Abstract:
A mounting bracket for use in association with a vacuum canister for a central vacuum system is disclosed. The mounting bracket is received within the housing of the vacuum canister and thereby divides the canister into clean and dirt collection chambers. Dirt collection chamber is adapted to receive dirt-laden air from the central vacuum system while clean chamber is adapted to re-circulate cleaned air back into the building. Mounting bracket is preferably a molded structure having a central bore. A plurality of stepped grooves are provided for receiving one of a variety of sizes of motor therein. A plurality of circuit board brackets are formed on mounting bracket, said circuit board brackets range in size so as to accommodate a range of sizes of circuit boards therein. Mounting bracket further includes a filter support formed therein. The filter support includes a quick attachment/release mechanism for installing filters thereon. Mounting bracket also includes an aperture and straight tube connection for connecting a clean chamber auxiliary intake valve assembly to the dirt collection chamber of the vacuum canister.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention generally relates to a vacuum canister for use with central vacuum systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a vacuum canister having a mounting bracket that holds various components. Specifically, the invention relates to a vacuum canister having a mounting bracket that is adapted to accept multiple size vacuum pump assemblies, has a mechanism for supporting the system&#39;s main circuit board, and has a mechanism for rapidly and easily securing and releasing the system&#39;s filter from the filter support. 
   2. Background Information 
   Central vacuum cleaner systems are common in newer homes and other buildings. These systems provide a convenient and easy way for periodically vacuuming the floors or rugs in the various rooms of a building and they eliminate the need for moving cumbersome hand-held units from room-to room. 
   Central vacuum systems typically include a vacuum canister, a light, portable hose, a range of vacuum cleaner attachments, a network of conduits installed in the walls and floors of the building and a number of wall-mounted receptacles. The vacuum canister is usually positioned in an out-of-the-way location in the building, such as the basement, utility room or garage. 
   Vacuum canisters include an electric vacuum pump assembly that is used to create the suction to draw dust-laden air through the portable vacuum hose and the rest of the central vacuum system. Canisters also include a motor for driving the pump, a filter for collecting dust entrained in the airstream, a device for collecting the entrained dust and a mechanism for circulating cleaned air back into the building. 
   The portable hose used with these types of systems is typically a flexible hose that includes an elongated rigid tube at one end and an end fitting at the other end. Various cleaning attachments are connectable to the elongated rigid tube and the end fitting is connectable to the conduit system through the wall receptacles. 
   The wall receptacles include an intake valve covered by an airtight flap or pivotable valve plate to prevent air from being unintentionally drawn into the conduit system. This maintains the vacuum state within the central vacuum system. Air enters the system only through the wall receptacle to which the portable hose is attached. The vacuum pump assembly motor is automatically turned on when the portable hose is attached to the wall receptacle. 
   While prior art devices have functioned in a reasonably satisfactory way, the systems have been limited inasmuch as a user has had to preselect the capacity system they need for their home or building. Smaller buildings require a smaller vacuum pump assembly to drive the system than do larger buildings. In the past, vacuum canisters have accepted only one size of vacuum pump assembly—a smaller version or a larger version. Additionally, previously known mechanisms for securing filters to vacuum systems have been difficult to use. Filters have been provided with a hole through which a long threaded rod has had to be inserted, with the user having to thread the rod into the hole with the filter blocking the user&#39;s vision. Furthermore, previously known systems have used a funnel for directing dust from the dust-collection chamber into a collection bin for disposal. The funnels have merely rested on the top of the collection bins. Consequently, every time the user wishes to empty the bin, the funnel has to be placed on a surface in the building so that the bin could be emptied. When the funnel is put down on the surface, loose dust that has remained on the funnel tends to drop on the surface, thereby creating an immediate need for vacuuming the same up once the system is reassembled. 
