EP1610661A2

EP1610661A2 - Twin-motor independent vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP1610661A2
Application number: EP04742332A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jul Henrik Nielsen
Original assignee: Nielsen Innovation SARL
Current assignee: Nielsen Innovation SARL
Priority date: 2003-03-27
Filing date: 2004-03-24
Publication date: 2006-01-04
Also published as: WO2004086929A2; FR2852811B1; FR2852811A1; CN100355384C; US20070101536A1; CN1767780A; WO2004086929A3

Abstract

The invention relates to an independent vacuum cleaner, comprising a housing (1), mounted on transport means (R), a fan (T), supported by the housing (1), for the generation of a depression in a particle collector (S) across a filtration membrane (M), a beating brush (B), fixed to the housing (1) and connected to said collector by means of a first duct (C), a suction device (42) which may be connected to said collector (5) by means of a second flexible duct (41), means for the selective connection of the first duct (C), or the connector (40) for said second duct (41) to said collector (S), a first motor (M1) for driving said fan (T), a second motor (M2) for driving the beater brush (B), an electric circuit for supplying said motors (M1, M2) from a battery (E) carried in said housing (1) and a control body (31) with three positions for the stopping of the motors (M1, M2) in a first position, operation of the first motor (M1) in a second position and simultaneous operation of the two motors (M1, M2) in a third position. The invention is characterised in that the electrical supply circuits for the two motors (M1, M2) are embodied such that, in the third position for the control body (31) the two motors (M1, M2) are supplied in series.

Description

Twin-engine autonomous vacuum cleaner

The invention relates to a self-contained vacuum cleaner with high cleaning efficiency.

More precisely, it relates to an autonomous vacuum cleaner comprising a frame mounted on transport members, a turbine carried by the frame and intended to create a vacuum in a particle collector through a filtering membrane, a beater attached to the frame and connected to said collector. via a first conduit, a suction device capable of being connected to said manifold via a second flexible conduit, means for selectively placing said first conduit or the connection of said second conduit in communication with said manifold, a first motor (Ml) for driving said turbine, a second motor (M2) for driving the broom, an electrical circuit for supplying said motors from a battery carried by said frame and a three-position control member which causes the motors to stop in a first position, the operation of the first motor (Ml) in a second position and the simultaneous operation of the two motors (Ml, M2) in a third position. Such a twin-motor direct current vacuum cleaner is described in

W0 03/00 3896. In this type of vacuum cleaner, the two motors are mounted in parallel with the battery terminals and are each controlled by a two-position switch. The performance of the turbine depends on the fouling of the filter membrane. When the collector is loaded with particles, the cleaning efficiency decreases sharply. To remedy this, the drive motors of the turbine and the beater brush are fitted with complex and expensive electronic circuits.

One of the aims of the invention is to propose an autonomous vacuum cleaner of the type mentioned in the introduction to this memo, in which the voltage applied to the terminals of the two motors automatically adapts, in the beater operating mode, depending fouling of the filter membrane, without the presence of electronic circuits.

The invention achieves this object by the fact that the power supply circuit of the motors is designed in such a way that in the third position of the control member, the two motors are supplied in series.

Surprisingly, it can be seen that when the collector becomes dirty, the voltage on the turbine drive motor increases and the voltage on the beater motor decreases.

Advantageously, the control member comprises a button mounted to rotate on the chassis, this button comprising two cam paths each capable of controlling the opening or closing of a switch, namely a first switch SI which in the closed position supplies the two motors, and a second switch S2 which in the closed position short-circuits the second motor.

Another object of the invention is to propose an autonomous and twin-engine vacuum cleaner in which the three-position control member also actuates the means for selectively placing the first conduit or the connection of the second conduit in communication with the manifold.

This other object is achieved according to the invention by the fact that the control member comprises a button mounted to rotate on the chassis, this button comprising the means for selectively placing the first conduit or the connection of the second conduit with the manifold in communication, and further comprising two cam paths each capable of controlling the opening or closing of a switch, namely a first switch which in the closed position supplies at least the first motor and a second switch controlling the operation of the second engine.

