Portable industrial vacuum machine

• US 5,722,110 A
• Filed: 10/10/1995
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul Curtis Mcintyre
• Original Assignee: Paul Curtis Mcintyre
• Inventors: McIntyre, Paul Curtis, Gruber, Frank Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/541,459
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 15/344, 15/329, 15/412, 15/410
• US Class Current: 15/329
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 20/47 Vacuum or blower devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/14 cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0836 Apparatus dislodging all of the dirt by suction liquids or semi-liquids E01H1/108; combined with loosening by blowing E01H1/0863; for cleaning rails E01H8/105, E01H8/125; removing snow by suction E01H5/106, E01H8/08; Suction nozzles independent suction nozzles in mechanical dislodging-cleaning devices E01H1/0827; suction and blowing nozzles E01H1/0863

Abstract

The present invention involves an industrial vacuum cleaner system for the collection of large debris in industrial settings, said vacuum capable of being mounted on a wheeled frame and being carried manually. The system has a vacuum unit having an impeller housing, an impeller disposed within the impeller housing, a motor housing attached to the impeller housing, and a motor disposed within the motor housing. The system has a handle affixed to said vacuum unit, means for detachably attaching the vacuum unit to said wheeled carriage, and means for gripping and carrying the vacuum unit by hand. The system has an improved impeller having a plurality of large vanes disposed on the forward side of the impeller and a plurality of smaller vanes disposed on the reverse side of the impeller. The system has an improved impeller housing assembly having en extension spacer which increases airflow through the impeller housing.

Claims

1. An industrial vacuum system for the collection of large debris in industrial settings, said vacuum capable of being mounted on a wheeled frame and being carried manually, comprising:

a vacuum unit having an impeller housing,

an impeller disposed within said impeller housing,

a motor housing attached to said impeller housing,

a motor having a motor shaft, said motor disposed within said motor housing, wherein said motor shaft is rotationally connected to said impeller;

means, disposed within said motor housing, for preventing debris from entering said motor;

means, disposed upon said impeller, for preventing debris from entering said motor;

means for detachably attaching said vacuum unit to said wheeled frame; and

means for gripping and carrying said vacuum unit.

2. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, wherein

said impeller has a forward side and a reverse side, and

said means disposed upon said impeller for preventing dust from entering said motor housing comprises a cylindrical edge disposed on the reverse side of and concentrically with said impeller.

3. An industrial vacuum according to claim 2, wherein said cylindrical edge is disposed concentrically with said impeller.

4. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, wherein said impeller has six large vanes disposed on the forward side thereof and twelve smaller vanes disposed on the reverse side thereof.

5. An industrial vacuum according to claim 4, wherein said smaller vanes have an interior end and an exterior end and said cylindrical edge adjoins the interior ends of said smaller vanes.

6. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 4, wherein said means disposed within said motor housing for preventing dust from entering said motor housing comprises a lint filter.

7. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 6, wherein said lint filter is formed of perforated steel material.

8. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 7, wherein said perforated material has a perforation size of approximately 0.07 inches diameter.

9. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 7, wherein said perforated material has a perforation density of approximately 113 perforations per square inch.

10. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 6, wherein said lint filter is formed in the shape of a conic section having a narrow end and a wide end, the ends of said lint filter having cylindrical flanges formed thereon, and the narrow end of said lint filter having a circular portion disposed on the cylindrical flange.

11. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 10, wherein:

said motor housing has a motor cap and a brush holder; and

said lint filter is mountable within said motor housing by disposing said lint filter between said motor cap and said brush holder.

12. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, wherein said means for detachably attaching said vacuum unit to said wheeled carriage comprises:

a frame extension attached to said vacuum unit, said frame extension having a predefined shape and a hole disposed therein;

a metal bracket disposed on the wheeled frame, said metal bracket being shaped to conform to the predefined shape of said frame extension; and

a threaded bolt attached to said metal bracket;

wherein said threaded bolt engages the hole disposed in said frame extension when said frame extension is mounted on said metal bracket; and

said metal bracket engages said frame extension to prevent said frame extension from rotating about said threaded bolt when said frame extension is mounted on said metal bracket.

13. The industrial vacuum system according to claim 12, wherein said means for detachably attaching said vacuum unit to said wheeled carriage further comprises a handle affixed to the wheeled frame.

14. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, wherein said means for gripping and carrying said vacuum unit comprises:

a semicircular handlebar attached externally to said vacuum unit, said handlebar forming a semicircular arc around said vacuum unit; and

a handle having an end, the end of said handle being attached at the center of the arc of said semicircular handlebar.

15. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, wherein said means disposed within said motor housing for preventing dust from entering said motor housing comprises a lint filter, wherein

said lint filter is formed of perforated steel material;

said lint filter is formed in the shape of a conic section having a narrow end and a wide end;

the ends of said lint filter have cylindrical flanges formed thereon;

the narrow end of said lint filter has a circular portion disposed on the cylindrical flange;

said motor housing has a motor cap and a brush holder; and

said lint filter is mountable within said motor housing by disposing said lint filter between said motor cap and said brush holder.

16. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, wherein said perforated material has a perforation size of approximately 0.07 inches in diameter.

17. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 15, wherein said perforated material has a perforation density of approximately 113 perforations per square inch.

18. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, wherein

said impeller has a forward side and a reverse side, and

said means disposed upon said impeller for preventing dust from entering said motor housing comprises a cylindrical edge disposed on the reverse side of and concentrically with said impeller.

19. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, wherein the minimum radial distance between said impeller and said impeller housing is less than 1/10th the diameter of said impeller.

20. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input hose; and

means for connecting said input hose to said impeller housing.

21. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 20, wherein said means for connecting said input hose to said impeller housing comprises:

a hub rotationally attached to said impeller housing;

means for rotating said hub; and

a latch attached to said hub;

an end cap attached to said input hose, said end cap having a radial slot formed therein; and

means, disposed on said impeller housing opposite said rotating hub, for retaining said end cap after said latch has been disengaged;

wherein said impeller housing has a radial slot formed therein through which said latch is rotatable to engage said radial slot in said end cap.

22. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 1, wherein said impeller housing comprises:

a top housing;

a housing extension spacer; and

a bottom housing;

said vacuum system further comprising;

a plurality of large vanes disposed on the forward side of said impeller;

a plurality of smaller vanes disposed on the reverse side of said impeller;

means, disposed within said motor housing, for preventing dust from entering said motor housing; and

means, disposed upon said impeller, for preventing dust from entering said motor housing, wherein;

the minimum radial distance between said impeller and said impeller housing is less than 1/10th the diameter of said impeller;

said impeller has a forward side and a reverse side;

said means disposed upon said impeller for preventing dust from entering said motor housing comprises a cylindrical edge disposed on the reverse side of and concentrically with said impeller;

said smaller vanes have an interior end and an exterior end; and

said cylindrical edge adjoins the interior ends of said smaller vanes.

23. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 22, said impeller having six large vanes disposed on the forward side thereof and twelve smaller vanes disposed on the reverse side thereof.

24. An industrial vacuum system for the collection of large debris in industrial settings, said vacuum capable of being mounted on a wheeled frame and being carried manually, comprising:

a vacuum unit having an impeller housing,

an impeller disposed within said impeller housing,

a motor housing attached to said impeller housing,

a motor having a motor shaft, said motor disposed within said motor housing, wherein said motor shaft is rotationally connected to said impeller;

means for detachably attaching said vacuum unit to said wheeled frame, said means comprising;

a frame extension attached to said vacuum unit, said frame extension having a predefined shape and a hole disposed therein;

a metal bracket disposed on the wheeled frame, said metal bracket being shaped to conform to the predefined shape of said frame extension; and

a threaded bolt attached to said metal bracket, wherein said threaded bolt engages the hole disposed in said frame extension when said frame extension is mounted on said metal bracket and said metal bracket engages said frame extension to prevent said frame extension from rotating about said threaded bolt when said frame extension is mounted on said metal bracket; and

means for gripping and carrying said vacuum unit.

30. The industrial vacuum system according to claim 24, wherein said means for detachably attaching said vacuum unit to said wheeled frame further comprises a handle affixed to the wheeled frame.

25. An industrial vacuum system for the collection of large debris in industrial settings, said vacuum capable of being mounted on a wheeled frame and being carried manually, comprising:

a vacuum unit having an impeller housing,

an impeller disposed within said impeller housing,

a motor housing attached to said impeller housing,

a motor having a motor shaft, said motor disposed within said motor housing, wherein said motor shaft is rotationally connected to said impeller;

means for detachably attaching said vacuum unit to said wheeled frame; and

means for gripping and carrying said vacuum unit, said means for gripping and carrying said vaccum unit comprising;

a semicircular handlebar attached externally to said vacuum unit, said handlebar forming a semicircular arc around said vacuum unit; and

a handle having an end, the end of said handle being attached at the center of the arc of said semicircular handlebar.

26. An industrial vacuum system for the collection of large debris in industrial settings, said vacuum capable of being mounted on a wheeled frame and being carried manually, comprising:

a vacuum unit having an impeller housing,

an impeller disposed within said impeller housing,

a motor housing attached to said impeller housing,

a motor having a motor shaft, said motor disposed within said motor housing, wherein said motor shaft is rotationally connected to said impeller;

an input hose;

means for connecting said input hose to said impeller housing;

means for detachably attaching said vacuum unit to said wheeled frame; and

means for gripping and carrying said vacuum unit.

27. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 26, wherein said means for connecting said input hose to said impeller housing comprises:

a hub rotationally attached to said impeller housing;

means for rotating said hub; and

a latch attached to said hub;

an end cap attached to said input hose, said end cap having a radial slot formed therein; and

means, disposed on said impeller housing opposite said rotating hub, for retaining said end cap after said latch has been disengaged;

wherein said impeller housing has a radial slot formed therein through which said latch is rotatable to engage said radial slot in said end cap.

28. An industrial vacuum system for the collection of large debris in industrial settings, said vacuum capable of being mounted on a wheeled frame and being carried manually, comprising:

a vacuum unit having an impeller housing, said impeller housing including a top housing, a housing extension spacer and a bottom housing,

an impeller disposed within said impeller housing, said impeller having a forward side and a reverse side;

a motor housing attached to said impeller housing,

a motor having a motor shaft, said motor disposed within said motor housing, wherein said motor shaft is rotationally connected to said impeller;

a plurality of large vanes disposed on the forward side of said impeller;

a plurality of smaller vanes disposed on the reverse side of said impeller, said smaller vanes having an interior end and an exterior end;

means, disposed within said motor housing, for preventing debris from entering said motor;

means, disposed upon said impeller, for preventing debris from entering said motor, wherein the minimum radial distance between said impeller and said impeller housing is less than 1/10th the diameter of said impeller;

said means disposed upon said impeller for preventing debris from entering said motor comprising a cylindrical edge disposed on the reverse side of and concentrically with said impeller, said cylindrical edge adjoining the interior ends of said smaller vanes;

means for detachably attaching said vacuum unit to said wheeled frame; and

means for gripping and carrying said vacuum unit.

29. An industrial vacuum system according to claim 28, said impeller having six large vanes disposed on the forward side thereof and twelve smaller vanes disposed on the reverse side thereof.