JPH0374095B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner equipped with a DC electric blower driven by a battery, and a method for controlling input from the battery to the DC electric blower. related to cooling of resistors.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, for example, a vacuum cleaner is known in which the suction force of an electric blower can be adjusted by operating a variable resistor or the like. Then, between the DC electric blower and the battery that is its power source, a resistor is installed that is selectively connected to both of them by a switch mechanism, and this resistor changes the current value flowing through the electric blower. In a structure in which the suction force of the blower is varied, a large current generally flows through the resistor, and this resistor generates considerable heat. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a resistor with a large volume or to dispose the resistor in the air passage inside the cleaner body in order to cool the resistor.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Therefore, in a vacuum cleaner equipped with a resistor to control the input to the DC electric blower, if a resistor with a large capacity is used, it will become an obstacle to downsizing the vacuum cleaner itself. Further, even if a resistor is placed in the air path, if the amount of air passing through the resistor is small, there is a problem in that sufficient cooling cannot be achieved.

According to the present invention, the resistor that controls the input from the battery to the DC electric blower can be sufficiently efficiently cooled by the exhaust air of the electric blower, a resistor with a small volume can be used, and the main body of the vacuum cleaner can be made smaller. Some companies provide vacuum cleaners that are lightweight and can reduce noise.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes a DC electric blower arranged in an electric blower room, a secondary battery that drives the DC electric blower, and a power supply from the secondary battery to the DC electric blower. This vacuum cleaner is provided with a vacuum cleaner main body having a built-in resistor for controlling input and a charging circuit for charging the secondary battery, and an exhaust hole provided on the outer surface that communicates with the electric blower chamber via an exhaust air passage. Above the main body, the DC electric blower and the secondary battery are arranged in a line in a substantially straight line, and a partition wall is formed surrounding the secondary battery, and a partition wall is formed between the partition wall and the bottom surface of the vacuum cleaner main body. The space is an exhaust air passage with a small cross-sectional area that communicates with the electric blower chamber, and the resistor is disposed in the exhaust air passage between the partition wall and the bottom surface of the cleaner body.

(Function) In the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, the input from the battery to the electric blower is controlled by a resistor between the DC electric blower and the secondary battery, and the suction force of the electric blower is adjusted. The resistor that controls the input to the electric blower has a cross-sectional area that surrounds the secondary battery and forms a partition wall that communicates with the electric blower chamber, which is a space between the partition wall and the bottom of the vacuum cleaner body. Since the resistor is disposed in an exhaust air passage with a small velocity, the resistor is efficiently cooled by the exhaust air from the electric blower where the wind speed passing through the unit area is approximately the maximum. In addition, since an exhaust air path is formed between the partition wall surrounding the secondary battery and the bottom of the vacuum cleaner body, that is, at the bottom of the vacuum cleaner body, the noise leaking from the vacuum cleaner body is reduced. Since the batteries are arranged in a straight line, the cross-sectional area becomes small, making it possible to downsize the battery in the circumferential direction.

(Embodiment) The structure of an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner body, which is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape having a front end opening 2 and a rear end opening 3. The vacuum cleaner main body 1 is formed by dividing a right main body case member 4 and a left main body case member 5 into left and right halves, each having a semi-cylindrical shape, and joining them with a plurality of screws 6 by butting their side openings together. It is structured as follows. Further, a cylindrical handle 7 is provided on the rear upper side of the main body 1 of the vacuum cleaner.
The handle 7 includes a front rising part 8 extending upward from the center of the upper surface of the cleaner main body 1, and a front rising part 8 extending rearward from the upper part of the rear surface of the rising part 8, with the rear part extending downward. It consists of a grip part 9 that curves toward the rear end of the upper surface of the cleaner body 1. A blocking wall 10 is formed at the lower end of the rising portion 8, and the blocking wall 10 blocks the interior of the rising portion 8 from the space within the cleaner body 1 below it.

Further, inside the vacuum cleaner main body 1, the handle 7
It is partitioned into the front and rear by a partition wall 12 formed at a position corresponding to the front surface and having a communication hole 11 as an opening.
The front side of this partition wall 12 is a dust collection chamber 13.

