restriction element27that allows on one hand to cancel out the unwanted blowing behavior of the brush12and on the other hand serves for a sufficient sealing on the side of the brush12, where the brush elements16leave the nozzle housing28during the brush's rotation.

The deflector25as well as the restriction element27are preferably made of a mechanically flexible material. Since the deflector25has to deflect/bend the brush elements16, the deflector25is preferably stiffer than the restriction element27. The deflector25may, for example, be made of rubber. However, also other materials are generally conceivable. A relatively soft material has the advantage that it does not damage the brush elements16when deflecting them.

The restriction element27is preferably made of a thin sheet of fabric material, rubber or plastic. Such a flexible restriction element is, due to its flexibility, suitable to follow the outer surface of the brush12and to only contact the tip portions18of the brush elements16. Due to the generated under-pressure the restriction element27may in this way be sucked towards the brush12, such that it forms a flexible restriction wall that almost perfectly follows the brush elements16after they have been deflected by the deflector25. Due to its flexibility the restriction element27thus adapts its own shape to the outer contours of the brush12. The very light weight materials (fabrics, rubber or plastic) that are used for the restriction element27have also shown to only generate a minimum of friction between the brush12and the restriction element27. This is especially advantageous, since a too high friction therein between would counteract the drive unit that accelerates the brush12. This would mean that larger motors would have to be used that consume a lot more energy, which is of course not desired.

It shall be also noted that the restriction element27is in all figures shown to exactly follow the outer contour of the brush12. This is however only the fact if the brush12is rotating and an under-pressure is applied within the suction area34. If the device is turned off and no under-pressure is applied the flexible restriction element27simply hangs loose.

The restriction element27furthermore serves as a flow equalizer. It facilitates a constant flow rate of air entering the side29of the nozzle housing28where the brush elements16leave the nozzle housing28. This constant flow rate is especially important, since the squeegee element32flips depending on the movement direction40of the nozzle10between an open and a closed position. This will be explained in the following.

In order to guarantee a cleaning result in the backward stroke of the nozzle10(shown inFIG. 1) as well as in a forward stroke of the nozzle10(shown inFIG. 2) the squeegee element32comprises one or more studs50for switching the squeegee32from an open to a closed position and vice versa, depending on the direction of movement40of the nozzle10with respect to the surface20. If the nozzle10is moved in a forward stroke (shown inFIG. 2) where the squeegee is, seen in the direction of movement40, located behind the brush12, the squeegee32is arranged in a close position. In this closed position the squeegee32is adapted to push or wipe dirt and/or liquid particles22,24across or off the surface20by more or less gliding over the surface20. In such a forward stroke the squeegee32then acts as a kind of wiper that collects the remaining water from the surface20, which has not been lifted or has been sprayed back from the brush12to the surface20. The remaining water24which is collected by the squeegee can then be ingested by means of the applied under-pressure.

On the other hand, the squeegee32is arranged in its open position when the nozzle10is moved in a backward stroke (shown inFIG. 1), in which the squeegee is, seen in the direction of movement40located in front of the brush, so that it would encounter the dirt and/or liquid particles22,24on the surface before they would be encountered by the brush12. In this backward stroke the studs50flip the squeegee32to its open position. In this open position dirt and/or liquid particles22,24can then enter into the suction inlet36through openings that are created between the squeegee32and the surface to be cleaned20.

If the squeegee32would not be switched to that open position only very small dirt particles22would be able to reach the suction inlet36, while most of the dirt and/or liquid particles22,24would be entangled by the squeegee32and pushed across the surface20without being able to enter the suction inlet36. This would of course result in a poor cleaning and drying effect.

In order to guarantee this direction—dependent switching of the squeegee32, the squeegee32preferably comprises a flexible rubber lip46that, depending on the movement direction40, is adapted to flex about a longitudinal direction of the rubber lip46. An enlarged schematic view of the squeegee32is shown inFIGS. 7 and 8in a front end view and in a side view, respectively.FIG. 7shows the squeegee in its closed position, whereasFIG. 8shows a situation of the squeegee32in its open position.

