US2914789A

US2914789A - Vacuum cleaner system

Info

Publication number: US2914789A
Application number: US645290A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren F Scanlan; Arthur M Mcguire
Original assignee: PRECISE VAC U TRONIC Inc
Current assignee: PRECISE VAC U TRONIC Inc; PRECISE VAC-U-TRONIC Inc
Priority date: 1957-03-11
Filing date: 1957-03-11
Publication date: 1959-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-01

Description

Dec. 1, 1959 w. F. SCANLAN E 2,914,789

VACUUM CLEANER SYSTEM Filed March 1]., 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I K E w x N O K E Q N 3 INVENTORS PM J-Fwul ATTORNEYS Dec. -1, 1959 w. F. SCANLAN ETAL 2,914,789

VACUUM CLEANER SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HG. B-

5Q 17 M w 62 m? g; fi 98 55 7 mi I. 62 55 6'6 65 FIG. 4 57 77 J/ K 18 10A I i 1 10% 75 ATTORNEYS ,gized upon insertion of the hose into an outlet.

j I 2,914,789 VACUUM CLEANER SYSTEM -Warren F. Scanlan, Philadelphia, and Arthur M. McGuire,

jYeadon, Pa., assignors to Precise Vac-U-Tronic, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey I Application March 11, 1957, Serial N6. 645,290

' 7 Claims. c1. 15-314 invention relates to a vacuum cleaner system, and

,more particularly concerns improvements in the connecting and actuating components of a vacuum cleaner sysminimum amount of current, and does not interfere with radios or television sets or with other electrical appliances. It is another object of this invention to provide in such asystem acontrol device for automatically turning the ,system on and off which is small in size, compact and easily replaceable.

, Other objects and advantages of the invention will further become apparent hereinafter and in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents a view in elevation of a remote control vacuum cleaner system constructed in accordance with this inventiom.

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged view in cross-section of V the outlet shown at the left in Fig. 1; and

. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged view in cross-section of ,theoutlet shown at the right of Fig. 1; and

i. Fig. 4 represents a'diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit of the system including the control device that automatically turns the system on and off.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to structure shown in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

' Turning now to the specific embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, the number 11 designates generally the interior of a house having a basement 12 and a first fioor 13 with rooms 14 and '15. Room 14 has a wall 16 in which is located an outlet 17, and room 15 has a wall 18 in which is located an' outlet 21.

In basement 12 is positioned a stationary vacuum generating unit 22 which is connected to outlet 17 by apparatus for passing air at reduced pressure including a conduit 23 which extends from the side of unit 22, a flexible elbow 24, a vertical section of conduit 25, flexible conduit 26, T connection 27, horizontally positioned flexible conduit 23, conduit 31, flexible elbow 32, and elbow'33 which is jointed to outlet 17. Vacuum generating unit 22 is also connected to outlet 21 by apparatus for passing air at reduced pressure including conduit 23, elbow 24, conduit 25, conduit 26, T connection 27, flexible conduit'34, conduit 35, flexible elbow 36, and elbow 37 which is joined to outlet 21. Conduits llnitedStatesPatent 23, 25, 31, 35, T connection 27 and

elbows

33 and 37 are preferably made of aluminum, and

conduits

26, 28,

34 and elbows 24, 32 and 36 are preferably made of rubber. Having the aluminum components of the system joined together by rubber components is of advantage since it permits easy installation without the use of special tools or procedures. Outlets 17 and 21are provided with outlet caps or plugs (not shown) for covering the outlet when it is not being used.

In the electrical circuit for generating the vacuum and for controlling the vacuum system, electrical current is brought into a fuse box 41 which is connected to a standard electrical outlet 42 which is adapted to receive a plug 43 which is connected to a control device 44. The other side of controldevice 44 is connected to vacuum generating unit 22 by conductors 45.

Bonding Wire 46 connects conduit 25 to conduit 31,

, and bonding wire 47 connects conduit 31 to elbow 33 which is connected to ground through conductor 48. Control device 44 is connected to conduit 25 by a sensing lead 49. The electrical circuit between elbow. 33 and conductor 48 is normally open as will hereinafter be more fully described.

