Vacuum cleaner including means for protecting a brush drive motor

Abstract

The vacuum cleaner includes a suction head (5) comprising a rotating brush (18); a brush drive motor (21) configured to rotate the rotating brush (18); a suction motor configured to generate an airflow through the suction head (5); and an electronic control unit configured to control the switching on or off of the brush drive motor (21) as a function of a first parameter representing the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor (21) and a second parameter representing the suction rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor. Figure 6

Description

Title of the invention: Vacuum cleaner comprising means for protecting a brush drive motor. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners equipped with a suction head, also called a vacuum cleaner nozzle, allowing the suction of dust and waste present on a surface to be cleaned. State of the art

[0002] Vacuum cleaners equipped with a suction head are well known on the market; these allow surfaces to be cleaned by suction to remove dust and debris from them. The surface to be vacuumed can, for example, be a hard floor, such as tiles, parquet or laminate flooring, or a soft floor, such as carpet or rugs.

[0003] A suction head comprises, in a known manner:

[0004] - a head body comprising a sole having a lower face and a suction opening into the underside of the soleplate, the underside of the soleplate being intended to be positioned adjacent to the surface to be vacuumed during use of the vacuum cleaner,

[0005] - a rotating brush which is housed in a receiving housing delimited by the head body which is mobile in rotation around an axis of rotation, and

[0006] - a rotational drive mechanism configured to rotate the rotating brush around the axis of rotation, the rotational drive mechanism comprising a brush drive motor coupled in rotation to the rotating brush.

[0007] Prolonged operation of such a vacuum cleaner on a thick, soft floor results in significant electrical consumption of the brush drive motor, and therefore a significant increase in its temperature. Repeated or prolonged operation of the brush drive motor at a high temperature is likely to damage its integrity.

[0008] In order to preserve the integrity of the brush drive motor, it is known to equip the latter with a measuring device configured to measure the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor, and to command a shutdown of the brush drive motor if the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, for example equal to 3 A, for a predetermined duration, for example for 5 seconds, or if the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor exceeds a second intensity threshold value which is greater than the first intensity threshold value and which is for example equal to 5 A.

[0009] However, such a configuration of the aforementioned vacuum cleaner is likely to cause the brush drive motor to stop after only 5 seconds of cleaning a very thick carpet, whereas such a duration of operation is not likely, as such, to harm the integrity of the brush drive motor.

[0010] Thus, the aforementioned specific configuration is likely to induce repeated unnecessary stops of the brush drive motor, which impairs the ergonomics of the aforementioned vacuum cleaner. Summary of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

[0012] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular of providing a vacuum cleaner with a simple, reliable and economical structure, while avoiding repeated stops of a brush drive motor equipping the vacuum cleaner.

[0013] To this end, the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising:

[0014] - a suction head comprising a sole equipped with an underside configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned and with a suction opening in the underside of the soleplate through which outside air can be drawn in by the vacuum cleaner, the suction head further comprising a suction chamber, which is fluidly connected to the suction opening, and a rotating brush located in the suction chamber and mounted to rotate freely around an axis of rotation,

[0015] - a rotational drive mechanism configured to rotate the rotating brush around the axis of rotation, the rotating drive mechanism comprising a brush drive motor located in the suction head and rotationally coupled to the rotating brush,

[0016] - a suction motor configured to generate an airflow through the head suction, and in particular through the suction inlet and suction chamber, the airflow having a suction flow rate and the brush drive motor being capable of being cooled by conduction by at least a part of said airflow,

[0017] - an intensity measuring device configured to measure the current intensity electrical applied to the brush drive motor, and

[0018] - an electronic control unit configured to control the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the electronic control unit being further configured to control the stopping or keeping running of the brush drive motor according to a first representative parameter of the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor and a second parameter representing the suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor.

