JP2013230317A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of preventing a refrigerant accumulated on a floor surface from being stirred.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner includes: an electric motor generating suction air and exhausting it to the outside; an oxygen concentration detecting device for detecting an oxygen concentration of a use environment; a comparison means for comparing the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detecting device with a preset threshold value; and a prohibition means for prohibiting operation of the electric motor when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detecting device is below the threshold value. By the configuration, a refrigerant accumulated on a floor surface can be prevented from being stirred.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

  The vacuum cleaner sucks up dust together with air from the floor of the room. The dust is collected in a dust collection chamber. The air from which the dust has been removed is discharged from the exhaust port into the room (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-29427 A

  On the other hand, an air conditioner is provided in the room. In the air conditioner, HFO1234yf, R32, or the like is used as the refrigerant. The specific gravity of these refrigerants is greater than the specific gravity of air. For this reason, when the refrigerant leaks from the air conditioner, the refrigerant accumulates on the floor of the room.

  When the vacuum cleaner is operated in this state, the refrigerant accumulated on the floor is agitated.

  This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned subject, and is providing the vacuum cleaner which can prevent stirring the refrigerant | coolant which accumulated on the floor surface.

  The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention preliminarily sets an electric motor that generates suction air and exhausts it to the outside, an oxygen concentration detection device that detects an oxygen concentration in a use environment, and an oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device. Comparison means for comparing with the threshold value, and prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the electric motor when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device falls below the threshold value.

  According to this invention, it can prevent stirring the refrigerant | coolant which accumulated on the floor surface.

It is a figure which shows the state which cleans a room using the electric vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the change of the oxygen concentration threshold value of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

  A mode for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a room is cleaned using the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is a room. An indoor unit 2 of an air conditioner is attached to the upper part of the inner surface of the side wall of the room 1. An outdoor unit 3 of the air conditioner is disposed in the vicinity of the lower part of the outer surface of the side wall. The indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 are connected via a duct 4.

  A refrigerant is used for the air conditioner. As a part of global warming countermeasures, it is preferable that the refrigerant has a low global warming potential. For this reason, HFO1234yf, R32, etc. are selected as a refrigerant | coolant.

  5 is a main body of a vacuum cleaner. A suction port 6 is formed in the front portion of the electric vacuum cleaner body 5. An exhaust port 7 is formed at the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 5.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a hose unit for extension purposes. In the hose unit 8, a connection portion 10 is provided at one end of the hose 9. The connection unit 10 is detachably coupled to the suction port 6. A hand handle 11 is provided at the other end of the hose 9. The hand handle 11 is provided with a display device 12. For example, the display device 12 includes a liquid crystal display element.

  13 is an extension pipe. One end of the extension tube 13 is detachably connected to the hand handle 11. A floor suction tool 14 is detachably connected to the other end of the extension pipe 13.

  The vacuum cleaner body 5 includes a dust collection chamber 15 in the vicinity of the rear portion of the suction port 6. An electric blower 16 is incorporated in the vicinity of the rear part of the dust collection chamber 15. The electric blower 16 includes a fan (not shown) and an electric motor (not shown). The electric motor has a commutator (not shown) and a brush (not shown). An exhaust air passage (not shown) is formed between the downstream side of the dust collection chamber 15 and the exhaust port 7.

  In the lower center of the electric vacuum cleaner main body 5, an oxygen concentration sensor 17 is provided as an oxygen concentration detection device on the dust collection chamber 15 side of the electric blower 16. A notification device 18 is provided in the upper center of the vacuum cleaner body 5. For example, the notification device 18 includes a buzzer or a speaker.

  In the vacuum cleaner, the fan is rotated by the electric motor. Suction wind is generated by the rotation. That is, a negative pressure air passage is formed between the floor suction tool 14 and the dust collecting chamber 15. For this reason, dust is sucked up together with air from the floor suction tool 14. The dust is collected in the dust collection chamber 15. Thereafter, the air from which the dust has been removed passes through the exhaust path and is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 7.

