US3042765A

US3042765A - Combined wall receptacle and switch

Info

Publication number: US3042765A
Application number: US818695A
Authority: US
Inventors: David H Hunt
Original assignee: Spencer Turbine Co
Current assignee: Spencer Turbine Co
Priority date: 1959-06-08
Filing date: 1959-06-08
Publication date: 1962-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1979-07-03

Description

July 3, 1962 D. H. HUNT COMBINED WALL RECEPTACLE AND SWITCH Filed June 8, 1959 INVENTOR.

Dav/0 Hu/v T.

HTTOENEK Unite 'tTQtCS atent OllilCC 3,042,765 Patented July 3, 1 962 This invention relates to a Combined Wall Receptacle and Switch for central vacuum cleaning systems, and more particularly to a wall receptacle having an electric switch for closing an electric circuit and causing operation of a central vacuum cleaning apparatus upon the insertion of a vacuum cleaner hose into the receptacle.

An object of this invention is to provide improved means for automatically energizing the electric motor of a vacuum cleaning apparatus upon the insertion of a vacuum cleaner hose into a receptacle located in any part of a building containing a central vacuum cleaning system.

A further object is to provide a receptacle which is highly efficient in its operation and trouble-free.

A still further object is to provide an electric switch in a Wall receptacle which is protected against short circuits and which is normally protected against dust and dirt.

pressed outwardly with respect to the switch casing. When the plunger 12 isin its fully extended position, the switch mechanism is open, and when said plunger is depressed, the switch mechanism closes. Said switch is secured to the mounting block 8 by screws 13-13 in a position wherein the plunger 12 projects axially into a radial hole 14 extending through the said wall of the receptacle body 5. The inner end portion of said hole 14 is of a reduced diameter to provide an annular seat 15' in said wall for an operating ball 16 which, when engaged with said seat'15, projects into the bore S-a and prevents the passage of air through the hole 14.

A disc 17 of resilient material, such as rubber or the like, is disposed in the hole 14 between the ball 16 and the plunger 12 to form a resilient connection therebetween through which the plunger 12 may be actuated by outward, radial movement of the ball. Any movement of the ball in excess of that allowed by the plunger is taken up by the resiliency of the disc 17 so as to prevent damage to the electric switch from movement of the plunger 12 beyond the limit allowed in the switch mechanism.

The switch 11 is provided with suitable terminals 7 18-48 to receive the electrical conductors leading to Another object is the provision of novel means for Further objects and advantages of the present invention Will be more fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a wall receptacle constructed in accordace with my invention.

FIG. 2is an end-view thereof with the cover omitted.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end view, partly in section, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, plan view of the electric switch used in said receptacle and the mounting block therefor.

FIG. 5 is a reduced, elevational view of the end of a conventional vacuum cleaner hose which is adaptedto be inserted into said receptacle.

The present invention is primarily intended for use in central vacuum cleaning systems of the conventional type which generally include a central vacuum cleaner that is connected to wall receptacles in various parts of a building by means of suitable piping. It will be readily understood that in such systems all of the wall receptacles must be airtight, otherwise, air could leak into the system through the receptacles which are not in use and severely reduce the efficiency of the system.

The present invention provides a novel switch arrangement which overcomes the above mentioned problem and, as shown in the drawing, may be embodied in a conventional wall receptacle having a tubular body portion 5 with a cylindrical wall defining a hose-receiving bore 5-a extending axially thereof and an external screw thread 6 at its inner end by means of which the receptacle may be connected to the piping of the vacuum cleaner system in the well known manner. A cover 7 is hingedly mounted on said receptacle and is spring pressed to a position normally closing the bore S-a.

In accordance with my invention, a mounting block 8 is secured to a flat surface 9 formed on the exterior of said receptacle by means of a screw 10 which is the relay for the electric motor which drives the vacuum 7 cleaning apparatus. It will be understood that each switch 11 in the vacuum cleaning system is adapted to operate said relay independently so that said motor will be energized whenever the-vacuum cleaner hose is inserted into any one of the/receptacles in the system.

When it is desired to use a vacuum cleaner nozzle in any part of the building in which the system is contained, the cover 7 of the most convenient receptacle is lifted and the conventional tubular connector 19 which is attaohed to the hose 20 (see FIG. 5) is inserted in the bore 5-a of the receptacle. The said connector slidably fits the receptacle and will thus engage the ball 16 and force it outwardly. This will cause depression of the plunger 12, through the'resilient disc 17, to close the electric switch and thereby close the electric circuit to the motor for the vacuum cleaning apparatus to cause operation of said system. In the event that said ball 16 is moved outwardly further than the limit of movement of said plunger 12, any excess movement of the ball will be taken up by the resiliency of the disc 17 and damage to the switch is thereby prevented.

When the hose connector '19 is pulled out of the receptacle, the plunger 12 and the ball 16 will move radially inwardly under the influence of the spring in the switch 11 permitting said switch to open and the ball 16 to assume its normal position against the seat 15 to seal the hole 14 against the passage of air. It will be apparent, therefore, that when the cover 7 is closed no leakage of air into the system can occur through those receptacles which are not'in use.

-I claim:

1. A receptacle for the connector on a vacuum cleaner hose comprising; a body portion having a cylindrical wall defining an axial bore therein to receive said connector communicating with said bore, a supporting block mounted upon the exterior of said wall adjacent to said radial opening, an electric switch mounted on said supporting block and having a spring pressed operating plunger extending therefrom into said radial opening, the inner end of said radial opening being of a reduced diameter to provide a seat, an operating ball movable in said radial opening and seated upon said seat and extending into said bore, and a resilient disc-shaped member between said ball and plunger, the said ball being movable upon the insertion of said hose connector into said bore to cause movement of said plunger through said resilient member for operating said switch.

2. A receptacle for the connector on a vacuum cleaner hose comprising a body portion having a Wall defining a bore therein adapted to receive said connector and an opening extending through said wall radially of and cornmunicating with said bore, an annular seat adjacent the inner end of said opening, an electric switch mounted exteriorly of said body portion, a ball member movable in said opening, said ball member being normally seated upon said annular seat in sealing engagement therewith and when so seated projecting into said bore, and means providing an operative connection between said ball memher and said electric switch, said ball member being engageable by said connector upon insertion thereof into said bore and movable radially outwardly in said opening to cause operation of said switch through said connecting means.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ormiston et a1 July 21, 1908 Kellogg Feb. 5, 1918 Melcher Feb. 22, 1927 Sohwier et a1. Sept. 24, 1929 Steigleder Aug. 30, 1932 Morris July 5, 1938 Cogshall May 13, 1952 De Pascale Nov. 26, 1957 Stoicos Mar. 10, 1959 Scanlan et a1. Dec. 1, 1959