CA1074968A - Vacuum cleaner dump bucket with hydroair filter - Google Patents
Vacuum cleaner dump bucket with hydroair filterInfo
- Publication number
- CA1074968A CA1074968A CA291,709A CA291709A CA1074968A CA 1074968 A CA1074968 A CA 1074968A CA 291709 A CA291709 A CA 291709A CA 1074968 A CA1074968 A CA 1074968A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- container
- dump bucket
- liquid
- wall
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
- A47L9/18—Liquid filters
- A47L9/181—Separating by passing the air through a liquid bath
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D47/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases, air or vapours by liquid as separating agent
- B01D47/02—Separating dispersed particles from gases, air or vapours by liquid as separating agent by passing the gas or air or vapour over or through a liquid bath
- B01D47/025—Separating dispersed particles from gases, air or vapours by liquid as separating agent by passing the gas or air or vapour over or through a liquid bath by contacting gas and liquid with a static flow mixer
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)
- Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
- Separation Of Particles Using Liquids (AREA)
- Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The aspirating liquid flow tube in the form of a dual vertical concentric tube assembly or a single vertical tube with a vertical transverse internal wall for a vacuum cleaner dump bucket is closed at its upper end, and is provided with a single axial opening or opposed radial nozzles for discharging dirty liquid induced by the vacuum promoted air stream against the dump bucket dome above the ring baffle to facilitate separation of the liquid from the air stream and distribute the liquid about the full circumference of the dome sidewall prior to contact with the ring baffle to increase dump bucket capacity without introduction of liquid into the hollow riser tube leading to the vacuum source.
The aspirating liquid flow tube in the form of a dual vertical concentric tube assembly or a single vertical tube with a vertical transverse internal wall for a vacuum cleaner dump bucket is closed at its upper end, and is provided with a single axial opening or opposed radial nozzles for discharging dirty liquid induced by the vacuum promoted air stream against the dump bucket dome above the ring baffle to facilitate separation of the liquid from the air stream and distribute the liquid about the full circumference of the dome sidewall prior to contact with the ring baffle to increase dump bucket capacity without introduction of liquid into the hollow riser tube leading to the vacuum source.
Description
~o74968 This invention pertains to vacuum cleaning systems for cleaning rugs, floors, drapes, urniture, etc., but not exclusively, and to a hot water extraction system of the type conventionally known as a steam cleaner.
Hot water vacuum extraction systems normally employ a source of hot water which is supplied under pressure in the form of a fine spray against the surface of a rug or floor ~o be cleaned by means of a nozzle fixed to one side of a vacuum head. The vacuum head contains a narrow slot subjected to vacuum pressure, whereby the hot water and the accumulated dirt from the cleaning action applied to the rug or floor is vacuum removed through the head and passes to a dump bucket subjected to vacuum pressure and connected to the head by way of a flexible pipe and/or wand. The flow of air accumulated liquid (dirty hot water) is normally discharged through a nozzle within the sealed dump bucket, whereby the liquid (dirty water) accumulates within the bottom of the dump bucket after separation from the air, which air passes outwardly of the dump bucket through a hollow riser tube which extends upwardly frcm the bottom of the dump bucket and whose open upper end terminates short of the domed top of the dump bucket.
Dump buckets of this general type are shown, for exzmple, in commonly assigned United States patent 3,911,524, - issued October 14, 1975. In order to increase the capacity of the dump bucke* which must be periodically dumped as the dirty water accumulates within the container during cleaning of a given surface area of the floor or rug to a degree depending upon the capacity of the container and the size of the cleaner, the dump bucket of the referred to patent ,~ ~
:' - . :' incorporates an annular baffle ring or flange which is fixed to the sidewall of the container beneath the domed top and below the point of discharge of the nozzle which returns the dirty water to the dump bucket and sprays it onto the interior surface of that dump bucket such that the air is separated and the dirty water flows down over the annular flange or ring to accumulate within the bottom of the dump bucket. The annular ring has integral strut means extending across the open center of the ring from one side to the other and intersecting the top of the vertical hollow riser tube which projects through an aperture within the strut means. Thus, a portion of the strut means surrounding the riser tube acts as a second baffle for the dirty water accumulating within the dump tank to prevent particularly at the relatively high velocity of air movement through the dump bucket under applied vacuum pressure, the dirty water from splashing into the open end of the hollow riser tube and reaching the source of vacuum pressure, normally constituted by a blower positioned below the dump tank and in fluid communication with the bottom end of the 2a hollow riser tube at the point whëre it surrounds an aperture within the bottom of the dump bucket.
The present invention refers to a similar dump bucket to that of United States Patent 3,911,524 except that, in this case, rather than the nozzle returning dirty water to ; the interior of the dump bucket and simply spraying dirty water against the interior surface of the dump bucket above the annular ring or flange projecting radially inward from the sidewall of the dump bucket,in one embodiment a pair of concentric radially spaced vertical tubes are provided. One of the tubes is connected at its upper end to the dirty water ~ ~074968 return noææle and in open communication therewith and terminates at a point near the bottom of the container and is open to the lower end of the second of the two concentric, radially spaced tubes. The other tube is closed off at the bottom and open at the top and forms an annular passage extending between the tubes and upwardly towards the top of the dump tank. The second tube comprises an aspirator tube, being apertured near its lower end and open to the interior of the container such that liquid stored or accumulated within the container or dump lQ tank to a level above that aperture is aspirated by the return air and dirty water moving first downwardly within the first tube and then upwardly within the annular passage between the first and second tubes such that the mixture of the return dirty water and the liquid within the container is discharged through the open end of the second tube for impact against the ;- container inner surface to separate the gaseous and liquid components thereof when vacuum pressure is applied to the hollow riser tube and the return fluid causes the liquid within the container to enter the stream by aspiration, eff~cting 2Q filtering of the return fluid stream.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the upper end of the aspirator tube is closed off and employs oppositely directed radial nozzles whose open ends face the annular sidewall of the cylindrical container. Where the concentric radially spaced tubes are eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of the container, that is, radially offset from the axis of the container, the liquid and air stream impacts the annular sidewall of the container tangentially and sweeps across the major circumferential surface of the sidewall above 3~ the annular ring baffle in two flow paths away from the nozzle . , .
.
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openings in opposite directions from each other. This slows down the movement of the liquid discharging from the nozzles and utilizes, to the maximum, the baffling function of the ring prior to passing over the ring and accumulating within the bottom of the cylindrical container. The second tube preferably comprises a unitary molded plastic member with the diameter of the nozzles being substantially smaller than the diameter of the vertical portion of the second tube extending between the bottom of the first tube and the return flow pipe. The upper lQ end may be closed off by a dome portion concentrically surrounding an elbow which directs the dirty return liquid to the inner vertical tube of the concentric radially spaced tube assembly.
In a third embodiment, the hydroair filter for the dump bucket for employment in a wet or dry vacuum system is formed by a single vertical closed tube with a transverse vertical dividing wall forming parallel vertical flow paths.
The single tube has an opening at the top to one side of the dividing wall which is connected to the fluid return tube ; 2Q which projects through the wall of the container to sealably receive the dirty fluid returned. The bottom of the single tube is closed off and the bottom of the dividing wall terminates short of the bottom of the tube to form a reduced ; cross section, high velocity Venturi flow area in proximity to one or more apertures within the tube permitting aspiration by the high velocity dirty return fluid as it passes through the Venturi and enters the second vertical flow path when the liquid within the dump bucket exceeds the level of thé apertures.
Nozzles at the upper end of the single closed tube open to the dump bucket interior from the top of the flow path on the side 10749f~3 of the tube opposite that connected to the inlet tube thereby discharging return fluid and aspirated liquid for impingement on the inner wall of the dump bucket and separation of the liquid and gas components.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of one embodiment of the improved dump bucket of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section about line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a portion of the dump bucket of Figure 3 taken about line 4-4.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of a portion of the dump tank of Figure 3 taken about line 5-5.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view of a third embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of a portion of the dump bucket of Figure 6 taken about line 7-7.
Dump buckets of the general type involved herein comprise a container 10 having an aperture 12 in the bottom thereof and an aperture 14 at or near the top, a hollow riser tube 16 extending upwardly from the aperture 12, and a hollow tube 18 extending downwardly from the aperture 14 to a point near the bottom of the container 10 and having at least one aperture 20 at the bottom end thereof. During use of the dump bucket, a source of vacuum (not shown) is connected to the aperture 12 and a pickup hose (not shown) i5 connected to the aperture 14.
