Vaccum apparatus having a pump for discharging liquid therefrom

Abstract: A vacuum apparatus includes a holding tank (12), a vacuum source, and a docking station (42). The tank holds material and has an interior and an exterior. The vacuum source draws the material from the exterior into the interior of the tank. The docking station (42) docks a pump (26) on the exterior of the tank so that, when the pump is docked in the docking station, the pump may be used to pump material out of the tank and so that the pump may be detached from the docking station for stand alone use.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vacuum apparatus having a pump for discharging liquid from a holding tank of the vacuum apparatus. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A wet/dry vacuum apparatus typically includes, for example, a motor housing, a lid cage, and a tank. The motor housing houses a motor which drives an impeller. The impeller creates a vacuum which draws air, as well as solid and/or liquid material, through a nozzle attachment into the vacuum apparatus. During dry operation, the vacuum apparatus has a filter installed in such a manner that it filters larger objects out of the air drawn into the vacuum apparatus in reaction to the vacuum created by the impeller. The tank holds these larger objects which are filtered out of the air by the filter. The air which passes through the filter is exhausted from the vacuum apparatus through an exhaust opening. When the larger objects are to be removed from the tank, the motor housing and lid cage are removed, and the tank is normally inverted in order to dump out the larger objects. During wet operation, the filter may or may not be removed from the vacuum apparatus. The vacuum created by the impeller driven by the motor causes liquid to be drawn into the tank through the inlet nozzle. Because the liquid is heavier than air, the liquid settles into the tank and is not exhausted through the exhaust opening. When the liquid is to be removed from the tank, either a valve near the bottom of the tank is opened in order to drain the liquid from the tank, or the motor and lid cage are removed and the tank is tilted to dump out the liquid. US-A-4378611 discloses a multifunction cleaning and drying device. It can function as a wet vacuum and can include a pump to remove the liquid from the tank. It teaches a pipe extends from a hole in the tank and is connected through a series of valves and connections to a pump. The valves and connections are necessary for the device to achieve is multi-functionality, and the pump is not docked to the tank. DE-U-8622307 discloses a wet vacuum with an attached pump. The holding tank includes a tube protruding from the upper side of the tank. The pump is inserted through the tube and angled to the interior base of the tank. The pump housing is mounted to a flange on the end of tube. This exterior tube increases the effective footprint of the tank. It further creates a longer distance the liquid inside the tank must be pumped, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the pump. DE-U-8 805 369 discloses a vacuum apparatus according to the preamble of the independent claim. The pumping unit associated with this known apparatus may be used as a stand alone component. A wet/dry vacuum apparatus, such as that described above, is particularly useful to vacuum up liquid spills, overflows, and the like where the amount of liquid is relatively small. However, for large amounts of liquid, such as may be caused by flooding, a pump is more often preferred in order to pump the liquid from the flooded area to a drain or runoff. The present invention is directed to a vacuum apparatus which is useful in removing both small and large amounts of liquid from a wet area. In accordance with the present invention, a vacuum apparatus has a docking station for a pump. When the pump is in the docking station, the pump has access to the tank of the vacuum apparatus so that the vacuum apparatus may be used to vacuum up liquid from a wet area and so that the pump may be used to pump this liquid from the tank of the vacuum apparatus to an area, such as a drain or runoff, which is external to the vacuum apparatus. If a large amount of liquid must be removed from a wet area, the pump may be removed from the docking station, and the pump may be used to pump this liquid from the wet area, which is external to the vacuum apparatus, to a discharge area, such as a drain or runoff area. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a vacuum apparatus as defined in claim 1 is provided. The holding means holds material and has an interior and an exterior. The drawing means draws the material from the exterior into the interior of the holding means. The docking means docks a pump in a pump area on the exterior of the holding means so that, when the pump is docked by the docking means, the pump may be used to pump material out of the holding means and so that the pump may be detached from the docking means. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features and advantages will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a vacuum apparatus having a pump docked thereon in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is front view of the vacuum apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the pump which has been detached from the vacuum apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a view of the vacuum apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 which illustrates the docking station for the pump shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view showing the pump being mounted to the docking station illustrated in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a partial cut-away view showing the pump of Figure 3 mounted to the docking station illustrated in Figure 4; Figure 7 is a simplified diagram showing the pump of Figure 3 locked in the docking station illustrated in Figure 4; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing two positions of a valve which extends through a tank of the vacuum apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 between a manual operator and the docking station illustrated in Figure 4; and, Figures 9 and 10 taken together illustrate an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the valve illustrated in Figure 8 and the pump mounted in the docking station illustrated in Figure 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a vacuum apparatus 10, such as a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, includes a tank 12, a lid cage 14, a motor housing 16, and a cover 18. The tank 12, the lid cage 14, the motor housing 16, and the cover 18 may each be formed wholly or partially of molded plastic or may be formed of any other suitable material. The motor housing 16 houses a motor which drives an impeller. The impeller is arranged to create a vacuum within the vacuum apparatus 10. The vacuum apparatus 10 has a vacuum inlet 20 and a vacuum outlet 22. The vacuum created by the impeller driven by the motor housed in the motor housing 16 draws air and solid and/or liquid material through the vacuum inlet 20 and into the vacuum apparatus 10, and the vacuum outlet 22 is arranged to exhaust air from the vacuum apparatus 10. The tank 12 holds the solid and/or liquid material which is vacuumed into the vacuum apparatus 10. A handle 24 may be molded with the cover 18, or the handle 24 may be a separate structure which is suitably fastened to the cover 18. As shown in Figure 1, a pump 26 is docked to the tank 12. As discussed more fully hereinafter, a valve operator 28 operates a valve which cooperates with the pump 26 in order to permit communication between the interior of the tank 12 and the pump 26 when the valve operator 28 is in one position and to seal the interior of the tank 12 from the pump 26 when the valve operator 28 is in another position. Accordingly, when the pump 26 is docked to the tank 12, the pump 26 can be used to pump liquid out of the tank 12 through a discharge hose 30. As shown in Figure 1, the valve operator 28 is generally aligned vertically with the vacuum inlet 20 and the pump 26 is located approximately 180° around the vacuum apparatus 10 from the operator 28. However, the pump 26 and the valve operator 28 both may be located approximately 90° around the vacuum apparatus 10 from their positions as shown in Figure 1. Also, a drain could be positioned on the vacuum apparatus 10 at the location where the valve operator 28 is currently shown in Figure 1. It further should be apparent that the pump 26 and the valve operator 28 may be positioned in any other locations on the vacuum apparatus 10. As shown in Figure 3, the pump 26 may be a submersible pump. When the pump 26 is detached from the vacuum apparatus 10, the pump 26 may be used to pump liquid 32 out of a discharge nozzle 33 and through the discharge hose 30 from a wet area, which is external to the vacuum apparatus 10, to a discharge area, such as a drain or runoff area. The pump 26 also includes a power cord 34 for supplying electrical energy to the motor of the pump 26. The power cord 34 terminates in a three prong plug 36 which may be plugged into a receptacle which is located in the cover 18 or into any other receptacle such as a wall outlet. The cover 18 also provides access to a switch 38 of the vacuum apparatus 10. A power cord 40 is connected at one end to the vacuum apparatus 10 and has a three prong plug 41 at its other end. The three prong plug 41 at the end of the power cord 40 may be plugged into a receptacle such as a wall outlet. When the three prong plug 41 at the end of the power cord 40 is plugged into a receptacle, power is supplied from that receptacle to the switch 38. The switch 38 of the vacuum apparatus 10 may have three positions. The first position of the switch 38 cuts power from the power cord 40 to both the vacuum motor housed by the motor housing 16 and the pump 26. The second position of the switch 38 supplies power from the power cord 40 to the vacuum motor housed by the motor housing 16 so that solid and/or liquid material may be vacuumed into the vacuum apparatus 10. Accordingly, solid