Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a carriage disposed on the housing with a plurality of wheels, and a suction opening. A suction connector is rotatably disposed at the suction opening. The suction connector is connected to an end portion of a suction hose associated with the vacuum cleaner housing. At least one of the suction opening and the suction connector is configured to enable an additional movement of the suction connector relative to the rotatable movement of the suction connector. At least one transducer is activatable by the additional movement and configured to generate electrical control signals. A control unit is configured to receive the control signals and control at least one of the plurality of wheels with a converted signal.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a housing;   a carriage disposed on the housing including a plurality of wheels;   a suction opening;   a suction connector rotatably disposed at the suction opening, the suction connector being connected to an end portion of a suction hose associated with the vacuum cleaner housing, at least one of the suction opening and the suction connector being configured to enable an additional movement of the suction connector relative to a rotatable movement of the suction connector;   at least one transducer activatable by the additional movement and configured to generate electrical control signals; and   a control unit configured to receive the control signals and control at least one of the plurality of wheels with a converted signal.   
   
   
       17 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 16  wherein the plurality of wheels include two wheels, and further comprising drive motors coupled to the two wheels and configured to drive the wheels. 
   
   
       18 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 16  wherein the suction connector includes a spherical bearing disposed in the suction opening. 
   
   
       19 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 18  wherein the spherical bearing includes a sleeve disposed in the suction opening. 
   
   
       20 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 19  wherein an outer contour of the sleeve has a ball-like shape, the suction opening is adapted to the outer contour, and the sleeve and suction opening have a clearance fit therebetween. 
   
   
       21 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 19  wherein an outer contour of the sleeve includes a spherically shaped segment, the suction opening is adapted to the outer contour, and the sleeve and suction opening have a clearance fit therebetween. 
   
   
       22 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 19  wherein an outer surface of the sleeve includes a plurality of angularly spaced recesses, each recess extending in a direction of an axis of rotation of the sleeve. 
   
   
       23 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 23  wherein the recesses are in the shape of a groove. 
   
   
       24 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 21  wherein the plurality of recesses includes four recesses offset from each other by 90 degrees. 
   
   
       25 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 19  wherein an end of the sleeve includes a flange facing the suction connector, and further comprising a plurality of limit switches disposed in the housing at spaced apart positions so as to form an end position detection unit. 
   
   
       26 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 25  wherein the limit switches include at least one of electromechanical and electronic switches, and
 wherein the limit switches are disposed on a circular arc that is concentric with an axis of rotation of the sleeve.   
   
   
       27 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 25  further comprising at least two light barriers each operating as an emitter using a reflection method and disposed on an outside of the sleeve, and further comprising a respective receiver disposed in the suction opening, wherein the light barriers are configured to trigger signals for determining the direction of the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
       28 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 25  wherein the end position detection unit is configured to operate in a digital or analog mode. 
   
   
       29 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 25  wherein the control signals are transmittable through wires. 
   
   
       30 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 25  wherein control signals are wirelessly transmittable. 
   
   
       31 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 30  wherein the control signals include at least one of radio signals and infrared signals. 
   
   
       32 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 19  wherein the suction hose, the suction connector and the sleeve collectively form a sensor unit. 
   
   
       33 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 16  wherein the transducer includes a plurality of limit switches forming an end position detection unit 
   
   
       34 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 17  wherein a control circuit of the control unit includes control electronics including a microcontroller and a number of circuit breakers equal to a number of the drive motors. 
   
   
       35 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 16  wherein the transducer is disposed on the housing.