JPH0533617B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that uses a secondary battery as a power source and has a switch for changing the suction force, and particularly relates to a switch operating mechanism.

(Prior art) Conventionally, in this type of vacuum cleaner, which uses a secondary battery as a power source and has a switch that changes the suction power to multiple positions including the OFF state, the suction power can be changed by operating the switch once. Once set to a switching position corresponding to the strength of the switch, the switch will remain at the set switching position unless the switch is operated again.

For example, in a vacuum cleaner with the structure shown in Fig. 7,
Handle portion 2 of the vacuum cleaner body 1 that is held during cleaning
A switch 3 is provided at the front end of the switch 3, and a knob 5 for operating the cover 4 provided above the switch 3 is supported so as to be slidable in the front and back direction. A slider 6 for switching the switch 3 is engaged with the switch 3.

Since the above-mentioned switch has a structure that continues to be held at the set switching position, there is a risk that the user may forget to turn it off and leave it in the on state, that is, in the operating state. If left as is, it is fine as long as there is sufficient charge in the secondary battery, but even when the charge decreases, the battery continues discharging, rapidly progressing to an over-discharge state, and increasing internal resistance. There are problems that cause inconvenience.

Also, even if you try to charge the secondary battery by connecting the charger to the vacuum cleaner while it is still in operation, the battery will not be charged because it is in a discharged state.
On the contrary, overdischarge progresses. Moreover, since the user determines that charging is being performed by connecting the charger, the user may not notice the misuse.

As described above, as over-discharging progresses in the secondary battery, the internal resistance increases, and depending on the configuration of the charging device, there is a problem that charging the battery becomes difficult.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, in conventional vacuum cleaners, the switch is kept in the on state unless the user consciously turns it off after cleaning. ,
If the user forgets to turn off the power switch, there is a problem in that the secondary battery is wasted and its over-discharge progresses, leading to deterioration of the battery.

The present invention aims to solve these problems, and it is possible to easily and reliably position the switch in multiple stages, and to operate the electric blower with the desired suction force. To provide a vacuum cleaner which is easy to use and can prevent unnecessary battery consumption and deterioration due to over-discharge by returning the switch to the off position when the operation is stopped. It is something.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes a DC electric blower provided in a vacuum cleaner body having a handle portion, a discharge circuit including a secondary battery as a power source thereof, and a discharge circuit including a secondary battery as a power source thereof. a charging circuit for charging the discharging circuit; a switch disposed within the handle portion and having a plurality of switching positions for switching the discharging circuit between an OFF state and a plurality of ON states; a switch movably provided on the outer surface of the handle portion; and a knob body that is pressed and held at the switching position for switching the switching position of the switch, and the knob body is movable in the same direction and in a pressing direction orthogonal to the operating direction of the switch, and protrudes in the pressing direction. a positioning means for engaging the knob with the engaging portion corresponding to each switching position of the switch when the knob is pressed in the orthogonal pressing direction; a first biasing means that biases the engaging portion in a direction opposite to the direction of engagement between the engaging portion and the positioning means, releases the pressing force, and releases the engagement between the engaging portion and the positioning means; A second urging means is provided for returning the knob to the off position when the engagement between the joint portion and the positioning means is released.

(Function) In the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, when cleaning, by pressing and holding the knob at the switching position and operating the switch, the discharge circuit is controlled and the DC electric blower powered by the secondary battery is operated. Switch the suction power.
When the knob is pressed in the pressing direction perpendicular to the operating direction of the switch, the positioning means engages with the engaging portion of the knob corresponding to each switching position of the switch, and the knob is moved to a predetermined switching position. It is held in place and its position is prevented from shifting. Further, when the pressure holding of the knob body is released after cleaning, etc., the knob body is moved in the opposite direction to the direction in which the engaging portion and the positioning means are engaged by the first biasing means, and the knob body is engaged. When the engagement between the part and the positioning means is released and the knob body is in any switching position, the second biasing means returns the knob body to the off position.
The discharge circuit is in an off state, and when the knob is not operated, it is always in an off state.

(Embodiment) The configuration of an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 6.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a vacuum cleaner body, which is composed of a main body case 12 and a dust collection case 13 which is detachably attached to the front side of the main body case 12 and has an open rear surface.
The main body case 12 is divided into left and right parts, and a right main case part 12a is joined with screws or the like.
and a left main body case portion 12b.

The dust collection case 13 has a locking protrusion 14 formed at the rear end of its lower surface, and
A locking body 16 biased clockwise in the drawing by a spring 15 is pivotally attached to the rear end of the upper surface. In addition, a cylindrical suction port 17 is provided at the front end of the dust collection case 13.
is opened, and at the rear end opening of this suction port 17,
A valve body 18 that opens with wind pressure is provided. Further, a brush body 19 is swingably provided surrounding the suction port 17. Furthermore, this dust collection case 1
A filter device 20 for collecting dust is removably provided inside the device 3.

