JP2006158743A - Suction opening device of vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suction opening device of a vacuum cleaner which unerringly performs safe operations. <P>SOLUTION: The suction opening device of a vacuum cleaner has a suction opening 5, a brush chamber 6 and a suction passage 9 sequentially communicatively connected in a suction opening body 1. The suction passage 9 has a first passage 9a in which a turbine blade 11a is arranged and a second passage 9b made to communicate with a bypass. When the suction opening 5 separates from a cleaned surface, an opening member 27 urged by a coil spring 30 projects from the underside of the suction opening body 1, a shielding valve 23 is forcedly driven to open an opening 21, the bypass and the second passage 9b communicates with each other. Since the flow rate of air of the second passage 9b increases and the flow rate of air of the first passage 9a decreases, the revolution rate of the turbine 11 unerringly decreases and the revolution rate of a rotary brush unerringly decreases. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a suction port device for a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a suction port device for a vacuum cleaner provided with a safety device for a rotating brush.

  Conventionally, as a suction port device of a vacuum cleaner, a suction port provided on the bottom surface of the suction port body for sucking dust, a brush chamber connected to the suction port, and accommodated in the brush chamber so as to face the suction port In addition, some have a rotating brush that is driven to rotate by a turbine. A suction passage communicating with the indoor brush chamber is formed inside the suction body, a turbine is provided in the suction passage, and an output shaft of the turbine is connected to a rotation shaft of the rotary brush with a belt. .

  A drive pipe communicating with the suction passage is rotatably connected to the suction body, and the suction pipe connected to the drive pipe is connected to an extension pipe connected to the cleaner body. A suction flow is generated in the suction passage by the suction operation of the vacuum cleaner body, and the turbine is rotationally driven by the suction flow, and the rotational force of the turbine is transmitted to the rotary brush by the belt, thereby rotating the rotary brush. With this rotating rotary brush, for example, dust in the carpet hair is scraped, and the scraped dust is sucked from the suction port and collected by the main body of the cleaner.

  Since the rotary brush rotates at a high speed of about 3000 rpm (rotations / minute) when the rotary brush is in an unloaded state, the suction port device is configured to perform a safe operation in order to prevent an accident involving a finger or the like. That is, the conventional suction port device is provided close to the rotating shaft of the turbine and has one end fixed to the suction port body and the other end of the brake plate so as to be engageable with the brake plate. And a locking portion fixed to the drive pipe. When the suction port device is lifted, the suction port body moves away from the floor surface and rotates around the rotation axis of the drive pipe by its own weight. When the brake plate rotates together with the suction port body, the other end of the brake plate is locked to the locking portion of the drive pipe. The brake plate whose other end is locked to this locking portion is pressed against the rotating shaft of the turbine by its own weight, and as a result, the rotational speed of the turbine is reduced by friction between the brake plate and the rotating shaft. The Thus, the rotational speed of the rotating brush is reduced to perform a safe operation that does not cause an accident involving a finger or the like (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-262442: Patent Document 1).

However, the conventional suction port device of the vacuum cleaner has a problem that the safety operation is insufficient. That is, when the posture of the lifted suction port device is covered in the vertically opposite direction, the suction port body rotates about the rotation axis of the drive pipe in the opposite direction to that when the suction port body is lifted by its own weight. Therefore, the suction port main body is in the same posture as when the drive pipe is in contact with the floor surface, so that the pressure on the turbine rotating shaft of the brake plate can be released. As a result, the turbine is driven at a high speed by the suction airflow, and the rotating brush rotates at a high speed.
JP 2000-262442 A

  Then, the subject of this invention is providing the suction inlet apparatus of the vacuum cleaner which can perform safe operation | movement reliably.

In order to solve the above problems, the suction port device of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention is
The inlet body,
A suction port formed to face the surface to be cleaned on the suction port body;
A rotating brush housed in the suction port body and facing the suction port;
Continuing to the suction port, a suction passage formed in the suction port body,
A turbine provided in the suction passage and driven to rotate by suction air flowing through the suction passage;
A rotational force transmission mechanism for transmitting rotational force from the turbine to the rotary brush;
A bypass passage communicating with the suction passage;
A shutoff valve that shuts off communication between the bypass passage and the suction passage;
And an opening mechanism that opens the shut-off valve when the suction port is separated from the surface to be cleaned.

