Liquid aspirator

The use of liquid aspirators which are connected to conventional vacuum cleaners is known. In this invention a reservoir-body of an elongated form extends at its lower part to a nozzle, and at its upper part to a lid which is provided with an end-piece for the attachment of an external hose from a conventional vacuum cleaner. The said lid is placed on the inside of a lid-handle which extends above the reservoir-body. A tube following the nozzle penetrates into the interior of the elongated body-reservoir to discharge the liquid, where in the interior of the said body spacers and separators are provided, while a transparent window permits viewing the level of the liquid and a float closes the air vacuum when the level of the liquid reaches a predetermined value. Some baffle-plates and a filter are provided to prevent sprayed drops of water from being drawn towards the vacuum cleaner and damaging its electric motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Liquid is absorbed during the cleaning of floors and carpets using, among 
other means, appliances which are connected to conventional vacuum 
cleaners. These devices include reservoirs formed of two parts screwed 
together at their center and reservoirs in which a conduit is connected to 
the vacuum cleaner while another circuit is connected to the exterior 
nozzle. A filter, intended to retain the solid particles contained in the 
absorbed liquid is typically also included as a part of the structure of 
these devices. 
Known liquid absorption devices exhibit several major inconveniences to the 
user including their cumbersome form which makes them difficult for the 
user to manipulate, the difficulties of emptying the collected liquid, and 
generally inadequate protection of the electric motor against penetration 
of water droplets. 
I have now discovered that these and other inconveniences can be obviated 
by the use of a liquid aspirator which is conveniently attached to a 
conventional vacuum cleaner. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The liquid aspirator according to my invention includes an elongated body 
reservoir defined at its lower part by a nozzle and at its upper part by a 
lid. From the lid an end-piece extends which is provided for attachment to 
the exterior hose of a vacuum cleaner. The said lid is placed on the 
interior of a lid-handle which extends the reservoir. A tube extending 
from the nozzle penetrates the interior of the reservoir and leads into an 
inverted cup without touching its bottom, to discharge the liquid there. 
Spacers are provided to prevent the possibility of buckling of the 
reservoir during the suction, while separators arranged in the same 
reservoir divide the space for the collected liquid and prevent the latter 
from shaking. A transparent window permits viewing of the liquid in the 
reservoir, while a float shuts off the suction of air when the level of 
the liquid reaches a predetermined value. In order to prevent any sprayed 
water from being drawn towards the vacuum cleaner and damaging its 
electric motor, baffle-plates and a filter are used. The reservoir is 
likewise provided with a plug for emptying.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
In the attached drawings the liquid aspirator includes an elongated 
body-reservoir 1, operatively connected at its lower portion to a nozzle 
2, and closed off tightly at its upper portion by a lid 3, from which an 
end piece 4 protrudes. The end piece is fastened to an exterior hose (not 
shown) from a conventional vacuum cleaner. Lid 3 and end piece 4 are 
integrally molded into a combination lid-handle 5 which also serves as an 
extension of reservoir 1 and is provided with an opening 6, for the 
attachment of the vacuum cleaner hose. 
Reservoir 1 continues at its lower portion into an end piece 7 which 
removably attaches to nozzle 2. The end piece 7 is partially positioned at 
the exterior of the elongated body reservoir, however a major portion 
extends to the interior of the reservoir in the form of a tube 8 which 
transfers the liquid which is collected by vacuum. Tube 8 leads into an 
inverted cup 9 without touching the cup. Cup 9 is secured laterally on an 
adjacent inner wall 10 of the elongated body-reservoir 1. The cup 9 
provides for diversion of the air/liquid mixture as it is pulled into the 
device through tube 8. 
Additional support members in the form of braces 11 are placed parallel to 
tube 8 and inside reservoir 1 preventing possible buckling during the 
suction by maintaining the opposing inner walls at a constant distance. 
A convenient number of spacers 12 are arranged along the interior of the 
elongated body reservoir 1, the general area intended for the collected 
liquid. Spacers 12 act as baffle plates which prevent shaking of the 
liquid during the to-and-fro movement of the apparatus across the floor. A 
window 13, made of a transparent material, is placed along a longitudinal 
opening in reservoir 1 and permits the operator to observe the level of 
the liquid in the interior of the elongated body-reservoir. 
A plug 14 closes outlet 15 which is provided in the base of the elongated 
body-reservoir 1. Liquid thus collected is emptied through outlet 15. 
A retainer piece 16 is provided along the handle portion of the device, the 
contours of which follow the interior shape of the upper part of the 
elongated body-reservoir 1. 
A pair of baffle plates 17, which are attached to retaining piece 16, are 
directed towards the center of the elongated body-reservoir 1. The baffle 
plates 17 are positioned to form a barrier against any sprayed water which 
may be drawn towards the attached vacuum cleaner to which the apparatus is 
attached. 
During operation suction is provided by interaction between the interior of 
the elongated body-reservoir 1 and the attached vacuum cleaner, while at 
the same time a filter 18 retains any sprayed drops of water which might 
escape the barrier formed by baffle-plates 17. The filter 18 is positioned 
in a suitable opening cut in the retaining piece 16. 
A moveable rod 19 passes through an opening in the retaining piece 16 and a 
float 20 is fastened to the lower portion of rod 19, while a valve 21 is 
attached to the upper portion. When the level of the liquid in the 
reservoir 1 rises and reaches the float, the float 20 rises with it until 
the valve 21 touches the opening of the end piece 4 and closes it. In this 
manner the vacuum cleaner, to which the apparatus is attached, is 
protected against the water which might enter and damage it when the level 
of the liquid in the elongated body-reservoir 1 goes beyond a 
predetermined amount. 
The nozzle 2 may be any convenient shape and has a cylindrical upper part 
22 which fits with pressure against the end piece 7. The cylindrical upper 
part has a cylindrical middle part 23 with the inner diameter the same as 
that of the inner diameter of the end piece 7. The cylindrical middle part 
23 communicates with a conical part 24 having a base the same size as the 
base of the said part 23. A hollow and flattened body 25, having a 
triangular longitudinal section, which also forms a part of nozzle 2 
intersects conical part 24. 
The angle of the top is 60.degree. which was established to assure only a 
minimal speed loss during suction. 
The nozzle 2 terminates in an elongated absorption opening 26, the ratio 
between the length and width of this opening is about 19. 
The conical part 24 has a convenient length such that coupling with the 
upper part of body 25 assures a passage speed of the liquid equal to that 
in the elongated absorption opening 26 or in the end piece 7.