Vacuuming machine

• US 7,323,022 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hobert Ronald Baute, Lois Baute
• Original Assignee: Hobert Ronald Baute, Lois Baute
• Inventors: Redlin, William L
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLEMENTE, ROBERT ARTHUR
• Application Number:
  US10/903,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 553/19, 553/56, 553/92, 553/94, 553/95, 554/28, 554/29, 554/32, 554/67, 554/71, 554/72, 555/06, 55D/IG.3, 153/401, 153/47, 153/53, 96414-416
• US Class Current: 55/319
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/077 with auxiliary means, e.g. fans, for transporting the mown crop
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2273/28 Making use of vacuum or underpressure
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

The subject invention pertains to a vacuuming machine with a primary chamber in which vacuum pressure within allows the ingress of debris through a hose. Air and debris entering the primary chamber decelerate upon entry into the chamber which allows debris to settle out of the air column within the primary chamber. Air within the primary chamber is evacuated through an enlarged filter and duct system that carries the air through a filter hopper and fan plate to a rotating fan. The blades of the fan move air and particulate matter through a second duct into a secondary chamber in which another deceleration of air and debris allows additional debris to settle to the bottom of the secondary chamber before air is finally evacuated from the vacuum machine.

Claims

1. A vacuuming device, wherein said device comprises:

a primary chamber, having an interior for the deposit and collection of debris, with at least one first ingress opening for ingress of air and debris and at least one second opening for the extraction of air and entrained debris from the primary chamber;

a fan connected to a power source, which turns the fan to create a vacuum within said primary chamber by extracting air from within said primary chamber through the at least one second opening;

a fan plate positioned between the fan and the primary chamber, said fan plate having one or more openings through which air and entrained debris, extracted from the primary chamber, passes before reaching the fan;

a filter hopper affixed over the fan plate, such that the filter hopper and fan plate form a hollow chamber, the filter hopper further comprising at least one opening contiguous with the second opening in the primary chamber through which air and all entrained debris from the primary chamber enters before passing through the one or more openings in the fan plate;

a fan housing disposed over the fan such that the fan is enclosed by the fan housing and the fan plate;

a filter duct, in the primary chamber, contiguous with the opening in the filter hopper and comprising a primary filter through which air and entrained debris from the primary chamber pass prior to entering the filter hopper;

a secondary chamber, having an interior that is separated from the primary chamber, and an exhaust air filter therein; and

a connection duct having first and second openings, said first opening being connected to the fan housing and said second opening being connected to the secondary chamber, such that air and entrained debris from the fan housing pass through the connection duct into the secondary chamber where the entrained debris settles and air exits the device through the exhaust air filter.

2. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein the primary filter is held in place within the primary chamber using filter brackets.

3. The vacuuming device, according to claim 2, wherein the primary filter and the filter brackets are configured to form the filter duct which conveys air received from the primary chamber to the filter hopper.

4. The vacuuming device, according to claim 3, wherein the filter hopper has a top edge that is proximal to said primary filter, and a bottom edge further from said primary filter, the width of said filter hopper along said bottom edge being approximately 30% to about 50% less than the width of said filter hopper along said top edge.

5. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein the primary filter is a metallic mesh approximately 6 feet to about 7 feet long and approximately 2 feet to about 4 feet wide.

6. The vacuuming device, according to claim 4, wherein the openings within the metallic mesh of the primary filter are approximately 0.5 square inch to about 2 square inches.

7. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ingress opening has a hose, pipe, or other channel attached thereto and extending external to the vacuum device, through which air can be carried into the vacuuming device.

8. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein a flow guard is mounted proximal to said ingress opening such that it directs air coming into the vacuuming device towards a desired location within the primary chamber.

9. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein each of the primary and secondary chambers comprises one or more debris-removal openings, and wherein the device further comprises covers which can be closed over the debris-removal openings when the vacuuming machine is in use.

10. The vacuuming device, according to claim 9, comprising a means for tilting either or both of said primary and secondary chambers, individually or simultaneously.

11. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, further comprising at least one view port for observing an interior portion of the device.

12. The vacuuming device, according to claim 11, wherein said view port permits observation of the primary chamber.

13. The vacuuming device, according to claim 11, wherein said view port permits observation of the secondary chamber.

14. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary chambers are positioned side by side as the device is in its upright, in-use position.

15. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein the opening in the fan plate is circular and positioned over the center of the fan.

16. The vacuuming device, according to claim 15, wherein the opening in the fan plate is approximately 10 inches to about 15 inches in diameter.

17. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the primary chamber is from approximately 25% to about 1100% larger than the secondary chamber.

18. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein the primary chamber is configured as a substantially rectangular box, approximately 3.5 feet to about 4.5 feet tall, approximately 6.5 feet to about 7.5 feet long, and approximately 3 feet to about 5.5 feet wide.

19. The vacuuming device, according to claim 1, wherein the secondary chamber is configured as a substantially rectangular box approximately 3.5 to about 4.5 feet tall, approximately 6.5 feet to about 7.5 feet long, and approximately 0.5 foot wide to about 3 feet wide.