US3857076A — Upright vacuum cleaner{13 drive motor control

Claim 1

Independent Claim 275 words

In a vacuum cleaner having a selectively positionable operating handle and a wheeled drive including an electric drive motor, conductor means for connecting the vacuum cleaner to an alternating current power supply, the wheels driven by said motor, control means for controlling the propelling of the vacuum cleaner by said wheeled drive comprising: a direct current motor; a bidirectional triode thyristor in series with said motor and said conductor means and having a control gate element; and means responsive to the position of said operating handle relative to an ''''Off'''' position thereof for controlling said control gate element and correspondingly providing phase controlled conduction of direct current through said motor during similar polarity half cycles of the alternating current power, including a bidirectional trigger diode having one terminal connected to said control gate element, parallel connected inverse diodes connected to the other terminal of said trigger diode, a capacitor connected between said other terminal of the trigger diode and said conductor means, and adjustable means including adjustable resistance means electrically connected in series with said inverse diodes and said trigger diode, and to said conductor means, said adjustable resistance means including a first resistance portion having a terminal connected to one of said diodes, a second resistance portion having a terminal connected to the other of said diodes, and means interconnecting said resistance portions opposite from said terminals to said conduction means, the adjustable resistance means being adjusted in response to positioning of said handle relative to said Off position and providing preferential current flow through a selected one of said diodes depending on the direction of movement of said handle from said Off position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 275 words

In a vacuum cleaner having a selectively positionable operating handle and a wheeled drive including an electric drive motor, conductor means for connecting the vacuum cleaner to an alternating current power supply, the wheels driven by said motor, control means for controlling the propelling of the vacuum cleaner by said wheeled drive comprising: a direct current motor; a bidirectional triode thyristor in series with said motor and said conductor means and having a control gate element; and means responsive to the position of said operating handle relative to an ''''Off'''' position thereof for controlling said control gate element and correspondingly providing phase controlled conduction of direct current through said motor during similar polarity half cycles of the alternating current power, including a bidirectional trigger diode having one terminal connected to said control gate element, parallel connected inverse diodes connected to the other terminal of said trigger diode, a capacitor connected between said other terminal of the trigger diode and said conductor means, and adjustable means including adjustable resistance means electrically connected in series with said inverse diodes and said trigger diode, and to said conductor means, said adjustable resistance means including a first resistance portion having a terminal connected to one of said diodes, a second resistance portion having a terminal connected to the other of said diodes, and means interconnecting said resistance portions opposite from said terminals to said conduction means, the adjustable resistance means being adjusted in response to positioning of said handle relative to said Off position and providing preferential current flow through a selected one of said diodes depending on the direction of movement of said handle from said Off position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 241 words

In a vacuum cleaner having a selectively positionable operating handle and a wheeled drive including an electric drive motor, conductor means for connecting the vacuum cleaner to an alternating current power supply, and wheels driven by said motor, control means for controlling the propelling of the vacuum cleaner by said wheeled drive comprising: a direct current motor; a first, bidirectional electronic switch means in series with said motor and said conductor means and having a control gate element; and means responsive to the position of said operating handle relative to an Off position thereof for cOntrolling said control gate element and correspondingly providing phase controlled conduction of direct current through said motor during similar polarity half cycles of the alternating current power to operate said drive motor selectively in either a forward driving direction or a rearward driving direction, including a bidirectional trigger diode connected to said control gate element, parallel connected inverse diodes connected in series with said trigger diode, and manually operable adjustable means electrically connected in series with said inverse diodes and said trigger diode, and to said conductor means, said adjustable means being responsive to the direction and magnitude of displacement of said handle from said Off position for causing preferential conduction of current through a corresponding selected one of said inverse diodes for causing said second electronic switch means to control said first electronic switch means to effect said selective controlled operation of said drive motor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 241 words

In a vacuum cleaner having a selectively positionable operating handle and a wheeled drive including an electric drive motor, conductor means for connecting the vacuum cleaner to an alternating current power supply, and wheels driven by said motor, control means for controlling the propelling of the vacuum cleaner by said wheeled drive comprising: a direct current motor; a first, bidirectional electronic switch means in series with said motor and said conductor means and having a control gate element; and means responsive to the position of said operating handle relative to an Off position thereof for cOntrolling said control gate element and correspondingly providing phase controlled conduction of direct current through said motor during similar polarity half cycles of the alternating current power to operate said drive motor selectively in either a forward driving direction or a rearward driving direction, including a bidirectional trigger diode connected to said control gate element, parallel connected inverse diodes connected in series with said trigger diode, and manually operable adjustable means electrically connected in series with said inverse diodes and said trigger diode, and to said conductor means, said adjustable means being responsive to the direction and magnitude of displacement of said handle from said Off position for causing preferential conduction of current through a corresponding selected one of said inverse diodes for causing said second electronic switch means to control said first electronic switch means to effect said selective controlled operation of said drive motor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The vacuum cleaner means of claim 2 wherein said control means includes biasing means urging said handle to said Off position when the handle is released.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The vacuum cleaner control means of claim 2 wherein said adjustable means includes variable resistance means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The vacuum cleaner control means of claim 4 wherein said resistance means comprises a potentiometer having its resistor connected between the inverse diodes, and its slider connected to a fixed resistor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The vacuum cleaner control means of claim 4 wherein said resistance means comprises a potentiometer having its resistor connected between the inverse diodes and its slider connected to said motor through a fixed resistor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 55 words

The vacuum cleaner control means of claim 4 wherein said resistance means comprises a potentiometer having its resistor connected between the inverse diodes and its slider connected to said motor, the resistor of said potentiometer having a gap at the center thereof for defining an Off arrangement when the slider is positioned at said gap.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The vacuum cleaner control means of claim 2 wherein said adjustable means comprises photocell means and means for varying the amount of light striking the photocell means as a function of the position of said handle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 69 words

The vacuum cleaner control means of claim 2 wherein said adjustable means comprises photocell means, light source means for actuating the photocell means, and mask means interposed between the photocell and light source means for varying the amount of light falling on said photocell means from said source means as a function of the position of said handle for causing said photocell means to control operation of the motor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

The vacuum cleaner control means of claim 9 wherein said adjustable means further comprises selector means for selectively connecting the photocell means alternatively to either of said inverse diodes comprising a double throw switch arranged to be operated by said handle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 67 words

The vacuum cleaner control means of claim 2 wherein said bidirectional trigger diode has one terminal connected to said control gate element, said inverse diodes being connected to the other terminal of the trigger diode, said means for controlling the control gate element further including a capacitor connected between said other terminal of the trigger diode and said power supply, and said adjustable means comprises resistance means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-12-23	1978-06-24	1978-12-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-12-23	1982-06-24	1982-12-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-12-23	1986-06-24	1986-12-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Upright vacuum cleaner{13 drive motor control

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