1. A series motor comprising:
a first electronic switch configured as a control switch for switching the motor on and off;
a second electronic switch configured as a protective switch connected in series to said control switch;
a monitoring circuit for monitoring the function of the switches and analyzing a voltage potential at a connection point of said control switch and said protective switch; and
an electronic controller being coupled to said control switch and said protective switch and said monitoring circuit and forcing at least one of said switches into an OFF state when said monitoring circuit registers a malfunction in one of said switches.
2. The series motor of claim 1, further comprising a high-impedance bridging circuit for bridging a switch path of said protective switch with a high impedance in order to allow a functional test of the control switch without having to start the motor.
3. The series motor of claim 2, wherein said high-impedance bridging circuit comprises an optocoupler being connected in parallel via a resistor to main terminals of said protective switch.
4. The series motor of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for monitoring rotation of said motor, said sensor being coupled to said controller in order to force at least one of said switches into an OFF state in the event that said motor starts when said protective switch is energized without said control switch being energized.
5. The series motor of claim 4, wherein said sensor for monitoring rotation of said motor is configured as a rotational speed sensor.
6. The series motor of claim 4, wherein said sensor for monitoring the rotation of the motor monitors a current flowing through said motor.
7. The series motor of claim 6, wherein said sensor for monitoring the rotation of said motor is a shunt resistor that is connected in series to said armature and whose voltage drop is monitored.
8. The series motor of claim 1, wherein said monitoring circuit comprises a voltage divider having two resistors connected in series, the first resistor being connected to a first pole of an auxiliary voltage supply and the second resistor being connected to a first one of two main terminals of said control switch and to a second pole of said auxiliary voltage, a connection point between said two resistors being connected via a third resistor to a second one of said two main terminals of said control switch and being supplied as an output of said monitoring circuit to an input terminal of said controller.
9. The series motor of claim 1, wherein said switches are configured as triacs.
10. The series motor of claim 2, further comprising a sensor for monitoring rotation of said motor, said sensor being coupled to said controller in order to force at least one of said switches into an OFF state in the event that said motor starts when said protective switch is energized without said control switch being energized.
11. The series motor of claim 10, wherein said high-impedance bridging circuit comprises an optocoupler being connected in parallel via a resistor to main terminals of said protective switch.
12. The series motor of claim 10, wherein said monitoring circuit comprises a voltage divider having two resistors connected in series, the first resistor being connected to a first pole of an auxiliary voltage supply and the second resistor being connected to a first one of two main terminals of said control switch and to a second pole of said auxiliary voltage, a connection point between said two resistors being connected via a third resistor to a second one of said two main terminals of said control switch and being supplied as an output of said monitoring circuit to an input terminal of said controller.
13. A series motor comprising:
an armature;
a first electronic switch configured as a control switch for switching said motor on and off;
a fuse connecting said armature via said first control switch to a supply voltage in order to switch said motor on or off;
a second electronic switch configured as a protective switch and being connected in parallel to said armature and to said control switch for tripping said fuse in the event of a fault;
an electronic controller being coupled to said switches;
a blocking circuit for blocking said protective switch and for testing a correct operation of said protective switch when being in a blocked state; and
a monitoring circuit being configured for analyzing a voltage drop across said control switch, said monitoring circuit generating an output signal that is supplied to said electronic controller for forcing said protective switch to trip the fuse if the monitoring circuit registers a malfunction of said control switch.
14. The series motor of claim 13, further comprising a transistor having an emitter, a collector and a base;
wherein said protective switch comprises a control terminal and a main terminal;
wherein said transistor is connected with its emitter and collector between said control terminal and said main terminal of said protective switch, and which transistor can be made conductive for preventing a tripping of said fuse when measuring a control current of said protective switch during testing thereof.
15. The series motor of claim 13, wherein said switches are configured as triacs.
16. A method of controlling a series motor, said method comprising the following steps:
(a) connecting said motor to a supply voltage by means of a first electronic switch being configured as a control switch for switching said motor on and off, and by means of a second electronic switch being configured as a protective switch;
(b) monitoring a voltage potential across said control switch;
(c) blocking said switches if the voltage potential across the control switch takes on a value outside a predefined threshold range when both switches are in a switched-off state;
(d) first switching on said protective switch if said voltage potential across the control switch is within the threshold range when both switches are in said switched-off state;
(e) switching on said control switch if said voltage potential across said control switch takes on a value outside said predefined threshold range; and
(f) blocking both switches if said voltage potential across said control switch does not take on a value above said predefined threshold range.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of
switching off said protective switch immediately again if said voltage potential does not increase when switching on the protective switch with the control switch being switched off.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of
monitoring rotation of said motor for switching off the motor again immediately if a rotation of the motor is registered when switching on the protective switch with the control switch being switched off.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the protective switch is first bridged by a high impedance in order to test the control switch, and a test is carried out to determine whether the voltage potential across the control switch increases to the predefined threshold value.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein said first and second switches configured as triacs are used.
