Air volume flow and pushing force control device

A method for controlling the air volume flow and the pushing force of a vacuum cleaner that has at least a motor, a dust receptacle and a suction nozzle, comprising the steps of:

• detecting the air volume flow between dust receptacle and motor;
• detecting the pushing force required to push the suction nozzle;
• and
• controlling the power of the motor in such a way that the pushing force lies below a prescribed value as long as the detected pushing force is greater than a prescribed value, and otherwise controlling the power of the motor in such a way that a prescribed air volume flow value is maintained.

A floor vacuum cleaner comprising a motor, a dust receptacle that can hold a dust bag, and a suction nozzle that is connected to the motor via a suction line, characterized by a control device comprising:

• a controller for controlling the motor power;
• a first sensor, for detecting the air volume flow, which in conjunction with the controller forms a first control loop in order to maintain the air volume flow at a prescribed air volume flow value on the basis of the signal of the first sensor;
• a second sensor for detecting a pushing force that is required to push the suction nozzle and, in conjunction with the controller, forms a second control loop in order to maintain the pushing force below a prescribed value on the basis of the signal of the second sensor;
• and
• a control loop selection device that activates one of the two control loops as a function of the signals of the two sensors.