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—
an impeller configured to induce a liquid into the vacuum appliance,an impeller chamber surrounding the impeller, andan impeller intake defining a path for air flow to impeller;
a float assembly comprising—
a cage, anda float disposed within the cage, the float being configured to form an interface with the impeller intake to prevent the liquid from being ingested into the impeller chamber; and
a bypass vent in the interface between the float and the impeller intake.
1 Assignment
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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.
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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— an impeller configured to induce a liquid into the vacuum appliance, an impeller chamber surrounding the impeller, and an impeller intake defining a path for air flow to impeller; a float assembly comprising— a cage, and a float disposed within the cage, the float being configured to form an interface with the impeller intake to prevent the liquid from being ingested into the impeller chamber; and a bypass vent in the interface between the float and the impeller intake. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vacuum appliance capable of picking up both wet and dry material, the appliance comprising:
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a drum; a powerhead atop the drum, the power head comprising— a motor, an impeller driven by the motor and configured to induce a liquid into the drum, an impeller chamber surrounding the impeller, and an impeller intake defining a path for air flow to impeller; a filter assembly between the drum and the powerhead, the filter assembly comprising— a filter cage, a float disposed within the filter cage, and a filter disposed around the filter cage, the filter assembly being adapted to be secured to the underside of the powerhead such that the float is configured to form an interface with the impeller intake to prevent the liquid from being ingested into the impeller chamber; and a bypass vent in the interface between the float and the impeller intake, the vent configured to allow cooling air to reach the impeller chamber while the float is simultaneously preventing the liquid from being ingested into the impeller chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification