Suction device and suction hose for such a suction device

Abstract

The invention refers to a suction device ( 2 ), in particular a vacuum cleaner or a dust extraction system, comprising a collection container ( 4 ) with a suction opening ( 10 ), a vacuum generating device ( 8 ), a suction hose ( 12 ) with its first end ( 14 ) connected to the suction opening ( 10 ) and its second end ( 16 ) connectable to an air outlet ( 18 ) of a hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ), a radio receiver ( 28 ) for receiving radio signals ( 30 ), and a communication device ( 32 ) located at or near the second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ) and comprising a sensor element ( 34 ) for detecting an operation status of the power tool ( 20 ), and a radio transmitter ( 38 ) for transmitting a radio signal ( 30 ) indicative of the operation status of the power tool ( 20 ). It is suggested that the communication device ( 32 ) and the radio receiver ( 28 ) are designed to realise only unidirectional communication from the radio transmitter ( 38 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) to the radio receiver ( 28 ) of the suction device ( 2 ).

1 . Suction device ( 2 ), including a vacuum cleaner or dust extraction system, comprising
 a collection container ( 4 ) adapted to receive dust, dirt and small particles ( 6 ),   a vacuum generating device ( 8 ) for generating a low pressure (p v ) in the collection container ( 4 ), which is lower than an ambient pressure (p 0 ),   a suction opening ( 10 ) in the collection container ( 4 ),   a suction hose ( 12 ) having a first end ( 14 ) connected to the suction opening ( 10 ) and an opposite second end ( 16 ) connectable to an air outlet ( 18 ) of a hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ),   a filter element ( 22 ) which is arranged between the collection container ( 4 ) and the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) in an air flow ( 24 ) generated by the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) and adapted to filter the dust, dirt and small particles ( 6 ) out of the air flow ( 24 ),   a control device ( 26 ) adapted to control the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) in order to change an operating status of the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) depending on an associated operating status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) when the air outlet ( 18 ) is connected to the opposite second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ),   a radio receiver ( 28 ) for receiving a radio signal ( 30 ), the radio receiver ( 28 ) being in operative connection with the control device ( 26 ), and   a communication device ( 32 ) located at or near the opposite second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ) and comprising:
 a sensor element ( 34 ) for detecting a current operation status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) and for outputting a sensor signal ( 36 ) depending on the current operation status detected of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ), 
 a radio transmitter ( 38 ) for transmitting the radio signal ( 30 ), and 
 a processing device ( 40 ) which is in operative connection with the sensor element ( 34 ) and the radio transmitter ( 38 ) and adapted to cause the radio transmitter ( 38 ) to emit the radio signal ( 30 ) depending on the sensor signal ( 36 ) received from the sensor element ( 34 ), 
 wherein 
 the communication device ( 32 ) and the radio receiver ( 28 ) are designed to realise only unidirectional communication from the radio transmitter ( 38 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) to the radio receiver ( 28 ) of the suction device ( 2 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processing device ( 40 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) is adapted to cause the radio transmitter ( 38 ) to emit the radio signal ( 30 ) when the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) changes from a turned-off operating status to a turned-on operating status, and   the control device ( 26 ) is adapted to switch on the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) of the suction device ( 2 ) when the radio receiver ( 28 ) receives the radio signal ( 30 ).   
     
     
         3 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processing device ( 40 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) is adapted to cause the radio transmitter ( 38 ) to emit the radio signal ( 30 ) when the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) changes from a turned-on operating status to a turned-off operating status operating status, and   the control device ( 26 ) is adapted to switch off the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) of the suction device ( 2 ) when the radio receiver ( 28 ) receives the radio signal ( 30 ).   
     
     
         4 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 22 , wherein the processing device ( 40 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) is adapted to take into account as a further parameter, when causing the radio transmitter ( 38 ) to transmit the radio signal ( 30 ), a time delay between the reception of the sensor signal ( 36 ) from the sensor element ( 34 ) and the transmission of the radio signal ( 30 ) by the radio transmitter ( 38 ). 
     
     
         5 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 21 , wherein the control device ( 26 ) is adapted to take into account as a further parameter, when switching on or switching off the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) of the suction device ( 2 ), a time delay between the reception of the radio signal ( 30 ) by the radio receiver ( 28 ) and the switching on and/or switching off of the vacuum generating device ( 8 ). 
     
     
         6 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a unique transmitter identifier of the radio transmitter ( 38 ) is preset in the radio receiver ( 28 ), and a unique receiver identifier of the radio receiver ( 28 ) is preset in the radio transmitter ( 38 ). 
     
     
         7 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a radio link between the radio transmitter ( 38 ) and the radio receiver ( 28 ), by means of which the radio signal ( 30 ) is transmitted, is configured at a factory as part of a manufacturing process of the suction device ( 2 ) prior to shipment and use of the suction device ( 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a radio link between the radio transmitter ( 38 ) and the radio receiver ( 28 ), by means of which the radio signal ( 30 ) is transmitted, is manually configured by a user of the suction device ( 2 ) after shipment and prior to use of the suction device ( 2 ), including by means of either a user interface of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) or the suction device ( 2 ), or a mobile end user device ( 52 ) connected to the suction device ( 2 ) by means of another radio link ( 54 ). 
     