[0019] Such a configuration of the electronic control unit makes it possible, by monitoring a parameter representative of the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor and a parameter representative of the suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor, to detect prolonged operation of the vacuum cleaner in an operating mode inducing a high electrical consumption of the brush drive motor, and therefore a significant increase in the temperature of the latter (for example during a long cleaning operation of a soft floor with low suction power), and to detect prolonged operation of the vacuum cleaner in an operating mode inducing heat dissipation of the brush drive motor (for example during a cleaning operation including a movement of the suction head from a soft floor to a hard floor and a movement of the suction head on said hard floor,(and this with high suction power), and thus to control the shutdown of the brush drive motor only if the complete operating cycle of the vacuum cleaner is actually likely to damage the integrity of the brush drive motor.

[0020] Thus, the specific configuration of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention makes it possible to preserve the integrity of the brush drive motor, while avoiding unnecessary repeated stops of the brush drive motor, and this without using a dedicated electrical component (such as a temperature sensor or a PTC type thermistor) to monitor the temperature of the brush drive motor, which limits the manufacturing costs of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

[0021] The vacuum cleaner may also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to determine, and for example to measure or calculate, the first parameter representing the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor, and / or to determine, and for example to measure or calculate, the second parameter representing the suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor. The electronic control unit can, for example, be configured to determine, continuously or regularly, the second parameter representing the suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor as long as the vacuum cleaner is operating. The electronic control unit could also be configured to determine the second parameter representing the suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor several times during the same predetermined period of time.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor based on the first and second parameters, and to control the shutdown of the brush drive motor if the estimated temperature reaches or exceeds a temperature threshold value. Such a configuration of the electronic control unit allows the brush drive motor to be stopped only when its estimated temperature is above the temperature threshold value, and thus ensures that the brush drive motor is stopped only when such a shutdown is actually required.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the temperature threshold value is between 70 and 90°C.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor based on the first and second parameters and from charts stored in the electronic control unit. These charts represent, for different values ​​of the first and second parameters, the evolution of the brush drive motor temperature over time. Such a configuration of the electronic control unit ensures a reliable estimation of the brush drive motor temperature without requiring the use of a dedicated electrical component.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to successively determine pairs of parameters, each comprising a value of the first parameter and a value of the second parameter, and to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor as a function of the successively determined pairs of parameters. Such a configuration of the electronic control unit further increases the reliability of the temperature estimation of the brush drive motor.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, each value of the first parameter is calculated from intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device during a respective predetermined period of time.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, each predetermined time period is between 20 ms and 1 s, and advantageously between 100 ms and 500 ms, and for example substantially equal to 250 ms.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the different predetermined time periods follow one another in time, that is to say, they are successive. In other words, the different values ​​of the first parameter are calculated from intensity values ​​measured during respective predetermined time periods which are successive.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, each value of the first parameter is calculated from a limited series of successive intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device during the respective predetermined time period.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, each limited series of successive measured intensity values ​​comprises between 4 and 2000 successive measured intensity values.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, each value of the first parameter is an average of the intensity values ​​measured during the respective predetermined time period, and for example, an average of the successive intensity values ​​measured for the respective limited series. Such a configuration of the vacuum cleaner makes it possible to smooth the measured intensity values ​​and, in particular, outliers.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to determine, for each predetermined time period, a pair of parameters comprising the value of the first parameter and the value of the second parameter determined for said predetermined time period.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to estimate, for each predetermined time period, a value of the temperature of the brush drive motor as a function of the pair of parameters determined for said predetermined time period, the duration of said predetermined time period and the estimated temperature value for the previous predetermined time period, and taking into account the charts stored in the electronic control unit.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, if the electronic control unit detects a variation in the suction flow rate during a predetermined period of time, the electronic control unit is then configured to shorten said predetermined period of time and, for example, also to start a new predetermined period of time. Thus, according to such an embodiment of the invention, the value of the first parameter, determined for the predetermined period of time that was shortened, is calculated solely from the intensity values ​​measured during said predetermined period of time and up to the end of said predetermined period of time.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to estimate that the temperature of the brush drive motor is equal to a predetermined initial temperature, for example, 25°C, when the vacuum cleaner is started following a shutdown of the vacuum cleaner exceeding a predetermined duration, for example, between 10 and 20 minutes. Thus, for the first predetermined period of time following a shutdown of the vacuum cleaner exceeding At the predetermined time, the electronic control unit is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor based on the values ​​of the first and second parameters determined for said first predetermined time period and the predetermined initial temperature. Conversely, when the vacuum cleaner's shutdown is less than or equal to the predetermined duration, the electronic control unit is configured to estimate, for the predetermined time period following said vacuum cleaner shutdown, the temperature of the brush drive motor based on the values ​​of the first and second parameters determined for said predetermined time period and the estimated temperature for the predetermined time period preceding said shutdown.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the time interval between two successive measured intensity values ​​is between 2 and 10 ms, and is for example equal to 5 ms.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner includes a signaling device, such as a light-emitting diode, configured to indicate to a user that a stop of the rotating brush has been ordered.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner includes an air circulation cooling circuit fluidly connected to the suction chamber and configured to cool the brush drive motor when an airflow is generated by the suction motor.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation cooling circuit is configured to cool the brush drive motor by conduction.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation cooling circuit is delimited at least in part by the brush drive motor.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction head is configured such that, when an airflow is generated by the suction motor, a part of said airflow is drawn into the air circulation cooling circuit, for example from outside the rotating brush, and is circulated in the air circulation cooling circuit.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, the brush drive motor is located at least partially inside the rotating brush. However, according to another embodiment of the invention, the brush drive motor could be located outside the rotating brush (while still being located in the suction head) and the rotating drive mechanism could be equipped with a drive chain that mechanically connects an output shaft of the brush drive motor to the rotating brush and that is provided with a belt or a gear train. According to such an embodiment of the invention, the output shaft of the brush drive motor is advantageously substantially parallel to the brush shaft.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotating brush comprises a brush body delimiting a motor housing in which the brush drive motor is disposed.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second parameter is the theoretical suction flow rate of the airflow (which is determined for example according to the selected operating mode of the vacuum cleaner), a corrected theoretical suction flow rate of the airflow (which is determined for example according to the selected operating mode of the vacuum cleaner and taking into account a measured depression (for example using two pressure sensors) between an upstream and a downstream part of a filtration device equipping the vacuum cleaner), the suction flow rate of the airflow measured by a flow measurement device equipping the vacuum cleaner or the suction flow rate of the airflow calculated from representative values ​​of said suction flow rate and measured by a measurement device equipping the vacuum cleaner.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner is a stick vacuum cleaner.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to automatically detect the type of soil encountered by the suction head, for example, based on intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device and / or an intensity variation parameter calculated from intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device. The calculated intensity variation parameter could, for example, be an indicator of dispersion (such as variance or standard deviation) of the intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device.

