Vacuum cleaner control

• US 4,357,729 A
• Filed: 01/26/1981
• Issued: 11/09/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Vander Molen, Donald R., Nyland, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US06/228,279
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 15/377, 15/327 R, 15/319, 318/98, 318/99, 318/434
• US Class Current: 15/319
• 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 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• 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 structure having a control for reducing the total current delivery to the vacuum cleaner as when both a suction motor thereof and a brush motor thereof are being operated concurrently. The control includes an "On-Off" switch mounted on a portion of the suction hose for the vacuum cleaner. The invention comprehends the provision of such a current-reducing control where the full load currents of the suction and brush motors cumulatively total an amount greater than a preselected safe current deliverable to the vacuum cleaner. The control is arranged to be used with a vacuum cleaner having a suction hose connected between a suction unit and a cleaning unit thereof, such as a floor cleaning unit. In one form, the control utilizes a two-conductor wire suction hose, and in another form, the control utilizes a three-conductor wire suction hose. The "On-Off" switch is mounted on the handle on the end of the suction hose which may be attached to a cleaning unit and circuitry is provided in a control portion carried by the suction unit responsive to the disposition of the "On-Off" switch to effect the desired current and speed control of the system. The handle-mounted "On-Off" switch also controls the suction unit during cleaning operations which do not employ a floor cleaning unit including a motor-driven brush.

Claims

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction motor constructed to draw a first full load current, and a brush motor constructed to draw a second full load current, the sum of said currents being greater than a preselected current to be provided from a power source to the vacuum cleaner for operation thereof, the improvement comprising

control means carried by a portion of the vacuum cleaner for causing the current provided from the power source to be reduced such that it will not exceed said preselected current during concurrent operation of the suction and brush motors.

2. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises means for providing full load current to said brush motor and an operating current less than said first full load current to said suction motor during said concurrent operation thereof.

3. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises means for adjusting the speed of the suction motor.

4. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 including a handle portion, said control having an "On-Off" switch carried by said handle and causing concurrent energized and de-energized conditions of said suction and brush motors.

5. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 including a canister having said suction motor, a floor cleaning portion having said brush motor, and a suction hose connecting said canister and floor cleaning portion, said hose carrying electrical conductors and including a handle having an "On-Off" switch for causing an energized condition of said suction and brush motors through said conductors.

6. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 1 including a canister having said suction motor, a floor cleaning portion having said brush motor, and a suction hose connecting said canister and floor cleaning portion, said hose carrying only two electrical conductors, and having an "On-Off" switch for causing an energized condition of said suction and brush motors through said two conductors.

7. In a vacuum cleaner having suction means including a suction motor constructed to draw a first full load current, and floor cleaning means including a brush motor constructed to draw a second full load current, the sum of said currents being greater than a preselected current to be provided from a power source to the vacuum cleaner for operation thereof, the vacuum cleaner further having a suction hose having a first end associated with said suction means and an opposite end associated with said floor cleaning means, said hose being provided with only two electrical conductors connected to the power source, the improvement comprising

control means having a portion carried by said suction hose for causing the current provided from the power source to be no greater than said preselected current during concurrent operation of the suction and brush motors.

8. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 7 wherein said portion of the control comprises an "On-Off" switch carried adjacent a connection of the hose second end to said floor cleaning means.

9. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 7 wherein said control means further comprises means for adjusting the speed of the suction motor, said speed adjusting means being carried by said suction means.

10. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction unit including a suction motor arranged to draw a first full load current, a floor cleaning unit including a brush rotatably driven by a brush motor arranged to draw a second full load current, and a suction hose connected between the suction unit and the floor cleaning unit and having a handle and only two electrical conductors extending lengthwise thereof, the improvement comprising:

an "On-Off" switch carried by said handle and connected to at least one of said hose conductors;

brush motor conductors carried by said floor cleaning unit for providing controlled energization of said brush motor by said "On-Off" switch; and

control means carried by said suction unit responsive to said "On-Off" switch for causing energization of said suction motor concurrently with energization of said brush motor while preventing the total electrical current drawn by said suction and brush motors from being greater than a preselected current less than the total of said full load motor currents.

11. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said control means includes means for adjusting the speed of said suction motor while maintaining said total current no greater than said preselected current.

12. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said control means includes a gated current-limiting device in series with said suction motor and circuitry activated by said "On-Off" switch being arranged to energize said motors for controlling the "On" condition of said gated device to limit the current drawn by said suction motor and thereby prevent the total electrical current drawn by said suction and brush motors to be no greater than a preselected current less than the total of said full load motor currents.

13. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said control means includes a gated current-limiting device in series with said suction motor and circuitry activated by said "On-Off" switch being arranged to energize said motors for controlling the "On" condition of said gated device to reduce the current drawn by said suction motor and thereby prevent the total electrical current drawn by said suction and brush motors from being greater than a preselected current less than the total of said full load motor currents, and said circuitry includes means responsive to the current flowing through said brush motor to initiate operation of the gated device to energize said suction motor.

14. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said control means includes a gated current-limiting device in series with said suction motor and circuitry activated by said "On-Off" switch being arranged to energize said motors for controlling the "On" condition of said gated device to limit the current drawn by said suction motor and thereby prevent the total electrical current drawn by said suction and brush motors from being greater than a preselected current less than the total of said full load motor currents, and said circuitry includes transformer means in series with said brush motor to initiate operation of the gated device to energize said suction motor.

15. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction unit including a suction motor, a floor cleaning unit including a brush rotatably driven by a brush motor, and a suction hose connected between the suction unit and the floor cleaning unit and having a handle and only two electrical conductors extending in parallel lengthwise thereof, the improvement comprising:

an "On-Off" switch carried by said handle and connected to at least one of said hose conductors;

brush motor conductors carried by said floor cleaning unit for providing controlled energization of said brush motor by said "On-Off" switch; and

control means carried by said suction unit responsive to said "On-Off" switch for causing energization of said suction motor concurrently with energization of said brush motor, said control means including a gated electronic switch in series with said suction motor and circuitry responsive to current flow through said brush motor to effect said energization of the suction motor.

16. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 15 wherein said circuitry includes a transformer means in series with said brush motor to initiate operation of the gated switch to energize said suction motor.

17. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 15 wherein said circuitry includes a transformer means in series with said brush motor to initiate operation of the gated switch to energize said suction motor, and adjustable means for varying the firing angle of said gated switch.

18. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction unit including a suction motor arranged to draw a first full load current, a floor cleaning unit including a brush rotatably driven by a brush motor arranged to draw a second full load current, and a suction hose connected between the suction unit and the floor cleaning unit and having a handle and electrical conductors extending in parallel lengthwise thereof, the improvement comprising:

an "On-Off" switch carried by said handle and connected to at least one of said hose conductors;

brush motor conductors carried by said floor cleaning unit for providing controlled energization of said brush motor by said "On-Off" switch; and

control means carried by said suction unit and floor cleaning unit responsive to said "On-Off" switch for causing energization of said suction motor concurrently with energization of said brush motor, said control means including a gated electronic switch in series with said suction motor and circuitry connected to said "On-Off" switch to be responsive to a condition of said "On-Off" switch causing current flow through said brush motor to cause said gated switch to effect said energization of the suction motor, and adjustable means for varying the firing angle of said gated switch for controlling the speed of the energized suction motor.

19. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 18 wherein three said electrical conductors are provided in association with said suction hose, and said control means includes a variable impedance device carried by said handle and control circuitry carried by said suction unit connected to said variable impedance device by at least one of said electrical conductors of the hose.

20. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 18 wherein three said electrical conductors are provided in association with said suction hose, and said control means includes a variable resistor carried by said handle and control circuitry carried by said suction unit and including an electronic trigger connected to said variable resistor by at least one of said electrical conductors of the hose.

21. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction unit including a suction motor arranged to draw a first full load current, a floor cleaning unit including a brush rotatably driven by a brush motor arranged to draw a second full load current, and a suction hose connected between the suction unit and the floor cleaning unit and having a handle and electrical conductors extending in parallel lengthwise thereof, the improvement comprising:

an "On-Off" switch carried by said handle and connected to at least one of said hose conductors;

brush motor conductors carried by said floor cleaning unit for providing controlled energization of said brush motor by said "On-Off" switch; and

control means carried by said suction unit and floor cleaning unit responsive to said "On-Off" switch for causing energization of said suction motor concurrently with energization of said brush motor, said control means including a gated electronic switch in series with said suction motor and circuitry connected to said "On-Off" switch to be responsive to a condition of said "On-Off" switch causing current flow through said brush motor to cause said gated switch to effect said energization of the suction motor, and adjustable means for varying the firing angle of said gated switch for controlling the speed of the energized suction motor, said "On-Off" switch being operable to energize said suction motor and said brush motor concurrently, said circuitry further including current-reducing means for reducing the permissible current flow through the suction motor when energized concurrently with said brush motor.

22. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 21 wherein said current-reducing means comprises means for controlling the firing angle of said gated switch.

23. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 21 wherein said current-reducing means comprises means for controlling the firing angle of said gated switch to permit said adjustable means to vary the speed of the suction motor over a reduced speed range.

24. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 21 wherein three said electrical conductors are provided in association with said suction hose and said control means includes an impedance device connected through one of said conductors to said circuitry for limiting the firing angle of said gated switch.

25. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 21 wherein three said electrical conductors are provided in association with said suction hose and said control means includes an impedance device connected through one of said conductors to said circuitry for limiting the firing angle of said gated switch, said impedance device being carried by said suction unit.

26. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 21 wherein three of said electrical conductors are provided in association with said suction hose and said control means includes an impedance device connected through one of said conductors to said circuitry for adjusting the firing angle of said gated switch, said impedance device being carried by said suction unit and said adjustable means being carried by said handle.

27. In a vacuum cleaner having a suction unit including a suction motor arranged to draw a first full load current, a floor cleaning unit including a brush rotatably driven by a brush motor arranged to draw a second full load current, and a suction hose connected between the suction unit and the floor cleaning unit and having a handle and electrical conductors extending in parallel lengthwise of said suction hose, the improvement comprising:

an "On-Off" switch carried by said handle and connected to at least one of said hose conductors;

brush motor conductors carried by said floor cleaning unit for providing controlled energization of said brush motor by said "On-Off" switch; and

control means carried by said suction unit and handle responsive to said "On-Off" switch for causing energization of said suction motor concurrently with energization of said brush motor, said control means including a gated electronic switch in series with said suction motor and circuitry connected to said "On-Off" switch to be responsive to a condition of said "On-Off" switch causing current flow through said brush motor to cause said gated switch to effect said energization of the suction motor by reducing the current draw of said suction motor, three said electrical conductors being provided in association with said suction hose, and said "On-Off" switch comprising a single pole single throw switch connected between one of said electrical conductors and said suction motor.

28. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 27 wherein said circuitry includes a transformer responsive to current flow to said brush motor and to cause said control means to reduce current flow through the suction motor.

29. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 27 wherein said circuitry includes a transformer carried by said suction unit responsive to current flow to said brush motor to reduce current flow through the suction motor.

30. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 27 wherein said single pole, single throw switch is carried by said handle.

31. In a vacuum cleaner having suction means including a suction motor adapted for attachment to a power source, a suction hose, surface cleaning means attached to said suction means by said suction hose, said suction hose including at least two electrical conductors for connection to a power source and having a first end associated with said suction means and an opposite end associated with said surface cleaning means and having a handle attached to said surface cleaning means, the improvement comprising

a control circuit including switch means mounted on said handle and a gated switch means in series with said suction motor, a trigger circuit for gating said gated switch means, a first current sensor responsive to the condition of said handle mounted switch for effecting operation of said trigger circuit, and a second current sensor responsive to the magnitude of the current in said control circuit for reducing the voltage applied to said suction motor when the current in said control circuit exceeds a predetermined level.

32. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 31 wherein said control circuit comprises means for adjusting the speed of the suction motor, said speed adjusting means being carried by said suction means.

33. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 31 wherein said switch means mounted on said handle comprises an "On-Off" switch for effecting operation of said suction motor.

34. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 31 wherein there is a resistor connected to said switch means mounted on the handle, and said suction hose includes only two electrical conductors, one of them being connected to said switch means mounted on the handle and the other of them being connected to said resistor.

35. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 34 wherein said surface cleaning means comprises a dusting tool and said handle mounted switch is connected in series with said resistor.

36. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 31 wherein said surface cleaning means comprises a floor cleaner including a brush motor adapted for attachment to a power source for supplying power to both said suction motor and said brush motor.