Suction apparatus and separating unit for a suction apparatus having a flap

Abstract

A separating unit for a suction apparatus includes a collection container within a housing wall. A filter unit within the container retains dirt particles from suction air flowing on the filter surface. The container has an inlet opening at the wall closed by a flap having a total surface covering the opening and being fastened to the wall at a main edge. The flap has a main desired bending point on the main edge, enabling bending of the total surface about a main bending axis. The flap has a linear desired bending point enabling bending of a partial area of the total surface facing away from the main edge about an additional bending axis. The flap allows bending of the partial area away from the wall by force acting on the flap from outside, exposing a partial area of the opening corresponding to the partial area of the total surface.

1 . A separating unit for a suction apparatus, the separating unit comprising:
 a housing wall enclosing a collection container;   said collection container having an inlet opening disposed at said housing wall, said inlet opening having a partial area;   a flap configured to close said inlet opening;   said flap having a total surface for covering said inlet opening, said total surface having a main edge and a partial area facing away from said main edge, said partial area of said total surface corresponding to said partial area of said inlet opening;   said flap being fastened to said housing wall at said main edge, said flap having a main desired bending point on said main edge, said main desired bending point enabling said total surface to be bent about a main bending axis;   said flap having an additional linear desired bending point enabling said partial area of said total surface to be bent about an additional bending axis; and   said flap being configured to allow said partial area of said total surface of said flap to be bent away from said housing wall by a force acting on said flap from outside, thereby exposing said partial area of said inlet opening.   
     
     
         2 . The separating unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said flap is configured to cause bending of said partial area of said total surface about the additional bending axis to have a greater bending angle than bending of said total surface about the main bending axis when a volume flow of a suction air flow acting on said flap from outside is equal to or less than a predefined volume flow threshold value. 
     
     
         3 . The separating unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the additional bending axis runs parallel to the main bending axis. 
     
     
         4 . The separating unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the additional bending axis runs obliquely relative to the main bending axis. 
     
     
         5 . The separating unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the additional bending axis runs obliquely at an angle of between 10° and 45° relative to the main bending axis. 
     
     
         6 . The separating unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said flap is configured to cause said partial area of said total surface of said flap to be bent away from said housing wall and into said collection container by at least one of a suction air flow acting on said flap from outside or a dirt particle carried along by the suction air flow. 
     
     
         7 . The separating unit according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said flap is made of a plastic or a flexible plastic; and   said additional linear desired bending point is configured as a film hinge.   
     
     
         8 . The separating unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said additional linear desired bending point is one of a plurality of additional linear desired bending points, enabling said partial area of said total surface, facing away from said main edge to be bent about said additional bending axis. 
     
     
         9 . The separating unit according to  claim 1 , which further comprises:
 a filter unit disposed in said collection container;   the separating unit configured to at least one of:
 cause said filter unit to retain dirt particles from a suction air flow on a surface of said filter unit; or 
 cause the suction air flow entering said collection container through said inlet opening to flow in a cyclonic manner around said filter unit. 
   
     
     
         10 . The separating unit according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the separating unit has a longitudinal axis;   said housing wall of said collection container is configured in a shape of a circular cylinder around the longitudinal axis;   the separating unit is configured to guide a suction air flow entering said collection container through said inlet opening in a flow direction running substantially in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis; and   the additional bending axis is oriented relative to the longitudinal axis in such a manner that said partial area of said total surface of said flap, being bent about the additional bending axis, causes an impulse on the suction air flow in a direction of the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         11 . The separating unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the additional bending axis is oriented obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The separating unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the additional bending axis is oriented obliquely at an angle of 5° or more relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . A suction apparatus, comprising:
 the separating unit according to  claim 1 ;   a filter unit; and   a fan configured to cause a suction air flow from a suction mouth, through said inlet opening of the separating unit and through said filter unit to said fan.