In this case, the electric power supply circuit of the motors can be made in such a way that in the third position of the control member, the two motors are supplied in parallel, the second switch controlling a microprocessor which manages the power delivered by the two motors.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the button further comprises the means for selectively putting the first conduit or the connection of the second conduit into communication with the manifold. The button preferably has a cylindrical body in which is formed an elbow channel opening on the one hand on the face rear of said button and on one side of its periphery, this body being intended to be housed in a cylindrical cavity formed in the frame, the bottom of this cavity having an orifice communicating with the manifold, and the periphery of this cavity having two diametrically opposite orifices into which the first conduit and the flexible conduit connector respectively open.

The following provisions are also preferably adopted. The cam tracks are formed at the periphery of the body and are arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of the button. The first cam path which controls the opening or closing of the first switch (SI) has two diametrically opposite protuberances, and the second cam path which controls the opening or closing of the second switch (S2) has a single protuberance. The protuberance of the second cam track and the protrusions of the first cam track are arranged in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the button.

The two switches (SI, S2) are in radially opposite regions of the cavity in which the button is housed. The protrusions are arranged in the plane of symmetry of the bent channel.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge on reading the following description given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents a profile view in section of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the diagram of the electrical circuit according to the prior art; FIG. 3 shows the diagram of the electrical circuit according to the invention; Figure 4 is a section along a plane of symmetry, the button which allows the passage of the beater mode to suction mode, and stopping the motors housed in a cavity of the frame; and Figure 5 is a section along line V, V of Figure 4. The vacuum cleaner shown in Figure 1 comprises a frame 1 mounted on transport members R, which carries a turbine T driven by a first electric motor Ml and intended to create, through a filtering membrane M, a vacuum in a particle collector. The turbine T and the first motor Ml are housed in a chamber k and the collector here consists of a flexible bag S with a breathable wall, enclosed in a compartment K delimited upwards and laterally by a rigid waterproof wall and downwards by the membrane M which ensures the separation with the suction chamber k. The membrane M can be part of the bag S. The turbine T sucks in the compartment K and evacuates the air sucked in a volute 11 which opens into a chamber 12 communicating with the outside through orifices.

At the lower end of the frame 1 is provided a beater broom in the form of a rotary brush driven by a second motor M2.

The reference E designates a rechargeable battery which accommodates in a casing A placed under the turbine T and which serves to supply direct current to the two motors Ml and M2.

The bag S is wedged inside the compartment K by means of projections D integral with the internal wall of the said compartment K and has an opening 20 which fits onto an outlet 21 of a device 30 making it possible to selectively put the communication l inside the bag S, either with a conduit C connected to the beater broom, or with a connector 40 to which one end of a flexible conduit 41 can be fixed, which is equipped at its other end with a suction device 42.

The reference N denotes a means of gripping the vacuum cleaner in the shape of an inverted U and which can be mounted sliding on the frame.

FIG. 2 shows the electrical supply circuits of the two motors M1 and M2 according to the state of the art.

The two motors Ml and M2 are mounted in parallel. A first general switch SI allows the electrical supply of the first motor Ml for driving the turbine T, in the mixer operating mode and in the suction operating mode. A second switch S2 allows, in the closed position, the electrical supply of the second motor M2 of the beater blade B if the first switch SI is also in the closed position. Figure 3 shows the electrical wiring of the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the first aspect of the invention which will now be described in detail. The two motors Ml and M2 are arranged in series and the first switch SI allows the supply of the two motors Ml and M2 in the closed position. The second switch S2 is mounted in the circuit so as to shunt, in the closed position, the motor M2 which drives the beater brush B.

When using the vacuum cleaner in beater mode, the first switch SI is in the closed position and the second switch S2 is in the open position. The sum of the voltages applied to the motors Ml and M2 is then equal to the voltage of the battery E.

When using the vacuum cleaner in suction mode, the first switch SI is in the closed position and the second switch S2 is also in the closed position. The second motor M2 is then shunted or short-circuited. The voltage applied to the first motor Ml is equal to the voltage of the battery E.

When the vacuum cleaner is at rest, the first switch SI is in the open position. The control member of the two switches SI and S2 ensures that in the rest or stop position, the second switch S2 is also in the open position.

Tables 1 and 2 below show as an example the voltages U (Volt) applied to the motors Ml and M2, the intensity of the current I (Ampere), the power P (Watts), the depression DP (mm of water); and the speed of the turbine N (in number of revolutions / minute), depending on whether the bag S is clean (table 1) or dirty (table 2), in the beater operating mode.