  According to the said structure, the suction inlet apparatus of this vacuum cleaner is connected to a vacuum cleaner main body, and performs cleaning operation in the state which the said suction inlet opposes the surface of the carpet as a to-be-cleaned surface. That is, the suction air flows through the suction passage by the suction operation of the main body of the vacuum cleaner. The turbine is rotationally driven by the sucked air, and the rotational force of the turbine is transmitted to the rotary brush via the rotational force transmission mechanism, so that the rotary brush is rotationally driven. The rotating brush is used to scrape dust in the carpet bristles, and the dust is sucked from the suction port by sucking air. The dust is sent out toward the main body of the vacuum cleaner through the suction passage.

  In the suction port device of this vacuum cleaner, when the suction port is close to the surface to be cleaned, the opening mechanism does not open the shut-off valve, so that the bypass passage and the suction passage are shut off by the shut-off valve. Accordingly, the suction air is sucked only from the suction port communicating with the suction passage, so that the flow velocity becomes relatively high. As a result, the turbine is driven at a relatively high speed, whereby the rotating brush is driven at a rotation speed suitable for cleaning the surface to be cleaned, and a cleaning operation is performed.

  On the other hand, when the suction port leaves the surface to be cleaned, the opening mechanism opens the shutoff valve, so that the bypass passage and the suction passage are in communication. Accordingly, the suction air is sucked from the suction port and the opening connected to the bypass passage, so that the flow velocity is relatively low. Therefore, the turbine is driven at a relatively low speed, whereby the rotational speed of the rotating brush is reduced as compared with that during the cleaning operation, and a safe operation is performed. Since the opening mechanism opens the shut-off valve when the suction port is separated from the surface to be cleaned, even if the suction port device is covered in the reverse vertical direction, the safe operation is released by its own weight as in the past. There is no. As a result, the suction port device of the vacuum cleaner can reliably perform a safe operation, and can reliably prevent an accident involving a finger or the like, for example.

In the suction port device of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment, the suction passage includes a first passage and a second passage formed in parallel with each other,
The turbine is provided in the first passage;
The bypass passage communicates with the second passage;
The first passage and the second passage are formed so as to selectively communicate with the suction port.

  According to the embodiment, when the first passage is communicated with the suction port, the turbine is rotationally driven by the suction air flowing through the first passage and the rotary brush is driven. On the other hand, when the second passage communicates with the suction port, the suction brush does not flow through the first passage, so that the rotating brush is not driven.

  When the first passage is communicated with the suction port and the rotary brush is driven, when the suction port is separated from the surface to be cleaned, the shutoff valve is opened by the opening mechanism, and the second passage is It communicates with the bypass passage. Since the turbine is not provided in the second passage, the flow rate of the intake air flowing in the second passage increases rapidly with little resistance. Thereby, the flow velocity of the suction air in the first passage is rapidly reduced. Therefore, the rotational speed of the turbine in the first passage can be rapidly reduced. As a result, the rotational speed of the rotating brush can be reduced and the safe operation can be quickly performed.

In the suction port device of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment, the opening mechanism includes an opening member formed so as to be able to protrude and retract from a surface of the suction port body on which the suction port is formed, and a spring that biases the opening member. And has a member,
The shut-off valve is formed so that the communicating portion between the bypass passage and the suction passage is changed from the open state to the shut-off state as the opening member is immersed in the suction port body.

  According to the embodiment, when the suction port of the suction port body is opposed to the surface to be cleaned, the opening member protruding from the surface on which the suction port is formed comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned and is inside the suction port body. Immerse yourself in. As the opening member is immersed in the main body of the suction port, the communication part is cut off from the open state by the shut-off valve. On the other hand, when the suction port body is moved away from the surface to be cleaned, the opening member is urged by the spring member and protrudes from the suction port body, and the shutoff valve reliably opens the communication portion. Even if the posture of the suction port device is covered in the reverse vertical direction, the opening member is biased by the spring member, so that the open state of the communicating portion by the shutoff valve is reliably maintained. Therefore, the rotational speed of the rotating brush is kept low, and a safe operation can be performed reliably.

  As described above, the suction port device of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes a shutoff valve that shuts off communication between the bypass passage and the suction passage, and the shutoff valve is forced when the suction port is separated from the surface to be cleaned. Since the shut-off valve is opened by the opening mechanism as long as the suction port is away from the surface to be cleaned, the turbine is opened even if the suction port device is covered in the vertical reverse direction. It is possible to reliably reduce the flow velocity of the suction air that drives the motor, and to reliably reduce the rotational speed of the rotating brush, thereby ensuring safe operation.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view showing a part of a suction port device of a vacuum cleaner. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the suction port device.

