Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner capable of reducing power consumption and a risk of damage to hard floors.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner includes: a cleaner head defining a suction chamber and having an agitator arranged to be rotated by an agitator motor; a dirt separator; a vacuum motor arranged to draw air into the suction chamber and then into the dirt separator; and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor an electrical load of the agitator motor, compare a magnitude of the electrical load with a threshold, and selectively adjust electrical power delivered to the vacuum motor. The controller is configured either to increase the electrical power delivered to the vacuum motor to a predetermined upper power level if the electrical load is greater than the threshold, or to decrease the electrical power delivered to the vacuum motor to a predetermined lower power level if the electrical load is smaller than the threshold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. [Background technology]

[0002] The present invention is not limited to any particular type of vacuum cleaner. For example, the present invention is not limited to an Light vacuum cleaners, cylinder vacuum cleaners or handheld or "stick" vacuums It can be used in vacuum cleaners.

[0003] Some known vacuum cleaners have a suction chamber provided with a motor-driven rotary agitator. Such agitators often include a brush having bristles. The brush bar takes the form of a brush that agitates the carpet fibers during rotation, thereby removing dust particles. - It is made from pet fibers. However, in general, such agitators Agitator operation is redundant when the vacuum is cleaning "hard floors" such as laminate flooring sections. Indeed, in some cases, the rotating action of the agitator leaves marks on such floors. The agitator is designed to avoid scratching hard floors. Even if the agitator is installed, some users may not want the agitator to scrub hard floors with enough force. I don't think so.

[0004] A cleaner head having a vacuum chamber and a rotating agitator typically has a suction chamber leading to The vacuum cleaner head has a suction opening in a bottom plate located on the underside of the head. The dust-laden air then passes through the suction opening before being ducted to the dust separator. The bottom plate is generally the one that contacts the surface being cleaned. or spaced a short distance from the surface, so that This increases the degree to which surface dust is entrained in the airflow passing through the suction opening. Due to the low pressure in the chamber, the cleaner head is then sucked onto the surface being cleaned. This behavior is inherent in many vacuum cleaner heads and in fact some In this case, the agitator is actively encouraged to move downward so that it abuts against the floor surface. In either case, the agitator is rigid and therefore provides a stronger agitation action. This may exacerbate the problem (possible risk of scratching) of the floor.

[0005] Some vacuum cleaners allow the user to switch off the agitator motor. However, this is not the case for carpets and hard floors. The user must remember to turn the agitator on and off when switching between This creates a significant burden for some users in terms of the time it takes to turn them on and off. This can be particularly troublesome with stick vacuum cleaners, which often have a backwash. powered and must be held down for the vacuum cleaner to stay on On / off switch (in the form of a deadman's handle). These are usually Used in a "shot" manner, i.e., by holding the on / off switch on the floor Clean a small area, then turn the vacuum cleaner to another area of ​​the floor and turn the On / Off switch back on. Release the On / Off switch and lift the vacuum cleaner before holding it down. When used in this manner, the user will be able to This is particularly tedious and time-consuming, as you have to choose whether to turn the agitator motor on or off every time It is time-consuming and / or forgettable. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to mitigate or eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages and / or to provide an improved Or to provide an alternative suction nozzle or vacuum cleaner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum chamber defining a suction chamber. a cleaner head having an agitator configured to be rotated by an agitator motor; a dust separator and a true air intake system configured to draw air into a suction chamber and into the dust separator. Observing the electrical load of the idle motor and the agitator motor and comparing the magnitude of the electrical load to a threshold value; a controller configured to selectively adjust power delivered to the vacuum motor. , the controller reduces the power sent to the vacuum motor when the electrical load is greater than a threshold. to a predetermined upper power level and a predetermined lower power level if the electrical load is less than a threshold. Reduce to.

[0008] This may enable the vacuum cleaner to adapt to a variety of floor types, thereby For example, the threshold value is set to 0 when the vacuum head is on a carpet. Sometimes (due to increased frictional resistance of the carpet fibers to the rotation of the agitator) When the electrical load of the agitator motor is above the threshold and the cleaner head is on a hard floor, the threshold is exceeded. In such a case, the power sent to the vacuum motor may be selected to be less than the value The power increases when the vacuum head is on the carpet (this lifts the dust off the carpet). This may improve the cleaning effect and / or may be reduced when the cleaner head is on a hard floor. At this point, the suction required for sufficient pick-up on a hard bed is generally low, so the agitator Reduce the actual or perceived risk of damaging surfaces by being pressed against them, improving cleaning performance (reducing power consumption without excessive losses in the