Conduits

31 and 35 are electrically connected by conductor 51, and conduit 35 is connected to elbow 37 by bonding wire 52. A conductor 53 is mounted on elbow 37 but is not in electrical contact therewith. Conductor 53 provides areturn to control device 44 and to ground.

Referring to Fig. 2 which is an enlarged view in crosssection of outlet 17 and elbow 33, elbow 33 is'provided with a flange 54 which is screwed into wall 16. Mounted on elbow 33 is a post 55 that is electrically insulated from elbow 33 by an insulator 56. Post 55 is connected to ground through conductor 48. Inside elbow 33 an electrically conducting spring leaf 57 is secured to post 55 and is spaced away from elbow 33. Also mounted on the inside wall of elbow 33 is a lock pin 58. In using the vacuum cleaner system of this invention, a hose 61, which has at one end a cleaning implement and at the other end an electrical connector 62, is connected to outlet 17. Connector 62 is provided with a guard flange 63 and with a slot 64 having a longitudinal portion 65 and a circumferential portion 66. To connect hose'61 with outlet 17, connector 62 is inserted into elbow 33 with the longitudinal portion 65 of slot 64 sliding along .pin 58, and then connector 62 is rotated with circumferential portion 66 sliding along pin 58.

Turning to Fig. 3 which is an enlarged view in horizontal section of outlet 21 and elbow 37, elbow 37 is threaded at its end 67 to receive a threaded flange 68 that is screwed into wall 18. A post 71 is mounted on elbow 37 and is insulated therefrom by insulator 72. Bonding wire 52 is connected to elbow 37 through a post 73. Post 71 is connected to conductor 53. In the arrangement of Fig. 3, post 71 serves the dual function of electrical connector and lock pin which are performed inv Fig. 2 by post 55 and lock pin 58.

Thus, outlet 17 is provided with a'sensing lead circuit generally designated by the letter A, and outlet 21 is provided with a sensing lead circuit B.

Sensing lead circuit A passes from ground through control device 44 and includes sensing lead49, conduit 25', bonding wire 46, conduit 31, bonding wire 47, elbow 33, leaf 57, post 55, and conductor 48 to return to'ground. Circuit A is normally open and is closed upon insertion of connector 62 between leaf 57 and elbow 33.

Sensing lead circuit B passes from control device 44 and includes sensing lead 49, conduit 25, bonding wire 46, conduit 31, bonding wire 51, conduit 35, bonding Wire 52, post 73, elbow 37, post 71, and conductor 53 to return to control device 44. Circuit B is normally open and is closed upon insertion of connector 62 in in secondary winding 112.

' embodiment.

:size and arrangement of parts.

former 76. A conductor '77 leads from one side of primar-y winding 75 to an electrical outlet 78 and, a conductor 81 leads from the other side of winding 75 to contact 82 of a relay 83. Conductor 84- connects the other contact 85 of relay 83 to electrical outlet 73. Vacuum generating unit 22 is connected to outlet '78 through conductors 4'5 and a plug 86. Secondary winding 87 of transformer 76 is connected to the anode 88 of an indirectly heated gas thyratron 89 through conductor 91 and relay-coil 92 which has in parallel therewith capacitor 93. A conductor 94- is connected to conductor 91 and to a resistor 95 which is connected to variable resistor 96 by conductor 97. Conductor 98 connects resistor 96 to the other side of winding 07. Conductor 97 is also connected to ground by a conductor 99.

Variable resistor 96 has in contact therewith a movable contact 101 which is connected to another variable resistor 192 which has a movable contact 103 that is connected to control grid 104 through conductors 105 and 106, and to post 71 through conductors 105 and 53. Fig. 3 illustrates how outlet 21 is connected into the electrical circuit; outlet 17 is connected into the circuit a similar manner.

Tube 89 is provided with a screen grid 107 which is tied to cathode 108 for stability. Filament 111 is heated ances such as radios and television sets.

