Methods for controlling the power supply of a vacuum cleaner motor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11101088-B2
Application number	US-201816033773-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2018
Priority date	Feb 12, 2014
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

Applicant has created systems, methods, and apparatuses for controlling the power supply of a vacuum cleaner motor. The systems and apparatuses include pressure taps to detect a pressure differential within a vacuum cleaner, a float that adjusts depending on an amount of liquid stored, and a power switch that toggles based on the pressure differential created by the position of the float. Alternatively, the float can be replaced by an air chamber so that the pressure differential is created by liquid rising above the volume of air trapped in the chamber. The method can include interrupting the current supplied to an electrical circuit of a power switch based upon a pressure differential created within the vacuum. By controlling the power supply to a vacuum cleaner motor based on a pressure differential created by the amount of liquid stored within the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner can automatically disable the vacuum cleaner's motor as the vacuum approaches its maximum liquid capacity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for interrupting a power supply to a vacuum cleaner motor, the method comprising:
providing an inlet plenum;
providing a filter cage interfaced between the inlet plenum and a collection drum of a vacuum cleaner, the filter cage configured to a support a filter thereon;
providing a float adapted to change its position as a function of an amount of liquid stored in the vacuum cleaner;
detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner based, at least in part, upon the position of the float; and
interrupting a current supply of an electrical circuit of a power switch coupled to the vacuum cleaner motor based on the detected pressure differential between the first and second portion of the inlet plenum.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner includes detecting the pressure differential using at least two pressure taps.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner includes detecting a pressure differential between an area inside the inlet plenum and an area outside the inlet plenum.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner includes detecting the pressure differential based on the float contacting at least a portion of the inlet plenum.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaner includes a switch shoulder and an actuator, and wherein interrupting a current supply of an electrical circuit of a power switch coupled to the vacuum cleaner motor includes interrupting the current supply by contacting the actuator with the switch shoulder.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the vacuum cleaner further includes a reset shaft, wherein the reset shaft includes the switch shoulder, wherein interrupting a current supply of an electrical circuit of a power switch coupled to the vacuum cleaner motor includes moving the reset shaft in response to detecting the pressure differential such that the switch shoulder contacts the actuator.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the vacuum cleaner further includes a membrane, wherein detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner includes moving the membrane from a first position to a second position such that the membrane contacts and moves the reset shaft.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein moving the reset shaft causes at least a portion of the reset shaft to be disposed as an external surface of the vacuum cleaner.

9. A method for interrupting a power supply to a vacuum cleaner motor, the method comprising:
providing an inlet plenum;
providing a float adapted to change its position as a function of an amount of liquid stored in a vacuum cleaner;
detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner based, at least in part, upon the position of the float, wherein detecting a pressure differential includes detecting a pressure differential between an area inside the inlet plenum and an area outside the inlet plenum; and
interrupting a current supply of an electrical circuit of a power switch coupled to the vacuum cleaner motor based on the detected pressure differential between the first and second portion of the inlet plenum.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner further includes detecting the pressure differential using at least two pressure taps.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner includes detecting the pressure differential based on the float contacting at least a portion of the inlet plenum.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the vacuum cleaner includes a switch shoulder and an actuator, and wherein interrupting a current supply of an electrical circuit of a power switch coupled to the vacuum cleaner motor includes interrupting the current supply by contacting the actuator with the switch shoulder.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the vacuum cleaner further includes a reset shaft, wherein the reset shaft includes the switch shoulder, wherein interrupting a current supply of an electrical circuit of a power switch coupled to the vacuum cleaner motor includes moving the reset shaft in response to detecting the pressure differential such that the switch shoulder contacts the actuator.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the vacuum cleaner further includes a membrane, wherein detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner includes moving the membrane from a first position to a second position such that the membrane contacts and moves the reset shaft.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein moving the reset shaft causes at least a portion of the reset shaft to be disposed as an external surface of the vacuum cleaner.

16. A method for interrupting a power supply to a vacuum cleaner motor, the method comprising:
providing an inlet plenum;
providing a float adapted to change its position as a function of an amount of liquid stored in a vacuum cleaner;
detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner based, at least in part, upon the position of the float, wherein detecting a pressure differential includes detecting the pressure differential based on the float contacting at least a portion of the inlet plenum; and
interrupting a current supply of an electrical circuit of a power switch coupled to the vacuum cleaner motor based on the detected pressure differential between the first and second portion of the inlet plenum.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner includes detecting the pressure differential using at least two pressure taps.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein detecting a pressure differential between a first and second portion of the vacuum cleaner includes detecting a pressure differential between an area inside the inlet plenum and an area outside the inlet plenum.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the vacuum cleaner includes a switch shoulder and an actuator, and wherein interrupting a current supply of an electrical circuit of a power switch coupled to the vacuum cleaner motor includes interrupting the current supply by contacting the actuator with the switch shoulder.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the vacuum cleaner further includes a reset shaft, wherein the reset shaft includes the switch shoulder, wherein interrupting a current supply of an electrical circuit of a power switch coupled to the vacuum cleaner motor includes moving the reset shaft in response to detecting the pressure differential such that the switch shoulder contacts the actuator.

Assignees

• Emerson Electric Co

Inventors

• Holsten Stuart V

Classifications

• Y02B40/00

  Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers · CPC title

• A47L7/0028

  Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow · CPC title

• A47L9/19

  Means for monitoring filtering operation · CPC title

• H01H35/30

  Means for transmitting pressure to pressure-responsive operating part, e.g. by capsule and capillary tube · CPC title

• A47L9/2889

  Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user · CPC title