     
         9 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the radio link between the radio transmitter ( 38 ) and the radio receiver ( 28 ) is manually configured by the user of the suction device ( 2 ) by means of hardware and/or software. 
     
     
         10 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication device ( 32 ) comprises an independent, local power supply unit ( 42 ). 
     
     
         11 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the suction device ( 2 ) has a visual and/or acoustic signalling device ( 44 ) which communicates a status of the independent, local power supply unit ( 42 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) visually and/or acoustically to a user of the suction device ( 2 ). 
     
     
         12 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication device ( 32 ) is detachably attached as a self-contained unit to the opposite second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ). 
     
     
         13 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication device ( 32 ) is integrated in the opposite second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ), including by means of a moulding process during manufacturing of the opposite second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ) and/or the suction hose ( 12 ). 
     
     
         14 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor element ( 34 ) is designed as an acceleration sensor for detecting vibrations of the suction hose ( 12 ) during operation of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ), or as a flow sensor for detecting an air flow ( 46 ) in the opposite second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ) during operation of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ). 
     
     
         15 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the suction device ( 2 ) has a main switch ( 48 ) for manually switching the suction device ( 2 ) between an operational status (I) and an inactive status (0), and   the control device ( 26 ) is designed to turn on the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) depending on an operating status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) when the air outlet ( 18 ) is connected to the second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ), only when the suction device ( 2 ) is in the operational status (I).   
     
     
         16 . Suction hose ( 12 ) with a first end ( 14 ) adapted to be connected to a suction opening ( 10 ) of a suction device ( 2 ) and with an opposite second end ( 16 ) adapted to be connected to an air outlet ( 18 ) of a hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ), the opposite second end ( 16 ) having a communication device ( 32 ) integrated therein, including by means of a moulding process during manufacturing of the opposite second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ) and/or the suction hose ( 12 ), the communication device ( 32 ) comprising:
 a sensor element ( 34 ) for detecting a current operation status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) and for outputting a sensor signal ( 36 ) depending on the current operation status detected of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ),   a radio transmitter ( 38 ) for transmitting a radio signal ( 30 ), and   a processing device ( 40 ) which is in operative connection with the sensor element ( 34 ) and the radio transmitter ( 38 ) and adapted to cause the radio transmitter ( 38 ) to emit the radio signal ( 30 ) depending on a sensor signal ( 36 ) received from the sensor element ( 34 ),   wherein the sensor element ( 34 ) is an acceleration sensor for detecting vibrations of the suction hose ( 12 ) during operation of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ).   
     
     
         17 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the processing device ( 40 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) is adapted to cause the radio transmitter ( 38 ) to emit the radio signal ( 30 ) when the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) changes from a turned-on operating status to a turned-off operating status operating status, and   the control device ( 26 ) is adapted to switch off the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) of the suction device ( 2 ) when the radio receiver ( 28 ) receives the radio signal ( 30 ).   
     
     
         18 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 24 , wherein the processing device ( 40 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) is adapted to take into account as a further parameter, when causing the radio transmitter ( 38 ) to transmit the radio signal ( 30 ), a time delay between the reception of the sensor signal ( 36 ) from the sensor element ( 34 ) and the transmission of the radio signal ( 30 ) by the radio transmitter ( 38 ). 
     
     
         19 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 23 , wherein the control device ( 26 ) is adapted to take into account as a further parameter, when switching on or switching off the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) of the suction device ( 2 ), a time delay between the reception of the radio signal ( 30 ) by the radio receiver ( 28 ) and the switching on and/or switching off of the vacuum generating device ( 8 ). 
     
     
         20 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein a unique transmitter identifier of the radio transmitter ( 38 ) is preset in the radio receiver ( 28 ), and a unique receiver identifier of the radio receiver ( 28 ) is preset in the radio transmitter ( 38 ). 
     
     
         21 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control device ( 26 ) is adapted to control the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) in order to change an operating status of the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) depending on an associated operating status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) when the air outlet ( 18 ) is connected to the opposite second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ), including taking into account further parameters.   
     
     
         22 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processing device ( 40 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) is adapted to cause the radio transmitter ( 38 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) to emit the radio signal ( 30 ) depending on the sensor signal ( 36 ) received from the sensor element ( 34 ) of the communication device ( 32 ), including taking into account further parameters.   
     
     
         23 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the control device ( 26 ) is adapted to control the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) in order to change an operating status of the vacuum generating device ( 8 ) depending on an associated operating status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool ( 20 ) when the air outlet ( 18 ) is connected to the opposite second end ( 16 ) of the suction hose ( 12 ), including taking into account further parameters.   
     
     
         24 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the processing device ( 40 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) is adapted to cause the radio transmitter ( 38 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) to emit the radio signal ( 30 ) depending on the sensor signal ( 36 ) received from the sensor element ( 34 ) of the communication device ( 32 ), including taking into account further parameters.   
     
     
         25 . Suction device ( 2 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the processing device ( 40 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) is adapted to cause the radio transmitter ( 38 ) of the communication device ( 32 ) to emit the radio signal ( 30 ) depending on the sensor signal ( 36 ) received from the sensor element ( 34 ) of the communication device ( 32 ), including taking into account further parameters.