COMBINATION ALARM AND FILTER BYPASS DEVICE FOR A SUCTION CLEANER

• US 3,678,882 A
• Filed: 05/28/1971
• Issued: 07/25/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Kinsella
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Kinsella
• Inventors: Kinsella, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capozi, Louis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/147,837
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 116/70,114AD,117 210/90,87 15/339
• US Class Current: 116/268
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/19 Means for monitoring filtering operation

Abstract

A combined alarm and filter bypass device for use with a suction cleaner wherein the device is compact in size and of a simplified construction. The housing of the device is of a shallow, generally box-like configuration which permits the device to be installed in various locations in or on the casing of an associated cleaner and which facilitates the visibility thereof from the exterior of the casing. The reduced size of the device also minimizes interference with other components of the cleaner.

Claims

1. A combination alarm and filter bypass device adapted for use with a suction cleaner including a casing having an air inlet, an air outlet, a filter operably disposed between said inlet and outlet, and suction means for generating a zone of negative pressure in said casing downstream from said filter and inducing a flow of air into said inlet through said filter and out of said outlet, said device comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on said cleaner casing and having an air inlet port therein communicating with the exterior of said casing, an air outlet port spaced from said inlet port and adapted to communicate with said negative pressure zone, and air passage means extending between said inlet and outlet ports, a member shiftably mounted in said housing and movable therein in response to a differential pressure between said inlet and outlet ports, said shiftable member having spaced ends respectively facing said inlet and outlet ports and a cavity therein comprising a portion of said air passage means, the end of said shiftable member facing said inlet port having an opening therein providing communication between said inlet port and said cavity, and means responsive to movement of said shiftable member in said housing providing a signal indicative of the degree of clogging of said filter, said shiftable member also establishing an increased air flow through said passage means and bypassing said filter upon movement of said shiftable member beyond a predeteRmined position in said housing.

2. The device of claim 1, further characterized in that said last mentioned means includes a portion of said shiftable member visible through said housing and providing a visual signal proportional to the degree of clogging of said filter.

3. The device of claim 1, further characterized in that said last mentioned means includes sound generating means communicating with said air passage means, said sound generating means being operable to emit an audible signal in response to movement of said shiftable member beyond said predetermined position in said housing and the establishment of said increased air flow through said air passage means.

4. The device of claim 1, further characterized in that said housing has spaced end walls and connecting side walls, said inlet port is provided in one of said end walls, and said outlet port is provided in one of said side walls adjacent to the other of said end walls.

5. The device of claim 4, further characterized in that the end of said shiftable member facing said outlet port is closed, and said closed end of said shiftable member moves over said outlet port and connects the latter with said cavity to provide said increased air flow through said passage means when said shiftable member shifts to said predetermined position.

6. The device of claim 1, further characterized in that spring means is provided for urging said shiftable member toward said inlet port, whereby the position of said shiftable member in said housing is proportional to the pressure differential between said inlet and outlet ports.

7. The device of claim 6, further characterized in that said housing includes first retaining means for receiving and retaining one end of said spring means, and said shiftable member includes second retaining means for receiving and retaining the opposite end of said spring means, said second retaining means extending into said cavity.

8. The device of claim 7, further characterized in that said first retaining means comprises a post carried by said housing adjacent to said inlet port, said second retaining means comprises another post carried by said shiftable member adjacent to the end thereof facing said outlet port, and said spring means comprises a coil spring having its ends respectively engaged with said posts.

9. The device of claim 6, further characterized in that said housing includes stop means for limiting movement of said shiftable member toward said inlet port and for maintaining a predetermined preload in said spring means.

10. The device of claim 9, further characterized in that said stop means comprises a detent carried on the inner surface of one of the side walls of said housing and disposed in the path of movement of said shiftable member.

11. An alarm device adapted for use with suction cleaner including a casing having an inlet, an outlet, a filter operatively disposed between said inlet and outlet, and means for inducing a flow of air into said inlet, through said filter and out of said outlet, said device comprising a shallow, generally box-like housing of compact size and having a transparent portion, and a member shiftably mounted in said housing and movable relative to said transparent portion to provide a signal indicative of the degree of clogging of said filter, whereby the shallow, box-like form and compact size of said housing permits said device to be mounted in various locations in or on said casing without increasing the size of said casing and also facilitates observation of the position of said shiftable member in said housing from the exterior of said casing.

12. The device of claim 11, further characterized in that said shiftable member comprises a generally rectangularly-shaped piston.

13. The device of claim 12, further characterized in that said housing is elongated and has top, bottom, side, and end walls, an air inlet port is provided in one of said end walls, an air outlet port is provided in said bottom wall adjacent the otheR of said end walls, and said piston is elongated and has at least one side wall and only one complete end wall.

14. The device of claim 13, further characterized in that said piston has a pair of spaced side walls and a top wall.