JP2007104801A - Charging set and vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging set in which the maximum output voltage from a charger can be suppressed while enhancing versatility. <P>SOLUTION: Since a secondary battery 3 can be charged through a charged capacitor section 21 by charging any one of a plurality of capacitors 21a and 21b obtained by dividing the voltage of a capacitor section 21 connected in parallel with the secondary battery 3 while switching based on predetermined conditions by a switching means 26 thereby charging the capacitor section 21, maximum output voltage from the charger 15 can be suppressed to a voltage obtained by dividing the demand voltage of the secondary battery 3 and versatility can be enhanced without switching connection of the secondary battery 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging device capable of charging a secondary battery and a vacuum cleaner including the same.

  Conventionally, as a charging device for charging a battery pack connected to a plurality of secondary batteries, a plurality of charging circuits capable of charging each of the plurality of battery packs are provided, and the operation of these charging circuits is sequentially controlled to shorten the charging time. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Also known is a device that includes a plurality of charging circuits, detects the total charging load of each battery pack connected to these charging circuits, and controls the magnitude of the charging current of the charging circuit according to the total charging load. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-117067 (page 3, FIG. 4) JP 2001-169466 A (page 3-5, FIG. 3)

  By the way, in the vacuum cleaner using the secondary battery, further improvement in the suction efficiency, that is, higher power is desired. In order to cope with such higher power, the high voltage of the secondary battery is required. Needs to be made.

  However, in the charging device described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 described above, the charging voltage from the charger to the secondary battery must be increased in order to cope with the higher voltage of the secondary battery. There is a problem that the maximum output voltage from the charger side becomes large.

  For example, in a normal vacuum cleaner, the voltage of the secondary battery is about 30V, but when making the voltage more than double in order to cope with high power, the charging voltage from the charger to the secondary battery is It must be about 70V to 80V.

  And when the maximum output voltage from the charger side becomes large in this way, there is a problem that attention is required during use, and usability is not good.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to connect a plurality of secondary batteries in parallel and charge them, and then discharge the secondary batteries by switching the connection in series.

  However, in such a method, a high power is obtained by flowing a current 5 to 10 times or more than that during charging at the time of discharging. In addition to consuming power for switching and maintaining from parallel to series, and even with high-power contacts, if the flowing current exceeds several tens of amperes, it becomes industrial. There is a problem that it becomes large and heavy, and is not versatile.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, It aims at providing the charging device which can improve versatility, and can suppress the maximum output voltage from a charging power supply means, and a vacuum cleaner provided with the same. .

  According to the present invention, a capacitor unit connected in parallel to a secondary battery, a charging power source means for applying a voltage to the capacitor unit, and a part obtained by dividing the capacitor unit into a plurality of parts are switched based on a predetermined condition. Switching means electrically connected to the charging power supply means.

  According to the present invention, the capacitor unit connected in parallel to the secondary battery is charged while switching the switching unit with one of the divided parts based on a predetermined condition, thereby charging the capacitor unit. Since the secondary battery can be charged via the charged capacitor section, the maximum output voltage from the charging power supply means can be suppressed to a voltage obtained by dividing the required voltage of the secondary battery, and the connection of the secondary battery can be changed. The versatility can be improved.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the vacuum cleaner of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner body. Inside the vacuum cleaner body 1, there are an electric blower 2, a secondary battery 3 that supplies power to the electric blower 2, and a main body that controls driving of the electric blower 2. Each of the control means 4 is accommodated. The vacuum cleaner main body 1 is a so-called cyclone type vacuum cleaner that collects dust sucked together with intake air generated by driving the electric blower 2 by a cyclone separating cup 5 to collect the dust.

  Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner main body 1 has a main body suction port 6 for sucking air from the outside. A hose body 7 is connected to the main body suction port 6 as a slender, substantially cylindrical connecting pipe that can be bent. At the tip of the hose body 7 is provided a hand operating part 8 as a bent tube held by an operator. The hand operating part 8 has strong, medium and weak electric blowers 2 in the cleaner body 1. A setting button 9 is provided for setting an operation mode such as OFF in the main body control means 4.

  An extensible and elongated cylindrical extension tube 10 is detachably connected to the distal end of the hand operating unit 8 in a detachable manner. Further, a floor brush 11 serving as a suction port for sucking the dust on the carpet is detachably connected to the tip of the extension pipe 10, for example, placed on a carpet on the floor of the room. Yes.