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 backpack apparatus comprising:
a backpack body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion and defining a main storage compartment;
a holder panel assembly having:
a holder panel including a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the holder panel assembly including at least one zipper assembly, a first side wall extending from a portion of the first side edge of the holder panel, and a second side wall extending from a portion of the second side edge of the holder panel;
the bottom edge of the holder panel assembly being fixedly attached to the backpack body;
the top edge of the holder panel being unattached to the backpack body;
the first side wall of the holder panel assembly being fixedly attached to the backpack body;
the second side wall of the holder panel assembly being fixedly attached to the backpack body; and
a closure device attached to the first side portion of the backpack body.
2. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 wherein the holder panel assembly defines a scooter storage compartment, the scooter storage compartment defining a first side opening defined by the first side edge of the holder panel, the first side wall of the holder panel assembly, and the first side portion of the backpack body.
3. The backpack apparatus of claim 2 wherein the scooter storage compartment further defines a second side opening defined by the second side edge of the holder panel, the second side wall of the holder panel assembly, and the second side portion of the backpack body.
4. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a side pocket on the first side portion of the backpack body, the side pocket located below the closure device.
5. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one zipper assembly comprises a first zipper assembly running along the first side edge of the holder panel and a second zipper assembly running along the second side edge of the holder panel.
6. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 wherein the closure device comprises a band and a fastener.
7. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one strap apparatus fixedly attached to the holder panel assembly and releasably attachable to the backpack body.
8. A backpack apparatus for carrying a scooter, comprising:
a backpack body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, and a side pocket on the first side portion, the backpack body defining a main storage compartment;
a holder panel assembly having:
a holder panel including a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the holder panel assembly including a first side wall extending from a portion of the first side edge of the holder panel, and a second side wall extending from a portion of the second side edge of the holder panel;
a first zipper assembly running along the first side edge and a second zipper assembly running along the second side edge of the holder panel;
the bottom edge of the holder panel being fixedly attached to the backpack body;
the top edge of the holder panel being unattached to the backpack body;
the first side wall of the holder panel assembly being fixedly attached to the backpack body;
the second side wall of the holder panel assembly being fixedly attached to the backpack body; and
a closure device attached to the first side portion of the backpack body;
wherein the holder panel assembly defines a scooter storage compartment convertible between an open configuration and a partially closed configuration.
9. The backpack apparatus of claim 8 wherein in the open configuration the first and second zipper assemblies are each in an unzipped position such that the scooter storage compartment defines a first side opening defined by the first side edge of the holder panel, the first side wall of the holder panel assembly, and the first side portion of the backpack body and a second side opening defined by the second side edge of the holder panel, the second side wall of the holder panel assembly, and the second side portion of the backpack body.
10. The backpack apparatus of claim 8 wherein in the partially closed configuration the first zipper assembly is in an unzipped position such that the scooter storage compartment defines a first side opening defined by the first side edge of the holder panel, the first side wall of the holder panel assembly, and the first side portion of the backpack body and the second zipper assembly is in a zipped position.
11. The backpack apparatus of claim 8 wherein the closure device comprises a band and a fastener.
12. The backpack apparatus of claim 11 wherein the band is made of an elastic material.
13. The backpack apparatus of claim 11 wherein the fastener is made of velcro.
14. The backpack apparatus of claim 8 further comprising at least one strap apparatus fixedly attached to the holder panel assembly and releasably attachable to the backpack body.
15. A carrying case for a scooter, comprising:
a main body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion and defining a main storage compartment; and
a scooter storage compartment defined by a panel, a first side wall, and a second side wall, the scooter storage compartment being attached to the main body by the first and second side walls and being convertible between an open configuration and a partially closed configuration.
16. The carrying case of claim 15 further comprising a closure device attached to the first side portion of the main body.
17. The carrying case of claim 15 wherein the panel comprises at least one zipper assembly.
18. The carrying case of claim 17 wherein the at least one zipper assembly includes a first zipper assembly on a first side edge of the panel and a second zipper assembly on a second side edge of the panel;
wherein in the open configuration the first and second zipper assemblies are each in an unzipped position such that the scooter storage compartment defines a first side opening defined by the first side edge of the panel, the first side wall of the panel, and the first side portion of the main body and a second side opening defined by the second side edge of the panel, the second side wall of the panel, and the second side portion of the main body; and
wherein in the partially closed configuration the first zipper assembly is in an unzipped position such that the scooter storage compartment defines a first side opening defined by the first side edge of the panel, the first side wall of the panel, and the first side portion of the main body, and the second zipper assembly is in a zipped position.
19. The carrying case of claim 15 further comprising at least one strap apparatus fixedly attached to the panel and releasably attachable to the main body.
20. The carrying case of claim 16 further comprising a side pocket on the first side portion of the main body, the side pocket located below the closure device.