In the presently preferred embodiment, the hollow .
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tube 18 comprises an elbow 22 which makes a right-angle bend towards the bottom of the container 10 and a straight piece 24 which is screwed into the elbow 22 and which is open at the bottom, but the hollow tube 18 obviously could be made integrally and it need not be shaped in the manner illustrated, but is could have a plurality of apertures at the bottom instead of the one aperture illustrated. Similarly, in the presently preferred embodiment the elbow 22 is screwed into a straight piece 26 which extends through the aperture 14, but the hollow tube 18 could obviously be held in place by many other expedients.
The subject improvement to dump buckets of the generally known type comprises a baffle cup 28 and a hollow tube 30. me baffle cup 28 surrounds the bottom end of the hollow tube 18 with its bottom oriented downwardly. It extends upwardly along the hollow tube 18 for a short distance and defines an annular space between the outside of the hollow tube 18 and the inside of the baffle cup 28. The hollow tube 3Q surrounds at least the upper end of the baffle cup 28 and the hollow tube 18. If defines an annular space between the outside of the baffle cup 28 and the inside of the hollow tube 30 and extends upwardly to a point near the top of the container 10. The hollow tube 30 is open to the contents of the container 10 beneath the top of the baffle cup 28 and is open at the top.
In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the hollow tube 30 is open at the bottom via a plurality of holes 32 therethrough beneath the top of the baffle cup 28, but the holes could be placed in the snap-on bottom plate 34, or the hollow tube 30 could simply have an open hottom end beneath the level 3~ of the top of the baffle cup 28.
107496~
By virtue of the foregoing improvement, the illustrated dump bucket can be used for either wet or dry vacuuming. When used with a hot water extraction unit of the type conventionally refered to as "steam cleaners", it allows the unit to be used either as a dry vacuum cleaner or as a "steam" cleaner without adjustment or modification.
The dump bucket works as follows. During use for either wet or dry vacuuming, the pressure in the container 10 is reduced by removing air through the aperture 12 with the previous.ly mentioned source of vacuum connected to that aperture. Meanwhile, the pressure at the aperture 14 remains at atmospheric pressure less the friction drop through the previously mentioned pickup hose and any cleaning attachment attached thereto. In the case of use of the dump bucket for dry vacuuming, wa~er is first placed in the container 10 to a level such as the indicated level 34 well.above the holes 32.
Incoming air and dirt is them pulled down the inner tube 24, is redirected upwards by the baffle cup 28, passes through, is filtered by, and picks up, mixes with, and becomes saturated 2Q by water drawn into the annular space between the outside of the tube 24 and the inside of the tube 30 by a Venturi effect, and -splashes against the top of the container 10. At that point, the water and dirt separate from the air, the former following the path of the arrows 38 and the latter following the path of the arrows 40 through a filtering screen 42 and into the riser pipe 16. In the case of use of the dump bucket for wet : vacuuming, no water need be placed in the dump bucket initially (since the incoming dirt is already saturated with water), and the dump bucket can be used until the water has reached the level 44 where the two parts of the container 10 are joined during use of the dump bucket.
As shown, the bottom of the baffle cup 28 is preferably spaced from the bottom of the hollow tube 24, but it would be possible to place the bottom of the baffle cup 28 flush against the bottom of the hollow tube 24 and to provide vents for the incoming fluid stream in the side of the hollow tube 24~
Similarly, while the baffle cup 28 is preferably held in place by the snap-on bottom plate 34, which is integral with the baffle cup 28 and held in place against the inside of the hollow tube 30 by spring force, it would be equally possible to mount the baffle cup 28 on the hollow tube 24 by means of struts or the like. However, the deflector cup 28 is preferably removable from the hollow tube 24 to allow for cleaning which may be necessary if large particles are carried into the dump bucket. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by manually squeezing the tabs 46 together, pushing the snap-on hollow plate 34 away from the inside of the hollow tube 30, the then dropping the bottom plate 34 and the baffle cup 28 away from the hollow tubes 24 and 30. ;~
2Q The hollow tubes 24 and 30 and the baffle cup 28 are all preferably circular in cross section and concentric to one another. E~owever, it is believed that other cross sections and non-concentric configurations could be used in place of the illustrated arrangement.
The cup 28 being of a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner tube 24, but smaller than the diamete r of the outer tube 30, creates a narrow annular passage between the cup and the inner tube 24 where the flow velocity is at a maximum for the fluid whether it be a gas or liquid returning to dump bucket or container 10. Further, the upward flow of _g_ 1(~7496~
this fluid tends to create an aspirating effect for the liquid within the dump bucket which enters into the outer tube 30 by way of apertures 32. The water aspirates from the bucket to the interior of the outer tube 30 because the static pressure within the annular space between outer tube 30 and inner tube 24 is reduced by the amount of the velocity pressure due to the velocity of the fluid stream which moves upwardly for discharge through the open upper end of the outer tube 30. The removal of the cup 28 would produce the same result, but not to the degree possible by the inclusion of the cup which creates the high velocity flow between the annular wall of cup 28 and the outside of tube 24. In this case, with the cup removed, it is necessary ~:
that the bottom plate 34 be spaced axially from the bottom and open end of tube 24.
In Figures 3, 4, and 5, directed to the second embodiment, a dump bucket is indicated generally at 110 constituting a cylindrical container formed by a bottom, an upwardly open cup-shaped member llOa and a downwardly open cup-shaped member or dome cover section llOb, the bottom member llOa terminating in an outwardly directed radial flange llOc at its upper end, while the upper member llOb terminates at its lower end in a radially outward directed flange llOd.
In this illustrated embodiment, a unitary, preferably molded plastic, annular ring and strut member, indicated generally at 136, has a radially outer annular ring section 136a which forms a first liquid baffle of a diameter such that its peripheral edge portion is sandwiched between flanges llOd and llOc for upper and lower cup-shaped members llOb and llOa, respectively, and wherein the application of vacuum pressure to the interior ~0749~
of the container 110 maintains a seal between members llOa and llOb by way of member 136. The container 110 is apertured as at 112 within the bottom cup-shaped member llOa and a hollow riser tube 116 is mounted to the bottom of the container 110 by way of a flanged and threaded tube 116a which projects through aperture 112 and is threaded to the hollow riser tube 116 with annular seal elements 140 and 142 sandwiched between the container bottom cup-shaped member llOa and flanges on members 116 and 116a, respectively.
The hollow riser tube 116 terminates at its upper end 116b short of the domed top of the upper cup-shaped member llOb but at a point above the level of the unitary ring and strut member 136. In this respect, as seen in Figure 5, a strut 136b extends diametrically across the center of the container 110, being joined at respective ends to the ring section 136a of member 136 and intersecting the hollow riser tube 116.
The strut is apertured as at 136d, the aperture having a diameter on the order of the outside diameter of the hollow riser tube 116 so as to closely receive the upper end of the 2a hollow riser tube. The portion 136c of the strut 136b surrounding the riser tube 116 acts as a second liquid baffle for the liquid such as the dirty water W which accumulates within the bottom of cup-shaped member llOa of the dump tank.
An inverted cup-shaped screen 138 overlies the open end 116b of the hollow riser tube 116 and is fixed to the strut 136b so as to prevent solid material separated in the container 110 from the dirty water or return fluid from passing down through the hollow riser tube 116 to the source of vacuum which is applied to the lower end of the hollow riser tube 116 by way of threaded tube 116a. The container is further apertured as at --11~
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114 within the annular sidewall of the upper cup-shaped member llOb and positioned within this a~erture 114 is a dirty water return or inlet tube 126, tube 126 being threaded at 126a at its inner end and being provided with a flange 126b which is of a larger diameter than the aperture 114 through which the tube projects so as to act as a stop. Further, an elbow 122 formed of plastic material carries threads at 122a, and is threaded to the inlet tube 126 such that the end of the elbow 122 forcibly presses an annular seal 144 against the inner surface of the sidewall of the upper cup-shaped member llOb to form a sealed connection for the inlet tube 126 to container 110. The other end of the elbow 122 has its inner surface threaded as at 122c and a straight fluid return tube 124 carries threads 124a at its upper end on its outer periphery and is threaded to the elbow 122 and supported thereby. The elbow 122 and the vertical fluid return tu~e 124 acts as a continuation of the inlet tube 126 for dirty fluid returning from the vacuum head (not shownl to which it is connected by way of a pick-up hose (not shown).
The fluid return tube terminates at its lower end 124b at a level somewhat above the bottom of the lower cup-shaped member llOa. A second hollow aspirator tube 130 concentrically surrounds the fluid return tube 124 forming concentric tube assembly 160 and is spaced therefrom being of somewhat larger diameter and defining an annular aspirating flow path 150 therebetween which extends from the bottom 124b of the inner of the two tubes to the vicinity of the inlet tube 126. The outer tube 130 terminates at its lower end in an enlarged diameter portion 130a to which is mounted a snaF on bottom plate, indicated generally at 134, of irregular 3~ configuration. In this respect, the plate 134 is provided 107496~
with a central planar portion 134a, an inverted U-shape, inte~ral, annular flange portion 134b, and terminates in a radial flange portion 134c which permits the bottom plate 134 to frictionally snap into the large diameter lower end ~Oa of hollow aspirator tube 130. The snap on bottom plate carries a short length cylinder 152 within an annular flange portion 134b which forms with the snap-on bottom plate 134 an annular cup indicated generally at 128. ~he cup 128 is of a height such that its upper end 128a is at a level above the open lower end 124a of the fluid return tube 124 and thereby forms a narrow, annular space or passage 128b between these elements such that upon application of suction pressure to the hollow riser tube 116, air and any liquid or solids forming the dirty water or the fluid return to inlet 126 passes upwardly between the fluid return tube 124 and the cup 128 at high velocity to enter the annular cavity 150 between concentric tubes 124 and 130. Further, the aspirator tube 130 is provided with one or more circumferentially spaced apertures or openings 132 within the side of the same, preferably above the open end 124a of the fluid return tube 124j so that any liquid such as the water W which accumulates within the container 110 above the level of the apertures or openings 132 is aspirated, thereby entering the air and return dirty water stream which moves at high speed from the annular space 128b and is redirected vertically upward towards the top of the container.
This portion of the illustrated dump bucket is essentially identical to the dump bucket referred to in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 and the action of the return fluid entering inlet 126 and its aspirating effect wit~
3~ respect to the water (whether dirty or clear) within the container llOa to a level above the apertures or openings 132 of the hollow aspirator tube 130 is identical. However, in the referred to embodiment, the upper end of the aspirator or hollow tube 130 is open so that the aspirated liquid impacts directly against the domed top of the upper cup-shaped member llOb for flow down the annular sidewall of that member and over the ring 136a of the unitary ring and strut member 136 prior to accumulating within the bottom of the container 110. Further, when clear water is initially applied to the container 110 and lQ the system is employed as a dry vacuum cleaner, dirt suspended in the air stream of the return fluid entering inlet 126 which aspirates the water through openings 132 causes the aspirated water to capture the dust particles within the air stream with the liquid carrying the dust particles impacting against the inner surface of the container above the annular ring 136a, whereby the air separates from the liquid and suspended dust particles and passes through the filter screen 138 to the source of suction by way of the hollow riser tube 116. In fast, the annular passage 128b acts as a Venturi to cr~ate a 2Q very high velocity of the return air at this point to facilitate aspirating and mixing of the air with the aspirated liquid such that the air picks up and mixes with and becomes saturated by water drawn into the annular space between the outside of the vertical fluid return tube 124 and the vertical hollow aspirator tube 130.
Contrary to the structure of the first embodiment, the upper end of the hollow aspirator tube 130 is closed off by an arcuate wall 130b whose radius of curvature preferably matches the curvature of elbow 122 so as to form an arcuate 3Q space 154 which receives the relatively high velocity ai.r 1~74968 stream and aspirated water ~^7. Further, the upper enlarged diam~ter end 130c of the hollow aspirator tube 130 in the vicinity of the elbow 122 is provided with integral radially projecting discharge tubes or nozzles 130d, the tubes 130d being cylindrical and terminating at their outer ends in obliquely cut edges 130e which face the annular sidewall llOe of the upper cup-shaped member llOb. The enlarged diameter end 130c of the hollow aspirator tube 130 is further apertured as at 156, receiving the horizontal portion of elbow 122 with lQ that portion 130c o~ the tube 130 abutting the inner periphery of annular ring po~tion 136a of the ring and strut member 136.
This places the complete concentric tube assembly 160 to one side of the container 110 and relatively remote from the center line through which passes the hollow riser tube 116.
Incidentally, the hollow riser tube is not necessarily coaxial with the container 110 but may also be positioned eccentrically, that is, closer to one side of this container than the other. However, in the case of the concentric tube assembly 160 formed by tubes 124 and 130, it is preferred that the assembly 160 be positioned within the container close to the inner sidewall of the container with the nozzles 130d opening at beveled ends 130e adjacent to the sidewall llOe of the upper cup-shaped member llOb above the annular ring 136a such that the liquid portion of the flow stream through annular space 150 in entering the container 110 impacts the sidewall llOe of that member of the container generally tangentially thereto and continues to flow generally horizontally along the sidewall indicated by arrows 38 in two directions, away from the elbow 122, maintaining the dirty water in contact with the inner wall surface llOe of the 10749~8 ; upper cup-shaped member llOb throughout the major circumferential extent of that wall prior to flowing down and over the ring section or first baffle mernber 136a. This enhances separation of the liquid from the air stream which passes to the vacuum source as indicated by arrows 140 by entering the upper end 116b of the hollow riser tube 116.
The modified form of the dual concentric tube assembly 160 maximizes the reduction in speed by the frictional contact of the dirty water and entrained dirt particles along the surface llOe of the upper cup-shaped member llOb and permits the annular ring 136a to act as a baffle for this moving water to reduce its speed and retard turbulence prior to falling by gravity over this member and accumulating within the bottom of the container 110. This action permits a maximum volume of water to be accumulated within the container 110 when the dump tank is employed in a hot water extraction system, or permits a large volume of water to be ; employed as a filter medium when the dump tank is employed in conjunction with a dry vacuum system, without leakage to the vacuum source. Further, the upper end 130b of the hollow aspirator tube 30 may terminate in a flat portion rather than the dome end wall, although the dome end wall 130b facilitates the deflection of the return fluid and aspirated water into the laterally opposed nozzles or discharge tubes 13Od.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, a third embodiment of the present invention is employed in conjunction with a dump bucket indicated generally at 210. The dump bucket con~ists of a lower cup-shaped member 212 and an upper cup-shaped member 214, the lower cup-shaped member terminating -16_ at its upper end in a flange 216 which is directed radially outwardly, that is, away from the interior of the dump bucket. The upper cup-shaped member is provided with a dome-shaped top 218. An annular shelf 220 projects radially inward from the inner periphery of that member adjacent its lower open end which rests upon the flange 216. The shelf 220 includes an integral strut 222 which extends diametrically across the inside of the dump bucket and which is apertured at 224 to receive the upper end of a cylindrical riser tube 226, the riser tube 226 being fixed at its bottom to an annular fitting 228 which sealably mounts the riser tube 226 to the bottom wall 230 of the lower cup-shaped member 212.
The annular member 228 acts as an extension of the riser tube and opens to the exterior of the dump bucket. The strut 222 may support a perforated filter screen 232 which overlies the open upper end 234 of the riser tube 226 to effectively screen off lint particles and the like attempting to escape from the interior of the dump bucket upon the application of vacuum pressure by a vacuum pump (not shown) which pressure is applied to the lower end of the riser tube 226. The application of vacuum pressure to the interior of the dump bucket causes the annular shelf 220 to seat against the flange 216 to seal the interior of the dump bucket, that is, effect an air-tight seal between the lower and upper cup-shaped members 212 and 214, respectively.
A "return fluid" inlet tube or return tube indicated generally at 236 is mounted to the upper cup-shaped member 214 by having a portion projectins through a cylindrical opening 238 within the side of the upper cup-shaped member, above the annular shelf 220. The inlet tube 236 is preferably 1~749~;~
formed with an enlarged diameter portion 236a, which defines a shoulder 236b, which abuts the exterior of the upper cup-shaped member adjacent aperture 238 and facilitates the connection of the hydroair filter indicated generally at 240 to the inlet tube 236.
In this embodiment, the present invention is characterized by a single closed tube, indicated generally at 242, ha~ing its lower end closed by a transverse bottom wall 244, and its upper end closed by an upper transverse wall 246. Preferably, the single tube which is circular in horizontal cross section comprises two semi-cylindrical halves, a first half 242a and a second half 242b which are joined about a vertical center plane by being welded as at 245.