[0009] The vacuum head has increased suction power when on carpet and / or the vacuum head is rigid This behavior of reducing suction power when on the floor is counterintuitive. When the pressure in the suction chamber is low (i.e., when the suction level is high), these vacuum cleaners In carpeted surfaces, this tends to cause the bottom plate and the carpet to stick down. -The level of sealing between the PET and the filter may be increased, which reduces airflow into the suction opening. This further reduces the pressure in the suction chamber, which in turn reduces the Further sinking it and increasing the sealing level between the carpet and the bottom plate. This causes a phenomenon known as "clinging" where the vacuum head The vacuum head itself is pushed down on the carpet with such force that it is difficult for the user to move it. So at this point, what is usually considered desirable is to use the vacuum head Reduces suction when the carpet is on the carpet, thereby reducing the risk of clinging and / or the risk of clinging to hard floors is generally low, 2. To increase suction (and thereby improve pick-up) when the .

[0010] The controller increases the power sent to the vacuum motor when the electrical load is greater than a threshold. power level and reduces the power sent to the vacuum motor when the electrical load is below the threshold. 2. The power supply 10 may be configured to reduce the power to a lower level.

[0011] This provides the functionality mentioned above (improved pick-up on carpeted floors) as well as power This can be beneficial in that it can provide both reduced energy consumption and reduced risk of scratching hard floors. do.

[0012] While this dual functionality is preferred, the vacuum cleaner according to the invention nevertheless or a vacuum motor configured to only selectively increase the power delivered to the vacuum motor The present invention may have a controller configured to only selectively reduce power delivered to the

[0013] Preferably, the controller determines other power levels than the upper and lower power levels. It may be set to not supply vacuum to the motor.

[0014] This advantageously allows the behavior of the vacuum cleaner to be easily understood by the user. (e.g., a user may want to configure the vacuum cleaner to have a "hard floor mode" and a "carpet mode" While it is easy to understand that switching between Alternatively or additionally, this allows the controller to use computationally inexpensive programs. It may be possible to utilize a gram structure, which may reduce the cost of the vacuum cleaner.

[0015] The controller is permanently set to provide only the upper and lower power levels. or may be so set in one mode but one or more when in another mode. It may be configured to provide different or additional power levels.

[0016] The controller adjusts the electrical load of the agitator after making adjustments to the power sent to the vacuum cleaner. Continue to monitor and make further adjustments if it detects that the electrical load on the agitator motor crosses a threshold. This can be configured to adjust the vacuum head under changing conditions rather than adjusting it just once. This can be beneficial in allowing it to be repeatedly adapted to the situation.

[0017] For example, the controller may detect a problem (due to the load on the agitator motor being above a threshold). ) increasing the power sent to the vacuum motor to the upper power level, and then increasing the power sent to the agitator motor. After the electrical load crosses the threshold and drops below the threshold, the power delivered to the load drops to a lower power level. In another example, instead of or in preference to the above functionality, In addition to the above functionality, the controller may also check whether the load on the agitator motor is below a threshold. (due to) reducing the power sent to the vacuum motor to a lower power level, and then The electrical load on the vacuum motor rises above the threshold and is then applied to the vacuum motor. The power supply may be configured to increase the power to a higher power level.

[0018] The controller monitors the electrical load of the agitator motor in terms of the current draw of the electric motor. and comparing the detected current to a current threshold.

[0019] This is because the current draw of the agitator motor is generally approximately proportional to the torque experienced by the agitator. and thus the resistance to the agitator by the floor surface is particularly easily interpreted. This may provide an indication of the type of floor (and thus the type of surface).

[0020] In contrast, for example, a controller may observe the electrical load of an agitator motor in terms of its power draw. If the measurement is being performed, this may be due to a change in the main supply (e.g. due to a fluctuation in the vacuum (due to changes in the state of charge of the battery pack that powers the vacuum cleaner) Therefore, interpretation of the electrical load can become more difficult and unreliable.

[0021] The controller resets the power level that was being sent to the vacuum motor when the vacuum cleaner was last turned off. The vacuum cleaner is configured to keep a record of the bell and to automatically turn it on the next time the vacuum cleaner is turned on. , may be configured to resume sending that power level to the vacuum motor.

