ROBOT CLEANER

• US 20180228329A1
• Filed: 08/12/2016
• Published: 08/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Jongsu, HAM, Seaunglok
• Granted Patent: US 10,952,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/16 Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation

Abstract

Disclosed is a robot cleaner. The A robot cleaner comprising: a cleaner main body defining an external appearance of the robot cleaner, a suction unit provided in the cleaner main body for suctioning air containing dust, a dust separation unit for separating the dust from the air suctioned through the suction unit, a fan unit connected to the dust separation unit for providing suction force to the suction unit, and a housing having an air flow path for guiding the air discharged from the fan unit, wherein the housing accommodates a battery for supplying electricity to the fan unit, and wherein the air passing through the air flow path exchanges heat with the battery.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a cleaner main body defining an external appearance of the robot cleaner;

a suction unit provided in the cleaner main body for suctioning air containing dust;

a dust separation unit for separating the dust from the air suctioned through the suction unit;

a fan unit connected to the dust separation unit for providing suction force to the suction unit; and

a housing having an air flow path for guiding the air discharged from the fan unit,

wherein the housing accommodates a battery for supplying electricity to the fan unit, and

wherein the air passing through the air flow path exchanges heat with the battery.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided at an inlet thereof with an exhaust filter, and

wherein the air having passed through the exhaust filter passes through the air flow path and is then discharged to an outside through an outlet.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the housing includes:

a first communication portion for guiding the air in a direction perpendicular to the exhaust filter;

a second communication portion extending from the first communication portion for changing a direction of movement of the air; and

a third communication portion extending from the second communication portion for guiding the air in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the air in the first communication portion.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the battery is located in the third communication portion.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the housing is provided with a protrusion for changing the moving air into a turbulent flow.

6. The robot cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the protrusion is provided in the second communication portion.

7. The robot cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the suction unit, the dust separation unit, and the fan unit are arranged in sequence from a front side to a rear side.

8. The robot cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the first communication portion is located at a rear side of the fan unit,

wherein the second communication portion is located at a lower side of the first communication portion, and

wherein the third communication portion is located at a lower side of the fan unit.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the suction unit, the fan unit, and the dust separation unit are arranged in sequence from a front side to a rear side.

10. The robot cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the first communication portion is located at a front side of the fan unit,

wherein the second communication portion is located at a left side of the first communication portion, and

wherein the third communication portion is located at a left side of the fan unit.

11. The robot cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the first communication portion is located at a lower side of the fan unit,

wherein the second communication portion is located at a right side of the first communication portion, and

wherein the third communication portion is located at a right side of the fan unit.

12. A robot cleaner comprising:

a cleaner main body defining an external appearance of the robot cleaner;

a suction unit provided in the cleaner main body for suctioning air containing dust;

a dust separation unit for separating the dust from the air suctioned through the suction unit;

a fan unit connected to the dust separation unit for providing suction force to the suction unit; and

a housing having an air flow path for guiding the air discharged from the fan unit, the housing accommodating a battery for supplying electricity to the fan unit,

wherein the battery exchanges heat with the air passing through the air flow path, and

wherein the housing includes;

a first communication portion extending from an inlet, the air discharged from the fan unit being introduced into the housing through the inlet;

a second communication portion extending from the first communication portion for changing a direction of movement of the air; and

a third communication portion for guiding the air in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the air in the first communication portion.

13. The robot cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the second communication portion downwardly moves the air to a location lower than the fan unit.

14. The robot cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the first communication portion extends to allow the air introduced through the inlet to move in a horizontal direction to a side surface of the fan unit.

15. The robot cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the battery is located in the third communication portion.

16. The robot cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the first communication portion is connected perpendicular to the second communication portion.

17. The robot cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the second communication portion is connected perpendicular to the third communication portion.

18. The robot cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the second communication portion is provided with a protrusion for changing the moving air into a turbulent flow.

19. The robot cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the suction unit, the dust separation unit, and the fan unit are arranged in sequence from a front side to a rear side.

20. The robot cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the first communication portion is located at a rear side of the fan unit,

wherein the second communication portion is located at a lower side of the first communication portion, and

wherein the third communication portion is located at a lower side of the fan unit.

21. The robot cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the suction unit, the fan unit, and the dust separation unit are arranged in sequence from a front side to a rear side.

22. The robot cleaner according to claim 21, wherein the first communication portion is located at a front side of the fan unit,

wherein the second communication portion is located at a left side of the first communication portion, and

wherein the third communication portion is located at a left side of the fan unit.

23. The robot cleaner according to claim 21, wherein the first communication portion is located at a lower side of the fan unit,

wherein the second communication portion is located at a right side of the first communication portion, and

wherein the third communication portion is located at a right side of the fan unit.