EP0430478B1 - Aspirateur de poussières - Google Patents

Aspirateur de poussières Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0430478B1
EP0430478B1 EP90312311A EP90312311A EP0430478B1 EP 0430478 B1 EP0430478 B1 EP 0430478B1 EP 90312311 A EP90312311 A EP 90312311A EP 90312311 A EP90312311 A EP 90312311A EP 0430478 B1 EP0430478 B1 EP 0430478B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vacuum
vacuum cleaner
operating handle
transmitter
cleaner according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Revoked
Application number
EP90312311A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0430478A1 (fr
Inventor
Rex Brown
George Birkett
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=10666787&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0430478(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0430478A1 publication Critical patent/EP0430478A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0430478B1 publication Critical patent/EP0430478B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Revoked legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2894Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L7/00Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
    • A47L7/0004Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2836Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
    • A47L9/2842Suction motors or blowers
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2857User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Definitions

  • Vacuum cleaners usually comprise a main vacuum unit incorporating an electric motor to generate the required vacuum, together with an operating handle connected to the vacuum unit by an air-tight flexible hose.
  • the operating handle is usually connected to the actual cleaning head by a rigid pipe, although in some situations and for some uses the cleaning head may be linked directly to the operating handle.
  • the electric operating controls for the vacuum cleaner are mounted upon the main vacuum unit, which of course is separated from the operating handle by the length of the flexible hose.
  • the only control conventionally provided on the operating handle is a vacuum control which enables the degree of suction to be modified by the simple expedient of opening and closing a vent.
  • the vacuum cleaner comprises a main vacuum unit incorporating an electric motor to generate a vacuum, an operating handle remote from the main vacuum unit, an air-tight flexible hose linking the operating handle to the main vacuum unit and incorporating electric wires extending throughout the length of the hose, a source of low-voltage electrical power electrically connected to said wires, an infra-red signal transmitter electrically connected to said wires at the end thereof which is nearer to the main vacuum unit, a receiver for infra-red signals from said transmitter, electrically connected to the motor-operating circuit of the main vacuum unit, and controls at the operating handle to send an electrical signal from said low-voltage power source to said transmitter.
  • signals initiated by operation of controls mounted upon the operating handle may be transmitted fro the hose to the motor-operating circuit without there being any direct electrical connection from the hose to that circuit, and the motor may thereby be safely controlled from the operating handle.
  • the main vacuum unit itself may be any available such unit, for sample of the upright or horizontal type, but the benefits of the invention are particularly achieved when the unit is of the industrial or heavy domestic type.
  • Typical suitable units are those which are housed in an upright cylindrical housing on wheels or castors.
  • the flexible hose linking the vacuum unit to the operating handle and incorporating electric wires may advantageously be of the type sold by the company Plastiflex Ltd., in which type a pair of wires are incorporated in the windings of the hose and extend continuously throughout the length of the hose.
  • a source of low voltage electrical power Associated with the operating handle and the hose and electrically connected to the wires in the latter is a source of low voltage electrical power. While it is possible to connect in the power source at any point along the length of the wires, for example adjacent to the signal transmitter, it is much preferred for the power source to be housed in or adjacent to the operating handle. Very conveniently the power source is in the form of one or more batteries, for example of the dry-cell or rechargeable type. The voltage generated by the power source will be substantially lower than normal mains voltage, for example of the general order of 3 to 12 volts.
  • the signal transmitter is operated by electrical power from the power source, switched by means of controls mounted on the operating handle.
  • the controls may at their simplest comprise only an on/off switch but it is preferred that they be designed to send a continuous electrical signal or a succession of pulses of power to the transmitter, for example in response to pressure applied to one or more push-buttons or similar controls.
  • Such signals may, for example, make it possible for the speed of rotation of the vacuum-producing electric motor to be progressively increased or decreased.
  • an automatic switch-off device is associated with the operating controls so that, even if a push-button for example is held continuously depressed, the signal is transmitted for only a very short time. In this way, the operating life of the low-voltage power source may be prolonged significantly.
  • the signal transmitter is a transmitter of infra-red signals, which enables a signal to be transferred from the hose line to the vacuum unit without any direct electrical contact between the two components.
  • the signal receiver is designed to respond to infra-red signals from the transmitter.
  • the relative positions of transmitter and receiver will preferably be such that the signal can pass unimpeded from the transmitter to the receiver. It is preferred to provide a clear line of sight from the transmitter to the receiver. To this end, these two units are preferably located within a short distance, for example not exceeding 10 cm, of each other.
  • the receiver is preferably located within the housing of the vacuum unit and an aperture or window may then be provided in the housing to permit the signals to pass to the receiver unimpeded by the housing.
  • a signal in the near infra-red range for example having a wavelength in the range from 750 to 2500 nm.
  • the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention may be of the wet-operating or dry-operating type.
  • the invention is of particular value when the cleaner may be used alternatively for either wet or dry operation as desired, since conversion from one form of operation to the other may be carried out without any effect on the operating controls.
  • the illustrated vacuum cleaner comprises a main vacuum unit contained in a housing 3 mounted upon wheels or castors 4.
  • the vacuum unit is linked by a flexible hose 5 to an operating handle 6, which enables manipulation of a cleaning head 7 at the end of a rigid tubular pipe 8.
  • a motor (not shown) within the housing 3 is applied via the cleaning head 7 to the carpet or other upholstery being cleaned.
  • the hose 5 Within the structure of the hose 5 are incorporated two electric wires (not visible in the drawings), which run continuously throughout the length of the hose and are connected at one end to a 9-volt battery (not shown) within the operating handle 6. At the other end, the wires within the hose 5 are connected to a small infra-red transmitter 9, mounted upon the outside of the hosing connector 10. The transmitter 9 is so orientated as to direct an infra-red signal through an aperture 11 in the housing 3, towards a receiver (not shown) within the housing. Typically, the infrared signal may be at a wavelength of the order of 940 nm.
  • the receiver is incorporated in the electric circuit within the housing 3 by moans of which the vacuum motor is controlled.
  • the signal from the transmitter 9 is switched by a control switch 12 mounted upon the operating handle 6.
  • operation of the switch 12 causes an infra-red signal to be despatched by the transmitter 9 and received within the control circuit of the vacuum motor, thereby enabling the motor to be operated from the handle 6.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
  • Addition Polymer Or Copolymer, Post-Treatments, Or Chemical Modifications (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Aspirateur de poussières comprenant une unité principale d'aspirateur (3) comprenant un moteur électrique permettant de créer un vide, une poignée de manoeuvre (6) séparée de l'unité principale d'aspirateur, et un tuyau (5) flexible étanche à l'air reliant la poignée de manoeuvre à l'unite principale d'aspirateur et contenant des câbles électriques sur toute la longueur du tuyau, caractérisé en ce que ledit aspirateur comprend encore une source de courant électrique basse tension branchée sur lesdits câbles, un émetteur de signaux infra-rouge (9) connecté électriquement à l'extrémité desdits câbles la plus proche de l'unité centrale d'aspirateur (3), un récepteur de signaux infra-rouge provenant de l'émetteur, connecté électriquement au circuit de commande du moteur de l'unité principale d'aspirateur, et des commandes (12) situées sur la poignée de manoeuvre (6) permettant d'émettre un signal électrique depuis ladite source de courant électrique basse-tension vers ledit émetteur.
  2. Aspirateur de poussières selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la source de courant électrique basse tension est placée à l'intérieur de la poignée de manoeuvre (6) ou près de celle-ci.
  3. Aspirateur de poussières selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la source de courant électrique basse tension comprend au moins une pile électrique.
  4. Aspirateur de poussières selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le courant électrique basse tension possède une tension d'un ordre de grandeur compris entre 3 et 12 volts.
  5. Aspirateur de poussières selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdites commandes (12) permettent d'augmenter ou de diminuer progressivement la vitesse de rotation du moteur électrique produisant le vide.
  6. Aspirateur de poussières selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les signaux infra-rouge ont une longueur d'onde comprise entre 750 et 2500 nm.
  7. Aspirateur de poussières selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'émetteur (9) et le récepteur sont placés de manière à ce que l'on ait depuis l'émetteur (9) une vue dégagée vers le récepteur.
  8. Aspirateur de poussières selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le récepteur est situé à l'intérieur du boîtier de l'unité d'aspirateur, et une ouverture ou une fenêtre est prévue dans le boîtier pour permettre le passage des signaux vers le récepteur.
EP90312311A 1989-11-23 1990-11-12 Aspirateur de poussières Revoked EP0430478B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898926502A GB8926502D0 (en) 1989-11-23 1989-11-23 Improved vacuum cleaner
GB8926502 1989-11-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0430478A1 EP0430478A1 (fr) 1991-06-05
EP0430478B1 true EP0430478B1 (fr) 1994-06-08

