Convertible vacuum system

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-01-25
WHIRLPOOL CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, a lot of owners of central vacuum systems also own a portable vacuum in that there is inevitably some place in the home where the central vacuum cannot reach or they desire to vacuum outside the home, say a car or garage, where the central vacuum was not designed to reach.

Method used

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  • Convertible vacuum system
  • Convertible vacuum system
  • Convertible vacuum system

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0051] Exemplary embodiments of a retraction stop mechanism 154 and an extension stop mechanism 156 are illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. Looking at FIG. 9, an retraction stop mechanism 154 includes a hose conduit 158 extending upwardly from the upper aperture in the gearbox 122, and terminates in an annular slot 160 at or beneath the collar 34. A limit switch 162, preferably in the form of a microswitch, is mounted within the storage compartment 24 adjacent the annular slot 160. A trigger 164 is mounted within the annular slot 160 and movable between a first position where it engages the limit switch 162 and a second position where it does not engage the limit switch. The trigger 164 is preferably biased to the second position. The upper end of the vacuum hose 28 near the handle 32 carries an annular sleeve 166 sized to be received within the annular slot 160. When the annular sleeve 166 is nested within the annular slot 160, it urges the trigger 164 to the first position where it eng...

second embodiment

[0052] Looking now at Fig. 1O, a retraction stop mechanism 154′ includes a hose conduit 158 extending upwardly from the upper aperture 128 in the gearbox 122. The hose conduit 158 terminates in an annular cup 170. A limit switch 172, preferably in a form of a microswitch, is mounted within the annular cup 170. A compression spring 174 extends upwardly from the bottom of the annular cup 170 and surrounds but does not engage the vacuum hose 28. A sleeve 176 is secured to the upper end of the compression spring 174, and has an open socket 178 at an upper end thereof. A nub 180 depends from the sleeve 176 outside the compression spring 174 in line to engage the limit switch 172 when the compression spring 174 is compressed, but not engage the limit switch 172 when the compression spring 174 is uncompressed. The open socket 178 is sized to contact the lower end of the handle 32, yet to allow the vacuum hose 28 to move freely through it. In operation, as the vacuum hose 28 approaches its ...

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PUM

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Abstract

A vacuum system has a cabinet that can be mounted to a wall. The cabinet includes a hose extendable form the cabinet between retracted and extended positions. A portable vacuum unit can be removably docked to the cabinet and has a tank and inlet port in fluid communication with the tank. It also has an electrically operated vacuum source. The cabinet has a controller for selectively delivering power to a socket in the cabinet. When the portable vacuum unit is docked to the cabinet with the proximal end connected to the inlet port, and when the controller delivers power to the socket, the hose can be used to vacuum waste into the tank.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The invention relates generally to vacuum systems, and more particularly to the connections between a wall mounted vacuum system and a portable vacuum unit. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] While not as popular as portable vacuums, central vacuum systems are found in many residential homes. Central vacuums have a fixed location vacuum unit, which many users find convenient since they do not have to pull the vacuum unit throughout the house. There are two common hose systems for central vacuums. One of which is the movable hose, where a detachable hose can be moved from one vacuum port to another. The vacuum ports are located at strategic locations in the house. In a movable hose system, the user only has to carry the hose from room to room. [0005] The other common hose system is a retractable hose that is stored within a housing at a central location in the house. The hose housing can be located withi...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A47L5/38
CPCA47L5/225A47L5/38A47L7/0038A47L7/0042A47L9/0027A47L9/0063Y02B40/82A47L9/2842A47L9/2889A47L9/2894A47L9/30A47L9/327A47L9/2805Y02B40/00
Inventor ZIMMERLE, JOHNNY W.CLINE, WYATT A.HAWLEY, JOHN J.
Owner WHIRLPOOL CORP
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