Low voltage central vacuum control handle with an air flow sensor

• US 5,343,590 A
• Filed: 02/11/1992
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lindsey Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: Lindsey Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Radabaugh, Kurtis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/833,984
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 15/319, 15/339, 15/410
• 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 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• 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
• 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 that includes an air flow sensor. In the preferred embodiment, a small, lightweight vacuum sensor and a sensor amplifier that is connected to an LED bar graph meter and a comparator circuit are installed in the remote control hose handle. A low voltage power signal is transmitted through the vacuum cleaner hose and to the remote control handle for the purpose of providing electrical current to power the central vacuum system. The vacuum sensor will enable the consumer to instantly know if the vacuum is producing enough air flow to get proper cleanability. The sensor will also notify the consumer if the vacuum cleaner has a full bag or a problem at the vacuum unit, such as a clogged screen. The low voltage control signal travels from the remote control handle through 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 into the vacuum cleaning motor. An electrical relay located near or inside the central vacuum cleaning system receives the control signal from the hose wiring and processes it to start or stop a central vacuum system main motor.

Claims

1. A control handle for a central vacuum cleaning system comprising:

a) a body having a hand hold for grasping;

b) said body having outlet and inlet air connection means;

c) electrical transmission lines having means for connecting said body to said vacuum system for operation of said handle and said vacuum system;

d) an air flow passage through said body interconnecting said outlet and inlet air connection means;

e) an air flow sensor mounted in said body having means for sensing an air flow characteristic in said air flow passage, said air flow characteristic being the magnitude of the pressure of the air flow;

f) a converter having means for converting the magnitude of said sensed air flow pressure to a voltage signal;

g) a voltage amplifier having means for amplifying said voltage signal; and

h) a voltage comparator having means for comparing said amplified voltage signal to preselected control signals, and means for transmitting a signal to an indicator mounted in said body having means for indicating whether sufficient vacuum air flow pressure is present for proper operation of said vacuum system.

2. A low voltage central vacuum control handle for a central vacuum cleaning system comprising:

a) a remote handle for grasping having an air flow passage through said remote handle, said remote handle attached to an end of a vacuum cleaner hose of said vacuum system, said remote handle also having a manually operable switch having means for controlling the energization of said vacuum system;

b) means for connecting an electrical transmission line extending along said vacuum cleaner hose to said remote handle for operation of said remote handle and said vacuum system;

c) said remote handle having;

i) an air flow sensor mounted in said remote handle and including means for sensing an air flow characteristic in said air flow passage, said air flow characteristic being the magnitude of the dynamic pressure of the air flow;

ii) means for converting the magnitude of said sensed air flow pressure to a voltage signal in response to said switch energizing said vacuum system;

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

iv) means for amplifying said voltage signal;

v) means for comparing said amplified voltage signal to preselected control signals; and

vi) means for indicating to a user using the comparison of said amplified voltage signal to said preselected control signal to provide an indication of the state of the operation of said vacuum system.

9. The low voltage central vacuum control handle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said remote handle has outlet and inlet air connection means, said outlet air connection means connected to said vacuum cleaner hose and said inlet air hose connection means connected to a first end of a wand, said wand having a second end with means for selectively connecting an air driven vacuum tool to said second end.

10. The low voltage central vacuum control handle as set forth in claim 9, wherein said wand has means for selectively connecting a non-air driven vacuum tool to said second end of said wand, and said remote handle has electrical connection means with said non-air driven vacuum tool.

3. 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 a low voltage power supply line attached to said hose, the improvement comprising a remote handle attached to an end of said hose, said handle comprising:

a) an air flow passage through said remote handle;

b) an air flow sensor having means for sensing an air flow characteristic in said air flow passage and said hose, said air flow characteristic being the magnitude of the dynamic pressure of the air flow;

c) means for connecting said low voltage power supply line to said remote handle;

d) a manually operable switch having means for controlling the energization of said vacuum system;

e) means for converting the magnitude of said sensed air flow pressure to a voltage signal in response to said switch energizing said vacuum system;

f) means for transmitting said voltage signal and operation of said switch along said low voltage power supply line;

g) means for amplifying said voltage signal;

h) means for comparing said amplified voltage signal to preselected vacuum air flow voltage signal values; and

i) means using the comparison of said amplified voltage signal to said preselected control to provide an indication of the state of the operation of said vacuum system.