[0022] That is, the vacuum cleaner will not detect the vacuum when the vacuum cleaner is turned off and then turned on again. It can be configured to "pick up where you left off" with respect to the power sent to the motor. You may need to readjust the power level each time you turn the vacuum off and then on. The possibility to turn the vacuum cleaner off and on again during a single cleaning session without the need may be particularly beneficial in certain arrangements.

[0023] The vacuum cleaner has an on / off switch that must be held to keep the vacuum cleaner on. For example, an on / off switch may be provided that, when pulled, turns the vacuum cleaner on and This may take the form of a trigger that, when released, is automatically initiated to turn the vacuum cleaner off.

[0024] A vacuum cleaner that "picks up where you left off" is one that This can occur while cleaning a single floor surface (e.g. when directing the vacuum to a different part of the floor). Such vacuum cleaners are generally turned off multiple times, so an on / off switch like this is a good idea. This can be particularly beneficial when

[0025] The controller will automatically reset the vacuum to the upper power level or The vacuum motor is then supplied with a predetermined initial power level that does not correspond to a lower power level. It can be configured as follows.

[0026] That is, the controller will reset the power level that was being delivered when the vacuum cleaner was last turned off. Regardless of the bell, as soon as you turn on the vacuum cleaner, it automatically sets an initial power level to the vacuum motor. This can be configured to send the same type of cleaning fluid as when the vacuum cleaner was last used. Do not turn the vacuum cleaner on until the room is cleaned at a point that the controller does not assume is on a surface. This can be particularly beneficial in arrangements where the power supply may be turned off and then turned back on.

[0027] The initial power level may be, for example, higher than the lower power level and lower than the upper power level. This allows the vacuum cleaner to operate at a power level that is a "compromise" between the upper and lower power levels. For example, this can be beneficial in that it can send higher power levels to the vacuum motor. And turn on the vacuum cleaner with the cleaner head on the hard floor (as soon as and / or Applying a low power level to the vacuum motor and vacuuming with the vacuum cleaner head on the carpet Turn on the vacuum cleaner (as soon as you do this the initial pickup may become unacceptably weak) ) can be avoided.

[0028] Alternatively, the initial power level can be lower than the lower power level (which is not likely to cause injury). Eliminates the risk of the vacuum head getting stuck to hard floors enough to cause may be higher than the high power level (which may cause initial take-up to be unacceptable) (This may eliminate the risk of the

[0029] As another alternative, the controller may use the command sent when the vacuum cleaner was last turned off. Regardless of the power level, as soon as you turn on the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum motor or to send a low current to the vacuum motor as soon as the vacuum cleaner is turned off. It may be configured to transmit a power level.

[0030] The controller gradually adjusts the power sent to the vacuum motor to an upper or lower power level. The control circuit may be configured to automatically adjust the

[0031] Changes in the power delivered to the vacuum motor of a vacuum cleaner often result in This can cause a noticeable change in the pitch of the noise produced by the vacuum cleaner. The change in pitch may be perceptible by a user, who may view the sudden change in pitch as an indication of an error. Thus, the gradual change in power level can be interpreted as a change in pitch. may be unable to recognize sufficiently gradual changes in behavior that are not errors, but rather It can be more clearly associated with intentional change.

[0032] While this functionality is preferred, in some configurations the controller may also The power that is applied can be adjusted as a step change to an upper or lower power level. It can be configured as follows.

[0033] In gradually adjusting the power sent to the vacuum motor, the controller Increase the power delivered to the motor for a period of at least 0.1 seconds or at least 0.2 seconds. The controller may be configured to adjust the power level or lower. , reducing the power sent to the vacuum motor to the above power level for a period of at least 0.5 seconds, or It may be configured to adjust to a lower power level.

[0034] The controller preferably reduces the power sent to the vacuum motor for at least 0.1 seconds or Adjust to an upper or lower power level for a period of at least 0.2 seconds. At least it is configured.

[0035] This relatively long-term change in power level can go unnoticed by the user. This may improve the chances of the feature being recognized or intentionally recognised by the user.

[0036] The controller may reduce the power sent to the vacuum motor for periods of 10 seconds or less or 8 seconds or less. The control may be configured to adjust to an upper or lower power level. The roller is configured to adjust the power delivered to the vacuum motor for a period of six seconds or less. It is possible.

[0037] The controller preferably reduces power sent to the vacuum motor for 5 seconds or less, or for 4 seconds or less. It may be configured to adjust to an upper or lower power level over a period of time.