Further, an electric blower chamber 16a in which a DC electric blower 16 is disposed is formed in the upper part of the cleaner body 1, located behind the partition wall 12. The DC electric blower 16 disposed in the electric blower chamber 16a includes a motor body 17 and a fan 18 rotated by the motor body 17, and is formed of synthetic rubber or the like into a generally L-shaped cross section and an annular shape. The front end of the motor main body 17 is fixed to the center of a substantially disk-shaped rectifier plate 20 supported by the vacuum cleaner main body 1 via an elastic holder 19, so that the fan 18 can be It is supported facing the partition wall 12. Further, the rectifying plate 20
A communication hole (not shown) is formed in the fan 18, and a diffuser rib 22, which is opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the fan 18 and has a function of diffusing airflow, is formed protruding from the outer peripheral edge.

Further, in the upper part of the vacuum cleaner main body 1, there is a substantially U-shaped side surface that is located in a substantially linear position behind the DC electric blower 16 disposed in the electric blower chamber 16a, and has at least an open rear surface. A battery storage section 26 is formed, and the lower surface and front surface of this battery storage section 26 are
Its side edges and upper edge form a partition wall 27 connected to both side surfaces and the top surface of the vacuum cleaner main body 1, and the space near the battery storage section 26 in the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is vertically separated from the partition wall 27. The space between the partition wall 27 and the bottom surface of the vacuum cleaner body 1 forms an exhaust air passage 28 with a small cross-sectional area extending from the electric blower chamber to the rear end opening 3 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. .

Reference numeral 29 denotes a secondary battery, such as a lead-acid battery, which is removably inserted into the battery storage portion 26 through the rear end opening 3. A pair of electrodes 30a and 30b are provided on one side of the lead-acid battery 29. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is provided with a pair of contact plates 31 that serve as leaf spring-like contacts that are connected to the electrodes 30a and 30b of the lead-acid battery 29 so as to be able to freely connect and separate. These contact plates 31 are
It is located above the lower surface of the partition wall 21.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 36 denotes a lid that is attached to and removed from the rear end opening 3 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 to open and close this opening 3. Grid-shaped exhaust hole 37
is formed with an opening. Further, on the inner surface side of the lid body 36, a front three-pronged abutment rib 38 protrudes that surrounds the exhaust hole 37 except for the lower part and abuts against the rear surface of the battery 29 to support the battery 29. It is formed. Furthermore, an engaging protrusion 39 is formed at an appropriate location on the peripheral edge of the lid body 36 so as to protrude inwardly, and this engaging protrusion 39 is located on the outer circumferential side of the rear end opening 3 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1. By being engaged with the engagement recess 40 formed in the vacuum cleaner body 1, the lid body 36 is
It is becoming more and more popular.

Further, in the vacuum cleaner main body 1, a partition wall 27
In the protrusion between the bottom surface of the vacuum cleaner body 1 and the bottom surface of the vacuum cleaner body 1, that is, the front part of the exhaust air passage 28 where the cross-sectional area is the smallest, the input from the lead-acid battery 29 to the electric blower 16 is controlled. Resistors 47 and 48 are provided to change the suction force of this electric blower 16.

Further, in the handle 7 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1, a switch 51 for controlling the electric blower 16 is provided on the inside front side of the grip part 9,
A knob 52 for operating the switch 51 is attached to the switch 51 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. And, in this knob body 52,
An operating section 5 protrudes from the top surface of the grip section 9 on its top surface.
3 are formed, and a plate-shaped display part 54 and opening/closing part 55 (not shown in FIG. ) are each formed integrally.

A display hole 56 is formed in the upper surface of the rising portion 8 facing the display portion 54, and a display hole 56 is formed in the display portion 54 to face the display hole 56 as the knob 52 slides. Electric blower 1
A display (not shown) indicating the control state of No. 6 is provided. Further, a through hole 57 is formed in the side surface of the rising portion 8 facing the opening/closing portion 55 , and this through hole 57 allows a knob 52 provided on the switch 51 to stop the electric blower 16 . It is opened when it is in the driving position, and closed by the opening/closing part 55 when it is in the driving position.

Further, a jack 60 to which a plug 59 of a charging adapter 58 is connected is provided in the rising portion 8 facing the through hole 57 and supported by a screw 61 . Further, inside the rising portion 8, the jack 60 and the lead acid battery 29 are provided.
A charging circuit board 63 is provided with a charging circuit 62 for charging the lead-acid battery 29, and a light emitting element 64 such as a light emitting diode for displaying the state of charge is provided.