On the other hand, a locking protrusion 14 of the dust collecting case 13 is provided at the lower end and upper end of the front surface of the main body case 12.
Hook-shaped engagement receiving portions 21 and 22 are formed, respectively, for holding the dust collecting case 13 on the main body case 12 by engaging and disengaging the locking body 16 and the locking body 16, respectively. Also,
A handle portion 23 extending in the front-rear direction is integrally formed on the upper portion of the main body case 12.

In addition, a communication port 2 is provided on the front of the main body case 12.
4 is formed as an opening, and a DC electric blower 25 is supported within the main body case 12 facing the communication port 24 . Furthermore, an exhaust port (not shown) is formed in the side surface of the main body case 12 facing the electric blower 25 .

Further, a rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped battery storage section 28 having an opening opened and closed by a lid body 27 on the lower surface is formed at the rear end of the main body case 12. A secondary battery 29 such as a lead-acid battery, which is a power source for the electric blower 25, is removably housed.

Furthermore, on the lower inside of the main body case 12,
A resistor 31 for controlling the current flowing from the secondary battery 29 to the DC electric blower 25 is provided, and a circuit board 33 on which a charging circuit 32 for charging the secondary battery 29 is mounted is also provided. Further, facing the rear end of the upper surface of the handle portion 23, a charging indicator light 34 such as an LED is provided.

Further, an opening 41 is formed in the front portion of the upper surface of the handle portion 23, and a cover body 43 having an insertion hole 42 in the center is attached to this opening 41. That is, the cover body 43 is inserted into the groove 44 formed at the peripheral edge of the opening 41.
A locking part 45 having a substantially L-shaped cross section formed on the peripheral edge of the cover body 43 is engaged with the cover body 43 so as to cover the opening part 41 . Also, due to the gap between the cover body 43 and the ribs 46 forming the groove portion 44 of the main body case 12, the ribs 46 extend in the front-rear direction and face each other on both sides of the cover body 43 at the rear of the insertion opening 42 of the cover body 43. A pair of guide grooves 47 are formed. Further, on the upper surface of the cover body 43 in front of the insertion opening 42, a pair of engagement grooves 48 as positioning means extending in the left-right direction are formed.

Further, the handle portion 23 faces the opening 41.
A pair of support ribs 49 are formed inside.
A switch 51 having a slider 50 that slides in the front-rear direction is supported and fixed to these support ribs 49 .

Reference numeral 52 denotes a knob body, which is formed into a substantially plate shape, and a boss portion 53 is formed protruding from the center of both sides of the knob body 52, respectively. Further, a box-shaped operating section 54 that protrudes upward is formed at the front part of this knob body 52, and the lower edge of the front surface of this operating section 52 slightly protrudes downward and engages with the cover body 43. It is formed on an engagement protrusion 55 that becomes an engagement portion that is engaged and disengaged from the groove 48 . Further, a hook portion 56 is formed at the rear end portion of the knob body 52. Furthermore, a fitting portion 57 is formed at the center of the lower surface of the knob 52.

The knob body 52 has boss portions 53 on both sides thereof slidably engaged with grooves 44 on both sides of the cover body 43, so that the knob body 52 is attached to the cover body 43.
3 so as to be movable back and forth and swingably around the boss portion 53. Also, this knob body 5
The second operation section 54 is located outward from the insertion opening 42 of the cover body 43, while the hook section 56 of this knob body 52 is located inside the handle section 23.
Further, the fitting portion 57 of the knob 52 is fitted into the slider 50 of the switch 51.

Further, both ends of coil springs 59 serving as first and second biasing means are supported by a hook portion 56 of this knob 52 and a support wall 58 formed at the rear inside the handle portion 23, respectively. The direction of the tension of the spring 59 and the operating direction of the switch 51 are obliquely intersecting at an angle t, as shown in FIG. Then, due to this spring 59, the switch 5
2 is always biased backward. When the spring 59 releases the pressure on the knob 52 at each switching position for turning on a discharge circuit 61, which will be described later, the spring 59 engages the engagement protrusion 55 and the engagement groove 48.
The knob body 52 is moved in a direction opposite to the direction of engagement with the discharging circuit 61, and the knob body 52 is returned to the off position from each switching position where the discharge circuit 61 is turned on.

Next, the configuration of the electric circuit will be explained with reference to FIG.

The switch 51 has at least four contacts 51.
a, 51b, 51c, 51d, and adjacent contacts 51a, 51b, 51b, 51c, 51
c and 51d are selectively connected in conjunction with the slider 50 of this switch 51.
This contact 51a is an off contact. Further, the contact 51b is connected to the anode of the secondary battery 29 via the resistor 31, and the contact 51b is connected to the anode of the secondary battery 29 through the resistor 31.
1d is directly connected to the anode of this secondary battery 29. Furthermore, the contact 51c is connected to the positive side of the DC electric blower 25. Further, the cathode of the secondary battery 29 is connected to the negative side of the electric blower 25. The electric blower 25, secondary battery 29, resistor 31, and switch 51 constitute a discharge circuit 61.

