Patent Description:
A vacuum cleaner in the related art includes two electric motors so as to drive a brushroll and a fan respectively, in which the electric motor driving the fan is in general arranged horizontally, i.e. a motor shaft of the electric motor is parallel to a mounting platform of the electric motor, such that a motor housing of the electric motor has a too large volume, increasing an occupied area of the electric motor. Meanwhile, the electric motor which is arranged horizontally will bring a great limit to arrangements of other parts in the vacuum cleaner.

<CIT> concerns a self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner.

The invention is defined by the accompanying claims. In accordance with the invention there is provided an upright vacuum cleaner comprising a clutch device according to claim <NUM>.

Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to solve at least one of the problems existing in the related art to at least some extent. For that reason, an upright vacuum cleaner is provided by the present disclosure. The clutch device of the upright vacuum cleaner has a simple and compact structure, a small occupied space, and steady and reliable operation, which may achieve an objective of driving the electric motor to rotate.

The clutch device is disposed between an electric motor assembly and a machine body assembly of the upright vacuum cleaner; the electric motor assembly includes an electric motor housing and an electric motor disposed in the electric motor housing; the electric motor assembly includes a machine body and a bridging member mounted to the machine body; and the bridging member is rotatably connected to the electric motor housing. The clutch device includes a slide chute formed in the bridging member, and a triggering member rotatably supported on the electric motor housing, and having a first end provided with a sliding column which is slidably fitted in the slide chute, and a second end provided with a toggling rod which is configured to stir the electric motor to move. When the bridging member drives the slide chute to move, the sliding column slides along the slide chute so as to rotate the triggering member, and when the triggering member rotates, the toggling rod stirs the electric motor to rotate with respect to the electric motor housing.

The upright vacuum cleaner according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes the clutch device, which has a simple structure, and is easy to manufacture and process. By providing the triggering member of the clutch device rotatably to the electric motor housing, and making the two ends of the triggering member fitted with the bridging member and the electric motor correspondingly, the objective of driving the electric motor to rotate may be achieved, thereby implementing adjustment of a tension degree of the drive belt, ensuring normal working of dust sweep and dust suction, and making the operation steady and reliable along with a high working efficiency. Furthermore, the electric motor of the upright vacuum cleaner is arranged vertically, which may reduce the occupied space of the upright vacuum cleaner, facilitate diverse arrangements of various parts of the upright vacuum cleaner, facilitate the operation and decrease the occupied space.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the triggering member includes a first triggering portion on which the sliding column is formed; a second triggering portion on which the toggling rod is formed; and a pivotal segment connected between the first triggering portion and the second triggering portion and rotatably passing through the electric motor housing.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pivotal segment is disposed vertically, the first triggering portion is disposed perpendicular to the pivotal segment, in a direction from a first end of the first triggering portion adjacent to the sliding column to a second end thereof adjacent to the pivotal segment, a vertical height of the first triggering portion is reduced gradually.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an upper surface of the first triggering portion is formed an arc surface corresponding to a shape of the bridging member.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric motor housing is provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the first triggering portion and for receiving rotation of the first triggering portion therein.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first triggering portion is detachably connected with the pivotal segment.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pivotal segment is vertically disposed, each of the first triggering portion and the toggling rod is disposed perpendicular to the pivotal segment, and an included angle between a direction in which a length of the toggling rod extends and a direction in which a length of the first triggering portion extends has a range of <NUM>°-<NUM>°.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an end portion of the toggling rod is provided with an inclined face configured to push the electric motor casing.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the slide chute is configured as a linear slide chute and extends obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the triggering member is rotatably supported in a longitudinal center line of the electric motor housing.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an angle by which the electric motor is rotated from the first inclined position to the first vertical position has a range of <NUM>°-<NUM>°.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the upright vacuum cleaner further includes a tensioning pulley or an elastic element for adjusting the tension degree of the drive belt.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bridging member and the machine body are separately formed and connected by assembling, or the bridging member and the machine body are integrally formed.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric motor shaft of the electric motor is vertically disposed, a rotation axis of the brushroll is disposed perpendicular to the electric motor shaft, and the drive belt is provided with a twist angle of <NUM>° and is twined around the electric motor shaft and the brushroll so that the electric motor drives the brushroll to rotate.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the brushroll includes a first brushroll segment provided with bristle, a second brushroll segment provided with bristle and a connecting shaft segment connected between the first brushroll segment and the second brushroll segment, and the drive belt is twined around the electric motor shaft of the electric motor and the connecting shaft segment so that the electric motor drives the brushroll to rotate.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, respective center axes of the first brushroll segment, the second brushroll segment and the connecting shaft segment are in the same line, and the first brushroll segment and the second brushroll segment are symmetrical relative to the drive belt.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the upright vacuum cleaner also includes a brushroll casing covering the brushroll, in which the brushroll casing is internally provided with a drive belt mounting cavity for accommodating the connecting shaft segment and the drive belt, and a first air suction flow passage and a second air suction flow passage located at two sides of the mounting cavity and spaced apart from the mounting cavity in the brushroll casing.

Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions, become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Reference will be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure. The same or similar elements and the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the descriptions. The embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are explanatory, illustrative, and used to generally understand the present disclosure. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure.

Various embodiments and examples are provided in the following description to implement different structures of the present disclosure. In order to simplify the present disclosure, certain elements and settings will be described. However, these elements and settings are only by way of example and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In addition, reference numerals may be repeated in different examples in the present disclosure. This repeating is for the purpose of simplification and clarity and does not refer to relations between different embodiments and/or settings. Furthermore, examples of different processes and materials are provided in the present disclosure. However, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other processes and/or materials may be also applied.

A clutch device <NUM> for an upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to embodiments of a first aspect of the present disclosure will be described in the following with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the clutch device <NUM> for the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the clutch device <NUM> is disposed between an electric motor assembly <NUM> and a machine body assembly <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. The electric motor assembly <NUM> includes an electric motor housing <NUM> and an electric motor <NUM> disposed in the electric motor housing <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the electric motor assembly <NUM> mainly includes the electric motor <NUM> and the electric motor housing <NUM>, in which an accommodating cavity for mounting the electric motor <NUM> is defined in the electric motor housing <NUM>, and the electric motor <NUM> is movably disposed in the accommodating cavity and is pivotal with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> may drive a fan to rotate so as to generate an air flow for dust suction, thereby providing the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> with a vacuuming power. The electric motor <NUM> may further drive a brushroll <NUM> to rotate around its own axis, thereby achieving an objective of cleaning the floor. Specifically, a drive belt <NUM> is disposed between the electric motor <NUM> and the brushroll <NUM> and is in connection with the electric motor <NUM> and the brushroll <NUM>, such that the electric motor <NUM> is able to drive the brushroll <NUM> by the drive belt <NUM>.

