Twin-motor independent vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cordless vacuum cleaner including a structure mounted on transport members, a turbine carried by the structure, a beater brush secured to the structure and connected to a collector via a first duct, a suction device connected to the collector via a flexible second duct, means for selectively putting the first duct or the coupling for the second duct into communication with the collector, a first motor for driving the turbine, a second motor for driving the beater brush, an electrical circuit for powering the motors from a battery carried by said structure, and a three-position control member. When the control member is in a third position, the two motors are powered in series.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A cordless vacuum cleaner, comprising a structure mounted on transport members, a turbine carried by the structure for creating suction in a particle collector via a filter membrane, a beater brush secured to the structure and connected to the collector via a first duct, a suction device suitable for being connected to the collector via a flexible second duct, means for selectively putting said first duct or the coupling for said second duct into communication with the collector, a first motor for driving the turbine, a second motor for driving the beater brush, an electrical circuit for powering the motors from a battery carried by the structure, and a three-position control member serving in a first position to stop the motors, in a second position to cause the first motor to operate, and in a third position to cause both motors to operate simultaneously, wherein the motors are electrically powered in such a manner that when the control member is in the third position, the two motors are powered in series.  
   
   
       19 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , wherein the control member comprises a knob mounted to turn on the structure, the knob presenting two cam paths each suitable for causing a respective switch to open or close.  
   
   
       20 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 19 , wherein the knob further includes the means for selectively putting the first duct or the coupling for the second duct into communication with the collector.  
   
   
       21 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 20 , wherein the knob comprises a cylindrical body having a bent channel formed therein opening out firstly in the rear face of said knob and secondly to one side of its periphery, the body being received in a cylindrical cavity formed in the structure, the bottom of the cavity including an orifice communicating with the collector, and the periphery of the cavity including two diametrically opposite orifices into which there open out respectively the first duct and the coupling for the flexible duct.  
   
   
       22 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 21 , wherein the cam paths are formed at the periphery of the body and are disposed in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of the knob.  
   
   
       23 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , wherein the first cam path which controls opening and closing of the first switch includes two diametrically opposite protuberances, and the second cam path which controls opening and closing of the second switch includes only one protuberance.  
   
   
       24 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 23 , wherein the protuberance of the second cam path and the protuberances of the first cam path are disposed in a plane that contains the axis of rotation of the knob.  
   
   
       25 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , wherein the two switches are in radially opposite regions of the cavity in which the knob is received.  
   
   
       26 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 24 , wherein the protuberances are disposed in the plane of symmetry of the bent channel.  
   
   
       27 . A cordless vacuum cleaner, comprising a structure mounted on transport members, a turbine carried by the structure for creating suction in a particle collector via a filter membrane, a beater brush secured to the structure and connected to the collector via a first duct, a suction device suitable for being connected to the collector via a flexible second duct, means for selectively putting said first duct or the coupling for the second duct into communication with the collector, a first motor for driving the turbine, a second motor for driving the beater brush, an electrical circuit for powering the motors from a battery carried by said structure, and a three-position control member serving in a first position to stop the motors, in a second position to cause the first motor to operate, and in a third position to cause both motors to operate simultaneously, wherein the control member comprises a knob mounted to turn on the structure, said knob presenting the means for selectively putting the first duct or the coupling for the second duct into communication with the collector, and further including two cam paths each suitable for controlling the opening and the closing of a first switch which, when in the closed position, powers at least the first motor, and a second switch controlling the operation of the second motor.  
   
   
       28 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 27 , wherein the electrical circuit for powering the motors is made in such a manner that in the third position of the control member, both motors are powered in parallel, the second switch controlling a microprocessor which manages the power delivered by the two motors.  
   
   
       29 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 27 , wherein the knob comprises a cylindrical body having a bent channel formed therein opening out firstly in the rear face of the knob and secondly to one side of its periphery, the body being received in a cylindrical cavity formed in the structure, the bottom of the cavity including an orifice communicating with the collector, and the periphery of the cavity presenting two diametrically opposite orifices into which there open out respectively the first duct and the coupling for the flexible duct.  
   
   
       30 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 29 , wherein the cam paths are formed at the periphery of the body and are disposed in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of the knob.  
   
   
       31 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 27 , wherein the first cam path which controls opening and closing of the first switch includes two diametrically opposite protuberances, and the second cam path which controls opening and closing of the second switch includes only one protuberance.  
   
   
       32 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 31 , wherein the protuberance of the second cam path and the protuberances of the first cam path are disposed in a plane that contains the axis of rotation of the knob.  
   
   
       33 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 27 , wherein the two switches are in radially opposite regions of the cavity in which the knob is received.  
   
   
       34 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 29 , wherein the protuberances are disposed in the plane of symmetry of the bent channel.  
   
   
       35 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 19 , further comprising a first switch which, when in the closed position, powers both motors, and a second switch which, when in the closed position, short-circuits the second motor.