Vacuum cleaner with operating condition indicator system

Abstract

A canister type vacuum cleaner includes a floor cleaning unit and a canister unit interconnected by a wand and hose assembly. The canister unit has a dust collection bag mounted in a dust collecting compartment by a pivotally movable dust bag mount that pivots to an operative position. A suction fan evacuates the air within the dust collecting compartment causing dirt laden air to flow from the floor cleaning unit through the wand and hose assembly and into the dust bag through an intake port formed in the dust bag mount. The air is exhausted from the canister unit through a discharge port. An operating condition monitoring and indicating system provides information as to the status of the dust bag and the wand and hose assembly by means of a check bag light and a check hose light. A bag mount sensor senses the differential pressure between the intake port and the dust collecting compartment; and a discharge sensor senses the differential pressure between the discharge port and the dust collecting compartment. When the dust bag becomes too clogged, the bag mount sensor and, shortly thereafter, the discharge sensor are actuated. If a restriction occurs in the wand and hose assembly, the discharge sensor, but not the bag mount sensor, is actuated.