The studs50that are arranged near the lower end of the rubber lip46, where the squeegee32is intended to touch the surface20, are adapted to at least partly lift the rubber lip46from the surface20, when the cleaning device is moved on the surface20in the backward direction40(as shown inFIGS. 1 and 8). In this case the rubber lip46is lifted, which is mainly due to the natural friction which occurs between the surface20and the studs50. The studs50then act as a kind of stopper that decelerate the rubber lip46and forces it to flip over the studs50. The squeegee32is thereby forced to glide on the studs50, wherein the rubber lip46is lifted by the studs50and openings44occur in the space between the rubber lip46and the surface20(seeFIGS. 8a, b).

It is evident that these openings44do not only enable dirt and/or liquid particles22,24to enter the suction inlet36. Also a lot more air will be sucked through the openings44into the suction area34compared to a forward stroke of the nozzle10, where the squeegee32is in its closed position. This means that there is a difference in the flow behavior depending if the nozzle10is moved in a forward stroke (as shown inFIG. 2) or in a backward stroke (as shown inFIG. 1). The under-pressure within the suction area34will thus always be higher in the forward stroke (shown inFIG. 2) as in the backward stroke (shown inFIG. 1).

On the other hand, this means that the pressure difference over the deflector25and the restriction element27is relatively small within the backward stroke, whereas this pressure difference is relatively high in the forward stroke. Without the restriction element27the sealing function at the second side29of the nozzle housing28would then especially in the forward stroke not be sufficient. Even though the deflector25would—without the restriction element27—still cancel out the above-mentioned unwanted blowing behavior of the brush12, a lot of air would get sucked into the suction area34at the second side29of the brush12, because of the high pressure difference at that side of the nozzle. In this case a sufficient under-pressure in the space between the squeegee32and the brush12(in the suction inlet36) could only be generated with a very large and power consuming vacuum aggregate, when the nozzle10is moved in a forward direction. The herein proposed restriction element27however compensates for this, provides a sufficiently good sealing and therefore minimizes the requirements to the vacuum aggregate38.

FIGS. 3 and 4show a second embodiment of the nozzle arrangement10. These figures illustrate that the positions of the deflector25and the restriction element27can also be interchanged with a position of the squeegee32with respect to the brush12. However, by comparingFIGS. 3 and 4withFIGS. 1 and 2it can be seen that the deflector25and the restriction element27are still arranged on the second side29of the brush12, where the brush element16leave the nozzle housing28. Similarly is the squeegee32still arranged on the first side31of the brush12, where the brush elements16enter the nozzle housing28during the brush's rotation.

As it can be seen fromFIG. 3, the squeegee32has to be in this case in an open position when the nozzle10is moved in a forward stroke, in which the nozzle10is moved in a direction40in which the squeegee32is, seen in the direction of movement40, located in front of the brush12. Otherwise, the dirt and/or liquid particles22,24would again not be able to enter the suction inlet36.

On the other hand, the squeegee32needs to be in its closed position when the nozzle is according to this embodiment moved in a backward stroke as shown inFIG. 4, where the brush12is, seen in the movement direction40, located in front of the squeegee32and encounters the dirt and/or liquid particles22,24first. The squeegee32in this case again acts as a wiper that glides over the surface20and collects the remaining dirt and/or liquid particles22,24from the surface20.

In both variants the deflector25and the restriction element27remain at the second side29where the brush elements16leave the nozzle housing28.

FIG. 5shows a third embodiment. The difference of this third embodiment is that the deflector25′ and the restriction element27′ are therein realized as separate parts. In contrast to the embodiments shown inFIGS. 1 to 4the restriction element27′ is therein not directly attached to the deflector25′. According to this embodiment the restriction element27′ is directly attached to the nozzle housing28, separate from the deflector25′. In order to guarantee the same properties as mentioned before, the restriction element27′ is, however, still arranged very close to the deflector25′. In all embodiments the restriction element27,27′ is, seen in rotation direction26of the brush12, arranged behind the deflector25,25′, such that the brush element16always contact the deflector25,25′ before passing the restriction element27,27′ and then leaving the nozzle housing28at its bottom side.

In the following further properties of the brush12and the rotational speed with which the brush12is driven shall be presented. The brush12preferably has a diameter which is in a range of 20 to 80 mm, and the driving unit may be capable of rotating the brush12at an angular velocity which is at least 3,000 revolutions per minute, preferably at an angular velocity around 6,000 rpm and above. A width of the brush12, i.e. a dimension of the brush12in a direction in which the rotation axis14of the brush12is extending, may be in an order of 25 cm, for example.