[0048] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to adjust, for example to decrease or increase, the suction power of the vacuum cleaner according to the type of floor encountered by the suction head.

[0049] The present invention further relates to a method for controlling a vacuum cleaner, comprising the following steps:

[0050] - provide a vacuum cleaner comprising: • a suction head comprising a rotating brush which is located in a suction chamber delimited by the suction head and which is mobile in rotation around an axis of rotation and a soleplate having an underside configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned and a suction inlet opening into the underside of the soleplate and through which outside air can be drawn in by the vacuum cleaner, • a rotary drive mechanism configured to drive the rotating brush in rotation around the axis of rotation, the rotary drive mechanism comprising a brush drive motor rotationally coupled to the rotating brush, • a suction motor configured to generate an airflow through the suction head, the airflow having a suction flow rate, • a current measurement device configured to measure the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor, and • an electronic control unit configured to control the operation of the vacuum cleaner,

[0051] - measure the intensity of the electric current applied to the drive motor of brush,

[0052] - determine a first parameter representative of the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor,

[0053] - determine a second parameter representative of the airflow suction rate generated by the suction motor, and

[0054] - to control the stopping or maintaining operation of the drive motor brush based on the first parameter and the second parameter

[0055] According to one embodiment of the invention, the method includes a step of estimating the temperature of the brush drive motor as a function of the first parameter and the second parameter, and of controlling the stopping of the brush drive motor if the estimated temperature reaches or exceeds a temperature threshold value. Brief description of the figures

[0056] In any case, the invention will be well understood with the aid of the following description with reference to the attached schematic drawings representing, by way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of this vacuum cleaner.