  Next, the internal configuration of the vacuum cleaner will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electric blower 2 is supplied with power from both ends of the secondary battery 3.

  The secondary battery 3 is a battery pack in which a plurality of cells such as a lithium battery or a nickel metal hydride battery are connected in series, for example, and charging a charger 15 as a charging power source means detachably connected to the cleaner body 1. It is charged by a circuit. Further, a capacitor unit 21 as a capacitor unit is connected to the secondary battery 3 in parallel with the secondary battery 3. The capacitor unit 21 is a series circuit of a plurality of capacitors. A plurality of voltage dividing units that divide the capacitor unit 21 into a voltage for charge control or a charge limiting voltage in the secondary battery 3 and the like. A pair of contacts corresponding to each of the pressure parts is provided. In the present embodiment, for convenience, the voltage dividing unit has two capacitors 21a and 21b obtained by dividing the required voltage at the time of charging the secondary battery 3 by approximately ½, and each of these capacitors 21a and 21b It is assumed that the contacts 22a and 23a and the contacts 22b and 23b are derived.

  The main body control means 4 is constituted by a microcomputer that drives the electric blower 2 in accordance with the operation mode set by the setting button 9. In addition, the main body control means 4 has a function of charge monitoring means for monitoring the charge states of the capacitors 21 a and 21 b of the capacitor portion 21 and the secondary battery 3. Further, the main body control means 4 is provided so as to be able to control the operation of the switching means 26 for switching the connection between the capacitors 21a and 21b of the capacitor unit 21 and the charger 15.

  Further, the main body control means 4 has a secondary battery charging function for charging the secondary battery 3 with the electric charge charged in the capacitor unit 21 after the charging of the capacitor unit 21 is completed.

  The switching means 26 is, for example, a relay, and includes a plurality of switches 27a and 27b that are provided corresponding to the capacitors 21a and 21b of the capacitor unit 21 and that are interlocked with each other. Each of the switches 27a and 27b can be electrically connected to the charger 15 via input contacts 31 and 32 provided in the cleaner body 1. These contacts 31 and 32 are exposed, for example, at the rear portion of the cleaner body 1, that is, at the end opposite to the main body suction port 6.

  Further, between the switching means 26 and the contacts 31, 32, the connection blocking means 35 provided with switches 35a, 35b for electrically connecting / blocking the switches 27a, 27b of the switching means 26 and the contacts 31, 32. Is provided. The connection blocking means 35 is closed when the charger 15 and the cleaner body 1 are connected, and is opened when the connection between the charger 15 and the cleaner body 1 is disconnected.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the charger 15 is provided with a fitting recess 41 that is fitted with the rear portion of the cleaner body 1 facing down during charging, and an upper end of the edge of the fitting recess 41. There is a case body 43 provided with an extension pipe locking recess 42 for sometimes locking the extension pipe 10, and a predetermined charging circuit (not shown) is accommodated in the case body 43, and the capacitor section 21 is accommodated by this charging circuit. The capacitors 21a and 21b are provided so as to be rechargeable. Further, a power cord 44 that can be attached to and detached from a commercial AC power source, that is, AC 100 V, is connected to the charger 15, and the power cord 44 can supply power to the charging circuit.

  The fitting recess 41 is provided with a pair of contact parts (not shown) to which the contacts 31, 32 (FIG. 1) of the cleaner body 1 are electrically connected when the rear part of the cleaner body 1 is fitted. It has been. These contact portions are electrically connected to the charging circuit in the case body 43. This charging circuit is configured to output a charging voltage of, for example, direct current (DC) 42 V or less from the contact portion in a steady state.

  The extension tube locking recess 42 charges the floor brush 11, the extension tube 10 and the hose body 7 during charging by engaging a locking projection 45 (FIG. 2) provided on the back side of the extension tube 10. The container 15 can be held.

  The main body control means 4, the charger 15, the capacitor unit 21, the switching means 26, the connection cutoff means 35, etc. constitute a charging device for the secondary battery 3.

  Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

  When charging the secondary battery 3, as shown in FIG. 3, the cleaner body 1 is fitted into the fitting recess 41 of the charger 15 with the power cord 44 connected to the outlet, with the rear side as the lower side. When the contacts 31, 32 (FIG. 1) are connected to the contact portion of the charger 15, the switches 35a, 35b of the connection blocking means 35 are closed as indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. The switches 27a and 27b are electrically connected to each other.