The electric motor assembly <NUM> includes a machine body <NUM> and a bridging member <NUM> mounted to the machine body <NUM>, and the bridging member <NUM> is rotatably connected to the electric motor housing <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the machine body assembly <NUM> mainly includes the machine body <NUM> and the bridging member <NUM>, in which, the machine body <NUM> is vertically disposed, and the bridging member <NUM> is disposed below the machine body <NUM> and connected to a lower end of the machine body <NUM>. The bridging member <NUM> is mounted to the electric motor housing <NUM> and is pivotal with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM>. When a handle of the machine body <NUM> is operated by hand, and for example, when the machine body <NUM> is operated from a second vertical position to the second inclined position, the bridging member <NUM> generates rotation with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM> so as to push the electric motor <NUM> to rotate from the first inclined position to the first vertical position.

Further, the clutch device <NUM> includes a slide chute 41a and a triggering member 42a. The slide chute 41a is formed in the bridging member <NUM>, and the triggering member 42a is rotatably supported on the electric motor housing <NUM>. A first end of the triggering member 42a is provided with a sliding column 4211a which may be slidably fitted in the slide chute 41a, and a second end of the triggering member 42a is provided with a toggling rod 4221a which is configured to stir the electric motor <NUM> to move. When the bridging member <NUM> drives the slide chute 41a to move, the sliding column 4211a slides along the slide chute 41a so as to rotate the triggering member 42a, and when the triggering member 42a rotates, the toggling rod 4221a stirs the electric motor <NUM> to rotate with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the clutch device <NUM> mainly includes the slide chute 41a and the triggering member 42a, in which, the slide chute 41a is disposed at one side of the bridging member <NUM> opposite to the electric motor housing <NUM>, and the triggering member 42a is rotatably disposed to the electric motor housing <NUM>, The first end of the triggering member 42a is fitted with the slide chute 41a of the bridging member <NUM>, and the second end of the triggering member 42a passes through the electric motor housing <NUM> and is fitted with an electric motor casing <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM>.

Specifically, the first end of the triggering member 42a is provided with the sliding column 4211a, such that the triggering member 42a is fitted with the slide chute 41a of the bridging member <NUM> through the sliding column 4211a; the second end of the triggering member 42a is provided with the toggling rod 4221a, such that the triggering member 42a is fitted with the electric motor casing <NUM> through the toggling rod 4221a. Specifically, when the machine body <NUM> is rotated from the second vertical position to the second inclined position by hand, the bridging member <NUM> on the electric motor housing <NUM> generates the rotation with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM>, the bridging member <NUM> drives the triggering member 42a to rotate with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM>, and the toggling rod 4221a at the second end of the triggering member 42a drives the electric motor <NUM> to rotate from the first inclined position to the first vertical position. During this process, a lower end of an electric motor shaft <NUM> moves backwards gradually, so that a distance between the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> and the brushroll <NUM> is increased, thus tensioning the drive belt <NUM>, and reaching the objective of starting actions of dust sweep and dust suction.

Thus, the clutch device <NUM> for the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure has a simple structure, and is easy to manufacture and process. By providing the triggering member 42a of the clutch device <NUM> rotatably to the electric motor housing <NUM>, and making the two ends of the triggering member 42a fitted with the bridging member <NUM> and the electric motor <NUM> correspondingly, the objective of driving the electric motor <NUM> to rotate may be achieved, thereby implementing adjustment of a tension degree of the drive belt <NUM>, and ensuring normal working of dust sweep and dust suction. Moreover, the assembly and the disassembly becomes easy, the operation is steady and reliable and the working efficiency is high. Furthermore, the electric motor of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is arranged vertically, which may reduce the occupied space of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> and facilitate diverse arrangements of various parts of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> along with the easy operation and the small occupied space.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the triggering member 42a includes a first triggering portion 421a, a second triggering portion 422a and a pivotal segment 423a. Specifically, the sliding column 4211a is formed on the first triggering portion 421a; the toggling rod 4221a is formed on the second triggering portion 422a; the pivotal segment 423a is connected between the first triggering portion 421a and the second triggering portion 422a and rotatably passes through the electric motor housing <NUM>. That is, the triggering member 42a mainly includes the first triggering portion 421a, the second triggering portion 422a and the pivotal segment 423a, in which, two ends of the pivotal segment 423a are connected to the first triggering portion 421a and the second triggering portion 422a respectively, a free end of the first triggering portion 421a is provided with the sliding column 4211a configured to be fitted with the bridging member <NUM>, and a free end of the second triggering portion 422a is provided with the toggling rod 4221a configured to be fitted with the electric motor casing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the triggering member 42a is rotatably provided to a top wall of the electric motor housing <NUM>. Specifically, the pivotal segment 423a passes through the top wall of the electric motor housing <NUM>; the first triggering portion 421a is connected with an upper end of the pivotal segment 423a and is located above the top wall of the electric motor housing <NUM>; and the second triggering portion 422a is connected with a lower end of the pivotal segment 423a and is located below the top wall of the electric motor housing <NUM>. When the machine body <NUM> is rotated from the second vertical position to the second inclined position by hand, the bridging member <NUM> on the electric motor housing <NUM> rotates clockwise with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM>, and drives the sliding column 4211a of the triggering member 42a to slide in the slide chute 41a, so that the triggering member 42a rotates around its own rotation axis of itself, and then the toggling rod 4221a of the triggering member 42a stirs the electric motor <NUM> to rotate from the first inclined position to the first vertical position. During the process, the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> moves backwards gradually, so that the distance between the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> and the brushroll <NUM> is increased, thereby tensioning the drive belt <NUM> to reach the objective of starting the actions of dust sweep and dust suction.

In some specific embodiments of the present disclosure, the pivotal segment 423a is disposed vertically, the first triggering portion 421a is disposed perpendicular to the pivotal segment 423a. In a direction from a first end of the first triggering portion 421a adjacent to the sliding column 4211a to a second end thereof adjacent to the pivotal segment 423a, a vertical height of the first triggering portion 421a is reduced gradually. Specifically, the pivotal segment 423a is formed in a column shape extending along a vertical direction (an up-down direction shown in <FIG>); the second end of the first triggering portion 421a is connected to the upper end of the pivotal segment 423a and the first end of the first triggering portion 421a extends along a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the pivotal segment 423a; a first end of the second triggering portion 422a is connected to the lower end of the pivotal segment 423a and a second end of the second triggering portion 422a extends along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pivotal segment 423a. The first triggering portion 421a and the second triggering portion 422a may rotate around a center axis of the pivotal segment 423a, i.e., the first triggering portion 421a and the second triggering portion 422a are rotatable in a horizontal plane. Further, the sliding column 4211a is provided to a free end of the first triggering portion 421a and extends upwards along the vertical direction; in a direction from the center axis of the pivotal segment 423a to the center axis of the sliding column 4211a, the vertical height of the first triggering portion 421a is increased gradually.