[0057] Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

[0058] Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of the vacuum cleaner in Fig. 1.

[0059] Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 1.

[0060] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a suction head of the vacuum cleaner. [Fig.l].

[0061] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the suction head in Fig. 4.

[0062] Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the suction head of Fig. 4.

[0063] The [Fig.7] is an example of a nomogram representing, for different values ​​of the second parameter and for a given value of the first parameter, a decrease in the temperature of the brush drive motor as a function of time.

[0064] The [Fig.8] is an example of a nomogram representing, for different values ​​of the first parameter and for a given value of the second parameter, an increase in the temperature of the brush drive motor as a function of time.

[0065] Fig. 9 is a diagram representing the time evolution of the intensity of the electric current applied to a brush drive motor of the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 1, during different cleaning phases.

[0066] The [Fig. 10] is a diagram representing the time evolution of the estimated temperature of the brush drive motor during the different cleaning phases of the [Fig.9]. Detailed description

[0067] Unless otherwise stipulated, the term "substantially" means, in this document, "exactly or to within 10% or to within 10°".

[0068] Figure 1 represents a vacuum cleaner 2, and more particularly a stick vacuum cleaner, comprising a main body 3, a handle 4 mechanically connected to the main body 3, and a suction head 5 configured to be in contact with a floor to be cleaned. However, the vacuum cleaner 2 according to the present invention could also be a canister vacuum cleaner without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0069] The main body 3 includes in particular a vacuum housing 6 and a suction nozzle 7 which is advantageously disposed at a lower end of the vacuum housing 6 and to which the suction head 5 is attached directly or via a suction tube 8. The main body 3 further includes a suction conduit 9 disposed in the vacuum housing 6 and fluidly connected to the suction nozzle 7.

[0070] The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a waste separation and collection device 11 which is removably mounted on the main body 3, so that it can be cleaned. Advantageously, the waste separation and collection device 11 is of the cyclonic type.

[0071] The waste separation and collection device 11 includes in particular an air inlet opening (not visible in the figures) which is fluidly connected to the suction duct 9. Thus, the suction duct 9 is configured to fluidly connect the suction head 5 to the air inlet opening of the waste separation and collection device 11.

[0072] As shown in [Fig. 3], the vacuum cleaner 2 also includes a suction motor 12, also called a fan motor, configured to generate an airflow through the suction head 5, the suction duct 9 and the device 11. Separation and collection of waste. The suction motor 12 is more particularly arranged in the vacuum housing 6. As is known, the suction motor 12 comprises a fan and an electric motor configured to drive the fan in rotation.

[0073] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the suction head 5 comprises a head body 13 configured to be moved over a surface to be cleaned. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the head body 13 has a generally rectangular shape.

[0074] The head body 13 includes a sole 14, for example made of plastic, having a lower face 15 configured to be oriented towards the surface to be cleaned.

[0075] The head body 13 further includes a suction mouth 16 opening into the lower face 15 of the sole 14 and through which outside air can be drawn in by the vacuum cleaner 2. Advantageously, the suction mouth 16 has an elongated shape and extends along an extension direction DI which extends perpendicularly to a direction of movement D2 of the suction head 5.

[0076] The head body 13 further includes a suction chamber 17 which opens into the lower face 15 of the sole 14 via the suction mouth 16.

