METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CLEARING PROCESS IN A VACUUM CLEANING DEVICE, AND VACUUM CLEANING DEVICE

Abstract

A method for controlling a clearing process in a vacuum cleaning device, wherein the vacuum cleaning device comprises at least one filter, which is cleared regularly. The method proposed allows, in particular, differential-pressure-dependent filter clearing in accordance with requirements, during which filter aging and/or filter wear can also be taken into account. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaning device by means of which the proposed control method can be carried out. For this purpose, the vacuum cleaning device can comprise, in particular, a filter clearing unit.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9: A method for controlling a clearing process in a vacuum cleaning device, the vacuum cleaning device comprising at least one filter, the filter being cleared regularly, the method comprising: stipulating a first reference value, the first reference value defining a pressure range; obtaining a differential pressure value describing a current state of the filter; determining whether the differential pressure value is in the pressure range; stipulating a second reference value, either by retaining the first reference value or replacing the first reference value by the obtained differential pressure value, the second reference value being specified in a manner dependent on whether the obtained differential pressure value is in the pressure range.

10: The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the second reference value is greater than the first reference value.

11: The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the second reference value is less than the first reference value.

12: The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the first reference value describes a state of the filter of the vacuum cleaning device or a clearing quality.

13: The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the differential pressure value is obtained by forming a difference between pressure values detected in an extraction flow of the vacuum cleaning device upstream and downstream of the filter.

14: A vacuum cleaning device comprising: a filter, filter clearing of the vacuum cleaning device controlled by the method as recited in claim 9.

15: The vacuum cleaning device as recited in claim 14 further comprising sensors for obtaining pressure values, wherein the sensors are arranged in an extraction flow of the vacuum cleaning device upstream and downstream of the filter.

16: The vacuum cleaning device as recited in claim 14 further comprising a controller initiating and carrying out the method.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the figures, components which are the same and components of the same type are denoted by the same reference signs. In the figures:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the method; and

[0029] FIG. 2 shows schematically a vacuum cleaner of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a preferred configuration of the method for controlling a clearing process in a vacuum cleaning device. In the method, which is illustrated schematically in a flow diagram in FIG. 1, differential-pressure-dependent filter clearing in accordance with requirements, during which the filter aging or filter wear is also taken into account, was achieved by virtue of the fact that a reference value, which preferably describes a state of the filter of the vacuum cleaning device, can be adapted over time to any filter aging or any filter wear. The reference value, which, according to the invention, is preferably also referred to as the first reference value, is preferably used as a control parameter for the proposed control method. It can provide information on a state of the filter of the vacuum cleaning device, and therefore the reference value preferably indicates what filter clearing quality should be attempted with the filter clearing operation. It is thereby possible, in the course of the operating time of a vacuum cleaning device, to take account of the fact that the filters of the vacuum cleaning device may become clogged due to operation, with the result that the vacuum cleaning device no longer tries to achieve the original filter clearing quality during subsequent clearing processes but tries to achieve a filter clearing quality adapted to the current state of the filter.

[0031] This is preferably achieved by virtue of the fact that the reference value can be adapted to a current state of the filter, wherein the current state of the filter is advantageously described by a differential pressure value, which is obtained in the extraction flow upstream and downstream of the filter.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, in a step 100, a first reference value Ref.sub.1 is determined, and in step 102 a differential pressure value Δp related to the filter is determined. In step 104 Δp is compared with a pressure range defined by Ref.sub.1 Depending on whether Δp is in the pressure range as indicated in step 106, the Ref.sub.1 is retained (step 108) or replaced by Δp (step 110).

[0033] FIG. 2 shows schematically a vacuum cleaner 200 for carrying out the method of the present invention and having a filter 210, sensors 212 and 214 and a controller 216.