   Various types of vacuum canisters have been devised to separate dirt from the dirt-laden air vacuumed from the rooms of a building. One common design utilizes a cylindrical filter similar to an elongate version of those used in automobiles for years. The design has a pleated filter body capped by respective rubber end rings. The filter is disposed in a lower dirt-collecting portion of the vacuum canister to filter our dirt particles prior to passing through a suction pump driven by an electric motor. Alternatively, a filter bag may be placed over a cylindrical ribbed structure to filter the dirt-laden air prior to entering the vacuum pump. The pleated filter provides more surface area than the filter bag and consequently lasts longer before it becomes plugged up with dirt. With either of these filters, dirt-laden air typically enters the dirt-collecting portion of the canister through an air inlet that is disposed so as to allow the incoming air to perpendicularly strike the air filter. This may cause premature clogging of the filter with dirt since both the larger and smaller dust particles may be retained by the air filter. A more desirable situation is for the larger dust particles to fall immediately to the bottom of the canister and into the collection bin. 
   Another common design for vacuum canisters, is the cyclonic separator in which the air inlet is disposed tangentially to the filter so that the air travels along a curved interior surface of a cylindrical separation chamber. A curved “skirt” hangs down from an upper end of the separation chamber so as to aid in directing the incoming dirt-laden air between an interior surface of the separation chamber and an exterior surface of the skirt. The dirt-laden air flows downwardly in a spiral motion within the separation chamber and, as it does this, the larger particles drop out of the moving air for collection. Once the flow of air reaches a bottom portion of the separation chamber, the airflow changes direction and spirals upwardly within a vortex created by the downwardly spiraling air. The flow of air is then directed from the separation chamber to an air filter that filters out the remaining dust and dirt from the airflow prior to the air entering the vacuum pump. The cyclonic separator extends the life of the air filter by preventing premature clogging with particles that are large enough to be removed effectively by the cyclonic action. 
   Various patented devices have been designed in an attempt to alleviate the shortcomings of prior art devices. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,516, issued on Jan. 26, 1988 to Barsacq there is disclosed a central vacuum canister unit which includes three interconnected sections which form an integral vacuum canister. The vacuum canister utilizes water to filter the dirt-laden air. A top section of the canister contains a suction turbine, a motor and an exhaust outlet for clean air. A center section contains air baffles, a perforated circular conduit below the air baffles for dispersing the water, an angled inlet conduit for dust-laden air, and a water level sensor. A bottom section contains a water outlet, a flexible sleeve valve, an outlet end of the angled inlet conduit from the center section, a water reservoir filled with water to a level above the outlet end of the inlet conduit—even with the water outlet, and a drain plug. The dirt-laden air bubbles through water in the reservoir, which water is automatically flushed by electronic control circuitry coordinating a filling and evacuation sequence of the reservoir. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,780, issued on Jul. 31, 1990 to Usmani, there is disclosed a vacuum canister comprising four detachable subassemblies and a detachable filter assembly. A first subassembly comprises a vacuum motor and exhaust housing having an inlet opening at one end for admitting dirt-laden air that is drawn into the housing by the vacuum motor. A second subassembly comprises a housing adapted to be secured to a wall to support the vacuum canister as installed. This housing houses a vacuum cleaner inlet. A cyclonic flow of air is created in the housing during operation of the vacuum motor. A third subassembly comprises a dirt collecting housing for receiving and holding dirt particles released by the cyclonic air flow. A fourth subassembly comprises a base plate adapted to be secured in a fixed relationship with the first subassembly and the second subassembly. A hole through the base plate permits a flow of air between the first and second subassemblies. A bracket, adapted to removably secure an air filter, includes a device that engages the base plate such that the air filter is secured thereon in proper filtering relation between the first and second subassemblies. 
   There is therefore a need in the art for providing a mechanism for providing a convenient, cost effective, safe vacuum unit having the features of being able to selectively mount vacuum pump assemblies and circuit boards of different types, of having a quick and easy mechanism for attaching and detaching the system filter and for preventing the need to lay the dust-laden funnel in the vicinity of the vacuum canister when the user is emptying the collection bin. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view in of a house having a central vacuum system which utilizes the vacuum unit of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the vacuum unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3A  is a partially exploded cross-sectional side view of the upper portion of the vacuum unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3B  is a partially exploded cross-sectional side view of the lower portion of the vacuum unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the vacuum unit of the vacuum unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a mounting bracket of the vacuum canister; 
       FIG. 5A  is a fragmentary top plan view of the mounting bracket showing an upright bracket for mounting a main control circuit board; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the mounting bracket of the vacuum canister; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a mounting bracket, a small pump assembly and a small gasket in partial longitudinal vertical section taken along line  7 — 7 ,  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the mounting bracket, a large pump assembly, and a large gasket in partial longitudinal vertical cross-section 
       FIG. 9  is a fragmentary exploded view of the mounting bracket, the main control circuit board, and mounting hardware taken along  9 — 9   FIG. 5 , with the upright bracket partially broken away; 
       FIG. 10  is a fragmentary view of the mounting bracket, the main control circuit board, and mounting hardware corresponding to  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a fragmentary exploded view in longitudinal vertical section of the interconnection of a housing, a dirt removal bucket, and a funnel assembly. 
