Remote control device vacuum or ventilation system

• US 5,191,673 A
• Filed: 05/23/1990
• Issued: 03/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aldes Aeraulique (Aldes Groupe), Societe D'Etudes et de Recherches de Ventilation et D'Aeraulique
• Original Assignee: Aldes Aeraulique (Aldes Groupe), Societe D'Etudes et de Recherches de Ventilation et D'Aeraulique
• Inventors: Damizet, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/527,372
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 15/301, 15/314, 15/319
• US Class Current: 15/314
• 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 9/32 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/008 Stop safety or alarm devices, e.g. stop-and-go control; Disposition of check-valves

Abstract

This device has a housing 2, a motorized vacuum turbine 4 pneumatically connected to outlet 2b of a housing, and at least one tube 6 whose downstream end 6a terminates in housing 2, and structure 13, 40 connected to upstream end 6b of tube 6 capable of generating a temporary pneumatic pressure wave in the direction of its downstream end 6a. The latter is associated with structure 20, 22 for detecting the pressure wave and acting on module 23 for controlling the power to electric motor 3 of vacuum turbine 4 to start the system operating. The pneumatic pressure wave is conveyed by tube 6 itself from its upstream end 6b to its downstream end 6a, this downstream end being provided with a shutoff flap 18, normally held in the closed position and capable of causing the tube to be opened under the influence of the vacuum flow.

Claims

1. Device for remote control of a vacuum comprising a housing, a motorized vacuum turbine connected pneumatically to an outlet of the housing for creating a vacuum in the housing, and at least one tube with a downstream end which terminates in the housing, means connected to an upstream end of the tube for generating a single pneumatic pressure pulse in the direction of said downstream end, said downstream end being associated with means for detecting the pneumatic pressure pulse and acting on an electric motor of the vacuum turbine to start the motor, the pneumatic pressure pulse being conducted by the tube from said upstream end to said downstream end, said downstream end being provided with a shutoff flap normally held in the closed position and capable of opening under the influence of vacuum created in housing.

2. Device according to claim 1, further comprising means to cut off a vacuum flow in said tube to said housing and thus to shut off the motor, and detection means located near said housing to detect absence of vacuum flow in the tube and acting, with a time delay, to open the electric circuit powering said motor.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said detection means reacts to an increase in vacuum and said housing.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said detection means comprises a tubular body external to said housing but in fluid communication with said housing and a handle, said handle being mounted with a return spring slidably and sealably in said tubular body, said comprising at least one stop face capable of actuating, at the end of its travel and on encountering said spring, a contact wired in said electric circuit.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said fluid communication between said tubular body and said housing is provided by a calibrated constricting orifice creating a flow loss, and said device further comprises means for timing equalization of vacuum in said housing and said tubular body and displacement of said handle.

6. Device according to claim 4, wherein said handle constitutes an element for starting the motor and comprises an internal duct with an external unidirectional blocking valve capable of causing the interior of said tubular body to communicate with the exterior of said tubular body, with said electric circuit being provided with a trip switch electrically connected to a first contact cooperating with said handle and to a second contact cooperating with said means for detecting the pneumatic pressure wave.

7. Device according to claim 3, wherein said detection means comprises a vacuum sensor electrically connected to said electric circuit and pneumatically connected to an intermediate timing chamber, said intermediate timing chamber being connected to said housing with interposition of a calibrated constriction.

8. Device according to claim 2, wherein said detection means reacts to variation in air pressure at an outlet of said turbine and comprises an articulated flap located in the path of air emerging from said housing and cooperating with a contact of a time delay relay wired into said electric circuit .

9. Device according to claim 1, further comprising an independent hose having one end connectable to said tube and another end provided with a handle with a forward nozzle for mounting tools and vacuum accessories, and said means for generating a pressure pulse being disposed in the handle.

10. Device according to claim 3, wherein said means for generating the pressure wave comprises a piston slidably mounted in a body of said handle between and anterior stop position and a posterior working position, said piston being formed at the rear of said forward nozzle.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the rear of said forward nozzle comprises an axial plug and a radial opening, said opening coinciding with an end of said hose in said body of said handle in an operating position.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein said body of said handle is provide with means for elastic wedgelocking, said means cooperating, at least when said nozzle is in a stop position, with a catch on said nozzle.

13. Device according to claim 10, wherein the rear of said nozzle is blocked by an articulated flap forming said piston and being capable of rising under the influence of vacuum pressure.

14. Device according to claim 13, wherein said flap is elongated, beyond its articulation, by an essentially radial finger, said finger coming in contact at the end of a starting travel and at the end of a stopping travel, with faces of stops in said handle body, causing it to move into an open position and a closed position, respectively.

15. Device according to claim 10, further comprising means for cutting off the vacuum flow and thus for shutting off said motor comprising said piston when it is in the stop position.

16. Device according to claim 9, further comprising a compression spring interposed between the rear of said nozzle and a forward end of said body of said handle, said handle body being provided with a movable stop, operable from the exterior, capable of wedging said nozzle in a stop position with said spring compressed.

17. Device according to claim 9, wherein said handle comprises a handle body, a forward nozzle whose rear is associated with an articulated flap capable of rising under the influence of a vacuum, and a bellows connecting said handle body to said forward nozzle.

18. Device according to claim 9, wherein said handle is monolithic and comprising a forward part blocked by an articulated flap capable of rising under the influence of a vacuum, a second turbine, and a rear part in which an outlet of said second turbine terminates, said second turbine being independently powered and controlled by means on the handle and being capable of generating said pressure pulse.

19. Device according to claim 9, further comprising means for cutting off the vacuum flow and thus for shutting off said motor.

20. Device according to claim 14, wherein the means for cutting off the vacuum flow comprises an articulated flap disposed in said handle and connected to manual actuating means.

21. Device according to claim 1, wherein said means for detecting the pneumatic pressure pulse comprises a pressure sensor connected pneumatically by a channel to said tube and electrically to a circuit for controlling the power to said motor.

22. Device according to claim 1, wherein said means for detecting the pneumatic pressure pulse comprises a movement sensor for detecting displacement of said shutoff flap and connected to a circuit for controlling the power to said motor.

23. Device for remote control of a vacuum or system, comprising:

a vacuum source;

at least one tube having a main working lumen having first and second ends, said first end being in fluid communication with said vacuum source;

means associated with said second end for generating a single pneumatic pressure pulse in said main working lumen; and

means for detecting said pressure pulse and activating said vacuum source in response to detection of said pressure pulse.

24. Device according to claim 23, further comprising:

means for cutting off air flow through said main working lumen; and

means for detecting cessation of air flow through said main working lumen and deactivating said vacuum source in response to detection of said cessation of air flow.