Air flow-producing device, such as a vacuum cleaner or a blower

• US 7,712,182 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Selby, David A., Zick, Jonathan A., Bublitz, Scott D., Ottens-Rendon, Melissa A., Zeiler, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson; Lee D
• Application Number:
  US10/898,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 153/53, 153/275, 153/28, 153/38, 153/23, 153/19
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/14 cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/22 with rotary fans
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0085 adapted for special purposes not related to cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/02 Units comprising pumps and their driving means
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/06 the pump being electrically driven F04D25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/0673 Battery powered
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/269 Mechanical means for varying the arrangement of batteries or cells for different uses, e.g. for changing the number of batteries or for switching between series and parallel wiring methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance H01M6/50, H01M10/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/284 : with incorporated circuit boards, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 : characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Electrical components and vacuums. In some aspects, the invention provides an electrical component including a housing defining a passageway, a motor supported by the housing, the motor being selectively electrically connectable with a power source, a fan connected to the motor and operable to generate an airflow through the passageway, an electrical circuit supported by the housing, the electrical circuit being selectively electrically connectable with the power source, and a power-tool battery electrically connectable with the electrical circuit such that power is selectively transferred between the battery and the electrical circuit, the battery being connectable to the housing. In some aspects, the invention provides a vacuum.

Claims

1. An electrical component comprising:

a housing assembly defining a passageway;

a motor supported by the housing assembly, the motor being selectively electrically connectable with a power source;

a fan connected to the motor and operable to generate an airflow through the passageway;

a blow-molded base connected to the housing assembly;

a handle connected to at least one of the housing assembly and the base, the handle having an upper portion positioned above the housing assembly and a side portion positioned to one side of the housing assembly, the handle being configured to absorb impacts to the housing assembly;

an electrical circuit supported by the housing, the electrical circuit being selectively electrically connectable with the power source;

a first power-tool battery selectively electrically connectable with the electrical circuit such that power is selectively transferred between the first power-tool battery and the electrical circuit to selectively connect the first power-tool battery to the motor; and

a controller selectively electrically connectable with the electrical circuit and the first power-tool battery, the controller being operable to electrically connect at least one of the first power tool battery and the power source to the electrical circuit.

2. The electrical component of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit selectively electrically connects the motor and the power source.

3. The electrical component of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a support portion having a housing projection and a housing groove;

and

wherein, the battery includes a battery support portion having a battery projection and a battery groove, the battery projection being engageable with the housing groove, and the housing projection being engageable with the battery groove to connect the battery to the housing.

4. The electrical component of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit selectively electrically connects the motor and the first power-tool battery.

5. The electrical component of claim 1, further comprising a charging circuit supported by the housing, wherein the charging circuit is selectively electrically connectable with the power source, and wherein the charging circuit is operable to selectively electrical connect the first power-tool battery and the power source to charge the first power-tool battery.

6. The electrical component of claim 1, wherein the housing also defines an opening, wherein the electrical component further comprises a container assembly having at least a first portion in fluid communication with the passageway, the container assembly having at least a second portion in fluid communication with the opening, wherein the fan is operable to generate an air flow through the passageway and into the first portion of the container assembly, and wherein, during operation of the fan generating the air flow, first debris is carried by the air flow through the passageway and into the first portion of the container assembly and second debris is insertable through the opening into the second portion of the container assembly without substantially effecting the air flow.

7. The electrical component of claim 1, further comprising a second power-tool battery selectively electrically connectable with the electrical circuit such that power is selectively transferred between the second power-tool battery and the electrical circuit to selectively connect the second power-tool battery to the motor.

8. The electrical component of claim 7, wherein the controller is operable to monitor a charge level of the first power tool battery and of the second power tool battery and selectively electrically connect one of the first power tool battery and the second power tool battery to the electrical circuit in response to the charge level of the first power tool battery and of the second power tool battery.

9. An electrical component comprising:

a housing assembly defining a passageway;

a motor supported by the housing assembly, the motor being selectively electrically connectable with a power source that is operable to deliver an AC current;

a fan connected to the motor and operable to generate a vacuum;

a handle connected to the housing assembly, the handle having an upper portion positioned above the housing assembly and a side portion positioned to one side of the housing assembly;

a first power-tool battery selectively connectable to the housing assembly and operable to provide a DC current;

an electrical circuit supported by the housing, the electrical circuit being selectively electrically connectable with the power source to selectively connect the power source to the motor and with the first power-tool battery to selectively connect the first power-tool battery to the motor; and

a controller operable to electrically connect the power source to the motor and to connect the first power-tool battery to the electrical circuit for charging in response to a non-zero AC current and to electrically connect the first power-tool battery to the motor to provide the DC current to the motor in response to a zero AC current.

10. The electrical component of claim 9, further comprising a second power-tool battery selectively electrically connectable with the electrical circuit such that power is selectively transferred between the second power-tool battery and the electrical circuit to selectively provide power to the motor and charge the second power-tool battery.