Integrated central vacuum cleaner suction device and control

• US 7,900,315 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Inventors: Cunningham, J. Vern
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller; Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US11/245,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20070079469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 15301-319, 154/13
• 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 has a cooling section, a motor section, a suction section and control module. The motor section drives the suction section to draw vacuum air through inlet and exhaust vacuum air through outlet. The motor section also drives the cooling section to draw cooling air through cooling air inlet, and push it through the motor section to cool the motor section. The control module controls the operation of the motor section. The control module is located in the cooling air path after the motor section. The cooling air for the motor section also cools the control module. The cooling section, motor section, suction section and control module 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 consisting of a cooling fan, a motor unit, and a suction unit, and b) a control module, wherein the motor unit drives the suction unit to draw vacuum air through the suction device, and the motor unit drives the cooling fan to provide cooling air for cooling the motor unit, and wherein the control module controls power to the motor unit, and wherein the control module is mounted directly to the suction device as a single unit,

wherein the control module is mounted in a path of the cooling air external to the cooling fan, motor unit, and suction unit, and the apparatus further comprising a strap, and wherein the control module is directly mounted to the suction device by the strap.

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

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises a vibration sensor for sensing vibrations, and wherein the control module, motor unit, suction unit, and cooling fan are directly mounted such that vibrations from the motor unit are transmitted to the vibration sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the suction device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises at least one environmental condition sensor for sensing at least one environmental condition of the suction device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control module is directly mounted to the motor unit.

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

a) an apparatus comprising;

i) a high speed suction device consisting of a cooling fan, a motor unit, and a suction unit, and ii) a control module, wherein the motor unit drives the suction unit to draw vacuum air through the suction device, and the motor unit drives the cooling fan to provide cooling air for cooling the motor unit, and wherein the control module controls power to the motor unit, and wherein the control module is mounted directly to the suction device as a single unit, and wherein the control module is mounted in a path of the cooling air external to the cooling fan, motor unit, and suction unit, and the apparatus further comprising a strap, and wherein the control module is directly mounted to the suction device by the strap,

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 unit and cooling air is drawn through the motor chamber by the cooling fan, and wherein the control module is within, and open to, the motor chamber.

8. The unit of claim 7, wherein the control module is mounted in a path of the cooling air after the motor unit.

9. The unit of claim 7, wherein the control module comprises a vibration sensor for sensing vibrations, and wherein the control module, motor unit, suction unit, and cooling fan are directly mounted such that vibrations from the motor unit are transmitted to the vibration sensor.

10. The unit of claim 7, wherein the control module comprises a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the suction device.

11. The unit of claim 7, wherein the control module comprises at least one environmental condition sensor for sensing at least one environmental condition of the suction device.

12. The unit of claim 7 wherein the control module is directly mounted to the motor unit.

13. A central vacuum cleaning system comprising:

a) a central vacuum unit comprising;

A) an apparatus comprising;

i) a high speed suction device consisting of a cooling fan, a motor unit, and a suction unit, and ii) a control module, wherein the motor unit drives the suction unit to draw vacuum air through the suction device, and the motor unit drives the cooling fan to provide cooling air for cooling the motor unit, and wherein the control module controls power to the motor unit, and wherein the control module is mounted directly to the suction device as a single unit, and wherein the control module is mounted in a path of the cooling air external to the cooling fan, motor unit, and suction unit, and the apparatus further comprising a strap, and wherein the control module is directly mounted to the suction device by the strap,

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 unit and cooling air is drawn through the motor chamber by the cooling fan, and wherein the control module is within, and open to, the motor chamber,

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.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control module is mounted in a path of the cooling air after the motor unit.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the control module comprises a vibration sensor for sensing vibrations, and wherein the control module, motor unit, suction unit, and cooling fan are directly mounted such that vibrations from the motor unit are transmitted to the vibration sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control module comprises a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the suction device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control module comprises at least one environmental condition sensor for sensing at least one environmental condition of the suction device.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the control module is directly mounted to the motor unit.