Vacuum cleaner condition indicator and safety device

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner detector that indicates when the hose is clogged and bleeds in cooling air to the vacuum chamber so as to prevent overheating of the motor blower. The indicator comprises an actuator valve and a relief valve. The actuator valve includes a pressure responsive member having filter bag compartment pressure applied to one side thereof and atmospheric pressure applied to the other side. When the absolute pressure within the filter bag chamber drops, the pressure responsive member is moved toward the low pressure side moving a plunger which opens a port when the pressure drops below that desired to allow filter bag chamber pressure to vent to the low pressure side of a pressure responsive member in the relief valve. The other side of the relief valve pressure responsive member is acted upon by atmospheric pressure which thereby forces the pressure responsive member away from a bleed hole to allow atmospheric pressure to flow into the filter bag chamber to insure that the motor blower has sufficient air flow for cooling, and simultaneously the pressure responsive member forces an indicator button out of the cleaner. Also disclosed is a vacuum cleaner filter bag condition indicator that detects when the bag is substantially full and should be replaced. The use of the two indicators together allows the determination of whether the filter bag is full or whether the hose is clogged.