Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HANDHELD VACUUM SUCTION DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a handheld vacuum
suction device, and in particular, to a handheld vacuum
suction device that has a suction nozzle for making an
inflow of moisture into a vacuum pump be minimized, and is
capable of improving durability of a pressure switch for
measuring a degree of vacuum, and simplifying the internal
configuration by using a diaphragm-type vacuum pump.
2. Description of the Related Art
If foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and
dishes, are not stored airtight, they may be spoiled or go
bad quickly due to oxygen in the air. Accordingly, a
vacuum container that maintains a vacuum state therein by
exhausting internal air to the outside is used.
The vacuum container may include an exhaust unit for
exhausting internal air to the outside, but it usually
includes, at one end thereof, a check valve for exhausting
internal air to the outside, and exhausts internal air to
the outside by using an additional vacuum suction device.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum container and a
vacuum suction device according to the related art.
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FIG. 1 shows a vacuum container and a vacuum suction
device described in U.S. Patent No. 5,195,427. A vacuum
container 1 includes a check valve 3. A vacuum suction
device 5 exhausts air in the vacuum container 1 to the
outside by using an internal vacuum pump while coming into
close contact with the check valve 3 of the vacuum
container 1. The vacuum suction device 5 has an actuating
button 7. The vacuum suction device 5 may further include
a display unit 9, such as an LED, for showing the
actuation state.
The vacuum suction device 5 is provided at the tail
end of a suction nozzle, which is attached to the check
valve 3 to suck in air. Inside the vacuum suction device
5, the vacuum pump for forming the vacuum state and a
circuit for controlling the actuation thereof is provided.
Meanwhile, while the vacuum suction device 5 sucks
in air from the vacuum container, moisture may be
exhausted together with air. It is not desirable that
moisture is transferred to the vacuum pump. In the known
vacuum suction device, there is not suggested a unit for
effectively preventing moisture from being transferred to
the vacuum pump.
Furthermore, the known vacuum suction device drives
a piston by means of a crown gear and a connecting rod,
but it is not effective in view of noise or durability.
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In addition, a compact vacuum pump may not be realized.
Furthermore, in the known vacuum suction device, it is not
easy to preserve the vacuum suction device after being
used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been finalized in order to solve
the above-described problems, and it is an object of the
invention to provide a handheld vacuum suction device that
has a suction nozzle for making an inflow of moisture into
a vacuum pump be minimized, and is capable of improving
durability of a pressure switch for measuring a degree of
vacuum, and simplifying the internal configuration by
using a diaphragm-type vacuum pump.
It is another object of the invention to provide a
handheld vacuum suction device that has a stand capable of
conveniently placing a vacuum suction device thereon.
According to an aspect of the invention, a handheld
vacuum suction device includes: an exterior case; a cap
that includes a suction nozzle having a suction port at
its lower portion and a side exhaust hole communicating
with the suction port formed in its side surface, and is
detachably mounted at a lower end of the exterior case; a
pressure switch unit that is provided in the exterior case,
and includes a pressure switch having a slide body
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configured to descend against an elastic force of a spring
when a pressure in the cap falls below a predetermined
pressure, to thereby cut off power supply, and a vertical
through suction duct; a vacuum pump that includes an inlet
port connected to the suction duct and sucks in air in a
diaphragm manner; and a control unit that includes an
actuating switch, and is electrically connected to the
vacuum pump and the pressure switch to control the
actuation of the vacuum pump.
The pressure switch of the pressure switch unit may
include: a conductive contact panel that forms contacts
with a pair of terminals; the slide body, to which the
contact panel is fixedly mounted; a cover that is provided
at a lower portion of the slide body; and the spring that
is provided between the slide body and the cover to
elastically support the slide body. In this case, when
vacuum is completed, the slide body may descend such that
the contact panel is separated from the terminals.
The vacuum pump may include: a motor; a fixture that
has a slant pin configured to be placed apart at a
predetermined distance from a rotation center at its upper
portion and to slant toward the rotation center, and is
coupled to a driving shaft of the motor; a rolling plate
that is coupled to the slant pin to eccentrically shake in
a vertical direction; and a diaphragm unit that has at
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least two diaphragms whose volume is changed according to
the actuation of the rolling plate. In this case, intake
and exhaust operations may be repeatedly performed
according to the change in the volume of the diaphragms.
