Vacuum cleaner with suction indicator

• US 4,955,103 A
• Filed: 12/09/1988
• Issued: 09/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Murphy, James C., Scott, Ernest R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US07/282,466
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 15/319, 15/339, 15/354
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0494 Height adjustment of dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• 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 vacuum cleaner has an adjustable-height suction nozzle. A diaphragm switch is mounted in the housing inside the nozzle and determines a differential air pressure of the operating vacuum cleaner. Voltage source terminals are self-energizing with the rotation of a rotatable brush inside the nozzle and an indicator lamp is illuminated, or extinguished, upon developing a proper suction as establised by the proper adjusted height of the nozzle relative to the floor surface. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle inlet for cooperation with a surface to be cleaned, comprising in combination:

means for variably adjusting the height of the nozzle relative to a surface to be cleaned;

means to sense a differential air pressure between that of the atmosphere and that within the nozzle of the operating vacuum cleaner;

an electrical switch actuated in response to said differential pressure sensing means sensing a predetermined level of differential pressure;

a voltage source including terminals on the nozzle; and

indicator means connected electrically to said voltage source terminals through said switch whereby said indicator indicates to the operator that the height adjustment of the nozzle is proper due to the magnitude of the differential pressure a suction for most effective cleaning.

2. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, including a rotatable brush driven by a motor through a slippable drive;

and

means to develop a voltage at said voltage source terminals in response to rotation of the brush and with no electrical connection to the motor or to the energization source of the motor.

3. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, including an electric motor energizable from a commercial frequency power source, the motor driving a fan to create a suction, said motor being in an enclosure with said nozzle being removable therefrom, there being an absence of all electrical connections from said motor enclosure to said nozzle;

and

said indicator means and voltage source terminals being mounted in said removable nozzle.

4. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 3, including a rotatable brush in said nozzle;

and

means to develop a voltage at said voltage source terminals in response to rotation of said brush.

5. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said differential air pressure sensing means is mounted within said nozzle and is responsive to the difference in air pressure between said nozzle and the ambient.

6. The vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said differential pressure sensing means includes a deflectable diaphragm;

and

said electrical switch being operable by said diaphragm.

7. A vacuum cleaner comprising, in combination:

a nozzle connected to said vacuum cleaner for cooperation with a surface to be cleaned;

a rotatable brush in said nozzle;

means to adjust the height of the nozzle relative to a surface to be cleaned;

a permanent magnet on said rotatable brush;

a pickup coil mounted in a stationary manner on said nozzle for cooperation with said rotatable permanent magnet to generate an alternating voltage;

a diaphragm switch having a diaphragm and first and second electrical contacts;

means connecting one side of said diaphragm to atmosphere;

means connecting the other side of said diaphragm to the air flow circuit within said vacuum cleaner;

a voltage energized indicator;

means connecting said pickup coil to said indicator through said diaphragm switch to energize said indicator, whereby said indicator indicates to the operator that the height adjustment of the nozzle is proper due to a predetermined difference existing between atmospheric pressure and pressure within the air flow circuit with a suction for most effective cleaning.

8. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 7, wherein said indicator is a lamp.

9. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 7, including a housing for said pickup coil, diaphragm switch, and indicator.

10. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 9, including means to secure said housing to said nozzle.

11. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 9, including means to secure said housing within said nozzle, with said indicator being visible externally of said nozzle.

12. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 7, wherein said indicator is energized upon the nozzle being height-adjusted to within a maximum distance from the surface to be cleaned.

13. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 7, wherein said indicator is de-energized upon the nozzle being height-adjusted more than a maximum distance away from the surface to be cleaned.

14. A vacuum cleaner operating condition indicator with the vacuum cleaner having a rotatable brush in a height-adjustable nozzle, comprising, in combination;

a unitary housing;

first and second indicator lights mounted in said housing;

a diaphragm switch having a diaphragm and mounted in said housing;

means mounting said housing in height-adjustable nozzle with said indicator lights externally visible;

means to apply the differential air pressure of the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner to opposite sides of said diaphragm;

a pickup coil mounted in said housing and having a pole piece adapted for cooperation with a magnet rotatable with the brush of the vacuum cleaner;

means connecting said pickup coil directly to said first indicator light to be illuminated in response to brush rotational speed; and

means connecting said pickup coil in series with said diaphragm switch and said second indicator light to change the indicator condition thereof upon proper spacing, with a suction for most effective cleaning, of the vacuum cleaner nozzle to a surface to be cleaned to establish the differential air pressure to actuate said switch.

15. A vacuum cleaner operating condition indicator as set forth in claim 14, including said diaphragm being flexible;

means sealing a first face of said diaphragm to said housing; and

an insert secured to said housing and having an annular shoulder sealed to said second face of said diaphragm to form a low pressure chamber.

16. A vacuum cleaner operating condition indicator as set forth in claim 15, including a movable contact mounted to be actuated by said diaphragm and electrically connected to a first switch terminal;

and

a second switch terminal mounted on said insert.

17. A vacuum cleaner operating condition indicator as set forth in claim 14 wherein said differential air pressure applying means includes

conduit means to apply the lower air pressure within the nozzle to the one side of said diaphragm.

18. A vacuum cleaner operating condition indicator as set forth in claim 17, including a filter in said conduit means.

19. A vacuum cleaner operating condition indicator as set forth in claim 17, including a metal contact on the low pressure one side of said diaphragm as part of said switch.

20. A vacuum cleaner operating condition indicator as set forth in claim 19, wherein said conduit means is aligned with said contact for physical protection for said diaphragm.

21. A vacuum cleaner operating condition indicator as set forth in claim 14, including:

a third indicator light in said housing; and

a third electrical contact on the other side of said diaphragm connecting said third indicator light to said pickup coil.