WO2000036969A1 - Aspirateur muni de casiers porte-piles - Google Patents

Aspirateur muni de casiers porte-piles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000036969A1
WO2000036969A1 PCT/GB1999/004079 GB9904079W WO0036969A1 WO 2000036969 A1 WO2000036969 A1 WO 2000036969A1 GB 9904079 W GB9904079 W GB 9904079W WO 0036969 A1 WO0036969 A1 WO 0036969A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
battery pack
appliance
housing
cooling fluid
cells
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1999/004079
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Geoffrey Michael Burlington
Original Assignee
Dyson Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dyson Limited filed Critical Dyson Limited
Priority to GB0113433A priority Critical patent/GB2360937B/en
Priority to AU15759/00A priority patent/AU1575900A/en
Publication of WO2000036969A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000036969A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2836—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
    • A47L9/2852—Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2805—Parameters or conditions being sensed
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2857—User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2868—Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
    • A47L9/2873—Docking units or charging stations
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2868—Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
    • A47L9/2884—Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/61—Types of temperature control
    • H01M10/613—Cooling or keeping cold
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/62—Heating or cooling; Temperature control specially adapted for specific applications
    • H01M10/623—Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
    • H01M10/656—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
    • H01M10/6561—Gases
    • H01M10/6563—Gases with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
    • H01M10/656—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
    • H01M10/6561—Gases
    • H01M10/6566—Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
    • H01M50/204—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
    • H01M50/207—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape
    • H01M50/213—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/24—Alkaline accumulators
    • H01M10/30—Nickel accumulators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/34—Gastight accumulators
    • H01M10/345—Gastight metal hydride accumulators
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a vacuum cleaning appliance powered by a battery pack.
  • the vacuum cleaning appliance can be an autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaner.
  • Battery packs are commonly used as power sources in electrical devices and appliances where portability and/or independent operation is required. Battery technology is improving at a considerable rate and increasing demands are being placed on battery- operated devices and appliances in terms of the power which they are required to consume and the time for which they are required to operate. This puts increasing demands on the battery packs used to power the electrical devices and appliances in terms of the power they are required to store and the rate at which they are required to discharge and be recharged.
  • JP 7-250788 (Matsushita) describes a vacuum cleaner powered by a battery pack.
  • the battery pack is located upstream of the fan of the vacuum cleaner, and in use air is drawn through the battery pack to cool the pack.
  • the present invention seeks to provide a battery powered vacuum cleaning appliance that minimises or overcomes problems with the prior art. It is an object of the invention to provide a vacuum cleaning appliance in combination with a battery pack which discharges under optimum conditions for a higher proportion of its operating time than known combinations. It is another object of the invention to provide a method of cooling a battery pack forming part of an electrical appliance in an efficient and effective way.
  • an aspect of the invention provides a vacuum cleaning appliance comprising a body having a dirty air inlet, a cleaned air outlet, a dirt and dust separating apparatus and an airflow path between the inlet and outlet via the dirt and dust separating apparatus, a fan for generating an airflow along the path and a battery pack for powering the appliance, the battery pack being located downstream of the fan along the airflow path, the battery pack having a housing containing a plurality of cells, the housing including at least one inlet port for receiving a stream of cooling fluid from the airflow path and at least one outlet port for emitting the stream of cooling fluid, and a cooling fluid path between the inlet port or ports and the outlet port or ports for carrying cooling fluid therebetween.
  • inlet and outlet ports to receive and emit a stream of cooling fluid allows a fluid stream to pass through the interior of the housing and around and across the cells themselves in order to achieve a cooling effect.
  • the ability of the cells to charge and discharge at comparatively low temperatures increases the efficiency at which they operate and fewer losses therefore occur.
  • This has the advantage of increasing the amount of energy which is made available to the appliance which is powered by the battery pack and thus raising the energy efficiency of that appliance. Locating the battery pack downstream of the fan has some important advantages.
  • the air that passes through the battery pack is air that has been warmed above atmospheric temperature. The warming is partly due to the air having been made to do work, and partly due to cooling the fan motor.
  • the appliance can operate at lower noise levels using an existing component - the battery pack - without the need for an additional silencer, a heavy device which is undesirable in a cordless machine.