  In this state, a predetermined voltage from the charging circuit of the charger 15 is supplied to the switches 27a and 27b via the contact portions 31 and 32, for example, a voltage substantially equal to ½ of the required voltage of the secondary battery 3, The switches 27a and 27b are alternately switched by the main body control means 4 to the capacitors 21a and 21b based on a predetermined condition as shown by the solid line and the imaginary line in FIG. 1, and the capacitors 21a and 21b are charged.

  At this time, the main body control means 4 switches the connection between the capacitors 21a and 21b and the charger 15 via the switching means 26 at a constant cycle, for example, every 20 seconds or every 2 minutes, so that the capacitors 21a and 21b are made substantially even. Charge. Note that the switching cycle of the switching means 26 is appropriately set according to, for example, the capacities of the capacitors 21a and 21b in the capacitor section.

  When the capacitors 21a and 21b are fully charged, the sum of the voltages of the charged capacitors 21a and 21b is applied to the secondary battery 3 from both ends of the capacitor unit 21 that is a series circuit of the capacitors 21a and 21b. The secondary battery 3 is charged with the amount of charge determined by the capacities of the capacitors 21a and 21b. Note that full charge of the capacitors 21a and 21b is determined based on the current flowing from the charger 15 to the capacitors 21a and 21b, for example, when the current value becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

  When cleaning is performed after the secondary battery 3 has been charged, the operator removes the cleaner body 1 from the charger 15, holds the hand operating unit 8, and operates a predetermined setting button 9. The body control means 4 controls the power supplied from the secondary battery 3 to the electric blower 2 to drive the electric blower 2 to the operation mode set by the setting button 9.

  Further, when the floor brush 11 is moved back and forth on the floor surface and dust on the floor surface is sucked together with air from the tip of the floor brush 11, the dust together with the air passes through the extension tube 10, the hose body 7 and the main body suction port 6. Then, the air is sucked into the dust collection cup 5, and the cyclone is separated from the air by the dust collection cup 5 and collected in the dust collection cup 5.

  After the dust is collected, the air passes through the electric blower 2 and is then exhausted from the cleaner body 1 to the outside as exhaust air.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the switching unit 26 is configured to switch one of the capacitors 21a and 21b obtained by dividing the capacitor unit 21 connected in parallel to the secondary battery 3 into a plurality of parts based on a predetermined condition. By charging the capacitor unit 21 by switching and charging, the secondary battery 3 can be charged via the charged capacitor unit 21, and the maximum output voltage from the charger 15 is set to the required voltage of the secondary battery 3. Compared with the conventional configuration in which the secondary battery cells are charged in parallel and connected in series when discharged, the power of the secondary battery 3 is particularly large when the output of the secondary battery 3 is large. This eliminates the need for switching the connection at the time, so that the configuration can be simplified. For example, even during discharging that handles a current more than five times as charged, there is no need to use large current components, etc. Can be improved.

  That is, if the secondary battery 3 is directly charged with a high voltage in order to improve the output of the secondary battery 3, it is necessary to apply a high voltage higher than the maximum voltage of the secondary battery 3, and the output voltage of the charger 15 is High pressure. However, for example, when the secondary battery 3 is a lithium battery, the suppression of overvoltage during charging of the secondary battery 3 can only be guaranteed up to a voltage exceeding a predetermined voltage set in advance. Since high voltage charging is not preferable, for example, there is a risk of damage beyond the maximum charging voltage, in the above-described embodiment, the output voltage from the charger 15 is dropped by dividing the voltage and supplied to the capacitors 21a and 21b. By charging the secondary battery 3 with the capacitor unit 21 which is a series circuit of the capacitors 21a and 21b, damage to the secondary battery 3 due to application of high voltage can be prevented, and usability can be improved.

  In addition, by charging the secondary battery 3 from the capacitor unit 21 in which the capacitors 21a and 21b are charged, there is no possibility that the secondary battery 3 is charged more than the charge in the capacitor unit 21, and the capacitor unit 21 If it is charged, the charge state of the secondary battery 3 does not need to be managed in detail, so the charging circuit of the charger 15 or the configuration of the main body control means 4 can be simplified. That is, the charge management of the capacitor unit 21 is relatively easy compared to the charge management of the secondary battery 3 that needs to be finely managed so as to prevent overcharge while monitoring the temperature or the charge amount. Compared with conventional charge control of a secondary battery such as switching between constant current charge and constant voltage charge, the overall charge control becomes easier.