[0077] The suction head 5 also includes a rotating brush 18 which is mounted movably in rotation in the suction chamber 17 about an axis of rotation A which is substantially coincident with the central axis of the rotating brush 18. Advantageously, the rotating brush 18 is mounted removably in the suction chamber 17, and is configured to be inserted into and removed from the suction chamber 17 in a mounting direction which can, for example, extend transversely, and preferably perpendicularly, to the direction of movement D2 of the suction head 5.

[0078] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the rotary brush 18 comprises a brush body 19 which is, for example, tubular, and bristles (not visible in the figures) provided on the external surface of the brush body 19. Advantageously, the brush body 19 is cylindrical with a circular cross-section, and the rotary brush 18 comprises one or more rows of bristles extending, for example, helically around the central axis of the rotary brush 18. According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the rows of bristles could be replaced by elastically deformable strips or by a foam cleaning sleeve.

[0079] The suction head 5 further comprises a rotating drive mechanism 20 configured to rotate the rotating brush 18 around the axis of rotation A. The rotating drive mechanism 20 comprises a brush drive motor 21 provided with an output shaft mechanically coupled to the rotating brush 18.

[0080] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the brush drive motor 21 is housed in a motor compartment 22 fixed to a side wall of the main body 3, and the motor compartment 22 and the brush drive motor 21 are arranged in a motor housing 23 delimited by the brush body 19.

[0081] The suction head 5 further comprises an air circulation cooling circuit 24 delimited at least in part by the brush drive motor 21, the motor compartment 22 and the brush body 19. The suction head 5 is configured such that, when the brush drive motor 21 is running, a vacuum is generated in the air circulation cooling circuit 24 and air is drawn into the air circulation cooling circuit 24 from outside the rotating brush 18 and is circulated in the air circulation cooling circuit 24, in order to provide conduction cooling in particular of the brush drive motor 21.

[0082] The air circulation cooling circuit 24 includes at least one air inlet opening 25 through which air is suitable for being drawn into the air circulation cooling circuit 24. Advantageously, the air inlet opening(s) 25 is / are provided on a side wall of the main body 3.

[0083] The air circulation cooling circuit 24 further comprises a plurality of air evacuation openings through which the air flowing in the air circulation cooling circuit 24 is able to be evacuated out of the air circulation cooling circuit 24. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the air evacuation openings are formed by through holes 26 provided on a brush support 26 and configured to fluidly connect the motor housing 23 to the suction chamber 17.

[0084] Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner 2 includes an intensity measuring device 27 configured to measure the intensity I of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor 21. The intensity measuring device 27 can, for example, be located in the suction head 5, in the main body 3 or in the handle 4.

[0085] The suction head 5 also includes a connecting sleeve 29 which is fluidly connected to the suction chamber 17, and therefore to the suction nozzle 16, and to which the suction nozzle 7 of the vacuum cleaner 2 is intended to be connected, and more particularly to which a lower part of the suction tube 8 is intended to be attached. Advantageously, the suction head 5 includes a hinge 31 mechanically connecting the connecting sleeve 29 to the head body 13, so as to allow the head body 13 to pivot forward. and backwards during a movement of the suction head 5 along the direction of movement D2.

[0086] The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises an electronic control unit 32 configured to control the operation of the vacuum cleaner 2, and in particular to adapt the operation of the vacuum cleaner 2 according to the type of floor on which the suction head 5 is moved. The electronic control unit 32 can, for example, be located in the vacuum cleaner housing 6 or in the handle 4.

[0087] The electronic control unit 32 is more particularly configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 as a function of a first parameter representing the intensity I of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor 21 and a second parameter representing the suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor 12 and from charts (obtained from prior experiments) stored in the electronic control unit 32 and representing, for different values ​​of the first and second parameters, the evolution of the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 as a function of time.

[0088] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the charts more particularly comprise a first series of charts comprising charts representing, for different values ​​of the first and second parameters, an increase in the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 as a function of time, and a second series of charts comprising charts representing, for different values ​​of the first and second parameters, a decrease in the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 as a function of time.