  • a further advantage of locating the battery pack downstream of the fan is that the requirements for sealing the airflow path to the battery pack are lessened. This is because the air passing through the battery pack is exhaust air.
  • the cells of the battery pack are arranged directly in the cooling fluid path so as to maximise the cooling effect of the cooling fluid.
  • the inlet port or ports is or are arranged at a first end of the battery pack and the outlet port or ports is or are arranged at a second end of the battery pack remote from the first end.and the outlet port or ports is or are spread across an area of the second end which is substantially equal to the area occupied by the cells adjacent the second end of the housing. This arrangement ensures that the cooling fluid spreads across the whole of the housing and traverses all of the cells, at least in the area of the outlet or outlets.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to the invention
  • Figures 2a and 2b are plan views of first and second parts of the battery pack of Figure l;
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner carrying and powered by battery packs as shown in Figures 1 and 2;
  • Figures 4, 5 and 6 are plan, rear and side views respectively of the vacuum cleaner of
  • Figure 7 is a sectional view along line V-V of Figure 5;
  • Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the airflow through the vacuum cleaner
  • Figure 9 is a sectional detail showing the connection between one of the battery packs of Figure 1 and the vacuum cleaner of Figures 3 to 6; and Figure 10 is a schematic side view of a battery charger in combination with the battery pack of Figure 1.
  • a battery pack 10 for use in the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the battery pack 10 has a housing 12 which is made up of two half shells 14a, 14b made from a plastics material such as Nylon or ABS.
  • the half shells 14a, 14b are essentially symmetrical and together define an enclosure 16 in which a plurality of cells 18 are located.
  • the cells 18 are connected in two groups 18a, 18b as illustrated in Figure 2a, with a flexible connection 19 being provided between cells 18b' and 18b".
  • the cells 18 are spaced apart and maintained in their fixed positions by spacer walls 20 which are formed of insulating material and specifically adapted to conform to and follow the contours of the side walls of the cells 18 in order to hold them securely in position.
  • the spacer walls 20 are preferably moulded integrally with the half shells 18a, 18b and are therefore formed from the same material as the half shells 18a, 18b.
  • thirty cells 18 are provided in the housing in two groups of fifteen cells.
  • the cells are preferably nickel-cadmium sub-C cells with a rating of 2.0 ampere-hours or greater, or nickel metal hydride (Ni MH) cells having a rating of 3.0 ampere-hours or greater.
  • Ni MH nickel metal hydride
  • the housing 12 has a front end 12a which carries a handle 24 by means of which the battery pack 10 can be carried.
  • the handle 24 is profiled so as to conform to the shape of a user's hand for comfort and grip.
  • the interior of the handle 24, ie on the side of the handle 24 facing the body of the housing 12, comprises a lever portion 26 (see Figure 2a) which is also profiled to conform to the contours of a user's hand.
  • the lever portion 26 is moulded from a plastics material and is pivotably connected to the housing 12 at the base of the handle 24 by way of a pivot connection 28.
  • the lever portion 26 is biased into the position shown in Figure 2a by a spring 30.
  • the lever portion 30 also carries a downwardly projecting tooth 32 located on an arm of the lever portion which projects generally horizontally away from the pivot connection 28.
  • the tooth 32 projects downwardly through an aperture 34 in the lower surface of the housing as illustrated in Figure 2b.
  • the fixed portion 24a of the handle 24 is recessed so that the lever portion 26 can pivot about the pivot connection 28 with respect to the fixed portion 24a and against the biasing action of the spring 30. This action results in the tooth 32 being lifted sufficiently for that the tooth no longer projects through the aperture 34.
  • the housing 12 incorporates at least one electrical connection 36 which is in electrical communication with the cells 18 in whichever configuration is appropriate for the appliance to be powered by the battery pack 10.
  • the electrical connection 36 is located at the end of the housing 12 remote from the handle 24 and is preferably surrounded by a collar or is otherwise recessed for safety reasons.
  • the housing 12 also has an inlet port 38 which is capable of receiving cooling fluid and passing it directly to the enclosure 16.
  • the inlet port 38 therefore essentially comprises an opening leading directly from the exterior of the housing 12 to the interior thereof, the inlet port is located, like the electrical connector, at the end of the housing 12 remote from the handle 24.
