Household appliance and base station for a household appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household cleaning appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, face challenges with high weight due to rechargeable energy stores in the base body, reducing user comfort and performance, and existing solutions with additional energy stores in accessories do not allow for flexible energy use.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a switch unit that connects the base body's rechargeable energy store and the accessory's energy store in parallel or series, allowing for flexible energy distribution based on user needs, controlled by a control unit that adjusts depending on operating state and accessory type, to optimize power and service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rechargeable energy store is arranged in the base body to supply energy to electrical consumers, then wireless operation and user-friendliness are improved, but the weight to be carried by the user increases, reducing operating comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is segmented into two separate rechargeable energy stores: one in the base body and another in the accessory. This allows the energy capacity to be distributed, with the accessory's energy store contributing to total capacity while its weight is distributed over the contact surfaces (rollers/working elements), thereby improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing the weight burden on the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a switching mechanism that enables the two energy stores to be connected in parallel or series, adding a dimensional aspect to energy configuration. This switching capability allows flexible energy distribution modes (parallel for extended runtime, series for increased power) without adding physical weight, resolving the contradiction between operational flexibility and weight.
2Quantity of substance
If an additional rechargeable energy store is arranged in the accessory to increase overall electrical energy, then energy capacity increases, but the available electrical energy cannot be used flexibly, reducing user-friendliness and performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic switching system that can change the connection configuration between the two energy stores based on operational requirements. The switch unit can connect the energy stores in parallel to extend runtime or in series to increase voltage and power output, providing adaptability and versatility in energy utilization while maintaining increased total energy capacity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the first rechargeable energy store and further rechargeable energy store are connected in parallel, then energy capacity increases for longer service life, but the maximum available power (voltage) is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The switching unit enables dynamic reconfiguration of the energy store connections. When extended service life is required, the system connects energy stores in parallel; when maximum power output is needed, the system switches to series connection. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize between service life and power output based on real-time operational demands.
4Power
If the first rechargeable energy store and further rechargeable energy store are connected in series, then maximum available power increases by increasing voltage, but energy capacity decreases, reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the switching unit to dynamically adjust the connection configuration between energy stores. When high power output is required, series connection is activated; when extended operation time is needed, parallel connection is selected. This dynamic switching capability allows the system to optimize the trade-off between power and service life based on specific operational requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a household cleaning assembly (2, 2.1), in particular a vacuum cleaner (2, 2.1), comprising at least one accessory (4, 4.1) which can be connected to a base body (14), at least one first rechargeable energy accumulator (12) mounted in the base body (14), at least one additional rechargeable energy accumulator (10) mounted in the accessory (4, 4.1) and at least one consumer (6, 46) which can be supplied with energy by at least one rechargeable energy accumulator (10, 12). At least one first switching unit (13) is mounted between the first rechargeable energy accumulator (12) and the other rechargeable energy accumulator (10), the first switching unit (13) being designed to connect in parallel the first rechargeable energy accumulator (12) and the other rechargeable energy accumulator (10) in a first switch position and/or in series in a second switch position.