Abstract: Applicant has created systems, methods, and apparatuses for controlling the power supply of a vacuum cleaner motor. The systems and apparatuses include pressure taps to detect a pressure differential within a vacuum cleaner, a float that adjusts depending on an amount of liquid stored, and a power switch that toggles based on the pressure differential created by the position of the float. Alternatively, the float can be replaced by an air chamber so that the pressure differential is created by liquid rising above the volume of air trapped in the chamber. The method can include interrupting the current supplied to an electrical circuit of a power switch based upon a pressure differential created within the vacuum. By controlling the power supply to a vacuum cleaner motor based on a pressure differential created by the amount of liquid stored within the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner can automatically disable the vacuum cleaner's motor as the vacuum approaches its maximum liquid capacity.

Abstract: An automatic pilot lighting system for unattended automatic lighting of a standing pilot may include a powered (e.g., battery powered, etc.) circuit. The powered circuit may include an analog timer circuit including a timer switch. A spark ignitor may be coupled with the timer switch. A temperature knob pilot momentary switch may be coupled with the timer switch. An ON/OFF switch may be coupled with the temperature knob pilot momentary switch and the timer switch. The ON/OFF switch may be configured to be operable for selectively disabling and enabling a power source. The analog timer circuit may be configured to be selectively activatable for applying voltage from the power source via the ON/OFF switch for pilot hold voltage and spark ignition for an amount of time sufficient to allow for unattended automatic lighting of the standing pilot and sufficient voltage generation to support standalone operation.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a canister defining a debris chamber, a vacuum hose adapted for fluid connection to the debris chamber, a lid mounted to the canister, and a motor cover mounted to the lid and including at least one hose retainer. The hose retainer includes at least two ribs and a retention portion attached to the ribs. The ribs and the retention portion are spaced from a central portion of the motor cover to define an insertion opening. The ribs and the retention portion deflect away from a retention position in a first direction to an open position when the vacuum hose is inserted through the insertion opening. The ribs and the retention portion are biased in a second direction towards the retention position such that the ribs exert a positive retention force on the vacuum hose when the vacuum hose is positioned within the hose retainer.

Abstract: A powered anode current drive device is configured to automatically determine an anode drive current that offsets galvanic corrosion in a vessel. A method alerts a user on a change of an output of a powered anode current drive device. The method includes receiving an anode drive level output of the powered anode current drive device, determining electrical characteristics of the anode drive level output, analyzing the determined electrical characteristics for anomalous behavior, and generating an alert of the anomalous behavior.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a canister defining a debris chamber, a lid mounted to a top of the canister, a debris inlet defined by one of the canister and the lid, and a lid latch rotatably connected to the canister. The lid latch is rotatable between a first position, in which the lid latch is disengaged from the lid, and a second position, in which the lid latch engages the lid to secure the lid to the canister. A bottom of the lid latch is spaced from an exterior surface of the canister to define a handle opening that allows a user to insert their fingers into the handle opening and grip the bottom of the lid latch.

Abstract: Baffles for disposer systems, as well as disposer systems employing such baffles and methods of implementing and operating such baffles and disposer systems, are disclosed herein. In at least one example embodiment, a baffle includes a cylindrical rim and a plurality of pleats that are attached to, or integrally formed with, the cylindrical rim. A first face of the baffle includes a first structural characteristic and a second face includes a second structural characteristic. The first and second structural characteristics are of a same type but also are different, whereby due at least in part to the first and second structural characteristics being different from one another, the baffle is capable of being implemented within the disposer system in either of first and second orientations, respectively, so that the disposer system is configured to operate to achieve either of first and second functional objectives, respectively.

Abstract: A control unit is located under a kitchen sink. The control unit controls the timing of the power demand from each device so that they can all be run from a single electrical circuit coupled to the control unit. The control unit also accommodates sensors and other accessories such as flow meters, electronic faucets, leak detectors, shutoff valves, and state communication either wired or wireless which allows these sensors and other accessories to be added with little additional cost beyond the cost of the sensors and other accessories.