Family

ID=10666787

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90312311A Revoked EP0430478B1 (fr) 1989-11-23 1990-11-12 Aspirateur de poussières

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0430478B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH03242128A (fr)
AT (1) ATE106696T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU6675590A (fr)
CA (1) CA2030233A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69009696T2 (fr)
GB (2) GB8926502D0 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0537845B1 (fr) * 1991-10-17 1996-06-19 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Circuit de contrÔle à capteur capacitif pour poignée de tube d'aspiration
JP3117522B2 (ja) * 1991-12-10 2000-12-18 日本フィリップス株式会社 電気掃除機
DE19902130A1 (de) * 1998-01-23 1999-09-23 Kwang Ju Electronics Co Ltd Fernsteuervorrichtung eines Staubsaugers
IT1315383B1 (it) * 2000-02-01 2003-02-10 T P A Impex Spa Dispositivo di comando, particolarmente per apparecchi di puliziadomestica e/o industriale.

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3112004A (en) * 1961-04-05 1963-11-26 Arthur W Neaville Remote control system for automotive vehicles
US3382524A (en) * 1966-07-21 1968-05-14 Honeywell Inc Control for a vacuum cleaner system
US4371814A (en) * 1981-09-09 1983-02-01 Silent Running Corporation Infrared transmitter and control circuit
FR2515899B1 (fr) * 1981-11-03 1986-11-21 Legrand Sa Dispositif emetteur a rayonnement infrarouge pour commande a distance d'un recepteur
DE3511666A1 (de) * 1985-03-29 1986-10-02 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Elektronischer schalter mit galvanischer potentialtrennung und seine verwendung
GB2174222B (en) * 1985-04-27 1988-09-21 Peter Stanley Phillips Remote operation of an electrical light switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69009696D1 (de) 1994-07-14
GB8926502D0 (en) 1990-01-10
GB9024378D0 (en) 1991-01-02
ATE106696T1 (de) 1994-06-15
GB2238233B (en) 1993-09-22
DE69009696T2 (de) 1995-01-12
EP0430478A1 (fr) 1991-06-05
AU6675590A (en) 1991-05-30
GB2238233A (en) 1991-05-29
CA2030233A1 (fr) 1991-05-24
JPH03242128A (ja) 1991-10-29

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