[0089] For example, during operation phases of the vacuum cleaner 2 on a soft floor, the intensity I of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor 21 increases significantly, which induces an increase in the temperature of the brush drive motor 21. When the suction head 5 moves from a soft floor to a hard floor, the intensity I of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor 21 drops significantly, and the suction flow rate is sufficiently high to ensure heat dissipation from the brush drive motor 21.

[0090] Therefore, advantageously, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 based on the first and second parameters and from the charts belonging to the first series as long as the intensity I of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor 21 is greater than or equal to a threshold intensity value (i.e., when the head is moved on soft ground), and to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 based on the first and second parameters and from the charts belonging to the second series as soon as the intensity I of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor 21 falls below the intensity threshold value (i.e. when the head is moved from a soft ground to a hard ground) and as long as no increase in the intensity I of the electric current is detected.

[0091] Different operating phases of the vacuum cleaner 2 are shown in Figures 9 and 10.

[0092] The first operating phase, from T0 to Tl, corresponds to an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2 on a hard floor following a start-up of the vacuum cleaner 2. During such an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 from the charts belonging to the first series.

[0093] The second operating phase, from T1 to T2, corresponds to an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2 on a thin, soft floor. During such an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 from the charts belonging to the first series.

[0094] The third operating phase, from T2 to T3, corresponds to an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2 on a very thick soft floor. During such an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 from the charts belonging to the first series.

[0095] The third operating phase, from T3 to T4, corresponds to an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2 on a hard floor following an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2 on a soft floor. During such an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 from the charts belonging to the second series.

[0096] The fourth operating phase, starting from T4, corresponds to an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2 on a very thick soft floor. During such an operating phase of the vacuum cleaner 2, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 from the charts belonging to the first series.

[0097] In addition, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to control the shutdown of the brush drive motor 21 if the estimated temperature reaches or exceeds a temperature threshold value, for example, between 70 and 90°C. The control of such a shutdown of the brush drive motor 21 is shown schematically in [Fig. 10].

[0098] The vacuum cleaner 2 could for example include a signaling device, such as a light-emitting diode, configured to indicate to a user that a stop of the rotating brush has been ordered.

[0099] Advantageously, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to calculate the first parameter, and each value of the first parameter is calculated from intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device during a respective predetermined time period, and thus from a limited series of successive intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device 27. Each predetermined time period can, for example, be between 20 ms and 1 s, advantageously between 100 ms and 500 ms, and, for example, substantially equal to 250 ms, and the time interval between two successive measured intensity values ​​can be between 2 and 10 ms, and is, for example, approximately 5 ms. Advantageously, the various predetermined time periods follow one another in time.

[0100] According to one embodiment of the invention, each value of the first parameter is an average of the intensity values ​​measured during the respective predetermined time period, and for example an average of the successive intensity values ​​measured for the respective limited series.

[0101] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second parameter may be the theoretical suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor 12 or the actual suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor 12, said actual suction flow rate being able to be measured by a flow measurement device equipping the vacuum cleaner 2 or being calculated from representative values ​​of said actual suction flow rate and measured by a measurement device equipping the vacuum cleaner 2.

[0102] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to:

[0103] - determine, for each predetermined time period, a pair of parameters each comprising the value of the first parameter determined for said predetermined time period and the value of the second parameter determined for said predetermined time period, and

[0104] - estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 as a function of the pairs of parameters determined successively.

[0105] Advantageously, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate, for each predetermined time period, a temperature value for the brush drive motor 21 based on the parameter pair determined for said predetermined time period, the duration of said predetermined time period, and the estimated temperature value for the previous period. of predetermined time, and taking into account the charts stored in the electronic control unit 32.

[0106] For example, the electronic control unit 32 could be configured to estimate that the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 is equal to 67°C after a first cleaning operation of a thick carpet lasting 2 minutes with a current I of 5 A and a suction flow rate of 15 L / s, that the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 is equal to 58°C after a second cleaning operation of a hard floor, following the first cleaning operation mentioned above, lasting 15 minutes with a current I of 0.5 A and a suction flow rate of 10 L / s and that the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 is equal to 85°C after a third cleaning operation of a thin soft floor, following the second cleaning operation mentioned above, lasting 10 minutes with a current I of 3.5 A and a suction flow rate of 15 L / s.If the temperature threshold value was equal to 85°C, then the electronic control unit 32 would have been configured to stop the brush drive motor 21.

