Vacuum electronic power tool sense

• US 8,015,657 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maid, Spencer G., DiPasquale, Kathy E., Beers, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US11/870,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/39
• US Class Current: 15/319
• 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 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user

Abstract

A vacuum electronic power tool sense system senses the operation of a power tool that is plugged into an onboard power outlet and the vacuum source is automatically operated to facilitate user clean-up of debris generated by use of the power tool. A delay period can be utilized to maintain the vacuum source is an on state for a predetermined period of time after the power tool is turned off.

Claims

1. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a power outlet disposed on said housing;

a power tool sensing system for sensing operation of a power tool plugged into said power outlet; and

a controller for operating said vacuum source in response to a sensed operation of said power tool, wherein said power tool sensing system senses a voltage applied to the power tool and said controller operates said vacuum source in response to voltage dips and turns off said vacuum source in response to voltage spikes.

2. The vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said power tool sensing system includes a current transformer for sensing current passing through a wire carrying current to said power tool.

3. The vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said power tool sensing system includes a coil component for detecting current through a circuit component delivering current to said power tool.

4. The vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said controller continues operation of said vacuum source for a predetermined period of time after said operation of said power tool is stopped.

5. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a power outlet disposed on said housing;

a power tool sensing system for sensing operation of a power tool plugged into said power outlet; and

a controller for operating said vacuum source in response to a sensed operation of said power tool;

wherein said power tool sensing system includes a current transformer for sensing current passing through a wire carrying current to said power tool, said power tool sensing circuit senses a voltage applied to the power tool and said controller operates said vacuum source in response to voltage dips and turns off said vacuum source in response to voltage spikes.

6. The vacuum according to claim 5, wherein said controller continues operation of said vacuum source for a predetermined period of time after said operation of said power tool is stopped.