Hybrid electric cleaning device

• US 8,732,896 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lucas, Delbert E., Lucas, Justin, Lucas, Ryan J., Boyd, Paul Brent, Servais, Lance
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US12/077,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,265 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/39, 153/275, 153/45, 154/05
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/78 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/025 Electric hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 4/00 Arrangements specially adapted for regulating or controlling the speed or torque of electric motors that can be connected to two or more different electric power supplies vector control H02P21/00

Abstract

A cleaning device includes a housing configured with a working element. The device also includes a motor configured for urging motion of the working element. The device also includes a power control module which may be electrically connected with at least one of the motor, a first power source configuration and a second power source configuration. Electric current is provided to the motor by the first and/or the second power source configurations. The first power source configuration may be electrically connected to a battery assembly having a DC power output. The second power source configuration may be electrically connected to a power inverter which may receive AC power and output DC power to the second power source configuration. The motor may be one of a permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor, a universal motor and an induction motor, the motor receiving power via the power control module from at least one of the first power source configuration and the second power source configuration.

Claims

1. A cleaning device, comprising:

a housing configured with a working element;

a stepper motor configured for urging motion of the working element;

a power control module, the power control module configurable for being in electrical connection with at least one of the motor, a first power source configuration and a second power source configuration, a electric current is provided to the motor by at least one of the first and the second power source configuration, the first power source configuration configurable for being electrically connected to a battery assembly having a Direct Current (DC) power output, the second power source configuration configurable for being electrically connected to a power inverter, the power inverter configured for receiving an Alternating Current (AC) power and further configured for outputting a DC power to the second power source configuration; and

an electronic controller, the electronic controller configurable for controlling the electric current provided to the motor;

wherein the motor receives power via the power control module from at least one of the first power source configuration and the second power source configuration.

2. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the working element is a rotary element.

3. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the working element has a maximum rotational speed of a pre-determined level.

4. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a feedback sensor to maintain the rotational speed of the working element.

5. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotational speed of the working element is controlled by adjusting voltage of the electric current provided to the motor.

6. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the voltage is adjustable using the electronic controller to at least one of 72 V, 80 V and 90 V.

7. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotational speed of the working element is adjustable to balance power consumption requirements.

8. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 7, wherein power consumption is balanced to achieve a desired operation time.

9. A cleaning device, comprising:

a housing configured with a working element;

a motor configured for urging motion of the working element;

a power control module, the power control module configurable for being in electrical connection with the motor, a first power source configuration and a second power source configuration, a electric current is provided to the motor by both of the first and the second power source configuration simultaneously, the first power source configuration configurable for being electrically connected to a battery assembly having a Direct Current (DC) power output, the second power source configuration configurable for being electrically connected to a power inverter, the power inverter configured for receiving an Alternating Current (AC) power and further configured for outputting a DC power to the second power source configuration; and

an electronic controller, the electronic controller configurable for controlling the electric current provided to the motor;

wherein the motor receives power via the power control module from both of the first power source configuration and the second power source configuration simultaneously.

10. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the motor is a brushless DC motor.

11. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the motor is a switched reluctance motor.

12. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

13. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the working element is a rotary element.

14. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the working element has a maximum rotational speed of a pre-determined level.

15. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a feedback sensor to maintain the rotational speed of the working element.

16. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rotational speed of the working element is controlled by adjusting voltage of the electric current provided to the motor.

17. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the voltage is adjustable using the electronic controller to at least one of 72 V, 80 V and 90 V.

18. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rotational speed of the working element is adjustable to balance power consumption requirements.

19. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 18, wherein power consumption is balanced to achieve a desired operation time.