[0038] This allows the vacuum cleaner to adapt relatively quickly to changes in floor type, It may nevertheless be possible to gradually adjust the power level.

[0039] The controller compares the magnitude of the electrical load to a spike threshold that is higher than the threshold. and the power sent to the vacuum motor when the electrical load is greater than the spike threshold. It may be further configured to reduce the force.

[0040] In some circumstances, the agitator in the cleaner head may be damaged (e.g. when the user is scratching the corner of a rug). When suctioning, or when the vacuum head clings to the carpet, the agitator exerts a large force on the carpet. There is a risk that the device may be entangled and forcibly stopped if it is pushed against the vehicle. This causes a peak in the current through the agitator motor and associated wiring. The peaks can be high enough to cause damage to the vacuum cleaner head. A circuit is provided (e.g., inside the agitator motor) that protects the motor when the current is sufficient. If the temperature rises too high, the power supply to the agitator motor is cut off, causing such damage. This reduces the risk of the agitator becoming "stuck". While this is better than causing scratches, this impasse is also a clue as to why the agitator stopped. This may cause confusion for some users, or the stirrer is not rotating ( This may lead to users continuing to use the vacuum cleaner in a state where the cleaning performance is reduced. Can be done.

[0041] When the electrical load on the agitator motor is above the spike threshold, the voltage sent to the vacuum motor is By reducing the power applied, the stirrer is prevented from getting stuck (or damaged due to excessive current). By reducing the amount of power sent to the vacuum motor, the suction power This in turn reduces the pressure in the vacuum cleaner, causing an increase in pressure in the suction chamber. This allows the head to be lifted slightly, which reduces the peak in the agitator motor current. This reduces the problem when the problem is caused by pressing the agitator against the floor surface. Alternatively or additionally, the reduction in suction force makes it easier for the user to pull on the corners of the lug. This facilitates the removal of the stirrer, thereby allowing the stirrer to move freely again.

[0042] The controller will automatically detect the voltage sent to the vacuum motor when the electrical load is greater than the spike threshold. The device may be configured to reduce the power received by the device to a power level that is equal to or less than the lower power level. For these reasons, it is important to be careful not to let the stirrer get stuck (or to let excessive current cause damage). ) can be further increased the opportunity to avoid

[0043] As an alternative, the controller may increase the power delivered to the vacuum motor above the lower power level. The power level may be configured to decrease the power to a power level that is greater than the upper power level but less than the upper power level.

[0044] The controller, in response to the electrical load being greater than a spike threshold, shuts down the vacuum motor. The device may be configured to reduce the power delivered to the inverter as a step change.

[0045] Such a step change in the power delivered to the vacuum motor results in a rapid change in suction force. This can cause a rapid reduction in the force, thereby allowing for the advantageous rapid advancement of the mechanism, This can prevent jamming (or scratches).

[0046] Alternatively, the reduction in delivered power may be gradual, in which case the reduction may be This occurs over a relatively short period of time (eg, less than 1 second or less than 0.5 seconds).

[0047] The threshold may be a single discrete value.

[0048] This allows the controller to simply compare the measured load on the agitator motor to a single threshold. Therefore, the controller configuration and program can be relatively simple. In turn, this may reduce the overall cost of the vacuum cleaner.

[0049] Alternatively, the threshold value may be a numerical range, and the controller may determine whether the electrical load is above the threshold range. to increase the power to an upper power level and / or If the load is less than the lower limit of the threshold range, the power is reduced to a predetermined lower power level. This is the point at which the controller can adjust the power level. This can be beneficial in that it can provide a "buffer zone" between the This can increase the ability of the device to withstand variations in the electrical load, which the controller can then This occurs while the vacuum head is on a single surface type without changing the force level.

[0050] The controller controls the vacuum motor in the manner described above when the controller is in the first mode. The controller may be configured to adjust the power output by the first and second power supplies and may have a second mode.

[0051] This allows the user to disable the above mentioned functionality if desired.

[0052] The controller will maintain a single pre-determined power supply when the controller is in the second mode. The level may be configured to supply a vacuum motor.

[0053] This allows the user to set the power level sent to the vacuum motor according to their particular use. For example, a user may want to clean a hard floor, such as a laminate floor. Thus, the vacuum motor provides maximum suction (i.e., maximum power delivered to the vacuum motor) and This maximizes dust pick-up from between adjacent laminates. Users may want to clean specific sensitive rugs and the vacuum motor provides a low level of suction. Give.

