1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
an inlet for dirty air;
an outlet for clean air;
a filter located in fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet;
a first motor;
a fan driven by said motor for moving air from said inlet through said filter to said outlet;
an electrical power supply for supplying power to said motor;
an onoff switch for placing said motor in powered electrical connection with said fan and having a first state wherein said motor drives said fan and a second state wherein said motor does not drive said fan; and
a filter cleaning mechanism for removing dirt from said filter; characterized in that:
activation of said filter cleaning mechanism is operatively associated with said onoff switch, whereby operation of said onoff switch results in operation of said filter cleaning mechanism.
2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 further comprising a timing device, wherein operation of said onoff switch from the first state to the second state activates said filter cleaning mechanism and said timing device, and said timing device subsequently deactivates said filter cleaning mechanism.
3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 further comprising a timing device, wherein operation of said onoff switch from the second state to the first state activates said filter cleaning mechanism and said timing device, whereupon said timing device delays said motor from driving said fan, and said timing device subsequently deactivates said filter cleaning mechanism and ends the delay of said motor driving said fan.
4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the onoff switch has a third state wherein said motor does not drive said fan, operation of said onoff switch from the first state to the second state activates said filter cleaning mechanism and operation of said onoff switch from the second state to the third state deactivates said filter cleaning mechanism.
5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the onoff switch has a third state wherein said motor does not drive said fan, operation of said onoff switch from the second state to the third state activates said filter cleaning mechanism and operation of said onoff switch from the third state to the first state deactivates said filter cleaning mechanism.
6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the filter is pleated and the filter cleaning mechanism comprises:
a plurality of ribs which interengage with said pleats;
a hub connected to said filter about which said filter is able to rotate relative to said ribs;
a source of rotary motion; and
means for transferring rotary motion from said source to said hub.
7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said source of rotary motion is said first motor.
8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said source of rotary motion is a second motor additional to the first motor and which second motor is dedicated to driving said filter cleaning mechanism.
9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said means for transferring rotary motion is a train of gears.
10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said means for transferring rotary motion is a rubber belt.
11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said filter is a fine dust filter and said ribs are mounted on an inner surface of a course dirt filter surrounding said fine dust filter.
12. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said electrical power supply comprises a mains electrical cable.
13. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said electrical power supply comprises a first battery.
14. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein said electrical power supply is for supplying power to said second motor as well as to said first motor.
15. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, further comprising a second battery additional to said electrical power supply and which second battery is dedicated to supplying power to said second motor.
16. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
an inlet for dirty air;
an outlet for clean air;
a filter located in fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet;
a first motor;
a fan driven by said motor for moving air from said inlet through said filter to said outlet;
an electrical power supply for supplying power to said motor; and
a filter cleaning mechanism for removing dirt from said filter; characterized in that:
said filter cleaning mechanism is electrically powered;
and in that said vacuum cleaner further comprises a user-operated switch for activating said filter cleaning mechanism, whereby operation of said switch results in operation of said filter cleaning mechanism.
17. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein said switch has a first state in which said filter cleaning mechanism is activated and a second state in which said filter cleaning mechanism is de-activated, and said switch latches in the first and second states thereof unless operated.
18. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein said switch has a first state in which said filter cleaning mechanism is activated and a second state in which said filter cleaning mechanism is de-activated, and said switch is monostable in the second state thereof, but must be held by a user in the first state thereof.
19. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 further comprising a timing device, wherein operation of said switch activates said filter cleaning mechanism and said timing device, and said timing device subsequently deactivates said filter cleaning mechanism.
20. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the filter is pleated and the filter cleaning mechanism comprises:
a plurality of ribs which interengage with said pleats;
a hub connected to said filter about which said filter is able to rotate relative to said ribs;
a source of rotary motion; and
means for transferring rotary motion from said source to said hub.
21. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 20, wherein said source of rotary motion is said first motor.
22. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 20, wherein said source of rotary motion is a second motor additional to the first motor and which second motor is dedicated to driving said filter cleaning mechanism.
23. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 20, wherein said means for transferring rotary motion is a train of gears.
24. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 20, wherein said means for transferring rotary motion is a rubber belt.
25. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 20, wherein said filter is a fine dust filter and said ribs are mounted on an inner surface of a course dirt filter surrounding said fine dust filter.
26. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein said electrical power supply comprises a mains electrical cable.
27. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein said electrical power supply comprises a first battery.
28. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 22, wherein said electrical power supply is for supplying power to said second motor as well as to said first motor.
29. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 22, further comprising a second battery additional to said electrical power supply and which second battery is dedicated to supplying power to said second motor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A device, comprising:
a photonic energy receiver supported to be angularly positioned;
a shuttle mechanically coupled to the photonic energy receiver such that linear positioning of the shuttle causes angular positioning of the photonic energy receiver;
a spring to bias the shuttle toward an end position;
an actuator to hold fast the shuttle against the spring biasing when in a first state, the actuator disengaged from the shuttle when in a second state; and
an optical element to concentrate photonic energy so as to thermally activate the actuator from the first state to the second state.
2. The device according to claim 1, the photonic energy receiver including a photonic energy concentrator.
3. The device according to claim 1, the photonic energy receiver including a photovoltaic cell to generate electrical energy by direct conversion of incident photonic energy.
4. The device according to claim 1, the actuator including a bimetallic actuator to assume the first state in response to cooling, the bimetallic actuator to assume the second state in response to heating.
5. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a housing including a transparent cover.
6. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a handle mechanically coupled to position the shuttle toward a start position by way of a user input force.
7. The device according to claim 1, the photonic energy receiver including a conduit to transfer thermal energy to a fluid flow therein.
8. A solar energy system, comprising:
a solar array to convert incident photonic energy into electrical energy, the solar array being angularly positionable;
a shuttle coupled to angularly position the solar array by way of linear positioning of the shuttle;
a spring coupled to bias the shuttle in a first direction;
a plurality of bimetallic actuators each to mechanically engage the shuttle in first state and to mechanically disengage the shuttle in a second state, each bimetallic actuator to be changed from the first state to the second state by way of solar energy heating;
an optical element to concentrate solar energy onto the bimetallic actuators in a sequential order in accordance with the apparent motion of the sun; and
a handle coupled to position the shuttle in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to a user input.
9. The solar energy system according to claim 8, the solar array including a solar energy concentrator.
10. The solar energy system according to claim 8 further comprising a housing including a transparent cover, at least the solar array being disposed within the housing such that the solar energy system is defined by a panel-like form-factor.
11. A system, comprising:
a solar array; and
a plurality of bimetallic actuators mechanically coupled to incrementally angularly position the solar array in accordance with the apparent motion of the sun.
12. The system according to claim 11, the solar energy array including a parabolic trough reflector to concentrate incident solar energy onto a target entity.
13. The system according to claim 11, the solar energy array including at least a photovoltaic cell, or a thermal energy transfer conduit.
14. The system according to claim 11 further comprising an optical element to concentrate solar energy onto the bimetallic actuators in a sequential order in accordance with the apparent motion of the sun.
15. The system according to claim 11 further comprising a housing disposed about the solar energy array, the housing including a transparent cover through which incident solar energy propagates prior to striking the solar energy array.