  Consider a case where a refrigerant leaks into the room 1 from an air conditioner. The specific gravity of the refrigerant composed of HFO1234yf, R32, etc. is larger than the specific gravity of air. For this reason, the refrigerant accumulates on the floor surface of the room 1.

  As the refrigerant concentration increases, the oxygen concentration relatively decreases. For example, the oxygen concentration of HFO1234yf at 6.5 vol% is 19.6 vol%. The oxygen concentration when R32 is 14.4 vol% is 18.0%.

  The oxygen concentration is detected by the oxygen concentration sensor 17. At this time, when the oxygen concentration falls below a preset threshold value, the motor stops. For example, when HFO1234yf is used, the motor stops before the oxygen concentration becomes 19.9 vol% or less. When R32 is used, the electric motor is stopped before the oxygen concentration becomes 19.0 vol% or less.

Next, the control apparatus of a vacuum cleaner is demonstrated using FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control device for the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, 19 is a control device. The control device 19 is built in the electric vacuum cleaner main body 5. For example, the control device 19 includes a microcomputer. The control device 19 includes a memory 20 and a control unit 21.

  The memory 20 stores oxygen concentration threshold values corresponding to various refrigerants. These oxygen concentration thresholds can be changed by a hidden key by a specific complicated key operation.

  The oxygen concentration signal of the oxygen concentration sensor 17 is input to the control unit 21. Based on the oxygen concentration signal, the control unit 21 controls the electric blower 16, the notification device 18, and the display device 12.

Next, operation | movement of a vacuum cleaner is demonstrated using FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  First, in step S1, the user of the vacuum cleaner inserts the plug (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner into an outlet. Then, it progresses to step S2 and a user turns on the switch (not shown) of the hand handle 11. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S3, where the oxygen concentration sensor 17 acquires a signal corresponding to the oxygen concentration in the room 1. Based on the signal, the control unit 21 detects the oxygen concentration. Then, it progresses to step S4 and the control part 21 compares the oxygen concentration threshold value memorize | stored in the memory 20 with a detection value as a comparison means.

  If the oxygen concentration exceeds the threshold value in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S <b> 5, the control unit 21 continues the operation of the electric blower 16. Then, it progresses to step S6, the control part 21 measures predetermined time, such as 30 seconds, and returns to step S3. Thereafter, the operations after step S3 are repeated. That is, the control unit 21 compares the oxygen concentration with the threshold value until the user switches off the hand handle 11. At this time, as long as the oxygen concentration is above the threshold, the electric blower 16 continues to operate.

  On the other hand, if the oxygen concentration is equal to or lower than the threshold value in step S4, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the control unit 21 prohibits the operation of the electric blower 16 as a prohibiting unit. The electric blower 16 stops due to the prohibition. In addition, the control unit 21 causes the notification device 18 and the display device 12 to notify the predetermined content.

  When the notification device 18 is a buzzer, the notification device 18 emits an alarm sound. When the notification device 18 is a speaker, the notification device 18 announces various contents by voice. For example, the notification device 18 announces that the oxygen concentration is low. The notification device 18 announces that the refrigerant may be leaking. The notification device 18 announces to open a window or turn a ventilation fan. The notification device 18 announces to urge other devices to stop.

  The display device 12 displays various contents. For example, the display device 12 displays that the oxygen concentration is low. The display device 12 displays that the refrigerant may be leaking. The display device 12 displays to open a window or turn a ventilation fan. The display device 12 displays so as to prompt the stop of other devices.

  The notification on the notification device 18 and the display on the display device 12 may be any one of the above contents, or a plurality of them may be linked.

  According to the first embodiment described above, the electric motor stops when the oxygen concentration in the use environment falls below the threshold value. For this reason, when the refrigerant leaks from the air conditioner, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant accumulated on the floor from being stirred.

  Further, when the refrigerant leaks, various contents can be notified to a person in the room 1, and specifically, it can be notified that the oxygen concentration is low or that the refrigerant is leaking. Furthermore, notification can be given to encourage ventilation. In addition, it is possible to notify the user to urge other devices to stop. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the apparatus from operating in a special atmosphere.

