Improved control method for dust collector motors

Abstract

1. A method for controlling operation of a dust collector, the method comprising: acquiring (S1) sensor data (235) relating to an airflow (240) entering the dust collector; determining (S2) based on the sensor data (235) whether the dust collector is operating in a high airflow operating range; and, if the dust collector is operating in the high airflow operating range, controlling (S3) a fan motor (210) of the dust collector to reduce the airflow (240) to a reduced flow level (330, 3301) equal to or greater than a predetermined airflow level (340) and less than an obtainable flow level (310), wherein the predetermined airflow level (340) corresponds to a dust collection performance of the dust collector (100).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to a highly durable dust collector for use with construction machinery, and discloses a method and control unit for controlling a fan motor included in the dust collector. [Background technology]

[0002] Cutting, drilling, grinding, and / or breaking concrete, brick, and other hard construction materials generates dust and slurry. This dust and slurry are collected under control by dust collectors and removed from the construction site. A dust collector is a vacuum device that generates negative pressure through a fan or impeller and motor configuration, capturing dust and slurry like a vacuum cleaner. Dust collectors are equipped with a pre-filter or separator followed by a filter such as a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

[0003] Dust collectors often have electric motors that draw power from the power supply, and therefore are limited by the capacity of the power supply. It is desirable to reduce energy consumption and peak power to avoid overloading the power supply. For example, in construction sites where the use of fuses in the main power grid is restricted, dust collectors that consume high power during startup can be problematic.

[0004] Dust collectors use a filter configuration to capture and retain fine dust particles from airflow containing particles. Such filters require periodic cleaning and / or replacement. Since maintenance typically requires stopping operations, filter replacement increases operating costs. Therefore, extending the filter replacement interval is desirable. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a method, a control unit, and a highly durable dust collector for improving the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above objective is achieved by a method for controlling the operation of a dust collector. This method includes acquiring sensor data regarding the airflow entering the dust collector. Furthermore, this method includes determining, based on the sensor data, whether the dust collector is operating within a high airflow operating range, and, if the dust collector is operating within a high airflow operating range, controlling the dust collector's fan motor to reduce the airflow to a reduced flow rate level that is above a predetermined airflow level but below an obtainable flow rate level. The predetermined airflow level corresponds to the dust collection performance of the dust collector.

[0007] As will be explained below, the motor is used at maximum power only when actually needed. Furthermore, even when the airflow is reduced, a sufficient level of dust collection capacity for on-site dust collection applications is maintained. In this way, the peak power at motor startup can be reduced. A more stable airflow facilitates the optimization of the cyclone and pre-filter. Additionally, according to the disclosed method, more dust and debris can be collected before separation by the air filter.

[0008] In some embodiments, the sensor data includes any of the following: a pressure sensor value indicating a negative pressure level or vacuum level corresponding to the airflow entering the dust collector; an airflow sensor value corresponding to the airflow entering the dust collector; the amount of current consumed by the fan motor; or pressure data from a Pitot tube sensor configuration configured to sense the airflow entering the dust collector. Thus, the disclosed configurations and methods can be implemented in various embodiments. Different types of sensors and sensor data may be used individually or in combination to achieve greater effectiveness.

[0009] This specification also discloses dust collectors and dust collector assemblies in which a dust collector and a dust generator work together to enable or improve dust collection. In these assemblies, the dust generator is configured to transmit information about the current usage scenario to the dust collector, so that the dust collector can adjust its dust collection operation to suit the operating scenario.

[0010] Operating parameters suitable for any given usage scenario can be obtained from the operator, for example, via wireless connection to a dust generator, a remote server device, or manual data input means. According to some embodiments, the high-airflow operating range is defined according to data obtained from a dust generator connected to a dust collector.

[0011] According to some other embodiments, the high-airflow operating range is defined according to data obtained from a remote server device. According to some yet another embodiment, the high-airflow operating range is defined according to data obtained from a manual input device.

[0012] In some embodiments, for example, it is possible to determine whether a dust collector is operating within a high airflow operating range by comparing the estimated current airflow level with an airflow value range, and / or by comparing the estimated current negative pressure level with a negative pressure value range.