and/or liquid material is vacuumed in through the vacuum inlet 20 and into the tank 12. The third position of the switch 38 is a momentary switch position which supplies power from the power cord 40 to the pump 26 only so long as the operator holds the switch 38 in its third position. Accordingly, the pump 26 is energized so that liquid may be pumped from the tank 12 of the vacuum apparatus 10 to a discharge area, such as a drain or runoff, which is external to the vacuum apparatus 10. Accordingly, liquid is discharged by the pump 26 from the tank 12 through the discharge hose 30. When the operator no longer holds the switch 38 in its third position, the switch 38 automatically returns to its first position and the pump 26 is thereby deenergized. Accordingly, the operator cannot inadvertently leave the pump 26 in unattended operation. Alternatively, the vacuum motor, which is housed by the motor housing 16, and the pump 26 may be controlled by separate switches. As shown in Figures 4, 7, and 9, the tank 12 includes a docking station 42. The docking station 42 is formed by an external recess 44 in the tank 12. The external recess 44 forms a circumferential docking wall 46. The docking station 42 is dimensioned with respect to an outer dimension of the pump 26 so that a friction fit is provided to hold the pump 26 in the docking station 42. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 9, the pump 26 has a pump handle 52. As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 9, as the pump 26 is inserted into the docking station 42, the pump 26 is rotated clockwise so that the pump handle 52 is inserted into a cooperating groove 54 which is formed in the circumferential docking wall 46 of the docking station 42 in the tank 12. Accordingly, the pump handle 52, which is captured in the cooperating groove 54 of the circumferential docking wall 46 of the docking station 42, together with the frictional engagement between the pump 26 and the docking station 42, cooperate to secure the pump 26 in the docking station 42. A detent (not shown) may be provided in the cooperating groove 54 which cooperates with the pump handle 52 to inhibit unintended counter-clockwise rotation of the pump handle 52 in the cooperating groove 54. In order to remove the pump 26 from the tank 12, the power cord 34 is merely unplugged by use of the three prong plug 36 from the receptacle in the cover 18, and the pump 26 is rotated so that the pump handle 52 is rotated out of the cooperating groove 54 in the circumferential docking wall 46 and so that frictional engagement between the pump 26 and the docking station 42 is broken. As shown in Figure 8, a valve 60 extends between the valve operator 28 and the pump 26 in order to control communication between the interior of the tank 12 and the pump 26. The valve operator 28 may be spin welded to a valve stem 62. The valve stem 62 includes a pair of circumferential flanges 64 and 66 which form a seal holder for holding an O-ring seal 68. A fitting 70 is fixedly secured to the tank 12 by any suitable means and has a plurality of threads 72 about an outer surface thereof. The threads 72 cooperate with threads 74 about an inner surface of the valve operator 28. As the valve operator 28 is rotated in a first direction so that the valve operator 28 is increasingly threaded onto the fitting 70, the engagement between the threads 72 and 74 causes the valve stem 62 to be moved toward engagement with a valve seat 76 which is formed by a socket 78 in the docking station 42. When the valve stem 62 engages the valve seat 76, communication between the interior of the tank 12 and the pump 26 is precluded. On the other hand, as the valve operator 28 is rotated in a second direction so that the valve operator 28 is decreasingly threaded onto the fitting 70, the engagement between the threads 72 and 74 causes the valve stem 62 to be moved away from engagement with the valve seat 76. When the valve stem 62 is disengaged from the valve seat 76, communication between the interior of the tank 12 and the pump 26 is permitted. A tank filter screen 80 surrounds the valve stem 62 in order to filter larger objects from the liquid which flows from the tank 12 to the pump 26 when the valve operator 28 moves the valve stem 62 away from the valve seat 76. The tank filter screen 80 may be a two-part snap-together screen. The docking station 42, which includes the socket 78, is shown in more detail in Figure 9. The socket 78 is suitably affixed to the tank 12. For example, the socket 78 may be spin welded to the tank 12. The socket 78 includes a socket neck 82, which extends between a hole 84 in the tank 12, and a pump receiving basin 86. The pump 26 includes a pump housing 88 which houses a pump motor 90. An impeller 92 is drivingly engaged to the pump motor 90 and is located in a cylindrical recess 94 of the pump housing 88. An inlet plate 96 encloses the impeller 92 within the cylindrical recess 94 of the pump housing 88 and provides an inlet aperture 110. The inlet plate 96 is clamped by an inlet filter screen 98. The inlet filter screen 98 is