Integrated central vacuum cleaner suction device and control

• US 20070079469A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Inventors: Cunningham, J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• 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 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• 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 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user

Abstract

An integrated apparatus 1 has a cooling section 3, a motor section 5, a suction section 7 and control module 8. The motor section 5 drives the suction section 7 to draw vacuum air 9 through inlet 11 and exhaust vacuum air through outlet 13. The motor section 5 also drives the cooling section 3 to draw cooling air 15 through cooling air inlet 17, and push it through the motor section 5 to cool the motor section 5. The control module 8 controls the operation of the motor section 5. The control module 8 is located in the cooling air path after the motor section 5. The cooling air for the motor section 5 also cools the control module 8. The cooling section 3, motor section 5, suction section 7 and control module 8 are integrally mounted to form a single unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a central vacuum unit for a central vacuum cleaning system, the apparatus comprising:

a) a high speed suction device including a cooling section, a motor section, and a suction section, and

b) a control module,

wherein the motor section drives the suction section to draw vacuum air through the suction device, and the motor section drives the cooling section to provide cooling air for cooling the motor section, and

wherein the control module controls power to the motor section, and

wherein the control module and suction device are integrally mounted as a single unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module is mounted in a path of the cooling air after the motor section.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control module is affixed to the suction device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control module comprises a vibration sensor for sensing vibrations from the suction device.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control module comprises a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the suction device.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control module comprises at least one environmental condition sensor for sensing at least one environmental condition of the suction device.

7. A central vacuum unit for use in a central vacuum cleaning system, the unit comprising:

a) the apparatus of claim 1,

b) a motor chamber, and

c) a suction chamber, wherein the apparatus is mounted such that vacuum air is drawn through the suction chamber by the suction section and cooling air is drawn through the motor chamber by the cooling section.

8. A central vacuum cleaning system comprising:

a) the central vacuum unit of claim 7,

b) a handle,

c) at least one wall valve,

d) vacuum hose for connection between the handle and the wall valve, and

e) piping for connection between the at least one wall valve and the central vacuum unit.