Excellent results have been obtained, it has been found, where ordinary house voltage, for example 117 volts at 60cycles is impressed on primary Winding 75. This induces approximately 125 volts at 15 milliamperes across secondary winding 87 and 6.3 volts at .6 ampere In this circuit, tube 80 is a 2D2l gas thyratron, relay 83 is a highly sensitive, high resistance relay on the order of 10,000 ohms, resistor 95 has a value of 12,000 ohms, resistor 96 is a 5,000 ohm potentiometer, resistor 102 is a l megohm potentiometer and capacitor 93 is an 8 microfarad capacitor.

In operation, insertion of connector 62 of hose 61 into outlet 17 closes sensing lead circuit A and insertion of connector 62 into outlet 21 closes sensing lead circuit B. The outlets 1'1", 21 may be used alternatively or at the same time, as desired. Closing the sensing lead circuit upsets the balance of the control grid circuit and causes tube 89 to fire and energize relay 83 to close

contacts

82, 85 which energize the vacuum generator unit 22. Thus, immediately upon insertion of hose connector .62 into an outlet the vacuum system is automatically energized. No tools or keys or other procedure is necessary. Similarly, when the operator is finished using the vacuum system the system is automatically de-energized upon withdrawal of the hose connector 62 from the outlet. This withdrawal restores the control grid circuit to its normal condition and causes tube 89 to stop firing.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred It will be appreciated that a number of wall outlets may be added and the piping and wiring extended to provide its service for any number of floors. In addition, various changes may be made in the shape,

Also, if desired,

resistors

96, 102 and

contacts

101, 103 may be omitted and two resistors of equal value, preferably about 2200 ohms, substituted for resistor 96 and the conductor 105 connected. between the substituted resistors. Equivalent elements may be'substituted for those described herein,

'parts may be reversed and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Vacuum cleaner apparatus comprising a vacuum generating unit, a vacuum outlet spaced away from said generating unit, conduit means connected between the vacuum generating unit and said outlet for passing air at a reduced pressure, and a conduit sensing circuit for actuating said vacuum generating unit, said conduit sensing circuit including said conduit means and said vacuum generating unit, an electrical switch means mounted on said outlet, an electrical connector which is adapted to be inserted into said switch means to acfi'vate the conduit sensing circuit, a source of electrical power connected in said sensing circuit, and a control device connected in said conduit sensing circuit responsive to the insertion of said connector to actuate said control device which in turn actuates said vacuum generating unit.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein one side of said switch means is grounded.

3. The vacuum cleaner apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said adjustable control device includes an electrical control circuit having relay means for closing the circuit between said source of electrical power and said vacuum generating unit for actuating said vacuum generating unit, and a gas tube connected in the electrical control circuit with the coil of said relay means forming a part of the plate circuit of said gas tube, said tube having a control grid circuit having variable biasing resistor means to set up a desired negative bias which must be overcome to fire the tube, said control grid circuit being connected in parallel with the portion of said conduit sensing circuit outside said control device so that closing said conduit sensing circuit by inserting said electrical connector in said switch means overcomes the bias of the control grid circuit to fire said tube and close said relay rneans to energize said vacuum generating unit.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein is pro vided a transformer connected between said source of electrical power and said tube so that the current in said conduit sensing circuit is of a safe, low magnitude.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein shielding means for preventing interference with electrical appliances such as television sets is positioned around the tube of the control device.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said I outlet includes a conduit for passing air at reduced pressure, and said switch means includes a post fixed to said conduit and electrically insulated therefrom and electrically connected in said conduit sensing circuit, and a contact member mounted on said post and positioned within and spaced away from said conduit and arranged to receive said electrical connector means whereby to close said conduit sensing circuit for automatically enerizing said vacuum cleaner system.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said outlet includes a conduit for passing air at reduced pres- 7 sure, and said switch means includes a post fixed to and References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 789,799 Dinspel May 16, 1905 6 Kellogg Feb. 5, 1918 Robinson Mar. 16, 1937 Wolfner Dec. 22, 1942 Wolfner July 27, 1944 Boothroyd July 29, 1947 Dudley Jan. 23, 1951 Cogshall May 13, 1952