fixedly attached to the pump housing 88 as by screws 100. Accordingly, during assembly of the pump 26, the pump motor 90 is placed in the pump housing 88 in the position shown in Figure 9 and is held therein by a pump housing cover 102. The impeller 92 is attached to the drive shaft of the pump motor 90 so that the impeller 92 is drivingly engaged thereto and so that the impeller 92 is located in the cylindrical recess 94 within the pump housing 88. The inlet filter screen 98 is fixedly attached to the pump housing 88 as by screws 100 so that the inlet filter screen 98 clamps the inlet plate 96 to the pump housing 88 and so that the inlet plate 96 encloses the impeller 92 within the cylindrical recess 94. The pump 26 may then be docked in the docking station 42 by inserting the pump 26 into the external recess 44, and by rotating the pump 26 so that the pump 26 frictionally engages the docking station 42 and so that the pump handle 52 is rotated through the cooperating groove 54 in the circumferential docking wall 46 until the pump 26 is fully seated in the pump receiving basin 86. An O-ring 104 surrounds the pump housing 88 and provides a seal between the pump housing 88 and the socket 78. Accordingly, liquid is prevented from leaking around the pump housing 88. With the pump 26 secured to the docking station 42 of the tank 12, the tank filter screen 80 is snapped together, the valve stem 62 is inserted through the fitting 70 and the tank filter screen 80, and the valve operator 28 is rotated until the valve stem 62 seats against the valve seat 76. A stop clip 106 is clipped over the valve stem 62 in the position shown in Figure 10. The stop clip 106 has an outer diameter which is greater that the inner diameter of the fitting 70 so that the stop clip 106 is not withdrawn from the tank 12 as the valve stem 62 is moved away from the valve seat 76 by the valve operator 28. A stop 108 on the valve stem 62, in combination with the stop clip 106, limits travel of the valve stem 62 in the open valve direction. The vacuum apparatus 10 is then ready for use to vacuum solid and/or liquid material into the tank 12. Accordingly, the switch 38 may be operated to its second position in order to supply power to the vacuum motor housed by the motor housing 16 so that the solid and/or liquid material may be vacuumed in through the vacuum inlet 20 and into the tank 12 of the vacuum apparatus 10. The pump 26 is also now ready for pumping liquid out of the tank 12 through the discharge nozzle 33 and the discharge hose 30 attached thereto. Accordingly, the switch 38 may be operated to its third position in order to supply power to the pump 26 so that liquid may be pumped from the tank 12 of the vacuum apparatus 10 through the discharge hose 30 to a discharge area, such as a drain or runoff, which is external to the vacuum apparatus 10. When the pump 26 is seated in the pump receiving basin 86 and the pump 26 is pumping liquid out of the interior of the tank 12, the tank filter screen 80 and the inlet filter screen 98 filter larger objects from the liquid that enters through the socket neck 82 when the valve stem 62 has been disengaged from the valve seat 76 by the valve operator 28. Accordingly, liquid flows from the interior of the tank 12, through the tank filter screen 80, along the valve stem 62, through the socket neck 82, through the inlet filter screen 98, through the inlet aperture 110 in the inlet plate 96, and into the impeller 92. The impeller 92 drives this liquid through an opening (not shown) in the pump housing 88 and into the space between the pump motor 90 and the pump housing 88. The liquid in this space serves to cool the pump motor 90. From this space, the liquid flows out of the pump housing 88 through an opening (not shown) between the pump housing 88 and the pump housing cover 102, into the pump housing cover 102, through the discharge nozzle 33, and through the discharge hose 30 attached thereto. When the pump 26 is removed from the docking station 42 in the tank 12, the pump 26 can be used as a stand alone pump in order to pump liquid from a wet area, which is external to the vacuum apparatus 10, to a discharge area, such as a drain or runoff area. Accordingly, when the pump 26 is used as a stand alone pump, liquid flows from the wet area, through the inlet filter screen 98, through the inlet aperture 110 in the inlet plate 96, and into the impeller 92. The inlet filter screen 98 filters solid and other material from the liquid that enters the impeller 92. The impeller 92 then drives the liquid through the discharge nozzle 33 and through the discharge hose 30 attached thereto. Certain modifications of the present invention have been discussed above. Other modifications will occur to those practicing in the art of the present invention. For example, cooperating threads may be provided around the pump housing 88 and the circumferential docking wall 46 in order to assist in the attachment of the pump 26 to the tank 12. All such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present invention as set out in the claims attached hereto.

