JP2017169845A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of detecting an abnormality of an electric blower at a relatively initial stage in order to prevent the generation of smoke and/or fire from the electric blower .SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 10 which includes an electric blower 30, a smell detector 74 for detecting smell at the exhaust side of the electric blower and a control unit 76 for controlling power supplied to the electric blower on the basis of a detection result of the smell detector reduces or stops the power supplied to the electric blower 30 when the electric blower 30 determines an abnormality from the detection result of the smell detector 74.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a vacuum cleaner.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vacuum cleaner having a function of detecting an abnormality of an electric blower and controlling electric power supplied to the electric blower is known. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration in which an abnormality of the electric blower is detected and the electric blower is stopped by a light detection unit that detects a spark generated by friction between the commutator of the electric blower and the carbon brush. .

  Patent Document 2 proposes a configuration in which a gas sensor is provided in a motor chamber in order to detect smoke from the electric blower, and power supplied to the electric blower is stopped when the gas sensor detects smoke.

  Patent Document 3 proposes a configuration in which a temperature detection element is provided in the vicinity of the electric blower, and the power supplied to the electric blower is stopped by the resistance value of the temperature detection element.

JP 2006-204470 A JP-A-5-192280 JP 2001-025452 A

  However, the means for detecting the abnormality of the electric blower with smoke, light, temperature, etc. is to detect the state of the electric blower at the end of the abnormal time. There is a risk of discharge or ignition of the electric blower.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that can detect an abnormality of an electric blower at a relatively early stage and can prevent smoke and ignition of the electric blower.

  The vacuum cleaner according to the present embodiment controls an electric blower, an odor detector for detecting an odor on the exhaust side of the electric blower, and electric power supplied to the electric blower based on a detection result of the odor detector. And a control unit.

It is a perspective view of the electric vacuum cleaner concerning a 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the vacuum cleaner main body of the same vacuum cleaner. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the internal structure of the same vacuum cleaner. It is a block diagram of the control circuit for electric blowers of the same vacuum cleaner. It is a control flowchart by the smell detection of the same vacuum cleaner. It is a control flowchart by the smell detection which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, a vacuum cleaner 10 according to an embodiment includes a vacuum cleaner main body 12, a hose body 16 connected to the hose connection port 14, and a hand operation provided at the tip of the hose body 16. A part 17, an extension pipe 18 connected to the hand operating part 17, and a suction port body 19 connected to the tip of the extension pipe 18 are provided.

  The vacuum cleaner main body 12 includes a hollow case main body 20, and traveling wheels 22 that allow the vacuum cleaner main body 12 to travel can be provided on the left and right sides of the vacuum cleaner main body 12. Is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inside of the case body 20 is partitioned forward and backward by a partition wall 26, a dust collection portion 28 is formed on the front side, and the electric blower 30 is accommodated on the rear side. An electric blower chamber 31, an upper duct 32 provided above the electric blower chamber 31, and a cord reel chamber (not shown) are partitioned.

  The dust collection unit 28 is connected to the hose connection port 14 and is a room for collecting dust sucked together with air through the suction port body 19 by driving the electric blower 30. For example, a dust collection bag 34 such as a paper pack is collected. Can be installed inside. A dust collection chamber filter 36 is attached to the downstream side of the dust collection bag 34.

  The electric blower chamber 31 accommodates an electric blower 30 that applies a suction negative pressure to the dust collector 28, and a silencer 38 that is interposed between the electric blower 30 and the dust collector 28. The electric blower 30 is covered with a case-like first blower cover 40, and the first blower cover 40 is covered with a case-like second blower cover 42, and the electric blower chamber 31 is partitioned by the second blower cover 42. Has been.

  The electric blower 30 includes a centrifugal fan unit 46 having an intake port 44 and a motor unit 50 having an exhaust port 48. The motor unit 50 includes a motor case 51 provided with an exhaust port 48, a stator 52 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the motor case 51, a rotor 54 disposed on the inner side of the stator 52, and the rotor 54. The stator 52, the rotor 54, and the brush mechanism 56 constitute an electric motor 58. The rotor 54 includes a winding portion 54A wound around a rotating shaft and a commutator 54B connected to the winding portion 54A.

