Moisture indicator for wet pick-up suction cleaner
First Claim
1. A moisture indicator system for a suction cleaner, comprising:
- a base;
a handle pivotally mounted to the base;
a nozzle on the base;
a recovery tank removably positionable on one of the base and handle;
a motor fan assembly mounted on the base for drawing a moisture laden air stream from the nozzle to the recovery tank;
a suction duct between a nozzle and recovery tank;
a bend in the suction duct between the nozzle and the recovery tank; and
a moisture sensor located downstream of the bend, wherein the moisture laden air stream impinges on the moisture sensor after it passes through the bend in the suction duct.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The moisture sensor and indicator for a wet pickup vacuum cleaner, more particularly a wet extraction type carpet cleaner, is positioned in the suction duct to sense when water droplets or moisture is traveling through the suction duct. An indicator is activated to indicate to the operator that water is being extracted from the carpet. The sensor may alternatively be located in the bottom of the floor-engaging portion where it contracts the floor. When the degree of moisture in the carpet exceeds a predetermined threshold an indicator is activated to indicate to the operator that the floor is still wet and to continue extracting moisture from the floor. Alternatively, the moisture sensor can be used as a safety device on a dry pickup vacuum cleaner. When moisture is detected within the suction duct, the motor-fan assembly of the dry pickup vacuum cleaner is disabled to prevent a potentially hazardous condition.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A moisture indicator system for a suction cleaner, comprising:
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a base;
a handle pivotally mounted to the base;
a nozzle on the base;
a recovery tank removably positionable on one of the base and handle;
a motor fan assembly mounted on the base for drawing a moisture laden air stream from the nozzle to the recovery tank;
a suction duct between a nozzle and recovery tank;
a bend in the suction duct between the nozzle and the recovery tank; and
a moisture sensor located downstream of the bend, wherein the moisture laden air stream impinges on the moisture sensor after it passes through the bend in the suction duct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
a controller, wherein the moisture sensor generates continuous signals to the controller.
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4. The moisture sensor of claim 3, wherein the signals are proportional to the conductivity of the moisture laden air stream.
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5. The moisture sensor of claim 4, the controller further having a smoothing circuit for translating the continuous signals into a discrete signal.
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6. The moisture sensor of claim 5, wherein the smoothing circuit further includes a schmitt trigger comparator.
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7. The moisture sensor of claim 5, wherein the discrete signal is used to power a first LED.
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8. The moisture sensor of claim 7, wherein the first LED is powered when the discrete signal is above a predetermined threshold value.
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9. The moisture sensor of claim 7, wherein the first LED is substantially red.
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10. The moisture sensor of claim 7, wherein the LED is positioned on the base.
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11. The moisture sensor of claim 7, wherein the second LED is substantially green.
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12. The moisture sensor of claim 7, wherein the second LED is positioned on the base.
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13. The moisture sensor of claim 5, wherein the discrete signal is used to power a second LED indicator.
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14. The moisture sensor of claim 13, wherein a second LED is powered when the discrete signal is below a predetermined threshold value.
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15. A method of operating a suction cleaner, having a suction duct between a nozzle and recovery tank, and a bend in the suction duct between the nozzle and the recovery tank, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a moisture sensor downstream of the bend for generating an indication signal; and
impinging a moisture laden air stream on the moisture sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification