Self-evacuating vacuum cleaner
First Claim
1. A wet/dry vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a tank for receiving vacuumed material;
a tank lid;
a motor and an air impeller carried by the tank lid;
a pump for removing liquid material from the tank; and
the pump comprising an upper pump assembly and a lower pump assembly;
wherein the upper pump assembly includes a pump impeller and the upper pump assembly is attached to the lid;
the lower pump assembly includes a pump inlet tube disposed within the tank, wherein the pump inlet tube communicates with a lower portion of the tank; and
the lower pump assembly is removably attached to the upper pump assembly.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner has an electric motor driving an air impeller that creates low pressure inside the tank of the vacuum cleaner. The motor also drives a pump impeller which is located in the tank and draws liquid material from the bottom of the tank and expels it from the tank. Near an inlet to the pump is a priming mechanism having bellows which are compressed to force liquid material up into the pump. Portions of the pump, including the inlet and the outlet as well as the priming mechanism, are attached to a tank extension which fits over the top of the tank. The lid of the vacuum cleaner, which carries the motor and air impeller, fits over the tank extension when the vacuum cleaner is used for liquid material. The tank extension and its associated pump components are removable from the tank to facilitate use of the vacuum cleaner on dry material.
142 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A wet/dry vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a tank for receiving vacuumed material; a tank lid; a motor and an air impeller carried by the tank lid; a pump for removing liquid material from the tank; and the pump comprising an upper pump assembly and a lower pump assembly; wherein the upper pump assembly includes a pump impeller and the upper pump assembly is attached to the lid; the lower pump assembly includes a pump inlet tube disposed within the tank, wherein the pump inlet tube communicates with a lower portion of the tank; and the lower pump assembly is removably attached to the upper pump assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a tank for collecting vacuumed material, the tank defining an inlet through which the vacuumed material passes; a source of mechanical force for driving a first and a second shaft, wherein the first shaft is essentially collinear with the second shaft; an air impeller housing defining an opening in communication with the tank; an air impeller disposed in the air impeller housing, secured to the first shaft and driven by the source of mechanical force for creating a low pressure area in the tank to draw material into the tank; a pump located in the tank, the pump having a pump impeller which is secured to the second shaft and driven by the source of mechanical force; an inlet to the pump disposed within the tank and located near a lower portion of the tank; and an outlet to the pump exterior to the tank; wherein liquid material in the tank is drawn into the pump inlet by the pump impeller and expelled through the pump outlet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification