Patents Assigned to Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co.
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20140224282
    Abstract: A method for washing a vehicle is provided, wherein the body of the vehicle is sprayed with pressurized washing liquid via an outlet nozzle of a washing tool and the rims of the vehicle are sprayed with a rim cleaning agent. The washing tool is selectively supplied with at least one of pressurized washing liquid by a high-pressure pump and alkaline rim cleaning agent by a cleaning agent supplying device. A vehicle washing apparatus for performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Schick
  • PISTON PUMP FOR A HIGH-PRESSURE CLEANING APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20140219832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piston pump for a high-pressure cleaning appliance, including a plurality of pistons that are movable back and forth and each of which enters a pump chamber and is displaceably held at a piston guiding part. The piston guiding part has a supporting wall on which a plurality of guiding elements, each of which guides a piston, are disposed. In order to be able to produce the piston pump in a more cost-effective manner, it is proposed according to the invention that the supporting wall is curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Thomas Hofer
  • High-pressure cleaning appliance
    Patent number: 8790092
    Abstract: A high-pressure cleaning appliance with a high-pressure pump is provided. The pump has at least one pump chamber connected to a suction line and a pressure line. The pressure line is in flow connection with the suction line via a return flow line. A relief valve with a through-channel extending from a valve inlet to a first valve outlet is arranged in the return flow line. A valve element which in a closed position bears against a valve seat is held for movement in the through-channel. At least one outlet channel, which opens into a second valve outlet, branches off from the through-channel. The valve element is surrounded by a sealing ring which seals off an inlet area of the through-channel adjacent to the valve inlet from an outlet area of the through-channel adjacent to the first valve outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mueller, Sven Dirnberger, Bernd Koerner
  • Wheel washing apparatus
    Patent number: 8789230
    Abstract: A wheel washing apparatus is provided, including at least two washing brushes, each of which is capable of being driven in rotation about a brush axis, wherein the brush axes of the at least two washing brushes are different from one another. In order to provide a wheel washing apparatus which allows a better cleaning result to be achieved, it is proposed that the at least two washing brushes be capable of being driven in rotation about a common central axis which is different from the brush axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Langer, André Speckmaier, Michael Heinze
  • Floor cleaning apparatus
    Patent number: 8776305
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus is provided, including a dirt collection device for picking up dirty liquid from a floor surface to be cleaned as well as a dirty liquid tank, into which the dirty liquid can be transferred. In order to provide a floor cleaning apparatus of this type, which can be handled in a more user-friendly manner, it is proposed that the floor cleaning apparatus has a tank rinsing mechanism with at least one rinsing line, which includes at least one inlet opening for rinsing liquid, which can be provided for the tank rinsing mechanism, as well as at least one outlet opening for delivering rinsing liquid into an interior of the dirty liquid tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gilles Troff, Brunhold Roppelt, Rainer Schaefer
  • MOTOR-PUMP UNIT
    Publication number: 20140154112
    Abstract: A motor-pump unit includes an electric motor and a pump. The electric motor has a motor housing, on the outside of which a cooling channel is arranged. The pump has a suction inlet and a pressure outlet. Liquid to be pressurized can be fed by way of the cooling channel to the suction inlet. In order that the motor-pump unit can be produced and assembled more cost-effectively, the motor housing includes a first housing part and a second housing part, which are connectable to each other in a liquid-tight manner and between them form the cooling channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Robert Nathan, Bernhard Gruber
  • Motor pump unit
    Patent number: 8734129
    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. The cooling housing, on its inside, has at least one flow guide rib for guiding the liquid within the annular space. In order to ensure that no liquid can leak out of the annular space even in the long term, the at least one flow guide rib is spaced-apart from the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Schiffhauer, Dieter Plachke, Lanfranco Pol
  • High-pressure cleaning device
    Patent number: 8727748
    Abstract: A high-pressure cleaning device has a housing which surrounds a motor pump unit which comprises a liquid-cooled electric motor and a pump. The pump has a suction inlet and a pressure outlet. Liquid, which is subsequently subjected to pressure by the pump, can be supplied to the electric motor for the purpose of cooling it. The electric motor is configured as a fan-less asynchronous motor and the motor pump unit is mounted via vibration-damping buffer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bertram Groeger, Walter Schiffhauer, Lanfranco Pol
  • Device for supporting a side washing brush, and vehicle washing system having such a device
    Patent number: 8726442
    Abstract: A device for supporting a side washing brush of a vehicle washing system is provided, which brush is rotatable about a rotational axis, the device including a bearing apparatus for rotatably supporting a drive shaft, and a holding apparatus which is fixedly connected to the bearing apparatus and which is held on a frame by means of elastic cushioning elements arranged above and below the holding apparatus. To improve the device in such a way that the risk of damage to the cushioning elements is reduced, it is proposed that the holding apparatus can be acted on by the cushioning elements only by compressive forces aligned in the direction of the holding apparatus. A vehicle washing system is also proposed which has at least one device of this type, on which a side washing brush is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claus Heid, Andre Speckmaier, Yann Veitz, Ingo Feistkorn, Bernd Knisel
  • VEHICLE WASHING INSTALLATION
    Publication number: 20140130835