  Furthermore, for example, when the secondary battery 3 is charged by switching every predetermined cell, the optimum charging voltage for the number of stacked cells is uniquely determined, whereas in the above embodiment, the charger 15 Therefore, the charging voltage can be arbitrarily selected by increasing or decreasing the number of capacitors. For example, if the number of capacitors is doubled, the charging voltage can be halved.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, since the charging current is supplied to the secondary battery 3 by the charged capacitor unit 21 as a whole, all the cells can always be kept in the same charged state.

  And since the capacitor | condenser part 21 is charged with the charger 15 through the two contact points 31 and 32 provided in the cleaner body 1, it is necessary to use a normal charger having two contact points as the charger 15. It becomes possible, and versatility can be further improved.

  In addition, since the maximum output voltage from the charger 15 can be suppressed, a relatively small relay or the like can be used as the switching means 26, and the charging device and the vacuum cleaner can be downsized, and the load on the charger 15 side can be reduced. The charging circuit and the like can be downsized.

  Furthermore, by providing the contacts 22 and 23 that make a pair for each of the capacitors 21a and 21b, the voltage between the contacts 22 and 23 can be suppressed.

  When the switching means 26 switches the capacitors 21a and 21b at a constant cycle, the charging control can be simplified.

  Further, when the connection between the charger 15 and the cleaner body 1 is cut off, the switching means 26 is provided by providing a connection cut-off means 35 that cuts off the contacts 31, 32 and the secondary battery 3 and the capacitor part 21 side. Even in the event of a failure, it is possible to more reliably prevent the entire voltage of the secondary battery 3 from being output to the contacts 31 and 32.

  Furthermore, it can respond easily to the high power of a vacuum cleaner by applying said charging device to a vacuum cleaner.

  In particular, home appliances such as a vacuum cleaner are generally provided with a charger 15 separately from the main body to be detachable. When the secondary battery 3 is not charged, the contact of the charger 15 Or contact points 31 and 32 connected to these contact points may be exposed, so by reducing the output voltage for charging from the charger 15 side, the contact points and contacts 31 and 32 of the charger 15 Therefore, it is possible to prevent an unnecessarily high voltage from being applied, and to prevent such a high voltage from being output externally.

  In the above embodiment, the condition for switching the switching means 26 by the main body control means 4 can be arbitrarily set.

  Further, when the switching by the switching means 26 can be ensured, the configuration can be further simplified without providing the connection blocking means 35.

  Further, in the above embodiment, for convenience, the capacitor unit 21 is divided into two capacitors 21a and 21b, and the contacts 22a and 23a and the contacts 22b and 23b are provided on the capacitors 21a and 21b, respectively. The method of dividing 21 or the number of divisions can be arbitrarily set according to the voltage in charge control, the charge limiting voltage in the secondary battery 3, or the like.

  The switching period of the charger 15 and the capacitors 21a and 21b in the switching means 26 is, for example, based on the charged state of the capacitors 21a and 21b monitored by the main body control means 4, for example, the one that is not sufficiently charged. It is also possible to arbitrarily change the connection time to the capacitor. In this case, charging of the capacitor unit 21 can be finely controlled, and overcharging of the capacitors 21a and 21b can be prevented more reliably.

  It is also possible to incorporate the charger 15 in the cleaner body 1.

  Furthermore, the charging device can be applied to any electric device driven by a secondary battery other than the electric vacuum cleaner.

It is a block diagram which shows the charging device of one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the vacuum cleaner provided with the charging device same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows the charge condition of the vacuum cleaner by a charging device same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vacuum Cleaner Body 2 Electric Blower 3 Secondary Battery
15 Charger as a charging power source
21 Capacitor part as capacitor part
22a, 22b, 23a, 23b contact
26 Switching means

Claims (5)

A capacitor unit connected in parallel to the secondary battery;
Charging power supply means for applying a voltage to the capacitor unit;
A charging device comprising: switching means for switching one of the parts obtained by dividing the capacitor part into a plurality of parts based on a predetermined condition and electrically connecting to the charging power supply means. The charging device according to claim 1, further comprising a contact that forms a pair for each of the divided parts of the capacitor unit and that can be connected to the charging power source unit via the switching unit. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit switches a portion obtained by dividing the capacitor unit at a constant period. 4. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit switches the divided portion of the capacitor unit based on a charged state of the secondary battery corresponding to the divided portion. 5. A vacuum cleaner body containing an electric blower that operates by feeding power from a secondary battery;
An electric vacuum cleaner comprising: the charging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a part of the main body of the vacuum cleaner is provided.

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