The handheld vacuum suction device according to the
aspect of the invention may further include a stand that
has a stand main body and a crater-shaped standing portion
at an upper portion of the stand main body, the cap being
inserted into the standing portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum container
and a vacuum suction device according to the related art;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum suction
device according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cap in the
vacuum suction device according to the embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a stand for
placing the vacuum suction device according to the
embodiment of the invention thereon;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum
suction device according to the embodiment of the
invention;
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FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a pressure
switch unit in the vacuum suction device according to the
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a case
where the pressure switch unit of the vacuum suction
device according to the embodiment of the invention is in
a normal state;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a case
where vacuum is completed in the pressure switch unit of
the vacuum suction device according to the embodiment of
the invention;
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a vacuum
pump in the vacuum suction device according to the
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 10(a) is a perspective view showing a case
where an air port and a guide ring are coupled to each
other in the vacuum pump of the vacuum suction device
according to the embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 10(b) is a bottom view of the air port;
FIG. 10(c) is a perspective view of the guide ring;
and
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an intake
operation (a) and an exhaust operation (b) in the vacuum
pump of the vacuum suction device according to the
embodiment of the invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. It should be noted that the same components are
represented by the same reference numerals even if they
are shown in different drawings. In the embodiment of the
invention, detailed description of known structures and
functions incorporated herein will be omitted when it may
make the subject matter of the invention unclear. In the
following description, the exemplary embodiment will be
illustrated and described in detail. However, it should
be understood that the embodiments are not intended to
limit the invention, and various changes, equivalents, and
alternatives are resorted without departing from the
spirit of the invention and fall within the technical
scope of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum suction
device according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cap in
the vacuum suction device according to the embodiment of
the invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a
stand for placing the vacuum suction device according to
the embodiment of the invention thereon.
Referring to FIG. 2, a vacuum suction device 10
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according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention
includes an exterior case 12 and a cap 16 that is
detachably mounted at a lower end of the exterior case 12.
The exterior case 12 is provided with a power supply
portion 14, into which a jack for power supply (not shown)
is inserted. An actuating button 24 is provided at the
top of the exterior case 12. The cap 16, which is
detachably mounted at the lower end of the exterior case
12, is preferably transparent such that a user can view
the inside. A suction nozzle 18 is mounted to the cap 16,
and has a suction port 20 formed at its lower portion of
the suction nozzle 18 and a side exhaust hole 22 formed in
its side surface.
Referring to FIG. 3, the suction port 20 is formed
to communicate with the side exhaust hole 22. The suction
port 20 comes into close contact with an upper end of a
check valve in the vacuum container to function as an
entrance through which air in the vacuum container is
sucked. Meanwhile, the side exhaust hole 22 is formed at
the side of the suction nozzle 18, and thus air sucked
through the suction port 20 is exhausted through the side
surface of the suction nozzle 18. Accordingly, moisture
contained in air exhausted from the vacuum container can
condense in the suction nozzle 18, such that moisture can
be prevented from being supplied directly to the vacuum
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pump.
The vacuum suction device 10 according to the
embodiment of the invention may further include a stand 26.
The stand 26 includes a stand main body 30 and a crater-
shaped standing portion 28 formed at an upper portion of
the stand main body 30. The stand main body 30 may be in
a truncated cone shape. The interior of the standing
portion 28 is formed, as shown in FIG. 4, to correspond to
the exterior shape of the cap 16 in the vacuum suction
device 10. Then, if the vacuum suction device 10 is
placed on the stand 26, the circumference of the cap 16
comes into close contact with the inner surface of the
standing portion 28, such that the vacuum suction device
is stably placed on the stand 26.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum
suction device according to the embodiment of the
invention.
The exterior case 12 of the vacuum suction device 10
is formed by assembling a first case 12a and a second case
12b with each other. The cap 16 is coupled at the tail
end of the exterior case 12. Inside the exterior case 12,
a pressure switch unit 40, a vacuum pump 50, and a control
unit 60 are provided. The actuating button 24 is provided
at the top of the exterior case 12.
The pressure switch unit 40 has a pressure switch
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unit main body 42, a pressure switch 44, which is actuated
according to a degree of vacuum in the cap 16, and a
vertical through suction duct 46. The suction duct 46 is
coupled to an inlet port of the vacuum pump 50. The
vacuum pump 50 includes a motor 52 and a pump housing 54.
The control unit 60 is provided with an actuating switch
62, which is actuated as the actuating button 24 is pushed,
and an LED 64, which displays an actuation state. The
control unit 60 is electrically connected to the power
supply portion 14, the motor 52 of the vacuum pump 50, and
the pressure switch 44. Therefore, the control unit 60 is
supplied with power from the power supply portion 14, and
drives the motor 52 of the vacuum pump 50 according to the
operation of the actuating switch 62. In addition, when a
pressure in the cap 16 falls below a predetermined
pressure, the control unit 60 stops the motor 52 according
to the actuation of the pressure switch 44.
The structures of the pressure switch unit 40 and
the vacuum pump 50 will now be described in detail.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the
pressure switch unit in the vacuum suction device
according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a
cross-sectional view showing a case where the pressure
switch unit of the vacuum suction device according to the
embodiment of the invention is in a normal state. FIG. 8
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is a cross-sectional view showing a case where vacuum is
completed in the pressure switch unit of the vacuum
suction device according to the embodiment of the
invention.
The pressure switch unit main body 42 is provided
with a first terminal insertion hole 74a and a second
terminal insertion hole 74b, into which rod-shaped first
and second terminals 72a and 72b are fixedly inserted.
Wiring lines (not shown) are connected to the terminals 72
fixedly inserted into the terminal insertion holes 74. A
cover fixing hole 89 is formed at a lower portion of the
pressure switch unit main body 42, and a cover 86 is
fixedly fitted thereinto.
A contact panel 76 is provided below the terminals
72. The contact panel 76 is formed of a conductive
material. The contact panel 76 is preferably in a center-
through disc shape. Contacts 77a and 77b are formed in
the contact panel 76 to elastically support and come into
contact with the terminals 72, respectively. The contacts
77a and 77b are a kind of plate spring. The contact panel
76 is fixed to a contact panel fixing portion at an upper
portion of a main body 82 of a slide body 70 by means of
screws.
The slide body 70 includes a cylindrical main body
82 and a slide rod 80, which is coupled at the upper
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center of the main body 82. Engagement protrusions 83a
and 83b are provided at the bottom of the main body 82.
Meanwhile, a first ring engagement groove 81a and a second
ring engagement groove 81b, into which a first ring 78a
and a second ring 78b are correspondingly fitted, are
provided in the side surfaces of the slide rod 80 and the
main body 82, respectively.
The cover 86 is provided below the slide body 70. A
hollow cylindrical spring mounting portion 90 is provided
at the center of the spring cover 86, and engagement
protrusion insertion grooves 92a and 92b are formed at the
sides of the spring mounting portion 90. In addition, the
cover 86 is provided with a cover mounting protrusion 88,
which is formed to extend laterally. The cover mounting
protrusion 88 is fitted into the cover fixing hole 89
formed in the pressure switch unit main body 42, such that
the cover 86 is fixedly mounted to the pressure switch
unit main body 42. Engagement protrusions 83a and 83b of
the slide body 70 are fitted into the engagement
protrusion insertion grooves 92a and 92b of the cover 86,
respectively.
A spring 94 is mounted between the slide body 70 and
the cover 86.
Referring to FIG. 7, in a normal state, the slide
body 70 is elastically supported by the spring 94, and the
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contact panel 76 is in contact with the terminals 72.
Accordingly, if the actuating switch 62 is operated, power
is supplied to the motor 52 of the vacuum pump 50.
If air in the vacuum container is exhausted to the outside
according to the actuation of the vacuum pump 50, the
pressure in the cap 16 is gradually reduced. If the
pressure is reduced to be less than a predetermined
pressure, the slide body 70 descends against an elastic
force of the spring 94. Referring to FIG. 8, if the slide
body 70 descends, the contact panel 76 also descends and
is separated from the terminals 72. Accordingly, power
supplied to the motor 52 of the vacuum pump 50 is cut off,
and the motor 52 is stopped.
Next, the configuration of the vacuum pump 50 will
be described in detail.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a vacuum
pump in the vacuum suction device according to the
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10(a) is a perspective
view showing a case where an air port and a guide ring are
coupled to each other in the vacuum pump of the vacuum
suction device according to the embodiment of the
invention. FIG. 10(b) is a bottom view of the air port.
FIG. 10(c) is a perspective view of the guide ring. FIG.