Further, a rectifier circuit 66 consisting of a transformer 63 and diodes 64 and 65 is built into a charging adapter 62 provided separately from the vacuum cleaner main body 11, and this rectifier circuit 66 is connected via a connector (not shown). The charging circuit 32 is detachably connected to the charging circuit 32 in the vacuum cleaner main body 11.

Next, the configuration of the charging circuit 32 will be explained.

A first thyristor 67 and a diode 68 are connected in series between the positive side of the rectifier circuit 66 and the anode of the secondary battery 29, and a protective resistor 69 is connected in parallel with the first thyristor 67. is connected. Further, the secondary battery 2
The cathode 9 is connected to the negative side of the rectifier circuit 66.

A diode 70, a resistor 71, and a second thyristor 72 are connected in series between the positive side and the negative side of the rectifier circuit 66, and a resistor 73 is connected between both ends of the resistor 71.
and a diode 74 are successively connected in series. Further, a smoothing capacitor 75 is connected between the midpoint between the diode 70 and the resistor 71 and the negative side of the rectifier circuit 66. Furthermore, the resistor 71 and the second thyristor 7
A diode 76 is connected between the intermediate point of the first thyristor 67 and the gate of the first thyristor 67, and a resistor 77 is connected between the gate and the cathode of the first thyristor 67.

Furthermore, a Zener diode 78 and a resistor 79 are connected in series between the cathode of the first thyristor 67 and the negative side of the rectifier circuit 66, and a midpoint between the Zener diode 78 and the resistor 79 is a resistor. It is connected to the gate of the second thyristor 72 via 80. Furthermore, a capacitor 81 is connected between the gate and cathode of this second thyristor 72.
is connected.

Furthermore, between the intermediate point of the resistor 73 and the diode 74 and the negative side of the rectifier circuit 66,
The diode 82 and the charging indicator light 34 are connected in series.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

During cleaning, the cleaner main body 11 is supported by holding the handle part 23 and moved while the suction port 17 is opposed to the surface to be cleaned. Then, by driving the electric blower 25, the collected dust is sucked in from the suction port 17.
The dust is stored in the dust collection case 13 by the filter device 20.

At this time, with the fingers of the hand gripping the handle part 23,
Operation section 5 of knob body 52 linked to switch 51
4, the discharge circuit 61 is controlled and the suction force is adjusted. That is, switch 51
The slider 50 is the contact 51 of this switch 51.
When the contacts a and 51b are connected, the discharge circuit 61 is opened and the electric blower 25 stops, and when the contacts 51b and 51c are connected, current flows through the resistor 31, resulting in a standard When a suction force is obtained and the contacts 51c and 51d are in a position where they are connected, a strong suction force is obtained because current flows without passing through the resistor 31.

The front end of the knob 53 is located at A in FIG.
When the discharge circuit 61 is in the position shown in (off position)
is in the OFF state, and when it is in the position shown by B (ON switching position), it has a standard suction force, and when it is in the position shown by C (ON switching position), it has a strong suction force.

When the user presses the knob 52 and moves it in the front and back direction, the user can turn it on and off.
Switch to off position. When the knob body 52 is located at B or C, that is, the on position, the engagement protrusion 55 of the knob body 52 is engaged with the engagement groove 48 of the cover body 43 from above, as shown in FIG. , picking body 5
By continuing to press 2 with your finger, this engaged state is maintained. By the way, the knob body 52 is
As described above, the engaging groove 48 is provided as a positioning means that is engaged with the knob body 52 from the front-rear direction, that is, from the pressing direction orthogonal to the operating direction of the switch 51. ,
It is possible to prevent displacement of the knob body 53 which is biased during operation, and it is easy to use. In this way, the knob body 52
can be positioned and held at a predetermined point, so the user can clearly associate the suction force with the position of the knob 52.

When the knob 53 is released from being held by hand after cleaning, the knob 52 returns to the off position due to the bias of the spring 59, and the discharge circuit 61 is turned off. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the engagement protrusion 55 on the front end of the knob body 52 is engaged with the engagement groove 48 of the cover body 43, the tension of the spring 59 causes the spring 59 to engage. Combined knob body 52
A downward force is applied to the rear end of the rear end due to its positional relationship with the boss portion 53. Therefore, the picking body 5
As shown in FIG.
I can get away from it. At the same time, the knob 52 moves rearward due to the tension of the spring 59 and returns to the off position. Note that when the cover body 43 is returned to the off position, the rear surface of the operating portion 54 of the knob body 52 comes into contact with the rear end of the insertion hole 42 of the cover body 43, so that the knob body 52 is locked.