  • the opening is covered, at least in part, by protective fins 38a which are present partly to prevent any foreign bodies from entering the housing, partly to strengthen the housing, and partly to diffuse the incoming cooling fluid.
  • At least one outlet 40 is provided at the end of the housing 12 opposite the end at which the inlet port 38 is located.
  • the outlet ports 40 are spaced over the end 12a of the housing 12 so that there is an outlet port 40a, 40d adjacent the most remotely spaced cells 18 at the end of the enclosure 16 closest to the handle 24.
  • a temperature sensor 42 is located in the enclosure adjacent one of the outlet ports 40.
  • the sensor 42 can be mounted in the enclosure between two cells 18 as shown in bold lines in Figure 2b, or else it can be mounted directly on one of the cells 18 as shown in dotted lines in the same Figure.
  • the sensor 42 is connected to an indicator located at a convenient position on the housing 12 to give an indication to the user if the temperature inside the housing 12 becomes dangerously high.
  • the sensor can be connected directly to electrical appliance which is powered by the battery pack 10 via the connection 36 to operate a switch which will deactivate the appliance if the battery pack becomes too hot.
  • lugs 44 Located on the lower surface of the housing 12 at the end 12a thereof adjacent the handle 24, are two opposing lugs 44 projecting outwardly from the housing 12.
  • the lugs extend in a horizontal plane as can be seen from Figure 7, to which further reference will be made below. The purpose of the lugs 44 will be explained later with reference to Figure 9.
  • the battery pack 10 described above can be used to power a robotic vacuum cleaner as illustrated in Figures 3 to 7.
  • the term "robotic” is here used to mean that the vacuum cleaner is capable of operating so that it navigates its own way around a room to be cleaner without human intervention and without bumping into, or becoming lodged against, obstacles located around the room. An overview of such a machine is given below.
  • the vacuum cleaner 100 shown in the said drawings has a supporting chassis 102 which is generally circular in shape and is supported on two driven wheels 104 and a castor wheel 106.
  • the chassis 102 is preferably manufactured from high-strength moulded plastics material, such as ABS, but can equally be made from metal such as aluminium or steel.
  • the chassis 102 provides support for the components of the cleaner 100 which will be described below.
  • the driven wheels 104 are arranged at either end of a diameter of the chassis 102, the diameter lying perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cleaner 100.
  • Each driven wheel 104 is moulded from a high-strength plastics material and carries a comparatively soft, ridged band around its circumference to enhance the grip of the wheel 104 when the cleaner 100 is traversing a smooth floor.
  • the soft, ridged band also enhances the ability of the wheels 104 to mount and climb over small obstacles.
  • the driven wheels 104 are mounted independently of one another via support bearings (not shown) and each driven wheel 104 is connected directly to a motor which is capable of driving the respective wheel 104 in either a forward direction or a reverse direction.
  • the cleaner 100 By driving both wheels 104 forward at the same speed, the cleaner 100 can be driven in a forward direction.
  • By driving both wheels 104 in a reverse direction at the same speed the cleaner 100 can be driven in a backward direction.
  • the cleaner 100 By driving the wheels 104 in opposite directions, the cleaner 100 can be made to rotate about its own central axis so as to effect a turning manoeuvre.
  • the aforementioned method of driving a vehicle is
  • the castor wheel 106 is significantly smaller in diameter than the driven wheels 104 as can be seen from, for example, Figure 6.
  • the castor wheel 106 is not driven and merely serves to support the chassis 102 at the rear of the cleaner 100.
  • the location of the castor wheel 106 at the trailing edge of the chassis 102, and the fact that the castor wheel 106 is swivellingly mounted on the chassis by means of a swivel joint 110 allows the castor wheel 106 to trail behind the cleaner 100 in a manner which does not hinder the manoeuvrability of the cleaner 100 whilst it is being driven by way of the driven wheels 104.
  • the swivel joint 110 is most clearly shown in Figure 6. This type of arrangement is well known.
  • the castor wheel 106 can be made from a moulded plastics material or can be formed from another synthetic material such as Nylon.
  • a cleaner head 122 Mounted on the underside of the chassis 102 is a cleaner head 122 which includes a suction opening 124 facing the surface on which the cleaner 100 is supported.
