VACUUM CLEANER AND VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE IN A RAISED FLOOR ENVIRONMENT

• US 20120260944A1
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martins Maintenance, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Martins Maintenance, Inc.
• Inventors: Martins, Manuel E. Jr., Sadowski, Marek, Czarnecki, Tomasz, Iwaszko, Roman, Miklaszewicz, Franciszek, Kszonowski, Lukasz
• Granted Patent: US 9,119,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/14 cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0472 Discs
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/08 with means adapted for blowing
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation

Abstract

A remote-controlled, autonomous, or semi-autonomous vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments comprises a vacuum cleaner especially configured to clean tight, hard-to-reach areas, such as the space between the floor and the raised panels of a raised access floor system and a control module for remotely operating the vacuum cleaner.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments, comprising:

a body;

a power source supported by the body;

a vacuum module supported by the body, the vacuum module being configured to intake air and exhaust air; and

a drive module supported by the body,

wherein the body includes an outer casing having channels formed therein, the channels being configured to divide and channel exhaust flow and to direct exhaust flow in multiple directions.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a controller supported by the body, the controller being configured to control the operation of the power source, vacuum module and drive module.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, further comprising an infrared sensor supported by the body, the infrared sensor being coupled to the processor and configured to detect objects proximate to the body of the vacuum cleaner.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to send and receive signals from the infrared sensor to detect objects.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, further comprising a communications module supported by the body.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the communications module comprises a receiver supported by the body and a transmitter supported by the body.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the drive module includes two wheels on a left side of the vacuum cleaner, two wheels on a right side of the vacuum cleaner, and independent drive systems for the left side and the right side configured to allow the vacuum to turn in place.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the vacuum module includes a suction module, a dustbin, a pump, and a filter, supported by the body.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a sound module.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery selected from the group consisting of a lithium-ion polymer battery and a lithium-ferrum battery.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising an electronic amplifier in electrical communication with the power source, wherein the electronic amplifier is capable of converting a voltage from about 22 to 24 volts to a voltage of greater than 200 volts.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising at least one video camera supported by the body.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a light supported by the body.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a video recording device supported by the body.

15. A vacuum cleaning system for raised floor environments comprising:

a vacuum cleaner configured for use in raised floor environments, the vacuum cleaner including

a body,

a drive module supported by the body,

a vacuum module supported by the body, the vacuum module being configured to intake air and exhaust air,

a communication module supported by the body,

a controller supported by the body, the controller being configured to control operation of the power source, vacuum module and drive module, and

an infrared sensor supported by the body, the infrared sensor being coupled to the processor and configured to detect objects proximate to the body of the vacuum cleaner,

wherein the controller is configured to send and receive signals from the infrared sensor to recognize pre-designated objects; and

a remote control module in operative communication with the communication module of the vacuum cleaner.

16. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 15, further comprising a transmission-receiver module in operative communication with the communication module of the vacuum cleaner and the remote control module.

17. A method of cleaning a raised access flooring system comprising:

providing a vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments comprising a body, a power source supported by the body, a vacuum module supported by the body, the vacuum module being configured to intake air and exhaust air, and a drive module supported by the body;

placing the vacuum cleaner into a space formed between an original floor and a plurality of raised panels of the raised access flooring system; and

operating the vacuum cleaner to perform a cleaning operation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein providing a vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments includes providing a vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments having a controller supported by the body, the controller being configured to control the operation of the power source, vacuum module and drive module.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing a vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments includes providing a vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments having an infrared sensor coupled to the processor and configured to detect objects proximate to the body of the vacuum cleaner.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the body includes an outer casing, the outer casing having channels configured to divide and channel exhaust flow and to direct exhaust flow in multiple directions.

21. A method of channeling exhaust air from a vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments comprising:

providing a vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments comprising a body, a power source supported by the body, a vacuum module supported by the body, the vacuum module being configured to intake air and exhaust air, a drive module supported by the body, the body including an outer casing, the outer casing having channels configured to divide and channel exhaust flow and to direct exhaust flow in multiple directions;

performing a cleaning operation with the vacuum cleaner.