As shown in <FIG>, an upper surface of the first triggering portion 421a is formed as an arc surface corresponding to the shape of the bridging member <NUM>. Thus, by configuring the upper surface of the first triggering portion 421a as the arc surface, it is possible to keep away from a top wall surface of the bridging member <NUM>, which not only ensures compactness of the structure, but also avoids generating friction between the upper surface of the first triggering portion 421a and the top wall of the bridging member <NUM>, so as to guarantee continuity and reliability of transmission of power and movement.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric motor housing <NUM> is provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the first triggering portion 421a and for receiving rotation of the first triggering portion 421a therein. Referring to <FIG>, the top wall of the electric motor housing <NUM> is provided with the accommodating space for mounting the first triggering portion 421a, the pivotal segment 423a of the triggering member 42a is rotatably connected with a bottom wall of the accommodating space, and the first triggering portion 421a of the triggering member 42a may be rotatable in the accommodating space. Thus, by providing the accommodating space for accommodating the first triggering portion 421a in the electric motor housing <NUM>, the operation of the triggering member 42a is facilitated.

In addition, the first triggering portion 421a is detachably connected with the pivotal segment 423a. During the process of assembling the clutch device <NUM> with the machine body assembly <NUM> and the electric motor assembly <NUM>, the second triggering portion 422a and the pivotal segment 423a of the triggering member 42a may be first mounted in the electric motor casing <NUM>, the second triggering portion 422a may be fitted with the electric motor casing <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM>, and then the first triggering portion 421a is connected to the pivotal segment 423a from an outer side of the electric motor housing <NUM>, so as to realize the assembly of the triggering member 42a with the electric motor housing <NUM>. Thus, by detachably connecting the first triggering portion 421a to the pivotal segment 423a, the assembly and disassembly of the triggering member 42a and the electric motor housing <NUM> may be convenient, the structure is simple, and the manufacturing and processing are easy.

Optionally, the pivotal segment 423a is vertically disposed, and each of the first triggering portion 421a and the toggling rod 4221a is disposed perpendicular to the pivotal segment 423a. An included angle between a direction in which a length of the toggling rod 4221a extends and a direction in which a length of the first triggering portion 421a extends has a range of <NUM>°-<NUM>°. Thus, the objectives that the bridging member <NUM> drives the triggering member 42a to rotate and the triggering member 42a drives the electric motor <NUM> to rotate may be achieved, and the continuity and reliability of transmission of power and movement may be ensured. Further, an end portion of the toggling rod 4221a is provided with an inclined face 4222a configured to push the electric motor casing <NUM>, such that it is convenient for the toggling rod 4221a to push the electric motor <NUM>.

Optionally, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the slide chute 41a is configured as a linear slide chute 41a and extends obliquely with respect to a front-rear direction. Referring to <FIG>, an inner surface of the top plate <NUM> of the bridging member <NUM> is provided with the linear slide chute 41a disposed obliquely with respect to a symmetrical axis of the bridging member <NUM>. When the bridging member <NUM> is rotating, the linear slide chute 41a of the bridging member <NUM> is fitted with the sliding column 4211a of the triggering member 42a, so that the bridging member <NUM> drives the triggering member 42a to rotate around its own rotation axis, thereby stirring the electric motor <NUM> to rotate from the first inclined position to the first vertical position through the toggling rod 4221a. In some other specific embodiments of the present disclosure, the triggering member 42a is rotatably supported in a longitudinal center line of the electric motor housing <NUM> to ensure that the triggering member 42a may have enough space for rotation, thereby providing a sufficient driving force to stir the electric motor <NUM>.

An upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to embodiments of a second aspect of the present disclosure includes the clutch device <NUM> according to the above embodiments.

Specifically, the electric motor <NUM> drives the brushroll <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> to roll by the drive belt <NUM> and is rotatable between a first vertical position of tensioning the drive belt <NUM> and a first inclined position of loosening the drive belt <NUM>; the bridging member <NUM> is rotatably connected to the electric motor housing <NUM> so that the machine body <NUM> is rotatable between a second vertical position and a second inclined position; when the machine body <NUM> is moved from the second vertical position to the second inclined position, the bridging member <NUM> drives the electric motor <NUM> to move from the first inclined position to the first vertical position by the triggering member 42a.

Referring to <FIG>, the triggering member 42a is connected with the bridging member <NUM> and the electric motor casing <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM>. When the machine body <NUM> is at the second vertical position, an axis of the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> is inclined backwards with respect to an axis of the electric motor housing <NUM>, i.e. the electric motor <NUM> is at the first inclined position, in which case two ends of the drive belt <NUM> are fitted over the brushroll <NUM> and the electric motor shaft <NUM> respectively, but the drive belt <NUM> is in a loosened state. When the machine body <NUM> is at the second inclined position, the axis of the electric motor <NUM> extends along the vertical direction, i.e. the electric motor <NUM> is at the first vertical position, in which case the drive belt <NUM> is tensioned.

Specifically, when the machine body <NUM> is rotated from the second vertical position to the second inclined position by hand, the bridging member <NUM> on the electric motor housing <NUM> generates the rotation with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM> and drives the electric motor <NUM> to rotate from the first inclined position to the first vertical position by the triggering member 42a. During this process, the lower end of an electric motor shaft <NUM> moves backwards gradually, so that the distance between the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> and the brushroll <NUM> is increased, thus tensioning the drive belt <NUM>, and reaching the objective of starting actions of dust sweep and dust suction.

In the present embodiment, when the machine body <NUM> is operated from the second vertical position to the second inclined position with a predetermined angle, the electric motor <NUM> may rotate synchronously with the machine body <NUM>. When the electric motor <NUM> rotates by the predetermined angle, the machine body <NUM> may be operated freely by hand without influencing the tensioned state of the drive belt <NUM>. That is, when the electric motor <NUM> is rotated from the first inclined position to the first vertical position, the machine body <NUM> may be operated freely by hand without influencing dust sweep and dust suction of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. Certainly, the present disclosure is not limited to this, a rotation angle of the machine body <NUM> may also be related to a rotation angle of the electric motor <NUM>, that is, by adjusting an inclined angle of the machine body <NUM>, adjustment of the position state of the electric motor <NUM> may be implemented by hand, thereby achieving the objective of adjusting the tension degree of the drive belt <NUM>.

