Modular vehicular vacuum cleaning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10328907-B2
Application number	US-201715473161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning system for a vehicle includes a debris collection unit, a fluid conduit connected to an outlet of the debris collection unit, and a vacuum suction unit fluidly connected to the debris collection unit by the fluid conduit. The debris collection unit defines a storage cavity for storing debris collected by the vacuum cleaning system, and is positionable in a first compartment of the vehicle. The vacuum suction unit is located remote from the debris collection unit, and is positionable in a second compartment of the vehicle separate from the first compartment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaning system for a vehicle, the vacuum cleaning system comprising:
a debris collection unit defining a storage cavity for storing debris collected by the vacuum cleaning system, the debris collection unit positionable in a first compartment of the vehicle;
a fluid conduit connected to an outlet of the debris collection unit; and
a vacuum suction unit fluidly connected to the debris collection unit by the fluid conduit, wherein the vacuum suction unit includes an electric motor and a fan operatively connected to the electric motor for generating suction within the fluid conduit and the debris collection unit, the vacuum suction unit located remote from the debris collection unit and positionable in a second compartment of the vehicle separate from the first compartment.

2. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 further comprising a filter fluidly connected downstream from the fluid conduit, the motor, and the fan.

3. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 further comprising a filter fluidly connected between the debris collection unit and the vacuum suction unit and positioned upstream from the fluid conduit.

4. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the debris collection unit includes an inlet configured for connection to a vacuum cleaner tool, and an outlet connected to the fluid conduit.

5. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the debris collection unit includes an interface panel, the interface panel including a vacuum connection port configured for connection to a vacuum cleaner tool.

6. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the debris collection unit includes an interface panel including at least one of an input device and an output device, the at least one input device and output device electrically connected to the vacuum suction unit via an electrical conduit disposed within an air flow passage defined by the fluid conduit.

7. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one input device and output device includes an activation switch for controlling power supply to the vacuum suction unit.

8. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 6 , wherein the fluid conduit has one of an elliptical and a rectangular cross-section with an aspect ratio of between 2:1 and 20:1.

9. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the debris collection unit includes an interface panel including an activation switch configured to activate the vacuum suction unit, and wherein the interface panel is operable to wirelessly transmit activation and deactivation signals to the vacuum suction unit.

10. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the debris collection unit includes a debris container removably connected to the debris collection unit, the debris container defining the storage cavity.

11. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein an electrical conduit is disposed within an air flow passage defined by the fluid conduit.

12. A vehicle comprising:
a plurality of compartments;
an energy storage device; and
a vacuum cleaning system including:
a debris collection unit defining a storage cavity for storing debris collected by the vacuum cleaning system, the debris collection unit located in a first compartment of the plurality of compartments;
a fluid conduit connected to an outlet of the debris collection unit; and
a vacuum suction unit fluidly connected to the debris collection unit by the fluid conduit and electrically connected to the energy storage device, the vacuum suction unit located remote from the debris collection unit and positioned in a second compartment of the vehicle separate from the first compartment.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the debris collection unit is located within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the vacuum suction unit is located within one of a cargo compartment of the vehicle, a trunk of the vehicle, and a truck bed of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the debris collection unit is located within one of a door panel compartment of the vehicle and a floor panel compartment of the vehicle.

16. A vehicle comprising:
a plurality of compartments; and
a vacuum cleaning system including:
a debris collection unit defining a storage cavity for storing debris collected by the vacuum cleaning system;
a fluid conduit connected to an outlet of the debris collection unit; and
a vacuum suction unit fluidly connected to the debris collection unit by the fluid conduit, the vacuum suction unit located remote from the debris collection unit, wherein the debris collection unit and the vacuum suction unit are located within the same compartment of the plurality of compartments, and wherein the fluid conduit extends through an interpanel cavity of the vehicle, separate from the compartment in which the debris collection unit and the vacuum suction unit are located, to fluidly connect the debris collection unit to the vacuum suction unit.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 further comprising an energy storage device, wherein the vacuum suction unit is electrically connected to the energy storage device.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the debris collection unit and the vacuum suction unit are located within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the debris collection unit and the vacuum suction unit are located within a cargo compartment of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the debris collection unit and the vacuum suction unit are located within one of a trunk of the vehicle and a truck bed of the vehicle.

21. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the debris collection unit and the vacuum suction unit are located within one of a door panel compartment of the vehicle and a floor panel compartment of the vehicle.

22. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein an electrical conduit is disposed within an air flow passage defined by the fluid conduit.

Assignees

• Emerson Electric Co

Inventors

• Williams Matthew A
• Wall Alex J

Classifications

• B60S1/64 Primary

  for cleaning vehicle interiors, e.g. built-in vacuum cleaners · CPC title

• A47L9/2857

  User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays · CPC title

• A47L9/2884

  Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation · CPC title

• A47L9/2894

  Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L9/2842

  Suction motors or blowers · CPC title