EP1259149A2

EP1259149A2 - Wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP1259149A2
Application number: EP01902958A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet Emin Cankurtaran
Original assignee: Conti Elektrikli Ev Aletleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Conti Elektrikli Ev Aletleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2000-02-01
Filing date: 2001-01-31
Publication date: 2002-11-27
Also published as: WO2001056447A2; TR200201990T2; WO2001056447A3; US20040006843A1; AU3071201A

Abstract

The float (5) on which a magnet (6) is placed is located at the bottom of the water tank (3) and is connected in the said water tank (3) with an articulated coupling in order to determine the amount of water that can be received in the water tank (3). The wet debris picked up by the wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner are collected in the water tank ( 3) and the motor (19) is stopped when the volumetric capacity of the wet debris from overflowing and to avoid liquid leakage into the motor compartment. In order to achive this a magnet (6) is placed on the float (5) and a reed relay (7) located att he back side of the upper body (2) at a distance suitable to detect the posiiton of said magnet (6), are used.

Description

WET ANDDRYHORIZONTAL VACUUM CLEANER

The present invention relates to a wet and dry, horizontal vacuum cleaner that operates with a by-pass engine.

The domestic-type vacuum cleaners serve to filter and to collect the wet and dry undesired substances/objects in a tank by means of the vacuum produced by an electrical motor. The vacuum cleaners are classified in terms of their functions as, dry, wet and dry and carpet cleaner type cleaners.

In the dry type vacuum cleaners motors only available for collecting the dry debris in all positions are used and they cannot be operated in wet environments due to their structural properties. They may be manufactured in cylindrical or other forms. In vacuum cleaners with drums, the debris sucked through the tank suction inlet are discharged after being filtered through the lateral shutters on the engine Although it has a by-pass structure, the engine is so designed that it operates under dry conditions.

In wet and dry vacuum cleaners, a by-pass engine with a specific construction is used in order to ensure that the vacuum air and the air to cool the motor windings, are not mixed together. They are equipped with two separate propellers, namely the motor vacuum propeller and the cooling propeller. During vacuum operation the humid (wet) air does not pass over the motor windings, hence no humidity is disposed at live points.

Furthermore, the shafts of this type of motors are insulated. The wet and dry vacuum cleaners have a structure which is suitable to collect both wet and dry substances. The motor windings are cooled by a separate fan. When the amount of the absorbed/sucked liquid reaches to a determined level, any leakages to the motor compartment are prevented by using a specific float and they operate in a vertical position. In EP Application No. 0 545138, a washing-type vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner consists of mainly three sections; a first compartment wherein the wet and dry debris and dirt are collected, a motor comportment and a clean water compartment containing the water required for washing. Suction is realised by selecting the suitable suction button provided on the cleaner, depending on the type of the debris to be picked up. During this operation, the vacuum cleaner has to be held vertically

In the above mentioned. European Patent Application, a paper bag is used in which dry debris are collected, inside the dry debris collection tank. While running at the dry-mode, if a wet substance is desired to be absorbed, the vacuum cleaner is stopped, the above mentioned paper bag wherein dry debris are collected is removed, and the cleaner is operated again, and when dry debris are intended to be picked up, the paper bag is introduced again after the motor is stopped.

This procedure is time and energy-consuming.

The floats used in other types of vacuum cleaners generally operate by means of the buoyancy (lifting force) of water and prevent the passage of the vacuum air, as well as leakage of water, by closing the suction mouth. However mean while, the engine continues to run.

The object of the present invention is to provide that the motor stops running by means of a float, when the water level exceeds a determined amount, in a wet and dry type, horizontal vacuum cleaner.

The wet and dry type, horizontal vacuum cleaner realised in order to achieve the object of the invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein :

Figure 1, is the cross section side view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 2a, is the general view of the float, magnet and the Reed relay; Figure 2b is the view of the magnet and the Reed relay when the float is raised.

The components shown in the drawings have been given referral numbers as follows :

1. Lower body

2. Upper body 3. Water tank

4. Gora filter

5. Float

6. Magnet

7. Reed Relay 8. Paper bag

9. Dust bag cartridge

10. Suction mouth

11. Filling indicator

12. Dust lid (cover) 13. Control knob

14. Exhaust grid

15. Upper exhaust hygienic filter

16. Upper exhaust sponge filter

17. Upper exhaust (complete) 18. Motor upper shell (bonnet)

19. Motor

20. By-pass hygienic filter

21. Motor lower shell

The wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner that can take in liquid as much as its volume, while operating at dry mode, without making any modifications neither in its position nor in its operation, consists of a lower body (1), an upper body (2), a water tank (3), a gora filter (4), a float (5), a magnet (6), a Reed relay (7), a paper bag (8), dust bag cartridge (9), a suction inlet (10), a filling indicator (11), a dust lid (12), a control knob (13), an exhaust grid (14), an upper exhaust hygienic filter (15), an upper exhaust sponge filter (16), an upper exhaust (complete) (17), a motor upper shell (18), a motor (19), a by-pass hygienic filter (20) and a motor lower shell (21).

The wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner is made of two compartments, a motor and a dust compartment.

The motor compartment contains, in a water-proof manner, the motor (19) upper shell (18), the upper exhaust (complete) (17), the upper exhaust hygienic filter (15), the upper exhaust sponge filter (16), the by-pass hygienic filter (20) and the electronic control unit.

The dust compartment wherein the vacuumed debris are filtered and collected, contains the upper body (2), water tank (3), a gore filter (4), a float (5), a magnet (6), a Reed relay (7), a paper bag (8) dust bag cartridge (9), a suction inlet (10), a filling indicator (11), a dust lid (12). All components contained in this compartment are isolated against the external environment.

From the debris sucked-in by the wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner, the liquids are collected in the water tank (3) and the dry debris are collected in the paper bag (8) and the gora filter (4).

The water tank (3) placed in the upper body (2) is a container wherein a permissible amount of the liquid debris is collected after filtration and is provided with a float (5) with a magnet (6) placed on the bottom of the water tank. The water tank (3) is completely isolated against the external environment and the debris and liquids taken-in are prevented from leaking. The user starts or stops the vacuum cleaner and adjusts its suction power by using the control knob (13) provided on the wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner. The operational safety of the wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner is enhanced by a lock relay mounted on the electronic control unit

The control knob (13) provides the starting/stopping or realizing the desired degree of suction, by sending signals to the electronic control unit with a lock relay on it. Furthermore the reed relay that detects the movement of the float (5) with a magnet on it, is electrically connected to the lock relay at the electronic control unit, thus providing the control of the wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner via the movement of the float (5).

The float which a magnet (6) is placed, is located at the bottom of the water tank (3) and is connected in the said water tank (3) with an articulated coupling, in order to determine the amount of water that can be received in the water tank (3).

The wet debris picked up by the wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner are collected in the water tank (3) and the motor (19) is stopped when the volumetric capacity of the wet debris is reached as determined by the manufacture, in order to prevent wet debris from overflowing and to avoid liquid leakage into motor compartment .

In order to achieve this, a magnet (6) placed on the float (5) and a Reed relay (7) located at the back side of the middle tank (2) at a distance suitable to detect the position of the said magnet (6), are used.

When the amount of wet debris collected in the water tank (3) reaches the upper limit of the level permitted by the manufacturer, the float (5) on the top, rises and the magnet (6) activates the Reed relay (7) and the activated Reed relay

(7) in turn activates the lock relay at the electronic control unit, and stops the motor (9) In this case, the water tank (3) is removed and cleaned. Even if the vacuum cleaner is tried to be started by the control knob (13 before the water tank (3) is placed in the vacuum cleaner, as the magnet (6) on the float (5) does not activate the Reed relay (7) that detects the movement of the float (5) with a magnet on it, the contacts of the lock relay remain open and the motor (19) cannot be started.

In order to enable the starting of the vacuum cleaner operation, the user has to place the water tank (3) in it and then use the control knob (13) to run the cleaner.

By stopping the motor, by means of the float (5) with the magnet (6), the Reed relay (7) and the lock relay, liquid leakage into the motor compartment due to excessive liquid take-in, is avoided.

Claims

1. A wet and dry, horizontal vacuum cleaner, characterized with a float (5) with a magnet (6) placed on it, that is located at the bottom of the water tank (3) and is connected in the said water tank (3) with an articulated coupling, in order to determine the amount of water that can be received in the water tank (3).

2. A wet and dry, horizontal vacuum cleaner, as defined in Claim 1, characterized with a Reed relay (7) located at the back side of the upper body

(2) at a distance suitable to detect the position of the said magnet (6).

3. A wet and dry, horizontal vacuum cleaner as defined in Claims 1 and 2, characterized with a lock relay wherein the control knob (13) controlled by the user provides the starting/stopping or realizing the desired degree of a suction, by sending signals to the electronic control unit, to which the Reed relay that detects the movement of the float (5) with the magnet (6) mounted on it is electrically connected, and which provides the control of the wet and dry horizontal vacuum cleaner by stopping the motor (19) when the volumetric capacity of the wet debris is reached as determined by the manufacturer, in order to prevent wet debris from overflowing and to avoid liquid leakage into the motor compartment.

4. A wet and dry, horizontal vacuum cleaner, as defined in Claim 1 to 3, characterized with the lock relay which provides the control of a wet and dry, horizontal vacuum cleaner as, when the amount of wet debris collected in the water tank (3) reaches the upper limit of the level permitted by the manufacturer, the float (5) placed within the water tank (3), with a magnet (6) on the top, rises and the magnet (6) activates the Reed relay (7) and the activated Reed relay (7) in turn activates the lock relay at the electronic control unit, and stops the motor (19) independently of the user.