Patents Assigned to Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
  • Patent number: 9380919
    Abstract: A method is provided for cleaning at least one filter of a vacuum cleaner, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a suction inlet and a dirt collection container, which can be subjected to negative pressure by a suction unit via the at least one filter and a suction extraction line, and wherein for cleaning purposes the at least one filter can be acted upon by external air on the clean side via at least one external air valve, which moves from a closed valve position via an open valve position back into the closed valve position for cleaning the at least one filter. So that the at least one filter can be cleaned particularly effectively, the suction power of the suction unit can be increased before transfer of the external air valve to the open valve position and reduced again later. A vacuum cleaner for performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Maic Hensel, Julien Scholl, Frank Fuchs, Ulrich Engenhardt, Britt Wirbel, Steffen Kunz
  • Patent number: 9367044
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning appliance, wherein in order to access same, an access authorization stored on an authorization carrier is required, the appliance including two or more authorization carriers with access authorizations stored thereon which are linked to different authorization profiles, and a detection unit for detecting the access authorization of an authorization carrier, wherein a range of functions dependent on the authorization profile linked to the access authorization can be provided to an operator by the cleaning appliance. In order to provide such a cleaning appliance which is more user-friendly in operation, it is proposed that each authorization carrier comprises an identification device for providing an identifier which is associated with the particular authorization profile of the authorization carrier and which is perceivable by the operator using a sensory organ, wherein identifiers associated with different authorization profiles are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gilles Troff, Frank Stadelmann, Bernd Noller, Rainer Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9351620
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a dirt collection container and a suction head which can be placed on the dirt collection container, wherein the suction head has at least one suction unit which is in flow communication with the dirt collection container via a suction duct and a filter device and with at least one exhaust air opening via at least one exhaust air duct. To provide high suction capacity, a compact construction, and relatively little generation of noise during operation, the suction head has two suction units arranged next to one another, positioned in a vertical direction at the same level as the filter device and surrounded by a common exhaust air chamber, wherein the exhaust air chamber is in flow communication with exhaust air openings via a first and a second exhaust air duct and the filter device is arranged between the two exhaust air ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Frank, Kai Thorsten Langen, Maic Hensel
  • Patent number: 9283596
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure cleaning appliance, comprising a heatable heat exchanger for heating a liquid that is dischargeable by the high-pressure cleaning appliance, a motor having a drive shaft that defines a drive axis, a pump unit for increasing the liquid pressure, a blower wheel for generating a combustion air flow, and a fuel pump for delivering a fuel to the heat exchanger, wherein the pump unit, the blower wheel, and the fuel pump are disposed along the drive axis and are drivable by means of the drive shaft and form an assembly together with the motor. In order to fit the assembly to the appliance in a simplified manner while achieving a more compact design for appliance, the appliance comprises a half-shell housing having a first half-shell and a second half-shell which between them define an accommodating chamber in which the assembly is at least partially accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Schwab, Peter Pfaff
  • Patent number: 9265393
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided, including a dirt collection container, a suction unit for acting on the dirt collection container with negative pressure via a suction chamber, at least one filter element arranged between the dirt collection container and the suction chamber in the flow direction of the air sucked in by the suction unit, a filter cover covering the filter element on the clean space side, at least one rechargeable battery for providing electrical energy for the suction unit, and at least one battery receptacle. The vacuum cleaner can further include a battery lid, which includes the at least one battery receptacle, and which is arranged above the filter cover, the battery lid being transferable from a closed position in which it covers the filter cover to an open position in which a user has access on the clean space side to the filter cover, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Frank, Maic Hensel
  • Patent number: 9249547
    Abstract: A sweeping vehicle is provided including a disc brush and a holding device for the disc brush, the holding device having a holding part and a holding arm pivotably connected to the holding part, the holding device held on the vehicle by the holding part, and the disc brush held on the holding arm. The vehicle includes an adjusting device having an adjustment member of variable length engaging the holding arm, the holding arm being pivotable relative to the holding part upon change in length of the adjustment member. The holding device includes a brush carrier pivotably mounted on the holding arm and a coupling device coupling the brush carrier to the adjusting device, the brush carrier being pivotable relative to the holding arm upon change in length of the adjustment member for pivoting the disc brush about a pivot axis aligned at a slant to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bastian Du Maire, Dietmar Kull, Uwe Weller, Martin Sickinger