As the clutch device <NUM> for the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure has the above technical effects, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure has also the above technical effects. That is, the electric motor <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> may control rotation of the brushroll <NUM> and that of the fan at the same time, the number of parts is reduced, the occupied space is small, and synchronous control over dust sweep and dust suction may be implemented, such that the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> has a simple and compact structure, occupies a small space and is easy to operate. Furthermore, the electric motor of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is arranged vertically, which may reduce the occupied space of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> and facilitate diverse arrangements of various parts of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. In addition, by disposing the clutch device <NUM> between the bridging member <NUM> and the electric motor <NUM>, the objective of driving the electric motor <NUM> to rotate may be achieved, thereby implementing adjustment of the tension degree of the drive belt <NUM>, ensuring normal working of dust sweep and dust suction, facilitating the assembly and the disassembly, and making the operation steady and reliable and the working efficiency high.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the angle by which the electric motor <NUM> is rotated from the first inclined position to the first vertical position ranges from <NUM>° to <NUM>°. Referring to <FIG>, when the machine body <NUM> is at the second vertical position, the axis of the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> is inclined backwards with respect to the axis of the electric motor housing <NUM>, that is, the electric motor <NUM> is at the first inclined position with the inclined angle of <NUM>° to <NUM>°. For example, the inclined angle may be configured as <NUM>°, <NUM>° or <NUM>°. In such a case, both ends of the drive belt <NUM> are fitted over the brushroll <NUM> and the electric motor shaft <NUM> respectively, but the drive belt <NUM> is in the loosened state. Referring to <FIG>, when the machine body <NUM> is at the second inclined position, the axis of the electric motor <NUM> extends along the vertical direction, i.e. the electric motor <NUM> is at the first vertical position, in which case the drive belt <NUM> is tensioned.

When the machine body <NUM> is operated from the second vertical position to the second inclined position with the predetermined angle, the electric motor <NUM> may rotate synchronously with the machine body <NUM>. When the electric motor <NUM> rotates by the predetermined angle, the electric motor <NUM> is rotated from the first inclined position to the first vertical position, and the drive belt <NUM> is in the tensioned state. After this, the machine body <NUM> may be operated freely by hand, and the drive belt <NUM> is in the tensioned state all the time, ensuring the normal working of dust sweep and dust suction of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. When the machine body <NUM> is rotated from the second inclined position to the second vertical position by hand, the drive belt <NUM> is loosened, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> stops sweeping and sucking the dust.

Optionally, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the angle by which the electric motor <NUM> is rotated from the first inclined position to the first vertical position ranges from <NUM>° to <NUM>°. For example, when the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is in an initial state (i.e. the machine body <NUM> is at the second vertical position), a center axis of the electric motor <NUM> is inclined backwards by <NUM>°-<NUM>° with respect to the vertical direction (such as the up-down direction shown in <FIG>), and when the machine body <NUM> is pulled backwards by hand, the electric motor <NUM> rotates synchronously with the machine body <NUM> within an initial angle range (<NUM>°-<NUM>°). When the electric motor <NUM> is rotated to the first vertical position, the machined body <NUM> may be wiggled freely within a certain angle range so as to adjust the moving direction of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>, and at this time, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> starts vacuuming. When the machine body <NUM> is pulled forwards by hand, the machine body <NUM> is rotated from the second inclined position with the predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction to the first vertical position, the electric motor <NUM> is rotated from the first vertical position to the first inclined position with the predetermined angle, the drive belt <NUM> is changed from the tensioned state to the relaxed state and the vacuum cleaner stops vacuuming.

Preferably, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the angle by which the electric motor <NUM> is rotated from the first inclined position to the first vertical position is configured to be <NUM>°. Thus, the drive belt <NUM> is tensioned to an appropriate extent, which not only ensures the reliability and stability for operating the system, but also avoids accelerated failure of the drive belt <NUM> due to excessive tension so as to extend the service life of the drive belt <NUM>.

The upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> further includes a tensioning pulley <NUM> or an elastic element for adjusting the tension degree of the drive belt <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, a top wall of a brushroll casing <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is provided with the tensioning pulley <NUM>. The tensioning pulley <NUM> is located above the drive belt <NUM> and adjacent to the brushroll <NUM> so as to adjust the tension degree of the drive belt <NUM>. Further, an inner top wall of the brushroll casing <NUM> is also provided with the elastic element, and two ends of the elastic element are connected to the brushroll casing <NUM> and the tensioning pulley <NUM> respectively, so that the elastic element and the tensioning pulley <NUM> may tension the drive belt <NUM> according to an actual working condition, thus ensuring the reliability of operating the system.

Thus, by disposing the tensioning pulley <NUM> or the elastic element in the brushroll casing <NUM>, not only the tensioning of the drive belt <NUM> may be adjusted to make a transmission system operate reliably, but also the drive belt <NUM> may operate more stably to be prevented from slipping, so as to ensure the normal working of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>.

In some specific embodiments of the present disclosure, the bridging member <NUM> and the machine body <NUM> are separately formed and connected by assembling. Referring to <FIG>, a sleeve is dispose at a middle portion of the bridging member <NUM>, and the bridging member <NUM> is sleeved over the machine body <NUM> by the sleeve. Thus, when the machine body <NUM> is manipulated by a user, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is easy to change the direction and is easy to operate.

In some other specific embodiments of the present disclosure, the bridging member <NUM> and the machine body <NUM> are processed and formed integrally. Thus, an integral structure may not only ensure the structural stability and performance stability of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>, but also be convenient to form and easy to manufacture, and moreover excessive assembly parts and connection processes are omitted, which improves the assembly efficiency of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> greatly and ensures the connection reliability between the bridging member <NUM> and the machine body <NUM>. Furthermore, the integral structure has higher overall strength and stability, is more convenient to assemble and has a longer service life.

A rotation axis of the electric motor <NUM> is disposed non-parallel to a rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM>, the electric motor <NUM> drives the brushroll <NUM> to roll by the drive belt <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM> extends along a horizontal direction (a left-right direction shown in <FIG>), and the rotation axis of the electric motor <NUM> is disposed non-parallel to the rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM>. For example, the rotation axis of the electric motor <NUM> may extend along the vertical direction (the up-down direction shown in <FIG>), and may also be disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction. The drive belt <NUM> is disposed between the electric motor <NUM> and the brushroll <NUM>, the drive belt <NUM> is twined around the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> and the brushroll <NUM> so as to drive the brushroll <NUM>.