  The centrifugal fan unit 46 includes a centrifugal fan 60 that rotates when the electric motor 58 is driven, and a fan cover 61 that covers the centrifugal fan 60, and air that has been sucked from the air inlet 44 formed in the center of the fan cover 61 is on the outer peripheral side. To blow out.

  The upper duct 32 is provided along the upper surface of the second blower cover 42 that forms the electric blower chamber 31, and is formed as an exhaust air passage extending in the front-rear direction. A plurality of main body exhaust ports 64 communicating with the upper duct 32 are formed in the rear portion of the vacuum cleaner body 12 so as to be directed rearward, and are configured to be exhausted from the main body exhaust port 64 to the outside of the cleaner body 12. ing.

  In the electric vacuum cleaner 10, an exhaust air passage 65 that connects the electric blower 30 provided in the cleaner main body 12 and the main body exhaust port 64 is formed as follows.

  A first cover exhaust port 66 is provided at the lower part of the first blower cover 40 surrounding the electric blower 30, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the exhaust air flowing around the outer periphery of the electric blower 30 and the motor unit The exhaust air blown from the 50 exhaust ports 48 is discharged downward from the first cover exhaust port 66. The first cover exhaust port 66 is provided with a filter 68 made of breathable urethane foam.

  A second cover exhaust port 70 that opens to the front end of the upper duct 32 is provided at the upper part of the second fan cover 42 that defines the electric fan chamber 31. Exhaust air blown out from the first cover exhaust port 66 and flowing along the outer surface of the first blower cover 40 is discharged from the second cover exhaust port 70 into the upper upper duct 32, and the inside of the electric blower chamber 31. All the exhaust air flows into the upper duct 32 through the second cover exhaust port 78. The second cover exhaust port 70 is provided with a filter 72 made of breathable urethane foam.

  The exhaust air discharged into the upper duct 32 from the second cover exhaust port 70 flows backward through the upper duct 32 and is discharged from the main body exhaust port 64 of the cleaner body 12 to the outside. As described above, from the electric blower 30, the inner space of the first blower cover 40, the first cover exhaust port 66, the space between the first blower cover 40 and the second blower cover 42, the second cover exhaust port 70, An exhaust air passage 65 is formed through the upper duct 32 and reaching the main body exhaust port 64.

  The vacuum cleaner 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a control board 78 including an odor detector 74 that detects an odor on the exhaust side of the electric blower 30 and a control unit 76 that controls electric power supplied to the electric blower 30. ing.

  The odor detector 74 is a detector that detects an odor generated when the electric blower 30 is abnormal. When an abnormality such as a short circuit occurs, the electric blower 30 generates a specific odor before smoke or fire, that is, at an initial stage in the event of an abnormality. Examples of such odors include odors generated by the temperature rise from the motor winding portion 54A of the electric blower 30, and more specifically, odor components that are vaporized by the temperature rise included in the motor winding portion 54A. In other words, there are components that are easily vaporized and are contained in the varnish that fixes the winding, the insulating coating material of the winding, and the like. For example, the varnish fixing the winding includes an epoxy resin obtained by curing a composition containing a liquid epoxy resin and a curing agent, and the insulating coating material for the winding is a polyester resin. Examples thereof include low molecular weight compounds contained therein. The odor detector 74 detects the odor generated at the initial stage when the electric blower 30 is abnormal. For example, a commercially available odor sensor may be customized so that these odors can be detected. Good.

  The odor detector 74 is disposed on the exhaust side of the electric blower 30 and is provided in the exhaust air passage 65 that connects the electric blower 30 and the main body exhaust port 64. In this example, the odor detector 74 is provided in the upper duct 32. A control board 78 is installed in the upper duct 32, and an odor detector 74 is provided on the control board 78.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the electric blower control circuit includes an electric blower 30, an odor detector 74, a control unit 76, a power adjustment unit 80, and a power supply 82. The control unit 76 controls the electric blower 30 based on the detection result of the odor detector 74, and is configured by a microcomputer or the like. For the power adjustment unit 80, for example, a triac is used. In this example, the power source 82 is an AC type, but may be a cordless type (rechargeable) type power source.

