Abstract:
A method of assembling a wet/dry vacuum and a wet/dry vacuum assembly in which each of the component parts of the assembly are placed in a fixture and attached to a unit without requiring reorienting the assembly. More specifically, the method includes attaching the various components of the wet/dry vacuum to a lid component, without requiring reorienting the assembly, simplifying the assembly process.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a division of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/517,953, filed on Mar. 3, 2000, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates generally to apparatus and assembly for wet/dry utility vacuums with blowing capability. More particularly, the invention relates to a wet/dry utility vacuum capable of switching from a quiet vacuum mode to a blowing mode, and arranged for quick and easy assembly.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    A common feature on many wet/dry utility vacuums is the ability to blow in addition to vacuuming. The blowing feature is typically accomplished by collecting the air exhausted from the suction fan and directing it through an opening in the vacuum. The opening is typically called a blow port. The blow port is usually designed to accept a hose from the vacuum which can be used to further direct the exhaust. The stream of exhausted air can be used for various cleaning tasks. Although the blow port feature is useful, many manufacturers of wet/dry vacuums have eliminated it to facilitate noise reduction.  
           [0006]    Vacuums with blowing ports usually exhibit a direct path from the blowing port to the suction fan. This direct path provides a direct route for sound generated by the suction fan to escape the vacuum. Efforts to reduce the amount of sound generated by vacuums often include eliminating blow ports and creating indirect exhaust paths. Indirect exhaust paths utilize abrupt turns and sound absorbing foam to provide sound reduction and mechanical absorption of the noise energy created by the suction fan. A number of drawbacks to this method of sound reduction exist. First, the blowing port, a useful feature of the wet/dry vacuum, is eliminated. Second, there tends to be a performance loss stemming from the restrictions caused by abrupt redirection of the exhaust.  
           [0007]    Other problems confronting wet/dry vacuum manufacturers include the inefficient assembly process of the various components into a working vacuum, and the potential for water to leak into the motor during wet vacuuming operations. Often a vacuum assembly requires several re-orientations of the apparatus to fasten components together. These re-orientations result from vacuum designs that require fasteners such as screws to be inserted between components at many different angles above and beneath the apparatus. For each incidence of required re-orientation during the assembly process, time and energy is inefficiently spent. In addition, the seals isolating the motor from any water during wet pick-up operations are often less than satisfactory. Any water introduced into the motor chamber has the potential to damage or destroy the motor, so there is a need for fail-safe design to eliminate the possibility of water leaking into compartments that contain electrical components.  
           [0008]    The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the issues set forth above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus is a gasketless, noise reduced, wet/dry vacuum with blowing capability. The vacuum includes a body having a main air passageway, and first and second air passageways diverging from the main passageway. The first air passageway defines a blower port. A closable door having an open and a closed position directs air flow from the main air passageway to either the first or second diverging air passageways to switch between vacuum and blowing modes.  
           [0010]    In one embodiment the wet/dry vacuum assembly is arranged such that each of the component parts may be placed in an assembly fixture and attached to a unit without reorienting the assembly. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The foregoing and other features and aspects of the invention will become further apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a front view of a wet/dry vacuum assembly according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top view of the wet/dry vacuum assembly shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3A is a section view of the embodiment of a wet/dry vacuum assembly shown in FIG. 1, taken along line A-A.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of FIG. 3A.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the embodiment of a wet/dry vacuum assembly shown in FIG. 1, taken along line B-B.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a conceptual figure for a wet/dry vacuum exhaust assembly according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wet/dry vacuum assembly in the sound reduced vacuuming mode according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a wet/dry vacuum assembly in the blowing mode according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a closable door for a wet/dry vacuum assembly according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a closable door reception post for a wet/dry vacuum assembly according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a filter cage and float assembly for a wet/dry vacuum according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus. 
     
    
       [0023]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, that will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.  
