Abstract: A laundry appliance comprises a drum for receiving articles to be laundered, the drum comprising at least two rotatable drum portions and a drive capable of operating the drum in a plurality of different drum modes. The drum modes include a mode in which the rotatable drum portions are driven so as to cause relative rotation between them. A controller (100) controls the appliance to perform a plurality of different wash programs, each wash program having an associated drum mode. Each wash program comprises a sequence of stages, with a drum mode being associated with each stage. The drum modes can differ in respect of (a) use (or non-use) of relative rotation between the drum portions (b) the ratio of time that the drum portions rotate compared to the time that they are at rest, and (c) the speed at which the drum portions are rotated. The intensity of a wash program can be varied, inter alia, by varying the length of the wash stage.

Abstract: Apparatus (10, 110, 210, 310) for separating particles from a fluid flow comprises an upstream cyclonic separator (12, 112, 212, 312) and a plurality of downstream cyclonic separators (26, 126, 226, 326) arranged in parallel with one another. Each of the downstream cyclonic separators (26, 126, 226, 326) projects, at least in part, into the interior of the upstream cyclonic separator (12, 112, 212, 312). This arrangement provides a compact and economic apparatus which is particularly suitable for applications such as vacuum cleaners.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a cylconic separation unit with a dirty air inlet and a cleaned air outlet at a first end and a dirt collection portion at a second end. The separation unit is supported on the cleaner such that the inlet is located in a lower portion of the first end and such that, in normal use, the longitudinal axis of the chamber lies in, or can be brought to lie in, a substantially horizontal position. A shield member is provided at the inlet for shielding the inlet from the dirt collection portion of the chamber. This helps to prevent dirt from becoming re-entrained in the airflow and the inlet and dirt from falling from the inlet when a user removes the separation unit. The shield also helps to straighten incoming airflow through the inlet. The shield can be formed integrally with a shroud or other insert that fits inside the separation unit.

Abstract: A load in an electrical apparatus is driven by two motors M1, M2. Switching means (R1, R2) switches the motors M1, M2 between: a series configuration, in which the motors M1, M2 are connected in series across a power supply and driven with a dc supply; and a parallel configuration in which the motors M1, M2 are connected in parallel across the power supply and driven with an ac supply. In the series configuration, a bridge rectifier BR is switched across the ac supply to provide the dc supply for the motors M1, M2 and in the parallel configuration, the rectifier BR is removed from the circuit. The arrangement can be used to drive a drum of a washing machine or a load in some other kind of appliance.

Abstract: A robotic machine such as a robotic vacuum cleaner is controlled to carry out a task of cleaning a room. The machine has a plurality of sensors including infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors and light sensors through which the machine can navigate its way around a room without hitting objects or walls in its path. The machine has an indicator light which changes color depending upon the state of interaction of the various sensors with the environment, indicating the ‘mood’ of the cleaner. The indicator may include three primary color light sources which are combined within a reflective frusto-conical chamber and a translucent lens dome in order to combine the primary colors into a single colored light as viewed by a user. This makes the machine more user-friendly.

Abstract: A wand for a domestic appliance (e.g. vacuum cleaner) comprises a plurality of tubes (10, 20, 30, 40) which are dimensioned to telescope inside one another. Each tube (10, 20, 30, 40) is associated with a securing mechanism (15, 25, 35) for securing the tube in an extended position with respect to another of the tubes. Adjacent securing mechanisms (15, 25, 35) are positioned on their respective tubes such that, when the tubes are retracted, one securing mechanism presses against another to release the other securing mechanism. Thus, a use does not need to separately operate each securing mechanism (15, 25, 35) when extending the wand. Also, the tubes automatically secure themselves in an extended position with respect to one another. A hook (550) on the widest tube (10′) cooperates with a collar (610) on the narrowest tube (40′) to retain the tubes in a stored position.

Abstract: The invention provides a filter assembly for use in a vacuum cleaner having a first filter portion that includes a foam filter, and a second filter portion located downstream of the first filter portion and containing a HEPA grade filter medium, the first and second filter portions being held directly adjacent one another. The first filter portion also includes an electrostatic filter located on a side of the foam filter facing the second filter portion. The foam filter of the first filter portion is, in use, exposed directly to a dust-laden airflow. The provision of the electrostatic filter on the foam filter eliminates the possibility of dust initially retained by but later released from the foam filter escaping from the first filter portion.

Abstract: Cyclonic separating apparatus (10) comprises a cyclone body (12) having an inlet (16) for introducing dirt-laden air into the cyclone body (12) in a tangential manner. A central outlet (18) is provided for conducting cleaned air out of the cyclone body (12). The apparatus (10) further comprises a dirt-collecting chamber (14) having an entry portion (30) communicating with the interior of the cyclone body (12) and a collecting portion (32). The apparatus (10) further comprises an air return duct (42) having a first end communicating with the collecting portion (32) of the dirt-collecting chamber (14) and a second end communicating with the interior of the cyclone body (12). This arrangement allows a proportion of the main airflow to be bled into the dirt-collecting chamber (14) and returned to the cyclone body (12) without passing back along the entry portion (30).

