US3587514A - Device for signaling need for cleaning or replacing suction cleaner dust bag - Google Patents

Device for signaling need for cleaning or replacing suction cleaner dust bag Download PDF

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Publication number
US3587514A
US3587514A US873309A US3587514DA US3587514A US 3587514 A US3587514 A US 3587514A US 873309 A US873309 A US 873309A US 3587514D A US3587514D A US 3587514DA US 3587514 A US3587514 A US 3587514A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
dust bag
magnet
passageway
valve
diaphragm
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US873309A
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English (en)
Inventor
Hubert Marc Milliam Autrand
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.)
Electrolux AB
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Electrolux AB
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Electrolux AB filed Critical Electrolux AB
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3587514A publication Critical patent/US3587514A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details 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
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/19—Means for monitoring filtering operation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S55/00—Gas separation
    • Y10S55/03—Vacuum cleaner

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a device for indicating or signaling the need for cleaning or replacing a suction cleaner dust bag due to dirt trapped therein.
  • the device produces an audible signal when a valve moves from a closed to an open position to allow air to flow to the atmosphere through a passageway from the interior of the suction cleaner.
  • the valve fonns a part of an armature member which is magnetically attracted by a magnet and is movable therefrom.
  • a diaphragm is movable from a first position to one of several second positions responsive to the pressure differential at opposite sides of the dust bag, the diaphragm in its second positions acting on the armature member.
  • Such quick movement of the valve from its closed to its open position is efiected simultaneously with movement of the armature member from the magnet by a force which is dependent upon the particular second position to which the diaphragm is moved and which exceeds the force magnetically attracting the armature member to the magnet.
  • I accomplish this by providing an indicating device comprising a magnet and an armature member which is adapted to be magnetically attracted by the magnet and is movable therefrom, the device becoming operable to move the armature member from the magnet to produce the indication positively by means responsive to a force which is dependent upon the pressure differential at opposite sides of the dust bag and exceeds the force magnetically attracting the armature member to the magnet.
  • FIG. l is a fragmentary elevational view of a suction cleaner, partly in section, embodying my invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of parts shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1, illustrating the relative positions parts assume when one operating condition of the suction cleaner prevails;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the relative positions the parts assume when another operating condition of the suction cleaner prevails.
  • the front end cover 11 coacts with an open end 14 of the casing 10 when it is in its closed position illustrated in FIG. I.
  • a space 15 within the casing 10, which is located adjacent'to its open end 14, is adapted to receive a dirt-collecting member 16.
  • the dirt-collecting member I6 may comprise an end closure 16a formed of suitable sheetlike material like cardboard, for example, having a pair of flaps 16b cut therefrom which, when moved from the plane of the end closure 16a, define an opening 16c.
  • the open end 16d of a paper dust bag 16f is fixed in any suitable manner, as by an adhesive, to the inner face of the end closure 16a.
  • the casing 10 is provided with a collar or ring 17 at the open end M'thereof which is formed to provide a seat 18 in which the end closure 16a is positioned with the dust bag 16f extending within the space I5 of the casing 10.
  • the front end cover 11 is formed with a U-shaped passageway 19, one arm of which is defined by a tubular member 20 projecting inward from the end cover 11.
  • the end cover 11 is provided with a collar or ring 21 which functions as a sealing gasket and is disposed about the tubular member 20 and bears against the end closure l6a when the cover 11 is in its closed position shown in FIG. 1.
  • the ring 21 may be formed of a material like foamed plastic, for example, to provide an airtight seal at the end closure 16a about the tubular member 20.
  • the U-shaped passageway 19, which may be referred to as a suction passageway, is adapted to receive dirt-laden air at its air inlet end 19a.
  • the dirt-laden air is drawn through the passageway 19 into the interior of the casing 10 by a motorfan unit (not shown) which may be located adjacent to the dirt-collecting member 16.