Table 1

Table 2

It can be seen that in the event of fouling of the bag S the voltage applied to the motor M1 increases while the voltage applied to the motor M2 decreases. Thus the proposed wiring mode automatically increases the power of the first motor Ml for driving the turbine T as a function of the filling of the bag S.

Table 3 below shows the same values in the case of operation in suction mode, in which the first motor Ml alone is supplied with electric current, depending on whether the bag S is clean or dirty.

Table 3

It can be seen that, in this operating mode, the vacuum created by the turbine is greatly increased when the bag is full.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the device 30 which allows the interior of the bag C to be selectively placed in communication either with the conduit C or with the connector 40 of the flexible conduit 41. This device 30 is in the form of a button 31 rotatably mounted around an axis of rotation 32 coaxial with the outlet 21 on which is mounted the opening 20 of the bag S. This button 32 has a cylindrical body 33 of axis 32 which accommodates in a cylindrical cavity 34 formed in the frame 1. In the cylindrical cavity 34 open in opposite directions, perpendicular to the axis X, on the one hand, the connector 35 of the conduit C and the connector 40 of the flexible conduit 41 of the suction device 42. The cylindrical body 33 has a bent channel 36, one end of which opens opposite the outlet 21 and the other end of which opens onto the periphery of the cylindrical body 33 and can be placed opposite one of the connections 35 or 40 by rotation of the button 31 around the axis 32. The button 31 also has on its external face a gripping means 37, in the form of an ear intended to allow, by manual gripping, the rotation of said button 31 around the axis 32.

The cylindrical body 33 has near the inner end bearing against the bottom of the cavity 34, a zone 38 which has a diameter smaller than that of the other part of the body 33, and which has at its periphery two cam paths 39a and 39b arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis 32, intended, the first 39a, to control the first switch SI and, the second 39b, to control the second switch S2, these switches SI and S2 being mounted in housings provided at the periphery of the cylindrical cavity 34 and substantially diametrically opposite.

The first cam path 39a is formed by the cylindrical periphery of the zone 38 and by two diametrically opposite protrusions 44 and 45, while the second cam path 39b is formed by the cylindrical periphery of the zone 38 and by a single protrusion 46 disposed in the immediate vicinity of the protuberance 45. Preferably the protuberances 44, 45 and 46 are located in the plane of symmetry of the button 31 which contains the center line of the bent channel 36.

In the position of the button 31 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the switch SI is closed, the switch S2 is closed and the flexible conduit 41 is in communication with the interior of the bag S via, the connector 40, the channel bent 36 and the outlet 21. In this configuration, the first motor Ml is supplied with current, the second motor M2 is bypassed, and the vacuum cleaner operates in suction mode. If the button 31 is rotated 180 °, in either direction, about the axis 32, the switch SI is closed, the switch S2 is open, and the conduit C is in communication with the interior of the bag S via the connector 35, the bent channel 36 and the outlet 21. The two motors Ml and M2 are thus connected in series and supplied by the battery E. The vacuum cleaner then operates in beater mode. When, when the button 31 rotates around the axis 32, the protrusions 44, 45 and 46 move away from the vertical position, the switches SI and S2 open and the motors Ml and M2 stop because they are no longer supplied with current. The vacuum cleaner is then in stop or rest mode.

It should be noted that the button 31 can be easily removed from its housing, which safely causes the switches SI and S2 to open and the motors Ml and M2 to stop. This arrangement makes it easy to clean the bent channel 36 in the event of a jam. In the case where the two motors Ml and M2 are supplied in parallel, as shown in FIG. 2, the device 30, which allows the interior of the bag C to be selectively placed in communication either with the conduit C or with the connector 40 of the flexible conduit 41, is identical to that shown in Figures 4 and 5 and described above. The switch SI in the closed position then causes the electrical supply of an electronic power circuit which includes a microprocessor managing the electrical powers delivered to the motors Ml and M2, depending on the opening and closing of the switch S2.

