Vacuum cleaner with constant air flow

• US 4,399,585 A
• Filed: 09/07/1981
• Issued: 08/23/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Progress-Elektrogerate MAUZ & GmbH & Company Griegstrasse
• Original Assignee: Progress-Elektrogerate MAUX & Pfeiffer GmbH & Company
• Inventors: Maier, Robert, Kullik, Gunter R. J., Durr, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US06/291,102
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 15/319, 15/339, 318/644
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• 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: G05D 7/0688 by combined action on throttling means and flow sources G05D7/0694 takes precedence

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with constant air flow for household and industrial purposes. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction fan driven by an electric motor. An air flow measuring device is arranged in the working air flow of the suction fan, and has an electrical output signal proportional to the air flow. This electrical output signal is conveyed to a regulating and control circuit which adjusts the working air flow to a predetermined value as a function of the output signal.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner with constant air flow for home and industry, comprising:

a suction channel for suction air flow;

a suction fan mounted in said channel for generating a working air flow in the form of said suction air flow;

an electric motor for driving said suction fan;

an air-flow measuring device arranged in said suction channel in said suction air flow, said air-flow measuring device generating an electrical output signal which is proportional to said suction air flow;

a regulating and control circuit associated with said electric signal generating device in the suction channel for receiving said electrical output signal and for adjusting motor speed as to suction fan capacity of said suction air flow to a predetermined value as a function of said signal, said electric motor, with its adjoining suction fan, said air-flow measuring device, and said associated regulating and control circuit forming a closed control system, said regulating and control circuit being embodied in such a way relative to the electric signal generating device so as to keep said suction fan capacity of said suction air flow constant, said air-flow measuring device including an air turbine, and a generator which is driven by said air turbine and generates said electrical output signal, which is conveyed as a control voltage to said regulating and control circuit, and in response to which said circuit alters the speed of said electric motor and said suction fan.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 in which said regulating and control circuit comprises a transistorized circuit and a power output control circuit, said control voltage being conveyed to said power output control circuit via said transistorized circuit.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, in which said power output control circuit is a phase-gate control, the point of ignition of which is changeable by said control voltage.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, which includes a switching circuit connected to said transistorized circuit for changing said control voltage, said switching circuit being started by an electrical pulse.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, which includes a manually actuatable element operable to interrupt flow through said suction channel for directly or indirectly generating said electrical pulse.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, which includes a pressure-dependent switch arranged in said suction air flow of said suction channel for generating said electrical pulse.

7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, which includes a mechanically actuatable blocking member mounted in said suction channel for interrupting said suction air flow and bringing about a drop in said control voltage.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, in which said control voltage of said generator is conveyed to said switching circuit, said drop in said control voltage triggering an electrical pulse.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, in which the output voltage of said switching circuit is superimposed over said control voltage in such a way that a shift of the point of ignition of said power output control circuit brings said electric motor to maximum power.

10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, which includes a respective first and second switching circuit maintained selectively operative temporarily for a predetermined period of time.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, in which said switching circuit includes a first switching circuit and a second switching circuit, the output voltage of said second switching circuit being superimposed over said control voltage in such a way that a shift of the point of ignition of said power output control circuit brings the power of said electric motor to nearly zero.

12. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, which includes a respective first and second switching circuit maintained selectively operative temporarily for a predetermined period of time.

13. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, in which the operating time of a given switching circuit is extendable by a pulse which starts said switching circuit and is emitted during operation thereof.

14. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, in which said phase-gate control circuit includes an ignition capacitor, with the ignition voltage at said ignition capacitor being varied by an impedance which is regulated by said control voltage and is connected in parallel to said ignition capacitor.