Protective device for dust collecting devices
First Claim
1. A protective device for a cleaning apparatus of the type comprising a housing having a vacuum means therein for creating a vacuum;
- an inlet in said housing for the entrance of material such as dust or the like;
a collection bag in said housing communicating with said inlet for the reception of the material, and an exhaust port for the discharge of air;
characterized in that an optical sensor is provided in said housing downstream of said bag, said sensor comprising a light transmitter and a light receiver positioned in the path of material exiting from the collection bag;
closure means in said housing operable between a port open and a port closed position; and
an electric evaluation circuit connected to said sensor for operating said closure means to the port closed position in response to a signal corresponding to the detection of material above a preselected level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Protective device for dust collecting devices, in particular vacuum cleaners such as wheel-mounted or hand vacuum cleaners, whereby the presence of any dust behind the dust collecting vessel, due to a damage to the dust collecting vessel, is detected by means of an electric sensor comprising a light receiver and a light transmitter, and supplied in the form of an electric signal to an associated evaluation circuit. The design of the evaluation circuit is such that when a given threshold value is exceeded it will respond and activate an associated blocking and braking arrangement for interrupting the operation of the vacuum cleaner abruptly. This prevents the collected dust, the quantities of which may be quite considerable, to be blown back within a few seconds into the environment by the continued operation of the dust collecting device in case the dust bag should for example break.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A protective device for a cleaning apparatus of the type comprising a housing having a vacuum means therein for creating a vacuum;
- an inlet in said housing for the entrance of material such as dust or the like;
a collection bag in said housing communicating with said inlet for the reception of the material, and an exhaust port for the discharge of air;
characterized in that an optical sensor is provided in said housing downstream of said bag, said sensor comprising a light transmitter and a light receiver positioned in the path of material exiting from the collection bag;
closure means in said housing operable between a port open and a port closed position; and
an electric evaluation circuit connected to said sensor for operating said closure means to the port closed position in response to a signal corresponding to the detection of material above a preselected level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- an inlet in said housing for the entrance of material such as dust or the like;
Specification