Self-propelling apparatus for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A self-propelling apparatus for a vacuum cleaner in which a cleaner body is pivotably mounted to a brush assembly is provided. The self-propelling apparatus includes a sensor unit having a wheel part that pivots in the opposite direction to a moving direction of the vacuum cleaner, a connection part connected with the wheel part and fixed to the brush assembly by one end thereof and a switch part turned on and off according to the connection part, and generating progression and retrogression signals according to pivoting motion of the wheel part, and an interception unit generating an interception signal when the cleaner body is in an upright posture, and a driving unit moving the vacuum cleaner in accordance with the progression and retrogression signals.

1 . A self-propelling apparatus for a vacuum cleaner in which a cleaner body is pivotably mounted to a brush assembly, comprising: 
 a sensor unit mounted to the brush assembly and having a wheel part which pivots in the opposite direction to a moving direction of the vacuum cleaner to generate progression and retrogression signals according to pivoting motion of the wheel part; and    a driving unit moving the vacuum cleaner in accordance with the progression and retrogression signals.    
   
   
       2 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises: 
 a connection part connected with the wheel part and fixed to the brush assembly by one end thereof; and    a switch part turned on and off according to the connection part.    
   
   
       3 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the wheel part comprises: 
 a wheel contacted with a surface being cleaned;    a housing supporting the wheel; and    a housing shaft disposed on an upper portion of the housing, and wherein the wheel part pivots by inertia and friction due to contact of the wheel part with the surface being cleaned.    
   
   
       4 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the connection part comprises: 
 a link member including a first via-hole for insertion of the housing shaft and a second via-hole for pivotable mounting to the brush assembly;    a resilient member disposed between the link member and the housing and fit around the housing shaft;    a first connection member fit with the housing shaft through the first via-hole so as to restrain escape of the link member from the housing shaft; and    a second connection member fit with the brush assembly through the second via-hole so that the link member can pivot on the brush assembly.    
   
   
       5 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the switch part comprises: 
 a first switch disposed on the right of the link member and pressed by a right side of the link member to thereby generate a progression signal; and    a second switch disposed on the left of the link member and pressed by a left side of the link member to thereby generate a retrogression signal.    
   
   
       6 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the switch part further comprises a switch cover for shielding and fixing the first and the second switches to the brush assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the driving unit comprises: 
 a power part mounted to the brush assembly; and    a circuit part processing the progression and retrogression signals and an interception signal so as to operate and stop the power part.    
   
   
       8 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an interception unit which generates the interception signal when the cleaner body is in an upright posture, and 
 wherein the interception unit comprises:    a lever mounted to the cleaner body; and    a third switch mounted to the brush assembly and pressed by the lever when the cleaner body is in the upright posture.    
   
   
       9 . A self-propelling apparatus for a vacuum cleaner in which a cleaner body is pivotably mounted to a brush assembly, comprising: 
 a sensor unit including a wheel part which pivots in the opposite direction to a moving direction of the vacuum cleaner, a connection part connected with the wheel part and fixed to the brush assembly by one end thereof and a switch part turned on and off according to the connection part, and generating progression and retrogression signals according to pivoting motion of the wheel part;    an interception unit generating an interception signal when the cleaner body is in an upright posture; and    a driving unit moving the vacuum cleaner in accordance with the progression and retrogression signals.    
   
   
       10 . A self-propelling apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a wheel part that pivots in a first direction in response to forward movement of the vacuum cleaner and a second direction in response to backward movement of the vacuum cleaner;    a first switch on a first side of said wheel part, said first switch being activated by said wheel part when pivoted in said first direction so that said first switch generates a progression signal;    a second switch on a second side of said wheel part, said second switch being activated by said wheel part when pivoted in said second direction so that said second switch generates a retrogression signal; and    a propelling motor for moving the vacuum cleaner forward in response to said progression signal and backward in response to said retrogression signal.    
   
   
       11 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a circuit part processing said progression and retrogression signals and transmitting said progression and retrogression signals to said propelling motor.  
   
   
       12 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a third switch for generating an interception signal when the vacuum cleaner is in an upright posture.  
   
   
       13 . The self-propelling apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said propelling motor stops moving the vacuum cleaner in response to said interception signal regardless of generation of said progression and retrogression signals.