  The suction port apparatus of this embodiment is attached to the front-end | tip of the extension pipe | tube of a vacuum cleaner similarly to the conventional suction port apparatus.

  The suction port device includes a suction port body 1 having a suction port 5 for sucking dust, a drive pipe 2 rotatably connected to the suction port body 1, and a suction pipe 3 connected to the drive pipe 2. .

  The suction port body 1 has a casing composed of a lower case 1a and an upper case 1b, and the interior is formed by a partition wall formed integrally with the lower case 1a and the upper case 1b. It is roughly divided into a transmission chamber 8 and a switch chamber 17.

  A suction port 5 extending in the width direction is opened on the bottom surface of the lower case 1a on the side opposite to the side where the drive pipe 2 is connected. The suction port 5 is continuous with the brush chamber 6, and a suction passage 9 is in communication with the drive pipe 2 side of the brush chamber 6.

  The brush chamber 6 accommodates a rotating brush 7 that extends in the width direction of the lower case 1a and that is rotatably supported at both ends. In FIG. 2, the rotating brush 7 is not shown. Although not shown in FIG. 1, two rows of brushes are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating brush 7, and the hairs extending in the radial direction are spirally implanted in the axial direction at an angle of 180 ° in the circumferential direction. Is provided. Further, two rows of blades protruding in the radial direction and having edges fixed in a spiral shape are provided between the two rows of brush rows. A gear is provided at the end of the rotating shaft of the rotating brush 7 and at the end on the power transmission chamber 8 side.

  The suction passage 9 is divided into a first passage 9a and a second passage 9b by a partition wall 10 extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the brush chamber 6 (the axial direction of the rotating brush 7). The first passage 9a and the second passage 9b are formed in parallel with each other, and each end portion on the brush chamber 6 side is formed so as to be able to selectively communicate with the brush chamber 6, and on the drive pipe 2 side. Each end communicates with each other. Between the first passage 9a and the second passage 9b and the brush chamber 6, a rectangular slide body 14 formed so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction is disposed. The slide body 14 is provided with a substantially square through hole 15. The slide body 14 is connected to a connection body accommodated in a switch chamber 17 adjacent to the side of the second passage 9b. The connecting body is integrally formed and has a protrusion 16 that protrudes outward from the upper case 1b. When the operator operates the protrusion 16, the slide body 14 is moved in the longitudinal direction, and the position of the through hole 15 can be changed. Thereby, the end of the first passage 9 a and the end of the second passage 9 b on the brush chamber 6 side can be selectively communicated with the brush chamber 6 through the through hole 15.

  A turbine blade 11a is accommodated in the first passage 9a. The output shaft 11b connected to the turbine blade 11a is disposed substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the second passage 9b and extends into the power transmission chamber 8 adjacent to the second passage 9b. A gear is fixed to the end of the output shaft 11b of the turbine, and a toothed belt 13 is wound between the gear of the output shaft 11b and the gear of the rotating brush 7. In FIG. 2, the turbine 11, the rotating brush 7, and the toothed belt 13 are not shown.

  An opening 21 through which the bypass passage communicates is provided in a partition wall that partitions the second passage 9b and the switch chamber 17. The bypass passage is open to the side surface of the upper case 1b, and is formed so as to suck outside air from the opening and guide it to the second passage 9b. The opening 21 is opened and closed by a shut-off valve 23 described later.

  The drive pipe 2 is connected to the back side from the joining position of the first and second passages 9a and 9b on the side opposite to the suction port 5 of the lower case 1a. The drive pipe 2 is partly cut away from a side surface to form an opening, and a cylindrical portion 2a that is disposed substantially parallel to the width direction of the suction port body 1 and integrally formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical portion 2a. And a connected pipe portion 2b. The drive pipe 2 is formed to be rotatable with respect to the lower case 1a around the axis of the cylindrical portion 2a in a state where the opening of the cylindrical portion 2a communicates with the suction passage 9. A suction pipe 3 is connected to the pipe portion 2b.