       FIG. 12  is a fragmentary view in longitudinal vertical section corresponding to  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a lateral horizontal sectional view of a deflector filter assembly mounted to the mounting bracket, including an air filter and a quick release device, with a locking member for the quick release device shown in a released position; 
       FIG. 14  is a lateral horizontal sectional view of the filter assembly and the quick release device taken along line  14 — 14 ,  FIG. 4 , corresponding to  FIG. 13 , but with the locking member in a locked position; and 
       FIG. 15  is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the filter assembly and the quick release device taken along line  15 — 15 ,  FIG. 14 . 
     Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown a central vacuum system, generally referenced by the number  10 , installed in a house  12  that has a plurality of rooms  14 . System  10  includes a vacuum canister  16  which is preferably located in a less-used area of house  12 , such as the basement  18 . A series of conduits  20  connect vacuum canister  16  to a plurality of intake valves or receptacles  22 , each of which is preferably located in a separate room  14  in house  12 . Each receptacle  22  includes a vacuum opening  24  that is adapted to receive an end fitting (not shown) of a flexible hose (not shown). Each receptacle  22  is covered by a flap or pivotal plate (not shown) to prevent air from flowing into receptacle  22  when the flexible hose is not connected thereto. Basement  18  does not have a receptacle  22  and this room is serviced by the provision of an auxiliary vacuum intake assembly  30  on vacuum canister  16  itself. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2–4  there is shown a vacuum canister  16  in accordance with the present invention. Vacuum canister  16  includes a substantially hollow housing, generally referred to by the number  32 . Housing  32  is generally cylindrical in shape and has a wall  34  having an upper end  34   a  and a lower end  34   b . Upper end  34   a  defines a first opening  36  and lower end  34   b  defines a second opening  38 . First opening  36  is covered by a removable cover  40 . A funnel  42  is disposed beneath second opening  38  and funnel  42  directs the collected dust into a dust collection bin  28  disposed beneath funnel  42 . Collection bin  28  is preferably releasably secured to the lower end  34   b  of housing  32  by way of a plurality of latches  44  or other suitable means. Wall  34  defines three holes  46   a ,  46   b ,  46   c  for receiving various pipes into vacuum canister  16 . First hole  46   a  receives a suction intake pipe  48  that is connected to conduits  20 . Second hole  46   b  receives an exhaust pipe  50  for exhausting air back into house  12 . Third hole  46   c  receives an auxiliary vacuum intake assembly  30  for connecting a portable vacuum hose (not shown) thereto. Housing  32  is internally divided into an upper or clean chamber  54   a  and a lower or dirt collection chamber  54   b  by a mounting plate or bracket  56 . First hole  46   a  is positioned so that suction intake pipe  48  enters dirt collection chamber  54   b , while second hole  46   b  and third hole  46   c  are positioned so that exhaust pipe  50  and auxiliary vacuum intake assembly  30  enter clean chamber  54   a.    