On an exterior surface of a core element52of the brush12, tufts54are provided. Each tuft54comprises hundreds of fiber elements, which are referred to as brush elements16. For example, the brush elements16are made of polyester or nylon with a diameter in an order of about 10 micrometers, and with a Dtex value which is lower than 150 g per 10 km. A packing density of the brush elements16may be at least 30 tufts54per cm2on the exterior surface of the core element52of the brush12.

The brush elements16may be arranged rather chaotically, i.e. not at fixed mutual distances. Furthermore, it shall be noted that an exterior surface56of the brush elements16may be uneven, which enhances the capability of the brush elements16to catch liquid droplets24and dirt particles22. In particular, the brush elements16may be so-called microfibers, which do not have a smooth and more or less circular circumference, but which have a rugged and more or less star-shaped circumference with notches and grooves. The brush elements16do not need to be identical, but preferably the linear mass density of a majority of a total number of the brush elements16of the brush12meets the requirement of being lower than 150 g per 10 km, at least at tip portions18.

By means of the rotating brush12, in particular by means of the brush elements16of the rotating brush12, dirt particles22and liquid24are picked up from the surface20, and are transported to a collecting position inside the cleaning device100. Due to the rotation of the brush12, a moment occurs at which a first contact with the surface20is realized at a first position. The extent of contact is increased until the brush elements16are bent in such a way that the tip portions18of the brush elements16are in contact with the surface20. The tip portions18as mentioned slide across the surface20and encounter dirt particles22and liquid24in the process, wherein an encounter may lead to a situation in which a quantity of liquid24and/or a dirt particles22are moved away from the surface20to be cleaned and are taken along by the brush elements16on the basis of adhesion forces.

In the process, the brush elements16may act more or less like a whip for catching and dragging particles22,24, which is force-closed and capable of holding on to a particle22,24on the basis of a functioning which is comparable to the functioning of a band brake. Furthermore, the liquid24which is picked up may pull a bit of liquid with it, wherein a line of liquid is left in the air, which is moving away from the surface20. The occurring accelerations at the tip portions18of the brush elements16cause the dirt particles22and liquid droplets24to be automatically released from the brush12, when the brush elements loose contact from the floor20during their rotation. Since not all dirt particles22and liquid droplets24may be directly ingested by the vacuum aggregate38, a small amount of dirt and liquid will be flung back onto the surface20in the area where the brush elements16loose the contact from the surface20. However, this effect of re-spraying the surface20is overcome by the squeegee element32which collects this re-sprayed liquid and dirt by acting as kind of wiper, so that the remaining liquid24and dirt22may then be ingested due to the applied under-pressure. The liquid24and dirt22does therefore not leave the suction area34again without being ingested.

Due to the chosen technical parameters the brush elements16have a gentle scrubbing effect on the surface20, which contributes to counteracting adhesion of liquid24and dirt particles22to the surface20.

As the brush12rotates, the movement of the brush elements16over the surface20continues until a moment occurs at which contact is eventually lost. When there is no longer a situation of contact, the brush elements16are urged to assume an original, outstretched condition under the influence of centrifugal forces which are acting on the brush elements16as a result of the rotation of the brush12. As the brush elements16are bent at the time that there is an urge to assume the outstretched condition again, an additional, outstretching acceleration is present at the tip portions18of the brush elements16, wherein the brush elements16swish from the bent condition to the outstretched condition, wherein the movement of the brush elements16is comparable to a whip which is swished. The acceleration at the tip portions18at the time the brush elements16have almost assumed the outstretched condition again meets a requirement of being at least 3,000 m/sec2.

Under the influence of the forces acting at the tip portions18of the brush elements16during the movement as described, the quantities of dirt particles22and liquid24are expelled from the brush elements16, as these forces are considerably higher than the adhesion forces. Hence, the liquid24and the dirt particles22are forced to fly away in a direction which faces away from the surface20. The most part of the liquid24and the dirt particles22is then ingested by the vacuum aggregate. By means of the squeegee element32and the under-pressure generated in the suction area34, as explained above, it is ensured that also the remaining part of the liquid24and the dirt22, that is sprayed back from the brush12to the surface20, is collected and then also ingested.

