Dual mode portable suction cleaner

• US 6,448,732 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacific Steamex Cleaning Systems, Inc. (Hines Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Steamex Cleaning Systems, Inc. (Hines Corp.)
• Inventors: Block, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US09/636,162
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 318/635, 318/650, 318/107, 318/106, 318/139, 318/245, 318/441, 318/442, 323/282, 153/39, 15D/IG.1
• US Class Current: 318/635
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2878 Dual-powered vacuum cleaners, i.e. devices which can be operated with mains power supply or by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• 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: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/01 Rechargeable batter

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner operates via power supplied from either an on-board battery or an AC power outlet. When the vacuum cleaner is operating by using the battery a controller monitors the voltage level in the battery and automatically shuts down the vacuum cleaner when the battery voltage has decreased below a preset level. This prevents a full drainage of the battery and increases its longevity. The controller that monitors the battery voltage level can be used with batteries of different voltages. The controller automatically determines which type of battery is being used and shuts down power to the vacuum cleaner motor after the appropriate amount of battery drainage.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a motor;

an AC supply input;

a DC supply input;

a switch that selectively couples either the AC or DC input to said motor to thereby deliver power to said motor; and

a control adapted for operating said motor from at least two different rated batteries connected with said DC supply input, said control monitoring the voltage at said DC input when said switch has electrically coupled said DC input to said motor, said control terminating power to the motor when the voltage at said DC input falls beneath a threshold level, said control establishing said threshold as a function of which rated battery is connected to said DC input.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said control only terminates power to the motor when the voltage at said DC input has dropped below the threshold level for at least a predetermined amount of time.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein said predetermined amount of time is greater than five seconds.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 including a battery selection input to indicate which rated voltage battery is connected to said DC input.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein said battery selection input comprises cuttable conductors.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further including a voltage converter that converts the voltage at said AC input supply to a different voltage level.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6 further including a rectifier that converts AC supplied to said AC input to DC input.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein said battery selection input includes at least one electrical junction which sets said threshold level at a first value when said junction is closed, and sets said threshold level at a second value when said junction is open.

9. A method of controlling power to a vacuum cleaner motor comprising:

providing an AC input;

providing a DC input;

providing a switch that alternately electrically couples said AC or DC input to the motor;

detecting the voltage at the DC input when the DC input is electrically coupled to the motor;

comparing the voltage at the DC input to a predetermined threshold level; and

terminating the electrical coupling of said DC input to the motor when the DC input falls below the predetermined threshold level.

10. The method of claim 9 further including:

detecting whether a battery having a first voltage or a battery having a second voltage is electrically coupled to said DC input;

setting said predetermined threshold at a first value if said battery has a first voltage; and

setting said predetermined threshold at a second value if said battery has a second voltage.

11. The method of claim 10 further including providing a rectifier that rectifies any alternating current supplied to said AC input to direct current.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said setting said predetermined threshold at a first value further includes providing at least one electrical junction and physically cutting said electrical junction.

13. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing defining an intake;

an impeller;

a motor for operating said impeller such that air is drawn into said housing through said intake when said impeller operates;

a battery input for receiving power from a battery;

an AC input for receiving power from a AC power outlet;

a switch for coupling either said battery input or said AC input to said motor;

and a controller which monitors the voltage level at said battery input when said switch has coupled said battery input to said motor, said controller decoupling said battery input from said motor when said voltage level falls below a predetermined threshold level.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13 further including at least one electrical junction in said control which sets said predetermined threshold level, said electrical junction setting said predetermined threshold level at a first value when said electrical junction is open, said electrical junction setting said predetermined threshold level at a second level when said electrical junction is closed.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13 further including a microprocessor which measures the length of time at which the voltage level at said battery input falls below said predetermined threshold level, said microprocessor programmed to decouple said battery input from said motor only when said voltage level falls below said predetermined threshold level for a set length of time.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13 further including a voltage converter that converts the voltage level at said AC input to a different voltage suitable for powering said motor.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16 further including a relay which selectively decouples said voltage converter from said motor.