  A wheel 12 is pivotally attached to the lower case 1a of the suction port body in the vicinity of the connecting portion with the drive pipe 2. Two wheels 12 are provided on both axial sides of the cylindrical portion 2a of the drive pipe. Further, a wheel 22 that supports the front side portion of the suction port body 1 is pivotally attached to the edge portion of the lower case 1a on the suction port 5 side.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the cut-off valve 23 provided in the opening 21 that communicates the second passage 9b and the bypass passage, and the release member 27 of the release mechanism that opens and closes the cut-off valve 23. It is.

  A valve seat 20 is fixed to a partition wall that divides the second passage 9b and the switch chamber 17, and an opening 21 is provided in the valve seat. The opening 21 has a substantially sector shape, and a substantially sector-shaped shut-off valve 23 having a size larger than that of the sector-shaped opening 21 is connected to a swing shaft 25 provided in the lower case 1a. An opening member 27 is fixed to the end of the shutoff valve 23 in the vicinity of the connecting portion of the swing shaft 25. The release member 27 includes an arm portion 27a extending in the short direction of the shut-off valve 23 from the vicinity of the swing shaft 25 connecting portion of the shut-off valve 23, and a wheel 27b pivotally attached to the tip of the arm portion 27a. Have. A spring locking portion 27c is provided closer to the shutoff valve 23 than the wheel 27b of the arm portion 27a. A coil spring 30 (see FIG. 3) locked to the spring locking portion 27c urges the spring locking portion 27c toward the lower surface side of the lower case 1b. The opening member 27 urged by the coil spring 30 assumes an attitude as shown in FIG. 4B when the suction port device is not located on the surface to be cleaned L, and is an opening provided on the lower surface of the lower case 1b. Protrude from. As described above, the release member 27 and the coil spring 30 constitute a release mechanism.

  The suction port device of the vacuum cleaner having the above-described configuration operates as follows.

  First, an extension pipe connected to the main body of the vacuum cleaner is connected to the suction pipe 3 of the suction port device, and the suction port 5 of the suction port body 1 is opposed to the surface to be cleaned. When the surface to be cleaned is a carpet, the protrusion 16 of the suction port body 1 is operated to connect the brush chamber 6 and the first passage 9a through the through hole 15 of the slide body. Thereafter, the main body of the vacuum cleaner is activated. The vacuum cleaner body may be of any type, such as a canister type that travels on the floor, a shoulder type that is hung on the shoulder of an operator, or an integral type that is integrated with the extension pipe and the suction port device.

  The activated vacuum cleaner main body performs a suction operation, and suction air flows into the extension pipe, the suction pipe 3, the drive pipe 2, and the suction passage 9 of the suction mouth body 1 by this suction operation. Of the suction passage 9, the suction air flows into the first passage 9 a communicated with the brush chamber 6 through the through hole 15. The turbine blade 11a is rotationally driven by the intake air flowing through the first passage 9a. The rotational force of the turbine 11 is transmitted to the gear of the rotating brush 7 through a toothed belt wound around the gear of the output shaft 11b. Thereby, the rotating brush 7 is rotationally driven at a high speed of about 3000 rpm. Thus, the dust in the carpet is scraped out by the rotating brush 7 that rotates at high speed, and this dust is sucked from the suction port 5. The dust sucked from the suction port 5 is collected in the main body of the vacuum cleaner through the brush chamber 5, the first passage 9 a, the drive pipe 2 and the suction pipe 3.

  When the suction port 5 of the suction port device is brought close to the surface to be cleaned and the surface to be cleaned is cleaned, the suction port device performs the following cleaning operation. That is, the opening member 27 protruding from the lower surface of the suction port body 1 is immersed in the suction port body 1 as shown in FIG. 4A when the wheel 27b comes into contact with the surface L of the surface to be cleaned. As a result, the shutoff valve 23 connected to the opening member 27 closes the opening 21 of the valve seat as shown in FIG. 4A, so that the communication between the second passage 9b and the bypass passage is shut off. Therefore, the suction air flowing through the suction passage 9 is only air that is sucked from the suction port 5 and passes through the first passage 9a, so that the flow velocity in the first passage 9a is relatively high. As a result, the rotational speed of the turbine blade 11a provided in the first passage 9a becomes relatively high. Thereby, the rotating brush 7 is driven at a rotational speed of about 3000 rpm suitable for cleaning the surface to be cleaned, and effectively cleans the surface to be cleaned such as carpet.

