VACUUM CLEANER PROVIDED WITH A SUCTION NOZZLE WITH CONTROLLABLE ELECTRICAL DRIVE MEANS

摘要

A vacuum cleaner with a suction nozzle (11) which is coupled to a handle (15) on which a user of the vacuum cleaner can exert a pushing or pulling force (FG) for moving the suction nozzle (11) over a surface (5) to be cleaned. The suction nozzle (11) is provided with electrical drive means (29) for exerting a driving force (FD) on the suction nozzle (11), such that the pushing or pulling force (FG) to be exerted by the user is limited. According to the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises a detector (51, 81) capable of measuring the pushing or pulling force (FG) exerted on the handle (15) and an electrical controller (57) for controlling the driving force (FD) as a function of the measured pushing or pulling force (FG). The controller (57) controls the driving force (FD) in such a manner, for example, that the measured pushing or pulling force (FG) remains substantially zero. It is thus possible for the user to move the suction nozzle (11) effortlessly over the surface (5) to be cleaned. In a special embodiment, the handle (15) is coupled to the suction nozzle (11) by means of an elastically deformable coupling member (41, 69), while the detector (51, 81) comprises a position sensor (53, 83) for measuring a position of the handle (15) with respect to the suction nozzle (11).