Cube Investments Limited

J Vern Cunningham

Paul Thomas Arato

Daniel Budurea

Paul Charlebois

Mircea Dan Paul

Allen D Muirhead

Timothy J Poupore

Tasneem R Babul Rayani

Tasneem Babul Rayani

Charles D Syverson

Central vacuum cleaning system comprising a vacuum source including: a motor within a motor housing and a motor control circuit connected to the motor; a handle to be held by an operator, a flexible hose for connecting the handle to a conduit system that is connected to the vacuum source; a user input interface at an input location on the handle for controlling an operation of the motor through the motor control circuit; and a communications system to transfer control signals from the user input interface to the motor control circuit wherein the communications system comprises an RF wireless transceiver in the handle, and an RF wireless transceiver at the motor control circuit.

Central vacuum cleaning system control subsystems

A central vacuum cleaning system including a receptacle for receiving dirt; conduits terminating in valves to which a flexible hose may be attached; a motor for generating airflow through the conduits to the receptacle; a motor control circuit controlling power to the motor; and a remote module receiving, through a communications medium from the motor control circuit, signals indicating an operating condition of the central vacuum cleaning system.

A central vacuum cleaning system control subsystem for use in a central vacuum cleaning system having a motor includes a central vacuum unit control module with a receiver for wirelessly receiving command signals, and a power stage for controlling the motor in accordance with command signals received through the receiver. The control module is stable in high ambient temperature. Current flowing to the motor is sensed, and motor overcurrent and undercurrent conditions are determined. The control module determines when the motor is in an overcurrent condition. Power stage has a triac for controlling power to the motor. The control module also has a microprocessor that compares the current sensed against a normal operating current to determine overcurrent condition. Power to motor ceases when overcurrent condition exists. A generator is powered by air flow in a cleaning system for production of electrical energy.

Central vacuum cleaning system control subsytems

A central vacuum cleaning system can include a vacuum unit, a plurality of inlet valves, an exhaust, a cleaning air path from the inlet valves through the vacuum unit to the exhaust, and a control unit. An example control unit can include a power input, a power output, motor control circuitry to control application of power from the power input to the power output, a first port, a second port, a conduit providing a conduit air path between the first port and the second, a heat sink in thermal contact with the conduit air path and a component of the motor control circuitry, wherein the control unit is connected through the first port and the second port in the cleaning air flow path between the inlets and the exhaust, and the power output is connected to a power input of the vacuum unit.

Central vacuum control unit

While a dryer is running, continuously automatically monitor operation of a dryer venting system, and continuously automatically determining if the dryer venting system is operating improperly, and if it is determined that the dryer venting system is operating improperly then automatically disabling the dryer. If the dryer starts running then automatically turning on a booster fan. Operation of booster fan is monitored by sensing the current drawn. Monitoring operation of the venting system through a first controller and automatically disabling the dryer through a second controller. Automatically turn off the booster fan if the dryer is not running. Automatically adjust operating parameters of the dryer venting system in an attempt to operate the venting system properly, and disabling the dryer if the venting system continues to operate improperly after adjustment. Check to determine if the dryer is drawing current to indicate the dryer is running.

Laundry dryer/venting system interlock

A central vacuum cleaning system has multiple vacuum sources. The multiple vacuum sources are connected through pipes to wall valves. In use a hose is plugged into one of the valves. A handle is connected to the hose. A wand extends from the handle. Attachments such as a power brush are connected to the wand. Switches apply power from one or more power sources to the vacuum sources. The application of power by the switches is controlled by a control circuit.

Central vacuum cleaner multiple vacuum source control

Handle has status indicators viewable by operator while viewing location being cleaned and using handle in ordinary cleaning position, and light illuminating location being cleaned. Indicators are LED lamps. Light is an LED lamp. Microphone senses particles and illuminates an indicator. Indicators and light are provided in a housing section that forms part of a housing for handle. Housing section may be integrated with the remainder of the housing, or may be unit that fits into remainder of housing. Light has central axis generally parallel, within approximately five degrees from parallel, with cleaning axis of handle. Indicators each have a central axis generally parallel, within approximately 5 degrees from parallel, with cleaning axis of handle. The indicators have limited beam angle. Indicator viewable over grasping section of handle from towards distal end of handle. The cleaner may be a vacuum cleaner, which may be a central vacuum cleaner.