[0054] Alternatively, the controller may adjust the power delivered to the vacuum motor when in the second mode. However, it may be adjusted in a different manner than the modes described above.

[0055] The controller may further have a third mode. For example, the controller may have an "intermediate" mode. The vacuum motor may be configured to adjust the power delivered to the vacuum motor in the manner described above when in the vacuum mode. Alternatively, the controller may be configured to operate the vacuum motor at a relatively low power level (e.g. "Minimum" mode (same as or lower than the lower power level) and supplying vacuum to the motor The power level used is relatively high (e.g., the same as or higher than the high power level). and a "max" mode.

[0056] The vacuum cleaner preferably comprises one or more sensors configured to supply power to the vacuum motor. The present invention provides a battery pack having a battery charger and a charger for reducing power usage. This is considered equivalent to a long battery life when applied to a battery-powered vacuum cleaner. This can be particularly advantageous.

[0057] Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner may be provided with a power cable for connection to a mains supply.

[0058] The agitator motor is preferably located partially or completely inside the agitator. This may advantageously provide a compact arrangement and / or may be advantageously simple or robust. A suitable transmission mechanism may be used to transmit torque from the motor to the agitator.

[0059] The controller may be configured to continuously monitor the electrical load of the agitator motor. Alternatively, the controller may be configured to periodically monitor the electrical load of the agitator motor. In the latter case, the controller may be configured to detect the time interval of 5 seconds or less, e.g., 2 seconds or less. The electrical load may be measured at time intervals of 100 ms or at time intervals of 1 second or less. Frequent observations have shown that adjusting the power level of the vacuum motor can improve the reaction time of the vacuum cleaner. .

[0060] The controller can be a single unit, such as a PCB. Alternatively, the controller can be For example, the controller may be provided to a vacuum motor. a subunit configured to control the power level to be applied to the agitator motor; a separate subunit configured to observe only the signal from said subunit; and a further sub-unit for transmitting instructions to the

[0061] The controller may be configured to provide power to the agitator motor, or alternatively Power is then provided to the agitator motor by a separate component (e.g., a second controller). The controller may be configured to independently control the electrical load of the motor provided by the controller. The measurement may be configured to measure

[0062] The controller may be provided on the main body of the vacuum cleaner (e.g. the controller may be This allows the same controller to be used with multiple interchangeable vacuum heads. It may be possible to use it together with

[0063] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0064] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a view from below of the cleaner head of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical components of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1; [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic flow chart illustrating control operations performed by a controller of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1; [Diagram 5] 10 is a schematic flow chart showing a control operation executed by a controller of a vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic flow chart showing a control operation executed by a controller of a vacuum cleaner according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0065] Throughout the description and drawings, corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding features.

[0066] FIG 1 shows a vacuum cleaner 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The machine 2 is a "stick" vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner comprises an elongated, generally tubular wand 8. The cleaner head 4 is connected to a main body 6 by a It can be directly connected to the main body 6 to convert the vacuum cleaner 2 into a handheld vacuum cleaner.

[0067] The main body 6 is provided with a dust separator 10, in this case a cyclone type separator. The cyclone separator is arranged in parallel with a first cyclone stage 12 which comprises a single cyclone. and a second cyclone stage 14 having a plurality of cyclones 16 arranged in parallel. Similarly, a removable filter is provided with a vent 20 through which air can be exhausted from the vacuum cleaner 2. The rotor assembly 18 is provided.

[0068] In this case, the main body 6 of the vacuum cleaner 2 is positioned to be held by a user. The pistol-shaped grip 22 has a trigger (see FIG. The vacuum cleaner has an on / off switch in the form of a trigger (not shown) that keeps the vacuum cleaner on. The trigger must be held (i.e., "pulled") to activate the trigger. As soon as this is done, the vacuum cleaner is turned off. A battery pack 26 is positioned which includes a number of rechargeable cells (not shown). The fan is driven by a controller in the form of a BC (not shown) and an electric motor. A vacuum motor (not shown) is provided in the main body 6 behind the dust separator 10 .

[0069] The cleaner head 4 is shown from below in Figure 2. The cleaner head 4 has a suction chamber. The case 30 defines a chamber 32 and a bottom plate 34. The bottom plate 34 is a suction opening 36 through which the suction chamber 32 can enter, and wheels 37 for engaging the floor surface; The case 30 defines an outlet 38 through which air is drawn into the suction chamber. Chamber 32 may be added to fit within wand 8.