In this way, when you release your hand from the knob 52, the knob 52 automatically returns to the OFF position, and the discharge circuit 61 is always in the OFF state when not in use, so that unnecessary consumption of the secondary battery 29 is avoided. It can be prevented. Further, when not in use, only self-discharge occurs, so over-discharge of the secondary battery 29 progresses slowly, and deterioration of the secondary battery 29 can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the engagement protrusion 55, which is the engagement portion of the knob 52, and the engagement groove 4, which is the positioning means,
Although the first biasing means for releasing the engagement with the knob 8 and the second biasing means for returning the knob 52 to the off position are the same spring 59, both biasing means may be separate springs or the like. may also be used.

Next, when charging the secondary battery 29, the connector of the charging adapter 62 is connected to the connector of the vacuum cleaner main body 11 while the discharge circuit 61 is in an off state.

When the voltage across the secondary battery 29 is low, the potential on the gate side of the first thyristor 67 is higher than the potential on the cathode side, so the first thyristor 67 is not conductive. , a charging current flows through the secondary battery 29, and this secondary battery 29 is charged. In this state, the Zener diode 78 is in a non-conducting state, and the second thyristor 72 whose gate is connected to the negative side of the Zener diode 78 is also in a non-conducting state. Therefore, resistor 73 and diode 7
Since the potential at the midpoint of 4 is sufficiently high, the charging indicator light 34 lights up to indicate that charging is in progress.

Then, when the secondary battery 29 is charged and the voltage between its two electrodes increases, the Zener diode 78 becomes conductive, and the gate of the second thyristor 72 is energized to make the second thyristor 72 conductive. Then, the first thyristor 67
The potential on the gate side of the first
The thyristor 67 becomes non-conductive, and the rechargeable battery 29 is prevented from becoming rechargeable. Further, due to a relative decrease in the potential at the midpoint between the resistor 73 and the diode 74, the charging indicator light 34 turns off, indicating that charging has ended.

Furthermore, when the vacuum cleaner is not in use, the discharge circuit 61 is always in the OFF state, so there is no risk of connecting the charging adapter 62 to the vacuum cleaner body 11 in the ON state, thereby preventing damage to the charging adapter 62. can. That is, when the knob body 52 is not operated, it is always in a rechargeable state, so that misuse by the user can be prevented.

(Effect of the invention) According to the invention, a secondary battery is used as a power source, and
In a vacuum cleaner that has a switch that changes the suction force in multiple stages including the off state, when the knob is pressed in the pressing direction perpendicular to the operating direction of the switch, the knob provided corresponding to each switching position of the switch. With the positioning means that engages with the engaging portion provided on the body, the knob body can be easily positioned and will not deviate from a predetermined switching position during operation, improving usability. Further, when the push and hold of the knob for operating the switch is released, the engagement between the engaging portion of the knob and the positioning means is released by the first biasing means, and the knob is moved to the second biasing member. The discharge circuit is returned to the OFF position by the powering means, and the discharge circuit is always in the OFF state when not in use, thereby preventing wasteful consumption of the secondary battery and also preventing deterioration of the secondary battery due to overdischarge.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal side view showing an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken from the side of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 5 is a vertical side view of the vicinity of the switch when the above knob is held pressed; FIG. 5 is a longitudinal side view of the vicinity of the switch when the knob is released; FIG. It is a vertical side view of the switch vicinity showing an example of a conventional vacuum cleaner. 25...DC electric blower, 29...Secondary battery, 32
...Charging circuit, 48...Engagement groove as positioning means, 51...Switch, 52...Knob body, 55...Engagement protrusion serving as an engagement portion, 59...Spring as first and second biasing means, 61...Discharge circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A DC electric blower provided in a vacuum cleaner body having a handle portion, a discharge circuit including a secondary battery as a power source thereof, a charging circuit for charging the secondary battery, and a discharge circuit including the secondary battery. A switch having a plurality of switching positions for switching between an OFF state and a plurality of ON states and disposed within the handle part, and a switch movably provided on the outer surface of the handle part and operating the switching position of the switch to perform the switching operation. a knob body that is pressed and held in position, the knob body being movable in the same direction and a pressing direction perpendicular to the operating direction of the switch, and provided with an engaging portion protruding in the pressing direction; A positioning means is provided for engaging the knob with the engaging portion in correspondence with each switching position of the switch when pressed in the orthogonal pressing direction, and the knob is engaged with the engaging portion and the positioning means. a first biasing means that is biased in a direction opposite to the mating direction and releases the engagement between the engaging portion and the positioning means when the pressing force is released; A vacuum cleaner further comprising: second biasing means for returning the knob to the off position when the knob is released.