   In accordance with the present invention, a mounting bracket  56  is provided that separates housing  32  into clean and dirt collection chambers  54   a ,  54   b , and that supports a vacuum pump assembly  58  and a filter  72 . Mounting bracket  56  has a body that is preferably a single, integral structure that is molded from plastic or some other suitable material. Mounting bracket  56  may, however, be made as more than one component without departing from the scope of this invention. Mounting bracket  56  may be generally circular in shape so as to be configured to fit within housing  32 . However, if the housing is manufactured with some other cross-sectional shape, such as square or rectangular, a mounting bracket of similar cross-sectional shape may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. While the following description refers to the circular version of the mounting bracket  56 , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that similar structures would be desirable on mounting brackets of other shapes. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3A ,  4 – 8 , it may be seen that mounting bracket  56  has an upper surface  56   a  and a lower surface  56   b  and defines both a centrally located bore  68  and an aperture  70 . Mounting bracket  56  has a radially-ribbed central portion  130 , having a plurality of ribs  132  radiating outwardly from an area a spaced distance from bore  68  towards the outer perimeter  300  of mounting bracket  56 . Ribs  132  provide strength and rigidity to mounting bracket  56 . Both bore  68  and aperture  70  connect clean chamber  54   a  to dirt collection chamber  54   b . Mounting bracket  56  is of a slightly smaller diameter than the internal diameter of housing  32 . An inwardly disposed, annular ledge  60  is provided on housing wall  34  for supporting mounting bracket  56 . An annular lip  62  is formed on lower surface  56   b  of mounting bracket  56 , and annular lip  62  is adapted to rest on annular ledge  60  when mounting bracket  56  is positioned inside housing  32 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5–8 , upper surface  56   a  of mounting bracket  56  is adapted to support a vacuum pump assembly  58  that includes an AC (alternating current) motor  64  for driving a vacuum pump  66 . Upper surface  56   a  includes a motor mounting area  134  that is molded with at least one, and preferably two stepped, annular ledges  136 . First ledge  136   a  and second ledge  136   b  have different diameters so as to enable one of two different size motors  64   a ,  64   b , and therefore one of two different size vacuum pump assemblies  66   a ,  66   b , to be individually supported by mounting bracket  56 . Diameter X of small motor  64   a  ( FIG. 7 ) is smaller than diameter Y of larger motor  64 b ( FIG. 8 ). A small motor  64   a  may be supported by smaller first ledge  136   a  ( FIG. 7 ) or a larger motor  66   b  may be supported by larger second ledge  136   b  ( FIG. 8 ). Respective large and small air seal gaskets  138   a ,  138   b  are received in the respective grooves  139   a ,  139   b . Gasket  138   a  is positionable in first groove  139   a  and gasket  138   b  is positionable in second groove  139   b . Clean chamber  54   a  is a dust-free zone while dirt collection chamber  54   b  is a dust-laden zone. Vacuum pump  66  and motor  64  are mounted on mounting bracket  56  in such a manner that they lie entirely or mainly in the dust-free zone of clean chamber  54   a . This aids in preventing the dust in the vacuum system  10  from damaging vacuum pump assembly  58 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  5 A,  9  and  10 , upper surface  56   a  of motor mounting bracket  56  also includes at least one, and preferably two, upwardly extending circuit board brackets, generally referred to by the number  140 . Each circuit board bracket  140  comprises a pair of spaced apart, upwardly extending first supports  142  each defining a slit  144  therein. First supports  142  extend at generally ninety-degrees to upper surface  56   a . Slits  144  are inwardly-facing for each pair of circuit board supports  142  and are adapted to slidingly receive circuit board  102  therebetween. As may be seen from  FIG. 5A , a first circuit board bracket has first supports  142   a  spaced closer to each other than the second supports  142   b  of second circuit board bracket. Second supports  142   b  extends at generally ninety-degrees upper surface  56   a . This allows differently sized circuit boards to be slidably installed on mounting bracket  56 . First circuit board bracket includes a stop member  146  to retain a lower edge  102   b  of circuit board  102 . Stop member  146  acts as a stiffener for first circuit board bracket. Second circuit board bracket includes a gusset  148  to strengthen each support  142   b  to prevent damage to the same when circuit  102  is installed therein. If a larger motor  64   b  is being installed into second ledge  136   b , a larger circuit (not shown) may be installed into second circuit board bracket. If a smaller motor  64   a  is being installed into first ledge  136   a , then a smaller circuit board  102  may be installed into first circuit board bracket  140   a . The user may therefore use the same housing  32  to accomadate two differently sized cental vacuum systems  10  by utilizing two differently sized motors  64  and circuit boards  102 . This reduces production costs for such systems and reduces the number of parts installers need to carry with them. 
   Additionally, the installation of a circuit board was previously an eleven-piece assembly process for installers. With the provision of the circuit board bracket  140  on mounting bracket  56 , a circuit board  102  may simply be slid into slits l 44 . A screw  150  may be screwed through washer  152  and into one of the apertures  154   a  in first circuit board bracket  140  to keep circuit board  102  in place. A second screw  150  may be screwed into the second aperture  154   a  of first circuit board bracket as is shown in  FIG. 9 . If a larger circuit board (not shown) is installed into second circuit board bracket, screws may be screwed into apertures  154   b  in supports  142   b . While screws  150  are used in this instance, pins, caps or any other suitable means may be used to secure a circuit board  102  in a circuit board bracket  140 . The means to secure the board in place must simply provide a way for locking the upper edge  102   a  of circuit board  102  in place in circuit board bracket  140 . A sheathed electrical cable  156  is used to connect circuit board  102  to motor  64  ( FIG. 4 ). A second electrical cable  96  is used to connect circuit board  102  to auxiliary intake valve assembly  30 . Snap clips  104  secure cable  96  to upper surface  56   b  of mounting bracket  56 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3A ,  7 ,  8 ,  13 – 15 , lower surface  56   b  of mounting bracket  56  includes a centrally located filter support  74  that is adapted to extend from lower surface  56   b  and into dirt collection chamber  54   b  when mounting bracket  56  is positioned in housing  32 . Filter support  74  is preferably molded as an integral part of mounting bracket  56 . Filter support  74  is frusto-conical in shape with its greatest diameter being proximate lower surface  56   b  and its smallest diameter being a spaced distance from lower surface  56   b . Filter support  74  tapers to an end cap  158 . End cap  158  includes a mounting post  159  that is adapted to engage filter  72 . Mounting post  159  includes a pair of lock posts  188  and a pair of round-ended release posts  190  that extend downwardly therefrom. Upper end  74   a  of filter support  74  is concentric with bore  68  that extends through mounting bracket  56 . Filter support is hollow and defines a plurality of slots  160  through which air may flow into bore  68  and upwardly into clean chamber  54   a  of housing  32 . Slots  160  are shown as being longitudinal in orientation, but any suitable pattern or orientation of slots  160  may be used without departing from the scope this invention. A plurality of stiffeners  162  are provided in lower surface  56   b  in a concentric ring around upper end  74   a  of filter support  74 . A filter-receiving ring  164  is disposed around filter support  74  and lies a spaced distance therefrom. A concentric ring of second ribs  166  radiate outwardly from ring  164  toward perimeter  300  of mounting bracket  56 . Aperture  70  extends through mounting bracket  56  within this concentric ring of second ribs  166 . Annular lip  62  is disposed outwardly of concentric ring of second ribs  166 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3B ,  4 ,  13 – 15 , an air filter  72  is attached to filter support  74  to filter the dirt-laden air that enters dirt collection chamber  54   b . Air filter  72  is a generally cylindrical body that is made of filter material  168  that is sandwiched between an upper sealing band  170  and lower sealing band  172 . Upper sealing band  170  extends across the upper end  168   a  of the filter material  168  and upper sealing band  170  defines a central hole  174  through which filter support  74  is inserted. Lower sealing band  172  extends across the lower end  168   b  of filter material  168 . Lower sealing band  172  engages end cap  158  of filter support  74  and lower sealing band  172  defines an aperture  176  that is configured to be slightly smaller than end cap  158  of filter support  74 . Filter  72  is disposed in a spaced relation about filter support  74  using a quick release mechanism generally referred to by the number  178 . Quick release mechanism  178  includes a small flat washer  180  that lies in contact with end cap  158  in a first annular recess  182  of lower sealing band  172 . Washer  180  has an oblong hole  184  adapted to receive mounting post  159  of end cap  158  therethrough. A larger flat washer  192  is disposed in a second annular recess  194  of lower sealing band  172 . Large washer  192  defines an oblong hole  196 , of a slightly larger size than hole  184  of small washer  180 , and this larger hole  196  is adapted to receive a locking member  198  therethrough. Locking