         [0025]    Turning now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a wet/dry vacuum assembly  1  in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus is shown. Vacuum assembly  1  is shown in FIG. 1 as a completed unit with a motor cover  3  attached to a lid  8 . The attachment of motor cover  3  to lid  8  may be accomplished by a plurality of fasteners, including, but not limited to, a set of screws  10  seen in FIG. 4. Lid  8  releaseably attaches to a drum  26  by latches  23 , the drum housing any fluid or debris (wet or dry) introduced into the vacuum during normal suction operations. Attached to drum  26  are four individual caster feet,  40 , each containing a caster  52 . Casters  52  facilitate movement of vacuum  1  at the convenience of an operator. Lid  8  isolates a motor  7  from drum  26  to prevent contamination from liquid and debris entering the vacuum during normal operation.  
         [0026]    Referring next to FIG. 2, a top view of vacuum assembly  1  is shown. According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, vacuum assembly  1  includes motor cover  3 , lid  8 , cord  6 , suction port  64 , blowing port  66 , switch  5 , exhaust door  17 , and motor exhaust port  62 . Housed behind exhaust door  17  is a muffling device  18 , which is more clearly seen in cross-section in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Muffling device  18  may be comprised of, but is not limited to, open cell foam. The open cell foam may include polyether or other suitable materials. Muffling device  18  allows the passage of air therethrough while absorbing sound energy generated by a motor  7 , thereby increasing the comfort of an operator by reducing noise transmission. During normal operation of vacuum assembly  1 , suction air is introduced into a main passageway, for example exhaust air passageway  68  (shown in concept in FIG. 5, also shown in FIG. 6) and out through muffling device  18 . The details of the air flow are discussed below.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a cross section of wet/dry vacuum assembly  1  according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus is shown. FIG. 3A shows muffling device  18  housed within an air passageway  88 . Motor  7  is shown nested inside motor cover  3 . A motor exhaust diverter  4  redirects the motor exhaust (used to cool the motor) that passes by the motor vertically to a generally horizontal exit point through motor exhaust port  62 . The redirected air out the front of the vacuum through motor exhaust port  62 , as opposed to typical motor air exhaust ports which are located in the top of the motor cover, provides for less noise and inconvenience to the operator of the vacuum. Thus, one purpose of air diverter  4  is to direct exhaust air and noise away from the operator. Air diverter  4  is just one illustration of an embodiment to accomplish this purpose.  
         [0028]    In addition, there is a reduced risk of water contamination due to rain or other sources entering motor cover  3  with motor exhaust port  62  located toward the front of vacuum assembly  1 .  
         [0029]    Attached to motor  7  is a blower wheel  12 . Blower wheel  12  may be attached to motor  7  by a nut  14  threadably connecting to a motor shaft  11 . Located below the blower wheel and extending into drum  26  are a float  21  and filter cage  22 . A standard filter  44  fits snugly over filter cage  22 .  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 3B, lid  8  seals against a plate collector  19  via a gasketless tongue and groove seal  74 . Tongue and groove seal  74  provides for an interference fit. Tongue and groove seal  74  eliminates the need for a gasket and thus the logistical problems associated therewith. Tongue and groove seal  74  is located on the drum  26  side of lid  8 . With the entire tongue and groove seal  74  between lid  8  and plate collector  19  located on the drum  26  side of lid  8 , the possibility of water contamination into motor  7  due to a leak, for example, is eliminated.  
         [0031]    Referring next to FIG. 4, plate collector  19  is connected to lid  8  by a plurality of fasteners  20  including, but not limited to, screws. The combination of plate collector  19  and lid  8  comprise a body  82 . A main passageway, for example, exhaust air passageway  68 , is defined between plate collector  19  and lid  8 . Exhaust air passageway  68  provides an initial path for exhaust air to escape the drum during operation of the wet/dry vacuum. Exhaust air passageway  68  can be seen in a perspective view in FIG. 5.  
         [0032]    Exhaust air passageway  68  exhibits an increasing cross sectional area  80 . In one embodiment the air passageway increases from an initial cross sectional area of approximately 5.25 in. 2  to approximately 12.66 in. 2  In some embodiments the cross sectional area of the air passageway increases approximately 40%, but smaller or greater percentage increases are also within the scope of the invention . The increasing cross sectional area decreases the velocity of air traversing the passageway, which in turn decreases the noise generated by the moving air.  
         [0033]    A first  86  and a second air passageway  88  diverge from exhaust passageway  68 . First air passageway  86  defines an air path for blower port  66 , which is receptive of a blower attachment, for example a hose adapter (not shown). Blower port  66  enables vacuum assembly  1  to be operated as blower.  
         [0034]    Referring next to FIG. 6, blower port  66  is adjacent to a closable door  100 , which seals off blower port  66  during normal quiet vacuum operation. Closable door  100  may be made of a resilient plastic material or other suitable material. In one embodiment the length and width dimensions of closable door  100  are approximately 3.75 in. by 2.0 in., respectively. Closable door  100  exhibits an open and a closed position and is one structure whereby vacuum assembly  1  may switch between a normal quiet vacuum/suction operation and a blower mode. Closable door  100  may be mounted between lid  8  and plate collector  19  (not shown in FIG. 6 for clarity) on a post  102 . Post  102  may be, for example, the cross-shaped post shown in FIG. 6, which acts as a rotation point or hinge for closable door  100 . Post  102  provides for a loose-hinged connection, allowing closable door  100  to self-adjust in response to air pressure such that a tight seal may be formed between the door and second passageway  88 . The details of closable door  100  can be seen in FIG. 8.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG. 8, closable door  100  comprises a hinge  110  on a first end. Closable door  100  is semi-rectangular in shape and includes a circular face  112 . Circular face  112  is sealable against blower port  66 . It will be understood that closable door  100  may also comprise any other shape to accomplishes a seal with blower port  66 . Opposite circular face  112 , is a rectangular face  114  which can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. Rectangular face  114  is sealable with an edge  116  of lid  8 . Rectangular face  114  is dimensioned such that it completely covers second air passageway  88  when the vacuum is in the blower mode as discussed below.  
         [0036]    Placed adjacent to closable door  100  is a biasing member, for example spring  104 , attached to closable door  100 . Spring  104  biases the closable door in a predetermined position, for example the closed position shown in FIG. 6, by exerting a force on closable door  100 . In one embodiment, a force of approximately 0.3 pounds is exerted near the pivot of the door to bias the door in the closed position. However, the spring force of 0.3 pounds may not be equal to the force required to open the door. Spring  104  is shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0037]    Referring again to FIG. 6, when vacuum assembly  1  is in an “OFF” position, meaning that power to blower wheel  12  is interrupted, closable door  100  is closed and seals off first passageway  86  to blower port  66 . Spring  104  urges closable door  100  to this closed position. When vacuum assembly  1  is switched to an “ON” position with power supplied to blower wheel  12 , exhaust air enters main passageway  68 . The increased internal air pressure caused by the exhaust air forced into exhaust passageway  68  tends to force closable door  100  closed and thus enhances the seal between the door and blow port  66 . The exhaust air is thus directed through second air passageway  88 . Second air passageway  88 , like exhaust air passageway  68 , exhibits an increasing cross sectional area to reduce the velocity of air moving therethrough. In addition, muffling device  18  is positioned snugly within second air passageway  88  as seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B. As exhaust air is forced through muffing device  18 , energy is absorbed by the muffling device and noise transmissions are reduced. Thus, vacuum assembly  1  may be run in a quiet, vacuuming mode.  
