Abstract: A control circuit for a motor includes a voltage regulator having a thermal shutdown apparatus that turns off the voltage regulator while retaining power to a micro-controller preventing an automatic restart of the motor absent a recycling of power when the temperature of the control circuit rises above a pre-determined threshold level, wherein the voltage regulator is used to provide power to a plurality of insulated gate bipolar transistors controlling a plurality of stator windings of the motor. Thus the voltage regulator prevents the control circuit and the various components on the control circuit from being damaged from overheating. An embodiment of the control circuit is adapted to generate an error code in response to the shutdown of the voltage regulator and to monitor the operation of the motor to ensure that the motor has been turned off and then on before turning on the power supply to a plurality of phase windings.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery charger control circuit having a voltage detector to generate a signal indicative of a source voltage level to select one of a first charging mode and a second charging mode, and a charge controller coupled to the voltage detector to enable charging in accordance with one of the first charging mode and the second charging mode based on the signal from the voltage detector. The first and second charging modes establish charging at differing, non-zero rates. The source voltage level may be sampled at a sampling rate to minimize power consumed by monitoring the source voltage level.

Abstract: A system for locking the wheels of a dolly for a cleaning device has a brake arm that has one end that is hinged to the base of the dolly. The brake arm pivots between a disengaged position and an engaged position where a stop on an opposite end of the brake arm engages the circumference of one of the wheels on the dolly. A spring biases the brake arm to the disengaged position. The spring can be mounted on a pin that is seated on the base and extends through a slot in the brake arm. An operator-engagable lever is used to move the brake arm from one position to another. The lever can be hinged to the pin, pivoting into and out of a locked position in which the lever presses the brake arm into the engaged position. A cam surface on the lever is shaped so that moving the lever to one side of a critical point causes the lever to be biased toward the locked position, and moving the lever to the other side of the critical point causes the lever to be biased toward the unlocked position.

Abstract: A pneumatic cleaner that can be worn as a backpack has a reduced unit overall depth. The impeller shaft is mounted at an acute angle. Tangential airflow chambers are disposed around the motor assembly and substantially surround the impeller. Two of the airflow chambers extend substantially the entire overall unit depth, and have lateral lengths that exceed the overall unit depth.

Abstract: The disclosed vacuum assembly can be mounted in a vehicle. The motor/fan assembly is positioned above a chassis wall. Lateral flanges on opposed sides of the tank support the tank in generally horizontal sliding motion from a forward position to an elevated rearward position. A rear flange supports the tank as it pivots to a mounted position in which an inlet on a removable lid on the tank communicates with a hose, and an outlet on the lid communicates with the motor/fan assembly. In a removed position, the inlet and outlet are disconnected. Alignment bosses fit in aligned openings when the tank is in the mounted position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for controlling current in a switched reluctance motor by changing a dwell state including starting the motor in a normal mode, measuring current in the motor, comparing the measured current to a first threshold, triggering an interrupt if the measured current exceeds the first threshold, keeping a count of consecutive readings exceeding the first threshold, changing the dwell state from a first state to a second state if the measured current exceeds the first threshold and the count equals a set value, changing the dwell state from a second state to a third state if the measured current exceeds a second threshold, and triggering a fault condition if the measured current in the third state exceeds a third threshold.

Abstract: The disclosed vacuum cleaner system for an automobile fits in a cavity in the vehicle and has a tank that can be removed in a lateral direction without tools and without detaching the vacuum hose. A circuit board that carries an electronic controller is positioned alongside the motor and extends generally parallel to both the axis of the motor and the lateral direction in which the tank is removed. Cooling air is drawn though a cooling air inlet on the cabin wall to the circuit board, and then one side of the motor, through the center of the motor, to the cooling fan. From there, it is blown into a cavity where it joins exhausted working air from the vacuum and is exhausted from the vehicle through an air release opening that leads to the exterior of the vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments of a switched reluctance (SR) motor for use in a integrated vacuum system for a vehicle are disclosed. The SR motor may receive input voltage directly from an electrical storage device used to start up an engine of the vehicle. The SR motor may include an encoder that triggers an optical sensor to provide signals to a motor controller. The motor controller may energize stator poles based on the received signals. The encoder may be mechanically phase-advanced with respect to poles of the rotor to ensure proper start-up of the SR motor. Commutations of the motor may occur before a point of maximum inductance where the rotor and stator are aligned. In a preferred embodiment, the input voltage received by the SR motor is in a range of 9-16 Volts DC, a maximum drawn current is 36 amps, and the phase advance is between 9-11 degrees.

Abstract: A cost-effective photosensor system for rotor position detection includes securing an aperture assembly to an off-the-shelf infrared radiation-emitting component and/or an off-the-shelf infrared radiation-detecting component. The application discloses an aperture assembly that may be stamped from a thin, opaque, elongated piece of plastic having an aperture window through which a radiation beam may pass and be focused. The aperture assembly also has a locking system for securing the assembly to the off-the-shelf photosensor system component, and an alignment system to direct the infrared radiation beam. A replaceable stamped aperture assembly for use in a rotor-sensing system and a method of providing a replaceable aperture assembly and securing it to an infrared component of a photosensor system are also disclosed.