Abstract: An integrated mixed tap water and conditioned water faucet assembly has a pull-out sprayer head and a spout. The spout has an upwardly extending portion, a downwardly extending dispensing portion and a bight extending between the upwardly extending portion and the downwardly extending dispensing portion. A conditioned water housing and the sprayer head are disposed at a lower end of the downwardly extending dispensing portion and extend downwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A control unit is located under a kitchen sink. The control unit controls the timing of the power demand from each device so that they can all be run from a single electrical circuit coupled to the control unit. The control unit also accommodates sensors and other accessories such as flow meters, electronic faucets, leak detectors, shutoff valves, and state communication either wired or wireless which allows these sensors and other accessories to be added with little additional cost beyond the cost of the sensors and other accessories.

Abstract: A multi-thermostat temperature control system and related methods include thermostats spaced about respective conditioning zones in conditioned spaces. The control system includes a thermostat controller configured to store a temperature setpoint value for each of the thermostats in an operating schedule. The thermostat controller is also configured to transmit a first control signal to the conditioning units to control an operation of the conditioning units to maintain a temperature of the conditioned spaces at a first respective temperature setpoint value and to receive offset values for respective ones of the thermostats wherein the one or more offset values are determined to counter the temperature effects of a local heat load in the conditioned spaces proximate an associated thermostat.

Abstract: Applicant has created vacuum apparatuses with improved stability and methods for improving the stability of a wet/dry vacuum. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a motor, a removable drum adapted to store debris collected by the apparatus, and a base that can be adapted to receive the removable drum. The motor can be adapted to be interposed between the removable drum and the base. The methods can include the step of providing a base, the step of providing a removable drum adapted to be coupled to the base, and the step of coupling a vacuum motor to the base such that the vacuum motor is adapted to be disposed beneath the removable drum when the drum is coupled to the base. By relocating the motor of vacuum apparatus beneath the drum, the vacuum's center of gravity can be lowered significantly and, thus, its propensity to tip over is minimized.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building receives, from a monitoring device located at the building, a frequency domain representation and a time domain current value that are based on an aggregate current supplied to a plurality of components of an indoor air handler of the HVAC system. The monitoring system assesses, based on the received frequency domain representation and time domain current value, whether a first fault has occurred in a first component of the plurality of components of the indoor air handler and whether a second fault has occurred in a second component of the plurality of components of the indoor air handler. The monitoring system generates and transmits an alert in response to assessing occurrence of at least one of the first fault and the second fault. The monitoring system is located remotely from the building.

Abstract: A method for customizing an interactive presentation layout for a remote system controller is disclosed. The method is implemented by a functional interface customization (FIC) computing device comprising a memory device, a processor, and the interactive presentation layout. The method includes storing a plurality of presentation layout files associated with a plurality of presentation layouts for the remote system controller in the memory device; storing a plurality of layout component files associated with a plurality of layout components in the memory device; receiving, from a consumer computing device, a selection of a presentation layout of the plurality of presentation layouts; and transmitting a presentation layout file of the plurality of presentation layout files to the remote system controller for installation on the remote system controller, wherein the presentation layout file corresponds to the presentation layout selected by the consumer computing device.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a fuel-fired heating appliance having a burner, a fuel flow control for controlling a fuel flow to the burner, and a combustion air blower for supplying combustion air to the burner, includes iteratively (1) determining the quality of combustion by sensing a flame at the burner and outputting a time-varying flame current signal that includes an ionization signal from the flame; sampling the flame current signal to obtain a time record of the flame current signal; using a Fourier transformation, transforming the time record into a frequency spectrum of frequency components that include frequency components of the ionization signal, the frequency spectrum having a spectrum shaped defined by various frequency components of the flame current signal; and determining whether the frequency spectrum indicates flame stability or instability.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system includes a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, a motor connected to the housing and configured to generate air flow through the housing from the inlet to the outlet, and a debris container received within the housing in a first direction. The debris container includes a knob that is rotatable about an axis and includes a first cam and a second cam. Rotation of the knob about the axis causes the first cam to engage the housing and thereby move the debris container in the first direction, and causes the second cam to engage the housing and thereby move the debris container in a second direction.

Abstract: Battery-powered upright vacuum cleaners are disclosed. The vacuum cleaner includes a battery support plate from which the battery is suspended. The battery support plate is connected to a debris tube of the vacuum cleaner. In some embodiments, the debris tube includes mounting members that are received in recesses formed within the battery support plate.