  On the other hand, when the suction port device is lifted and the suction port 5 is separated from the surface to be cleaned, the suction port device performs the following safe operation. That is, the opening member 27 that has been immersed in the suction port body 1 with the wheel 27b abutting against the surface L of the surface to be cleaned is urged by the coil spring 30, and the lower surface of the suction port body 1 as shown in FIG. 4B. Protrude from. As a result, the shut-off valve 23 connected to the opening member 27 swings around the swing shaft 25 as shown in FIG. 4B to open the opening 21 of the valve seat. The second passage 9b and the bypass passage communicate with each other through the opening 21. Therefore, the suction air flowing through the suction passage 9 is sucked from the suction port 5 and flows through the first passage 9a, and the air sucked from the opening of the upper case 1b and flows through the second passage 9b via the bypass passage. It becomes. Since there is no turbine blade 11a in the second passage 9b, the flow rate of the air flowing through the second passage 9b increases rapidly with little resistance. Therefore, the flow rate of air flowing through the first passage 9a is smaller than that during the cleaning operation, and the flow velocity is reduced more rapidly than during the cleaning operation. As a result, the rotational speed of the turbine blade 11a is rapidly reduced, and the rotational speed of the rotating brush 7 is rapidly reduced to about 600 rpm which does not cause an accident involving a finger or the like. In this way, a safe operation is performed.

  The suction port device according to the present embodiment is configured so that when the suction port 5 is separated from the surface to be cleaned, the shut-off valve 23 is reliably opened by the opening member 27 biased by the coil spring 30, so that the cleaning operation can be safely performed. Switch reliably. Therefore, even if the suction port device is covered in the vertically opposite direction, there is no possibility of erroneously switching from the safe operation to the cleaning operation as in the prior art. As a result, the suction port device of this vacuum cleaner can reliably perform a safe operation, and can reliably prevent an accident involving a finger or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the bypass passage communicates with the second passage 9b of the suction passage, but the bypass passage may communicate with other portions of the suction passage 9.

  The opening mechanism is formed by the member 27 having the arm portion 27a, the wheel 27b, and the coil spring locking portion 27c, and the coil spring 30. However, other configurations may be used, and the suction of the suction port device may be used. What is necessary is just to be formed so that a cutoff valve may be opened when a mouth leaves | separates from a surface to be cleaned.

  The shut-off valve 23 has a substantially sector shape and is formed to be swingable around the swing shaft 25. However, another structure may be used, and the suction port of the suction port device is a surface to be cleaned. What is necessary is just to be formed so that it may be forcedly opened by an opening member when it leaves | separates from.

It is the top view which fractured | ruptured and showed a part of suction port apparatus of the vacuum cleaner. It is a perspective view which shows a part of suction inlet apparatus of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a suction inlet apparatus. It is the figure which took out and showed the cutoff valve and opening member at the time of a suction inlet apparatus performing cleaning operation | movement. It is the figure which took out and showed the cutoff valve and opening member at the time of a suction inlet apparatus performing safe operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Suction inlet main body 5 Suction inlet 7 Rotating brush 9 Suction passage 9a 1st passage 9b 2nd passage 11 Turbine 13 Toothed belt 23 Shut-off valve 27 Release member

Claims (3)

The inlet body,
A suction port formed to face the surface to be cleaned on the suction port body;
A rotating brush housed in the suction port body and facing the suction port;
Continuing to the suction port, a suction passage formed in the suction port body,
A turbine provided in the suction passage and driven to rotate by suction air flowing through the suction passage;
A rotational force transmission mechanism for transmitting rotational force from the turbine to the rotary brush;
A bypass passage communicating with the suction passage;
A shutoff valve that shuts off communication between the bypass passage and the suction passage;
A suction port device for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: an opening mechanism that opens the shut-off valve when the suction port is separated from the surface to be cleaned. In the suction-mouth apparatus of the vacuum cleaner of Claim 1,
The suction passage has a first passage and a second passage formed in parallel with each other,
The turbine is provided in the first passage;
The bypass passage communicates with the second passage;
The suction port device for a vacuum cleaner, wherein the first passage and the second passage are formed so as to selectively communicate with the suction port. In the suction-mouth apparatus of the vacuum cleaner of Claim 1,
The opening mechanism includes an opening member formed so as to be able to protrude and retract from a surface of the suction port main body on which the suction port is formed, and a spring member that biases the opening member.
The shutoff valve is formed so that the communicating portion of the bypass passage and the suction passage is changed from the open state to the shutoff state as the opening member is immersed in the suction port body. Vacuum cleaner inlet device.

Images