[0013] This specification also discloses a control unit and a dust collector having the effects described above. In general, all terms used in the claims should be interpreted according to their ordinary meanings in the art unless otherwise specified herein. Terms such as “element,” “apparatus,” “component,” “means,” and “step” should be interpreted broadly as referring to at least one of these unless otherwise specified. The steps of the methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the strict order disclosed unless otherwise specified. The features and effects of the present invention will become apparent by referring to the appended claims and the following description. Notwithstanding the foregoing, different features of the present invention may be combined to constitute embodiments other than those described below, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0014] This disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing an example of a dust collector. [Figure 2] This is a diagram schematically showing the control configuration of a fan motor. [Figure 3] This is a graph showing the air volume and the negative pressure or vacuum level. [Figure 4] This is a diagram schematically showing the assembly of a dust collector and a dust generator. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart representing a method. [Figure 6] This is a diagram showing an example of a control unit. [Figure 7] This is a diagram schematically showing a computer program product.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention can be embodied in various different modes and is not limited to the embodiments and modes described in this specification. These embodiments are an example for those skilled in the art to fully understand the scope of the present invention by making this disclosure detailed and comprehensive. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements.

[0017] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification and shown in the drawings. Changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows an example of a dust collector 100. The dust collector can be connected via a hose to a dust generator (not shown in FIG. 1) such as a core drill, a floor grinder, or a concrete cutter. The hose is fixed by an attached lock mechanism 130. Dust and slurry discharged from the dust generator enter the dust collector through the suction inlet 110. A pre-filter 120 is disposed behind the suction inlet, i.e., on the downstream side in the airflow direction. The pre-filter 120 may include, for example, a cyclone device for separating relatively large fragment particles from the airflow containing particles flowing in from the suction inlet 110. The technology disclosed herein is applicable to the dust collector regardless of the presence or absence of a pre-filter unit.

[0019] One or more air filters 150 are disposed on the downstream side of the pre-filter 120. Such an air filter 150 may be, for example, a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, or other air filters may be used. HEPA is a performance standard for air filters also known as high-efficiency particle absorption or high-efficiency particle collection. Filters that meet the HEPA standard need to have a certain performance level. HEPA was commercialized in the 1950s and became a generic term for high-performance filters after being registered as a trademark. The technology disclosed herein is applicable to dust collectors equipped with any number of air filters 150, including combinations of different types of air filters.

[0020] An assembly of a fan and a motor is disposed in a space 170 on the downstream side of one or more air filters 150. Due to the suction force generated by the fan and motor assembly, the airflow containing particles is sucked in through the suction inlet 110, passes through the pre-filter 120, and passes through one or more air filters 150. The upstream direction is the direction of the airflow toward the suction inlet, and the downstream direction is the direction away from the suction inlet.

[0021] The dust collector 100 further includes a control unit 160 schematically shown in FIG. 1. The control unit 160 is configured to control various operations of the dust collector, such as operating the motor to drive the fan. Hereinafter, this control unit will be described in detail.

[0022] Figure 2 schematically shows an example of a fan and motor assembly with a control unit 160. The control unit is configured to perform control 225 on the fan motor 210 that draws a particle-containing airflow 240 into a dust collector. A sensor device 230 is positioned relative to the airflow 240 and, for example, detects the pressure level under atmospheric pressure (kPa, also called the vacuum level) and / or the airflow level (usually in m³). 3 It is configured to acquire sensor data 235 related to airflow, such as (measured in / h).

[0023] Fans used in vacuum systems are sometimes called impellers. In this specification, the terms “fan” and “impeller” are used interchangeably. Vacuum systems including a pre-filter 120 and an air filter 150 are commonly known and will not be described in detail here.

[0024] This disclosure is based on the understanding that the more clogged the air filter 150 becomes, the greater the load on the motor when drawing air through the air filter 150. However, in reality, the more resistance there is when drawing air through the air filter 150, the lower the load on the fan motor 210 becomes. In other words, the more difficult it becomes to draw air through the air filter 150, the easier it becomes for the motor to rotate the fan. This is because the air pressure decreases as the vacuum level downstream of the air filter 150 increases, making it easier for the fan blades to rotate. In fact, in a perfect vacuum, there is no air friction or air resistance on the fan blades at all.

[0025] This means that when the air filter 150 is new and the airflow is high, that is, when the dust collector is operating in the high-airflow operating range where the required suction force is smallest, the power consumed by the normal fan motor is high.

[0026] Furthermore, when the air filter 150 is completely clogged, that is, when the dust collector is operating outside the high-airflow operating range and a large suction force is required, it means that the power consumed by the normal fan motor is low.

[0027] In light of this understanding, this specification proposes determining whether the dust collector 100 is operating within the high airflow operating range, and reducing the airflow 240 when the dust collector is operating within the high airflow operating range, i.e., when the air filter 160 is not excessively clogged. By reducing the airflow in this way and lowering the current requirement at motor startup, the overall operation of the dust collector 100 is optimized.

