Vacuum conduit attachment tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12453452-B2
Application number	US-202418412095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2024
Priority date	Mar 31, 2023
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

A vacuum conduit pipe adapter includes a hollow body extending from a first end to a second end, a vacuum conduit connector positioned at the second end of the hollow body and operable to connect the vacuum conduit pipe adapter to a vacuum system, and a pipe connector positioned at the first end of the hollow body. The pipe connector includes a plurality of cylindrical fitments, where each fitment is formed circumferentially about a respective central axis and includes an inner surface having an inner diameter sized to receive a pipe having a different diameter than the other fitments. The central axis of each fitment is radially offset from the central axis of each other fitment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum conduit pipe adapter comprising:
a hollow body extending from a first end to a second end and defining a flow path;
a vacuum conduit connector positioned at the second end of the hollow body and operable to connect the vacuum conduit pipe adapter to a vacuum system; and
a pipe connector positioned at the first end of the hollow body, wherein the pipe connector comprises a plurality of cylindrical fitments, wherein each fitment is formed circumferentially about a respective central axis and includes an inner surface having an inner diameter sized to receive a pipe having a different diameter than the other fitments, wherein the central axis of each fitment is radially offset from the central axis of each other fitment.

2. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 1 , wherein each fitment includes a corresponding stop surface positioned to engage an end of a pipe to inhibit further insertion of the pipe into the pipe connector and to at least partially seal a flow path between the vacuum conduit pipe adapter and the pipe.

3. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 2 , wherein each fitment extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the stop surface of each fitment extends radially inward from the inner surface at the first end of the fitment, to the second end of an adjacent fitment.

4. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 3 , wherein the stop surface is oriented perpendicular to the central axis of the corresponding fitment.

5. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 1 , wherein the pipe connector includes at least three fitments.

6. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 5 , wherein a first fitment of the plurality of cylindrical fitments is sized and shaped to receive a pipe diameter of about ¾ inches, wherein a second fitment of the plurality of cylindrical fitments is sized and shaped to receive a pipe diameter of about 1 inch, wherein a third fitment of the plurality of cylindrical fitments is sized and shaped to receive a pipe diameter of about 1¼ inches, wherein a fourth fitment of the plurality of cylindrical fitments is sized and shaped to receive a pipe diameter of about 1½ inches, and wherein a fifth fitment of the plurality of cylindrical fitments is sized and shaped to receive a pipe diameter of about 2 inches.

7. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 1 , wherein each fitment extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the inner surface of each fitment is radially tapered towards the respective central axis of the fitment, over at least one tapered portion between the second end of the respective fitment and the first end of the respective fitment.

8. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of reinforcement fins connected to an outer surface of the fitments and to the second end of the vacuum conduit connector.

9. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement fins includes four reinforcement fins spaced circumferentially apart from one another by 90°.

10. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 9 , wherein at least three of the reinforcement fins extend from the second end of the vacuum conduit connector to a middle fitment of the plurality of fitments.

11. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 1 , wherein the pipe connector and the vacuum conduit connector are connected together at approximately a midpoint of the vacuum conduit pipe adapter between the first end and the second end.

12. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 1 , wherein the pipe connector extends from a first end joined to the vacuum conduit connector to a second, free end.

13. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum conduit pipe adapter is constructed from flexible rubber.

14. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum conduit connector comprises:
an inner collar having an inner diameter sized to receive a first vacuum conduit having a first diameter; and
an outer collar having an inner diameter sized to receive a second vacuum conduit having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the outer collar formed separately from the inner collar and connected to the inner collar.

15. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 14 , wherein the inner collar comprises a deflectable tab comprising a plurality of teeth operable to engage a locking mechanism of the first vacuum conduit.

16. A vacuum conduit pipe adapter comprising:
a hollow body extending from a first end to a second end and defining a flow path;
a vacuum conduit connector positioned at the second end of the hollow body, the vacuum conduit connector comprising:
an inner collar having an inner diameter sized to receive a first vacuum conduit having a first diameter; and
an outer collar having an inner diameter sized to receive a second vacuum conduit having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the outer collar formed separately from the inner collar and connected to the inner collar; and

a pipe connector positioned at the first end of the hollow body, wherein the pipe connector comprises a plurality of cylindrical fitments arranged in a stepped, eccentric configuration, wherein each fitment is sized and shaped to receive a pipe having a different diameter than the other fitments.

17. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 16 , wherein each fitment includes a corresponding stop surface positioned to engage an end of a pipe to inhibit further insertion of the pipe into the pipe connector and to at least partially seal a flow path between the vacuum conduit pipe adapter and the pipe.

18. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 16 , wherein the pipe connector includes at least three fitments.

19. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of reinforcement fins connected to an outer surface of the fitments and to the second end of the vacuum conduit connector.

20. The vacuum conduit pipe adapter of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement fins includes four reinforcement fins spaced circumferentially apart from one another by 90°.

Assignees

• Emerson Electric Co

Inventors

• Williams Matthew A
• Hill Jason E
• Burch Christopher

Classifications

• A47L9/02

  Nozzles (suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00) · CPC title

• A47L5/36 Primary

  Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back · CPC title

• A47L9/242 Primary

  Hose or pipe couplings · CPC title