Abstract: An improved transducer for a proximity sensing system using a sonar transmitter is disclosed. An autonomous device provided with a number of motor-driven wheels further comprises a number of elements for the proximity navigation and guiding of the device such as a microprocessor system and a proximity ultrasonic sensing system comprising at least one transmitting member and one receiving member. The transmitting member is formed by the ultrasound transducer (11), which is positioned behind a wire mesh at the front of the device. The device transmits ultrasonic waves from a first strip-shaped device (21) with a narrow vertical distribution within a wide horizontal sector, and a second strip-shaped device (22) providing a wider vertical distribution within a similarly wide horizontal sector in front of the autonomous device.

Abstract: A device for an autonomous cleaning apparatus such as a robot vacuum cleaner. The apparatus has a chassis with a housing including a front bumper part and at least two drive wheels (12) or the like. The housing also includes an electric guidance and control system and an obstacle sensing system including the front bumper part (13). The front bumper part is movably arranged with respect to the chassis and the movement between the chassis and the front bumper part is sensed and causes a control signal to be transmitted to the guidance and control system when the front bumper part encounters and obstacle or obstruction. The guidance and control system can then maneuvrer the robot vacuum cleaner around the obstacle or obstruction.

Abstract: A carrier, such as an autonomous cleaning apparatus, has a self-adjusting wheel assembly that can move vertically, thereby enabling the carrier to readily pass over a surface. The wheel assembly may include actuating means, which activates a control mechanism for the carrier when a wheel assembly is in a predetermined position along its path of vertical movement. Rotatable support means can be located at the bottom of the carrier to function in cooperation with the wheel assemblies so as to facilitate the ability of the carrier to pass over obstacles. This ability may be enhanced by constructing the bottom of the front portion of the carrier so that it is slanted or inclined upwardly in a direction outward from the bottom of the carrier. A driving wheel may be rotatably attached to a support means, and which may also support a power source and a transmission means.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a device for purifying water by means of inverted osmosis, ultra or nanofiltration or the like. The device comprises a raw water inlet (10) which via a pressurizing pump (15) is connected to a filter housing (24) in order to achieve an increased pressure of the water in the filter housing. The filter housing comprises a filter inlet (23), an outlet conduit (27) for purified water and a reject outlet (29) which is connected to a first branched off conduit (20) connected to the filter inlet (23) in order to form a circulation circuit (19) for concentrated unpurified water. The circulation circuit comprises a circulation pump (21) and a second branched off conduit (31) connected to a sewage drain (32) or the like for tapping off unpurified water.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for a household water purifier in which raw water is pressurized and is filtered by means of inverted osmosis, ultra or nanofiltration or the like. The device is provided with a central unit having a first part (10) comprising a vane pump (12) with a pump housing (16) and a second part (11) comprising a filter connected to the first part. The first part (10) is shaped of plastic or the like and the pump housing is (16) at least partly surrounded by a liner (17), which consists of a material which differs from the material of the pump housing, and the liner (17) is at least partly surrounded by the first part (10).

Abstract: The walls of a refrigerator or freezer cabinet comprise an inner shell (20) of plastic, an outer shell (22) of plastic and an evacuated heat insulation (28) between the shells. The cabinet is permanently provided with a vacuum pump (30), which keeps the insulation evacuated. Each one of the inner shell (20) and the outer shell (22) has at an access opening (16) of the cabinet an end part (24 and 26, respectively), both of which being directed out from the opening (16) and joined together along a surface (21), which like a band extends around the opening in parallel with its plane (16).

Abstract: An autonomous device is adapted to automatically move on a work surface removing dirt, such as gravel, sand, dust particles and the like, from said work surface. The device comprises a chassis provided with wheels and with a brush roller rotated by a drive motor during said movement for the purpose of brushing up the dirt towards a suction duct wherefrom, by means of a suction air stream, the dirt is conveyed to a dust container. An electronic control device is provided for the control of the drive motor of the brush roller. If the movement of the brush roller is blocked or obstructed to a predetermined extent the control device is arranged to stop the brush roller motor and then transitorily activate the motor in the opposite direction and, finally, after another stop, to reconnect the brush roller motor to operate in the original direction of rotation.

Abstract: A self-guiding vacuum cleaner having a chassis (10) supporting a brush nozzle (50) facing the floor and having a nozzle opening (51) communicating with a chamber (16) in which a dust container (17) is arranged, the chamber being connected to the inlet side of a fan unit (33). The vacuum cleaner has a drive system for driving the vacuum cleaner on the floor, the drive system including at least two drive wheels (35) which are also arranged to guide the vacuum cleaner on the floor by relative motion of the wheels. The chassis (10) and the nozzle (50) are provided with cooperating means (48, 49) by means of which the nozzle (50) is such supported in the chassis for vertical movement.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum pump. The pump includes a pump housing (10) having upper and lower cylindrical, partly liquid filled, compression chambers (11 and 12 respectively) which are separated from each other and in which an upper and a lower part (14, 15) of a piston (12) is movable. The piston has a passage (21) which is provided with a check valve and which provides communication between the upper and the lower chamber (11 and 12 respectively). The upper chamber communicates, via an opening (26) which is provided with a check valve, with a liquid filled de-aeration receptacle (27). The lower chamber (12), during a part of the movement of the piston, via an inlet (33), communicates with the space being evacuated.