Abstract:
Collector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and for preventing particulates from spilling out of a drum during mixing. The collector has a body with opposing curved end, an outer and inner surface, a first and second vacuum port extending from the outer to the inner surface, first and second angled hollow pipes, each having a tubular body with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the outside surface of the body and received by the first or second vacuum port, the tubular body having a first portion and a second portion which meet at an angle at a point along the body. When the collector is placed in the drum, the first and second pipes rest on the drum&#39;s rim, such that when a vacuum cleaner is connected to the pipes, particulates present in the drum are sucked into vacuum cleaner.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims one or more inventions which were disclosed in Provisional Application No. 61/721,208, filed Nov. 1, 2012, entitled “PARTICULATE COLLECTOR FOR DRUMS”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention pertains to the field of particulate collectors. More particularly, the invention pertains to a particulate collector for drums. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In many facilities, powders are mixed together to form a powdery compound product which are either sold outright or are further processed by mixing the powdery compound with other products. This mixing often needs to occur within a hood or a specialized area within the facility due to the particulates that end up in the air during the mixing of powders. The problems that can arise during the mixing process of powders in large volumes include, when the powder is poured into a container, for example drums, the powder particulates billow out and create a mess. The powder particulates can also be harmful if breathed in by users preparing the powdery compounds. Additionally, when the powders or the powdery compound are mixed together, additional particulates are created during the process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A particulate collector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and for preventing particulates from spilling over a top of an opening of a drum during mixing of material in the drum, the opening being defined by a rim with an outer lip. The collector has a body with opposing curved ends, the body having an upper rim and a lower rim, an outer surface and an inner surface, the upper rim, lower rim and inner surface defining an inner chamber, the body having a first vacuum port and a second vacuum port extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, a first and a second angled hollow pipe, each having a tubular body with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the outside surface of the body and received by the first or second vacuum port, the tubular body having a first portion and a second portion which meet at an angle at a point along the body. When the body of the particulate collector is placed in the opening of the drum, the first angled hollow pipe and the second angled hollow pipe rest on the rim of the opening at the point where the first portion and the second portions meet; such that when a vacuum cleaner is connected to the outer end of the first angled hollow pipe and the outer end of the second angled hollow pipe, particulates which are present in the opening of the drum are sucked into vacuum cleaner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an outer surface of the particulate collector 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a partial view of one of the ports of the particulate collector. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows the inner surface of the particulate collector. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows an angled view of a portion of an inner surface of the particulate collector near a port. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a portion of the inner surface of the particulate collector. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows an interior edge of the particulate collector. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a particulate collector with a clamp for attaching the collector to a drum. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a particulate collector placed in a drum and connected to a vacuum through hoses. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of the particulate collector within a drum. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  shows another view of a particulate collector within a drum. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  shows a top view of a particulate collector of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  shows an interior view of a particulate collector of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  shows an alternate interior view of a particulate collector of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  shows a schematic of the particulate collector of a second embodiment of the present invention within a drum. 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  shows a side view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  shows a schematic of the particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention within a drum. 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  shows a top down view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  shows a section of the particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention along line D-D of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  shows side view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  shows a schematic of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  shows another view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  shows a detailed view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention from B as shown in  FIG. 21 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  shows a section of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention along line A-A of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 24  shows a section of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention along line E-E of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 25  shows a section of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention along line C-C of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 26  shows a bottom top view of a left hand clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum. 
           [0033]      FIG. 27  shows another view of a clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum. 
           [0034]      FIG. 28  shows a side view of a clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum. 
           [0035]      FIG. 29  shows another side view of a clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum. 
           [0036]      FIG. 30  shows a bottom top view of a right hand clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum. 