Optionally, the electric motor <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the floor, that is, a center of gravity of the electric motor <NUM> is lower than the center of gravity of the electric motor <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner in the related art, such that with regard to the vacuum cleaner having the machine body <NUM> of the same length, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> of the present disclosure is easy for the user to operate with less effort. The start and stop of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is implemented by manual control over a switch on the machine body <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. When the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is started, the electric motor <NUM> drives the fan and the brushroll <NUM> to rotate at the same time, thereby providing the power for dust suction. The user can complete various operations simply and conveniently by one button.

Thus, by disposing the rotation axis of the electric motor <NUM> non-parallel to the rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM>, the volume of the electric motor <NUM> may be reduced, thus reducing the occupied space of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>, and facilitating diverse arrangements of various parts of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. Moreover, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> controls the brushroll <NUM> and the fan to rotate at the same time by one electric motor <NUM>, such that the number of parts is reduced, the occupied space is small, and the synchronous control over dust sweep and dust suction may be implemented. Furthermore, the electric motor of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is arranged vertically, which may reduce the occupied space of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> and facilitate diverse arrangements of various parts of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. The upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> has a simple and compact structure, occupies a small space and is easy to operate.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotation axis of the electric motor <NUM> is disposed perpendicular to the rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM>, i.e. the rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM> is disposed perpendicular to the electric motor shaft <NUM>, and the drive belt <NUM> is provided at a twist angle of <NUM>°. Referring to <FIG>, the brushroll <NUM> is arranged in the vertical plane, and the rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM> extends along the vertical direction. The electric motor <NUM> is disposed vertically in the electric motor housing <NUM>, and the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> is disposed in the vertical plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM>, that is, the rotation axis of the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> and the rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM> are perpendicular to each other. Thus, an upper half of the drive belt <NUM> and a lower half of the drive belt <NUM> are both twisted between the brushroll <NUM> and the electric motor shaft <NUM>, and the twisted angle of two ends of each half of the drive belt <NUM> is configured as <NUM>°.

Optionally, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> is disposed vertically. Specifically, the electric motor <NUM> mainly includes an electric motor body and the electric motor casing <NUM>. The electric motor body is disposed in the electric motor casing <NUM>, and mainly includes a motor core and the electric motor shaft <NUM>. The electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> is connected to the motor core of the electric motor <NUM>, and the electric motor <NUM> is arranged vertically. When the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is under a non-working state, an upper end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> is inclined backwards with respect to the vertical direction (the up-down direction shown in <FIG>). When the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is vacuuming, a center axis of the electric motor shaft <NUM> extends along the vertical direction, that is, the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> may extend downwards with respect to the motor core along the vertical direction (the up-down direction shown in <FIG>). A first end of the drive belt <NUM> is fitted over the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM>, and a second end of the drive belt <NUM> is fitted over the brushroll <NUM>. As the rotation axis of the brushroll <NUM> is arranged in the vertical plane, the drive belt <NUM> is twisted at least one time between the brushroll <NUM> and the electric motor shaft <NUM>, i.e. the twist angle of the drive belt <NUM> between an alterable contact point of the drive belt <NUM> with the electric motor shaft <NUM> and an alterable contact point of the drive belt <NUM> with the brushroll <NUM> is configured as <NUM>°.

When the machine body <NUM> is at the vertical position, the axis of the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> is inclined backwards with respect to the axis of the electric motor housing <NUM>. In such a case, the two ends of the drive belt <NUM> are fitted over the brushroll <NUM> and the electric motor shaft <NUM> respectively, but the drive belt <NUM> is in the loosened state. When the machine body <NUM> is at the inclined position, the axis of the electric motor <NUM> extends along the vertical direction, i.e. the electric motor <NUM> is at the vertical position, and at this time, the drive belt <NUM> is tensioned. Specifically, when the machine body <NUM> is operated by hand from the vertical position to the inclined position, the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> moves backwards gradually, so that the distance between the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> and the brushroll <NUM> is increased, thereby tensioning the drive belt <NUM>.

The brushroll <NUM> includes a first brushroll segment <NUM> provided with bristle, a second brushroll segment <NUM> provided with bristle, and a connecting shaft segment <NUM> connected between the first brushroll segment <NUM> and the second brushroll segment <NUM>. In other words, the brushroll <NUM> mainly includes the first brushroll segment <NUM>, the second brushroll segment <NUM> and the connecting shaft segment <NUM>, in which an end of the first brushroll segment <NUM> and an end of the second brushroll segment <NUM> are connected to two ends of the connecting shaft segment <NUM> correspondingly.

Referring to <FIG>, the brushroll <NUM> is rotatably disposed in the brushroll casing <NUM>, and the electric motor <NUM> is connected to the brushroll <NUM> so as to drive the brushroll <NUM> to rotate around its rotation axis. Each of the first brushroll segment <NUM>, the second brushroll segment <NUM> and the connecting shaft segment <NUM> of the brushroll <NUM> is configured as a column shape extending along the horizontal direction (the left-right direction as shown in <FIG>). A right end of the first brushroll segment <NUM> is connected to a left end of the connecting shaft segment <NUM>, and a left end of the second brushroll segment <NUM> is connected to a right end of the connecting shaft segment <NUM>. Outer side walls of the first brushroll segment <NUM> and the second brushroll segment <NUM> may be provided with the bristle so as to clean the floor. The connecting shaft segment <NUM> is not provided with the bristle so as to be convenient for connection with the drive belt <NUM>.

Furthermore, the drive belt <NUM> is twined around the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> and the connecting shaft segment <NUM> so that the electric motor <NUM> may drive the brushroll <NUM> to rotate. Referring to <FIG>, the electric motor <NUM> is disposed in the electric motor housing <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner, and the electric motor <NUM> is connected to the fan and the brushroll <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> may drive the fan to rotate to generate the air flow, thereby providing the vacuuming power, and the electric motor <NUM> may drive the brushroll <NUM> to rotate around its own axis, thereby implementing the objective of cleaning the floor.

Referring to <FIG>, the brushroll <NUM> and the electric motor <NUM> are spaced apart from each other along a front-rear direction, and the brushroll <NUM> is located in front of the electric motor <NUM>. The first end of the drive belt <NUM> is fitted over the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> and the second end of the drive belt <NUM> is fitted over the connecting shaft segment <NUM> of the brushroll <NUM>. When the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> rotates, due to friction resistance between the electric motor shaft <NUM> and a belt surface of the drive belt <NUM>, the electric motor shaft <NUM> drives the drive belt <NUM> to rotate. Likewise, as the friction resistance is provided between the connecting shaft segment <NUM> of the brushroll <NUM> and the belt surface of the drive belt <NUM>, the drive belt <NUM> drives the brushroll <NUM> to rotate around its own axis. Thus the electric motor <NUM> is able to drive the brushroll to rotate.

