Suction nozzle height adjustment control circuit
First Claim
1. A floor care appliance, comprising:
- a suction nozzle capable of being raised and lowered in relation to a floor surface to be cleaned, said suction nozzle having a highest position of travel and a lowest position of travel;
an electric motor for raising and lowering the suction nozzle in relation to the floor surface to be cleaned;
a current source for the electric motor;
a first switch operatively connected to said electric motor for interrupting the current to said electric motor when said suction nozzle is moved to said highest position of travel; and
a second switch operatively connected to said electric motor for interrupting the current to said electric motor when said suction nozzle is moved to said lowest position of travel.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A floor care appliance is provided with a switch for controlling the height of the suction nozzle. The switch controls the height of the suction nozzle by controlling the operation of an independent motor and a gear and cam arrangement operatively connected to the wheel carriage. Another cam arrangement is operatively connected to the independent motor which engages suction nozzle height adjustment travel limits at both extremes of the suction nozzle height. The suction nozzle height adjustment travel limit switches turn off current to the independent motor at the extremes of the suction nozzle height to prevent overheating of the independent motor and over travel. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two wires connect the suction nozzle height control switch to the independent motor along with the two travel limit switches and a pair of diodes. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, three wires connect the suction nozzle height control switch to the independent motor along with the two travel limit switches.
32 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A floor care appliance, comprising:
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a suction nozzle capable of being raised and lowered in relation to a floor surface to be cleaned, said suction nozzle having a highest position of travel and a lowest position of travel;
an electric motor for raising and lowering the suction nozzle in relation to the floor surface to be cleaned;
a current source for the electric motor;
a first switch operatively connected to said electric motor for interrupting the current to said electric motor when said suction nozzle is moved to said highest position of travel; and
a second switch operatively connected to said electric motor for interrupting the current to said electric motor when said suction nozzle is moved to said lowest position of travel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of controlling the height of an adjustable suction nozzle, comprised of the steps of:
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providing a suction nozzle;
providing an electric motor for raising and lowering the suction nozzle in relation to the floor surface to be cleaned;
providing a current source for the electric motor;
providing a first switch operatively connected to said electric motor for interrupting the current to said electric motor when said suction nozzle is moved to said highest position of travel; and
providing a second switch operatively connected to said electric motor for interrupting the current to said electric motor when said suction nozzle is moved to said lowest position of travel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A floor care appliance, comprising:
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a suction nozzle capable of being raised and lowered in relation to a floor surface to be cleaned, said suction nozzle having a highest position of travel and a lowest position of travel;
an electric motor for raising and lowering the suction nozzle in relation to the floor surface to be cleaned;
a current source for the electric motor; and
a potentiometer operatively connected to said electric motor and said current source for sensing the height of said suction nozzle and for interrupting the current to said electric motor when said suction nozzle is moved to said highest position of travel and said lowest position of travel.
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12. A floor care appliance, comprising:
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a suction nozzle capable of being raised and lowered in relation to a floor surface to be cleaned, said suction nozzle having a highest position of travel and a lowest position of travel;
an electric motor for raising and lowering the suction nozzle in relation to the floor surface to be cleaned;
a current source for the electric motor; and
at least two switches operatively connected to said electric motor and said current source for sensing the height of said suction nozzle and for interrupting the current to said electric motor when said suction nozzle is moved to said highest position of travel and said lowest position of travel.
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Specification