member  198  is pivotally mounted to end cap  158  using a screw  200  and tubular spacer  202 . Screw  200  threadably engages mounting post  159 , screw  200  being receivable into aperture  186  in mounting post  159 . Locking member  198  includes a pair of detents  204  adapted to engage release posts  190  to hold locking member  198  in a released position ( FIG. 13 ). Locking member  198  further includes a pair of opposing slots  206  adapted to clear lock posts  188  in the released position of locked member ( FIG. 13 ). A pair of opposing edges  208  engage lock posts  188  when locking member  198  is in the locked position ( FIG. 14 ). Locking member  198  holds filter  72  to filter support  74  when locking member  198  is in the locked position transverse to holes  184 ,  196 . Locking member  198  may pass through holes  184 ,  196  when in the released position when filter  72  is being either removed from or installed onto filter support  74 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3B and 4 , it may be seen that vacuum canister  16  further includes an air deflector tube  210  adapted to be disposed in a spaced relationship around filter  72 . Deflector tube  210  has a first end  210   a  secured such as by press-fitting within downwardly disposed ring  164  of mounting bracket  56 . A second end  210   b  of tube  210  extends below suction intake pipe  48  so that dust received through pipe  48  into dirt collection chamber  54   b  does not directly impact filter  72 . This allows heavier dust particles to drop directly into funnel  42  rather than being sucked against air filter  72 . This arrangement assists in extending the life of filter  72 . Dust-laden air from house  12  is suctioned into dirt collection chamber  54   b  through suction intake pipe  48 , strikes air deflector  210 , swirls around filter  72 , is sucked through filter  72  and into the air stream that travels upwardly through bore  68  and into clean chamber  54   a . Cleaned air from clean chamber  54   a  is exhausted into house  12  through exhaust pipe  50 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3B ,  4 ,  11  and  12 , funnel  42  comprises an outerwall  214  that forms a parallel-walled upper portion  214   a  that has a large inlet opening  216 , an outwardly extending radial flange  218  and a downwardly dependent cone portion  220  that terminates at a small outlet opening  222 . Funnel  42  further includes a resilient annular seal  224  of generally rectangular cross-section. Seal  224  includes an annular slot  217  that is adapted to engage the radial flange  218 . Seal  224  may be manufactured from a closed-cell polyurethane foam or other such material that is compressible to form a seal. Upper edge of funnel  42  is formed into a lip  242 . 
   Collection bin  28  has an outer wall  228  that forms a parallel-walled main portion  230  with an upper opening  232  at a radially outwardly disposed flange  234  adapted to interface with housing  32 . Main portion  230  has a closed lower portion  236 . Funnel  42  and bin  28  connect to housing  32  through the resilient annular seal  224  that engages the sealing edge  238  of housing  32  and the radial flange  234  of bin  28 . This prevents leakage of air into an elongate chamber  240  formed thereby. Latches  44  retain housing  32  to collection bin  28  with the funnel  42  locked there between. Lip  242  of funnel  42  engages with sealing edge  238  of housing  32  so that when collection bin  28  is removed from vacuum canister  16 , funnel  16  remains attached to sealing edge  238  of housing  32 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3A , mounting bracket  56  also defines an aperture  70  through which an auxiliary vacuum intake assembly  30  is connected to dirt collection chamber  54   b . Auxiliary vacuum intake assembly  30  includes a rigid tube assembly having a short straight tube  78  which is secured within hole  46   b  of mounting bracket  56  with a ninety-degree elbow  80  and a forty-five-degree elbow  82 . Straight tube  78  may be integrally molded or formed as part of mounting bracket  56 . Auxiliary vacuum intake assembly  30  includes a receptacle  84  that is preferably connected electrically to motor  64 . A portable vacuum hose (not shown) may be connected to receptacle  84  and dust-laden air that is suctioned into the hose is moved through auxiliary vacuum intake assembly  30  through aperture  70  and into dirt collection chamber  54   b  where it is filtered. Receptacle  84  is covered with a valve member  94  to maintain a vacuum within vacuum system  10 . 
   In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
   Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.