Further, on the peripheral edge of the front end opening 2 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1, a closing body storage part 71 with an open front face is provided at an appropriate location, and a cross section of approximately L
A packing holding portion 72 having an annular shape is formed, and a packing 73 made of synthetic rubber or the like and having substantially the same shape as the holding portion 72 is fitted and held in the packing holding portion 72 . Further, a closure body 75 is provided in the closure body storage portion 71 and is urged forward by a spring 74 so as to be freely retractable from the front opening of the storage portion 71 . The enlarged diameter portion 76 formed at the rear end of the closure body 75 comes into contact with the protrusion 77 formed at the inner circumferential edge of the front opening of the closure body storage portion 71. It is stopped from falling out. Further, a projecting piece 78 is formed on the front peripheral edge of the vacuum cleaner main body 1, located in front of the closing body storage section 71, and
At a position of this projecting piece 78 facing the outer diameter side of the storage portion 71, there is a locked protrusion 79 that projects in the outer diameter direction.
is formed, and this locked protrusion 79
The rear part thereof is cut out to form a locked groove part 80, and the closing body 75 opens and closes this locked groove part 80 as the closing body 75 moves in and out.

Further, 81 is the front end opening 2 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1.
This is a suction lid that opens and closes, and is formed into a roughly hemispherical shape. This suction lid body 81 has a substantially cylindrical suction port 82 extending slightly backward from the rear surface.
At the same time, a valve body 83 made of synthetic rubber or the like is provided on the rear surface of the suction port 82 so as to be openable and closable toward the rear. It is designed to be opened and closed. Further, a cylindrical support rib 84 is formed on the suction port cover 81 so as to surround the suction port 82 and whose rear end is located substantially on the same plane as the rear end of the cover 81 .

Furthermore, an annular ring body 85 is provided at the rear end of the suction lid 81, and a holding protrusion 86 formed at the front edge of the ring body 85 is fitted into a holding groove 87 formed in the suction lid 81. It is attached so that it can rotate freely. A locking protrusion 88 that is engaged with the locking groove 80 of the cleaner main body 1 is formed on the rear edge of the ring body 85 so as to protrude in the inner diameter direction.

Reference numeral 91 denotes a dust collection filter that is detachably installed in the dust collection chamber 13 of the vacuum cleaner body 1, and is connected to the dust collection port 9.
It consists of a mouth frame 93 having an opening formed at 2, and a bag-like leakage material 94 having an opening edge joined to the mouth frame 93 surrounding the dust collection port 92.

A hanger 95 for hanging the vacuum cleaner main body 1 on a hook provided on a wall or the like is rotatably provided at the rear end of the lower surface of the vacuum cleaner main body 1.

Next, the configuration of the charging circuit 62 will be explained with reference to FIG.

The first thyristor 101 has an anode connected to the + side terminal 60a of the jack 60, and a cathode connected to the + side electrode 30a of the lead acid battery 29 via a diode 102 in the forward direction. The negative electrode 30b of the battery 29 is connected to the negative terminal 60b of the jack 60. A charging current control resistor 103 is connected in parallel with the first thyristor 101. Also, this first thyristor 101
The anode side of is connected to the gate of the first thyristor 101 via a forward diode 104, resistors 105 and 106, and a forward diode 107. Note that a resistor 108 is connected between the gate side and the cathode side of the first thyristor 101.

Further, the display circuit 109 is configured by connecting a Zener diode 110, a resistor 111, and the light emitting element 64 in series, and one end is connected to the midpoint between the resistors 105 and 106. The other end is connected to one side terminal 60b of the jack 60. Therefore, resistance 10
The midpoint potential of 5,106 is Zener diode 1
When the voltage exceeds the voltage determined by 10, conduction occurs and the light emitting element 64 emits light to indicate that it is being charged.

The charging end detection circuit 112 also includes a Zener diode 113 and a resistor 114 provided in series with the cathode side circuit of the first thyristor 101 and a resistor 116 provided between the anode of the Zener diode 113 and the second thyristor 115. and a capacitor 117 provided between the gate and cathode of the second thyristor 115, and when the battery 29 is fully charged, the first thyristor 10
The first cathode side electric circuit becomes conductive due to the rise in potential, and the gate of the second thyristor 115 is energized.

Furthermore, the second thyristor 115 is provided between the gate circuit of the first thyristor 101 and the one side terminal 60b of the jack 60, and when the gate is energized by the output of the charging end detection circuit 112, Turn on.

Further, 118 is a smoothing capacitor that supplies direct current to the second thyristor 115 and the display circuit 109. Further, a power supply circuit 121 that serves as a power source for this charging circuit 62 is provided in the charging adapter 58. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, this power supply circuit 121 has a transformer 123 whose primary winding is connected to a power plug 122 connected to an AC power source, and a diode is connected to both ends of the secondary winding. 124 and 125 anodes are connected.
The cathodes of these diodes 124, 125 are connected to the + side terminal 59a of the plug 59 of the charging adapter 58, which is connected to the + side terminal 60a of the jack 60 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1, and are also connected to the + side terminal 59a of the plug 59 of the charging adapter 58. The midpoint of the winding is at the -
It is connected to one side terminal 59b of the plug 59, which is connected to the side terminal 60b.

Further, the electric blower 16 and the switch 51 are connected in series to the lead acid battery 29 to form a discharge circuit 126 . The switch 51 has four contacts 51 that can be selectively switched.
a, 51b, 51c, and 51d, the electric blower 16 and the battery 29 are short-circuited at the contact 51a, and both 16 and 29 are connected to the resistor 4 at the contact 51b.
7, and at the contact 51c, both 16,
29 are connected sequentially through two resistors 47 and 48, and the discharge circuit 126 is opened at the contact 51d. That is, the switch 51 allows the suction force of the electric blower 16 to be switched to four levels including a stopped state.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When cleaning, a dust collection filter 91 is installed in the dust collection chamber 13. Dust collection filter 9
1, the bag-like leak material 94 is inserted through the front end opening 2 of the cleaner body 1, and then the suction lid 81 is attached to this opening 2. Suction lid body 81
To install, press the rear face against the front end opening 2. In this state, the suction port 82 of the suction lid 81
The rear end portion is inserted into the dust collection port 92 of the dust collection filter 91, and the support rib 84 of the suction lid 81 is pressed against the mouth frame 93 of the dust collection filter 91, and this mouth frame 93 is cleaned. It comes into contact with the front of the machine body 1. Accordingly, when the packing 73 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is brought into airtight contact with the mouth frame 93, the pressed portion 75 of the closing body 75 provided in the vacuum cleaner main body 1
a is pressed by the mouth frame 93 and sinks into the obturator storage part 71, and the locked groove part 80 of the cleaner main body 1 is opened. Next, when the ring body 85 of the suction lid body 81 is rotated, the locking protrusion 88 engages with the locked groove portion 8.
0, the suction lid 81 is attached to the cleaner body 1.

By the way, when the dust filter 91 is not attached, the closing body 75 urged forward by the spring 74 protrudes from the storage section 71 and closes the locked groove section 80, so in this state, Even if an attempt is made to attach the suction lid 81, the locking protrusion 88 hits the closing body 75 and is not engaged with the locked groove 80, making it impossible to attach the suction lid 81. Therefore, forgetting to attach the dust collection filter 91 can be prevented.

Cleaning is performed, for example, with the extension pipe 131 and the suction port body 132 connected to the suction port 82 in a detachable manner.

The dust sucked in from the suction port body 132 along with the suction airflow is transferred to the vacuum cleaner body 1 via the extension pipe 131.
The dust is guided to the dust collection chamber 13 and stored in the dust collection filter 91.

On the other hand, the airflow that has passed through the dust collection filter 91 is
The air is discharged from the exhaust side of the electric blower 16 through an exhaust hole 37 through an exhaust air passage 28 with a small cross-sectional area defined below the cleaner body 1 by a partition wall 27 .

Further, the electric blower 16 is controlled by a switch 51.
This is done by operating a knob 52 provided at the
9 is passed through resistors 47 and 48 to electric blower 16 to change its suction force.
By the way, since a large current of about 10 A flows through the resistors 47 and 48, these resistors 47 and 48 generate considerable heat. However, the resistor 47,
48 is disposed in the exhaust air passage 28 with a small cross-sectional area on the lower front side of the lower surface of the partition wall 27, that is, in the part where the wind speed is high and where the volume of exhaust air passing through a unit area is maximum, and when the flow velocity reaches the maximum. Exhaust air resistance 47,
48, these resistors 47 and 48 can be efficiently cooled. Therefore, the resistors 47 and 48 can have small volumes, so that the vacuum cleaner main body 1 can be made smaller and lighter.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 10, the front surface of the partition wall 27 may be an inclined surface 27a that descends toward the rear. With this structure, the exhaust air discharged from the electric blower 16 is guided by the inclined surface 27a and smoothly flows into the lower surface side of the partition wall 27, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in the suction capacity of the electric blower 16 due to turbulence of the exhaust air. At the same time, the cooling effect of the resistors 47 and 48 disposed below the lower front side of the partition wall 27 can be further enhanced.

Moreover, since the exhaust air passage 28 is formed in the lower part of the cleaner body 1 between the partition wall 27 and the bottom of the cleaner body 1, noise leaking from the cleaner body 1 is reduced.