         [0038]    However, if desired, wet/dry vacuum assembly  1  can also be used as a blower. In order to switch vacuum assembly  1  into a blower mode, the operator may insert a blower attachment, for example a hose adaptor (not shown), into blower port  66 . The blower attachment makes contact with circular face  112  of closable door  100  as it is inserted into blower port  66 . When the inserting force exceeds the closing force of spring  104 , closable door  100  rotates about post  102  on hinge  110  to the open position. When vacuum assembly  1  is in the “OFF” position, the blower attachment (not shown) will remain in contact with circular face  112  as spring  104  biases closable door  100  to a predetermined position, for example the closed position shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0039]    When vacuum assembly  1  is “ON”, the air pressure within exhaust air passageway  68  is increased by the exhaust forced therethrough by blower wheel  12 . If closable door  100  is in a substantially open position and vacuum assembly  1  is “ON”, Spring  104  exerts a closing force on closable door  100  which is less than the opening force exerted on the door by the exhaust air pressure on the circular face  112  side of the closable door. Thus, with the blower attachment inserted, the exhaust air pressure on closable door  100  causes the door to adjust to a sealed open position and seal off second air passageway  88  by meeting edge  116  of lid  8 . Exhaust air is then forced through first air passageway  86  of blower port  66 , continuing through the blower attachment (not shown) used by the operator. FIG. 7 shows closable door  100  in the blowing or open position herein described, with blower port  66  open. An arrow  90  in FIGS. 5 and 7 indicates the exhaust air flow direction in this position. In some embodiments, if the blower attachment (not shown) is removed while the vacuum is “ON”, the closable door will remain open as the force applied to the door by spring  104  is smaller than the force created by the air pressure on the door area. When vacuum assembly  1  is switched “OFF”, the spring force is sufficient to rotate closable door  100  back to the closed position shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0040]    The assembly of vacuum assembly  1  is next discussed. Vacuum assembly  1  is arranged as shown in FIGS.  1 - 10  such that each of the components may be placed in an assembly fixture and attached to a unit without re-orienting the assembly. This is a considerable advantage over present wet/dry vacuum assemblies that require fasteners to be connected from two or more different directions, slowing assembly time and increasing assembly costs. The method of assembly for vacuum assembly  1  may be accomplished in a single orientation position as follows.  
         [0041]    Motor cover  3  is provided with switch  5  and air diverter  4  connected thereto. Motor cover  3  may be placed upside down to facilitate assembly. Next, motor  7  is placed inside motor cover  3 . Lead wires (not shown) from switch  5  and cord  6  are connected to motor  7 . Next, lid  8  is placed over motor  7  and motor cover  3 . Lid  8  is attached to motor  7  and motor cover  3  by a plurality of fasteners, for example, screws  10 . In one embodiment, motor  7  is attached only to lid  8 , and not in direct contact with motor cover  3 , thus minimizing noise transmissions through motor cover  3 .  
         [0042]    Closable door  100  and spring  104  are placed over post  102  of lid  8 , with spring  104  biasing closable door  100  to the closed position. Blower wheel  12  is attached to motor shaft  11 . Because shaft  11  of motor  7  is free to rotate during blower wheel attachment, in one embodiment a nut  13  is held in place while shaft  11  is rotated into the nut to secure blower wheel  12  onto shaft  11 . Next, collector plate  19  is sealably connected to lid  8  by a plurality of fasteners, for example, screws  20 . In one embodiment the sealing connection between lid  8  and collector plate  19  is a gasketless tongue and groove interference-fit, however, other interference fitting seals or other sealing connections may be used. The entire seal between collector plate  19  and lid  8  is internal to the drum  26  of the vacuum, eliminating the risk for water leakage into motor  7  during wet pick-ups. Following the connection of collector plate  19  to lid  8 , vacuum assembly  1  may be packaged with drum  26  for shipping to consumers. Each of the assembling operations may be accomplished as described above while vacuum assembly  1  is in a single orientation position. In one embodiment all fasteners are attached to vacuum assembly in a single direction, for example a direction substantially normal to the drum  26  side of lid  8 .  
         [0043]    Packaged with vacuum assembly  1  and drum  26  may be a float  21 , filter cage  22 , filter  44 , and muffling device  18 , each of which may be installed by the consumer. Muffling device  18  may be inserted into second air passageway  86  by opening access door  17 . Filter cage  22  may be connected to collector plate  19  by a plurality of fasteners, for example notches  122  on collector plate  19  may connect with mating tabs  124  on filter cage  22 , as seen in FIG. 10. Filter  44  may be placed snugly over filter cage  22 .  
         [0044]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a particular illustrative embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The above-described embodiment is intended to be merely illustrative, and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention.