Wet/dry vacuum drain system

• US 6,347,429 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1999
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Tool Co. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Young, Jeffrey L., Hult, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US09/369,950
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 153/23, 153/271, 153/272, 153/276, 153/277, 153/53, D32/21-24, 220/604, 220/608, 220/605, 220/630, 220/661
• US Class Current: 15/327.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• 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 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

A drain system for a wet/dry vacuum, including: a generally U-shaped dolly having wheels mounted thereon for rotation; a collection drum having an inside bottom surface defining a plane, the collection drum adapted to be mounted to the dolly; a drain opening defined by the collection drum, the drain opening defines an inside lower surface, the inside lower surface generally in line with the plane defined by the inside bottom surface of the collection drum and the drain opening being positioned generally opposite the closed end of the U-shaped dolly; and a cap having first and second ends, the first end adapted to mate with the drain opening in a sealed manner, the second end defines a member adapted to extend out from the collection drum, the member has a length sufficient to prevent the collection drum from completely tipping over.

Claims

1. A drain system for a wet/dry vacuum, comprising:

a generally U-shaped dolly having wheels mounted thereon;

a collection drum having an inside bottom surface defining a plane, the collection drum being removably mounted to the dolly; and

a drain opening defined by the collection drum, the drain opening being positioned generally opposite the closed end of the U-shaped dolly, wherein the drain opening defines an inside lower surface, the inside lower surface generally co-planar with the plane defined by the inside bottom surface of the collection drum.

2. The drain system of claim 1, wherein the inside bottom surface of the collection drum defines a convex floor.

3. The drain system of claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the collection drum is removably mounted to the dolly.

4. The drain system of claim 1, further comprising a cap having first and second ends, the first end adapted to removably seal the drain opening.

5. The drain system of claim 4, wherein the second end of the cap defines a protruding member.

6. The drain system of claim 5, wherein the protruding member has a length sufficient to prevent the collection drum from tipping over.

7. The drain system of claim 4, wherein the second end of the cap defines a flat tab.

8. The drain system of claim 4, wherein the second end provides a grip for installing and removing the cap.

9. A drain system for a wet/dry vacuum, comprising:

a dolly having wheels mounted thereon;

a collection drum being adapted to removably mount on the dolly;

a drain opening defined by the collection drum; and

a cap having first and second ends, the first end being adapted to mate with the drain opening in a sealed manner, the second end defining a protruding member, wherein the protruding member has a length sufficient to prevent the collection drum from tipping over.

10. The drain system of claim 9, wherein the protruding member and front wheels form a tipping radius to prevent the collection drum from tipping over.

11. A method of draining the contents of a wet/dry vacuum, comprising:

mounting a collection drum having an inside bottom surface to a generally U-shaped dolly, wherein the inside bottom surface defining a plane;

defining a drain opening on the collection drum generally opposite the closed end of the U-shaped dolly, wherein the drain opening defines an inside lower surface, the inside lower surface is generally co-planar with the plane defining the inside bottom surface of the collection drum;

covering the drain opening with a cap, the cap having first and second ends, the first end adapted to mate with the drain opening in a sealed manner; and

opening the cap of the drain opening.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plane defined by the inside bottom surface of the collection drum defines a convex floor.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising defining a protruding member at the second end of the cap.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the protruding member has a length sufficient to prevent the collection drum from tipping over.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the second end of the cap provides a flat tab grip for installing and removing the cap.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

mounting the collection drum at the closed end of the generally U-shaped dolly; and

defining extending members at the open end of the dolly, wherein the extending members extend past the collection drum.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the extending members at the open end of the generally U-shaped dolly have sufficient length to prevent the collection drum from tipping over.

18. A drain system for a wet/dry vacuum, comprising:

a generally U-shaped dolly having wheels mounted thereon;

a collection drum being removably mounted to the dolly;

a drain opening defined by the collection drum, the drain opening being positioned generally opposite the closed end of the U-shaped dolly; and

a cap having first and second ends, the first end being adapted to removably seal the drain opening, wherein the second end of the cap defines a flat tab.