Central vacuum system and inlet valves therefor

Abstract

A central vacuum system includes a primary valve box or inlet and a secondary inlet. The central vacuum system includes a hose with a hose plug at the end thereof. The hose is stored in the primary valve box and may be extracted and attached to the secondary inlet. The secondary inlet includes features that enable the hose plug to connect with the secondary inlet. The secondary inlet includes at least one flex member that is configured to connect, in a releasable manner, with a channel formed in the hose plug. The flex member on the secondary inlet includes a section or portion thereof that moves radially relative to a longitudinal axis of the secondary inlet. The portion that moves radially may include a curved profile. This enables the flex member to wrap around a circumferential portion of the hose plug.

1 . A method comprising:
 inserting a hose plug into a secondary valve of a central vacuum system, wherein the secondary valve includes a first moveable member;   moving a curved section on the first moveable member radially relative to an axis of the secondary valve through a cutout section defined by secondary valve;   connecting, in a releasable manner, the hose plug to the first moveable member to position the curved section in an annular channel defined by the hose plug; and   wherein a portion of the first moveable member extends through the cutout section when the first moveable member is moved radially towards the axis to fit the curved section within the annular channel that is adapted to be coupled to a vacuum hose adjacent an end of the vacuum hose.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the curved section of the first moveable member is accomplished by a biasing force that linearly translates the curved section in a radial direction relative to the axis. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the curved section is concavely curved, further comprising:
 positioning the concavely curved section on the first moveable member adjacent a cylindrical wall of the hose plug, wherein the cylindrical wall defines a portion of the annular channel.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 extracting the hose plug from a primary valve of the central vacuum system prior to inserting the hose plug into the secondary valve.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 moving the curved section on the first movable member radially away from the axis to disconnect the hose plug from the secondary valve.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the curved section of the moveable member is accomplished by translating the moveable member linearly and radially through the cutout section defined by the secondary valve. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 exposing a port that defines an aperture in the secondary valve;   moving the hose plug towards the port in a direction parallel or coaxial with the axis of the secondary valve;   moving a wall on the hose plug past the first moveable member, wherein passing the wall on the hose plug by the first moveable causes the curved section on the first moveable member to move radially relative to the axis.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 contacting the wall on the hose plug with a chamfered surface on the curved section on the first moveable member.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sealing the hose plug to the port, wherein when sealed, a seal on the hose plug engages a portion of the secondary valve.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 occupying, by the curved section on the first moveable member, a portion of a port that defines an aperture in the secondary valve, wherein the portion that is occupied by the curved section on the first member has an arc length that is in a range from about five percent to about twenty percent of a total 360 degree circumference of the port.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disconnecting the hose plug from the secondary valve, wherein disconnecting the hose plug from the secondary valve is accomplished by rotating the hose plug about the axis.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein disconnecting the hose from the secondary valve further comprises:
 contacting a cam disposed within the annular channel of the hose plug with the first moveable member, wherein the cam pushes the curved section on the first moveable member radially away from the axis; and   pulling the hose plug away from the secondary valve in a direction that is parallel or coaxial with the axis of the secondary valve.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary valve further includes a second moveable member, further comprising:
 moving a curved section on the second moveable member radially relative to the axis of the secondary valve through a second cutout section defined by secondary valve; and   disposing the curved section on the second moveable member in the annular channel defined by the hose plug.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the second moveable member extends through the second cutout section when the second moveable member is moved radially towards the axis to fit the curved section on the second moveable member within the annular channel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second moveable member is diametrically opposite the first moveable member relative to the axis that extends centrally through an aperture defined by the secondary valve. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 occupying, by the curved section on the second moveable member, a portion of a port that defines an aperture in the secondary valve, wherein the portion that is occupied by the curved section on the first member has an arc length that is in a range from about five percent to about twenty percent of a total 360 degree circumference of the port.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 exposing a port that defines an aperture in the secondary valve;   moving the hose plug towards the port in a direction parallel or coaxial with the axis of the secondary valve; and   moving a wall on the hose plug past the second moveable member, wherein passing the wall on the hose plug by the second moveable causes the curved section on the second moveable member to move radially relative to the axis.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 contacting the wall on the hose plug with a chamfered surface on the curved section on the second moveable member.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 disconnecting the hose plug from the secondary valve, wherein disconnecting the hose plug from the secondary valve is accomplished by rotating the hose plug about the axis;   contacting a cam disposed within the annular channel of the hose plug with the second moveable member, wherein the cam pushes the curved section on the second moveable member radially away from the axis; and   pulling the hose plug away from the secondary valve in a direction that is parallel or coaxial with the axis of the secondary valve.