  • the suction opening 124 is essentially rectangular and extends across the majority of the width of the cleaner head 122.
  • a brush bar (not shown) is rotatably mounted in the suction opening 124 and a motor 128 is mounted on the cleaner head 122 for driving the brush bar by way of a drive belt (not shown) extending between a shaft of the motor 128 and the brush bar.
  • the cleaner head 122 is mounted on the chassis 102 in such a way that the cleaner head 122 is able to float on the surface to be cleaned.
  • the cleaner head 122 is pivotally connected to an arm (not shown) which in turn is pivotally connected to the underside of the chassis 102.
  • the double articulation of the connection between the cleaner head 122 and the chassis 102 allows the cleaner head to move freely in a vertical direction with respect to the chassis 102. This enables the cleaner head to climb over small obstacles such as books, magazines, rug edges, etc. Obstacles of up to approximately 25mm in height can be traversed in this way.
  • a flexible or telescopic conduit is located between a rear portion of the cleaner head 122 and an inlet port located in the chassis 102.
  • forwardly projecting ramps 136 are provided at the front edge of the cleaner head 122.
  • the obstacle will initially abut against the ramps 136 and the inclination of the ramps will then lift the cleaner head 122 over the obstacle in question so as to avoid the cleaner 100 from becoming lodged against the obstacle.
  • the cleaner head 122 is shown in a lowered position in Figure 6.
  • the castor wheel 106 also includes a ramped portion 117 which provides additional assistance when the cleaner 100 encounters an obstacle and is required to climb over it. In this way, the castor wheel 106 will not become lodged against the obstacle after the cleaner head 122 has climbed over it.
  • the cleaner head 122 is asymmetrically mounted on the chassis 102 so that one side of the cleaner head 122 protrudes beyond the general circumference of the chassis 102. This allows the cleaner 100 to clean up to the edge of a room on the side of the cleaner 100 on which the cleaner head 122 protrudes.
  • the chassis 102 carries a plurality of sensors 140 which are designed and arranged to detect obstacles in the path of the cleaner 100 and its proximity to, for example, a wall or other boundary such as a piece of furniture.
  • the sensors 140 comprise several ultra- sonic sensors and several infra-red sensors.
  • the array illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 is not intended to be limitative and the arrangement of the sensors does not form part of the present invention. Suffice it to say that the vacuum cleaner 100 carries sufficient sensors and detectors 140 to enable the cleaner 100 to guide itself or to be guided around a predefined area so that the said area can be cleaned.
  • Control software comprising navigation controls and steering devices, is housed within a housing 142 located beneath a control panel 144 or elsewhere within the cleaner 100.
  • the vacuum cleaner 100 also includes a motor and fan unit supported on the chassis 102 for drawing dirty air into the vacuum cleaner 100 via the suction opening 124 in the cleaner head 122.
  • the chassis 102 also carries a cyclonic separator 152 for separating dirt and dust from the air drawn into the cleaner 100.
  • the inlet port which communicates with the rear portion of the cleaner head 122 via the conduit mentioned above forms the inlet to the cyclonic separator 152.
  • the cyclonic separator which preferably comprises two cyclones in series, need not be described any further here, being known technology and described adequately elsewhere.
  • the cyclonic separator 152 is releasable from the chassis 102 in order to allow emptying of the cyclonic separator 152.
  • a hooked catch (not shown) is provided by means of which the cyclonic separator 152 is held in position when the cleaner 100 is in use.
  • the hooked catch is released (by manual pressing of a button 134 located in the control panel 44), the cyclonic separator 152 can be lifted away from the chassis 102 by means of gripper portions 170. The cyclonic separator 152 can then be emptied.
  • Two battery packs 10 as described above are located on the chassis 102 on either side of the cyclonic separator 152.
  • the battery packs 10 are identical and are spaced from the central axis of the vacuum cleaner 100 by a significant distance, say between 50 and 150 mm. In the embodiment illustrated, the battery packs are spaced from the central axis of the vacuum cleaner by a distance of about 87 mm.
  • the provision of two separate battery packs 10 allows the weight thereof to be evenly distributed without requiring the battery pack to be located directly over the centre of the cleaner 100. This gives much greater flexibility of design and allows the dirt and dust collecting means of the cleaner 100 (in this case the cyclonic separator 152) to occupy the most central position. This can be beneficial for the user.
