US5099544A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum motor switch actuator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-09-10
•
Granted: 1992-03-31
•
Expires: 2010-09-10
Abstract
Abstract Vacuum cleaning apparatus is disclosed with built in air pressure supply lines for operating pneumatic tools. An air operated valve switch actuator is coupled between the pneumatic air pressure and the vacuum motor to make the vacuum motor operate simultaneously with the pneumatic tool. Preferably the vacuum motor operates for a short period after the tool is turned off. The switch actuator has a piston and cylinder arrangement with an inlet and outlet connected in series in the pneumatic pressure line. When the tool is turned on, a pressure drop in a valve chamber adjacent to the outlet causes the piston to move to a forward position where a plunger actuates a vacuum motor switch. When the tool is turned off, pressure is equalized in the valve chamber through a narrow bleeder or by-pass channel. When the pressure is equalized, a spring biases the piston to a rearward position to de-actuate the vacuum motor switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Sam Yamamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:15
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L7/00; A47L7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A switch actuator device, comprising: a tube having a bore therethrough, an open end and a closed end; a piston mounted in the bore for reciprocal movement between a rearward and a forward position, the piston in said forward position being spaced from the closed end to define a valve chamber; the tube open end forming an inlet port adapted to be connected to a supply of gas under pressure, and the tube being provided with an outlet port spaced between the inlet port and the valve chamber adapted to be connected to a pneumatic tool; the piston being dimensioned to block and unblock substantially all of the flow of pressurized gas from the inlet port to the outlet port when in the respective rearward and forward positions; a switch mounted adjacent to the tube closed end and adapted to be activated to contact with the piston when in the forward position; means defining a bleeder passageway open at all times connecting the inlet port to the valve chamber, said bleeder passageway dimensioned to provide a flow rate therethrough such that there is a time delay in gas pressure equalization which causes a time delay in the piston returning to the rearward position when gas flow from the inlet port to the outlet port is stopped; and means for resiliently biasing the piston toward the rearward position and for maintaining the piston spaced away from the closed end, so that the piston moves to the rearward position when pressure is equalized in the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
A switch actuator device, comprising: a tube having a bore therethrough, an open end and a closed end; a piston mounted in the bore for reciprocal movement between a rearward and a forward position, the piston in said forward position being spaced from the closed end to define a valve chamber; the tube open end forming an inlet port adapted to be connected to a supply of gas under pressure, and the tube being provided with an outlet port spaced between the inlet port and the valve chamber adapted to be connected to a pneumatic tool; the piston being dimensioned to block and unblock substantially all of the flow of pressurized gas from the inlet port to the outlet port when in the respective rearward and forward positions; a switch mounted adjacent to the tube closed end and adapted to be activated to contact with the piston when in the forward position; means defining a bleeder passageway open at all times connecting the inlet port to the valve chamber, said bleeder passageway dimensioned to provide a flow rate therethrough such that there is a time delay in gas pressure equalization which causes a time delay in the piston returning to the rearward position when gas flow from the inlet port to the outlet port is stopped; and means for resiliently biasing the piston toward the rearward position and for maintaining the piston spaced away from the closed end, so that the piston moves to the rearward position when pressure is equalized in the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A switch actuator according to claim 1 wherein the piston is loosely fitting in the bore, the bleeder passageway being defined by the space between the piston and the bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A switch actuator according to claim 1 wherein the tube has a side wall chamber extending from the inlet port to the valve chamber to form the bleeder passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A switch actuator according to claim 3 and further comprising a needle valve means mounted in the bleeder passageway for adjusting the gas flow rate therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A switch actuator according to claim 1 wherein the piston is provided with a central passageway and a plurality of side wall orifices communicating therewith, and wherein at least one of said orifices is aligned with the outlet port when the piston is in the forward position for unobstructed flow of gas therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A switch actuator according to claim 1 wherein the piston includes a plunger for actuating the switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A switch actuator according to claim 6 wherein the switch is mounted on the closed end of the tube, and plunger slidably extending through said closed end to contact the switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch actuator according to claim 1 in which the resilient biasing means is a spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A switch actuator according to claim 1 wherein the tube is formed of metal and the piston is fabricated from a rigid plastic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
A combination vacuum cleaning apparatus and pneumatic air pressure outlet comprising: a housing; vacuum cleaning means mounted in the housing having an electric motor driving a suction fan for sucking air through a vacuum hose adapted to be attached to the housing; a pneumatic pressure line having an air pressure outlet mounted in the housing said pressure line being adapted to be connected to a pneumatic air pressure source; and a switch actuator device according to claim 1, the inlet port and outlet port thereof being connected in series in the pneumatic pressure line and the switch thereof being operably connected to the electric motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A combination vacuum cleaning apparatus and pneumatic air pressure outlet as claimed in claim 10 wherein the bleeder passageway is dimensioned to provide a flow rate therethrough such that there is a time delay in gas pressure equalization when gas flow from the inlet port to the outlet port is stopped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A switch actuator according to claim 1 wherein the resilient biasing means is a spring located between the closed end and the piston.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2791657A
Cited
US2916576A
Cited
DE1590412A1
Cited
US3885267A
Cited
GB2098399A
Cited
US4933516A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-31 | 1995-09-30 | 1996-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-31 | 1999-09-30 | 2000-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-31 | 2003-09-30 | 2004-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |