U.S. patent application number 17/711182 was filed with the patent office on 2022-07-14 for modular vacuum system.
The applicant listed for this patent is MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Jason R. Crowe, Justin D. Dorman.
Application Number | 20220218166 17/711182 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220218166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dorman; Justin D. ; et
al. |
July 14, 2022 |
MODULAR VACUUM SYSTEM
Abstract
A modular vacuum system includes a plurality of power heads
configured to be removably coupled to a plurality of canisters,
each canister having a debris collection chamber of a different
capacity, a first power source configured to output a first
voltage, and a second power source configured to output the first
voltage. A first power head of the plurality of power heads is
configured to receive the first power source, and includes a first
suction motor rated to operate at a first performance level defined
by the first voltage. A second power head of the plurality of power
heads is configured to receive the first power source with the
second power source, and includes a second suction motor rated to
operate at a second performance level greater than the first
performance level.
Inventors: |
Dorman; Justin D.;
(Wauwatosa, WI) ; Crowe; Jason R.; (Wauwatosa,
WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION |
Brookfield |
WI |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/711182 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16426068 |
May 30, 2019 |
11291339 |
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17711182 |
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62680134 |
Jun 4, 2018 |
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International
Class: |
A47L 5/36 20060101
A47L005/36; A47L 9/00 20060101 A47L009/00; A47L 9/22 20060101
A47L009/22 |
Claims
1. A modular vacuum system comprising: a plurality of canisters,
wherein each of the plurality of canisters includes a capacity
different from another one of the plurality of canisters, each
canister being configured to store debris; a plurality of power
heads, wherein each of the plurality of power heads can be coupled
to any one of the plurality of canisters, the plurality of power
heads including a first power head including a first suction motor
rated for a first performance level and configured to receive a
range of different voltages, and a second power head including a
second suction motor rated for a second performance level higher
than the first performance level and configured to receive the
range of different voltages; and a wheeled base that can
selectively receive each of the canisters.
2. The modular vacuum system of claim 1, wherein the wheeled base
includes a release that can be actuated to remove the canisters
from the wheeled base.
3. The modular vacuum system of claim 2, wherein the release is
foot actuated lever, the wheeled base further including a handle
graspable by a user to move the wheeled base and one or more brakes
selectively locking movement of the wheeled base.
4. The modular vacuum system of claim 1, further comprising a first
battery configured to provide a first voltage and a second battery
configured to provide a second voltage.
5. The modular vacuum system of claim 4, wherein the first battery
and the second battery are configured to provide the range of
different voltages.
6. The modular vacuum system of claim 4, wherein each of the
plurality of power heads further includes an AC power input
configured to provide the range of different voltages with the
first battery and the second battery.
7. The modular vacuum system of claim 6, wherein the AC power input
can be used to charge the first battery and the second battery.
8. The modular vacuum system of claim 1, wherein each of the
plurality of canisters includes an open upper end and a closed
lower end, the open upper end of each of the plurality of canisters
having a commonly sized and shaped perimeter.
9. The modular vacuum system of claim 8, wherein the commonly sized
and shaped perimeter of each of the plurality of canisters has a
polygonal cross-section.
10. The modular vacuum system of claim 2, wherein each of the
plurality of canisters includes an open upper end and a closed
lower end, the closed lower end of each of the plurality of
canisters having a commonly sized and shaped perimeter.
11. The modular vacuum system of claim 10, wherein the wheeled base
includes a support area configured to receive the commonly sized
and shaped closed lower end of each of the plurality of canisters,
each of the plurality of canisters being selectively lockable in
the support area, and wherein the release can be actuated to unlock
the canisters from within the support area.
12. A modular vacuum system comprising: a first canister configured
to store debris, the first canister having a first capacity; a
second canister configured to store debris, the second canister
having a second capacity greater than the first capacity; a first
power head selectively coupled to either the first canister or the
second canister, the first power head including a first suction
motor rated for a first performance level, and a single battery
receptacle in electrical communication with the first suction
motor; a second power head selectively coupled to either the first
canister or the second canister, the second power head including a
second suction motor rated for a second performance level greater
than the first performance level, and a plurality of battery
receptacles in electrical communication with the second suction
motor.
13. The modular vacuum system of claim 12, wherein the single
battery receptacle of the first power head is configured to receive
a first battery capable of providing a first voltage or a second
battery capable of providing a second voltage greater than the
first voltage, and wherein each of the plurality of battery
receptacles of the second power head is configured to receive the
first battery and the second battery.
14. The modular vacuum system of claim 13, wherein the first
suction motor can be powered by the first battery or the second
battery but is only rated for the first performance level.
15. The modular vacuum system of claim 14, wherein the second
suction motor can be powered by the first battery, the second
battery, or both, but is only rated for the second performance
level.
16. The modular vacuum system of claim 15, further comprising a
base including one or more wheels, a support area configured to
receive a closed lower end of the first canister and the second
canister, the first canister and the second canister each being
selectively and interchangeably lockable in the support area, and a
release that can be actuated to unlock each of the first canister
and the second canister from within the support area, thereby
allowing separation from the base.
17. A modular vacuum system comprising: a plurality of power heads
configured to be removably coupled to a plurality of canisters,
each canister having a debris collection chamber of a different
capacity; a first power source configured to output a first
voltage; and a second power source configured to output the first
voltage, wherein a first power head of the plurality of power heads
is configured to receive the first power source, and includes a
first suction motor rated to operate at a first performance level
defined by the first voltage, and wherein a second power head of
the plurality of power heads is configured to receive the first
power source with the second power source, and includes a second
suction motor rated to operate at a second performance level
greater than the first performance level.
18. The modular vacuum system of claim 17, wherein the first power
head is further configured to receive a third power source
configured to output a voltage different than the first voltage,
but is restricted from operating above the first performance
level.
19. The modular vacuum system of claim 18, wherein the second power
head is further configured to receive the third power source.
20. The modular vacuum system of claim 17, wherein each of the
plurality of power heads further includes an AC power input
configured to charge the first power source and the second power
source, and further configured to provide voltage to first suction
motor and the second suction motor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S.
Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/426,068, filed May
30, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,291,339, which claims priority to
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/680,134 filed on Jun. 4,
2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners.
[0003] Vacuum cleaners may include a power head including a fan and
a motor for generating a suction airflow. The suction airflow
supplied by the vacuum cleaner is often used for collecting debris
and depositing the debris in a collector or compartment. These
collectors are often removable from the power head to empty the
collector
SUMMARY
[0004] In one embodiment, the invention provides a modular vacuum
system including a first canister with a first capacity configured
to store debris, a second canister with a second capacity greater
than the first capacity, a first power head and a second power
head. The first power head is coupled to either the first canister
or the second canister. The first power head is operable at a first
voltage to generate a first suction airflow, and the first power
head can be coupled to the first canister such that the first
canister receives the first suction airflow. The first canister
stores debris separated from the first suction airflow. The first
power head can be coupled to the second canister such that the
second canister receives the first suction airflow. The second
canister stores debris separated from the first suction airflow.
The second power head can be coupled to either the first canister
or the second canister. The second power head is operable at a
second voltage, greater than the first voltage, to generate a
second suction airflow, and the second power head can be coupled to
the first canister such that the first canister receives the second
suction airflow. The first canister stores debris separated from
the second suction airflow. The second power head can be coupled to
the second canister such that the second canister receives the
second suction airflow. The second canister stores debris separated
from the second suction airflow.
[0005] In another embodiment, the invention provides a modular
vacuum system including a first canister with a first capacity
configured to store debris, a second canister with a second
capacity greater than the first capacity, and a power head that can
be coupled to either the first canister or the second canister. The
power head is operable to generate a suction airflow. The power
head can be coupled to the first canister such that the first
canister receives the suction airflow and the first canister stores
debris separated from the suction airflow. The power head can be
coupled to the second canister having a greater capacity than the
first canister such that the second canister receives the suction
airflow and the second canister stores debris separated from the
suction airflow.
[0006] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by
consideration of the detailed description and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the modular vacuum system
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the modular vacuum system of
FIG. 1 with a canister and a power head removed from a cart.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the power head removed from
the canister.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a variety of canisters with mating
cross-sections corresponding to a mating cross-section of the power
head.
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates a variety of canister paired with a
variety of power heads.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways.
[0013] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a modular vacuum system 10. The modular
vacuum system 10 includes a first power head 12, a second power
head 14, a first canister 16, a second canister 17, a third
canister 18 and a base 20. The power heads 12, 14 can be connected
to canisters 16, 17, 18 by using a latch 19, and the canisters 16,
17, 18 can be connected to the base 20. The latch 19 can be
actuated to lock or release the power heads 12, 14 to the canisters
16, 17, 18. The power heads 12, 14 have different performance
levels and the canisters 16, 17, 18 have different capacities.
Therefore, the user can select the power head performance, the
canister size, and the base 20 for a modular and custom design to
fit the user's needs.
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates the first power head 12 and the second
power head 14. The first power head 12 has a first performance
level and includes a first fan 21 and a first motor 22. The second
power head 14 has a second performance level generally exceeding
the first performance level and includes a second fan 23 and a
second motor 24. The first performance level has a first voltage
and the second performance level has a second voltage greater than
the first voltage. The first voltage is provided by an 18 volt
lithium-ion battery 25. The second voltage is provided by two of
the 18 volt lithium-ion batteries 25 that create a 36 volt system.
In other embodiments, different battery voltages can be used. In
another embodiment, the power heads 12, 14 include an AC power
input 26 to charge the 18 volt lithium-ion battery 25, and/or to
power the power heads 12, 14 when the 18 volt lithium-ion battery
25 is not used. In yet another embodiment, the power heads 12, 14
may be only powered by the AC power input 26. The power heads 12,
14 may include a horizontal filter. The filter is interchangeable
for various purposes--wet, dust, HEPA, etc. In one embodiment, the
filter includes a visual indicator on the side of the filter so the
user knows what type of filter (e.g. wet, dust, HEPA, etc.) is
installed.
[0015] As shown in the FIGS. 4 and 5, the canisters 16, 17, 18 have
multiple canister sizes. In the illustrated embodiment, the first
canister 16 has a capacity ranging from two gallons to six gallons.
The second canister 17 has a capacity ranging seven gallons to
sixteen gallons. In other embodiments the canisters 16, 17, 18 may
have capacities ranging from two gallons to twenty gallons. The
canisters 16, 17, 18 have an open upper end 27 and a closed lower
end 28. FIG. 5 illustrates the first canister 16 with a first
height 30 measured from the open upper end 27 to the closed lower
end 28. The second canister 17 has a second height 31 and the third
canister 18 has a third height 32. The shape of the open upper end
27 has a first polygonal cross-section 33 and the shape of the
closed lower end 28 has a second polygonal cross-section 34. The
size and shape of the open upper end 27 and closed lower end 28 are
consistent across the canisters 16, 17, 18. Therefore, the capacity
of each canister in the illustrated embodiments is varied by the
heights 30, 31, 32 of the canisters 16, 17, 18. The canisters 16,
17, 18 can connect with the power heads 12, 14 at the open upper
end 27, and they can connect to the base 20 at the closed lower end
28.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 20 includes a handle
38, a release 40, a wheels 41, and a brake 42. The release 40 is
used for unlocking the canisters 16, 17, 18 from the base 20 (e.g.,
for emptying or for changing the canister or the base). In the
illustrated embodiment, the handle 38 is an adjustable handle
connected to the base 20 used to move the canisters 16, 17, 18 when
they are attached to the base 20. The release 40 is a release lever
actuated to remove the canisters 16, 17, 18 from the base 20. In
one embodiment, the release 40 may be foot actuated release lever.
In the illustrated embodiment, the brake 42 prevents the base 20
from moving by locking at least one of the wheels 41.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the canisters 16, 17, 18 can stand
freely without the base 20. That is, the canisters 16, 17, 18 can
be set on the ground, and the modular vacuum system 10 can be used
without the base 20. In some embodiments, the canisters 16, 17, 18
may include integrated handle(s) for emptying.
[0018] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the modular vacuum
system 10 includes an inlet 44 attached to the first power head 12.
A hose 48 is removably coupled to the inlet 44. During the
operation of the modular vacuum system 10, the first motor 22 is
operated at the first voltage to generate a first suction airflow
through the inlet 44. The first suction airflow collects debris
that passes through the inlet 44. The debris is separated from the
first suction airflow and stored in the canisters 16, 17, 18. In
one embodiment, the inlet 44 may be attached to the second power
head 14. In that embodiment, the second motor 24 generates a second
suction airflow through the inlet 44, where the second suction
airflow collects debris, and the debris is separated from the
second suction airflow and deposited in the canisters 16, 17, 18.
FIG. 5 illustrates the modularity of the modular vacuum system 10
illustrates the canisters 16, 17, 18 coupled to the power heads 12,
14 such that the canisters 16, 17, 18 may receive the first or
second suction airflow generated by the power heads 12, 14. In yet
another embodiment, the inlet 44 may be attached the canisters 16,
17, 18.
* * * * *