Under the influence of the acceleration, the liquid24may be expelled in small droplets. This is advantageous for further separation processes such as performed by the vacuum fan aggregate38, in particular the centrifugal fan of the vacuum aggregate38, which serves as a rotatable air-dirt separator. It is noted that suction forces such as the forces exerted by the centrifugal fan do not play a role in the above-described process of picking up liquid and dirt by means of brush elements16. However, these suction forces are necessary for picking up the dirt and liquid that has been collected by the squeegee.

Besides the functioning of each of the brush elements16, as described in the foregoing, another effect which contributes to the process of picking up dirt particles22and liquid24may occur, namely a capillary effect between the brush elements16. In this respect, the brush12with the brush elements16is comparable to a brush12which is dipped in a quantity of paint, wherein paint is absorbed by the brush12on the basis of capillary forces.

It appears from the foregoing that the brush12according to the present invention has the following properties:the soft tufts54with the flexible brush elements16will be stretched out by centrifugal forces during the contact-free part of a revolution of the brush12;it is possible to have a perfect fit between the brush12and the surface20to be cleaned, since the soft tufts54will bend whenever they touch the surface20, and straighten out whenever possible under the influence of centrifugal forces;the brush12constantly cleans itself, due to sufficiently high acceleration forces, which ensures a constant cleaning result;heat generation between the surface20and the brush12is minimal, because of a very low bending stiffness of the tufts54;a very even pick-up of liquid from the surface20and a very even overall cleaning result can be realized, even if creases or dents are present in the surface20, on the basis of the fact that the liquid24is picked up by the tufts54and not by an airflow as in many conventional devices; anddirt22is removed from the surface20in a gentle yet effective way, by means of the tufts54, wherein a most efficient use of energy can be realized on the basis of the low stiffness of the brush elements16.

On the basis of the relatively low value of the linear mass density, it may be so that the brush elements16have very low bending stiffness, and, when packed in tufts54, are not capable of remaining in their original shape. In conventional brushes, the brush elements spring back once released. However, the brush elements16having the very low bending stiffness as mentioned will not do that, since the elastic forces are so small that they cannot exceed internal friction forces which are present between the individual brush elements16. Hence, the tufts54will remain crushed after deformation, and will only stretch out when the brush12is rotating.

In comparison with conventional devices comprising hard brushes (agitators) for contacting a surface to be cleaned, the brush12which is used according to the present invention is capable of realizing cleaning results which are significantly better, due to the working principle according to which brush elements16are used for picking up liquid24and dirt22and taking the liquid24and the dirt22away from the surface20to be cleaned, wherein the liquid24and the dirt22are flung away by the brush elements16before they contact the surface20again in a next round. The micro-fiber hairs that are used as brush elements16also have the advantage that the hairs serve as a flow restriction when passing the restriction element27. The brush12therefore shows a very good sealing effect. Stiff hairs of an adjutator could instead not do so.

FIG. 9provides a view of the cleaning device100according to the present invention in its entirety. According to this schematic arrangement the cleaning device100comprises a nozzle housing28in which the brush12is rotatably mounted on the brush axis14. A drive unit, which can be realized being a regular motor, such as e.g. an electro motor (not shown), is preferably connected to or even located on the brush axis14for the purpose of driving the brush12in rotation. It is noted that the motor may also be located at any other suitable position within the cleaning device100.

In the nozzle housing28, means such as wheels (not shown) are arranged for keeping the rotation axis14of the brush12at a predetermined distance from the surface20to be cleaned.

As already explained above, the squeegee element32is spaced apart from the brush12and attached to the bottom side30of the nozzle housing28. It extends substantially parallel to the brush axis14, thereby defining a suction area34within the nozzle housing28in between the squeegee element32and the brush12, which suction area34has a suction inlet36which is located at the bottom side30of the nozzle housing28facing the surface20to be cleaned.

Besides the nozzle housing28, the brush12and the squeegee element32, the cleaning device100is preferably provided with the following components:a handle64which allows for easy manipulation of the cleaning device100by a user;a reservoir66for containing a cleansing liquid68such as water;a debris collecting container70for receiving liquid24and dirt particles22picked up from the surface20to be cleaned;a flow channel in the form of, for example, a hollow tube72, connecting the debris collecting container70to the suction area34, which suction area34constitutes the suction inlet36on the bottom side30of the nozzle10. It has to be noted that, in the meaning of the present invention the flow channel including the hollow tube72may also be denoted as suction area34in which the above mentioned under-pressure is applied by the vacuum aggregate38; andthe vacuum fan aggregate38comprising a centrifugal fan38′, arranged at a side of the debris collecting chamber70which is opposite to the side where the tube72is arranged.