           [0037]      FIG. 31  shows a schematic of a clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]      FIGS. 1-7  show a particulate collector  100  of an embodiment of the present invention and  FIGS. 8-10  show the particulate collector  100  engaging a drum. The drum  60  preferably has a capacity of 15 gallons or more. The drum  60  has an outer lip  62  along the rim of the drum  60  surrounding an opening  64 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show the outer surface  23  of the particulate collector  100  of an embodiment of the present invention. The particulate collector  100  has a semi-circular shaped body with two vacuum ports  2 ,  4  which extend from the outer surface  23  to an inner surface  24 . The semi-circular shaped body preferably corresponds to the shape of the outer lip  62  along the rim of the drum  60 . The particulate collector  100  in an embodiment of the present invention is shaped and sized to communicate with only a portion of the outer lip  62  along the rim of the drum  60 . The outer edges  25  of the particulate collector are preferably curved outward as shown in  FIGS. 6-7  to aid in maintaining contact between the inside of the opening  64  of the drum  60  and the particulate collector  100  through friction. The outer edges  25  are curved to correspond to a curvature of the outer lip  62  of the rim of the drum  60 . 
         [0040]    An inner chamber  30  of the particulate collector  100  of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . The inner chamber  30  of the particulate collector  100  is defined between an upper protruding rim  21 , an inner surface  24 , and a lower protruding rim  22  of the body. 
         [0041]    The first vacuum port  2  of the particulate collector receives an inner end of a first angled hollow pipe  6  with a tubular body, which is rotatably secured within the port  2  by an outer washer  8  on the outer surface  23  of the collector and an interior washer  10  on the inner surface  24  of the collector. The first angled hollow pipe  6  preferably has a 45 degree bend defined by a first surface  3  and a second surface  5  of the first angled pipe  6 . An outer end of the first angled pipe  6  receives a first vacuum hose  66 . 
         [0042]    The second vacuum port  4  receives an inner end of a second angled hollow pipe  12  with a tubular body, which is rotatably secured within the port  4  by an outer washer  14  on the outer surface  23  of the collector and an interior washer  16  on the inner surface  24  of the collector. The second angled hollow pipe  12  preferably has a 45 degree bend defined by a first surface  13  and a second surface  15  of the second angled pipe  12 . An outer end of the second angled pipe  12  receives a second vacuum hose  68 . 
         [0043]    By rotatably securing the pipes  2 ,  12  within the ports  2 ,  4 , the pipes  2 ,  12  can be rotated 360 degrees relative to the collector  100  to adequately attach vacuum hoses  66 ,  68  to the outer ends of pipes  2 ,  12  and place the collector  100  on the drum  60  without having the attached vacuum hoses  66 ,  68  interfere or get kinked. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 8-10  show the particulate collector  100  of an embodiment of the present invention engaged with a drum  60 . The particulate collector  100  is placed within the opening  64  of the drum  60  such that the first surface  3  of bend of the first angled hollow pipe  6  and the first surface  13  of the bend of the second pipe  12  rest on the outer lip  62  of the drum  60 . The first angled hollow pipe  6  and the second angled hollow pipe  12  of the particulate collector  100  rest at a 45 degree angle relative to the outer lip  62  of the drum  60 . This angle allows for the vacuum hoses  66 ,  68  to connect to the particulate collector and without interfering with the drum  60 . 
         [0045]    A first vacuum hose  66  has a first end coupled to a vacuum cleaner(not shown) and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the first angled hollow pipe  6  and a second vacuum hose  68  has a first end coupled to the same vacuum cleaner (not shown) as the first vacuum hose  66  and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the second angled hollow pipe  12 . When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, a vacuum is created within the inner chamber  30 , and as a result a downward draft is present over the opening  64  of the drum  60 . Any billowing dust is caught within the downward draft and is sucked through the first and second pipes  6 ,  12  and into a vacuum container (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner coupled to the vacuum hoses  66 ,  68 . 
         [0046]    In an alternate embodiment, a clip  50  is used to maintain contact between the particulate collector  100  and the outer lip  62  of the drum  60 . The clip  50 , as shown in  FIG. 7  has a hook portion  51  defined by a top portion  52  and a first leg  53 . The hook portion  51  of the clip  50  receives the upper protruding rim  21  of the collector  100 . When the clip is attached to the collector  100 , the first leg  53  of the hook portion  51  is adjacent the outer surface  23  of the collector  100 . Attached to the hook portion  51  of the clip  50  is a second flexible leg  54  that receives at least the outer lip  62  of the drum  60  between the first leg  53  and the second leg  54 . This arrangement allows the particulate collector  100  to be secured to the outer lip  62  of the drum  60  from the top. 