  Further, the oxygen concentration threshold value can be changed according to the refrigerant type. All of the oxygen concentration threshold values of the respective refrigerants may be stored in the memory 20. Which refrigerant is the target may be selected by the manufacturer at the time of shipment from the factory, or may be changed using a hidden key. For this reason, it is possible to cope with various situations such as when the refrigerant used in the country or region is different, when the refrigerant is changed depending on the age, or when a plurality of refrigerants are present in the market, the convenience of the vacuum cleaner is improved. .

  The oxygen concentration may be detected immediately after the outlet is turned on. In this case, step S3 in FIG. 3 is performed between step S1 and step S2. According to the operation, various contents can be notified before the electric motor is operated.

  In addition, the oxygen concentration sensor 17 may be provided in cooking equipment such as a stove, grill, range, and rice cooker, heating and cooling equipment such as a stove, a fan heater, a kotatsu, and an air conditioner, a water heater, a water heater, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. . In this case, it can be avoided that these devices operate in a special atmosphere. As a result, malfunction of these devices can be prevented.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
4 is a block diagram of a control device for a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same as that of Embodiment 1, or an equivalent, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The vacuum cleaner body 5 of the second embodiment is obtained by adding a communication device 22 to the vacuum cleaner body 5 of the first embodiment.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes another device to be controlled. For example, the control target device 23 is a ventilation device such as a window, a door, or a ventilation fan, a cooking device such as a stove, a grill, a range, or a rice cooker, a heating / cooling device such as a stove, a fan heater, a kotatsu, an air conditioner, a water heater, a water heater, or the like. It consists of a vacuum cleaner, refrigerator, washing machine, etc.

  The control target device 23 includes an operation unit 24, a notification device 25, a display device 26, a target device control unit 27, a communication device 28, and a control device 29. The control device 29 includes a control unit 30.

  In the present embodiment, when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration sensor 17 is lower than the threshold value, the communication device 22 transmits a signal notifying the communication device 28 of the control target device 23 that the oxygen concentration is lower than the threshold value. To do.

  In this case, the control unit 30 of the control target device 23 operates the target device control unit 27. Based on the operation, the operation unit 24 performs a predetermined operation. For example, when the control target device 23 is a window or a door, the control target device 23 is opened. When the control target device 23 is a ventilation fan, the control target device 23 ventilates the room 1 by rotating. Control is performed when the control target device 23 is a cooking device such as a stove, grill, range, rice cooker, heating / cooling device such as a stove, fan heater, kotatsu, air conditioner, water heater, water heater, other electric vacuum cleaner, refrigerator, washing machine The target device 23 may stop operating or be set to be inoperable.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the control target device 23 having a ventilation function operates before the refrigerant reaches a predetermined concentration. For this reason, even if the refrigerant leaks, the inside of the room 1 can be prevented from having a special atmosphere.

  Moreover, before the refrigerant reaches a predetermined concentration, the control target device 23 such as a cooking device or an air conditioning device is stopped. For this reason, it can avoid operating the control object apparatus 23 in a special atmosphere. As a result, the malfunction etc. of the control object apparatus 23 can be prevented.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same as that of Embodiment 1, or an equivalent, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The vacuum cleaner body 5 of the third embodiment is obtained by adding a humidity sensor 31 to the vacuum cleaner body 5 of the first embodiment. The humidity sensor 31 is provided in the vacuum cleaner main body 5 as a humidity detection device.

Next, the control device 19 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control device for a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, the memory 20 stores a change table for changing the oxygen concentration threshold according to the relative humidity. The oxygen concentration signal of the oxygen concentration sensor 17 and the humidity signal of the humidity sensor 31 are input to the control unit 21. Based on these signals, the control unit 21 controls the electric blower 16, the notification device 18, and the display device 12.