  • the battery packs 10 are held in position on the chassis 102 so that the battery packs are not permitted to move during normal use of the vacuum cleaner 100.
  • the end of each battery pack 10 remote from the handle 24 is received in a recess 180 formed in the structure of the vacuum cleaner 10 (see Figure 6)
  • the recess 180 is formed in the moulding 142 which forms a housing for the motor and fan unit, which housing 142 is fixedly attached to the chassis 102.
  • the end of the battery pack housing 12 remote from the handle 24 is thus held securely on the chassis 102.
  • Located in the recess 180 is a connector point 181 for forming an electrical connection with the battery pack 10.
  • the electrical connector point 181 is positioned so that it is aligned with the elect ⁇ cal connection 36 on the battery pack 10 and projects into the recess 180 so that the connector point 181 and the connection 36 are automatically brought into elect ⁇ cal contact when the battery pack 10 is inserted fully into the recess 180.
  • a duct 186 which carries air exiting the fan from the fan to an opening in the housing 142 which is located directly adjacent the mlet port 38 of the battery pack 10 when it is mounted on the chassis 102.
  • the chassis 102 also includes a pair of undercut grooves or channels 182 located in the portion of the chassis 102 adjacent the handle 24 of the battery pack 10.
  • the grooves or channels 182 are open at the ends thereof facing the handles 24 of the battery packs 10 and are spaced apart by a distance which is slightly less than the spacing of the lugs 44.
  • An aperture 184 corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the tooth 34 is positioned in the chassis 102 between the two grooves or channels 182. The location of the aperture 184 is such that it is aligned with the aperture 34 when the battery pack 10 is fully inserted in the recess 180.
  • the arrangement is illustrated in Figure 9.
  • a section through the battery pack 10 is illustrated showing the lower surface of the housing 12 with the aperture 34 therein.
  • the tooth 32 is also shown in its normal position of projecting through the aperture 34. In this position, the tooth 34 also projects through the aperture 184 in the chassis 102 and thereby prevents relative movement between the chassis 102 and the battery pack 10 in the direction of the channels or grooves 182
  • the lugs 44 extend outwardly from the lower surface of the housing 12 and are received m the grooves or channels 182 so that movement in other directions is prevented and the opposite end of the battery pack 10 is held securely m the recess 180. The battery pack 10 is thereby held securely in position on the chassis 102.
  • the handle 24 of the battery pack is grasped by the user.
  • the grasping motion squeezes the lever portion 26 of the handle towards the fixed portion about the pivot connection 28 so that the tooth 34 is raised and is released from the apertures 184, 34.
  • the battery pack 10 is then able to move in a sliding manner so that the lugs 44 slide along the grooves or channels 182 until they are released therefrom.
  • the battery pack 10 can then be lifted so that the end opposite the handle 24 emerges from the recess 180 and the battery pack 10 can be removed.
  • the battery pack 10 is returned to the chassis 102 in an identical manner, but in reverse: the end of the battery pack 10 is slid into the recess 180 in a direction along the grooves or channels 182.
  • the sliding motion causes the lugs 44 to be received into the channels 182 and, as the battery pack 10 becomes fully received into the recess 180, the tooth 34 drops through the aperture 184 under the action of the spring 30 to hold the battery pack 10 in position and the electrical connection is automatically made between the cleaner 100 and the battery pack 10.
  • the inlet port 38 is also automatically aligned with the opening of the duct 186.
  • the connector point 181 is connected, within the cleaner 10, to the motor and fan unit, to the brush bar motor 28, to the motors for the driven wheels 104, and to the sensors 140 and control software so that all powered components of the cleaner 10 are able to take their power from the battery pack 10.
  • the vacuum cleaner 100 described above operates in the following manner.
  • the wheels 104 are driven by the motors which, in turn, are powered by the batteries 10.
  • the direction of movement of the cleaner 100 is determined by the control software which communicates with the sensors 140 which are designed to detect any obstacles in the path of the cleaner 100 so as to navigate the cleaner 100 around the area to be cleaned.