[0028] The sensor device 230 for acquiring sensor data 235 regarding the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100 may include, for example, a pressure sensor such as a Pitot tube configuration to detect the negative pressure level or vacuum level corresponding to the airflow 240. An airflow sensor may be used to determine the airflow level corresponding to the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100, for example, m 3 The current may be detected in units of / h. Sensor data 235 relating to the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100 may be obtained indirectly from various related information, such as the amount of current consumed by the fan motor 210. The fan motor consumes more current when it is operating under a high load than when the air filter is clogged and the load on the motor is low. Generally, the higher the torque applied to the motor shaft, the greater the current consumed by the motor.

[0029] The position of the sensor device 230 along the airflow 240 is determined by the type of device. A pressure sensor configured to detect negative pressure levels is preferably placed in the area where negative pressure is generated between the fan and the air filter 150. Negative pressure can also be measured at other locations along the airflow 240. Airflow sensors can be placed at various locations along the airflow 240. Multiple airflow sensors may be used to obtain more precise sensor data 235. A sensor configured to detect the amount of current consumed by the motor must be connected to the motor's power supply.

[0030] Here, the negative pressure value indicates how much lower the pressure within the airflow 240 is compared to a reference pressure level such as atmospheric pressure. Negative pressure is sometimes also called the vacuum level. Airflow can be measured in various ways. For example, airflow is the volume of air (m³) that passes through a given point in a system (at a given reference pressure) per unit time, such as one hour (h). 3 It can be measured using ).

[0031] The techniques disclosed herein do not depend on strict negative pressure or airflow conditions. By adjusting the disclosed methods, they can be used under most conditions and reference values. Figure 3 shows negative pressure (kPa) and airflow (m³). 3 This is a graph of ( / h) and represents an example of the proposed technology. The airflow is airflow 240 shown in Figure 2. Pressure (kPa) decreases towards the right of the graph, and airflow 240 increases towards the top of the graph. An increase in negative pressure means a decrease in air pressure. Dust collector 100 with a new, clog-free air filter can generate airflow 240 in the high airflow value range 350, which is below the peak airflow level 320. The maximum obtainable flow rate level 310 then decreases as particulate matter accumulates in the air filter, eventually entering the low airflow value range 351. As the airflow decreases, the negative pressure rises from the low negative pressure value range 360 ​​to the high negative pressure value range 361. This is because the resistance to drawing air through the air filter 150 increases, and that resistance increases the negative pressure.

[0032] The dust collector can be adapted to a high-airflow operating range of 350 and 360, where the airflow is relatively large and the negative pressure is relatively small. By comparing the current airflow with an arbitrary threshold or an arbitrary range of airflow values, it is possible to detect whether the dust collector is operating within its high airflow operating range.

[0033] Furthermore, by comparing the current negative pressure with an arbitrary threshold or a range of arbitrary negative pressure values, it is possible to detect whether the dust collector is operating within its high airflow operating range. The dust collector described herein is configured to reduce the airflow 240 to a reduced flow rate level 330, 330', which is 331, 331' lower than the obtainable flow rate level 310, when the dust collector is operating in the high airflow operating range 350, 360, while maintaining an airflow of at least a predetermined airflow level 340. As described above, it is relatively easy to generate airflow through the dust collector system when there is not an excessive accumulation of particulate matter in the air filter 150. The predetermined airflow level 340 is set to a level at which sufficient suction force is generated. In other words, the predetermined airflow level 340 corresponds to the dust removal performance of the dust collector 100. Therefore, the motor power can be reduced while maintaining sufficient airflow for the application.

[0034] The airflow 240 can be reduced by an amount 331 to a certain level, such as a predetermined airflow level 340. Alternatively, the airflow 240 can be reduced by an amount 331' less than 331 to an intermediate airflow level 330' between the attainable flow rate level 310 and the predetermined airflow level 340. The predetermined airflow level 340 is an appropriate airflow to generate sufficient suction for the dust collection application in that location. Therefore, even if the airflow is reduced, the dust collection capacity is maintained as long as it is not reduced to a level far below the predetermined airflow level 340. In some examples, the predetermined airflow level of the dust collector is 150-2000 m 3 The frequency is / h, preferably 150-700m 3 It is / h. However, this level varies depending on the application and type of equipment, and can be set by analytical methods such as experiments and computer simulations.

