Vacuum Cleaner Brush Load Control for Motor Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaners face challenges in adaptively controlling the motor operation based on varying loads applied to the drum-mounted brush, leading to inefficient suction and potential motor damage due to inconsistent current supply.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner system that includes a processor to sense the load applied to the motor and adjust the speed of both the drum motor and suction motor based on threshold values, reducing speed or terminating operation when high loads are detected to prevent damage and optimize suction performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the motor speed is increased to improve suction performance, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the motor load increases causing potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidmotor reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The motor speed is made dynamically adjustable based on detected load conditions. The processor continuously monitors motor current and adjusts the drum motor speed accordingly - increasing speed when load is low for better cleaning efficiency, and reducing speed when load exceeds thresholds to protect motor reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A feedback control system is implemented where the processor monitors motor current in real-time and uses this information to adjust motor speed. The system compares detected current against predetermined thresholds and dynamically modifies operating parameters to balance cleaning performance with motor protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Power

If the motor operates at high speed continuously to maintain suction power, then cleaning performance is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The motor operates in periodic cycles of high and low speed based on cleaning conditions. Rather than maintaining constant high speed, the system alternates between high-power modes during high-resistance surfaces and lower-power modes during low-resistance surfaces, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes motor operating parameters (speed, power) based on detected cleaning conditions. By adjusting motor speed according to surface resistance and load conditions, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining sufficient suction power and minimizing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the brush drum speed is increased to improve cleaning of high-resistance surfaces, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the load on the motor increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmotor load
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The drum motor speed is dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of motor load and cleaning conditions. The system increases speed when high-resistance surfaces are detected to maintain cleaning effectiveness, and reduces speed when motor load becomes excessive to prevent damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control system uses feedback from motor current detection to regulate drum speed. When the processor detects that motor current exceeds predetermined thresholds, it reduces drum speed to lower motor load, while still maintaining adequate cleaning performance through adaptive control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4154780B1Vacuum cleaner and method for controlling thereof
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4154780B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4154780B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4154780B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a vacuum cleaner. The present vacuum cleaner includes a drum mounted with a brush, a first motor for rotating the drum, a sensor for sensing a load applied to the first motor, a second motor generating suction pressure, and a processor for controlling at least one from the first motor and the second motor according to a size of a load sensed from the sensor.