For sake of completeness, it is noted that within the scope of the present invention, other and/or additional constructional details are possible. For example, an element may be provided for deflecting the debris22,24that is flung upwards, so that the debris22,24first undergoes a deflection before it eventually reaches the debris collecting chamber70. Also, the vacuum fan aggregate38may be arranged at another side of the debris collecting chamber70than the side which is opposite to the side where the tube72is arranged.

According to an embodiment, which is shown inFIG. 10, the brush12comprises a core element52. This core element52is in the form of a hollow tube provided with a number of channels74extending through a wall76of the core element52. For the purpose of transporting cleansing fluid68from the reservoir66to the inside of the hollow core element52of the brush12, e.g. a flexible tube78may be provided that leads into the inside of the core element52.

According to this embodiment cleansing fluid68may be supplied to the hollow core element52, wherein, during the rotation of the brush12, the liquid68leaves the hollow core element52via the channels74, and wets the brush elements16. In this way the liquid68also drizzles or falls on the surface20to be cleaned. Thus, the surface20to be cleaned becomes wet with the cleansing liquid68. This especially enhances the adherence of the dirt particles22to the brush elements16and, therefore improves the ability to remove stains from the surface20to be cleaned.

According to the present invention, the rate at which the liquid68is supplied to the hollow core element52can be quite low, wherein a maximum rate can be 6 ml per minute per cm of the width of the brush12, for example.

However, it is to be noted that the feature of actively supplying water68to the surface20to be cleaned using hollow channels74within the brush12is not a necessary feature. Alternatively, a cleansing liquid could be supplied by spraying the brush12from outside or by simply immersing the brush12in cleansing water before the use. Instead of using an intentionally chosen liquid, it is also possible to use a liquid that has been already spilled, i.e. a liquid that needs to be removed from the surface20to be cleaned.

The pick-up of the cleansing water68from the floor is, as already mentioned above, either done by the squeegee element32which collects the water by acting as a kind of wiper transporting liquid to the suction area34where it is ingested due to the under-pressure generated by the vacuum aggregate38, or the water is directly picked-up from the floor by the brush12. In comparison with conventional devices comprising hard brushes that are not able to pick-up water, the brush12used according to the present invention is capable of picking-up water. The realized cleaning results are thus significantly better.

The technical parameters regarding the brush12, the brush elements16and the drive unit result from experiments which have been performed in the context of the present invention.

In the following, one of the experiments and the results of the experiment will be described. The tested brushes were equipped with different types of fiber materials used for the brush elements16, including relatively thick fibers and relatively thin fibers. Furthermore, the packing density as well as the Dtex values have been varied. The particulars of the various brushes are given in the following table.

The experiment includes rotating the brush under similar conditions and assessing cleaning results, wear, and power to the surface20subjected to treatment with the brush12. This provides an indication of heat generation on the surface20. The outcome of the experiment is reflected in the following table, wherein a mark5is used for indicating the best results, and lower marks are used for indicating poorer results.

Among other things, the experiment proves that it is possible to have brush elements16with a linear mass density in a range of 100 to 150 g per 10 km, and to obtain useful cleaning results, although it appears that the water pick-up, the wear behavior and the power consumption are not so good. It is concluded that an appropriate limit value for the linear mass density is 150 g per 10 km. However, it is clear that with a much lower linear mass density, the cleaning results and all other results are very good. Therefore, it is preferred to apply lower limit values, such as 125 g per 10 km, 50 g per 10 km, 20 g per 10 km, or even 5 g per 10 km. With values in the latter order, it is ensured that cleaning results are excellent, water pick-up is optimal, wear is minimal, and power consumption and heat generation on the surface20are sufficiently low.

It is noted that the minimum value of 3,000 m/sec2in respect of the acceleration which is prevailing at tips18of the brush elements16during some time per revolution of the brush12, in particular some time during a dirt release period, in which there is no contact between the brush elements16and the surface20, is supported by results of experiments which have been performed in the context of the present invention.

In the following, one of the experiments and the results of the experiment will be described. The following conditions are applicable to the experiment:

1) A brush12having a diameter of 46 mm, a width of approximately 12 cm, and polyester brush elements16with a linear mass density of about 0.8 g per 10 km, arranged in tufts54of about 800 brush elements16, with approximately 50 tufts54per cm2, is mounted on a motor shaft.