         [0047]    In an alternative embodiment, the particulate collector  100  may be secured to the lip  62  of the drum  60  from the bottom. 
         [0048]    While the particulate collector in  FIGS. 1-10  is shown as being a solid piece with a fixed length, the particulate collector can also be retractable on itself, allowing for an adjustable length to fit different capacity drums. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 11-13  show a particulate collector  200  of a second embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 14  shows the particulate collector  200  engaging a drum  60 . The drum  60  preferably has a capacity of 15 gallons or more. The drum  60  has an outer lip  62  along the rim of the drum  60  surrounding an opening  64 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 11  shows the outer surface  223  of the particulate collector  200  of a second embodiment of the present invention. The particulate collector  200  has a semi-circular shaped body with two hollow pipes  202 ,  204  integrally formed therein and vacuum ports  201 ,  203  which extend from an outer surface  225  of the body to an inner surface  224  of the body. The hollow pipes  202 ,  204  can couple to a vacuum hose without any additional pieces. 
         [0051]    The semi-circular shaped body of the particulate collector preferably corresponds to the shape of the outer lip  62  along the rim of the drum  60 . The particulate collector  200  in the second embodiment of the present invention is shaped and sized to communicate with only a portion of the outer lip  62  along the rim of the drum  60 . The outer edges  225  of the particulate collector  200  are preferably curved outward as shown in  FIGS. 12-13  to aid in maintaining contact between the drum  60  and the particulate collector  200  through friction. 
         [0052]    An inner chamber  230  of the particulate collector  200  is defined between an upper protruding rim  221 , an inner surface  224 , and a lower protruding rim  222 . At opposing ends of the particulate collector  200  are slots  232 ,  234 . The slots  232 ,  234  define an opening  235 ,  236  that is greater than the thickness of right and left clips  300 ,  310  to allow movement of the clips  300 ,  310  within the slots  232 ,  234 . Also present within each of the slots  232 ,  234  is a stop  240 ,  242 . The opening  243 ,  244  defined between the slot  232 ,  234  and the stop  240 ,  242  is equal to the thickness of the clips  300 ,  310 . 
         [0053]    The left clip  300  has a body  304  with a top surface  303 , side surface  301 , a bottom surface  305  and a lip  306  extending out axially outwards from the bottom surface  305  as shown in  FIGS. 26-29  and  31 . The lip  306  is angled such that a leading edge  308  is greater in height than the other edge  307  of the lip  306 . The right clip  310  has a body  313  with a top surface  312 , side surface  318 , a bottom surface  314  and a lip  315  extending out axially outwards from the bottom surface  314  as shown in  FIGS. 27-31 . The lip  315  is angled such that a leading edge  317  is greater in height than the other edge  316  of the lip  315 . 
         [0054]    To secure the particulate collector  200  to the drum  60 , the particulate collector  200  is placed within the opening  64  of the drum  60  such that the hollow pipes  202 ,  204  are resting on the outer lip  62  of the drum  60 . The left and right clips  300 ,  310  are then aligned with the outer lip  62  of the drum  60  such that the lips  306 ,  315  of the clips  300 ,  310  can slide under the outer lip  62  of the drum  60 . Once the lips  306 ,  315  of the clips  300 ,  310  are aligned to engage underneath the outer lip  62  of the drum  60 , the clips  300 ,  310  are slid towards the hollow pipes  202 ,  204  within the slots  232 ,  234 , pulling the particulate collector  200  within the drum  60  and angling the particulate collector  200  within the drum  60  for particulate collection. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , a first vacuum hose  66  has a first end coupled to a vacuum cleaner (not shown) and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the first hollow pipe  202  and a second vacuum hose  68  has a first end coupled to the same vacuum cleaner (not shown) as the first vacuum hose  66  and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the second hollow pipe  204 . When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, a vacuum is created within the inner chamber  230 , and as a result a downward draft is present over the opening  64  of the drum  60 . Any billowing dust is caught within the downward draft and is sucked through the first and second vacuum ports  202 ,  204  and into a vacuum container (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner coupled to the vacuum hoses  66 ,  68 . 