Claims

1. Autonomous vacuum cleaner comprising a frame (1) mounted on transport members (R), a turbine (T) carried by the frame (1) and intended to create through a filtering membrane (M) a depression in a collector of particles (S), a broom (B) integral with the frame (1) and connected to said collector via a first conduit (C), a suction device (42) capable of being connected to said collector (5) via a second conduit flexible (41), means (30) for selectively putting said first conduit (C) or the connector (40) of said second conduit (41) in communication with said manifold (S), a first motor (Ml) for driving said turbine (T), a second motor (M2) for driving the broom (B), an electrical circuit for supplying said motors (Ml, M2) from a battery (E) carried by said frame (1) and a member control (31) with three positions which causes the motors (Ml, M2) to stop in a first position, the function ment of the first motor (Ml) in a second position and the simultaneous operation of the two motors (Ml, M2) in a third position, characterized in that the electrical supply circuit of the motors (Ml, M2) is constructed in such a way so that in the third position of the control member (31), the two motors (Ml, M2) are supplied in series.

2. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 characterized in that the control member comprises a button (31) rotatably mounted on the frame (1), this button comprising two cam paths (39a, 39b) each capable of controlling the opening or closing of a switch, namely a first switch (SI) which in the closed position supplies the two motors (Ml, M2) and a second switch (S2) which in the closed position short-circuits the second motor ( M2).

3. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 characterized in that the button (31) further comprises the means (30) for selectively placing the first conduit (C) or the connector (40) of the second conduit (41) in communication. with the collector (S).

4. Autonomous vacuum cleaner comprising a frame (1) mounted on transport members (R), a turbine (T) carried by the frame (1) and intended to create, through a filtering membrane (M), a depression in a collector of particles (S), a broom (B) integral with the frame (1) and connected to said collector via a first conduit (C), a suction device (42) capable of being connected to said collector (5) via a second conduit flexible (41), means (30) for selectively putting said first conduit (C) or the connector (40) of said second conduit (41) in communication with said manifold (S), a first motor (Ml) for driving said turbine (T), a second motor (M2) for driving the broom (B), an electrical circuit for supplying said motors (Ml, M2) from a battery (E) carried by said frame (1) and a member control (31) with three positions which causes the motors (Ml, M2) to stop in a first position, the function ment of the first motor (Ml) in a second position and the simultaneous operation of the two motors (Ml, M2) in a third position, characterized in that the control member comprises a button (31) rotatably mounted on the chassis ( 1),) this button comprising the means (30) for selectively putting the first conduit (C) or the connector (40) of the second conduit (41) into communication with the manifold (S), and further comprising two paths cam (39a, 39b) each capable of controlling the opening or closing of a switch, namely a first switch (SI) which in the closed position supplies at least the first motor (Ml) and a second switch (S2 ) controlling the operation of the second engine (M2).

5. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 characterized in that the electrical supply circuit of the motors (Ml, M2) is produced in such a way that in the third position of the control member (31), the two motors (Ml , M2) are supplied in parallel, the second switch controlling a microprocessor which manages the power delivered by the two motors (Ml, M2).

6. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the button (31) comprises a cylindrical body (33) in which is formed an elbow channel (36) opening on the one hand on the rear face of said button (31) and on one side of its periphery, this body (33) being intended to be housed in a cylindrical cavity (37) formed in the frame (1), the bottom of this cavity comprising an orifice (21) communicating with the manifold (S), and the periphery of this cavity having two diametrically opposite orifices into which the first conduit (C) and the connector respectively open (40) of the flexible conduit (41).

7. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 characterized in that the cam tracks (39a, 39b) are formed at the periphery of the body (33) and are arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis (32) of the button (31 ).

8. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 characterized in that the first cam path (39a) which controls the opening or closing of the first switch (SI) has two protrusions (44, 45) diametrically opposite, and the second path cam (39b) which controls the opening or closing of the second switch (S2) has a single protrusion (46).

9. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 characterized in that the protuberance (46) of the second cam path (39a) and the protrusions (44, 45) of the first cam path (39a) are arranged in a plane containing the axis of rotation (23) of the button (31).

10. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 characterized in that the two switches (SI, S2) are in radially opposite regions of the cavity (37) in which houses the button (31).

11. Vacuum cleaner according to one of claims 9 or 10 characterized in that the protrusions (44, 45, 46) are arranged in the plane of symmetry of the bent channel (36)