  Specifically, odor detection information from the odor detector 74 is input to the control unit 76, and the control unit 76 determines whether or not the electric blower 30 is abnormal based on the detection information. The signal which controls the electric power adjustment part 80 is output, and the electric power supplied to the electric blower 30 from the power supply 82 is reduced or stopped. In the present embodiment, when the odor detector 74 detects an odor that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (that is, when the detection result exceeds a predetermined threshold), the control unit 76 determines that the electric blower 30 is abnormal. To do.

  Next, control by smell detection of the electric vacuum cleaner 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S1, a plug (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner 10 is inserted into an outlet (connected to the power source 82), and the start switch is turned on to supply power from the power source 82 to the electric blower 30 to start up.

  When the electric vacuum cleaner 10 is activated, odor detection by the odor detector 74 is performed. Odor detection can be performed at equal time intervals. The detection result from the odor detector 74 is input to the control unit 76, and the control unit 76 determines whether or not the electric blower 30 is abnormal (step S2). That is, when the odor detector 74 detects an odor of a predetermined value or more that is generated at the initial stage when the electric blower 30 is abnormal, the control unit 76 determines that the electric blower 30 is abnormal, and sends it to the electric blower 30. The power to be supplied is reduced (step S3). On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no abnormality, the normal operation is continued as it is.

  By the way, the abnormality may be corrected by reducing the power supplied to the electric blower 30. Therefore, the following control is performed after the power supply is reduced. First, in step S <b> 4, the operation is continued as it is until a predetermined time (for example, about 10 to 30 seconds) at which an effect of reducing supply power is obtained elapses.

  After the predetermined time has elapsed, in step S <b> 5, the control unit 76 determines whether or not the electric blower 30 is abnormal based on the detection result from the odor detector 74. That is, odor detection by the odor detector 74 is performed, and it is determined whether or not the detection result is an odor of a predetermined value or more that is generated at the initial stage when the electric blower 30 is abnormal. The predetermined value here may be set to the same value as the predetermined value in step S2.

  When it is determined that the electric blower 30 is abnormal, that is, when the electric blower 30 is further determined to be abnormal after the supply power is reduced, it is determined that the abnormality is not corrected. The power supplied to the blower 30 is stopped. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S5 that the electric blower 30 is not abnormal, in step S7, the control unit 76 returns the electric power supplied to the electric blower 30 to the electric power at the time of startup and returns to the normal operation. And a driving | operation of the vacuum cleaner 10 is complete | finished because a user turns off a starting switch.

  In the present embodiment, after stopping the power supplied to the electric blower 30 in step S6, the control unit 76 performs control so that the electric blower 30 is not operated again even when the input for operating the electric blower 30 is recognized. To do. That is, in this case, not only when the start switch is turned on as it is, but also when the start switch is turned on after unplugging from the outlet (disconnecting from the power source 82) and then connecting to the power source 82. The control unit 76 controls the electric blower 30 so as not to supply current. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, a memory 84 such as a non-volatile memory is connected to the control unit 76, and is configured to store that power supply to the electric blower 30 is stopped due to an abnormality.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, the odor detector 74 for detecting the odor on the exhaust side of the electric blower 30 is provided, the initial state in which the abnormality of the electric blower 30 occurs is detected, and the electric power supplied to the electric blower 30 is supplied. Since the control is performed, smoke and ignition of the electric blower 30 can be prevented in advance. That is, since an odor generated at an early abnormality is detected instead of smoke, the abnormality of the electric blower 30 can be detected earlier.

  When the electric blower 30 determines that the electric blower 30 is abnormal based on the detection result of the odor detector 74, the control unit 76 first reduces the power supplied to the electric blower 30, and then further detects the detection result of the odor detector 74. Since the electric power supplied to the electric blower 30 is stopped when the electric blower 30 determines that the electric blower 30 is abnormal on the basis of the above, the following effects are exhibited. That is, even if the electric blower 30 has an odor due to an abnormality in the initial state, the abnormality may be corrected by reducing the supply power. Can be prevented from becoming unusable as a malfunction. On the other hand, after the supply power is reduced, when an abnormality is further detected by the odor detector 74, the supply power is stopped. Therefore, smoke and ignition of the electric blower 30 can be prevented in advance.

