Vacuum Bypass Vent and Vacuums Incorporating Such Bypass Vents
First Claim
1. A vacuum appliance capable of picking up both wet and dry material, the appliance comprising:
- a powerhead comprising a motor, an impeller, and an impeller chamber, the impeller configured to induce a liquid into the vacuum appliance and the motor configured to turn the impeller;
a restrictor configured to prevent the liquid from being ingested into the impeller; and
a bypass vent configured to allow sufficient air to reach the impeller chamber in order to keep the impeller chamber cool while the restrictor is preventing the liquid from being ingested into the impeller.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum appliance capable of picking up both wet and dry material is described, wherein the vacuum appliance includes an impeller configured to induce liquid into the vacuum appliance, a motor configured to turn the impeller, a restrictor assembly to prevent the liquid from being ingested into the motor, and a bypass vent assembly configured to allow sufficient air to reach the motor in order to keep the motor cool while the restrictor is preventing the liquid from being ingested into the motor. The vacuum appliance also includes a drum configured to retain the liquid and an impeller intake between the impeller and the drum. The restrictor may comprise a float configured to rise with a level of the liquid in the drum and prevent the liquid from entering the impeller intake. The bypass vent assembly may be configured to allow airflow to bypass the restrictor and/or the drum.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vacuum appliance capable of picking up both wet and dry material, the appliance comprising:
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a powerhead comprising a motor, an impeller, and an impeller chamber, the impeller configured to induce a liquid into the vacuum appliance and the motor configured to turn the impeller; a restrictor configured to prevent the liquid from being ingested into the impeller; and a bypass vent configured to allow sufficient air to reach the impeller chamber in order to keep the impeller chamber cool while the restrictor is preventing the liquid from being ingested into the impeller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vacuum appliance capable of picking up both wet and dry material, the appliance comprising:
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a drum configured to retain the material; a powerhead releasably secured over the open top of the drum, the powerhead including an impeller in an impeller chamber, the impeller being configured to induce a liquid into the vacuum appliance and a motor configured to turn the impeller; a float in the drum configured to prevent the liquid from entering the powerhead; and a bypass vent configured to allow sufficient air to reach the impeller chamber in order to keep the impeller chamber cool while the float is preventing the liquid from entering the powerhead. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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an outer housing having an air flow opening; a source of vacuum located within the housing, the source of vacuum including a motor and an impeller within an impeller chamber; a separable air chamber contained within the outer housing and surrounding the impeller; a restrictor configured to prevent a liquid from being drawn into the motor impeller during operation of the vacuum cleaner; and a bypass vent configured to allow sufficient air to reach the motor impeller chamber in order to keep the impeller chamber cool while the restrictor is simultaneously blocking the liquid from being drawn into the motor impeller.
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Specification