[0035] For example, a conventional dust collector disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0019901 includes a mechanism for detecting idle conditions and a mechanism for reducing airflow when idle conditions are detected, thereby saving energy and suppressing noise generation. This is effective, for example, in a household dust collector equipped with a mouse, where the mouse is often lifted from the floor and suction power is no longer required (idle condition). The mechanism disclosed herein is fundamentally different from the above mechanism because it reduces the airflow level only to the same as or higher than a predetermined airflow level 340 set to maintain sufficient airflow for the intended use. In other words, the dust collection capacity of the dust collector is maintained even when the airflow is reduced. Furthermore, since the dust collector continues to operate even with reduced airflow, it does not reduce airflow in response to the detection of idle conditions. As particulate matter accumulates in the air filter, it becomes more difficult to maintain the airflow at the predetermined airflow level 340. As shown in Figure 3, at point A, the reduced flow rate levels 330 and 330' approach the maximum obtainable flow rate level 310. At this point, the dust collector 100 will no longer operate in the high-airflow operating ranges 350 and 360, where sufficient airflow can be secured for the application even with reduced motor power. When the dust collector leaves the high-airflow operating ranges 350 and 360, the motor must be operated at maximum output to secure sufficient airflow to meet the requirements of the dust collection work at that location.

[0036] Furthermore, the dust collector 100 is associated with an airflow level threshold 370 below which sufficient suction power cannot be secured. At point B shown in Figure 3, the air filter 150 that has accumulated particles needs to be cleaned. This cleaning of the air filter may include temporarily blowing strong air in the opposite direction onto the filter, maintaining or cleaning the filter, or replacing the air filter 150.

[0037] Figure 4 shows a dust collector system 400 comprising a dust collector 100 including a control unit 160. The dust collector 100 is connected to a dust generator 410, for example, via an intake port 110 shown in Figure 1. Most dust collectors can be connected to various dust generators. Some types of equipment generate more dust than others. Even equipment of the same type generates airflow 240 containing particles at different airflow rates depending on how it is used. Furthermore, dust collection operations may require capturing and removing the maximum amount of dust, or they may only require reducing the amount of dust generated to some extent. Therefore, the various operating levels of the dust collector shown in Figure 3 are set according to the dust collection operation at the site.

[0038] The dust collector 100 may be connected to the dust generator 410, for example, by a cable or wireless connection 420. In this case, the dust generator may, for example, notify the dust collector of the predicted amount of dust. The dust generator may, for example, use a photodiode device to monitor the amount of dust generated in real time and notify the dust collector of the amount of dust generated via the communication connection 420. Then, the high airflow operating ranges 350 and 360 can be set according to the data obtained from the dust generator 410 connected to the dust collector 100. The reduced flow rate level 330 and the predetermined airflow level 340 can also be set based on the data obtained from the dust generator.

[0039] For example, the remote server device 430 is accessible when configuring settings according to the operating conditions of the dust collector, and a database may be provided on the remote server device 430. In this way, the high airflow operating range can be set according to the data 440 obtained from the remote server device 430. For example, if the dust collector identifies a dust generator from the product code of the dust generator, the dust collector can use the connection 440 with the remote server device to download appropriate operating parameter settings such as a predetermined airflow level 340 and an airflow level threshold 370.

[0040] The dust collector 100 may further include a manual input device 450, such as a display and touchscreen or keyboard, which allows the operator to set a predetermined airflow level 340 and / or airflow level threshold 370. In this case, the high airflow operating range is set according to the data obtained from the manual input device 450. For example, the operator may input the type of dust generator 410 connected to the dust collector 100. In this case, the dust collector 100 may access its internal memory to set operating parameters that match the connected dust generator. In this way, the operation of the dust collector can be optimized, making the dust collection process more efficient. The operator may also input a dust collection level via the manual input device 450. This dust collection level may be represented, for example, on a scale from 1 to 10, and may indicate the amount of dust and debris to be collected. One construction site may have a larger dust collection requirement than another. In this way, the operator can adjust the operation to suit the construction site.

[0041] In summary, Figure 4 shows a dust collector system 400 that uses one or more communication connections 420, 440 to configure the operation of the dust collector according to the current operating situation. In this configuration, for example, an airflow level such as a predetermined airflow level 340 and / or an airflow level threshold 370 may be set. This configuration may be performed by manual input by an operator to a manual input device 450, or it may be performed automatically via a communication connection between the dust collector 100 and the dust generator 410, and / or a communication connection 440 between the dust collector 100 and a remote server device 440.

[0042] Figure 5 is a flowchart summarizing an example of operation by the dust collector 100. Some aspects of this method are performed by the control unit 160, and several other aspects are performed together with the dust generator and / or the remote server device 430 in Figure 4.

[0043] Figure 5 shows a method for controlling the operation of the dust collector 100. This method includes acquiring sensor data 235 related to the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100 (S1). The main purpose of acquiring sensor data related to the airflow is to detect whether the dust collector is operating in a high-airflow operating range that is higher than the airflow required to meet the application requirements, and when it is operating in the high-airflow operating range.