  • Methodologies and control systems for navigating a robotic vacuum cleaner around a room or other area are well documented elsewhere and do not form part of the inventive concept of this invention. Any of the known methodologies or systems could be implemented here to provide a suitable navigation system.
  • the battery packs 10 also power the motor and fan unit which draws air into the cleaner 100 via the cleaner head 122 and passes it to the cyclonic separator 152 where the dirt and dust is separated from the airflow.
  • the battery packs 10 are also used to power the motor 28 which drives the brush bar which, in turn assists with pick-up, particularly on carpets.
  • Figures 6 and 7 show the airflow path through the vacuum cleaner 100.
  • Figure 8 schematically shows the airflow path. Air drawn through dirty air inlet 124 of cleaner head 122 flows through cyclonic separator 152 where dirt and dust is separated from the airflow. Air then follows the path shown by the arrows located A - 1 in Figures 6 and 7. Beginning with Figure 7, air exits the cyclonic separator 152 through vortex finder 240 (arrow A). It is forced radially outwards by fan 200 (B) and passes around the ouside of the fan motor unit 210 (C) where it is further heated by cooling the fan motor unit 210. The air then passes through a post-motor filter 220 (D,E) which filters any remaining particulates from the air.
  • a post-motor filter 220 D,E
  • the air then passes (F) through an aperture 230 in the housing of the post-motor filter. As seen in Figure 6, the air is then conducted along the duct 186 to the opening adjacent the inlet port 38 of the battery pack 10. The air is then forced to enter the battery pack housing 12 via the inlet port 38 (G) and pass into the enclosure 16. The air passes around and across (H) the cells 18 in order to achieve a cooling effect before exiting the battery pack (I) via the outlet ports 40.
  • the spacing of the outlet ports 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d across the end 12a of the housing 12 ensures that the cooling air is spread throughout the enclosure 16 and is discouraged from following a restricted path which might result in some cells 18 being cooled less effectively than others.
  • the air is expelled to the atmosphere from the outlet ports 40. Passing the exiting air through the battery packs 10 also attenuates the noise of the exiting air and thus reduces the volume at which the cleaner 100 operates.
  • the inlet and outlet ports 38, 40 can also be put to good effect when the battery pack 10 is being recharged. Apparatus for recharging a battery pack 10 is illustrated in Figure 9.
  • the apparatus comprises a recharger 200 having an appropriate mains supply connection 202 and a recess 204 for receiving the battery pack 10. Electrical connectors are provided in the recess 204 for supplying power to the battery pack for recharging purposes. Also provided in the recharger 200 is a fan 206, which is mains operated, for drawing air into the recharger 200 from the atmosphere via a first duct 208. A second duct 210 carries the air drawn into the recharger by the fan 206 from the fan 206 to the recess 204. The second duct 210 opens into the recess 204 immediately adjacent the inlet port 38 of the battery pack 10 when the battery pack 10 is located in the recess 204.
  • the fan draws air into the recharger 200 and passes it through the second duct 210 and into the housing 12 of the battery pack 10 in order to cool the cells during the recharging process.
  • the cooling air is then expelled to the atmosphere via the outlet ports 40, in the same way as it is expelled during operation of the vacuum cleaner 100.
  • the recharger 200 can have a number of features which will assist the recharger 200 to operate with minimum user intervention.
  • Features such as switches, located in the recess 204, which will automatically commence the recharging operation and/or bring the fan 206 into operation can be incorporated if desired.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Robotics (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)
  • Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un aspirateur (100) comportant un dispositif (152) séparateur de poussières et saletés et une turbine produisant un flux d'air allant de l'entrée d'air pollué (124) à la sortie d'air filtré (40 a,b,c) en passant par le séparateur (152). L'aspirateur est alimenté par un casier (10) porte-piles placés en aval de la turbine dans le sens du flux traversant l'aspirateur. Le casier (10) porte-piles comprend un enceinte (12) contenant une série de piles (18) et un orifice d'entrée (38) et un orifice de sortie (40) d'un fluide de refroidissement ainsi qu'un cheminement du fluide de refroidissement les reliant. Le refroidissement des piles (18) en cours de décharge leur permet de fonctionner à ou au voisinage de la température optimale, ce qui optimise le rendement et la consommation d'énergie et assure un fonctionnement silencieux.