11 is a diagram illustrating an intake operation (a) and
an exhaust operation (b) in the vacuum pump of the vacuum
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suction device according to the embodiment of the
invention.
The vacuum punip 50 includes the motor 52 and the
pump housing 54. The pump housing 54 is formed by
sequentially assembling a first housing 54a, a second
housing 54b, an air port 150, and a third housing 54c.
Engagement bolts 164 are mounted to the third housing 54c.
The engagement bolts 164 sequentially pass through the air
port 150 and the second housing 54b, and are coupled to
the first housing 54a.
A fixture 100 and a rolling plate 110 are provided
in the first housing 54a. The fixture 100 is coupled to a
driving shaft of the motor 52. A slant pin 102 is
provided at an upper end of the fixture 100 to be placed
apart at a predetermined distance from a rotation center
and to slant toward the rotation center.
The rolling plate 110 has an insertion hole 112
formed at its lower center and actuating wings 114
extending laterally. The actuating wings 114 are provided
in correspondence with the number of diaphragms 122
described below. The slant pin 102 of the fixture 100 is
fitted into the insertion hole 112, such that the rolling
plate 110 eccentrically shakes in a vertical direction
according to the rotation of the fixture 100. That is, if
one actuating wing is at right angle based on the rotation
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center of the rolling plate 110, the other is inclined
based on the rotation center, thereby compressing or
expanding the diaphragms 122 coupled to the actuating
wings 114 of the rolling plate 110.
Through-holes 118, into which the diaphragms 122 are
inserted, are formed in the second housing 54b. The
actuating protrusions 124 of the individual diaphragms 122
pass through the through-holes 118, and are
correspondingly fitted into actuating protrusion insertion
grooves 116 formed in the individual actuating wings 114
of the rolling plate 110.
The diaphragm unit 120 includes a plurality of
diaphragms 122, and preferably, three diaphragms 122, as
shown in FIG. 9. Each actuating protrusion 124 is coupled
to the corresponding diaphragm 122, such that a chamber
126 is formed in the diaphragm 122. An exhaust valve 128
is provided at the upper center of the diaphragm unit 120,
that is, at the center of the diaphragm 122. A guide ring
130 is disposed above the chamber 126 and fitted into a
guide ring insertion groove 134 formed at the bottom of
the air port 150. An intake valve 140 is provided in the
chamber 126 of the diaphragm 122. The diaphragms 122, the
exhaust valves 128, and the intake valves 140 are formed
of flexible materials, and thus they may be easily
deformed by an external force.
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The guide ring 130 is provided with exhaust paths
132, as shown in FIG. 10(c). Accordingly, if the
diaphragm 122 contracts, internal air pushes through the
exhaust valve 128 along the exhaust path 132 of the guide
ring 130 and is exhausted to an exhaust port 152.
Meanwhile, if the diaphragm 122 expands, air is sucked
along an inlet port 160 formed in the third housing 54c
and flows into the chamber 126 via the intake valve 140
along a groove 154 formed at the upper portion of the air
port 150. The inlet port 160 is connected to the suction
duct 46 of the pressure switch unit 40.
The exhaust port 152 of the air port 150 extends to
the outside through an exhaust port exposure hole 162
formed in the third housing 54c. An exhaust port 0-ring
158 is mounted to the circumference of the exhaust port
152.
Referring to FIG. 11, as the rolling plate 110
rotates, an intake operation (a) and an exhaust operation
(b) are sequentially made. Meanwhile, it is preferable
that a boss 170 be formed at the bottom of the second
housing 54b to come into contact with the center of the
rolling plate 110, thereby supporting the central portion
of the rolling plate 110.
Although the invention has been described in
connection with the exemplary embodiments of the present
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invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that various modifications and changes may be made thereto
without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the
above embodiments are not limitative, but illustrative in
all aspects. The scope of the present invention is
defined by the appended claims rather than by the
description preceding them, and all changes and
modifications that fall within metes and bounds of the
claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are
therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.
As described above, according to the invention, a
handheld vacuum suction device that has a compact internal
configuration is provided. In addition, an inflow of
moisture into the vacuum pump can be minimized, the
durability of the pressure switch can be improved, and a
simple structure can be realized. Furthermore, by using a
diaphragm-type vacuum pump, durability and vacuum
efficiency can be increased.
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