[0107] According to one embodiment of the invention, when the vacuum cleaner 2 is started following a shutdown of the vacuum cleaner 2 exceeding a predetermined duration (advantageously between 10 and 30 minutes, and for example equal to 20 minutes), the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate that the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 is equal to a predetermined initial temperature, for example equal to 25°C. Thus, for the first predetermined time period following a shutdown of the vacuum cleaner 2 exceeding the predetermined duration, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 as a function of the values ​​of the first parameter and the second parameter determined for said first predetermined time period and the predetermined initial temperature.Conversely, when the stop of the vacuum cleaner 2 is less than or equal to the predetermined duration, the electronic control unit 32 is configured to estimate, for the predetermined time period following said stop of the vacuum cleaner 2, the temperature of the brush drive motor 21 as a function of the values ​​of the first parameter and the second parameter determined for said predetermined time period and the temperature estimated for the predetermined time period preceding said stop.

[0108] According to one embodiment of the invention, if the electronic control unit 32 detects a variation in the suction flow rate during a predetermined period of time, the electronic control unit 32 is then configured to shorten said predetermined period of time and also to start a new predetermined period of time. Thus, according to such an embodiment of the invention, the value of the first parameter, determined for the predetermined period of time which has been shortened, is calculated solely from the intensity values ​​measured during said predetermined time period and until the end of said predetermined time period. Such a configuration of the electronic control unit 32 further increases the reliability of the temperature estimation of the brush drive motor 21.

[0109] A method for controlling the vacuum cleaner 2 according to the present invention may, for example, include in particular:

[0110] - a measurement step consisting of measuring the intensity I of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor 21,

[0111] - a first determination step consisting of determining the first parameter representative of the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor 21,

[0112] - a second determination step consisting of determining the second parameter representing the suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor, and

[0113] - a control step consisting of ordering the stopping or holding in operation of the brush drive motor 21 as a function of the first parameter and the second parameter, and

[0114] - an estimation step consisting of estimating the engine temperature brush drive 21 as a function of the first parameter and the second parameter, and

[0115] - a control step consisting of controlling the stopping of the drive motor brush 21 if the estimated temperature reaches or exceeds the temperature threshold value.

[0116] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit 32 could be configured to automatically detect the type of soil encountered by the suction head 5, for example, based on intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device and / or an intensity variation parameter calculated from intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device. The calculated intensity variation parameter could, for example, be a dispersion indicator (such as the variance or standard deviation) of the intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device.

[0117] According to such an embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit 32 could be configured to adjust, for example to decrease or increase, the suction power of the vacuum cleaner 2 according to the type of floor encountered by the suction head 5.

[0118] According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner 2 could include control buttons, for example provided on the handle 4, configured to allow a user to manually adjust the suction power of the vacuum cleaner 2.

[0119] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the construction of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Vacuum cleaner (2) comprising: - a suction head (5) comprising a sole (14) having an underside (15) configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned and a suction inlet (16) opening into the underside (15) of the sole (14) and through which outside air can be drawn in by the vacuum cleaner (2), the suction head (5) further comprising a suction chamber (17), which is fluidly connected to the suction inlet, and a rotating brush (18) located in the suction chamber (17) and mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation (A), - a rotating drive mechanism (20) configured to rotate the rotating brush (18) around the axis of rotation (A), the rotating drive mechanism (20) comprising a brush drive motor (21) located in the suction head (5) and rotationally coupled to the rotating brush (18), - a suction motor (12) configured to generate an airflow through the suction head (5), the airflow having a suction flow rate and the brush drive motor (21) being capable of being cooled by conduction by at least a portion of said airflow, - a current-measuring device (27) configured to measure the current (I) applied to the brush drive motor (21), and - an electronic control unit (32) configured to control the operation of the vacuum cleaner (2), characterized in that the electronic control unit (32) is further configured to control the stopping or keeping in operation of the brush drive motor (21) as a function of a first parameter representing the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor (21) and a second parameter representing the suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor.

2. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (32) is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor (21) as a function of the first and second parameters, and to control the brush drive motor (21) stops if the estimated temperature reaches or exceeds a temperature threshold value.

3. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to claim 2, wherein the temperature threshold value is between 70 and 90°C.

4. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the electronic control unit (32) is configured to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor (21) as a function of the first parameter and the second parameter and from charts stored in the electronic control unit (32) and representing, for different values ​​of the first and second parameters, the evolution of the temperature of the brush drive motor (21) as a function of time.

5. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electronic control unit (32) is configured to successively determine pairs of parameters each comprising a value of the first parameter and a value of the second parameter, and to estimate the temperature of the brush drive motor (21) as a function of the successively determined pairs of parameters.

6. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each value of the first parameter is calculated from intensity values ​​measured by the intensity measuring device (27) during a respective predetermined period of time.

7. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to claim 6, wherein each predetermined time period is between 20 ms and 1 s.

8. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each value of the first parameter is an average of the intensity values ​​measured during the respective predetermined time period.

9. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to any one of claims 6 to 8 in combination with claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit (32) is configured to determine, for each predetermined time period, a pair of parameters comprising the value of the first parameter and the value of the second parameter determined for said predetermined time period.

10. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to claim 9, wherein the electronic control unit (32) is configured to estimate, for each predetermined time period, a temperature value of the brush drive motor (21) as a function of the torque of parameters determined for said predetermined time period, the duration of said predetermined time period and the estimated temperature value for the previous predetermined time period, and taking into account the charts stored in the electronic control unit (32).

11. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein, if the electronic control unit (32) detects a variation in the suction flow rate during a predetermined period of time, the electronic control unit (32) is then configured to shorten said predetermined period of time.

12. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the electronic control unit (32) is configured to estimate that the temperature of the brush drive motor (21) is equal to a predetermined initial temperature when starting the vacuum cleaner (2) following a shutdown of the vacuum cleaner (2) for more than a predetermined duration.

13. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the time interval between two successive measured intensity values ​​is between 2 and 10 ms.

14. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the brush drive motor (21) is located at least partly inside the rotating brush.

15. Vacuum cleaner (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which includes an air circulation cooling circuit (24) fluidly connected to the suction chamber (17) and configured to cool the brush drive motor (21) when an airflow is generated by the suction motor.

16. Method for controlling a vacuum cleaner (2), comprising the following steps: - providing a vacuum cleaner (2) comprising: • a suction head (5) comprising a rotating brush (18) which is located in a suction chamber (17) delimited by the suction head (5) and which is movable in rotation about an axis of rotation (A) and a soleplate (14) having a lower face (15) configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned and a suction nozzle (16) opening into the lower face (15) of the sole (14) and through which outside air can be drawn in by the vacuum cleaner (2), • a rotary drive mechanism (20) configured to drive the rotary brush (18) in rotation around the axis of rotation (A), the rotary drive mechanism (20) comprising a brush drive motor (21) rotationally coupled to the rotary brush (18), • a suction motor (12) configured to generate an airflow through the suction head (5), the airflow having a suction flow rate, • a current measurement device (27) configured to measure the current intensity (I) applied to the brush drive motor (21), and • an electronic control unit (32) configured to control the operation of the vacuum cleaner (2), - to measure the intensity (I) of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor (21), characterized in that the method further comprises the following steps: - determine a first parameter representing the intensity of the electric current applied to the brush drive motor (21), - determine a second parameter representing the suction flow rate of the airflow generated by the suction motor, and - control the stopping or maintaining operation of the brush drive motor (21) according to the first parameter and the second parameter.

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