PCT/GB1999/004079 1998-12-18 1999-12-06 Aspirateur muni de casiers porte-piles WO2000036969A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0113433A GB2360937B (en) 1998-12-18 1999-12-06 Vacuum cleaning appliance with a battery pack
AU15759/00A AU1575900A (en) 1998-12-18 1999-12-06 Vacuum cleaning appliance with a battery pack

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9827780A GB9827780D0 (en) 1998-12-18 1998-12-18 Battery pack
GB9827780.9 1998-12-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000036969A1 true WO2000036969A1 (fr) 2000-06-29

Family

ID=10844399

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1999/004079 WO2000036969A1 (fr) 1998-12-18 1999-12-06 Aspirateur muni de casiers porte-piles

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1575900A (fr)
GB (2) GB9827780D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000036969A1 (fr)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1178556A2 (fr) * 1998-03-05 2002-02-06 Black & Decker Inc. Système de refroidissement pour des batteries
WO2004041050A2 (fr) * 2002-11-06 2004-05-21 Polar Light Limited Procede et appareil permettant de refroidir des batteries dans un aspirateur
US7079923B2 (en) 2001-09-26 2006-07-18 F Robotics Acquisitions Ltd. Robotic vacuum cleaner
US7167775B2 (en) 2001-09-26 2007-01-23 F Robotics Acquisitions, Ltd. Robotic vacuum cleaner
EP2105079A3 (fr) * 2008-03-28 2010-04-07 Nilfisk-Advance A/S Aspirateur
EP2468166A1 (fr) * 2010-12-23 2012-06-27 HILTI Aktiengesellschaft Aspirateur doté d'un accumulateur tempéré
US20150320283A1 (en) * 2014-05-12 2015-11-12 Lg Electronics Inc. Vacuum cleaner
EP3108788A1 (fr) * 2015-06-22 2016-12-28 Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH Appareil de nettoyage par aspiration
WO2019227677A1 (fr) * 2018-06-01 2019-12-05 无锡睿米信息技术有限公司 Unite principale d'aspirateur et aspirateur la comprenant
US10986972B2 (en) 2014-12-12 2021-04-27 Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. Battery powered vacuum cleaner
DE102020132583A1 (de) 2020-12-08 2022-06-09 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Sauggerät mit Verschluss für Batterieeinheit-Aufnahme
DE102020132599A1 (de) 2020-12-08 2022-06-09 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Sauggerät mit Batterieeinrichtung und Filterabreinigungseinrichtung
DE102020132594A1 (de) 2020-12-08 2022-06-09 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Sauggerät mit mindestens einer Aufnahme für eine Batterie

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0635236A1 (fr) * 1993-07-20 1995-01-25 Anna Maria Boesi Appareil électrique pour le nettoyage par suction de surfaces
JPH07250788A (ja) * 1994-03-16 1995-10-03 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 掃除機の蓄電池パック冷却機構
US5596236A (en) * 1993-06-07 1997-01-21 Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. Motor capable of using high or low voltage

Patent Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5596236A (en) * 1993-06-07 1997-01-21 Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. Motor capable of using high or low voltage
EP0635236A1 (fr) * 1993-07-20 1995-01-25 Anna Maria Boesi Appareil électrique pour le nettoyage par suction de surfaces
JPH07250788A (ja) * 1994-03-16 1995-10-03 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 掃除機の蓄電池パック冷却機構

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1996, no. 2 20 February 1996 (1996-02-20) *

Cited By (36)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7326490B2 (en) 1998-03-05 2008-02-05 Black & Decker Inc. Battery cooling system
EP1178557A3 (fr) * 1998-03-05 2003-12-03 Black & Decker Inc. Système de refroidissement pour des batteries
US7056616B2 (en) 1998-03-05 2006-06-06 Black & Decker Inc. Battery cooling system