[0070] Located within the suction chamber 32 is an agitator 40 in the form of a brush bar. The agitator 40 is driven and rotated inside the suction chamber 32 by an agitator motor (not shown). The agitator motor of this embodiment is located inside the agitator 40, more specifically, completely. The agitator 40 is received inside the groove 42. (not shown) so that the bristles protrude out of the suction chamber 32 through the suction opening 36. The nozzle is positioned in the suction chamber as shown.

[0071] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the electrical components of the vacuum cleaner 2. In FIG. 4, the cells 27 of the battery pack 26, the capillaries 43 of the agitator 40, the controller 50, the vacuum Motor 52 and agitator motor 54 are visible. With reference to this, the basic operation of the vacuum cleaner will be described.

[0072] When a user pulls the trigger 24, the controller 50 This powers the vacuum motor 52, which creates an airflow through the machine, thereby The air containing the dust passes through the suction opening 36 and is drawn into the vacuum cleaner head. From there, the air is drawn into the suction chamber 32 via the outlet 33 of the cleaner head 4. The dust is sucked through the wand 8 and into the dust separator 10. The relatively clean air is then pumped through the vacuum motor and filter. Air is drawn in through the rotor assembly 18 and exits the vacuum cleaner 2 through a vent 20 .

[0073] Additionally, when trigger 24 is pulled, controller 50 activates a wand that extends along the inside of the wand. Power is supplied to the agitator motor 54 from the battery pack 26 through a power inlet 56, thereby When the cleaner head 4 is on a hard floor, the cleaner head The bottom plate 34 and the agitator 40 are supported by the wheel 37 and spaced apart from the floor surface. When the cleaner head 4 is placed on a carpeted surface, the wheels 37 The bottom plate 34 (and the rest of the cleaner head 4) sinks into the carpet pile and thus This allows the carpet fibers to be sucked open. It is then possible for the nozzle 36 to project (possibly through a suction opening) and As soon as this is done, these fibers are disturbed by the hairs 43 of the rotating agitator 40, This loosens the dust and dirt from the fibers.

[0074] The controller 50 monitors the electrical load of the agitator motor 54 and determines the magnitude of the electrical load. The power delivered to the vacuum motor 52 is selectively adjusted as a result of the comparison to a threshold value. In this case, the controller observes the electrical load in terms of the current draw of the agitator motor 54. The current threshold in this embodiment is 1.5A to 2A. 1 to 3 together with FIG. 4, the operation of the controller 50 will now be described. 4, which illustrates the decision steps and operations performed by the controller 50. 1 is a flowchart showing the process.

[0075] When the vacuum cleaner 2 is turned on by pulling the trigger 24, the controller 50 first Power is supplied to the vacuum motor 52 at the normal power level. This is shown in block A. In this case, In this example, the initial power level is 130W.

[0076] As described above, pulling the trigger 24 also causes the controller 50 to switch power to the agitator mode. However, in this embodiment, the controller 50 supplies the agitator 54. It does not regulate the power sent to the motor 54. Therefore, the power supply to the agitator motor 54 , not shown in Figure 4.

[0077] After powering the vacuum motor 52 and the agitator motor 54, the controller The controller detects the current draw of the current sensor 54 (Block B). The controller then compares the measurement with a threshold value. More specifically, as shown in block C, the controller 50 detects It queries whether the current draw is greater than a threshold range (i.e., greater than 2A). Then, if the detected current draw is greater than the current threshold, the controller 50 will turn the vacuum motor The power delivered to 52 is increased from the initial power level to an upper power level (Block D). In this case, the top power bell is 180W.

[0078] If the detected current draw is not greater than the threshold range, the controller again The current draw is compared to a threshold, where the detected current draw of the agitator motor 54 is greater than or equal to the threshold. It queries whether the current is below the range (i.e., less than 1.5A). This is Block E If so, the controller 50 sends a command to the vacuum motor 52. The power is decreased from the initial power level to a lower power level (Block F). In this case, the lower power level is 80W.

[0079] The detected current draw is neither greater than nor less than the threshold (i.e., 1.5A and 2A). If the power level is between 0 and 1, the controller 50 makes no adjustments and provides an initial power level to the vacuum motor. Then, after performing the above comparison between the power draw and the threshold, the power level Whether or not the bell is adjusted, the controller controls the current draw of the agitator motor 54. A time delay is performed (Block G) before detecting again (Block A). The time delay for the 0.3 second period is 0.3 seconds. However, in other embodiments, the time delay is omitted. , whereby the controller continuously monitors the current draw of the agitator motor 54 ( Despite the negligible time delay caused by the controller implementing blocks B through F, figure).