  • I in order to indicate when the dirt-collecting member should be cleaned or replaced by a new dirt-collecting member, I provide a device 23 which automatically is rendered operable responsive to-a predetermined pressure differential at opposite sides of the dust bag 16f to produce a signal or other suitable indication.
  • the device 23 is associated with the front end cover 11 and forms a unitary part thereof.
  • the indicating device 23 comprises a member 24 formed of elastomeric material, such as rubber or soft plastic, for example, which serves as a diaphragm having a'beaded rim 24a positioned at an upright wall 25 of the suction passage 19 about an opening 26 therein.
  • the suction passageway w is defined in part by the diaphragm 24 which is held against the wall 25 at the opening 26 therein by an intermediate plate 27 of the shape shown in FIG. 2, such plate having a flange 270 about an opening 27b therein which coacts with the wall 25 to hold the rim 24a therebetween.
  • the diaphragm 2d and an outer plate 28, which overlies the intermediate plate 27, define a space 29, as best shown in FIG. 1.
  • the upright wall 25, intermediate plate 27 and outer plate 28 are formed with aligned openings 25a, 27c and 28a, respectively, to receive suitable fastening screws (not shown).
  • the intermediate plate 27 is notched at 27d.
  • the notch 27d, at the vicinity of the flanged end 28b of the outer plate 28, defines a passageway or opening 30, whereby the space 29 is in communication with the space 15 in the casing 10.
  • the member 31 is formed with a right-angle bent portion 31a at one end thereof which extends through the bottom of the notch 27d and into a slot 25b in the wall 25 which is in a part thereof outside the suction passage 19.
  • the top and bottom edges of the bent portion 310 of the member 31 are notched at 31b, the notch at the top edge being illustrated in FIG. 2, to provide a fulcrum for the leaflike member 31 on the intermediate plate 27 at the vicinity of the notch 274, to enable the member 31 to pivotally move between the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • the member 31 is biased to its position shown in FIG. 3 by a helical spring 32 which is disposed in a hollow sleevelike part 280 of the outer plate 28.
  • the sleevelike part 28c is internally threaded to receive a nut 33 for adjusting the compression of the spring 32 and hence its biasing action on the member 31.
  • an elongated flat intermediate portion 31c of the leaflike member 31 is biased by the spring 32 toward the surface or face of the diaphragm 24 which is subject to the pressure prevailing in the space 15 in the casing 10.
  • the outer free end portion 31d of the Ieaflike member 31 serves as a valve which, depending upon the position of the member 31, closes or opens a passageway 34 leading from the space 29 to the atmosphere.
  • the passageway 34 is defined by a collar or ring 35 which has an opening 36 and snugly fits in a recessed portion 37 of the intermediate plate 27 which has an opening 38 in alignment with the opening 36.
  • a hollow sleeve 39 of rectangular shape, as shown in FIG. 2, is formed integrally with the wall 25.
  • the sleeve 39 includes a first section 394 adjacent to the intermediate plate 27 and a second section 39b adjacent to the end wall 11:: of the end cover 11.
  • the intermediate plate 27 is formed with a boss 27f at the vicinity of the opening 38 therein which snugly fits in the open end of the first sleeve section 3%.
  • the second sleeve section 39b telescopically fits within a hollow sleeve 40 which is of rectangular shape and is formed integrally with the end wall 11a of the end cover 11.
  • a sealing gasket 41 is provided between the open end of the sleeve 40 and a shoulder 42 of the sleeve 39.
  • the end wall 11a of the cover 11 is provided with openings 43 so that, when the valve 31d is in its open position seen in FIG. 4, air can flow through the passageway 34 from the space 29 exteriorly of the suction cleaner through the openings 43.
  • a filter 44 which may be formed of suitable material which is permeable to air, is provided in the passageway 34 at the vicinity of the openings 43. Further, members 45 and 46 are held against internal shoulders of the sleeve 39, the member 45 having vertically extending oblong openings 45:: and the member 46 having metal reeds 46a closely adjacent to the openings 45a. A suitable sealing member 47 is interposed between the member 45 and the boss-27f of the intermediate plate 27.
  • the pressure in the suction passageway 19, at the right side of the diaphragm 24 in FIG. 1, will be the same as the pressure existing within the dust bag 16f at the side thereof which is initially contacted by the air. Since the space 29 within the device 23 is in communication with the space 15 in the casing through the passageway 30, a path of flow for air will be provided so that the space 29 at the left side of the diaphragm 24 in FIG. 1 will be substantially at the same pressure as the pressure in the space at the outer surface of the dust bag 16f.
  • Air in the space 15 in the casing 10 can flow at a relatively high velocity through the passageway 30 into the space 29 and thence through the passageway 34 and openings 43 in the end cover end wall lla to the atmosphere.