[0044] For this purpose, various types of sensors or combinations of sensors may be used. For example, the sensor data 235 may include a pressure sensor value S11 indicating a negative pressure level or vacuum level corresponding to the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100. This reading indicates, for example, a point along the negative pressure axis, which is the x-axis in Figure 3. Thus, the control unit 160 can determine whether the dust collector 100 is operating in the low negative pressure range 360 ​​by monitoring the airflow pressure.

[0045] Furthermore, the sensor data 235 may include the airflow sensor value S12 corresponding to the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100. The reading from this sensor includes information corresponding to a point along the airflow axis, which is the y-axis in Figure 3. Therefore, the control unit can determine whether the dust collector 100 is operating in the high airflow value range 350 by monitoring the data from the airflow sensor.

[0046] The load on the motor indicates the operating range in which the dust collector is currently operating, that is, whether or not it is in the high airflow operating range. Therefore, according to some embodiments, the sensor data 235 includes the amount of current S13 consumed by the fan motor 210.

[0047] A Pitot tube or Pitot tube configuration may be used to detect the pressure of an airflow. According to some embodiments, the sensor data 235 includes pressure data S14 from a Pitot tube sensor configuration configured to sense the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100. A Pitot tube or Pitot tube, also called a Pitot probe, is a flow measuring device used to measure the velocity of a fluid. A basic Pitot tube has a tube directed directly into the fluid flow, and the pressure is measured by the fluid entering this tube. Since there is no outlet for the fluid to flow out, the fluid remains stationary (stagnant). The pressure at this time is the stagnant pressure of the fluid, also called total pressure (especially in the aerospace field) or Pitot tube pressure.

[0048] Furthermore, the method of this embodiment includes determining whether the dust collector 100 is operating within the high airflow operating range 350, 360 based on sensor data 235, and, if the dust collector 100 is operating within the high airflow operating range, controlling the fan motor 210 of the dust collector 100 to reduce the airflow 240 to a reduced flow rate level 330 that is below the obtainable flow rate level. In this way, when the dust collector is generating an airflow greater than the airflow required for dust collection, the motor power is reduced. This saves energy. Also, by reducing the airflow, the efficiency of the air filter is improved, and a more stable airflow can be achieved. As a result, the entire dust collection process can be optimized.

[0049] As described above, there are various options for determining whether the dust collector is operating within the high airflow operating range. For example, the method of this embodiment may include determining whether the dust collector 100 is operating within the high airflow operating range by comparing the estimated current airflow level with the airflow value range 350 (S21). In another embodiment, the method may include determining whether the dust collector 100 is operating within the high airflow operating range by comparing the estimated negative pressure level with the negative pressure value range 360. Several options may be used together to detect whether the dust collector is operating within the high airflow operating range. Alternatively, it may be possible to detect whether the dust collector is operating outside the high airflow operating range.

[0050] The high airflow operating range can be defined according to data obtained from the dust generator 410 connected to the dust collector 100 (S23). Therefore, the relative term "high" corresponds to the dust collection application. When the dust collection application involves collecting a large amount of heavy debris, a relatively large airflow is required. In this case, the high airflow range is small and close to the maximum obtainable airflow of the dust collector. In applications where the airflow required to adequately collect dust and debris is relatively small, the high airflow range spans a relatively wide range of airflow values ​​350 and / or a relatively wide range of negative pressure values ​​360. The dust generator 410 may be configured to transmit information to the dust collector indicating requirements or demands corresponding to any range of airflow or negative pressure values.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4, the method of this embodiment may also include determining the current operating situation (S4) and controlling the fan motor 210 of the dust collector 100 to achieve an airflow level corresponding to the operating situation.

[0052] In some embodiments, the high airflow operating range may be defined according to data obtained from the remote server device 430 (S24). The remote server device may, for example, have a table of dust collector settings corresponding to various usage scenarios. The dust collector may access the remote server device, transmit the current usage scenario, and receive data on appropriate operating parameters such as a predetermined airflow level 340 and an airflow level threshold 370.

[0053] In a further embodiment, the high airflow operating range is defined according to data obtained from the manual input device 450 (S25). The dust collector 100 may be provided with means for manually configuring the above operating parameters. For example, the operator may input the current usage scenario in which the dust collector is operating. In particular, this may include the type of dust generator connected to the dust collector and the dust collection requirements. Next, the control unit 160 processes the manually input data to generate appropriate operating parameters such as a predetermined airflow level 340 and an airflow level threshold 370.