[0080] A time delay was performed (Block G) and the current draw of the agitator motor was measured (Block B ), the controller 50 similarly compares the new value to the threshold (blocks C and E). The measurements are in the same position relative to the threshold range (i.e., above the threshold range, below the threshold range, If the threshold is exceeded (below or within the threshold range), then no adjustment is made and a time delay (Block G) is performed. The cycle is repeated in the same manner, except that the measured current draw changes position relative to the threshold. For example, if the current draw was previously within the threshold but is now below the threshold, then an adjustment may be made. If the vacuum motor is moved above 100° C., then the controller 50 will start to reduce the current sent to the vacuum motor. As another example, if the current draw was previously below the threshold, If the pressure was above the threshold but moves below the threshold, then the controller 50 will On the other hand, the power level sent to the current If the pull was previously above or below the threshold and now moves within the threshold, make an adjustment. Instead, the power sent to the vacuum motor 52 remains at the same power level (i.e., up to the upper power level). or lower power level).

[0081] It can be seen from FIG. 4 that after the machine is turned on, the power draw of the agitator motor 54 drops below a threshold. As long as it remains within the value, the power level sent to the vacuum motor will be the initial power level. However, thresholds and power levels are chosen to make this scenario unlikely in practice. The controller 50 may (albeit not during the first cycle of steps shown in FIG. 4) It is expected that the power level will be adjusted relatively quickly to an upper or lower power level. It will be understood that once the first adjustment to the power level is made by the controller 50, Once the power level is reached, the controller will set the other power levels to the vacuum module other than the lower and upper power levels. That is, the controller is set to not supply 80 W to the Or, only 180 W is supplied to the vacuum motor 52 .

[0082] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the controller supplies the vacuum motor 52 Make adjustments to the power level such that the adjustments are gradual rather than making a step change to the power level. More specifically, the controller adjusts the power level over a period of about 2 seconds. This allows the user to avoid sudden changes in the power supply. Avoid sudden changes in the speed of the vacuum motor 52 which may cause confusion.

[0083] FIG. 5 shows a decision step executed by a controller of a vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment. Therefore, only the differences are described here.

[0084] In the second embodiment, in each cycle, the controller 50 adjusts the current draw as described above. The detected current draw of the agitator motor 54 is scanned before being compared to the threshold (blocks C and E). The spike threshold is compared with the spike threshold (Block H). In this case, the spike threshold is The current draw exceeds the spike threshold (i.e., less than 5A). If the vacuum pressure is greater than 100 MPa, then the controller 50 reduces the power sent to the vacuum motor 52. In this case, the power is reduced to a lower power level (i.e., 80 W). This is shown in Block I. The adjustments made in Blocks D and F are gradual, whereas in Block I The adjustments made are step-like, i.e., the power is increased as quickly as the controller can achieve. Then, the power level drops to a lower level.

[0085] After adjusting the power level in step I, the controller implements a time delay (block G), then the current draw is remeasured (Block B) and the cycle begins again. If is greater than the spike threshold and remains greater, then (current draw is spike Drop from above the threshold to below the threshold (i.e. above 5A to below 1.5A) In so doing, the controller 50 continues to send a lower power level to the vacuum motor 52. However, if the current draw is between the threshold and the spike threshold, then the controller The power supply 50 delivers a high power level to the vacuum motor 52 .

[0086] For the avoidance of doubt, while the current draw of the agitator motor 54 remains below the spike threshold The vacuum cleaner 2 according to the second embodiment behaves in the same manner as the vacuum cleaner 2 according to the first embodiment. do.

[0087] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart executed by a controller of a vacuum cleaner according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a flow chart showing decision steps and operations. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. The form is similar and therefore similarly only the differences are described.

[0088] In this embodiment, the controller 50 includes a memory, which stores a Keep a record of the power level being sent to the vacuum motor 52 when the vacuum cleaner 2 was last turned off. Additionally, an initial power level is stored to the vacuum motor 52 when the vacuum cleaner 2 is first turned on. Instead of sending a bell, the controller 50 sends the bell when the vacuum cleaner was last turned off. The electricity that was being stored will be transmitted.

