METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DETECTING A BLOCKAGE IN A VACUUM CLEANER

• US 20110265284A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kiern, Bruce M., Morgan, Charles J.
• Application Number:
  US12/771,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20110265284A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/412
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with a blockage sensor and methods of identifying an obstructed airway in a vacuum are described. The vacuum cleaner has a motor and a circuit board to provide electrical current to the motor including an amperage flow sensor to determine the electrical current draw of the motor, and a blockage determiner to sample the electrical current draw and count the number of times the sampled electrical current draw exceeds a threshold amperage within a window of time. The blockage determiner can sense a blockage within the airflow path or the beater bar, and can optionally shut down the motor prior to motor failure.

Claims

1. A vacuum comprising;

a motor; and

a power supply to provide electrical current to the motor;

an amperage flow sensor to determine the electrical current draw of the motor; and

a blockage determiner to sample the electrical current draw and count the number of times the sampled electrical current draw exceeds a threshold amperage within a window of time.

2. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein the blockage determiner signals that vacuum is experiencing blockage when the count during the window of time exceeds a desired percentage of samples sampled in the window of time.

3. The vacuum of claim 2, wherein the desired percentage is at least 30% of the samples sampled in the window of time.

4. The vacuum of claim 2, wherein the desired percentage at least 50% of the samples sampled in the window of time.

5. The vacuum of claim 1, where the blockage determiner samples the amperage draw 60 times a second or more.

6. The vacuum of claim 1, where the sliding window of time is greater than or equal to 10 seconds.

7. The vacuum of claim 1, where the sliding window of time is greater than or equal to 60 seconds.

8. The vacuum of claim 1, further comprising a reset switch connected to the control board.

9. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein the electrical current to the motor is stopped when the blockage determiner signals that vacuum is experiencing blockage.

10. The vacuum of claim 9, wherein the blockage being experienced is an obstructed air flow conduit.

11. The vacuum of claim 9, wherein the blockage being experienced is an obstructed beater bar.

12. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein the circuit board further comprises a variable speed control for the motor.

13. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein the circuit board further comprises a LED power supply.

14. The vacuum of claim 1, wherein the circuit board further comprises a control circuit to actuate a diverter valve.

15. A method of detecting blockage along an airpath, the method comprising:

providing a vacuum comprising a motor;

providing electrical current to the motor;

determining the amperage flow of the electrical current; and

detecting blockage along an airpath by sampling the amperage flow of the electrical current and counting how many times the sampled amperage draw exceeds a threshold amperage within a window of time.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting comprises counting the number of times the amperage draw exceeds a desired percentage of samples sampled within the window of time.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising enabling a blockage indicator when a blockage is detected.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a reset signal; and

enabling the current flow to the motor.