Further, in the construction of the single tube hydroair filter, a vertical divider wall or plate 250 is welded to the semi-cylindrical tube sections or halves 242a and 242b at their junctions, to separate the single tube 242 into parallel flow paths or passages, a first flow path 252 within half 242b and a second vertical flow path 254 within tube section or half 242a. The tube half 242b is integrally provided at - its upper end in a right angle nipple or sleeve 247 defining a circular opening 248 which receives the portion of the inlet -tube 236 projecting inwardly of the upper cup-shaped member 214. ~he tube half 242b is mounted to the fluid inlet tube and sealably secured thereto at the nipple 247. This permits the return flow of dirty fluid which may be air with entrained dirt, lint, etc., from the carpet being cleaned by way of a wand ~not shown) connected to the inlet tube 236 exterior of the dump bucket 210, or air and entrained dirt and liquid when a water ~nd/or a cleaning agent is being applied to the carpet .r or other surface being cleaned.
The hydroair filter 240 is constructed such that the dividing wall or plate 250 extends completely to the top of the single tube 242. However, its lower edge 250a terminates short of the bottom transverse wall 244 of tube 252, defining a reduced cross section flow area 256 between the transverse bottom wall 244 and the lower edge 250a of the dividing wall or plate 250. Further, the right-hand tube section or half 242a is provided with a pair of small diameter apertures or openings 258 within the side of the tube half 242a above the lower edge 250a of the divider plate 250, such that the return fluid passing downwardly through passage 242 and moving at high velocity through the restricted area or Venturi 256 induces water to aspirate through the apertures 258 and enter the flow stream acting to entrain the dust, dirt and lint particles as the return flow and aspirated liquid moves upwardly, as indicated by the larger arrows within flow path or passage 254. The entrained liquid which may be purposely added to the dump tank 210 or which may be accumulated dirty water and/or cleaning liquid returning from the carpet or other surface being cleaned and which accumulates within the tank, after reaching the level of apertures 258 is aspirated into that air or air and liquid stream, as evidenced by the smaller arrows. While the transverse wall or plate 246 closes off the upper end of the single closed tube 242, the hydroair filter 240 further comprises integral wings 250b of the divider wall or plate 250 and the tube half extensions as at 242a' being welded at both edges to the wings 250b to form nozzles indicated generally at 260. The tube half extensions 242a' are semi-cylindrical in configuration. The 107496~
nozzles 260 are provided, therefore, with open ends 262 which direct the air and liquid,as evidenced by the large and small arrows, respectively, against the inside wall of the upper cup-shaped member 214 above the shelf 220, the liquid along with its entrained dirt, dust and lint particles being entrained by the wall upon contact, while the air, separated at this point, seeks outlet from the dump tank through the open end 234 of the riser tube 226 back to the cleaner vacuum pump (not shown) in the direction of the large arrow 266 at the lower end of the riser tube 226. The water, as evidenced by the small arrows, passes over the shelf 220 which acts as a baffle by reducing the velocity of the water as it seeks by gravity the lower cup-shaped member 212 for accumulation within that tank. While the reduced cross-sectional area passage between the flow paths 252 and 254 is formed by termination of the vertical divider wall or plate 250 short of the lower wall 244 of the single hydroair filter tube 240, the divider plate may extend the full length of the tube 240 and may be provided with one or more apertures within the same to effect that reduced cross-section of the return flow path and induce a high velocity at the point where the air crosses apertures 258 to effect aspiration of the liquid into this high velocity flow. Further, the dump bucket incorporating the improved single tube hydroair filter of the present invention may be used for either wet or dry vacuuming, and when used with a hot water vacuum extraction unit of the type shown in United States Patent No. 3,896,521, it may employ the dirty return water as the self-operating filter liquid.
Further, while the nozzles 260 are shown as projecting to diametrically opposite sides of the container interior and are 107496~
angled slightly downwardly from the horizontal to project the liquid and the air against the side of the upper cup-shaped member ~ust above shelf 220, various modification and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Hot water vacuum extraction systems normally employ a source of hot water which is supplied under pressure in the form of a fine spray against the surface of a rug or floor ~o be cleaned by means of a nozzle fixed to one side of a vacuum head. The vacuum head contains a narrow slot subjected to vacuum pressure, whereby the hot water and the accumulated dirt from the cleaning action applied to the rug or floor is vacuum removed through the head and passes to a dump bucket subjected to vacuum pressure and connected to the head by way of a flexible pipe and/or wand. The flow of air accumulated liquid (dirty hot water) is normally discharged through a nozzle within the sealed dump bucket, whereby the liquid (dirty water) accumulates within the bottom of the dump bucket after separation from the air, which air passes outwardly of the dump bucket through a hollow riser tube which extends upwardly frcm the bottom of the dump bucket and whose open upper end terminates short of the domed top of the dump bucket.
Dump buckets of this general type are shown, for exzmple, in commonly assigned United States patent 3,911,524, - issued October 14, 1975. In order to increase the capacity of the dump bucke* which must be periodically dumped as the dirty water accumulates within the container during cleaning of a given surface area of the floor or rug to a degree depending upon the capacity of the container and the size of the cleaner, the dump bucket of the referred to patent ,~ ~
:' - . :' incorporates an annular baffle ring or flange which is fixed to the sidewall of the container beneath the domed top and below the point of discharge of the nozzle which returns the dirty water to the dump bucket and sprays it onto the interior surface of that dump bucket such that the air is separated and the dirty water flows down over the annular flange or ring to accumulate within the bottom of the dump bucket. The annular ring has integral strut means extending across the open center of the ring from one side to the other and intersecting the top of the vertical hollow riser tube which projects through an aperture within the strut means. Thus, a portion of the strut means surrounding the riser tube acts as a second baffle for the dirty water accumulating within the dump tank to prevent particularly at the relatively high velocity of air movement through the dump bucket under applied vacuum pressure, the dirty water from splashing into the open end of the hollow riser tube and reaching the source of vacuum pressure, normally constituted by a blower positioned below the dump tank and in fluid communication with the bottom end of the 2a hollow riser tube at the point whëre it surrounds an aperture within the bottom of the dump bucket.
The present invention refers to a similar dump bucket to that of United States Patent 3,911,524 except that, in this case, rather than the nozzle returning dirty water to ; the interior of the dump bucket and simply spraying dirty water against the interior surface of the dump bucket above the annular ring or flange projecting radially inward from the sidewall of the dump bucket,in one embodiment a pair of concentric radially spaced vertical tubes are provided. One of the tubes is connected at its upper end to the dirty water ~ ~074968 return noææle and in open communication therewith and terminates at a point near the bottom of the container and is open to the lower end of the second of the two concentric, radially spaced tubes. The other tube is closed off at the bottom and open at the top and forms an annular passage extending between the tubes and upwardly towards the top of the dump tank. The second tube comprises an aspirator tube, being apertured near its lower end and open to the interior of the container such that liquid stored or accumulated within the container or dump lQ tank to a level above that aperture is aspirated by the return air and dirty water moving first downwardly within the first tube and then upwardly within the annular passage between the first and second tubes such that the mixture of the return dirty water and the liquid within the container is discharged through the open end of the second tube for impact against the ;- container inner surface to separate the gaseous and liquid components thereof when vacuum pressure is applied to the hollow riser tube and the return fluid causes the liquid within the container to enter the stream by aspiration, eff~cting 2Q filtering of the return fluid stream.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the upper end of the aspirator tube is closed off and employs oppositely directed radial nozzles whose open ends face the annular sidewall of the cylindrical container. Where the concentric radially spaced tubes are eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of the container, that is, radially offset from the axis of the container, the liquid and air stream impacts the annular sidewall of the container tangentially and sweeps across the major circumferential surface of the sidewall above 3~ the annular ring baffle in two flow paths away from the nozzle . , .
.
10~496~
openings in opposite directions from each other. This slows down the movement of the liquid discharging from the nozzles and utilizes, to the maximum, the baffling function of the ring prior to passing over the ring and accumulating within the bottom of the cylindrical container. The second tube preferably comprises a unitary molded plastic member with the diameter of the nozzles being substantially smaller than the diameter of the vertical portion of the second tube extending between the bottom of the first tube and the return flow pipe. The upper lQ end may be closed off by a dome portion concentrically surrounding an elbow which directs the dirty return liquid to the inner vertical tube of the concentric radially spaced tube assembly.
In a third embodiment, the hydroair filter for the dump bucket for employment in a wet or dry vacuum system is formed by a single vertical closed tube with a transverse vertical dividing wall forming parallel vertical flow paths.