  • the air flowing through the passageway 34 past the metal reeds 4611 will cause the latter to vibrate rapidly and produce an audible sound.
  • anyone in the vicinity of the suction cleaner will become aware of the fact that the dust-collecting member 16 should be withdrawn from the casing 10 for cleaning the latter or a fresh filter bag should be provided in the event that paper dust bags of the throwaway type are provided.
  • the collar or ring 35 is a magnet and the leaflike member 31 serves as an armature member therefor which is formed at least in part of magnetic material.
  • FIG. 3 it will be seen that the armature member 31 is not acted upon by the diaphragm 24 when the latter is in its first position. In any event, the diaphragm 24 will not be effective to move the valve 31d from its closed position in FIG. 3 to its open position in FIG.
  • valve 31d will move practically instantaneously from a fully closed position to a fully open position and air at a high velocity will flow through the passageway 34 so that the reeds 46a, from the very moment when they begin to vibrate, will produce an audible sound of high intensity.
  • a sudden flow of air through the passageway 34 when valve 31d opens possesses the advantage that foreign matter tending to collect in the openings 45a of the member 45 will be forcibly removed therefrom and prevent sticking of the vibrating reeds 460 at the openings 450.
  • Such sticking of the reeds 46a which often tends to persist when the initial velocity of air through the passageway 34 is not high, renders the signal device ineffective.
  • By insuring flow of air at a high velocity through the passageway 34 when the valve 31d opens a distinctive audible signal always will be produced which leaves no doubt in the mind of the user that the dirt-collecting member 16 should be cleaned or replaced.
  • a suction cleaner of the class described having a casing provided with an inlet and outlet for air adapted to flow therethrough and a dust bag therein for removing dirt from the air, the pressure differential at opposite sides of said dust bag becoming increasingly greater responsive to dirt trapped at the side thereof initially contacted by the air, the combination of a device for indicating the need for cleaning or replacing the dust bag due to dirt trapped therein, said device comprising a magnet and an armature member which is adapted to be magnetically attracted by said magnet and movable therefrom, and means responsive to a force which is dependent upon the pressure differential at opposite sides of said dust bag and exceeds the force magnetically attracting said armature member to said magnet to move! said armature member from said magnet to render said device operable to produce said indication.
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for biasing said armature member toward said magnet.
  • said device produces said indication with the aid of air and includes an element which has a passageway therein and defines a valve seat, and valve means which is movable to and from said seat with movement of said armature member to and from said magnet, said valve means moving from said seat with movement of said armature member from said magnet for effecting flow of air through said passageway to render said device operable to produce said indication.
  • valve means comprises a part of said armature member which overlies said apertured magnet and closes said passageway when said armature member is magnetically attracted bysaid magnet.
  • a suction cleaner of the class described having a casing provided with an inlet and outlet for air adapted to flow therethrough and a dust bag therein for removing dirt from the air, the pressure differential at opposite sides of said dust bag becoming increasingly greater responsive to dirt trapped at the side thereof initially contacted by the air, the combination of a device for indicating the need for cleaning or replacing the dust bag due to dirt trapped therein, said device comprising a magnet and an armature member which is adapted to be magnetically attracted by said magnet and movable therefrom, a diaphragm movable from a first position to one of several second positions responsive to the pressure differential at opposite sides of said dust bag, and said armature member being movable from said magnet to render said device operable to produce said indication responsive to a force which is dependent upon the particular second position to which said diaphragm is moved and which exceeds the force magnetically attracting said armature member to said magnet.
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 which includes resilient means for biasing said diaphragm toward its first position.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
  • Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)
  • Refuse Collection And Transfer (AREA)
  • Indication Of The Valve Opening Or Closing Status (AREA)
US873309A 1968-11-08 1969-11-03 Device for signaling need for cleaning or replacing suction cleaner dust bag Expired - Lifetime US3587514A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE15154/68A SE320779B (ja) 1968-11-08 1968-11-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3587514A true US3587514A (en) 1971-06-28