         [0056]      FIGS. 15-25  show a particulate collector  400  of a third embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 16  shows the particulate collector  400  engaging a drum. The drum  60  preferably has a capacity of 15 gallons or more. The drum  60  has an outer lip  62  along the rim of the drum  60  surrounding an opening  64 . 
         [0057]    The particulate collector  400  has a crescent shaped body with curved outer ends  425 , an outer surface  423  and an inner surface  424 , vacuum ports  437 ,  438  extend from the outer surface  423  to the inner surface  424 , and a collection chamber  431  formed adjacent the outer surface  423 . A hollow pipe  402  with an outer end is connected to an opening  401  in the collection chamber  431 . The hollow pipe may be integrally formed with the body of the particulate collector as in the second embodiment of secured to the body through washers as in the first embodiment. The hollow pipe  402  is preferably connected to a bottom of the  426  of the collection chamber  431  as shown, although the hollow pipe may be connected to other portions of the collection chamber  431 . The hollow pipe  402  is preferably at a 20 degree angle relative to the bottom  426  of the collection chamber  431 . The collection chamber  431  is connected to an inner chamber  430  through the vacuum ports  437 ,  438 . 
         [0058]    The inner chamber  430  of the particulate collector  400  is defined between an upper protruding rim  421 , an inner surface  424 , and a lower protruding rim  422 . The upper protruding rim  421  and the lower protruding rim  422  are semicircular shaped and preferably corresponds to the shape of the outer lip  62  along the rim of the drum  60  with the back end of the particulate collector extending out from the drum  60 . Vacuum ports  437 ,  438  allow air to flow from the inner chamber  430  and into the collection chamber  431 . The particulate collector  400  of the third embodiment of the present invention is shaped and sized to communicate with only a portion of the outer lip  62  along the rim of the drum  60 . The outer ends  425  of the particulate collector  400  are preferably curved outward as shown in  FIGS. 20 ,  22 , and  25  to aid in maintaining contact between the drum  60  and the particulate collector  400  through friction. 
         [0059]    At opposing ends of the particulate collector  400  are slots  432 ,  434 . The slots  432 ,  434  define an opening  435 ,  436  that is greater than the thickness of right and left clips  300 ,  310  to allow movement of the clips  300 ,  310  within the slots  432 ,  434 . Also present within each of the slots  432 ,  434  is a stop  440 ,  442 . The opening  443 ,  444  defined between the slot  432 ,  434  and the stop  440 ,  442  is equal to the thickness of the clips  300 ,  310 . The left clip  300  has a body  304  with a top surface  303 , side surface  301 , a bottom surface  305  and a lip  306  extending out axially outwards from the bottom surface  305  as shown in  FIGS. 26-29  and  31 . The lip  306  is angled such that a leading edge  308  is greater in height than the other edge  309  of the lip  306 . The right clip  310  has a body  313  with a top surface  312 , side surface  318 , a bottom surface  314  and a lip  315  extending out axially outwards from the bottom surface  314  as shown in  FIGS. 27-31 . The lip  315  is angled such that a leading edge  317  is greater in height than the other edge  316  of the lip  315 . 
         [0060]    To secure the particulate collector  400  to the drum  60 , the particulate collector  400  is placed within the opening  64  of the drum  62  such that the hollow pipe  402  is hanging outside of the drum  60 . The left and right clips  300 ,  310  are then aligned with the outer lip  62  of the drum  60  such that the lips  306 ,  315  of the clips  300 ,  310  can slide under the outer lip  62  of the drum  60 . Once the lips  306 ,  315  of the clips  300 ,  310  are aligned to engage underneath the outer lip  62  of the drum  60 , the clips  300 ,  310  are slid towards the vacuum port  402  within the slots  232 ,  234 , pulling the particulate collector  400  within the drum  60  and angling the particulate collector  400  within the drum  60  for particulate collection. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , a vacuum hose  66  has a first end coupled to a vacuum cleaner (not shown) and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the hollow pipe  402 . When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, a vacuum is created within the collection chamber  431  and the inner chamber  430 , and as a result a downward draft is present over the opening  64  of the drum  60 . Any billowing dust is caught within the downward draft and is sucked through vacuum ports  437 ,  438 , and into the opening  401  of the hollow pipe  402  and into a vacuum container (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner coupled to the vacuum hose  66 . 
         [0062]    Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.