The single tube has an opening at the top to one side of the dividing wall which is connected to the fluid return tube ; 2Q which projects through the wall of the container to sealably receive the dirty fluid returned. The bottom of the single tube is closed off and the bottom of the dividing wall terminates short of the bottom of the tube to form a reduced ; cross section, high velocity Venturi flow area in proximity to one or more apertures within the tube permitting aspiration by the high velocity dirty return fluid as it passes through the Venturi and enters the second vertical flow path when the liquid within the dump bucket exceeds the level of thé apertures.
Nozzles at the upper end of the single closed tube open to the dump bucket interior from the top of the flow path on the side 10749f~3 of the tube opposite that connected to the inlet tube thereby discharging return fluid and aspirated liquid for impingement on the inner wall of the dump bucket and separation of the liquid and gas components.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of one embodiment of the improved dump bucket of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section about line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a portion of the dump bucket of Figure 3 taken about line 4-4.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of a portion of the dump tank of Figure 3 taken about line 5-5.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view of a third embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of a portion of the dump bucket of Figure 6 taken about line 7-7.
Dump buckets of the general type involved herein comprise a container 10 having an aperture 12 in the bottom thereof and an aperture 14 at or near the top, a hollow riser tube 16 extending upwardly from the aperture 12, and a hollow tube 18 extending downwardly from the aperture 14 to a point near the bottom of the container 10 and having at least one aperture 20 at the bottom end thereof. During use of the dump bucket, a source of vacuum (not shown) is connected to the aperture 12 and a pickup hose (not shown) i5 connected to the aperture 14.
In the presently preferred embodiment, the hollow .
~07496~
tube 18 comprises an elbow 22 which makes a right-angle bend towards the bottom of the container 10 and a straight piece 24 which is screwed into the elbow 22 and which is open at the bottom, but the hollow tube 18 obviously could be made integrally and it need not be shaped in the manner illustrated, but is could have a plurality of apertures at the bottom instead of the one aperture illustrated. Similarly, in the presently preferred embodiment the elbow 22 is screwed into a straight piece 26 which extends through the aperture 14, but the hollow tube 18 could obviously be held in place by many other expedients.
The subject improvement to dump buckets of the generally known type comprises a baffle cup 28 and a hollow tube 30. me baffle cup 28 surrounds the bottom end of the hollow tube 18 with its bottom oriented downwardly. It extends upwardly along the hollow tube 18 for a short distance and defines an annular space between the outside of the hollow tube 18 and the inside of the baffle cup 28. The hollow tube 3Q surrounds at least the upper end of the baffle cup 28 and the hollow tube 18. If defines an annular space between the outside of the baffle cup 28 and the inside of the hollow tube 30 and extends upwardly to a point near the top of the container 10. The hollow tube 30 is open to the contents of the container 10 beneath the top of the baffle cup 28 and is open at the top.
In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the hollow tube 30 is open at the bottom via a plurality of holes 32 therethrough beneath the top of the baffle cup 28, but the holes could be placed in the snap-on bottom plate 34, or the hollow tube 30 could simply have an open hottom end beneath the level 3~ of the top of the baffle cup 28.
107496~
By virtue of the foregoing improvement, the illustrated dump bucket can be used for either wet or dry vacuuming. When used with a hot water extraction unit of the type conventionally refered to as "steam cleaners", it allows the unit to be used either as a dry vacuum cleaner or as a "steam" cleaner without adjustment or modification.
The dump bucket works as follows. During use for either wet or dry vacuuming, the pressure in the container 10 is reduced by removing air through the aperture 12 with the previous.ly mentioned source of vacuum connected to that aperture. Meanwhile, the pressure at the aperture 14 remains at atmospheric pressure less the friction drop through the previously mentioned pickup hose and any cleaning attachment attached thereto. In the case of use of the dump bucket for dry vacuuming, wa~er is first placed in the container 10 to a level such as the indicated level 34 well.above the holes 32.
Incoming air and dirt is them pulled down the inner tube 24, is redirected upwards by the baffle cup 28, passes through, is filtered by, and picks up, mixes with, and becomes saturated 2Q by water drawn into the annular space between the outside of the tube 24 and the inside of the tube 30 by a Venturi effect, and -splashes against the top of the container 10. At that point, the water and dirt separate from the air, the former following the path of the arrows 38 and the latter following the path of the arrows 40 through a filtering screen 42 and into the riser pipe 16. In the case of use of the dump bucket for wet : vacuuming, no water need be placed in the dump bucket initially (since the incoming dirt is already saturated with water), and the dump bucket can be used until the water has reached the level 44 where the two parts of the container 10 are joined during use of the dump bucket.
As shown, the bottom of the baffle cup 28 is preferably spaced from the bottom of the hollow tube 24, but it would be possible to place the bottom of the baffle cup 28 flush against the bottom of the hollow tube 24 and to provide vents for the incoming fluid stream in the side of the hollow tube 24~
Similarly, while the baffle cup 28 is preferably held in place by the snap-on bottom plate 34, which is integral with the baffle cup 28 and held in place against the inside of the hollow tube 30 by spring force, it would be equally possible to mount the baffle cup 28 on the hollow tube 24 by means of struts or the like. However, the deflector cup 28 is preferably removable from the hollow tube 24 to allow for cleaning which may be necessary if large particles are carried into the dump bucket. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by manually squeezing the tabs 46 together, pushing the snap-on hollow plate 34 away from the inside of the hollow tube 30, the then dropping the bottom plate 34 and the baffle cup 28 away from the hollow tubes 24 and 30. ;~
2Q The hollow tubes 24 and 30 and the baffle cup 28 are all preferably circular in cross section and concentric to one another. E~owever, it is believed that other cross sections and non-concentric configurations could be used in place of the illustrated arrangement.
The cup 28 being of a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner tube 24, but smaller than the diamete r of the outer tube 30, creates a narrow annular passage between the cup and the inner tube 24 where the flow velocity is at a maximum for the fluid whether it be a gas or liquid returning to dump bucket or container 10. Further, the upward flow of _g_ 1(~7496~
this fluid tends to create an aspirating effect for the liquid within the dump bucket which enters into the outer tube 30 by way of apertures 32. The water aspirates from the bucket to the interior of the outer tube 30 because the static pressure within the annular space between outer tube 30 and inner tube 24 is reduced by the amount of the velocity pressure due to the velocity of the fluid stream which moves upwardly for discharge through the open upper end of the outer tube 30. The removal of the cup 28 would produce the same result, but not to the degree possible by the inclusion of the cup which creates the high velocity flow between the annular wall of cup 28 and the outside of tube 24. In this case, with the cup removed, it is necessary ~:
that the bottom plate 34 be spaced axially from the bottom and open end of tube 24.
In Figures 3, 4, and 5, directed to the second embodiment, a dump bucket is indicated generally at 110 constituting a cylindrical container formed by a bottom, an upwardly open cup-shaped member llOa and a downwardly open cup-shaped member or dome cover section llOb, the bottom member llOa terminating in an outwardly directed radial flange llOc at its upper end, while the upper member llOb terminates at its lower end in a radially outward directed flange llOd.
In this illustrated embodiment, a unitary, preferably molded plastic, annular ring and strut member, indicated generally at 136, has a radially outer annular ring section 136a which forms a first liquid baffle of a diameter such that its peripheral edge portion is sandwiched between flanges llOd and llOc for upper and lower cup-shaped members llOb and llOa, respectively, and wherein the application of vacuum pressure to the interior ~0749~
of the container 110 maintains a seal between members llOa and llOb by way of member 136. The container 110 is apertured as at 112 within the bottom cup-shaped member llOa and a hollow riser tube 116 is mounted to the bottom of the container 110 by way of a flanged and threaded tube 116a which projects through aperture 112 and is threaded to the hollow riser tube 116 with annular seal elements 140 and 142 sandwiched between the container bottom cup-shaped member llOa and flanges on members 116 and 116a, respectively.
The hollow riser tube 116 terminates at its upper end 116b short of the domed top of the upper cup-shaped member llOb but at a point above the level of the unitary ring and strut member 136. In this respect, as seen in Figure 5, a strut 136b extends diametrically across the center of the container 110, being joined at respective ends to the ring section 136a of member 136 and intersecting the hollow riser tube 116.
The strut is apertured as at 136d, the aperture having a diameter on the order of the outside diameter of the hollow riser tube 116 so as to closely receive the upper end of the 2a hollow riser tube. The portion 136c of the strut 136b surrounding the riser tube 116 acts as a second liquid baffle for the liquid such as the dirty water W which accumulates within the bottom of cup-shaped member llOa of the dump tank.
