Apparatus for protecting vacuum sources including valve which alternately communicates with vacuum and atmosphere

• US 4,029,487 A
• Filed: 05/12/1975
• Issued: 06/14/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectroderm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spectroderm Incorporated
• Inventors: Brandt, J. Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Nozick, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US05/576,477
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 55/164, 55/165, 55/166, 55/167, 55/168, 55/169, 55/170, 55/189, 55/97, 55/385 C, 55/216, 55/302, 55/417, 137/412, 137/205, 137/202, 251/68, 251/129, 251/131
• US Class Current: 55/309
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2407 Filter candles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/42 Auxiliary equipment or operation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/4272 Special valve constructions adapted to filters or filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3099 Float responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3109 Liquid filling by evacuating container

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting vacuum sources from contamination occasioned by aspiration of fluids or aerosols from a device operated by such vacuum sources, having an enclosed vessel in communication with the device, a filter in communication with the enclosed vessel to entrap aerosols and a vacuum-breaking valve alternately in communication with atmosphere & vacuum in communication with the filter to control the application of the vacuum by the vacuum source to the device. The vacuum-breaking valve is operated by a switch assembly mounted within the enclosed vessel and in electrical communication with a solenoid designed to operate a valve member within the vacuum-breaking valve.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting vacuum sources from contamination occasioned by inadvertent aspiration of liquidborne matter or aerosols from a device operated by a vacuum source comprising, an enclosed reservoir vessel with an inlet in the bottom thereof, a vacuum operated device in communication with said inlet, said vessel having an outlet in the top thereof, a filter housing secured to said outlet and forming an inlet to said housing, an outlet in said housing, filter means disposed between the housing inlet and outlet to filter air passed therethrough, a vacuum source, conduit means connecting said source with said filter housing outlet, a two-way valve disposed in said conduit means for communication with said vacuum source or the atmosphere, and a fulcrum disposed in said reservoir vessel and an elongated switch member connected to said fulcrum in said reservoir vessel and balanced thereby so its opposite ends are vertically movable in a see-saw manner and operatively connected to said two-way valve to communicate it to the atmosphere when the liquid level in said vessel reached a predetermined level, and biasing means normally urging said valve in a closed position and in communication with said vacuum source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said switch member is an electrically energized solenoid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a float is connected to one end of said elongated switch member in said vessel.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said elongated switch member is hollow and disposed on the fulcrum adjacent its midportion and is filled with a portion of mercury.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said valve and solenoid and biasing means are disposed in a housing through which said conduit passes.