Rechargeable vacuum cleaner
A rechargeable vacuum cleaner comprises a main body, at least two sets of rechargeable batteries for driving a motor in the main body and a power-supply control unit. The power-supply control unit is coupled with the sets of rechargeable batteries and the motor for affecting a set of rechargeable batteries of higher voltage to supply power to the motor and for preventing the set of rechargeable batteries charging another set of rechargeable batteries of lower voltage. The power-supply control unit includes a silicon assembly (being a bridge rectifier) or a diode. The rechargeable vacuum cleaner can be of two piece type (with a detachable unit) or a two piece type. Therefore, the rechargeable vacuum cleaner can lengthen the operating time and prevent damaging the batteries.
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(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rechargeable vacuum cleaners, more particularly to a rechargeable vacuum cleaner utilizing the technique of voltage dividing to lengthen the operating time and the lifespan of its batteries.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The majority of the rechargeable vacuum cleaner of prior art use a set of rechargeable batteries connected in parallel to supply a motor, such as four 12V 1300 mA batteries with an output voltage of 4.8V. The motor is then used to provide an effect of vacuum cleaning. As shown in
The problem of short lifespan of sets of rechargeable batteries occurs especially in rechargeable vacuum cleaners having more than one set of rechargeable batteries. As shown in
Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a rechargeable vacuum cleaner utilizing the technique of voltage dividing realized by disposing a silicon assembly or diode between two sets of rechargeable batteries to prevent the sets of rechargeable batteries from mutual charging due to electricity capacity imbalance and therefore to lengthen the lifespan of the sets of rechargeable batteries.
The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a rechargeable vacuum cleaner that utilizes the technique of voltage dividing over at least two sets of rechargeable batteries for lengthening the operating time of the rechargeable vacuum cleaner. The technique will not change the output voltage to the motor but can properly control the processed of charging and discharging for preventing damaging the sets of rechargeable batteries.
To achieve the above objectives, a rechargeable vacuum cleaner according to the present invention comprises a vacuum cleaner main body, at least two sets of rechargeable batteries, a motor for driving the function of vacuum cleaning and a power-supply control unit.
The power-supply control unit is coupled to the sets of rechargeable batteries and the motor, whereby the charging to the set of rechargeable batteries of relatively low electricity capacity by the set of rechargeable batteries of high electricity capacity will be prohibited.
The above-mentioned coupling between the power-supply control unit, the sets of rechargeable batteries and the motor is specifically the electric connection of the positive polarity of the sets of rechargeable batteries to one terminal of the motor via the power-supply control unit, and the electric connection of the negative polarity of the sets of rechargeable batteries to the other terminal of the motor.
To achieve the same objectives, the rechargeable vacuum cleaner further comprises a charging unit and a switch. The charging unit is connected to the power-supply control unit for charging the sets of rechargeable batteries. One terminal of the switch is connected to the negative polarity of the sets of rechargeable batteries, and the other terminal to the motor, whereby the switch can either charge or discharge the sets of rechargeable batteries.
Further, the power-supply control unit includes a silicon assembly or a diode; the silicon assembly can be a bridge rectifier.
The present invention has the advantages as follows. The installation of more than one set of rechargeable batteries using the technique of voltage dividing can lengthen the operating time of the rechargeable vacuum cleaner. Further, the sets of rechargeable batteries will be so managed that all of them can supply power to the motor, even their respective electricity capacities are different, and that mutual charging among the sets of rechargeable batteries due to the capacity imbalance will be avoided, therefore enhancing the durability of the batteries.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.
The objective of the present invention is using the technique of voltage dividing to rechargeable vacuum cleaners equipped with more than one sets of rechargeable batteries, whereby the input voltage of the motor is kept constant when: (1) one of the sets of rechargeable batteries is used alone; (2) two sets of rechargeable batteries are used together; and (3) there is an imbalance in electricity capacity over the sets of rechargeable batteries.