Next, the change of the oxygen concentration threshold will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a change in the oxygen concentration threshold value of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  FIG. 7 is a change table stored in the memory 20. For example, when the relative humidity is 0 to 40%, the original oxygen concentration threshold is used. When the relative humidity is 40% to 60%, an oxygen concentration threshold value obtained by adding +0.1 point% to the original oxygen concentration threshold value is used. For example, when the oxygen concentration threshold value of HFO1234yf is 19.9 vol%, the oxygen concentration threshold value is changed to 20.0 vol%. When the relative humidity is 60% to 100%, an oxygen concentration threshold value obtained by adding +0.2 point% to the original threshold value is used. For example, when the oxygen concentration threshold value of HFO1234yf is 19.9 vol%, the oxygen concentration threshold value is changed to 20.1 vol%.

Next, operation | movement of a vacuum cleaner is demonstrated using FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  Steps S11 and S12 are the same as steps S1 and S2 in FIG. After step S12, the process proceeds to step S13, where the oxygen concentration sensor 17 acquires a signal corresponding to the oxygen concentration in the room 1. Further, the humidity sensor 31 acquires a signal corresponding to the humidity in the room 1. Then, it progresses to step S14 and the control part 21 adjusts an oxygen concentration threshold value using the change table of the memory 20 as a change means based on the said humidity signal.

  Subsequent steps S15 to S18 are the same as steps S4 to S7 in FIG.

  According to the third embodiment described above, the oxygen concentration threshold is changed according to the humidity of the use environment. For this reason, a vacuum cleaner can be controlled, after grasping the state of use environment more appropriately.

  Note that the oxygen concentration threshold value, the threshold adjustment amount, and the step size of humidity in FIG. 7 are examples. That is, the oxygen concentration threshold, the threshold adjustment amount, and the step size of humidity may be set as appropriate according to the type of refrigerant.

  Further, the oxygen concentration threshold value may be adjusted using absolute humidity. In this case, the oxygen concentration threshold is adjusted by the amount of moisture in the air. For this reason, a vacuum cleaner can be controlled more accurately.

1 room, 2 indoor unit, 3 air conditioner, 4 duct, 5 vacuum cleaner body,
6 suction port, 7 exhaust port, 8 hose unit, 9 hose, 10 connection part,
11 hand handle, 12 display device, 13 extension pipe, 14 floor suction tool,
15 dust collecting chamber, 16 electric blower, 17 oxygen concentration sensor, 18 alarm device,
19 control device, 20 memory, 21 control unit, 22 communication device,
23 control object apparatus, 24 operation | movement part, 25 alerting | reporting apparatus, 26 display apparatus,
27 target device control unit, 28 communication device, 29 control device, 30 control unit,
31 Humidity sensor

Claims (9)

An electric motor that generates suction air and exhausts it to the outside;
An oxygen concentration detection device for detecting the oxygen concentration in the environment of use;
Comparison means for comparing the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device with a preset threshold value;
A prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the electric motor when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device falls below the threshold;
Vacuum cleaner with The oxygen concentration detection device detects the oxygen concentration of the use environment before the electric motor operates,
The comparison means compares the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device before the electric motor is operated with a preset threshold value,
2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the prohibiting unit prohibits the operation of the electric motor when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detecting device is lower than the threshold before the electric motor is operated. A notification device for notifying that the oxygen concentration is low or that the refrigerant is leaking when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device falls below the threshold;
The vacuum cleaner of Claim 1 or Claim 2 provided with these. A notification device for informing the user to ventilate when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device falls below the threshold;
The vacuum cleaner in any one of Claims 1-3 provided with. A notification device for informing the user to stop other devices when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device falls below the threshold;
The vacuum cleaner in any one of Claims 1-4 provided with these. A communication device for transmitting a signal for operating a nearby ventilation device when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device falls below the threshold;
The vacuum cleaner in any one of Claims 1-5 provided with. A communication device that transmits a signal for stopping other devices in the vicinity when the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen concentration detection device falls below the threshold;
The vacuum cleaner in any one of Claims 1-6 provided with these. Changing means for changing the threshold;
The vacuum cleaner in any one of Claims 1-7 provided with. Humidity detection device that detects the humidity of the usage environment,
With
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the changing unit changes the threshold value according to humidity detected by the humidity detection device.

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