Wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner

• US 5,608,945 A
• Filed: 07/05/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Bowers, Donald R., Koukourakis, Nicholas, Bosyj, Nick M., Wareham, Richard A., Crouser, Darwin S., Vincent, Conway
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/498,394
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 15/328, 15/331, 15/352, 15/353, 15/320
• US Class Current: 15/328
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/00 Structural features of suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0028 Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 with means for emptying the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools

Abstract

The present invention teaches a utility, wet/dry, tank type, vacuum cleaner suitable for domestic use whereby wet or dry material may be alternately vacuumed. Two storage or receiving chambers are provided, preferably positioned one within the other. Two suction inlets, one communicating with the first chamber and the other communicating with the second chamber are provided such that wet and dry material may be selectively directed, by the user, to the appropriate chamber for collection.

Claims

1. A tank type vacuum cleaner comprising:

a) a first tank having a removable cover sealingly attached,

b) a second tank positioned within said first tank, said second tank displacing a portion of the internal volume of said first tank,

c) sealing means between said first and second tanks,

d) fan means for drawing air from said second tank thereby reducing the pressure therein below atmospheric,

e) a first conduit means fluidly communicating with said first tank,

f) a second conduit means fluidly communicating with said second tank,

g) a vacuum inlet port fluidly communicating with said first and second conduit means,

h) means for selectively closing said first or second conduit means whereby fluid communication between said inlet port and said first or second tank is thereby interrupted,

i) seal bypass means providing fluid communication between said first and second tanks whereby debris laden air when entering said first inlet means passes into said first tank, depositing said debris therein, and enters said second tank through said seal bypass means, and exiting therefrom into said fan means.

2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second vacuum inlet means and said fan means are embodied within said cover.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said second tank is telescopingly received within said first tank thereby forming an upper and lower debris collecting chamber.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3 wherein said second tank includes an integral inlet bypass means fluidly communicating with said first inlet means whereby said first inlet means is in fluid communication with said lower debris collecting chamber through said inlet bypass means.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein said second tank further includes integral thereto, said seal bypass means whereby said lower debris collecting chamber fluidly communicates with said upper debris collecting chamber.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5 wherein the exit end of said seal bypass means includes filter means whereby all working air passing from said first tank means into said second tank, through said exhaust bypass means, passes through said filter means.

7. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6 wherein said exhaust bypass means includes valve means whereby said exhaust bypass means is closed when the liquid level within said first tank reaches a predetermined level thereby preventing passage of working air from said first tank into said second tank.

8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second tank is removable.

9. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8 wherein said fan means includes an inlet fluidly communicating with said second tank, and an outlet fluidly communicating with the atmosphere, said inlet including filter means whereby all working air passing through said fan means first passes through said filter means.

10. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 including sealing means between said removable cover and said second tank.

11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10 wherein the sealing means between the removable cover and said second tank comprises an elastomeric "O" ring.

12. A tank type vacuum cleaner comprising:

a) a hollow main body housing

b) separation means for dividing said hollow body housing into first and second debris receiving chambers,

said separation means including removable cover means cooperating with said main body housing for sealing said first and second chambers from one another and from the atmosphere,

c. inlet port means for receiving vacuumed debris therethrough,

d. means for selectively directing said vacuumed debris to said first or second debris receiving chamber,

e. air evacuation means for withdrawing working air from said first and second debris receiving chambers thereby creating a vacuum therein.

13. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12 wherein said air evacuation means includes a fan positioned in said cover.

14. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a. first and second debris receiving chambers, said second chamber selectively positioned within said first chamber, said second chamber being selectively removable to increase the capacity of the first chamber.

b. debris receiving inlet means for receiving vacuumed debris therethrough, said inlet means including means for selectively directing said vacuumed debris into said first or second chamber,

c. means for withdrawing working air from said first and second chambers.

15. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 14 further comprising fluid bypass means between said first and second chambers for fluidly connecting said first and second chambers.

21. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 14 further comprising a check valve fluidly disposed between said means for withdrawing working air from said first and second chambers and both of said first and second chambers such that said check valve protects said means for withdrawing when one of said chambers fills with liquid.

16. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a. two at least debris receiving chambers;

b. debris receiving inlet means for receiving vacuumed debris therethrough, said inlet means including means for selectively directing said vacuumed debris into a selected debris receiving chamber;

c. means for withdrawing working air from said selected chamber;

said working air first passing through a first debris receiving chamber when said first chamber is said selected chamber where liquid entrained in said working air is removed and then passing through a second debris receiving chamber where solid debris entered in said working air is removed by a filter such that said filter does not contact liquid, said working air passing through only said second debris receiving chamber when said second debris receiving chamber is said selected chamber.

17. A tank type vacuum cleaner comprising:

a. a first tank having a removable cover sealingly attached;

b. a second tank positioned within said first tank, said second tank displacing a portion of the internal volume of said first tank;

c. sealing means between said first and second tanks;

said sealing means comprising a first seal and a second seal;

d. fan means for drawing air from said second tank thereby reducing the pressure therein below atmospheric.

23. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 17 further comprising an O-ring disposed between each of said tanks and the atmosphere.

18. A tank type vacuum cleaner comprising:

a) a first main body tank;

b) a second tank positioned within said first tank;

c) fan means for drawing air into said vacuum cleaner and depositing air entrained debris into a selected one of said first or second tanks;

d) a first vacuum inlet port fluidly communicating with said first tank;

e) a second vacuum inlet port fluidly communicating with said second tank;

f) means for selectively directing debris into either said first tank via said first inlet port or into said second tank via said second inlet port.

19. A utility vacuum cleaner comprising:

a. a first and second debris receiving tanks, said second tank positioned within said first tank;

b. suction means for withdrawing air from said first and second tanks;

c. first and second means for conveying air-entrained debris into the respective tank;

d. means for selectively closing one of said first or second means for conveying air-entrained debris thereby interrupting the flow of debris to the respective tank.

20. A utility vacuum cleaner comprising:

a. two separate debris receiving tanks;

b. a removable cover sealingly attached to said tanks;

at least one pivotal latch carried by said cover, said latch configured to engage one of said tanks and provide a clamping force between said cover and said tanks;

c. suction means, within said cover, for withdrawing air from said tanks;

d. inlet means located in said removable cover for directing debris laden air into the selected tank;

e. valve means operable for selecting one of said tanks for receiving said debris.

22. A utility vacuum cleaner according to claim 20, where said at least one latch provide a hand hold for lifting the vacuum cleaner.