Cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018184875-A1
Application number	US-201715856384-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 28, 2017
Priority date	Dec 30, 2016
Publication date	Jul 5, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner including a cleaner main body having a controller, a wheel cover mounted on the cleaner main body, a driving module coupled to the wheel cover to be movable up and down, a driving wheel coupled to the driving module and configured to be rotatable by receiving driving force from the driving module, a guide bar coupled to the wheel cover and provided in an up and down direction, the guide bar being inserted through the driving module to guide the upward and downward movement of the driving module, and an elastic member surrounding the guide bar and connected to the wheel cover and the driving module, respectively, to absorb impacts while the driving module is moved up and down.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cleaner, comprising:
a cleaner body having a controller; a wheel cover mounted to the cleaner body; a motor that is connected to the wheel cover and generates a driving force; a wheel that is coupled to the motor and rotates based on receiving the driving force from the motor; a guide bar coupled to the wheel cover and extending vertically, the guide bar being connected to the motor to guide a vertical movement of the motor; and a spring surrounding the guide bar and connected to the wheel cover and the motor to absorb impacts during the vertical motion of the motor.

2 . The cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the wheel includes an accommodating cavity formed at one side thereof to accommodate at least a part of the motor.

3 . The cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising:
a case having a through-hole into which the guide bar is inserted, the motor being mounted on the case such that a movement of the case along the guide bar guides the vertical movement of the motor; and a planetary gear train that connects the motor and the wheel, the planetary gear train receiving the driving force from the motor associated and transferring the driving force to the wheel.

4 . The cleaner of claim 3 , wherein a rotating shaft of the motor and the wheel are coaxially arranged.

5 . The cleaner of claim 3 , wherein the planetary gear train includes:
a first planetary gear stage connected to a rotating shaft of the driving motor; and a second planetary gear stage connected to the first planetary gear and the wheel.

6 . The cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the case includes:
a first case that includes the through-hole, the first case being coupled to the motor and accommodating the first planetary gear stage therein; a second case coupled to the first case, the second case covering the first planetary gear stage and accommodating the second planetary gear stage; and a third case coupled to the second case and covering the second planetary gear stage.

7 . The cleaner of claim 6 , wherein the first planetary gear stage includes:
a first sun gear coupled to a rotating shaft of the driving motor; a first ring gear formed on the main case and accommodating the first sun gear therein; a plurality of first planetary gears engaged with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, the plurality of first planetary gears rotating in an opposite direction to a rotating direction of the first sun gear and revolving in the same direction as the rotating direction of the first sun gear centering on the first sun gear; and a first cage rotatably supporting rotating shafts of the plurality of first planetary gears.

8 . The cleaner of claim 7 , wherein the second planetary gear assemble includes:
a second sun gear provided on the first case; a second ring gear formed on the second case and accommodating the second sun gear therein; a plurality of second planetary gears engaged with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, the plurality of second planetary gears rotating in an opposite direction to a rotating direction of the second sun gear and revolving in the same direction as the rotating direction of the second sun gear centering on the second sun gear; and a second cage rotatably supporting rotating shafts of the plurality of second planetary gears.

9 . The cleaner of claim 8 , wherein the second cage includes a coupling protrusion engaged with a coupling groove of the wheel.

10 . The cleaner of claim 3 , wherein the wheel cover includes:
a first fixing surface to which an upper end of the guide bar is fixed; and a second fixing surface formed to face the first fixing portion, and to which a lower end of the guide bar is fixed, and wherein the guide bar directs the case to move vertically between the first fixing surface and the second fixing surface.

11 . The cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the case contacts the second fixing surface when the case is moved downward by a prescribed distance, wherein the second fixing surface prevents the case from moved downward by more than the prescribed distance.

12 . The cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the spring is connected to the first fixing surface and the case, respectively.

13 . The cleaner of claim 10 , further comprising:
a link that is rotatably installed on the wheel cover, and rotates based on contacting a protrusion formed on the case when the case moves downward by at least a prescribed distance; and a switch that is pressed in response to the rotation of the link and transmits a signal to the controller based on being pressed.

14 . The cleaner of claim 13 , wherein the controller stops an operation of the motor based on receiving the signal from the switch.

15 . The cleaner of claim 13 , wherein the link includes:
a first link exposed to one side of the wheel cover where the protrusion is located; and a second link coupled to the first link and exposed to another side of the wheel cover where the switch is located.

16 . The cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the cleaner body includes a mounting recess in a lower portion thereof,
wherein a first connector electrically connected to the controller is provided on an inner surface of the mounting recess to face an opening of the mounting recess, and wherein a second connector electrically connected to the motor is provided on an upper portion of the wheel cover, the second connection being connected to the first connector when the wheel cover is accommodated in the mounting recess.

17 . A cleaner, comprising:
a cleaner body housing a controller; a case coupled to a wheel housing of the cleaner body a motor that is mounted to the case; a planetary gear train to receive a driving force from the motor; a wheel connected to the planetary gear train and configured to be rotatable based on receiving the driving force of the motor from the planetary gear train; and a suspension configured to guide a vertical movement of the case and to absorb an impact associated with the vertical movement of the case, wherein a rotating shaft of the motor and a rotating axis the wheel are coaxially arranged, and wherein the wheel includes an accommodating cavity formed at a side thereof to accommodate the planetary gear train.

18 . The cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the suspension includes:
a guide bar coupled to the wheel housing and provided vertically, the guide bar being inserted through the case to guide the vertical movement of the case; and a spring surrounding the guide bar and connected to the wheel housing and the case, respectively, to absorb the impact associate with the vertical movement of the case.

19 . The cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the planetary gear train includes:
a first planetary gear stage interlocked with the rotating shaft of the driving motor; and a second planetary gear stage interlocked with the first planetary gear stage and connected to the wheel.

20 . The cleaner of claim 17 , further comprising:
a link rotatably installed on the wheel house, the link being rotated to contact a protrusion formed on the case when the case is moved downward by at least a prescribed distance; and a switch that is configured to detect to the rotation of the link and transmits a signal to the controller based on detecting the rotation of the link.

21 . A cleaner, comprising:
a cleaner body having a mounting recess that extends upwardly in a lower surface thereof; and a wheel assembly that is detachably mounted in the moun

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Youk Hyungkyu
• Kim Sangjo

Classifications

• B60K7/0007

  the motor being electric · CPC title

• B60K17/046

  with planetary gearing having orbital motion · CPC title

• A47L11/4094

  Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices · CPC title

• B60K17/14

  the motor of fluid or electric gearing being disposed in, or adjacent to, traction wheel · CPC title

• A47L9/0438

  with gears having orbital motion, e.g. planetary gearing · CPC title