[0089] Regardless of whether the controller 50 is making any adjustments, the controller The record of the power level to be measured is written (or overwritten) to memory (Blocks J and K). Therefore, when you turn off the vacuum cleaner 2, the memory stores the last power level that was set (upper When you turn the vacuum cleaner 2 back on, the control The controller reads the record from memory (Block L) and sets the associated power level to the vacuum module. The data is sent to data processor 52 (block M).

[0090] In this embodiment, instead of sending an initial power level, the controller 50 or lower power level as soon as possible, so the controller The power supply to the vacuum motor 52 is preset to supply no other power level than It can be considered.

[0091] That being said, in the third embodiment, the behavior of the controller described above is This is only done when the controller is in the first mode. The control has a second mode, which is a "low" mode, and a third mode, which is a "maximum" mode. When the controller 50 is in minimum mode, the controller will not exceed the lower power level (70W in this case). ) to the vacuum motor 52. Similarly, the controller 50 may When in mode, the controller will start at a constant power level above the upper power level (in this case 190W). The controller 50 provides a power level to the vacuum motor 52. The adjustment can be set using a three-position slider, an example of which is visible in FIG.

[0092] It is anticipated that any deviation from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims will occur. Many modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In a modified embodiment, the controller 50 controls the vacuum motor 52 when in the minimum mode. The power level applied may be above the lower power level (e.g., 90 W); and / or , the power level sent to the vacuum motor 52 when the controller 50 is in maximum mode is: The power level may be less than the upper power level (e.g., 170 W). [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 2 vacuum cleaner, 4 vacuum cleaner head, 10 dust separator, 32 suction chamber, 40 agitator Agitator, 50 controller, 52 vacuum motor, 54 agitator motor

Claims

1. an agitator defining a suction chamber and configured to be rotated by an agitator motor; a vacuum cleaner head having a dust separator; A vacuum configured to draw air into the suction chamber and into the dust separator. A motor; Observing an electrical load on the agitator motor and comparing a magnitude of the electrical load to a threshold value; a controller configured to selectively adjust power delivered to the vacuum motor. picture, The controller reduces power delivered to the vacuum motor until the electrical load exceeds the threshold. and increasing the power to a predetermined upper level if the electrical load is less than the threshold.

4. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a power supply for supplying power to a predetermined lower power level when the power supply is turned on;

2. The controller controls the vacuum motor when the electrical load is greater than the threshold. increasing the power applied to the power supply to the upper power level and the electrical load is less than the threshold. if so, reduce power delivered to the vacuum motor to the lower power level.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. The controller may select a power level other than the upper power level and the lower power level.

4. The vacuum motor according to claim 3, wherein the vacuum motor can be set not to supply the vacuum.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2.

4. The controller adjusts the power sent to the vacuum motor before The electrical load is monitored and the electrical load of the agitator motor is The method is characterized in that it is configured to make further adjustments when it detects that the threshold has been crossed.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The controller controls the electrical load of the agitator motor in terms of the current draw of the electric motor. and configured to monitor the load and compare the detected power to a current threshold. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The controller detects the time when the vacuum cleaner was last turned off and determines whether the vacuum cleaner was turned off. a power level controller configured to: configured to resume delivering that power level to the vacuum motor when the power supply is turned on again.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. When the controller turns the vacuum cleaner off and then on again, A preset initial power level that does not correspond to the upper and lower power levels 6. The vacuum pump according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum motor.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 .

8. The controller adjusts the power sent to the vacuum motor to either the upper power level or the lower power level.

8. The power level adjusting device according to claim 1, 13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12 .

9. The controller adjusts the power sent to the vacuum motor to either the upper power level or the lower power level. configured to adjust the power level over a period of at least 0.5 seconds.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8,

10. The controller adjusts the power sent to the vacuum motor to either the upper power level or the lower power level. and configured to adjust the power level over a period of six seconds or less.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 or 9.

11. The controller controls the magnitude of the electrical load to a spike threshold value greater than the threshold value. and the electrical load is greater than the spike threshold. and further configured to reduce power delivered to the vacuum motor when the pressure is greater than the pressure at the vacuum motor.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that

12. the controller, in response to the electrical load being greater than the spike threshold, configured to reduce power delivered to the vacuum motor as a step change; 12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, further comprising:

13. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is a single discrete value.

2. A vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1 .

14. The controller, when in a first mode, controls the vacuum motor in the manner described above. and a controller configured to adjust power delivered to the power supply, the controller having a second mode.

14. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that

15. The controller, when in the second mode, and configured to provide a predetermined power level to the vacuum motor.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14.

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