Referring to
When the rechargeable vacuum cleaner is activated, the voltage dividing circuit will automatically switch between the sets of rechargeable batteries according to the current voltage across each of the sets of rechargeable batteries, whereby the load of power supply, as well as charging, is uniformly distributed by the sets.
Referring to
When the detachable unit B and the main body A are reunited, the silicon assembly will select the set of rechargeable batteries 6, now with a higher voltage to supply power till its voltage falls below that of the other set of rechargeable batteries. The silicon assembly then switches to the other set of rechargeable batteries. Thereby, the operating time of the rechargeable vacuum cleaner will be lengthened.
More specifically, the rechargeable vacuum cleaner of two-piece type is characterized by that the detachable unit B and the main body A have respective sets of rechargeable batteries 5, 6. When the detachable unit B is used for a while, the electricity capacity of the set of rechargeable batteries 6 of the main body A is still full, and it will be used first, controlled by the voltage dividing circuit, when the detachable unit B and the main body A are reunited.
Referring to
More specifically, the rechargeable vacuum cleaner of one-piece type is characterized by two sets of rechargeable batteries, one of which is used at one time to power the motor. Controlled by the technique of voltage dividing, the sets of rechargeable batteries are used alternatively, whereby the duration that the sets of rechargeable batteries are operating will be doubled.
The above said silicon assembly is a bridge rectifier capable of charging the sets of rechargeable batteries at the same time and preventing mutual charging between the sets of rechargeable batteries, because any reverse voltage higher than 50 V will activate the preventing effect. Therefore, the silicon assembly can be placed by a diode. The charging circuit also uses common linear or on/off transformers to charge the sets of rechargeable batteries.
Referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, the control printed circuit board (PCB) for both of the one-piece type and the twp-piece type is located at a predetermined location within the rechargeable vacuum cleaner. The power-supply control unit is located above the control PCB.
To summarize, a rechargeable vacuum cleaner of the present invention applies the technique of voltage dividing for lengthen its operating time. Since the conventional DC vacuum cleaners uses one set of battery to power the motor. To lengthen the operating time, some rechargeable vacuum cleaners use more than one set of batteries. The present invention uses a power-supply control unit to alternatively switch between the sets of rechargeable batteries for power the motor. Thereby, the operating time of the rechargeable vacuum cleaner can be further lengthened.
The present invention is thus described, and it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A rechargeable vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a main body;
- at least two sets of rechargeable batteries for driving a motor located within said main body; and
- a power-supply control unit coupled with said sets of rechargeable batteries and said motor for controlling said sets of rechargeable batteries powering said motor.
2. The rechargeable vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein a positive terminal of said sets of rechargeable batteries is connected to one terminal of said motor through said power-supply control unit, and wherein a negative terminal of said sets of rechargeable batteries is directly connected to another terminal of said motor.
3. The rechargeable vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further including a charging unit connected to said power-supply control unit, whereby said power-supply control unit will complete charging said sets of rechargeable batteries.
4. The rechargeable vacuum cleaner of claim 3 further including a switch with one terminal connected to said negative terminal of said sets of rechargeable batteries and another terminal connected to a unit selected from said charging unit and said motor by switching between charging and discharging of said rechargeable batteries.
5. The rechargeable vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said power-supply control unit prohibits one of said sets of rechargeable batteries with higher electricity capacity charging another of said sets of rechargeable batteries with lower electricity capacity.
6. The rechargeable vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said power-supply control unit is selected from a silicon assembly and a diode.
7. The rechargeable vacuum cleaner of claim 6 wherein said silicon assembly is a bridge rectifier.
8. The rechargeable vacuum cleaner of claim 1 being a two piece structure having a main body and a detachable unit each equipped with a set of rechargeable batteries; said main body and said detachable unit are electrically connected by a connection port when united.
9. The rechargeable vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein being a one piece structure having a main body equipped with said sets of rechargeable batteries.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 15, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 21, 2007
Applicant: ZWEITA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. (Bandar Seri Begawan BS)
Inventor: Chih Hsu (Taipei)
Application Number: 11/300,457
International Classification: A47L 9/00 (20060101); A47L 5/00 (20060101);