Abstract: Portable threshold locators (32B, 32C, 32D) are placed in a room (120) at locations to define at least part of a boundary within which an autonomous vehicular appliance is to be confined. Typically, the threshold locator is placed in a doorway (32B) or at the top of a staircase (32D). The vehicle has a detection system which allows the autonomous vehicular appliance to detect the presence of the portable threshold locator. The detection system receives a signal from the threshold locator and the autonomous vehicular appliance uses the received signal to avoid the threshold marked by the locator (32B, 32C, 32D). The autonomous vehicular appliance is preferably a robotic floor cleaning appliance, such as a robotic vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: The invention provides cyclonic separating apparatus comprising an upstream cyclone unit and a downstream cyclone unit, the upstream cyclone unit including at least one cyclone having a first end and a second end, and the downstream cyclone unit including at least one cyclone having a first end and a second end. The upstream and downstream cyclone units of the cyclonic separation apparatus are arranged relative to one another so that the orientation of at least one cyclone of the downstream cyclone unit is substantially inverted with respect to the orientation of at least one cyclone of the upstream cyclone unit. The arrangement provides an apparatus in which good separation efficiency is achieved as well as low pressure drop across the apparatus as a whole.

Abstract: A robotic floor cleaning device comprises a chassis (10), motor-driven wheels (11) supporting the chassis (10), a motor-driven suction fan (9), a dirty air inlet (2) and a motor-driven rotatable agitator (4) at the dirty air inlet (2) for agitating the surface. A control system navigates the device around a room and distributes power to the motor-driven wheels (11) and to the agitator (4). The control system detects when the agitator (4) has jammed (100, 102) and, in the event of a jam, attempts to clear the jam (104, 106). After successfully clearing the jam the control system turns the agitator (4) off (114, 116, 118) or navigates the cleaning device around the location at which the jam occurred (119). The cleaning device can store the location of the jam for use in preventing further jams when the cleaning device returns to a similar position in the room.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum cleaner (10) having a chassis (12), supporting wheels (14) mounted on the chassis (12), drive means (15) connected to the supporting wheels (14) for driving the supporting wheels (14) and a control mechanism for controlling the drive means (15) so as to guide the vacuum cleaner (10) across a surface to be cleaned. A cleaner head (22) having a dirty air inlet (24) facing the surface to be cleaned is mounted on the chassis (12) and separating apparatus (52) is supported by the chassis (12) and communicates with the cleaner head (22) for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner (10) by way of the dirty air inlet (24). The separating apparatus (52) comprises at least one cyclone(54,56). This type of separating apparatus is not prone to clogging and therefore the pick-up capability of the cleaner (10) is maintained at a high standard.

Abstract: Light detection apparatus for determining the location of a body within a predetermined area comprises at least two light detecting devices (10,10′,10″), supported on the body and capable of receiving light at points which are spaced about a central axis (8). The apparatus further includes means for supplying information representative of the level of light detected by each light detecting device (10, 10′, 10″). Information received from the light detection apparatus is compared with information previously received from the light detection apparatus and stored in a memory so as to identify when the light detected by the light detection apparatus is the same or substantially the same as light previously detected by the light detection apparatus. When used on an autonomous vehicle, this can allow the vehicle to determine when it has returned to a similar position in an area.

Abstract: The invention provides a washing machine (10) having a front panel (11), a tube (14) for containing articles to be washed, a water inlet (16) for admitting water to the tub, a water outlet (26) for discharging water from the tub (14), a pump (50) for pumping water from the tub (14) to the water outlet (26) and a cointrap (60) located in the water outlet (26) between the tub (14) and the pump (50), characterised in that the cointrap (60) is positioned within the front panel (11) to allow the contents of the cointrap (60) to be viewed.

Abstract: The invention provides a washing machine (10) having a front panel (11), a tube (14) for containing articles to be washed, a water inlet (16) for admitting water to the tub, a water outlet (26) for discharging water from the tub (14), a pump (50) for pumping water from the tub (14) to the water outlet (26) and a cointrap (60) located in the water outlet (26) between the tub (14) and the pump (50), characterized in that the cointrap (60) is positioned within the front panel (11) to allow the contents of the cointrap (60) to be viewed.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum cleaner (10) comprising a main body (12) and a cleaner head (22) movably mounted theon, the cleaner head (22) having a downwardly directed suction opening (24), characterised in that the cleaner head (22) is mounted on the main body (12) by means of at least one articulating member (120), the or each articulating member (120) having a first end which is pivotably connected to the cleaner head (22) and a second end which is pivotably connected to the main body (12).

Abstract: A changeover valve comprises a first valve member and a second valve member. The first value member has an aperture. The second valve member has first and second apertures. The first valve member is movable relative to the second valve member for selective alignment of the first value member aperture with one or other of the apertures of the second valve member. The value also has a ramp and follower means for automatically moving the valve member away from the one another during changeover movement of the first valve member relative to the second valve member so that wear on the surfaces of the valve members is minimized.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum cleaner (10) having a chassis (12), supporting wheels (14) mounted on the chassis (12), drive means (15) connected to the supporting wheels (14) for driving the supporting wheels (14) and a control mechanism for controlling the drive means (15) so as to guide the vacuum cleaner (10) across a surface to be cleaned. A cleaner head (22) having a dirty air inlet (24) facing the surface to be cleaned is mounted on the chassis (12) and separating apparatus (52) is supported by the chassis (12) and communicates with the cleaner head (22) for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner (10) by way of the dirty air inlet (24). The separating apparatus (52) comprises at least one cyclone(54,56). This type of separating apparatus is not prone to clogging and therefore the pick-up capability of the cleaner (10) is maintained at a high standard.