Claims: A vacuum apparatus having a holding tank (12) to hold material, and a vacuum source (16) arranged to draw material from an exterior into an interior of the holding tank, the vacuum apparatus adapted for use with a pump (26) having an inlet (110), an outlet (33), and a handle (52), and defining an outer dimension, the vacuum apparatus comprising a docking station (42) that defines a pump area in which the pump is received said docking station being formed on an exterior lower portion of the holding tank (12), characterised in that said docking station (42) includes a docking wall (46) sized to receive the pump outer dimension, the docking wall including a groove (54) for releasably engaging the pump handle (52) and an orifice communicating between the interior of the tank and the tank exterior, the docking wall (46) being positioned with respect to the orifice so that when the pump (26) is docked at the docking station, the pump inlet (110) communicates with the orifice to pump material out of the holding tank, wherein the pump may be detached from the docking station. The vacuum apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a valve (60) having first and second positions, wherein the valve is arranged to cooperate with a valve seat (76) of the docking station (42) in order prevent communication between the pump area and the interior of the holding tank (12) when the valve is in its first position, and wherein the valve is arranged to permit communication between the pump area and the interior of the holding tank when the valve is in its second position. The vacuum apparatus of claim 2 wherein the valve (60) includes a valve operator (28), and wherein the valve operator is accessible from the exterior of the holding tank (12). The vacuum apparatus of claim 3 wherein the valve (60) includes a valve stem (62), wherein the valve stem extends through the interior of the holding tank (12) from the valve operator (28) to the valve seat (76), and wherein the valve includes a filter (80) surrounding the valve stem. The vacuum apparatus of claim 3 wherein the docking station (42) comprises a socket (78) having a first end for receiving the pump (26) and a second end extending through the opening of the holding tank (12) into the interior thereof. The vacuum apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second end of the socket forms the valve seat (76). The vacuum apparatus of claim 6 wherein the holding tank (12) has a recess (44), wherein the recess forms the pump area, and wherein the socket (78) is in the recess. The vacuum apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a valve stem (62) and a valve operator (28), wherein the valve operator is accessible from the exterior of the holding tank (12), wherein the valve operator is arranged to move the valve stem between first and second positions, wherein the valve stem extends through the interior of the holding tank from the valve operator to the pump area, and wherein the valve stem is arranged to cooperate with a valve seat (76) of the docking station (42) in order to prevent communication between the pump area and the interior of the holding tank when the valve stem is in its first position and to permit communication between the pump area and the interior of the holding tank when the valve stem is in its second position. The vacuum apparatus of claim 1 wherein the docking station (42) comprises a socket (78) having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the socket is arranged to receive the pump (26), and wherein the second end of the socket forms a valve seat (76) ; and, wherein the vacuum apparatus further comprises a valve operator (28), wherein the valve operator is accessible from the exterior of the holding tank (12), wherein the valve operator is arranged to move between first and second positions, and wherein the valve seat is arranged to cooperate with the valve operator to prevent communication between the pump area and the interior of the holding tank when the valve operator is in its first position and to permit communication between the pump area and the interior of the holding tank when the valve operator is in its second position. The vacuum apparatus of claim 1 wherein the docking wall (46) is sized to frictionally engage the pump outer dimension.

Inventors: BERFIELD ROBERT C, SEASHOLTZ CRAIG A, BERFIELD, ROBERT C., SEASHOLTZ, CRAIG A.
Applicants: SHOP VAC CORP, SHOP VAC CORPORATION
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47L7
IPC codes: A47L7