  • Patent number: 9220387
    Abstract: A sweeping machine includes a sweeping brush capable of being driven in rotation, a debris container, a suction fan and at least one filter arranged in the flow path between the sweeping brush and the suction fan, in flow communication with the suction fan via a suction conduit, in flow communication with a pressure vessel via an external air conduit and at least one external air valve and, for filter cleaning, is capable of having external air stored in the pressure vessel applied thereto. In order for the filter to be capable of being cleaned effectively with as little external air as possible and with the external air being at as low a positive pressure as possible, the external air conduit includes a hood which covers the filter on a clean side thereof and forms a first section of the suction conduit which adjoins the clean side of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Nonnenmann, Erik Hoernlen, Florian Abt
  • Patent number: 9220388
    Abstract: A method is proposed for operating a cleaning appliance which comprises a control device as well as at least one cleaning element for cleaning a surface which has a memory element. The control device comprises a control memory member and the control device is connected to a reader for reading the memory element. In order to reduce the risk of the user unintentionally using an unsuitable cleaning element, it is suggested that characterizing data distinguishing the type of cleaning element be stored in the memory element, these data being read and evaluated in the period of time from the starting up of the cleaning appliance up to the beginning of the cleaning action of the cleaning element. In addition, a cleaning appliance for implementing the method is suggested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Walz, Michael Schuetz, Frank Nonnenmann, Gilles Troff, Samuel Baeuerle, Dieter Schaible
  • Patent number: 9045872
    Abstract: An exchangeable sweeping brush device for a carrier vehicle is provided. The device has at least one sweeping brush which is rotationally drivable about an almost vertically oriented axis of rotation of the brush and is held on a supporting frame, the supporting frame being detachably connectable to a supporting fork of the carrier vehicle, which is pivotable about a first horizontal pivot axis oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The supporting frame comprises a first supporting assembly on which the at least one sweeping brush is rotatably mounted, and a second supporting assembly which is detachably connectable to the supporting fork, the first supporting assembly being connected to the second supporting assembly for pivotal movement about a second horizontal pivot axis and being detachably connectable to the carrier vehicle by at least one tension member. A sweeper having such a sweeping brush device is also proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Wahl, Bernd Haberl, Uwe Weller
  • Patent number: 9046087
    Abstract: A motor pump unit for a high-pressure cleaning apparatus has an electric motor and a pump. The electric motor has a motor housing that is surrounded by a cooling housing with an annular space having an annular space inlet and an annular space outlet formed therebetween. The pump has a suction inlet connected to the annular space outlet and a pressure outlet. The liquid to be transported by the pump can be supplied to the annular space inlet. In order to improve the motor pump unit such that the motor housing can have a small wall thickness and can still be cooled effectively over a large surface area, the motor housing is configured as a one-piece deep-drawn part which in a front shell area contacts stator laminations of the electric motor and in a rear shell area is arranged at a distance from rear coil heads of the stator and in the rear shell area has stiffness-enhancing depressions, wherein the front and the rear shell areas are surrounded by the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Schiffhauer, Lanfranco Pol
  • Patent number: 9033258
    Abstract: In order to improve a high-pressure cleaning apparatus comprising a pump unit adapted to be driven by motor, a first connection element for detachable connection to a liquid supply conduit, said first connection element being connected to the suction side of the pump unit, and a second connection element for detachable connection to a high-pressure conduit, said second connection element being connected to the pressure side of the pump unit, such that it can be handled in a more user-friendly manner, the invention proposes that the first connection element and/or the second connection element be oriented in a direction facing upward away from a supporting surface for the high-pressure cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Schwab, Peter Pfaff
  • Patent number: D730598
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Meyer, Christian Rummel
  • Patent number: D731723
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Denis Dammkoehler, Zheyi Jin
  • Patent number: D731894
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Meyer
  • Patent number: D734573
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Denis Dammkoehler
  • Patent number: D737005
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Denis Dammkoehler
  • Patent number: D737528
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Denis Dammkoehler
  • Patent number: D746523
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Zheyi Jin
  • Patent number: D749284
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reinhard Renner, Michael Meyer
  • Patent number: D753265
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jochen Burchard, Denis Dammkoehler