  In addition, the control unit 76 controls the electric blower 30 so as not to operate again after the electric blower 30 determines that the electric blower 30 is abnormal and stops supplying the electric power to the electric blower 30, so that the user erroneously starts up again. Even if it tries, it does not work and safety improves.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the smell detection control of the vacuum cleaner by the control unit 76. In the second embodiment, the threshold value of the odor detection value by the odor detector 74 is defined as a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value that is greater than the first predetermined value. Control is performed so that the power supplied to the electric blower 30 is reduced when an odor less than a predetermined value is detected, and the power supplied to the electric blower 30 is stopped when an odor greater than a second predetermined value is detected.

  More specifically, the control can be performed as shown in FIG. First, in step S11, as in step S1, the electric blower 30 is activated, and odor detection by the odor detector 74 is started. In this example, in step S12, the control unit 76 determines whether or not the odor detector 74 has detected an odor that is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value. If not detected, the normal operation is continued.

  On the other hand, when an odor exceeding the first predetermined value is detected, it is determined in step S13 whether or not the detected value is an odor exceeding the second predetermined value. The unit 76 determines that the electric blower 30 is abnormal, and stops the power supplied to the electric blower 30 in step S14, and then recognizes the operation input of the electric blower 30 as in step S6. Also, the electric blower 30 is controlled not to operate again.

  If it is determined in step S13 that the odor is less than the second predetermined value, the control unit 76 reduces the power supplied to the electric blower 30 as in step S3 (step S15). Then, in order to confirm whether or not the abnormality can be corrected, in step S16, the operation is continued as it is until a predetermined time enough to obtain a reduction effect of the supplied power has elapsed, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, In step S17, odor detection is performed by the odor detector 74, and it is determined whether the odor detector 74 has detected an odor equal to or greater than a first predetermined value.

  Then, when the odor detector 74 determines that the odor of the first predetermined value or more is detected, that is, when the electric blower 30 further determines that there is an abnormality after the supply power is reduced, it is determined that the abnormality is not corrected, and the above step As in S6, in step S18, the power supplied to the electric blower 30 is stopped, and thereafter, even if the operation input of the electric blower 30 is recognized, the electric blower 30 is controlled not to be operated again. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S17 that an odor exceeding the first predetermined value is not detected, the power supplied to the electric blower 30 is returned to the power at the time of startup in step S19, as in step S7, and the normal operation is performed. Return to.

  According to the second embodiment, the threshold value of the odor detection value by the odor detector 74 is set in two stages of the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value, and when the odor detection value is large, the electric blower 30 is immediately supplied. Since the supply power is stopped, smoke and ignition of the electric blower 30 can be more reliably prevented. About 2nd Embodiment, the other structure and effect are the same as that of 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

(Other embodiments)
As long as the odor detector 74 can detect the odor generated when the electric blower 30 is abnormal, the position of the odor detector 74 is not particularly limited. For example, the odor detector 74 may be located inside the first blower cover 40 or the first blower cover 40 and It may be provided in the electric blower chamber 31 such as between the two blower covers 42.

  Further, in the above embodiment, control is performed to reduce the power supplied to the electric blower 30 based on the detection result by the odor detector 74, but such reduction control is not performed, and the odor detector 74 is set to a predetermined value. Control may be performed so that the power supplied to the electric blower 30 is stopped immediately when an odor exceeding the value is detected.

  The above-described embodiments are presented as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments are included in the invention described in the scope of claims and their equivalents as well as included in the scope and gist of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electric vacuum cleaner, 12 ... Vacuum cleaner main body, 30 ... Electric blower, 54A ... Motor winding part, 74 ... Odor detector, 76 ... Control part

Claims (5)

  An electric vacuum cleaner comprising: an electric blower; an odor detector that detects an odor on the exhaust side of the electric blower; and a control unit that controls electric power supplied to the electric blower based on a detection result of the odor detector. The odor detector detects an odor generated by a temperature rise from a motor winding part of the electric blower,
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1. The control unit reduces the power supplied to the electric blower when the electric blower is determined to be abnormal based on the detection result of the odor detector.
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2. The controller, after reducing the power supplied to the electric blower, further stops the power supplied to the electric blower when the electric blower is determined to be abnormal based on the detection result of the odor detector.
The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 3. The control unit determines that the electric blower is abnormal and does not operate the electric blower again after stopping the power supplied to the electric blower.
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4.

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