[0054] To reduce the airflow to a predetermined airflow level 340, the fan motor 210 can be controlled in various ways, either separately or in combination. For example, the method of this embodiment may include controlling the fan motor 210 to reduce the supply voltage to the fan motor 210 in order to reduce the airflow 240 to below an obtainable flow rate level (S31). Reducing the supply voltage is a direct method of reducing the motor power and thus the airflow. Alternatively or in combination with this, the method may further include controlling the fan motor 210 to reduce the engine speed of the fan motor 210 in order to reduce the airflow 240 to below an obtainable flow rate level (S32).

[0055] A fan may be used to adjust the airflow and motor load. For example, the method of this embodiment may include controlling the fan motor 210 to adjust the blade pitch of the fan driven by the fan motor 210 in order to reduce the airflow 240 to below an obtainable flow rate level (S33). This allows the airflow to be reduced to a reduced level by adjusting the blade pitch when the dust collector 100 is operating in the high airflow operating range. In this way, operation at a predetermined airflow level 340 can be maintained by changing the load on the blades.

[0056] Similarly, the configuration may include a mechanism for automatically controlling the fan motor 210 to adjust the distance between the tips of the fan blades and the fan housing of the fan driven by the fan motor 210 (S34). In such a case, the fan housing may have a conical shape along the axial direction of the fan. The distance between the tips of the fan blades and the fan housing of the fan driven by the fan motor 210 can be adjusted by moving the fan up and down within the housing.

[0057] In a further embodiment, the fan motor 210 is controlled to restrict the intake of air to a fan driven by the fan motor 210 in order to reduce the airflow 240 to below an obtainable flow rate level (S35). This restriction may be provided before the pre-filter 120, i.e., upstream of the pre-filter 120, or downstream of the pre-filter 120. This restriction may be provided either upstream or downstream of one or more air filters 150.

[0058] In some embodiments, when the dust collector 100 is operating in the high airflow operating range 350, 360, the fan motor 210 of the dust collector 100 is further controlled to maintain operation at a constant predetermined airflow level 340 (S36). Thus, the level 340 becomes a constant level as shown in Figure 3. However, in another embodiment, this level is not constant and is defined, for example, as a function of the airflow level or the negative pressure level. For example, the predetermined airflow level 340 may be sloped or may be any function of the negative pressure level, such as a quadratic function.

[0059] For example, a specified airflow level of 340 corresponds to 150-2000 m³. 3 / h, preferably 150-700m 3 It is / h. In a further embodiment, controlling the fan motor 210 of the dust collector 100 to reduce the airflow 240 includes reducing the airflow by 20-30% of the peak airflow level 320, preferably by 25% of the peak airflow level (S37).

[0060] The method of this embodiment may further include (S5) activating a warning such as a low airflow warning or a filter clogging warning when sensor data 235 indicating that the current airflow level is below the airflow level threshold 370 is acquired. In this way, the above airflow sensor can be used for multiple purposes, such as controlling the operation of the fan motor or detecting airflow below the operating requirements.

[0061] Figure 6 schematically shows the main components of the control unit 160 as a functional unit. The processing circuit 610 can execute software commands stored in the storage medium 630, which is a computer program product, by using one or more combinations of, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a multiprocessor, a microcontroller, or a digital signal processor (DSP). Furthermore, the processing circuit 610 may be at least one application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0062] The processing circuit 610 is configured to cause the device 160 to execute a series of processes or steps as shown in Figure 5 and the method described above. For example, the storage medium 630 stores a series of processes, and the processing circuit 610 reads the series of processes from the storage medium 630 and causes the device to execute them. The series of processes may be a series of executable instructions. In this way, the processing circuit 610 executes the method shown in this disclosure.

[0063] The storage medium 630 may further include a persistent storage device. The persistent storage device may be, for example, one or a combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, solid-state memory, and memory located at a separate location.

[0064] Device 160 may further include an interface 620 for communicating with at least one external device. The interface 620 may include one or more transmitters and receivers, analog and digital components, and a suitable number of ports for wired or wireless communication.

[0065] The processing circuit 610, for example, transmits data and control signals to the interface 620 and the storage medium 630, receives data and reports from the interface 620, and reads data and commands from the storage medium 630. This controls the overall operation of the control unit 160.

[0066] In summary, Figure 6 schematically shows the control unit 160 for controlling the operation of the dust collector 100, with reference to Figures 1-3. The control unit includes a processing circuit 610. The processing circuit 610 is The system is configured to acquire sensor data 235 related to the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100 (S1x), Based on the sensor data 235, the system is configured to determine (S2x) whether the dust collector 100 is operating within the high airflow operating range 350, 360. When the dust collector 100 is operating within the high airflow range, The fan motor 210 of the dust collector 100 is controlled (S3x) so that the airflow 240 is below the attainable flow rate level 310.

[0067] In another embodiment, the control unit 160 may be configured to perform another method related to Figure 5. This specification also discloses a dust collector 100 configured to perform the above method. For example, the dust collector comprises a control unit 160 and is configured to perform another method described above.