Cleaner handle and cleaner handle housing sections

Sensor includes electrodes on internal layer of multilayer printed circuit board, and sensing circuitry drives electrodes and reads signal having characteristic based upon capacitance between electrodes. Board may have first layer second layer, with electrodes between layers. One layer may be thicker than other layer such that capacitance external to board is primarily contributed from adjacent other layer. Electrodes may be on internal surface and sensing circuitry may be on opposing external surface. Components for sensing circuitry may be assembled to board such that board and components are multilayer printed circuit board assembly. Circuitry having wireless transmitter and wireless receiver, wherein circuitry has operating mode to transmit signals remotely through transmitter and ship mode wherein transmitter is silenced, and in operating mode circuitry listens for signals indicating transmitted signal has been received, and if receiver has not received acknowledgement one signal then circuitry enters ship mode.

Capacitive probes and sensors, and applications therefor, and multimode wireless devices

A central vacuum cleaning systemhas a central vacuum unitwith a motor, a motor compartment, and a vacuum chamber. The systemalso has a control circuitfor controlling power to the motor, and one or more airborne contaminant sensorsfor sensing contaminants within the system. The sensorsmay be located in pipesmotor compartment, vacuum chamberand hose handle. Vacuum air may be drawn through aperturein wall valve

Central vacuum cleaner control, unit and system with contaminant sensor

A vacuum cleaning system for use in a structure. System has receiver adapted to receive communication that an appliance has been activated, and a control circuit adapted to control the central vacuum cleaning system upon receipt of a communication at the receiver that the appliance has been activated. Example appliances include doorbell, telephone or ERV. System may have a communication module that communicates with corresponding appliance communication module. The system communication module may transmit communications to the appliance communication module. Alternatively, the appliance communication module may transmit communications to the system communications module. The modules may both receive and transmit. Preferably, communications between modules are radio frequency (RF) wireless, however wired communications, where wiring is possible or available, are also suitable.

Central vacuum cleaner cross-controls

An integrated apparatus has a cooling section, a motor section, a suction section and control module. The motor section drives the suction section to draw vacuum air through inlet and exhaust vacuum air through outlet. The motor section also drives the cooling section to draw cooling air through cooling air inlet, and push it through the motor section to cool the motor section. The control module controls the operation of the motor section. The control module is located in the cooling air path after the motor section. The cooling air for the motor section also cools the control module. The cooling section, motor section, suction section and control module are integrally mounted to form a single unit.

Integrated central vacuum cleaner suction device and control

A central vacuum cleaning system hose handle uses a battery, and has a battery compartment and a battery housing. Battery housing is interchangeable with power plug housing. When housing is drawer then drawer and handle have slide mechanism on which drawer extends in and out. First stop limits depth drawer can slide in. Second stop limits depth drawer can extend out. External access prevented when drawer extended to first stop, permitted when drawer extended to second stop. Releasable locking mechanism inhibits drawer from extending out when handle in use. Crib releasably retains battery. Spring electrical contacts at opposing ends of crib. Crib generally formed to profile of battery. Drawer oriented generally parallel to longitudinal wand adapter axis of handle, crib opening away from axis. Alternatively, housing has body with internal chamber to receive battery and an opening to provide access through an aperture in the handle to the chamber.

Central vacuum cleaning system battery housing and handle

A cleaner () has a DC brushless motor () with stator () and rotor (). Stator is mounted on a shaft and rotor is mounted inside and to a tubular body () about stator (). Impeller () is mounted to and outside tubular body (). The motor () and impeller () are mounted in a housing having an intake () and an exhaust (). Operation of the motor and rotation of the impeller causes a partial vacuum at the intake () to draw air. The air is exhausted through the exhaust (). A filter () prevents particles from entering the motor (). Particles are collected in a receptacle () prior to the filter (). The impeller () may be a squirrel cage fan, bladed fan, or centrifugal fan. A secondary exhaust () expels particles from the filter () and/or receptacle () by rotation of the impeller () in an opposite direction or by the use of a secondary DC motor and impeller. The housing () can fit in a cavity between conventional wall studs.

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Aurora, Canada

J Vern Cunningham