US7939193B2 (en) 1998-03-05 2011-05-10 Black & Decker Inc. Battery cooling system
EP1178557A2 (fr) * 1998-03-05 2002-02-06 Black & Decker Inc. Système de refroidissement pour des batteries
EP1178556A2 (fr) * 1998-03-05 2002-02-06 Black & Decker Inc. Système de refroidissement pour des batteries
US6949309B2 (en) 1998-03-05 2005-09-27 Black & Decker Inc. Battery cooling system
US7014945B2 (en) 1998-03-05 2006-03-21 Black & Decker Inc. Battery cooling system
US7252904B2 (en) 1998-03-05 2007-08-07 Black & Decker Inc. Battery cooling system
EP1178556A3 (fr) * 1998-03-05 2003-12-03 Black & Decker Inc. Système de refroidissement pour des batteries
US7444206B2 (en) 2001-09-26 2008-10-28 F Robotics Acquisitions Ltd. Robotic vacuum cleaner
US8311674B2 (en) 2001-09-26 2012-11-13 F Robotics Acquisitions Ltd. Robotic vacuum cleaner
US7769490B2 (en) 2001-09-26 2010-08-03 F Robotics Acquisitions Ltd. Robotic vacuum cleaner
US7167775B2 (en) 2001-09-26 2007-01-23 F Robotics Acquisitions, Ltd. Robotic vacuum cleaner
US7079923B2 (en) 2001-09-26 2006-07-18 F Robotics Acquisitions Ltd. Robotic vacuum cleaner
WO2004041050A3 (fr) * 2002-11-06 2004-08-26 Polar Light Ltd Procede et appareil permettant de refroidir des batteries dans un aspirateur
WO2004041050A2 (fr) * 2002-11-06 2004-05-21 Polar Light Limited Procede et appareil permettant de refroidir des batteries dans un aspirateur
EP2105079A3 (fr) * 2008-03-28 2010-04-07 Nilfisk-Advance A/S Aspirateur
CN102525337A (zh) * 2010-12-23 2012-07-04 喜利得股份公司 具有调温的蓄电池的吸尘器
EP2468166A1 (fr) * 2010-12-23 2012-06-27 HILTI Aktiengesellschaft Aspirateur doté d'un accumulateur tempéré
US8997311B2 (en) 2010-12-23 2015-04-07 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Vacuum cleaner with a temperature-controlled battery
CN105078363B (zh) * 2014-05-12 2018-09-18 Lg电子株式会社 真空吸尘器
EP2945205A3 (fr) * 2014-05-12 2016-02-24 LG Electronics Inc. Aspirateur
AU2015202106B2 (en) * 2014-05-12 2016-11-10 Lg Electronics Inc. Vacuum cleaner
EP2945205B1 (fr) 2014-05-12 2017-10-18 LG Electronics Inc. Aspirateur
US20150320283A1 (en) * 2014-05-12 2015-11-12 Lg Electronics Inc. Vacuum cleaner
CN105078363A (zh) * 2014-05-12 2015-11-25 Lg电子株式会社 真空吸尘器
US10986972B2 (en) 2014-12-12 2021-04-27 Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. Battery powered vacuum cleaner
EP3108788A1 (fr) * 2015-06-22 2016-12-28 Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH Appareil de nettoyage par aspiration
WO2019227677A1 (fr) * 2018-06-01 2019-12-05 无锡睿米信息技术有限公司 Unite principale d'aspirateur et aspirateur la comprenant
DE102020132583A1 (de) 2020-12-08 2022-06-09 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Sauggerät mit Verschluss für Batterieeinheit-Aufnahme
DE102020132599A1 (de) 2020-12-08 2022-06-09 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Sauggerät mit Batterieeinrichtung und Filterabreinigungseinrichtung
DE102020132594A1 (de) 2020-12-08 2022-06-09 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Sauggerät mit mindestens einer Aufnahme für eine Batterie
WO2022122278A1 (fr) 2020-12-08 2022-06-16 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Dispositif d'aspiration avec dispositif de batterie et dispositif de nettoyage de filtre
WO2022122287A1 (fr) 2020-12-08 2022-06-16 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Dispositif d'aspiration comprenant une fermeture pour une zone de réception d'unité de batterie
WO2022122280A1 (fr) 2020-12-08 2022-06-16 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Dispositif d'aspiration comprenant au moins une zone de réception pour une batterie

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0113433D0 (en) 2001-07-25
GB2360937B (en) 2002-05-15
GB9827780D0 (en) 1999-02-10
AU1575900A (en) 2000-07-12
GB2360937A (en) 2001-10-10

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