2) The weight of the assembly of the brush12and the motor is determined

3) The power supply of the motor is connected to a timer for stopping the motor after a period of operation of 1 second or a period of operation of 4 seconds.

4) The brush12is immersed in water, so that the brush12is completely saturated with the water. It is noted that the brush12which is used appears to be capable of absorbing a total weight of water of approximately 70 g.

5) The brush12is rotated at an angular velocity of 1,950 revolutions per minute, and is stopped after 1 second or 4 seconds.

6) The weight of the assembly of the brush12and the motor is determined, and the difference with respect to the dry weight, which is determined under step2), is calculated.

7) Steps 4) to 6) are repeated for other values of the angular velocity, in particular the values as indicated in the following table, which further contains values of the weight of the water still present in the brush12at the stops after 1 second and 4 seconds, and values of the associated centrifugal acceleration, which can be calculated according to the following equation:
a=(2*π*f)2*R
in which:
a=centrifugal acceleration (m/s2)
f=brush frequency (Hz)
R=radius of the brush12(m)

The relation which is found between the angular velocity and the weight of the water for the two different stops is depicted in the graph ofFIG. 11, and the relation which is found between the centrifugal acceleration and the weight of the water for the two different stops is depicted in the graph ofFIG. 12, wherein the weight of the water is indicated at the vertical axis of each of the graphs. It appears from the graph ofFIG. 9that the release of water by the brush12strongly decreases, when the angular velocity is lower than about 4,000 rpm. Also, it seems to be rather stable at angular velocities which are higher than 6,000 rpm to 7,000 rpm.

A transition in the release of water by the brush12can be found at an angular velocity of 3,500 rpm, which corresponds to a centrifugal acceleration of 3,090 m/s2. For sake of illustration of this fact, the graphs ofFIGS. 11 and 12contain a vertical line indicating the values of 3,500 rpm and 3,090 m/s2, respectively.

On the basis of the results of the experiment as explained in the foregoing, it may be concluded that a value of 3,000 m/s2in respect of an acceleration at tips18of the brush elements16during a contact-free period is a realistic minimum value as far as the self-cleaning capacity of brush elements16which meet the requirement of having a linear mass density which is lower than 150 g per 10 km, at least at tip portions18, is concerned. A proper performance of the self-cleaning function is important for obtaining good cleaning results, as has already been explained in the foregoing.

For sake of completeness, it is noted that in the cleaning device100according to the present invention, the centrifugal acceleration may be lower than 3,000 m/s2. The reason is that the acceleration which occurs at tips18of the brush elements16when the brush elements16are straightened out can be expected to be higher than the normal centrifugal acceleration. The experiment shows that a minimum value of 3,000 m/s2is valid in respect of an acceleration, which is the normal, centrifugal acceleration in the case of the experiment, and which can be the higher acceleration which is caused by the specific behavior of the brush elements16when the dirt pick-up period has passed and there is room for straightening out in an actual cleaning device100according to the present invention, which leaves a possibility for the normal, centrifugal acceleration during the other periods of the rotation (e.g. the dirt pick-up period) to be lower.

Even though a single brush is, according to the present invention, preferred, it is clear that also further brushes may be used without leaving the scope of the present invention.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the present invention as defined in the attached claims. While the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary only, and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

For sake of clarity, it is noted that a fully outstretched condition of the brush elements16is a condition in which the brush elements16are fully extending in a radial direction with respect to a rotation axis14of the brush12, wherein there is no bent tip portion in the brush elements16. This condition can be realized when the brush12is rotating at a normal operative speed, which is a speed at which the acceleration of 3,000 m/sec2at the tips18of the brush elements16can be realized. It is possible for only a portion of the brush elements16of a brush12to be in the fully outstretched condition, while another portion is not, due to obstructions which are encountered by the brush elements16. Normally, the diameter D of the brush12is determined with all of the brush elements16in the fully outstretched condition.

The tip portions18of the brush elements16are outer portions of the brush elements16as seen in the radial direction, i.e. portions which are the most remote from the rotation axis14. In particular, the tip portions18are the portions which are used for picking up dirt particles22and liquid, and which are made to slide along the surface20to be cleaned. In case the brush12is indented with respect to the surface20, a length of the tip portion is approximately the same as the indentation.