[0068] According to some embodiments, the dust collector 100 includes one or more sensor devices 230 configured to transmit sensor data 235 relating to the airflow 240. The sensor devices are communicably connected to, for example, a control unit 160 that controls the dust collector 100 based on the sensor data 235. The sensor data 235 includes pressure sensor values ​​indicating a negative pressure level or vacuum level corresponding to the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100.

[0069] According to some embodiments, the sensor data 235 obtained by one or more sensor devices 230 includes airflow sensor values ​​corresponding to the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100. In some embodiments, the sensor data 235 obtained by one or more sensor devices 230 includes the amount of current consumed by the fan motor 210. The current consumed by the electric motor can be measured by various known methods. Therefore, the measuring devices will not be described in further detail.

[0070] In some embodiments, the sensor data 235 obtained by one or more sensor devices 230 includes pressure data from a Pitot tube sensor configuration configured to sense the airflow 240 flowing into the dust collector 100. The configuration of the Pitot tube sensor is also known.

[0071] The dust collector 100 may be configured to determine whether it is operating in a high airflow operating range by comparing the estimated current airflow level with an airflow value or airflow value range 350. This high airflow operating range is illustrated and described above, for example, in relation to Figure 3.

[0072] The dust collector 100 may be configured to determine whether it is operating in the high airflow operating range by comparing the estimated current negative pressure level with the negative pressure value or negative pressure value range 360. This high airflow operating range is illustrated and described above, for example, in relation to Figure 3.

[0073] The high-airflow operating range may be defined according to data obtained from a dust generator 410 connected to a dust collector 100. The effect of this feature is explained in relation to Figure 4. Alternatively, the high-airflow operating range may be defined, at least in part, according to data obtained from a remote server device 430 and / or from a manual input device 450.

[0074] The dust collector 100 can control the fan motor in various ways, and some of them can be combined. For example, the dust collector may be configured to control the fan motor 210 to reduce the supply voltage of the fan motor 210 in order to reduce the airflow 240 below the achievable flow rate level. Also, the dust collector 100 may be configured to control the fan motor 210 to reduce the engine speed of the fan motor 210 in order to reduce the airflow 240 below the achievable flow rate level. The method of controlling the fan motor includes adjusting the blade pitch of the fan driven by the fan motor 210 and adjusting the distance between the tip of the fan blade and the fan housing of the fan driven by the fan motor 210 to reduce the airflow 240 below the achievable flow rate level. This fan housing may have a conical shape along the axial direction of the fan. Further, the fan motor 210 may be controlled to regulate the intake air to the fan driven by the fan motor 210 in order to reduce the airflow 240 below the achievable flow rate level.

[0075] By combining the above control methods, the fan motor 210 can be effectively controlled. For example, by controlling the voltage to finely adjust the air volume of the fan motor while adjusting the distance between the tip of the fan blade and the fan housing of the fan driven by the fan motor 210, various variations of air volume can be generated.

[0076] In some aspects of the dust collector, when the dust collector 100 is operating in the high air volume operating ranges 350, 360, the dust collector 100 is configured to control the fan motor 210 to maintain operation at a certain predetermined air volume level 340. Thereby, the air volume is adjusted to approach the target air volume level. This predetermined air volume level 340 is 150 - 2000 m 3 / h, and preferably, it may be 150 - 700 m 3 / h.

[0077] Another embodiment of the dust collector 100 is configured to determine the current operating situation and control the fan motor 210 of the dust collector 100 so that the airflow level corresponds to the operating situation. Furthermore, the dust collector 100 may be configured to activate a warning when it acquires sensor data 235 indicating that the current airflow level is lower than the airflow level threshold 370.

[0078] To clarify the concepts presented herein, other components and related functions of the dust collector and control unit are omitted. Figure 7 shows a computer-readable medium 710. The computer-readable medium 710 comprises a computer program, which includes program code means 720 for executing the method shown in Figure 5 when executed on a computer. The computer-readable medium and the code means together may constitute a computer program product 700.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operation of a highly durable dust collector (100), S1) Acquiring sensor data (235) relating to the airflow (240) flowing into the dust collector (100), wherein the sensor data (235) includes at least one of the following: a pressure sensor value (S11) corresponding to the airflow (240) flowing into the dust collector (100); an airflow sensor value (S12) corresponding to the airflow (240) flowing into the dust collector (100); an amount of current consumed by the fan motor (210) of the dust collector (100) (S13); and pressure data (S14) from a Pitot tube sensor configuration configured to sense the airflow (240) flowing into the dust collector (100). S2) determines whether the dust collector (100) is operating in the high airflow operating range (350, 360) based on a comparison of the sensor data (235) and a threshold, wherein the high airflow operating range (350, 360) is a range in which the airflow is greater than a predetermined airflow (340) that is set in advance as the airflow at which sufficient suction force is generated in the dust collector (100), When the dust collector (100) is operating in the high airflow operating range, control the fan motor (210) of the dust collector (100) to reduce the airflow (240) to a reduced flow rate (330, 330') which is greater than or equal to the predetermined airflow (340) and less than the obtainable flow rate (310), wherein the obtainable flow rate (310) is the maximum airflow that can be achieved in the dust collector (100), determined from the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the air filter of the dust collector (100). The predetermined airflow rate (340) corresponds to the dust collection performance of the dust collector (100).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dust collector (100) includes a cyclone device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the high airflow operating range is defined according to the predetermined airflow (340), which is data obtained from a dust generator (410) connected to the dust collector (100) (S23).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the high airflow operating range is defined according to the predetermined airflow (340), which is data obtained from a remote server device (430) (S24).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the high airflow operating range is defined according to the data acquired from the manual input device (450) and the corresponding predetermined airflow (340) (S25).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising controlling the fan motor (210) to reduce the supply voltage of the fan motor (210) in order to reduce the airflow (240) to less than the obtainable flow rate (S31).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising controlling the fan motor (210) to reduce the engine speed of the fan motor (210) in order to reduce the airflow (240) to less than the obtainable flow rate (S32).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising controlling the fan motor (210) to adjust the blade pitch of a fan driven by the fan motor (210) in order to reduce the airflow (240) to less than the obtainable flow rate (S33).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising controlling the fan motor (210) to adjust the distance between the tip of a fan blade and the fan housing of a fan driven by the fan motor (210) (S34).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the fan housing has a conical shape along the axial direction of the fan.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising controlling the fan motor (210) to restrict the intake of air to the fan driven by the fan motor (210) in order to reduce the airflow (240) to less than the obtainable flow rate (S35).

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising controlling the fan motor (210) of the dust collector (100) to maintain operation at a constant predetermined airflow rate (340) when the dust collector (100) is operating in the high airflow operating range (350, 360) (S36).

13. The predetermined airflow rate (340) is 150 to 2000 m ３ The method according to claim 12, wherein the value is / h.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein controlling the fan motor (210) of the dust collector (100) to reduce the airflow (240) includes reducing the airflow by 20 to 30% of the peak airflow (320) (S37), where the peak airflow (320) is the obtainable flow rate (310) when the air filter is not clogged.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising identifying a dust generator (410) connected to the dust collector (100), and obtaining the predetermined airflow rate (340) for the dust generator (410) from a remote server device (430).

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising activating a warning (S5) when sensor data (235) is obtained indicating that the current airflow is lower than an airflow threshold (370).

17. A computer program (720) that includes program code means for performing the steps described in any one of claims 1 to 16 when executed by a processing circuit (610) of a computer or control unit (160).

18. A control unit (160) for controlling the operation of a dust collector (100), The control unit includes a processing circuit (610), The processing circuit (610) is configured to acquire sensor data (235) relating to the airflow (240) flowing into the dust collector (100) (S1x), and the sensor data (235) includes at least one of the following: a pressure sensor value (S11) corresponding to the airflow (240) flowing into the dust collector (100); an airflow sensor value (S12) corresponding to the airflow (240) flowing into the dust collector (100); an amount of current consumed by the fan motor (210) of the dust collector (100) (S13); and pressure data (S14) from a Pitot tube sensor configuration configured to sense the airflow (240) flowing into the dust collector (100). The processing circuit (610) is configured to determine whether the dust collector (100) is operating in the high airflow operating range (350, 360) based on a comparison of the sensor data (235) with a threshold (S2x), and the high airflow operating range (350, 360) is a range in which the airflow is greater than a predetermined airflow (340) that is set in advance as the airflow at which sufficient suction force is generated in the dust collector (100). The processing circuit (610) is configured to control the fan motor (210) of the dust collector (100) to reduce the airflow (240) to a reduced flow rate (330, 330') which is greater than or equal to the predetermined airflow (340) and less than the obtainable flow rate (310) when the dust collector (100) is operating in the high airflow operating range (S3x), where the obtainable flow rate (310) is the maximum airflow that can be achieved in the dust collector (100), determined from the amount of particulate matter accumulated in the air filter of the dust collector (100). The predetermined airflow rate (340) corresponds to the dust collection performance of the dust collector (100), and is a control unit.

19. A dust collector (100) comprising the control unit (160) described in claim 18.

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