Modular vacuum system

Abstract

A modular vacuum system includes a plurality of power heads configured to be removably coupled to a plurality of canisters, each canister having a debris collection chamber of a different capacity, a first power source configured to output a first voltage, and a second power source configured to output the first voltage. A first power head of the plurality of power heads is configured to receive the first power source, and includes a first suction motor rated to operate at a first performance level defined by the first voltage. A second power head of the plurality of power heads is configured to receive the first power source with the second power source, and includes a second suction motor rated to operate at a second performance level greater than the first performance level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular vacuum system comprising:
 a plurality of canisters, wherein each of the plurality of canisters includes a capacity different from another one of the plurality of canisters, each canister being configured to store debris;   a plurality of power heads, wherein each of the plurality of power heads can be coupled to any one of the plurality of canisters, the plurality of power heads including
 a first power head including a first suction motor rated for a first performance level and configured to receive a range of different voltages, and 
 a second power head including a second suction motor rated for a second performance level higher than the first performance level and configured to receive the range of different voltages; and 
   a wheeled base that can selectively receive each of the canisters.   
     
     
         2 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein the wheeled base includes a release that can be actuated to remove the canisters from the wheeled base. 
     
     
         3 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 2 , wherein the release is foot actuated lever, the wheeled base further including a handle graspable by a user to move the wheeled base and one or more brakes selectively locking movement of the wheeled base. 
     
     
         4 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first battery configured to provide a first voltage and a second battery configured to provide a second voltage. 
     
     
         5 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 4 , wherein the first battery and the second battery are configured to provide the range of different voltages. 
     
     
         6 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of power heads further includes an AC power input configured to provide the range of different voltages with the first battery and the second battery. 
     
     
         7 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 6 , wherein the AC power input can be used to charge the first battery and the second battery. 
     
     
         8 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of canisters includes an open upper end and a closed lower end, the open upper end of each of the plurality of canisters having a commonly sized and shaped perimeter. 
     
     
         9 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 8 , wherein the commonly sized and shaped perimeter of each of the plurality of canisters has a polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of canisters includes an open upper end and a closed lower end, the closed lower end of each of the plurality of canisters having a commonly sized and shaped perimeter. 
     
     
         11 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 10 , wherein the wheeled base includes a support area configured to receive the commonly sized and shaped closed lower end of each of the plurality of canisters, each of the plurality of canisters being selectively lockable in the support area, and wherein the release can be actuated to unlock the canisters from within the support area. 
     
     
         12 . A modular vacuum system comprising:
 a first canister configured to store debris, the first canister having a first capacity;   a second canister configured to store debris, the second canister having a second capacity greater than the first capacity;   a first power head selectively coupled to either the first canister or the second canister, the first power head including a first suction motor rated for a first performance level, and a single battery receptacle in electrical communication with the first suction motor;   a second power head selectively coupled to either the first canister or the second canister, the second power head including a second suction motor rated for a second performance level greater than the first performance level, and a plurality of battery receptacles in electrical communication with the second suction motor.   
     
     
         13 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 12 , wherein the single battery receptacle of the first power head is configured to receive a first battery capable of providing a first voltage or a second battery capable of providing a second voltage greater than the first voltage, and wherein each of the plurality of battery receptacles of the second power head is configured to receive the first battery and the second battery. 
     
     
         14 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 13 , wherein the first suction motor can be powered by the first battery or the second battery but is only rated for the first performance level. 
     
     
         15 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 14 , wherein the second suction motor can be powered by the first battery, the second battery, or both, but is only rated for the second performance level. 
     
     
         16 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 15 , further comprising a base including
 one or more wheels,   a support area configured to receive a closed lower end of the first canister and the second canister, the first canister and the second canister each being selectively and interchangeably lockable in the support area, and   a release that can be actuated to unlock each of the first canister and the second canister from within the support area, thereby allowing separation from the base.   
     
     
         17 . A modular vacuum system comprising:
 a plurality of power heads configured to be removably coupled to a plurality of canisters, each canister having a debris collection chamber of a different capacity;   a first power source configured to output a first voltage; and   a second power source configured to output the first voltage,   wherein a first power head of the plurality of power heads is configured to receive the first power source, and includes a first suction motor rated to operate at a first performance level defined by the first voltage, and   wherein a second power head of the plurality of power heads is configured to receive the first power source with the second power source, and includes a second suction motor rated to operate at a second performance level greater than the first performance level.   
     
     
         18 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 17 , wherein the first power head is further configured to receive a third power source configured to output a voltage different than the first voltage, but is restricted from operating above the first performance level. 
     
     
         19 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 18 , wherein the second power head is further configured to receive the third power source. 
     
     
         20 . The modular vacuum system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of power heads further includes an AC power input configured to charge the first power source and the second power source, and further configured to provide voltage to first suction motor and the second suction motor.