Central vacuum cleaning system control subsystems

• US 20050254185A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Inventors: Cunningham, J. Vern
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/23
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/38 Built-in suction cleaner installations, i.e. with fixed tube system to which, at different stations, hoses can be connected
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7172 Conduits for light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0833 for electric motors with control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A central vacuum cleaning system control subsystem for use in a central vacuum cleaning system having a motor includes a central vacuum unit control module with a receiver for wirelessly receiving command signals, and a power stage for controlling the motor in accordance with command signals received through the receiver. The control module is stable in high ambient temperature. Current flowing to the motor is sensed, and motor overcurrent and undercurrent conditions are determined. The control module determines when the motor is in an overcurrent condition. Power stage has a triac for controlling power to the motor. The control module also has a microprocessor that compares the current sensed against a normal operating current to determine overcurrent condition. Power to motor ceases when overcurrent condition exists. A generator is powered by air flow in a cleaning system for production of electrical energy.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a central vacuum cleaning system suction motor, the device comprising:

a) a sensor for sensing at least one operating condition of the motor, such at least one operating condition including the motor current;

b) a comparator for comparing each sensed operating condition to a corresponding normal operating condition for that sensed operating condition of the motor, and for determining when the motor is operating significantly outside at least one normal operating condition for the motor for a given period of time; and

c) a performer for, when it is determined that the motor current is operating significantly outside the normal operating condition for the motor current, performing at least one action.

2. A central vacuum cleaning system control subsystem for use in a central vacuum cleaning system having a suction motor, the control subsystem comprising:

a) a central vacuum unit control module including;

i) a receiver for wirelessly receiving command signals,

ii) a power stage for controlling power to the motor,

wherein the power stage controls power to the motor in accordance with command signals it receives through the receiver, and

wherein the control module comprises overcurrent protection for components in the control module, and wherein such overcurrent protection is not triggered in part by high ambient temperature.

3. A central vacuum cleaning system control subsystem for use in a central vacuum cleaning system having a suction motor, the control subsystem comprising:

a) a central vacuum unit control module including;

i) a receiver for wirelessly receiving command signals,

ii) a power stage for controlling power to the motor,

wherein the power stage controls power to the motor in accordance with command signals it receives through the receiver, and

wherein the control module senses current flowing to the motor, and determines when the motor is in an undercurrent condition.

4. A central vacuum cleaning system control subsystem for use in a central vacuum cleaning system having a suction motor, the control subsystem comprising:

a) a central vacuum unit control module including;

i) a receiver for wirelessly receiving command signals,

ii) a power stage for controlling power to the motor,

iii) a current sensor for sensing current flowing to the motor

wherein the power stage controls power to the motor in accordance with command signals it receives through the receiver, and

wherein the control module determines when the motor is in an overcurrent condition.

5. The control subsystem of claim 4, wherein the power stage further comprises a triac for controlling power to the motor.

6. The control subsystem of claim 5, wherein the control module further comprises a microprocessor that compares the current sensed by the current sensor and a normal operating current to determine when an overcurrent condition exists.

7. The control subsystem of claim 4, wherein the control module ceases to provide power to the motor when the control module determines that an overcurrent condition exists.

8. A method of controlling a central vacuum cleaning system suction motor, the method comprising:

a) sensing at least one operating condition of the motor, such at least one operating condition including the motor current;

b) comparing each sensed operating condition to a corresponding normal operating condition for that sensed operating condition of the motor;

c) determining when the motor is operating significantly outside at least one normal operating condition for the motor for a given period of time; and

d) when it is determined that the motor current is operating significantly outside the normal operating condition for the motor current, performing at least one action.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one action comprises:

shutting down the motor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein shutting down the motor comprises:

turning off a triac that controls flow of current to the motor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

when the motor current is operating significantly above normal operating current for the motor, the at least one action comprises shutting down the motor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein:

when the motor current is operating significantly above normal operating current for the motor, the at least one action comprises alerting the user.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one action comprises:

alerting an operator that the cleaning system is operating significantly outside normal operating conditions.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein:

when the motor current is operating significantly below normal operating current for the motor, the at least one action comprises alerting the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein alerting the operator comprises:

alerting the operator through a user interface on a hose handle of the cleaning system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein alerting the operator comprises:

alerting the operator through one or more LEDs comprised in the hose handle.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein alerting the operator comprises:

alerting the operator through an LCD screen comprised in the hose handle.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein alerting the operator comprises:

alerting the operator through one or more audible devices comprised in the hose handle.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein alerting the operator comprises:

alerting the operator through a speaker comprised in the hose handle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein alerting the operator comprises:

alerting the operator via voice prompts through the speaker.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein alerting the operator comprises:

alerting the operator through a buzzer comprised in the hose handle.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein alerting the operator comprises alerting the operator through a user interface in a remote station separate from a hose handle of the cleaning system and separate from a canister that houses the motor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the remote station comprises an LCD screen through which the operator views information about the operating condition of the motor.

24. The method of claim 8, wherein:

at least one normal operating condition is, prior to sensing the operating condition of the motor, learned by;

a) operating the motor under normal operating conditions for the motor,

b) sensing the at least one normal operating condition for determination, and

c) storing the sensed at least one normal operating condition.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein:

after normal operating condition learning, and prior to sensing the operating condition of the motor, the at least one normal operation condition is optionally re-learned by following the procedure for learning the at least one normal operating condition.

26. The method of claim 8, wherein:

at least one normal operating condition, prior to sensing the operating condition of the motor, is stored.

27. A device in a vacuum cleaning system, the device comprising:

a) an impeller, and

b) a generator,

wherein the impeller is located such that air moving though the cleaning system during use causes the impeller to turn, and

wherein turning of the impeller causes the generator to generate electrical energy.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the device is located in a hose handle of the vacuum cleaning system and the impeller is located such that vacuum air moving through the hose handle during use causes the impeller to turn.

29. The device of claim 28, further comprising:

an impeller air path in the handle, the impeller air path opening from a vacuum air path of vacuum air for picking up dust and other particles to a source of ambient air, and

wherein the impeller is located in the impeller air path.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein the vacuum cleaning system is a central vacuum cleaning system.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the impeller is located such that air moving through a central vacuum source of the central vacuum cleaning system during use causes the impeller to turn

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the impeller is located in an exhaust air path of the vacuum source.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the exhaust air path is external to a canister that houses the vacuum source.

34. The device of claim 27, wherein the electrical energy is used to charge a battery.