Remote control system for central vacuum systems

• US 5,274,878 A
• Filed: 07/23/1991
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cen-Tec Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cen-Tec Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Maher, Eugene J. Jr., Tippin, Jon H., Radabaugh, Kurtis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/734,633
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 15/314, 15/339, 15/412, 15/377
• 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 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners

Abstract

A remote control system for actuating a central vacuum system from a remote location such as a vacuum cleaning hose handle without the use of a separate, dedicated system of control wires. In a preferred embodiment, a small, lightweight FM radio frequency signal transmitter is installed in the hose handle and the signal is conducted along the household current 60 Hz wires running through the vacuum cleaner hose and wand for the purpose of providing electrical current to power sweeper brush motors. The piggybacked control signal requires no additional conductor wires, such as the low voltage wiring of conventional control systems, thereby saving weight and costs. The control signal travels along the power supply wires running the length of the vacuum hose, which are preferably covered by a sleeve, such as of cloth or plastic, then through a standard plug into a standard electrical outlet. A receiver located near the central vacuum cleaner system receives the control signal from the house wiring and processes it to start or stop the central vacuum system main motor.

Claims

1. A remote control arrangement for actuating a central vacuum cleaner motor comprising:

a) an electrical transmission line extending along a vacuum cleaner hose for operation of electrical appliances attached to an end of said hose;

b) a transmitter remotely positioned from said central vacuum cleaner motor and located generally at said vacuum cleaner hose end, and including;

i) a manually operable switch;

ii) means generating a radio frequency signal in response to operation of said switch; and

iii) means for transmitting said radio frequency signal along said electrical transmission line;

c) a receiver proximately positioned to said central vacuum cleaner motor, and including;

i) means for detecting said radio frequency signal from said transmission line; and

ii) actuator means responsive to said radio frequency signal to actuate said central vacuum cleaner motor.

2. In a central vacuum cleaning system, including a central vacuum cleaning pump motor and one or more remote operating locations and having a transportable vacuum cleaning hose with an electrical appliance power line extending along said hose, the improvement comprising:

a) a transmitter mounted on said hose and including a manually operable switch, means generating a radio frequency signal in response to operation of said switch, and means for transmitting said radio frequency signal along said appliance power line; and

b) a receiver proximately positioned to said central vacuum cleaning pump and including means for detecting said radio frequency signal from said electrical appliance power line and actuator means responsive to said radio frequency signal to actuate said central vacuum cleaning pump motor.

3. A remote control arrangement for actuating a central vacuum cleaning system comprising:

a) a vacuum cleaner hose associated with a household current electrical power supply line for operation of electrical appliances attached to said hose;

b) a wand handle located at a distal end of said hose;

c) a transmitter assembly mounted in said handle and including;

i) a manually operable switch;

ii) an interface with said power supply line for providing electrical power to said transmitter assembly;

iii) an encoder for providing an electrical control signal;

iv) a modulator for frequency modulating said control signal at a cycle frequency distinct from the cycle frequency of said power supply line;

v) a coupler for applying said control signal to said power supply line;

d) a receiver assembly remotely positioned from said transmitter assembly and including;

i) an interface with said power supply line for providing electrical power to said receiver assembly;

ii) a decoupler receiving said control signal from said power supply line;

iii) a demodulator;

iv) a decoder for providing an electrical control signal; and

v) a relay for actuation of a central vacuum cleaning system pump motor.

4. The arrangement set forth in claim 3 including:

a) a code selector for predetermining a code signal to be provided by said encoder; and

b) a second code selector for predetermining a code signal to be accepted by said decoder.

5. The arrangement set forth in claim 3 including:

a) a vacuum switch communicating with said vacuum cleaner hose for transmitting an indicator signal in the absence of a predetermined vacuum in said hose.

6. The arrangement set forth in claim 5 wherein:

a) said vacuum switch transmits said indicator signal to said encoder.

7. A remote control arrangement for actuating a central vacuum cleaner motor comprising:

a) an electrical transmission line extending along a vacuum cleaner hose for operation of electrical appliances attached to an end of said hose;

b) a transmitter remotely positioned from said central vacuum cleaner motor and located generally at said vacuum cleaner hose end, and including;

i) a switch;

ii) means generating a radio frequency signal in response to operation of said switch;

iii) means for transmitting said radio frequency signal along said electrical transmission line;

c) a receiver associated with said central vacuum cleaner motor, and including;

i) means for detecting said radio frequency signal from said transmission line; and

ii) actuator means responsive to said radio frequency signal to actuate said central vacuum cleaner motor.