Preferably, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first brushroll <NUM> and the second brushroll <NUM> are symmetrical with respect to the drive belt <NUM>. That is, a length of the first brushroll segment <NUM> in an axial direction is equal to a length of the second brushroll segment <NUM> in the axial direction. The first brushroll segment <NUM> and the second brushroll segment <NUM> are symmetrical relative to a central portion of the connecting shaft segment <NUM>. The second end of the drive belt <NUM> is twined around the connecting shaft segment <NUM> and the first end of the drive belt <NUM> is twined around the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM>, i.e. the drive belt <NUM> divides the brushroll <NUM> into the first brushroll segment <NUM> and the second brushroll segment <NUM> which are symmetrical in the left-right direction. Thus, not only the first brushroll segment <NUM> and the second brushroll segment <NUM> are subject to balanced resistance so as to ensure the stability of the rotation of the brushroll <NUM>, but also sweeping areas at both sides of the drive belt <NUM> are equal.

Furthermore, respective center axes of the first brushroll segment <NUM>, the second brushroll segment <NUM> and the connecting shaft segment <NUM> are in the same line. That is, the first brushroll segment <NUM>, the second brushroll segment <NUM> and the connecting shaft segment <NUM> are disposed coaxially. The electric motor <NUM> drives the first brushroll segment <NUM>, the second brushroll segment <NUM> and the connecting shaft segment <NUM> to rotate at the same time. Thus, the electric motor <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> may drive the fan, the first brushroll segment <NUM>, the second brushroll segment <NUM> and the connecting shaft segment <NUM> to rotate at the same time, thus implementing a working mode of dust sweep and dust suction at both sides of the drive belt <NUM>. Compared to the vacuum cleaner of the relate art that controls the fan and the brushroll <NUM> to rotate by two electric motors <NUM> respectively, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> has the simple structure and few parts, occupies the small space, and is easy to assemble and disassemble with the high mounting efficiency, and moreover, the synchronous control over the dust sweep and the dust suction may be implemented.

Furthermore, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> also includes the brushroll casing <NUM> covering the brushroll <NUM>. The brushroll casing <NUM> is provided with a drive belt mounting cavity <NUM> for accommodating the connecting shaft segment <NUM> and the drive belt <NUM>, and a first air suction flow passage <NUM> and a second air suction flow passage <NUM> located at two sides of the mounting cavity and spaced apart from the mounting cavity in the brushroll casing <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the brushroll casing <NUM> is formed to be T-shaped, in which, the brushroll casing <NUM> is provided with the first air suction flow passage <NUM>, the second air suction flow passage <NUM> and the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM> spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction in the brushroll casing <NUM>. The first brushroll segment <NUM> is rotatably disposed in the first air suction flow passage <NUM>, the second brushroll segment <NUM> is rotatably disposed in the second air suction flow passage <NUM>, and the drive belt <NUM> is rotatably disposed in the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM>.

Optionally, the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> which are spaced apart from each other are disposed at the left side and the right side of the drive belt <NUM> correspondingly, so that dirty air, dust and the like which are sucked from a dust suction inlet of the brushroll casing <NUM> may enter the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM>, then converge and flow into a dust cup <NUM>. Specifically, the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> may be defined by parts disposed in the brushroll casing <NUM>, and also may be defined by an inner wall surface of the brushroll casing <NUM>. Certainly, the present disclosure is not limited to this, the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> may also be communicated with each other, i.e. all the space in the brushroll casing <NUM>, apart from the space occupied by the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM>, belongs to the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM>, and the dirty air, dust and the like which are sucked from the dust suction inlet of the brushroll casing <NUM> may be transported into the dust cup <NUM> through the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> includes a transverse air suction flow passage segment and a longitudinal air suction flow passage segment. The transverse air suction flow passage segment extends along an axial direction of the brushroll <NUM>, and the longitudinal air suction flow passage segment extends along a direction which is perpendicular to the axial direction of the brushroll <NUM> and is communicated with the corresponding transverse air suction flow passage segment.

Specifically, the first air suction flow passage <NUM> mainly includes the transverse air suction flow passage segment located at the left side of the connecting shaft segment <NUM> and the longitudinal air suction flow passage segment located at the left side of the drive belt <NUM>, and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> mainly includes the transverse air suction flow passage segment located at the right side of the connecting shaft segment <NUM> and the longitudinal air suction flow passage segment located at the right side of the drive belt <NUM>. Moreover, a center line of each transverse air suction flow passage segment is perpendicular to a center line of the longitudinal air suction flow passage segment at a corresponding position.

Optionally, the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> are configured to be L-shaped separately and disposed back to back, and the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM> is located between the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM>. When the brushroll <NUM> is mounted in the brushroll casing <NUM>, the first brushroll segment <NUM> may be rotatably disposed in the first air suction flow passage <NUM>, the second brushroll segment <NUM> may be rotatably disposed in the second air suction flow passage <NUM>, and the electric motor <NUM> drives the first brushroll segment <NUM> and the second brushroll segment <NUM> to rotate synchronously by the drive belt <NUM>.

Furthermore, the electric motor housing <NUM> defines a first branch flow passage <NUM> communicated with the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and a second branch flow passage <NUM> communicated with the second air suction flow passage <NUM>. Specifically, the electric motor housing <NUM> is formed as a hollow column, and internally defines the first branch flow passage <NUM> and the second branch flow passage <NUM> which are spaced apart from each other. The electric motor <NUM> is located between the first branch flow passage <NUM> and the second branch flow passage <NUM>, in which, a first end of the first branch flow passage <NUM> is communicated with the first air suction flow passage <NUM>, a first end of the second branch flow passage <NUM> is communicated with the second air suction flow passage <NUM>, while a second end of the first branch flow passage <NUM> and a second of the second branch flow passage <NUM> are communicated with the dust cup <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rolling casing <NUM> includes a lower casing <NUM> and an upper casing <NUM> connected to a top portion of the lower casing <NUM>, and the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> are defined by the upper casing <NUM> and/or the lower casing <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the brushroll casing <NUM> mainly includes the upper casing <NUM> and the lower casing <NUM>, in which, an lower end of the upper casing <NUM> is open, and the lower casing <NUM> is detachably connected to the upper casing <NUM> so as to close at least a part of an opening of the upper casing <NUM> and so as to define the dust suction inlet between the upper casing <NUM> and the lower casing <NUM>. Furthermore, brushroll air suction flow passages <NUM> spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM> for mounting the drive belt <NUM> are defined between the upper casing <NUM> and the lower casing <NUM>, in which, the brushroll air suction flow passages <NUM> include the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM>, and each of the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> is not communicated with the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM>. Thus, debris such as dust may be prevented from being drawn into the drive belt <NUM>, and the reliability of operation of the system is ensured. The brushroll casing <NUM> has a simple and compact structure, and the first air suction flow passage <NUM>, the second air suction flow passage <NUM> and the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM> spaced apart from each other are defined by the structures of the upper casing <NUM> and the lower casing <NUM>, which omits excessive pipes, makes the manufacturing simple and reduces the cost.

The upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> further includes an air inlet pipe assembly, in which, the air inlet pipe assembly mainly includes an air inlet pipe <NUM> and a hose <NUM>. The air inlet pipe <NUM> is fixed to the electric motor housing <NUM> and has a first end communicated with a dirty air outlet <NUM> in the electric motor housing <NUM>, a first end of the hose <NUM> is communicated with a second end of the air inlet pipe <NUM>, and a second other end of the hose <NUM> is communicated with a separating chamber <NUM> of the dust cup <NUM>. Advantageously, a length of the hose <NUM> may be larger than a length of the machine body <NUM>, so as to extend the separation time and the filtration time of the dust and dirty air, thus increasing the dust suction capacity, so as to improve the working efficiency of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. Further, a middle portion of the hose <NUM> may be hung on the machine body <NUM> to make the structure compact. Optionally, the hose <NUM> may be configured as a plastic hose <NUM>, or a rubber hose <NUM>, so that coiling of the hose <NUM> is convenient, thereby saving the space and improving the space utilization.

Thus, the electric motor <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> may control rotations of the brushroll <NUM> and the fan at the same time with few parts and small occupied space, and the synchronous control over dust sweep and dust suction may be implemented. The upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> has a simple and compact structure and a small occupied space, and is easy to operate. Furthermore, the electric motor of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is arranged vertically, which may reduce the occupied space of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> and facilitate diverse arrangements of various parts of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. The structure is simple and compact, the assembly and disassembly are convenient, and the working efficiency is high.

A structure and a working process of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings in the following.

As shown in <FIG>, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> mainly includes a brushroll assembly <NUM>, the electric motor assembly <NUM>, the machine body assembly <NUM>, the clutch device <NUM> and a rolling wheel <NUM>.

The brushroll assembly <NUM> mainly includes the brushroll <NUM> and the brushroll casing <NUM>. The drive belt mounting cavity <NUM>, and the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> located at two sides of the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM> are defined in the brushroll casing <NUM>. The brushroll <NUM> is rotatably disposed in the brushroll casing <NUM>, the drive belt <NUM> is movably disposed in the drive belt mounting cavity <NUM> and the second end of the drive belt <NUM> is twined around the central portion of the brushroll <NUM>. The brushroll <NUM> mainly includes the first brushroll segment <NUM>, the second brushroll segment <NUM> and the connecting shaft segment <NUM> which are disposed coaxially. The first brushroll segment <NUM> and the second brushroll segment <NUM> are connected to the two ends of the connecting shaft segment <NUM> correspondingly. The second end of the drive belt <NUM> is twined around the connecting shaft segment <NUM> of the brushroll <NUM>.

The electric motor assembly <NUM> mainly includes the electric motor housing <NUM>, the electric motor <NUM> and the fan. The electric motor housing <NUM> defines an electric motor air suction flow passage <NUM> and an electric motor air exhaust flow passage which are spaced from each other, and the electric motor housing <NUM> is provided with the dirty air outlet <NUM> communicated with the electric motor air suction flow passage <NUM> and a clean air inlet <NUM> communicated with the electric motor air exhaust flow passage. The electric motor <NUM> is vertically disposed in the electric motor housing <NUM> and is rotatable with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM>, that is, the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is arranged along the vertical direction. The electric motor <NUM> is disposed in rear of the brushroll <NUM>, and the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> is connected with the brushroll <NUM> through the drive belt <NUM>. Specifically, the first end of the drive belt <NUM> is fitted over the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM>, the second end of the drive belt <NUM> is fitted over brushroll <NUM>. When the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> rotates, the electric motor shaft <NUM> drives the drive belt <NUM> to rotate, and then the drive belt <NUM> drives the brushroll <NUM> to rotate around its own rotation axis. Thus, the electric motor <NUM> is able to drive the brushroll <NUM> to rotate. As the axial direction of the electric motor shaft <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM> is non-parallel to the axial direction of the brushroll <NUM>, the drive belt <NUM> between the brushroll <NUM> and the electric motor shaft <NUM> is twisted once with the twist angle of <NUM>°-<NUM>°. Furthermore, the electric motor <NUM> may drive the fan to rotate so as to generate the air flow for dust suction, thereby providing upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> with the vacuuming power. The electric motor <NUM> may also drive the brushroll <NUM> to rotate around its own rotation axis, thereby implementing the objective of cleaning the floor.

The machine body assembly <NUM> mainly includes the machine body <NUM>, the bridging member <NUM> and the dust cup <NUM>. The dust cup <NUM> and the bridging member <NUM> are provided to the machine body <NUM>, and the bridging member <NUM> is connected with the lower end of the machine body <NUM>. The bridging member <NUM> mainly includes two lateral plates <NUM> and a top plate <NUM> disposed between the two lateral plates <NUM>, and the two lateral plates <NUM> of the bridging member <NUM> are disposed outside of a lateral wall of the electric motor housing <NUM> and are rotatably connected with the electric motor housing <NUM>. The rotatable rolling wheel <NUM> is disposed outside of the two lateral plates <NUM> of the bridging member <NUM>, so that the user may push the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> easily. The separating chamber <NUM> is defined in the vacuum cleaner. The machine body air exhaust flow passage <NUM> is defined in the machine body <NUM>. An air exhaust pipe <NUM> is disposed between the machine body <NUM> and the electric motor housing <NUM>, and two ends of the air exhaust pipe <NUM> are communicated with the machine body air exhaust flow passage <NUM> of the machine body <NUM> and the clean air inlet <NUM> of the electric motor housing <NUM> correspondingly. The dust and debris sucked from the dust suction inlet of the brushroll casing <NUM> enter the electric motor air suction flow passage <NUM> in the electric motor housing <NUM> through the first air suction flow passage <NUM> and the second air suction flow passage <NUM> respectively, and then enter the separating chamber <NUM> of the dust cup <NUM> for filtering process. The obtained clean air is discharged into the electric motor air exhaust flow passage in the electric motor housing <NUM> from the air outlet <NUM> of the dust cup <NUM> and is discharged to the external environment from an air exhaust hole <NUM> of the electric motor housing <NUM>.

The triggering member 42a of the clutch device <NUM> is rotatably provided to the electric motor housing <NUM> and is fitted with the bridging member <NUM> and the electric motor casing <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM>, so that it is attainable that the bridging member <NUM> drives the triggering member 42a of the clutch device <NUM> to rotate and the triggering member 42a of the clutch device <NUM> drives the electric motor <NUM> to rotate.

Referring to <FIG>, under a non-working state, the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> may be vertically placed on the floor, that is, the machine body <NUM> of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is at the second vertical position, which occupies the small space. When the user needs to use the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>, the handle of the machine body <NUM> may be held by hand so that the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> may be pushed to work. Firstly, the switch on the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> may be switched on by hand, in which case the drive belt <NUM> is in the loosened state, and the electric motor <NUM> is unable to drive the brushroll <NUM> to rotate, i.e. the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is in a standby state where the brushroll <NUM> does not sweep the dust. Then the machine body <NUM> is rotated from the second vertical position to the second inclined position by hand, and in this process, the bridging member <NUM> on the electric motor housing <NUM> rotates clockwise along with the machine body <NUM> with respect to the electric motor housing <NUM>. Hence, the bridging member <NUM> is able to drive the electric motor <NUM> in the electric motor housing <NUM> to rotate through the clutch device <NUM> on the electric motor housing <NUM>, i.e. the electric motor <NUM> rotates from the first inclined position to the first vertical position, and in this process, the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> moves backwards gradually, so that the distance between the lower end of the electric motor shaft <NUM> and the brushroll <NUM> is increased, thereby tensioning the drive belt <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> may drive the brushroll <NUM> to rotate through the drive belt <NUM>, thus reaching the objective of starting the actions of dust sweep and dust suction. Certainly, the present disclosure is not limited to this, the user may rotate the machine body <NUM> from the second vertical position to the second inclined position directly, in this process, the drive belt <NUM> is tensioned gradually, and then the switch of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is switched on, thus reaching the objective of triggering the actions of dust sweep and dust suction at the same time.

That is, the user just needs to turn on the switch to start or stop dust sweep by manipulating the direction of the handle of the machine body <NUM>. The operation is simple without need to operate a control panel. Optionally, the switch may be provided to the handle of the machine body <NUM> to facilitate manual operations, and may also be provided to the brushroll casing <NUM> or the electric motor housing <NUM> located below the machine body <NUM> to make it convenient for the user to switch on the switch by foot. The electric motor <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the floor, i.e. the center of gravity of the electric motor <NUM> is lower than the center of gravity of the electric motor <NUM> in the vacuum cleaner of the related art, such that with respect to the vacuum cleaner having the machine <NUM> of the same length, the user may operate the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> of the present disclosure more effortlessly and conveniently.

When the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> is under the working state, the dirty air, the dust and the like enter the brushroll air suction flow passage <NUM> from the dust suction inlet of the brushroll casing <NUM>, then enter the electric motor air suction flow passage <NUM> in the electric motor housing <NUM> and is discharged into the machine body assembly <NUM> through a dirty air output pipe <NUM> on the electric motor housing <NUM>. The clean air filtered by the machine body assembly <NUM> enters the electric motor air exhaust flow passage in the electric motor housing <NUM> through a clean air input pipe <NUM> of the electric motor housing <NUM>. The air exhaust pipe <NUM> is disposed between the machine body <NUM> and the electric motor housing <NUM>, the two ends of the air exhaust pipe <NUM> are communicated with the machine body air exhaust flow passage <NUM> of the machine body <NUM> and the clean air inlet <NUM> of the electric motor housing <NUM> respectively. The clean air filtered by the dust cup <NUM> passes through the machine body air exhaust flow passage <NUM>, the air exhaust pipe <NUM> and the clean air inlet <NUM> successively, enters the electric motor air exhaust flow passage in the electric motor housing <NUM>, and is discharged to the external environment through the air exhaust hole <NUM> of the electric motor housing <NUM>.

It should be noted that, when the machine body <NUM> is operated from the second vertical position to the second inclined position with the predetermined angle, the electric motor <NUM> may rotate synchronously with the machine body <NUM>. When the electric motor <NUM> rotates by the predetermined angle, the machine body <NUM> may be operated freely by hand without influencing the tensioned state of the drive belt <NUM>. That is, when the electric motor <NUM> rotates from the first inclined position to the first vertical position, the machine body <NUM> may be operated freely by hand without influencing the dust sweep and the dust suction of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM>. Certainly, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the rotation angle of the machine body <NUM> may also be directly related to the rotation angle of the electric motor <NUM>. That is, by adjusting the inclined angle of the machine body <NUM>, the adjustment of the position state of the electric motor <NUM> may be implemented by hand, thereby realizing the objective of adjusting the tension degree of the drive belt <NUM>.

Other configurations and operations of the upright vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure are known to those skilled in the art, which will not be elaborated herein.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "one embodiment", "another example," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases such as "in some embodiments," "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", "in another example," "in an example," "in a specific example," or "in some examples," in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

Claim 1:
An upright vacuum cleaner (<NUM>) comprising a clutch device (<NUM>), wherein the clutch device (<NUM>) is disposed between an electric motor assembly (<NUM>) and a machine body assembly (<NUM>) of the upright vacuum cleaner (<NUM>), the electric motor assembly (<NUM>) comprises an electric motor housing (<NUM>) and an electric motor (<NUM>) disposed in the electric motor housing (<NUM>), the electric motor assembly (<NUM>) comprises a machine body (<NUM>) and a bridging member (<NUM>) mounted to the machine body (<NUM>), the bridging member (<NUM>) is rotatably connected to the electric motor housing (<NUM>), and the clutch device (<NUM>) comprises:
a slide chute (41a) formed in the bridging member (<NUM>); and
a triggering member (42a) rotatably supported on the electric motor housing (<NUM>), and having a first end provided with a sliding column (4211a) which is slidably fitted in the slide chute (41a), and a second end provided with a toggling rod (4221a) which is configured to stir the electric motor (<NUM>) to move;
wherein when the bridging member (<NUM>) drives the slide chute (41a) to move, the sliding column (4211a) slides along the slide chute (41a) so as to rotate the triggering member (42a), and when the triggering member (42a) rotates, the toggling rod (4221a) stirs the electric motor (<NUM>) to rotate with respect to the electric motor housing (<NUM>);
wherein the electric motor (<NUM>) drives a brushroll of the upright vacuum cleaner (<NUM>) to roll by a drive belt and is rotatable between a first vertical position of tensioning the drive belt and a first inclined position of loosening the drive belt; the bridging member (<NUM>) is rotatably connected to the electric motor housing (<NUM>) so that the machine body (<NUM>) is rotatable between a second vertical position and a second inclined position; when the machine body (<NUM>) is moved from the second vertical position to the second inclined position, the bridging member (<NUM>) drives the electric motor (<NUM>) to move from the first inclined position to the first vertical position by the triggering member (42a).