To discard the dust collecting filter 91 with accumulated dust after cleaning, first rotate the ring body 85 of the suction lid body 81 to connect the locking protrusion 88 and the locking groove portion 80 of the cleaner body 1. The suction lid body 81 is removed by releasing the engagement with the suction lid body 81. Next, the mouth frame 93 of the dust collecting filter 91 is grabbed and the dust collecting filter 91 is pulled out from the front end opening 2 of the cleaner body 1.

Then, when charging the lead acid battery 29,
The charging adapter 5 has the power plug 122 connected to an AC power source while the electric blower 16 is stopped.
The plug 59 of No. 8 is connected to a jack 60 connected to a charging circuit 62 through the through hole 57 of the cleaner body 1.

Here, the operation of the charging circuit 62 will be explained.

The charging power supply circuit 121 generates pulsating output on its + and - side circuits, but on the cathode side of the diode 104, it is smoothed by the capacitor 118 and becomes a DC power source.

If the voltage of the battery 29 drops to the point where it requires charging, in this case, the second thyristor 115 is in the off state, so the first thyristor 10
1, the gate potential is higher than the cathode potential. Therefore, the first thyristor 101 is turned on, and the pulsating output generated from the power supply circuit 121 is supplied to the battery 29 via the diode 102 to charge it. At this time, a sufficiently high voltage is generated at the midpoint between the resistors 105 and 106 leading to the gate of the first thyristor 101, so the light emitting element 64 lights up to indicate that charging is in progress.

When the above-mentioned charging is completed, the voltage of the battery 29 rises rapidly, and the first thyristor 101
The potential on the cathode side also rises rapidly. Therefore, the charging end detection circuit 112 detects this and turns on the second thyristor 115. Therefore, the gate potential of the first thyristor 101 through which the pulsating current is flowing decreases and becomes lower than the cathode potential, so that it is turned off and charging is completed. Also, at this time, the midpoint potential between resistors 105 and 106 also decreases,
Since the Zener voltage becomes lower than the Zener voltage of the Zener diode 110, the light emitting element 64 turns off and the charging display ends.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the resistance that controls the input from the secondary battery to the DC electric blower is provided in the partition wall formed in the exhaust path from the electric blower to the exhaust hole, surrounding the battery located at the rear of the electric blower. By disposing it in the exhaust air passage with a small cross-sectional area between the electric blower and the bottom of the vacuum cleaner body, the exhaust air from the electric blower reaches approximately the maximum air volume passing through the unit area in this part, and the flow velocity increases. Since it is approximately the maximum, it is possible to efficiently cool the resistor that generates a considerable amount of heat.
Therefore, a resistor with a small volume can be used, and since the exhaust air passage with a small cross-sectional area is formed at the bottom of the vacuum cleaner body, the noise leaking from the vacuum cleaner body is reduced. The electric blower and battery are arranged in a straight line, and the cross-sectional area is reduced, making it compact, especially in the outer circumferential direction, and making it possible to reduce the weight.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical side view showing one embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the same, FIG. 3 is a vertical side view of the rear part with the upper lid removed, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view of the upper lid from the front, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the upper lid from the rear, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the front end opening, and Figure 7 is a view of the charging adapter and handle. 8 is a circuit diagram of the charging circuit as above, FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a power supply circuit for the charging circuit as above, and FIG. 10 is a vacuum cleaner main body showing another embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal side view of the rear part. 1...Vacuum cleaner body, 16...DC electric blower,
16a... Electric blower room, 27... Partition wall, 28...
...Exhaust air passage, 29...Lead acid battery as secondary battery, 37...Exhaust hole, 47, 48...Resistance, 62
...Charging circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A DC electric blower disposed in an electric blower room, a secondary battery that drives this DC electric blower, and 2.
A cleaning device that includes a built-in resistor for controlling the input from the secondary battery to the DC electric blower and a charging circuit for charging the secondary battery, and has an exhaust hole on the outside that communicates with the electric blower chamber via an exhaust air passage. The DC electric blower and the secondary battery are arranged in a line in a substantially straight line above the vacuum cleaner body, and a partition wall surrounding the secondary battery is formed so that the partition wall and the cleaning The space between the bottom surface of the vacuum cleaner body and the vacuum cleaner body is an exhaust air path with a small cross-sectional area that communicates with the electric blower room, and the resistor is arranged in the exhaust air path between the partition wall and the bottom surface of the vacuum cleaner body. A vacuum cleaner featuring