Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-07
2001-05-29
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S302000, C015S314000, C015S353000, C055S334000, C055SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237186
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vacuums and, more specifically, built-in wet/dry vacuum systems.
2. Present State of the Art
Conventional stand alone vacuums have long been used for cleaning carpets. Such vacuums also typically include various adapters which enable the vacuum to be used in cleaning hard floor surfaces and non-floor surfaces that are difficult to reach. Although conventional vacuums are still widely used, they have various shortcomings. For example, vacuums are often heavy and difficult to carry between floors for cleaning. Furthermore, conventional vacuums can be awkward to use when cleaning areas, such as stairs, where the vacuum must be balanced while an adapter is used.
In one approach to overcoming some of the shortcomings of conventional vacuums, built-in vacuum systems have been used. Such systems can be incorporated into homes, offices, and other building structures. A conventional built-in vacuum system includes a canister which is typically mounted in an out-of-the-way location, such as in a garage. Coupled with the canister is a conduit. The conduit branches throughout the building with each branch terminating at a port. The canister has a chamber which is configured to hold and collect dry vacuumed particles. Coupled with the canister is a vacuum motor which produces a relative vacuum or negative pressure within the chamber. The relative vacuum draws air into the canister through the conduit. The air is then filtered and expelled out through a vent line.
During use, an individual couples a hose to a corresponding port which automatically turns on the vacuum motor. A tool, such as a nozzle, is selectively attached to the hose. The tool can have a variety of different configurations depending on the type surface to be cleaned. Since the tool does not include the vacuum motor nor does it retain the collected waste material, the tool is typically much lighter and smaller than a conventional vacuum, thereby minimizing the required effort in the cleaning process. Once a specific area is cleaned, the hose and tool are disconnected and moved to the next vacuum port. An individual can thus easily and quickly move throughout a building cleaning different surfaces and areas.
Although built-in vacuum systems solve some problems, they still maintain several shortcomings. For example, neither conventional vacuums nor built-in vacuum systems are capable of either cleaning up spilled liquid or applying a cleaning solution to a desired surface and then collecting the cleaning solution. One conventional method for cleaning carpets and furniture is to spray a hot liquid cleaning solution onto the item and then suck the cleaning liquid and suspended dirt into a container. As neither conventional stand alone vacuums nor built-in vacuum systems are designed to dispense or collect liquids, such cleaning is typically accomplished by either hiring a professional carpet cleaner or renting specialized carpet cleaning equipment. Conventional stand alone wet/dry vacuums can also be purchased. Wet/dry vacuums, however, are typically designed to suck liquid and dry matter into a canister. Such vacuums are not designed for use in dispensing liquid nor are they designed for use with adapters having rotatable brushes for cleaning carpets. An additional problem with convention wet/dry vacuums is that they require the user to manually carry and dispose of the collected liquid.
OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved vacuum systems that can be used for collecting dry material, collecting spilt liquid, and/or dispersing a cleaning liquid and then collecting the cleaning liquid.
Another object of the present invention is to provide wet/dry vacuum systems as above which can be built into a structure such as a house or office building.
Finally, another object of the present invention is to provide the above built-in wet/dry vacuum systems which automatically dispose of the collected liquid
To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a built-in wet/dry vacuum system is provided. The vacuum system includes a canister having an inlet port, an air outlet port, and liquid outlet port. A transfer conduit has a first end disposed outside of the canister and an opposing second end coupled with the canister through the inlet port. Mounted at the first end of the transfer conduit is a vacuum port to which a vacuum hose and various adapters can be selective coupled. Positioned adjacent to the vacuum port is a fluid port. The fluid port is coupled with a fluid line through which water and select cleaning agents are delivered. Various liquid dispensing hoses and tools can be selectively coupled with the fluid port.
Disposed within the canister is a vacuum motor. Mounted on one side of the vacuum motor is a vent line which exits the canister through the air outlet port. Mounted on the opposing side of the vacuum motor is a frustaconical separator. Disposed below the frustaconical separator is a collection cone. Removable mounted at the base of the collection cone is a filter bag. When the vacuum motor is turned on, a relative vacuum or negative pressure is produced within the canister. This relative vacuum is used to draw air, dry matter, and liquid into the canister through the transfer conduit. The matter entering the canister centrifugally spins at high speeds such that the liquid and particles are separated towards the interior surface of the canister. The relatively clean air is then drawn up through the center of the separator and out through the vent line. The separated liquid and particles are drawn down under gravitational force through the collecting cone and into the filter bag. The larger particles are retained within the filter bag while the fluid and smaller particles collect in the bottom of the canister.
A check valve is coupled with the liquid outlet port such that when the vacuum motor is in operation, the check valve is closed causing the waste liquid and particles to be retained within the canister. When the vacuum motor is turned off, the check valve is opened and the waste liquid and particles travel out through a drain line to a sewage system. To prevent over filling of the canister with liquid, a float switch is disposed within the bottom of the canister. When the liquid rises to a predetermined upper level within the canister, the float switch moves to a first activation state, thereby turning off the vacuum. Once the liquid drains to below a predetermined lower level, the float switch moves to a second activation state, thereby causing the vacuum motor to turn on again.
To facilitate removal of particulate from the air entering the canister, a fluid line is also coupled with the transfer conduit adjacent to the canister. The transfer conduit includes a mixing tube which horizontally projects a distance into the canister. When the vacuum motor is in operation, water is dispensed from the fluid line into the transfer conduit which then flows through the mixing tube. As the water travels through the mixing tube, the water mixes with the surrounding air so that the particles therein become suspended within the water. The water then subsequently travels to the bottom end of the canister, as previously discussed, where it is dispensed.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
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patent: 4921510 (1990-05-01), Pl
Bridgewater Corporation
Till Terrence R.
Workman & Nydegger & Seeley
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