Vacuum electronics isolation method

• US 7,644,469 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Xiang, Beers, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US11/870,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/001, 153/47, 154/12, 153/39
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0004 Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/20 Means for cleaning filters
• 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 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• 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: 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 vacuum electronics isolation system utilizes an isolation circuit for providing a low voltage for operating a controller and to provide low voltage control signals for operating the vacuum motor to isolate the high voltage power source from the user.

Claims

1. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a power cord adapted to be connected to an external power source;

an electrical isolation circuit including a rower supply transformer for providing a low power output having a lower voltage than said external power source,

a controller connected to said electrical isolation circuit for receiving said low power output, said controller providing a vacuum control signal to a vacuum circuit for activating said vacuum source, said vacuum circuit being responsive to a low power signal to provide power from the external power source to said vacuum source; and

a water sense circuit connected to said electrical isolation circuit for receiving said low power output, said water sense circuit including a pair of water sense probes disposed in a debris chamber of said housing for providing a water sense signal to said controller for deactivating said vacuum source when water is detected by said pair of water sense probes.

2. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a power cord adapted to be connected to an external power source;

an electrical isolation circuit including a rower supply transformer for providing a low power output having a lower voltage than said external power source,

a controller connected to said electrical isolation circuit for receiving said low power output, said controller providing a vacuum control signal to a vacuum circuit for activating said vacuum source, said vacuum circuit being responsive to a low power signal to provide power from the external power source to said vacuum source; and

a power outlet disposed on said housing and a power tool sense circuit connected to said controller for providing a signal indicative of an activation state of a power tool plugged into said power outlet, said controller activating said vacuum source in response to detected activation of said power tool.

3. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a power cord adapted to be connected to an external power source;

an electrical isolation circuit including a power supply transformer for providing a low power output having a lower voltage than said external power source,

a controller connected to said electrical isolation circuit for receiving said low power output, said controller providing a vacuum control signal to a vacuum circuit for activating said vacuum source, said vacuum circuit being responsive to a low power signal to provide power from the external power source to said vacuum source; and

a vacuum filter disposed upstream of said vacuum source and a filter cleaning device including a filter cleaning motor and a filter cleaning mechanism drivingly connected to said filter cleaning motor, said controller providing a filter cleaning control signal to a filter cleaning circuit for activating said filter cleaning device, said filter cleaning circuit being responsive to a low power signal to provide power from the external power source to said filter cleaning device.

4. The vacuum according to claim 3, wherein said vacuum circuit includes an opto-coupler for providing power from the external power source to said vacuum source.

5. The vacuum according to claim 3, wherein said filter cleaning circuit includes an opto-coupler for providing power from the external power source to said filter cleaning device.