4. A low voltage central vacuum control handle for a central vacuum cleaning system comprising:

a) a remote handle for grasping having an air flow passage through said remote handle, said remote handle attached to an end of a vacuum cleaner hose of said vacuum system;

b) means for connecting a low voltage power supply line of said vacuum cleaner hose to said remote handle;

c) an air flow sensor mounted in said remote handle having means for sensing an air flow characteristic in said air flow passage and converting said sensed air flow characteristic to a voltage signal, and means for amplifying said voltage signal through a voltage amplifier, said air flow characteristic being the magnitude of the dynamic pressure of the air flow;

d) said amplifier having electrical connection means with an LED bar graph display and a voltage comparator circuit;

e) said voltage comparator mounted in said remote handle having electrical connection means with light emitting diodes and having means for comparing said amplified voltage signal to preselected control signals;

f) said LED bar graph display and said light emitting diodes mounted in said remote handle and having means using the comparison of said amplified voltage signal to said preselected control signal to provide an indication of the state of the operation of said vacuum system; and

g) said remote handle having means for actuating said vacuum cleaning system.

5. The low voltage central vacuum control handle set forth in claim 4 wherein said low voltage power supply line has electrical connection means with said air flow sensor.

6. The low voltage central vacuum control handle set forth in claim 4 wherein said LED bar graph display has means for comparing said amplified voltage signal to preselected vacuum air flow voltage signal values and said amplifier has electrical connection means for transmitting said amplified voltage signal to said LED bar graph display comparing means and said voltage comparator circuit.

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

a) a vacuum cleaner hose associated with a low voltage power supply line attached to said hose;

b) a wand handle located at a distal end of said hose, said handle having a manually operable switch having means for controlling the energization of said vacuum system, and an air flow passage through said handle;

c) an air flow sensor mounted in said handle having means for sensing an air flow characteristic in said air flow passage and said hose, said air flow characteristic being the magnitude of the dynamic pressure of the air flow; and

d) said handle having;

i) means for converting the magnitude of said sensed air flow pressure to a voltage signal in response to said switch energizing said vacuum system;

ii) means for transmitting said voltage signal and operation of said switch along said low voltage power supply line;

iii) means for amplifying said voltage signal;

iv) means for indicating to a user whether sufficient vacuum air flow pressure is present for proper operation of said vacuum system; and

v) means for comparing said amplified voltage signal to preselected control signals and transmitting a compared signal to said indicating means for indicating said operation of said vacuum system.

8. A low voltage central vacuum control handle for a central vacuum cleaning system comprising:

a) a remote handle for grasping having an air flow passage through said remote handle, said remote handle attached to an end of a vacuum cleaner hose of said vacuum system, said remote handle also having a manually operable switch having means for controlling the energization of said vacuum system;

b) means for connecting an electrical transmission line extending along said vacuum cleaner hose for operation of said handle and said vacuum system, said electrical transmission line having a low voltage power supply line;

c) an air flow sensor mounted in said remote handle and including means for sensing an air flow characteristic in said air flow passage and said vacuum cleaner hose, said air flow characteristic being the magnitude of the dynamic pressure of the air flow;

d) said remote handle having;

i) means for converting the magnitude of said sensed air flow pressure to a voltage signal in response to said switch energizing said vacuum system and means for transmitting said voltage signal along said electrical transmission line;

ii) means for amplifying said voltage signal;

iii) means using the comparison of said amplified voltage signal to said preselected control signal to provide an indication of the state of the operation of said vacuum system; and

iv) means for comparing said amplified voltage signal to preselected control signals and transmitting a compared signals to said indicating means for indicating said operation of said vacuum system; and

e) a converter electrically connected to said remote handle through said electrical transmission line, said converter having means for providing a boost in said low voltage power from said electrical transmission line when said lower voltage power is below desired signal to electrically power said remote handle and said vacuum system.

11. The low voltage central vacuum control handle as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means providing an indication of the state of operation of said vacuum system includes means for indicating to said user when the magnitude of said air flow pressure in said air passage is below a preselected air flow pressure setting.

12. The low voltage central vacuum control handle as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means providing an indication of the state of the operation of said vacuum system includes means for indicating when said vacuum cleaner hose has insufficient air flow pressure to operate an air driven vacuum tool and that said vacuum system is not providing sufficient vacuum air flow pressure for cleaning purposes.

13. The low voltage central vacuum control handle as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means providing an indication of the state of the operation of said vacuum system includes means for indicating when said vacuum cleaner hose is obstructed.