    Abstract: A vehicle washing installation having two stands on which a nozzle beam with a plurality of high-pressure nozzles is held so as be adjustable in height is provided. The nozzle beam is surrounded by a protective body extending along the nozzle beam and having at least one outlet opening for cleaning liquid, the protective body being adjustable in height together with the nozzle beam and being movable relative to the nozzle beam upon striking an obstacle, the movement of the protective body relative to the nozzle beam being detectable by a sensor assembly in order to provide a control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Heinze, Ingo Feistkorn, Yann Veitz, Claus Heid, André Speckmaier
  • SWEEPING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20140123433
    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: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred-Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Nonnenmann, Erik Hoernlen, Florian Abt
  • High-pressure cleaning appliance
    Patent number: 8714168
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure cleaning appliance, comprising a heatable heat exchanger for heating a liquid that can be discharged 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 can be driven by means of the drive shaft and form an assembly together with the motor. In order to improve such a high-pressure cleaning appliance in such a manner that it has a more compact construction and a smaller space requirement, the assembly of the high-pressure cleaning appliance according to the invention, with regard to a height direction thereof, is disposed below the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • SELF-DRIVEN FLOOR CLEANING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140115797
    Abstract: A self-driven floor cleaning device is provided, including a chassis with a center plane oriented parallel to a forward direction of travel and on which a front end of the floor cleaning device is arranged, wherein the front end is the furthest forward projecting end; and an optical sensor mechanism arranged on the chassis, which includes a first transceiver unit arranged to the left of the center plane and having a first detection field crossing the center plane in front of the front end and directed to the front right; a second transceiver unit arranged to the right of the center plane and having a second detection field crossing the center plane in front of the front end and directed to the front left; and a crossing region spaced between 0.8 and 6 cm from the front end, at which the first and/or second detection field cross the center plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Duenne
  • SWEEPING VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20140101874
    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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bastian Du Maire, Dietmar Kull, Uwe Weller, Martin Sickinger
  • Surface cleaning head and surface cleaning arrangement
    Patent number: 8695153
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head for cleaning a surface is provided that includes a housing that has a cleaning chamber surrounded by a peripheral wall and open at the bottom, and in which a cleaning nozzle is mounted on a spray arm and is freely rotatable about a rotational axis, and a jet pump for suctioning off cleaning fluid applied to a surface, the jet pump having a pump inlet channel connected to a combining channel via a mixing chamber, and a motive nozzle upstream from the combining channel. To improve the surface cleaning head, the pump inlet channel is oriented radially with respect to the spray arm and connected to the peripheral wall of the cleaning chamber, the diameter of the combining channel is 14 to 18 mm, and the distance between the motive nozzle and the combining channel is at least 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH Co. KG
    Inventors: Felix Treitz, Stefan Schilpp
  • SELF-PROPELLED SURFACE CLEANING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SELF-PROPELLED SURFACE CLEANING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20140090664
    Abstract: Provided is a self-propelled surface cleaning machine including a front wheel device, a steering device associated therewith, a steering angle sensor device capable of detecting a steering angle at the front wheel device, a rear wheel device having a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel, an electromotive drive device associated with each of the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel, a cleaning liquid application device by which cleaning liquid is applicable to a floor/ground in an application area arranged between the front wheel device and the rear wheel device, and a control device operatively connected for signal communication with the steering angle sensor device and the electromotive drive devices, wherein each electromotive drive device is controllable individually depending on signals from the steering angle sensor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Walz, Christian Hofner
  • Pump for a high-pressure cleaning appliance
    Patent number: 8684699
    Abstract: A pump for a high-pressure cleaning appliance for delivering cleaning liquid is provided. The pump has a pump housing with at least one pump chamber into which at least one piston plunges. The pump chamber is connected via at least one inlet valve to a suction line and via at least one outlet valve to a pressure line. A bypass line leads from the pressure line to the suction line. An overflow valve is arranged in the bypass line. The valve body of the overflow valve is connected to a control element which, in dependence upon the flow rate of the cleaning liquid, displaces the valve body to a closed or an open position. A rear housing component and a front housing component of the pump housing are joined together. The bypass line opens into a suction line section of the suction line, which extends between the housing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Robert Nathan, Juergen Erdmann
  • HEAT EXCHANGER AND METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE
    Publication number: 20140054015
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for heating a liquid is provided, in particular, for high-pressure cleaners, including an inner and an outer heating coil which each have a plurality of turns, and including spacers which are arranged between the inner heating coil and the outer heating coil and are distributed over the circumference of the inner heating coil. To develop the heat exchanger in such a way that it can be manufactured more cost-effectively and is highly efficient, at least one turn of the outer heating coil includes between two spacers immediately adjacent to each other a first turn section in which the radial spacing from the inner heating coil is smaller or larger than in the region of the spacers. Two methods for manufacturing such a heat exchanger are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Boehm, Stefan Ehrhardt, Siegmar Munz
  • Window cleaning appliance
    Patent number: D703405
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Meyer
  • Part of window cleaning appliance
    Patent number: D703406
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Meyer