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ID=20300239

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US873309A Expired - Lifetime US3587514A (en) 1968-11-08 1969-11-03 Device for signaling need for cleaning or replacing suction cleaner dust bag
US41417073 Expired USRE28268E (en) 1968-11-08 1973-11-08 Device kor signaling need for cleaning or replacing suction cleaner dust bag

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US41417073 Expired USRE28268E (en) 1968-11-08 1973-11-08 Device kor signaling need for cleaning or replacing suction cleaner dust bag

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (2) US3587514A (ja)
JP (1) JPS4918946B1 (ja)
CA (1) CA922979A (ja)
DE (2) DE6939785U (ja)
FR (1) FR2022830A1 (ja)
GB (1) GB1262775A (ja)
NL (1) NL6916285A (ja)
SE (1) SE320779B (ja)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3745965A (en) * 1972-05-31 1973-07-17 Electrolux Ab Vacuum cleaner having signal for indicating absence of dust bag
DE2622570A1 (de) * 1975-05-27 1976-12-16 Corning Glass Works Optisches nachrichtensystem
US4091762A (en) * 1976-09-20 1978-05-30 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Audible vibratory reed assembly
US4294595A (en) * 1980-07-18 1981-10-13 Electrolux Corporation Vacuum cleaner including automatic shutoff device
US6167588B1 (en) * 1996-12-20 2001-01-02 Notetry Limited Vacuum cleaner with filter clogging indicating means
US20090183636A1 (en) * 2004-11-11 2009-07-23 Levine Lawrence T Air purifier device

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US4747364A (en) * 1986-08-05 1988-05-31 Filter Alert Corporation Flow rate threshold sensor
US5507067A (en) * 1994-05-12 1996-04-16 Newtronics Pty Ltd. Electronic vacuum cleaner control system
US8412377B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2013-04-02 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US8788092B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2014-07-22 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US6956348B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2005-10-18 Irobot Corporation Debris sensor for cleaning apparatus
US6836930B2 (en) * 2000-06-07 2005-01-04 Royal Appliance Mfg. Co. Airflow indicator
US6467123B1 (en) 2000-06-07 2002-10-22 Royal Appliance Mfg. Co. Airflow indicator
US6690134B1 (en) 2001-01-24 2004-02-10 Irobot Corporation Method and system for robot localization and confinement
US7571511B2 (en) 2002-01-03 2009-08-11 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US8396592B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2013-03-12 Irobot Corporation Method and system for multi-mode coverage for an autonomous robot
US7663333B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2010-02-16 Irobot Corporation Method and system for multi-mode coverage for an autonomous robot
US9128486B2 (en) 2002-01-24 2015-09-08 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8386081B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2013-02-26 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8428778B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2013-04-23 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US7332890B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2008-02-19 Irobot Corporation Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods
KR101142564B1 (ko) 2004-06-24 2012-05-24 아이로보트 코퍼레이션 자동 로봇 장치용의 원격 제어 스케줄러 및 방법
US7706917B1 (en) 2004-07-07 2010-04-27 Irobot Corporation Celestial navigation system for an autonomous robot
US8972052B2 (en) 2004-07-07 2015-03-03 Irobot Corporation Celestial navigation system for an autonomous vehicle
WO2006089307A2 (en) 2005-02-18 2006-08-24 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning
US8392021B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2013-03-05 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet cleaning
US7620476B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2009-11-17 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for dry cleaning
US8930023B2 (en) 2009-11-06 2015-01-06 Irobot Corporation Localization by learning of wave-signal distributions
US9144360B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2015-09-29 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot navigation system
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EP2251757B1 (en) 2005-12-02 2011-11-23 iRobot Corporation Coverage robot mobility
EP2816434A3 (en) * 2005-12-02 2015-01-28 iRobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot
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US8572799B2 (en) 2006-05-19 2013-11-05 Irobot Corporation Removing debris from cleaning robots
US8417383B2 (en) 2006-05-31 2013-04-09 Irobot Corporation Detecting robot stasis
EP2995235B1 (en) 2007-05-09 2021-08-11 iRobot Corporation Compact autonomous coverage robot
WO2011103198A1 (en) 2010-02-16 2011-08-25 Irobot Corporation Vacuum brush
DE102022200465A1 (de) 2022-01-17 2023-07-20 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Verfahren zum Betrieb eines mobilen, selbstfahrenden Geräts

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3745965A (en) * 1972-05-31 1973-07-17 Electrolux Ab Vacuum cleaner having signal for indicating absence of dust bag
DE2622570A1 (de) * 1975-05-27 1976-12-16 Corning Glass Works Optisches nachrichtensystem
US4091762A (en) * 1976-09-20 1978-05-30 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Audible vibratory reed assembly
US4294595A (en) * 1980-07-18 1981-10-13 Electrolux Corporation Vacuum cleaner including automatic shutoff device
US6167588B1 (en) * 1996-12-20 2001-01-02 Notetry Limited Vacuum cleaner with filter clogging indicating means
US20090183636A1 (en) * 2004-11-11 2009-07-23 Levine Lawrence T Air purifier device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2022830A1 (ja) 1970-08-07
GB1262775A (en) 1972-02-09
JPS4918946B1 (ja) 1974-05-14
USRE28268E (en) 1974-12-10
SE320779B (ja) 1970-02-16
DE1951550A1 (de) 1970-05-14
DE6939785U (de) 1973-04-12
NL6916285A (ja) 1970-05-12
CA922979A (en) 1973-03-20

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