Vacuum electronics isolation method

• US 20090094777A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• 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: Beers, David R., Wang, Xiang
• Granted Patent: US 7,644,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 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.

2. The vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said vacuum circuit includes an opto-coupler for providing power from the external power source to said vacuum source.

3. The vacuum according to claim 1, further comprising 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 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 filter cleaning circuit includes an opto-coupler for providing power from the external power source to said filter cleaning device.

5. The vacuum according to claim 1, further comprising 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.

6. The vacuum according to claim 1, further comprising 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.

7. 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.

8. The vacuum according to claim 7, wherein said vacuum circuit includes an opto-coupler for providing power from the external power source to said vacuum source.

9. The vacuum according to claim 7, wherein said filter cleaning circuit includes an opto-coupler for providing power from the external power source to said filter cleaning device.