An inverted cup-shaped screen 138 overlies the open end 116b of the hollow riser tube 116 and is fixed to the strut 136b so as to prevent solid material separated in the container 110 from the dirty water or return fluid from passing down through the hollow riser tube 116 to the source of vacuum which is applied to the lower end of the hollow riser tube 116 by way of threaded tube 116a. The container is further apertured as at --11~
107496~
114 within the annular sidewall of the upper cup-shaped member llOb and positioned within this a~erture 114 is a dirty water return or inlet tube 126, tube 126 being threaded at 126a at its inner end and being provided with a flange 126b which is of a larger diameter than the aperture 114 through which the tube projects so as to act as a stop. Further, an elbow 122 formed of plastic material carries threads at 122a, and is threaded to the inlet tube 126 such that the end of the elbow 122 forcibly presses an annular seal 144 against the inner surface of the sidewall of the upper cup-shaped member llOb to form a sealed connection for the inlet tube 126 to container 110. The other end of the elbow 122 has its inner surface threaded as at 122c and a straight fluid return tube 124 carries threads 124a at its upper end on its outer periphery and is threaded to the elbow 122 and supported thereby. The elbow 122 and the vertical fluid return tu~e 124 acts as a continuation of the inlet tube 126 for dirty fluid returning from the vacuum head (not shownl to which it is connected by way of a pick-up hose (not shown).
The fluid return tube terminates at its lower end 124b at a level somewhat above the bottom of the lower cup-shaped member llOa. A second hollow aspirator tube 130 concentrically surrounds the fluid return tube 124 forming concentric tube assembly 160 and is spaced therefrom being of somewhat larger diameter and defining an annular aspirating flow path 150 therebetween which extends from the bottom 124b of the inner of the two tubes to the vicinity of the inlet tube 126. The outer tube 130 terminates at its lower end in an enlarged diameter portion 130a to which is mounted a snaF on bottom plate, indicated generally at 134, of irregular 3~ configuration. In this respect, the plate 134 is provided 107496~
with a central planar portion 134a, an inverted U-shape, inte~ral, annular flange portion 134b, and terminates in a radial flange portion 134c which permits the bottom plate 134 to frictionally snap into the large diameter lower end ~Oa of hollow aspirator tube 130. The snap on bottom plate carries a short length cylinder 152 within an annular flange portion 134b which forms with the snap-on bottom plate 134 an annular cup indicated generally at 128. ~he cup 128 is of a height such that its upper end 128a is at a level above the open lower end 124a of the fluid return tube 124 and thereby forms a narrow, annular space or passage 128b between these elements such that upon application of suction pressure to the hollow riser tube 116, air and any liquid or solids forming the dirty water or the fluid return to inlet 126 passes upwardly between the fluid return tube 124 and the cup 128 at high velocity to enter the annular cavity 150 between concentric tubes 124 and 130. Further, the aspirator tube 130 is provided with one or more circumferentially spaced apertures or openings 132 within the side of the same, preferably above the open end 124a of the fluid return tube 124j so that any liquid such as the water W which accumulates within the container 110 above the level of the apertures or openings 132 is aspirated, thereby entering the air and return dirty water stream which moves at high speed from the annular space 128b and is redirected vertically upward towards the top of the container.
This portion of the illustrated dump bucket is essentially identical to the dump bucket referred to in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 and the action of the return fluid entering inlet 126 and its aspirating effect wit~
3~ respect to the water (whether dirty or clear) within the container llOa to a level above the apertures or openings 132 of the hollow aspirator tube 130 is identical. However, in the referred to embodiment, the upper end of the aspirator or hollow tube 130 is open so that the aspirated liquid impacts directly against the domed top of the upper cup-shaped member llOb for flow down the annular sidewall of that member and over the ring 136a of the unitary ring and strut member 136 prior to accumulating within the bottom of the container 110. Further, when clear water is initially applied to the container 110 and lQ the system is employed as a dry vacuum cleaner, dirt suspended in the air stream of the return fluid entering inlet 126 which aspirates the water through openings 132 causes the aspirated water to capture the dust particles within the air stream with the liquid carrying the dust particles impacting against the inner surface of the container above the annular ring 136a, whereby the air separates from the liquid and suspended dust particles and passes through the filter screen 138 to the source of suction by way of the hollow riser tube 116. In fast, the annular passage 128b acts as a Venturi to cr~ate a 2Q very high velocity of the return air at this point to facilitate aspirating and mixing of the air with the aspirated liquid such that the air picks up and mixes with and becomes saturated by water drawn into the annular space between the outside of the vertical fluid return tube 124 and the vertical hollow aspirator tube 130.
Contrary to the structure of the first embodiment, the upper end of the hollow aspirator tube 130 is closed off by an arcuate wall 130b whose radius of curvature preferably matches the curvature of elbow 122 so as to form an arcuate 3Q space 154 which receives the relatively high velocity ai.r 1~74968 stream and aspirated water ~^7. Further, the upper enlarged diam~ter end 130c of the hollow aspirator tube 130 in the vicinity of the elbow 122 is provided with integral radially projecting discharge tubes or nozzles 130d, the tubes 130d being cylindrical and terminating at their outer ends in obliquely cut edges 130e which face the annular sidewall llOe of the upper cup-shaped member llOb. The enlarged diameter end 130c of the hollow aspirator tube 130 is further apertured as at 156, receiving the horizontal portion of elbow 122 with lQ that portion 130c o~ the tube 130 abutting the inner periphery of annular ring po~tion 136a of the ring and strut member 136.
This places the complete concentric tube assembly 160 to one side of the container 110 and relatively remote from the center line through which passes the hollow riser tube 116.
Incidentally, the hollow riser tube is not necessarily coaxial with the container 110 but may also be positioned eccentrically, that is, closer to one side of this container than the other. However, in the case of the concentric tube assembly 160 formed by tubes 124 and 130, it is preferred that the assembly 160 be positioned within the container close to the inner sidewall of the container with the nozzles 130d opening at beveled ends 130e adjacent to the sidewall llOe of the upper cup-shaped member llOb above the annular ring 136a such that the liquid portion of the flow stream through annular space 150 in entering the container 110 impacts the sidewall llOe of that member of the container generally tangentially thereto and continues to flow generally horizontally along the sidewall indicated by arrows 38 in two directions, away from the elbow 122, maintaining the dirty water in contact with the inner wall surface llOe of the 10749~8 ; upper cup-shaped member llOb throughout the major circumferential extent of that wall prior to flowing down and over the ring section or first baffle mernber 136a. This enhances separation of the liquid from the air stream which passes to the vacuum source as indicated by arrows 140 by entering the upper end 116b of the hollow riser tube 116.
The modified form of the dual concentric tube assembly 160 maximizes the reduction in speed by the frictional contact of the dirty water and entrained dirt particles along the surface llOe of the upper cup-shaped member llOb and permits the annular ring 136a to act as a baffle for this moving water to reduce its speed and retard turbulence prior to falling by gravity over this member and accumulating within the bottom of the container 110. This action permits a maximum volume of water to be accumulated within the container 110 when the dump tank is employed in a hot water extraction system, or permits a large volume of water to be ; employed as a filter medium when the dump tank is employed in conjunction with a dry vacuum system, without leakage to the vacuum source. Further, the upper end 130b of the hollow aspirator tube 30 may terminate in a flat portion rather than the dome end wall, although the dome end wall 130b facilitates the deflection of the return fluid and aspirated water into the laterally opposed nozzles or discharge tubes 13Od.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, a third embodiment of the present invention is employed in conjunction with a dump bucket indicated generally at 210. The dump bucket con~ists of a lower cup-shaped member 212 and an upper cup-shaped member 214, the lower cup-shaped member terminating -16_ at its upper end in a flange 216 which is directed radially outwardly, that is, away from the interior of the dump bucket. The upper cup-shaped member is provided with a dome-shaped top 218. An annular shelf 220 projects radially inward from the inner periphery of that member adjacent its lower open end which rests upon the flange 216. The shelf 220 includes an integral strut 222 which extends diametrically across the inside of the dump bucket and which is apertured at 224 to receive the upper end of a cylindrical riser tube 226, the riser tube 226 being fixed at its bottom to an annular fitting 228 which sealably mounts the riser tube 226 to the bottom wall 230 of the lower cup-shaped member 212.
The annular member 228 acts as an extension of the riser tube and opens to the exterior of the dump bucket. The strut 222 may support a perforated filter screen 232 which overlies the open upper end 234 of the riser tube 226 to effectively screen off lint particles and the like attempting to escape from the interior of the dump bucket upon the application of vacuum pressure by a vacuum pump (not shown) which pressure is applied to the lower end of the riser tube 226. The application of vacuum pressure to the interior of the dump bucket causes the annular shelf 220 to seat against the flange 216 to seal the interior of the dump bucket, that is, effect an air-tight seal between the lower and upper cup-shaped members 212 and 214, respectively.
A "return fluid" inlet tube or return tube indicated generally at 236 is mounted to the upper cup-shaped member 214 by having a portion projectins through a cylindrical opening 238 within the side of the upper cup-shaped member, above the annular shelf 220. The inlet tube 236 is preferably 1~749~;~
formed with an enlarged diameter portion 236a, which defines a shoulder 236b, which abuts the exterior of the upper cup-shaped member adjacent aperture 238 and facilitates the connection of the hydroair filter indicated generally at 240 to the inlet tube 236.
In this embodiment, the present invention is characterized by a single closed tube, indicated generally at 242, ha~ing its lower end closed by a transverse bottom wall 244, and its upper end closed by an upper transverse wall 246. Preferably, the single tube which is circular in horizontal cross section comprises two semi-cylindrical halves, a first half 242a and a second half 242b which are joined about a vertical center plane by being welded as at 245.
Further, in the construction of the single tube hydroair filter, a vertical divider wall or plate 250 is welded to the semi-cylindrical tube sections or halves 242a and 242b at their junctions, to separate the single tube 242 into parallel flow paths or passages, a first flow path 252 within half 242b and a second vertical flow path 254 within tube section or half 242a. The tube half 242b is integrally provided at - its upper end in a right angle nipple or sleeve 247 defining a circular opening 248 which receives the portion of the inlet -tube 236 projecting inwardly of the upper cup-shaped member 214. ~he tube half 242b is mounted to the fluid inlet tube and sealably secured thereto at the nipple 247. This permits the return flow of dirty fluid which may be air with entrained dirt, lint, etc., from the carpet being cleaned by way of a wand ~not shown) connected to the inlet tube 236 exterior of the dump bucket 210, or air and entrained dirt and liquid when a water ~nd/or a cleaning agent is being applied to the carpet .r or other surface being cleaned.
The hydroair filter 240 is constructed such that the dividing wall or plate 250 extends completely to the top of the single tube 242. However, its lower edge 250a terminates short of the bottom transverse wall 244 of tube 252, defining a reduced cross section flow area 256 between the transverse bottom wall 244 and the lower edge 250a of the dividing wall or plate 250. Further, the right-hand tube section or half 242a is provided with a pair of small diameter apertures or openings 258 within the side of the tube half 242a above the lower edge 250a of the divider plate 250, such that the return fluid passing downwardly through passage 242 and moving at high velocity through the restricted area or Venturi 256 induces water to aspirate through the apertures 258 and enter the flow stream acting to entrain the dust, dirt and lint particles as the return flow and aspirated liquid moves upwardly, as indicated by the larger arrows within flow path or passage 254. The entrained liquid which may be purposely added to the dump tank 210 or which may be accumulated dirty water and/or cleaning liquid returning from the carpet or other surface being cleaned and which accumulates within the tank, after reaching the level of apertures 258 is aspirated into that air or air and liquid stream, as evidenced by the smaller arrows. While the transverse wall or plate 246 closes off the upper end of the single closed tube 242, the hydroair filter 240 further comprises integral wings 250b of the divider wall or plate 250 and the tube half extensions as at 242a' being welded at both edges to the wings 250b to form nozzles indicated generally at 260. The tube half extensions 242a' are semi-cylindrical in configuration. The 107496~
nozzles 260 are provided, therefore, with open ends 262 which direct the air and liquid,as evidenced by the large and small arrows, respectively, against the inside wall of the upper cup-shaped member 214 above the shelf 220, the liquid along with its entrained dirt, dust and lint particles being entrained by the wall upon contact, while the air, separated at this point, seeks outlet from the dump tank through the open end 234 of the riser tube 226 back to the cleaner vacuum pump (not shown) in the direction of the large arrow 266 at the lower end of the riser tube 226. The water, as evidenced by the small arrows, passes over the shelf 220 which acts as a baffle by reducing the velocity of the water as it seeks by gravity the lower cup-shaped member 212 for accumulation within that tank. While the reduced cross-sectional area passage between the flow paths 252 and 254 is formed by termination of the vertical divider wall or plate 250 short of the lower wall 244 of the single hydroair filter tube 240, the divider plate may extend the full length of the tube 240 and may be provided with one or more apertures within the same to effect that reduced cross-section of the return flow path and induce a high velocity at the point where the air crosses apertures 258 to effect aspiration of the liquid into this high velocity flow. Further, the dump bucket incorporating the improved single tube hydroair filter of the present invention may be used for either wet or dry vacuuming, and when used with a hot water vacuum extraction unit of the type shown in United States Patent No. 3,896,521, it may employ the dirty return water as the self-operating filter liquid.
Further, while the nozzles 260 are shown as projecting to diametrically opposite sides of the container interior and are 107496~
angled slightly downwardly from the horizontal to project the liquid and the air against the side of the upper cup-shaped member ~ust above shelf 220, various modification and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims (20)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A dump bucket for a vacuum cleaner system, said dump bucket comprising:
a closed cylindrical container having a bottom wall and a top wall and containing liquid therein and having its axis extending vertically;
a hollow riser tube extending upwardly from the bottom of the container interiorly thereof and being open at the bottom of the container exterior and being open at the top but terminating short of the container top wall;
a hollow fluid return tube projecting through a wall of the container near its top for introducing a flow of return fluid comprising air and contaminants into said container, and nozzle means coupled to said return tube interiorly of said container for discharging said return fluid near said container top against the container interior, characterized by:
tube means mounted within said container and extending vertically therein, said tube means including wall means defining separate adjacent parallel vertical first downwardly directed and second upwardly directed flow paths respectively;
said tube means being connected to said hollow fluid return tube which projects through the wall of the container with said fluid return tube being in fluid communication with said first flow path at the upper end thereof, said tube means being closed off at its bottom and said tube means further including means forming a Venturi for fluidly communicating said flow paths at the bottom of said tube means and increasing the velocity of the return fluid flow;
at least one aperture in said tube means near its bottom end in such proximity to said Venturi and opening to said second flow path that liquid filling said container to a level above said at least one aperture is aspirated by return fluid moving through said Venturi and upwardly into said second flow path to entrain said contaminants, and said nozzle means comprising at least one opening in said tube means for communicating the upper end of said second flow path to the container interior;
whereby a mixture of the return fluid and liquid flowing within the second flow path is discharged through said nozzle means for impaction against the container interior and to thereby separate the liquid and contaminant components from the air when vacuum pressure is applied to the hollow riser tube at the bottom of the dump bucket container to effect filtering of the return fluid stream.
a closed cylindrical container having a bottom wall and a top wall and containing liquid therein and having its axis extending vertically;
a hollow riser tube extending upwardly from the bottom of the container interiorly thereof and being open at the bottom of the container exterior and being open at the top but terminating short of the container top wall;
a hollow fluid return tube projecting through a wall of the container near its top for introducing a flow of return fluid comprising air and contaminants into said container, and nozzle means coupled to said return tube interiorly of said container for discharging said return fluid near said container top against the container interior, characterized by:
tube means mounted within said container and extending vertically therein, said tube means including wall means defining separate adjacent parallel vertical first downwardly directed and second upwardly directed flow paths respectively;
said tube means being connected to said hollow fluid return tube which projects through the wall of the container with said fluid return tube being in fluid communication with said first flow path at the upper end thereof, said tube means being closed off at its bottom and said tube means further including means forming a Venturi for fluidly communicating said flow paths at the bottom of said tube means and increasing the velocity of the return fluid flow;
at least one aperture in said tube means near its bottom end in such proximity to said Venturi and opening to said second flow path that liquid filling said container to a level above said at least one aperture is aspirated by return fluid moving through said Venturi and upwardly into said second flow path to entrain said contaminants, and said nozzle means comprising at least one opening in said tube means for communicating the upper end of said second flow path to the container interior;
whereby a mixture of the return fluid and liquid flowing within the second flow path is discharged through said nozzle means for impaction against the container interior and to thereby separate the liquid and contaminant components from the air when vacuum pressure is applied to the hollow riser tube at the bottom of the dump bucket container to effect filtering of the return fluid stream.
2. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tube means includes a first tube having a portion projecting horizontally towards said fluid return tube and connected thereto and a major portion extending vertically downward therefrom and a second tube which concentrically surrounds said first tube, said main portions of said first tube and said second tube defining said wall means wherein the lower end of said first tube is open and faces the closed bottom end of said second tube and is spaced axially therefrom.
3. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one aperture comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes within the side of the second tube at a level above the open lower end of said first tube and said opening comprises an opening within the upper end of said second tube at a position above said first tube which faces the top of said container.
4. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an open ended cup of a diameter greater than said first tube and smaller than said second tube, said cup being positioned between the first and second tubes facing the open end of the first tube with its bottom spaced axially therefrom and having an annular sidewall extending vertically above the lower end of the first tube and the inner surface of the annular sidewall and the outer surface of the lower end of the first tube comprising said Venturi forming means.
5. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an open ended cup of a diamter greater than said first tube and smaller than said second tube, said cup being positioned between the first and second tubes, facing the open end of the first tube with its bottom spaced axially therefrom and having an annular sidewall extending vertically above the lower end of the first tube and the inner surface of said annular sidewall and the outer surface of the lower end of the first tube comprising said Venturi forming means.
6. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second tube has a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes within the side of the same at a level above the open lower end of said first tube and said second tube has a vertical opening within its upper end at a position above said first tube which faces the top of said container.
7. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second tube is closed off axially at its upper end and said nozzle means comprises oppositely directed radial nozzles carried by the upper end of said second tube adjacent thereto and having ends open to the annular sidewall of the cylindrical container such that a mixture of return fluid and liquid within the container is discharged through the open ends of said radial tubes to cause the liquid to flow circumferentially in multiple horizontal paths about the major circumferential interior surface of said container to reduce the velocity of the liquid and to suppress turbulence thereof when vacuum pressure is applied to the hollow riser tube at the bottom of said dump bucket.
8. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 7, wherein said dump bucket comprises an annular baffle ring mounted to the container sidewall below the discharge area of said radial nozzles, and said concentric radial tubes are eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of the container, and the open ends of said nozzles are oblique to the nozzle axis such that the ends of the nozzles are essentially tangential to the sidewall of the container, whereby the liquid and air stream in discharging through said nozzles impacts the annular sidewall of the container tangentially to sweep the liquid across the major circumferential surface of the container sidewall above said annular ring baffle along two flow paths in opposite directions from the nozzle openings toward the side of said container remote from the eccentrically positioned concentric tubes.
9. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first tube comprises the inner of the concentric radially spaced tubes and the second aspirator tube comprises the outer of said two concentrically spaced tubes, and wherein one portion of said first tube extends through said container and comprises a horizontal tube section, a second portion of said first tube comprises a vertical section, and an elbow joins said sections at right angles, and wherein said horizontal tube section, said vertical tube section and said elbow are of essentially equal diameter and said second tube is closed off at its upper end by an arcuate end wall whose radius of curvature essentially matches the curvature of said elbow joining said first tube horizontal and vertical sections.
10. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first tube comprises the inner of the concentric radially spaced tubes and the second aspirator tube comprises the outer of said two concentrically spaced tubes, and wherein one portion of said first tube extends through said container and comprises a horizontal tube section, a second portion of said first tube comprises a vertical section, and an elbow joins said sections at right angles; and wherein said horizontal tube section, said vertical tube section and said elbow are of essentially equal diameter and said second tube is closed off at its upper end by an arcuate end wall whose radius of curvature essentially matches the curvature of said elbow joining said first tube horizontal and vertical sections.
11. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tube means comprises a single closed tube, said wall means comprises a vertical divider wall carried internally within said single closed tube to separate said single closed tube into said two vertical flow paths, and said divider wall comprises an opening within the lower end thereof forming said Venturi to effect fluid communication between said paths at the bottom of said single closed tube, said fluid return tube is connected to a wall of said single tube means, to one side of said divider wall at the top of said single closed tube, said at least one aperture is provided within the wall of said single closed tube on the side of said divider wall defining said second flow path and said nozzle means comprises at least one nozzle mounted to said single closed tube at the upper end thereof and opening into said second flow path.
12. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 11, wherein said divider wall terminates with its lower end spaced from the bottom of said single closed tube to form said at least one opening of reduced cross-sectional area between said first and second flow paths.
13. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one aperture is formed within the side of said single closed tube at a vertical position above the lower end of said divider wall.
14. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 11, wherein said single closed tube comprises face-to-face abutting cylinder halves and said divider wall sealably separates said cylinder halves into said two flow paths and comprises a plate spanning across the open ends of both cylinder halves and mechanically coupling the cylinder halves together.
15. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 12, wherein said single closed tube comprises face-to-face abutting cylinder halves and said divider wall comprises a plate spanning across the open ends of both cylinder halves and mechanically coupling the cylinder halves together.
16. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 13,wherein said single closed tube comprises face-to-face abutting cylinder halves and said divider wall comprises a plate spanning across the open ends of both cylinder halves and mechanically coupling the cylinder halves together.
17. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 14, wherein said nozzle comprises diametrically opposite projections of said cylinder halves, and said divider plate includes integral wings sealably connected to the edges of said cylinder half projections.
18. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 16, wherein said nozzle comprises diametrically opposite projections of said cylinder halves, and said divider plate includes integral wings sealably connected to the edges of said cylinder half projections.
19. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 17, wherein said cylinder half projections and said wings are inclined relative to the horizontal so as to direct return fluid and entrained liquid and aspirated liquid radially outwardly and downwardly against the inside of the upper cup-shaped member above the annular shelf.
20. The dump bucket as claimed in claim 17, wherein said cylinder half projections and said wings are inclined relative to the horizontal so as to direct return fluid and entrained liquid and aspirated liquid radially outwardly and downwardly against the inside of the upper cup-shaped member above the annular shelf.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/744,675 US4083705A (en) | 1976-11-24 | 1976-11-24 | Dump bucket for a wet/dry vacuum system |
| US05/744,674 US4078908A (en) | 1976-11-24 | 1976-11-24 | Dump bucket for a wet-dry vacuum system having improved liquid flow characteristics |
| US05/840,443 US4145198A (en) | 1977-10-07 | 1977-10-07 | Single tube hydro air filter with dividing wall |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1074968A true CA1074968A (en) | 1980-04-08 |
Family
ID=27419311
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA291,709A Expired CA1074968A (en) | 1976-11-24 | 1977-11-24 | Vacuum cleaner dump bucket with hydroair filter |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5382060A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1074968A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2752408A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2371909B3 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1542994A (en) |
| SE (1) | SE7713259L (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4300924A (en) * | 1980-03-24 | 1981-11-17 | Paccar Inc. | Exhaust gas scrubber for internal combustion engines |
| US5005252A (en) * | 1987-07-24 | 1991-04-09 | Emerson Electric Co. | Portable wet/dry vacuum cleaner and recharging base |
| GB2269118A (en) * | 1992-06-17 | 1994-02-02 | Cameron Macdonald | Water bath air filter |
| DE19516533A1 (en) * | 1995-05-05 | 1996-11-07 | Proair Geraetebau Gmbh | Wet cleaning device |
| ITMO20110116A1 (en) * | 2011-05-17 | 2012-11-18 | T P A Impex Spa | COLLECTION SYSTEM OF ASPIRATED MATERIALS FOR VACUUM CLEANERS |
| CN109794006A (en) * | 2019-01-23 | 2019-05-24 | 河海大学常州校区 | A kind of fresh air system under dust atmosphere |
| CN112716388A (en) * | 2021-02-06 | 2021-04-30 | 杭州匠龙机器人科技有限公司 | Cleaning robot system |
-
1977
- 1977-11-23 GB GB48780/77A patent/GB1542994A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-11-23 SE SE7713259A patent/SE7713259L/en unknown
- 1977-11-24 CA CA291,709A patent/CA1074968A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-11-24 FR FR7735375A patent/FR2371909B3/fr not_active Expired
- 1977-11-24 JP JP14009777A patent/JPS5382060A/en active Pending
- 1977-11-24 DE DE19772752408 patent/DE2752408A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2371909B3 (en) | 1980-07-04 |
| SE7713259L (en) | 1978-05-25 |
| GB1542994A (en) | 1979-03-28 |
| FR2371909A1 (en) | 1978-06-23 |
| DE2752408A1 (en) | 1978-06-01 |
| JPS5382060A (en) | 1978-07-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |