Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 10,722,089 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2018
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David
• Application Number:
  US15/937,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20190298133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/10 Filters in general B01D; cyclones B04C; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters for machines for cleaning floors A47L11/40
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2836 characterised by the parts which are controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6235 Power tools
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus has a first air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a suction motor and an air treatment member positioned in the first air flow path. A second air flow path extends from an ambient air inlet to a secondary air outlet. An energy storage chamber having at least one energy storage member is positioned in the second air flow path. Ambient air can be drawn through the second air flow path to promote cooling of the energy storage members. A fan unit and or a venture can be used to draw ambient air into the second airflow path.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus having a front end, a rear end, an upper end, a lower end, and first and second laterally spaced apart sides, and comprising:

(a) a first airflow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

(b) an air treatment member positioned in the airflow path and having an air treatment member air inlet and an air treatment member air outlet;

(c) a suction motor positioned in the airflow path upstream of the clean air outlet;

(d) a second airflow path extending from an ambient air inlet to a secondary air outlet, wherein the second airflow path is fluidically isolated from the first airflow path;

(e) an energy storage chamber having at least one energy storage member wherein the energy storage chamber is positioned in the second air flow path;

and,

(f) a fan unit positioned in the second airflow path upstream of the secondary air outlet,

wherein, in operation, the fan unit draws ambient air into the second air flow path via the ambient air inlet.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the energy storage chamber is thermally isolated from the first air flow path.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a control system capable of detecting an operating condition of the surface cleaning apparatus and then selectively activating the fan unit based on the operating condition.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein the operating condition is a charging status of the at least one energy storage member, and the control system is operable to activate the fan unit when the at least one energy storage member is charging.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan unit is actuated when the suction motor is actuated.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the operating condition is a temperature of the at least one energy storage member, and the control system is operable to activate the fan unit when the temperature of the at least one storage member exceeds a predefined threshold temperature.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature of the at least one energy storage member, and the control system is operable to activate the fan unit when the measured temperature exceeds a predefined threshold temperature.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filter positioned in the second air flow path at the ambient air inlet.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control system capable of controlling an operating condition of the surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the control system is in fluid contact with the second air flow path.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein

(a) the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a main body and the energy storage chamber is removably mounted to the main body;

(b) the energy storage chamber comprises a moveable portion having an engagement member, the engagement member being moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the energy storage chamber is mounted to the main body and the engagement member is in the locked position the engagement member prevents the energy storage chamber being removed from the main body and when the energy storage chamber is mounted to the main body and the engagement member is in the unlocked position the energy storage member is removable from the main body; and

,

(c) the moveable portion defines a fan unit housing enclosing the fan unit.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy storage chamber comprises a fan unit housing containing the fan unit and the fan unit housing has a locking member releasably securing the energy storage chamber in the surface cleaning apparatus.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the at least one energy storage member is free of an electrically insulating coating.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy storage chamber comprises a housing manufactured of a thermally conductive plastic.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the secondary air outlet is positioned downstream of the at least one energy storage member.

11. A surface cleaning apparatus having a front end, a rear end, an upper end, a lower end, and first and second laterally spaced apart sides, and comprising:

(a) a first airflow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

(b) an air treatment member positioned in the airflow path and having an air treatment member air inlet and an air treatment member air outlet;

(c) a suction motor positioned in the airflow path upstream of the clean air outlet;

(d) a second airflow path extending from an ambient air inlet to a secondary air outlet;

(e) an energy storage chamber having at least one energy storage member wherein the energy storage chamber is positioned in the second air flow path; and

(f) a fan unit positioned in the second airflow path upstream of the secondary air outlet,

wherein, in operation, the fan unit draws ambient air into the second air flow path via the ambient air inlet, and

wherein the energy storage chamber comprises a moveable portion that defines a fan unit housing containing the fan unit.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein the moveable portion has a locking member releasable securing the energy storage chamber in the surface cleaning apparatus.

16. A surface cleaning apparatus having a front end, a rear end, an upper end, a lower end, and first and second laterally spaced apart sides, and comprising:

(a) a first airflow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

(b) an air treatment member positioned in the airflow path and having an air treatment member air inlet and an air treatment member air outlet;

(c) a suction motor positioned in the airflow path upstream of the clean air outlet;

(d) a second airflow path extending from an ambient air inlet to a secondary air outlet;

(e) an energy storage chamber having at least one energy storage member wherein the energy storage chamber is positioned in the second air flow path; and

(f) a fan unit positioned in the second airflow path upstream of the secondary air outlet,

wherein, in operation, the fan unit draws ambient air into the second air flow path via the ambient air inlet, and

wherein the energy storage chamber comprises a housing defining an outer perimeter of the energy storage chamber and the housing is slideable is mountable to a main body of the surface cleaning apparatus.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein the energy storage chamber has a dovetail recess that is recessed inward of the outer perimeter of the energy storage chamber and, the energy storage chamber is mountable to a main body of the surface cleaning apparatus by the dovetail recess.

17. A surface cleaning apparatus having a front end, a rear end, an upper end, a lower end, and first and second laterally spaced apart sides, and comprising:

(a) a first airflow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

(b) an air treatment member positioned in the airflow path and having an air treatment member air inlet and an air treatment member air outlet;

(c) a suction motor positioned in the airflow path upstream of the clean air outlet;

(d) a second airflow path extending from an ambient air inlet to a secondary air outlet;

(e) an energy storage chamber having at least one energy storage member wherein the energy storage chamber is positioned in the second air flow path; and

,

(f) a venturi connecting the first and second airflow paths whereby airflow through the first airflow path draws air through the second air flow path.