Vacuum cleaner with operating condition indicator system

• US 4,733,430 A
• Filed: 12/09/1986
• Issued: 03/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Westergren, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US06/939,755
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 15/339, 15/319, 55/274, 116/268
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1427 Means for mounting or attaching bags or filtering receptacles in suction cleaners; Adapters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1472 combined with security means, e.g. for preventing use, e.g. in case of absence of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/19 Means for monitoring filtering operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

A canister type vacuum cleaner includes a floor cleaning unit and a canister unit interconnected by a wand and hose assembly. The canister unit has a dust collection bag mounted in a dust collecting compartment by a pivotally movable dust bag mount that pivots to an operative position. A suction fan evacuates the air within the dust collecting compartment causing dirt laden air to flow from the floor cleaning unit through the wand and hose assembly and into the dust bag through an intake port formed in the dust bag mount. The air is exhausted from the canister unit through a discharge port. An operating condition monitoring and indicating system provides information as to the status of the dust bag and the wand and hose assembly by means of a check bag light and a check hose light. A bag mount sensor senses the differential pressure between the intake port and the dust collecting compartment; and a discharge sensor senses the differential pressure between the discharge port and the dust collecting compartment. When the dust bag becomes too clogged, the bag mount sensor and, shortly thereafter, the discharge sensor are actuated. If a restriction occurs in the wand and hose assembly, the discharge sensor, but not the bag mount sensor, is actuated.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner system condition indicator for use with a vacuum cleaner having an intake port, a dust collecting compartment, a dust bag in said compartment and a discharge port, comprising

first sensing means for sensing a first pressure differential between said intake port and said dust collecting compartment, said first sensing means providing a first sensing signal when said sensed first pressure differential is of at least a first magnitude,

second sensing means for sensing a second pressure differential between said discharge port and said dust collecting compartment, said second sensing means providing a second sensing signal when said sensed second pressure differential is of a least a second magnitude, and

indicator means associated with said first and second sensing means for providing sensorially perceptible indicating signals in response to said first and second sensing signals.

2. A condition indicator as recited in claim 1 wherein said first sensing means includes first switch means actuated in response to the existence of a pressure differential of at least a first magnitude between said intake port and said dust collecting compartment.

3. A condition indicator as recited in claim 2 wherein said first magnitude is a pressure differential equivalent to approximately 30 to 35 inches of water.

4. A condition indicator as recited in claim 2 wherein said second sensing means includes second switch means actuated in response to the existence of a pressure differential of at least a second magnitude between said discharge port and said dust collecting compartment.

5. A condition indicator as recited in claim 4 wherein said second magnitude is a pressure differential equivalent to approximately 57 inches of water.

6. A condition indicator as recited in claim 4 wherein said indicator means includes a first indicating light illuminated in response to the actuation of said first switch means.

7. A condition indicator as recited in claim 6 wherein said indicator means includes a second indicating light illuminated in response to the actuation of said second switch means.

8. A condition indicator as set forth in claim 6 wherein said indicator means includes a second indicating light illuminated in response to the actuation of said second switch means and the non-actuation of said first switch means.

9. A condition indicator as recited in claim 1 wherein said indicator means includes a microprocessor.

20. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 7 wherein said first and second visually perceptible signals are lights mounted on said canister unit.

10. A vacuum cleaner dust bag mount for mounting a dust bag in a vacuum cleaner, said dust bag having a dust bag collar aperture through said collar to provide an air passage to said dust bag for the collection of debris in said dust bag, said bag mount comprising

a first passageway extending through said dust bag mount, said first passageway being adapted to be aligned with said collar aperture thereby to permit the passage of debris through said dust bag mount,

pressure sensing means having an air passage extending through an elongated portion of said dust bag mount for sensing the pressure at said first passageway, and

pivotal mean for pivotally mounting said bag mount on said vacuum cleaner such that said bag mount is pivotable between first and second positions.

11. A vacuum cleaner dust bag mount as recited in claim 10 wherein said air passage has an inlet disposed at said first passageway and an outlet in communication with said pressure sensing means when said bag mount is pivoted to said first position.

12. A pressure responsive monitoring system for a vacuum cleaner comprising

first mounting means for mounting a dust collection bag in said vacuum cleaner, said first mounting means being pivotally mounted to said vacuum cleaner and adapted to be selectively placed in an operative position,

passageway means extending through said bag mount means for enabling debris to pass through said bag mount means and into said dust collection bag,

air passage means having an inlet at said passageway means and an outlet,

pressure responsive means for monitoring the pressure at said passageway means and

second mounting means for mounting said pressure responsive means in said vacuum cleaner, said second mounting means including a second air passage in communication with said outlet when said first mounting means is in said operative position.

13. A pressure responsive monitoring system as recited in claim 12 wherein said second mounting means has seal means providing a seal between said first and second air passages when said first mounting means is in said operative position.

14. A pressure responsive monitoring system as recited in claim 13 wherein said first air passage extends through a tubular portion of said first mounting means, said outlet being at an end of said tubular portion and wherein said end engages said seal means when said first mounting means is in said operative position.

15. A pressure responsive monitoring system as recited in claim 12 wherein said dust collection bag is disposed in a dust collecting compartment of said vacuum cleaner and wherein said second mounting means mounts said pressure responsive means in said dust collecting compartment.

16. A vacuum cleaner comprising

a canister unit having an air intake,

a wand and hose assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end adapted to be received in said air intake,

a floor cleaning unit adapted to receive said second end,

a dust collecting compartment in said canister unit,

a dust bag in said dust collecting compartment in pneumatic communication with said air intake,

said canister unit including an air discharge and suction means, said suction means adapted to cause air to flow from said wand and hose assembly into said canister unit through said air intake, through said dust bag and out of said canister unit through said air discharge, and

an operating condition indicating system including

a first pressure actuated switch means responsive to the existence of a first pressure differential between said air intake and said dust collecting compartment of at least a first magnitude for providing a first sensing signal,

a second pressure actuated switch means responsive to the existence of a second pressure differential between said air discharge and said dust collecting compartment of at least a second magnitude for providing a second sensing signal and

signal response means for responding to said first and second sensing signals and for providing sensorially perceptible indicating signals to an operator of said vacuum cleaner.

17. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 16 wherein said signal response means provides a first visually perceptible signal in response to the receipt of said first sensing signal and provides a second visually perceptible signal in response to the receipt of said second sensing signal alone.

18. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 17 wherein said first visually perceptible signal is a check bag light and said second visually perceptible signal is a check hose light.

19. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 17 wherein said first and second visually perceptible signals are lights mounted on said wand and hose assembly.

21. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 17 wherein said first and second visually perceptible signals are lights mounted on said floor cleaning unit.

22. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 17 wherein said first visually perceptible signal is an indication of a clogged condition of said dust bag and said second visually perceptible signal is an indication of a restricted condition of said wand and hose assembly.

23. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 17 wherein said signal response means determines the order in which said first and second sensing signals are received.

24. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 16 wherein said first magnitude is a pressure differential less than the pressure differential of said second magnitude.

25. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 16 wherein said first magnitude is a pressure differential equivalent to approximately 30 to 35 inches of water.

26. A vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 25 wherein said second magnitude is a pressure differential equivalent to appproximately 54 to 60 inches of water.