Patent Publication Number: US-11661957-B2

Title: Dual direction vacuum apparatus having a vacuum mode and purge mode

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a vacuum generating apparatus, and more particularly, a variable flow venturi vacuum generator that directs the flow of pressurized air in one direction to create vacuum in a vacuum mode while also allowing pressurized air to be directed in an opposite direction in a purge mode, wherein pressurized air is directed through a vacuum port of the venturi vacuum generator to dislodge obstructions and debris that may form in the vacuum port. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Venturi devices are well known for creating vacuum in particular applications. One particular type of venturi device is a variable flow venturi vacuum generator that allows a user to adjust the level of vacuum created by the vacuum generator. Variable flow venturi vacuum generators may have a vacuum port and an exhaust path placed in line with one another to provide a straight-through venturi vacuum generator. Such venturi designs create high flow rates and vacuum levels, which allow such vacuum generators to be utilized in various commercial and industrial applications. For instance, such variable flow venturi vacuum generators have been utilized in extremely dirty and dusty environments, such as foundries and refractory and bagging operations. 
     The venturi jets within the variable flow venturi vacuum generators are typically not in line with the vacuum port and the exhaust path, and therefore, the variable flow venturi vacuum generators typically do not clog, lose suction, or require a vacuum filter. Nonetheless, due to the extremely dirty environments for which these devices are utilized, the vacuum port may become susceptible to obstructions and debris becoming lodged within the vacuum port. When this occurs, the vacuum level may drop thereby affecting the performance of the vacuum generator. To correct this situation, the supply of pressurized air to the variable flow venturi vacuum generator must be stopped, the vacuum generator must be shut down, and the obstruction or debris must be removed from the vacuum port. The debris is typically removed from the vacuum port manually which requires downtime and manual labor, thereby creating inefficiencies that are undesirable in an industrial environment. Others have attempted to blow pressurized air back through the exhaust port toward the vacuum port in attempt to dislodge the debris from the vacuum port, but due to the calibration and design of the variable flow venturi vacuum generators, directing pressurized air back through the exhaust port toward the vacuum port can degrade the performance of the vacuum generator while possibly damaging the internal mechanisms of the vacuum generator. 
     It would be desirable to provide a variable flow venturi vacuum generator that provides a mechanism for clearing obstructions from the vacuum port without the use of manual labor while limiting the amount of downtime, without affecting the calibration of the vacuum generator, and without damaging the internal mechanisms of the vacuum generator. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a dual direction vacuum apparatus having a housing with an air passageway having a first end and a second end. A vacuum pressure inlet is formed in the housing and is adaptable to receive pressurized air from a pressurized air source. When in a vacuum mode, the vacuum pressure inlet is in communication with the air passageway, and pressurized air from the vacuum pressure inlet passes through a venturi jet and is directed toward the second end of the air passageway to create vacuum in the first end of the air passageway. A purge pressure inlet is formed in the housing and is adaptable to receive pressurized air from a pressurized air source. When in the purge mode, the purge pressure inlet is in communication with the air passageway, wherein pressurized air from the purge pressure inlet is directed toward the first end of the air passageway to dislodge obstructions or debris in the first end of the air passageway. The vacuum mode is defined as supplying pressurized air to the vacuum pressure inlet while not supplying pressurized air to the purge pressure inlet. The purge mode is defined as supplying pressurized air to the purge pressure inlet while not supplying pressurized air to the vacuum pressure inlet. 
     The housing may have an aperture extending there through, wherein the housing has a first end, a second end, and an hourglass shaped necking portion within the aperture. A vacuum nozzle is partially disposed in the aperture within the first end of the housing and has a tapered end that adjacently aligns with the necking portion of the housing to define the venturi jet and provide communication between the vacuum pressure inlet and the air passageway. A purge nozzle is partially disposed in the aperture within the second end of the housing and has a tapered end that adjacently aligns with the necking portion of the housing to provide communication between the purge pressure inlet and the air passageway. 
     The vacuum nozzle is adjustably positioned along a longitudinal axis of the aperture within the first end of the housing to adjustably control the amount of pressurized air passing through the venturi jet thereby adjusting the level of vacuum provided in the first end of the air passageway. The purge nozzle is adjustably positioned along a longitudinal axis of the aperture with the second end of the housing to adjustably control the amount of pressurized air passing through to the first end of the air passageway. 
     The vacuum nozzle threadably engages the aperture within the first end of the housing to adjustably position the vacuum nozzle along the longitudinal axis of the aperture within the housing. The purge nozzle threadably engages the aperture within the second end of the housing to adjustably position the purge nozzle along the longitudinal axis of the aperture with the housing. 
     A vacuum lock collar threadably engages the vacuum nozzle outside and adjacent the housing to secure the position of the vacuum nozzle relative to the housing. A purge lock collar threadably engages the purge nozzle outside and adjacent the housing to secure the position of the purge nozzle relative to the housing. 
     A collar has the aperture extending through a longitudinal axis of the collar and has the vacuum pressure inlet and the purge pressure inlet extending through a wall of the collar substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aperture. A diffuser body with an hourglass shape is disposed within the aperture of the collar, and an aperture extending along the longitudinal axis of the diffuser body defines a portion of the air passageway. The collar may further include a vacuum collar having the vacuum pressure inlet formed therein, and a purge collar having the purge vacuum pressure inlet formed therein, wherein the vacuum collar is connected to the purge collar. 
     A vacuum sensor port is formed in the vacuum nozzle and is in communication with a vacuum sensor for monitoring the pressure within the first end of the air passageway. A purge sensor port is formed in the purge nozzle and is in communication with a purge sensor for monitoring the pressure within the second end of the air passageway. A controller may monitor the pressure indicated by the vacuum sensor and the purge sensor, wherein the controller engages and disengages the pressurized air provided to the vacuum pressure inlet and the purge pressure inlet based on the pressure indicated by the vacuum sensor and the purge sensor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded view of the dual direction vacuum apparatus of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a right side isometric view showing the dual direction vacuum apparatus of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a left side isometric view showing the dual direction vacuum apparatus of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a top plan view showing the dual direction vacuum apparatus of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a side plan view showing the dual direction vacuum apparatus of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows A-A in  FIG.  4    showing the dual direction vacuum apparatus of the present disclosure in the vacuum mode; and 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows A-A in  FIG.  4    showing the dual direction vacuum apparatus of the present disclosure in the purge mode 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1 - 7   , the present disclosure provides a dual direction vacuum apparatus  10  having a variable flow venturi vacuum generator  12  for creating vacuum at a vacuum port  14 . The vacuum generator  12  may provide a vacuum pressure inlet  16  for receiving pressurized air from a pressurized air source (not shown), wherein the pressurized air passes through a venturi jet  18  to create vacuum in the vacuum port  14 . The vacuum port  14  communicates and is in line with a purge port  20 , wherein the pressurized air is exhausted through the purge port  20 . The vacuum generator  12  may also provide a purge pressure inlet  22  for receiving pressurized air from the pressurized air source to direct pressurized air toward the vacuum port  14  to dislodge any obstructions or debris that may be lodged within the vacuum port  14 . The vacuum generator  12  may operate in either a vacuum mode, wherein pressurized air passes through the venturi jet  18  to create vacuum in the vacuum port  14  and exhaust the pressurized air through the purge port  20  opposite the vacuum port  14 , or a purge mode, wherein pressurized air is directed toward the vacuum port  14  to dislodge any obstructions or debris that may occur within the vacuum port  14 . The vacuum port  14  may be connected to or in communication with any type of industrial tooling that may be utilized in conjunction with vacuum, such as tubing, hoses, vacuum cups, filters, vacuum tooling, etc. The purge port  20  may be connected to a silencer  23  or connected to or in communication with any type of tooling that may be utilized to properly exhaust pressurized air, such as tubing, hoses, filters, etc. The dual direction vacuum apparatus  10  is not limited to a variable flow venturi vacuum generator  12 , but rather, the dual direction vacuum apparatus  10  may include any type of vacuum generating device that utilizes pressurized air to generate vacuum in the vacuum port  14  while using pressurized air to clear any obstructions or debris in the vacuum port  14 . 
     The variable flow venturi vacuum generator  12  of the dual direction vacuum apparatus  10  may include a housing  24  having a vacuum collar  26 , a purge collar  28 , and a diffuser body  30 . The vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28  have similar, substantially rectangular configurations with rounded sides and comers thereby creating a somewhat irregular outer configuration for complementarily engaging an industrial fixture (not shown). The outside configuration of the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28  may assume various shapes for engaging industrial fixtures or tooling. Both the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28  have an aperture  32  that extends through and along a longitudinal axis  34  of the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28 . The vacuum pressure inlet  16  provides an aperture extending through a side wall of the vacuum collar  26  and opening into the aperture  32  with a longitudinal axis  36  of the vacuum pressure inlet  16  substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  34  of the aperture  32 . The purge pressure inlet  22  similarly provides in aperture extending through a side wall of the purge collar  28  and opening into the aperture  32  with a longitudinal axis  38  of the purge pressure inlet  22  substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  34  of the aperture  32 . The vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28  may abut one another end to end while being connected by four fasteners  40  extending through four apertures  42  provided in the four comers of the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28 . By connecting the vacuum collar  26  to the purge collar  28 , the vacuum pressure inlet  16  and the purge pressure inlet  22  remain in close proximity to one another. The present disclosure is not limited to the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28  being separate structures, but rather, the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28  may comprise an integral, one-piece structure. In addition, the diffuser body  30  may be formed integrally with the housing  24  or integrally formed with the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28 . 
     To direct the pressurized air from the vacuum pressure inlet  16  and the purge pressure inlet  22 , the diffuser body  30  is disposed within the aperture  32  of the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28 . The diffuser body  30  has a substantially cylindrical, hourglass shaped configuration with an aperture  52  extending through and along the longitudinal axis  34  of the diffuser body  30 . The aperture  52  in the diffuser body  30  defines a portion of an air passageway  53  extending through the vacuum generator  12  from the vacuum port  14  to the purge port  20 , wherein a first end of the air passageway  53  is within the vacuum port  14 , and a second end of the air passageway  53  is within the purge port  20 . The diffuser body  30  includes a central cylindrical portion  46  having a pair of substantially similar conical end portions  48  extending from opposite ends of the central cylindrical portion  46 . The central portion  46  has a stepped outer periphery that complementarily engages the inner periphery of the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28  to seat and secure the diffuser body  30  within the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28 . The outer periphery of the central cylindrical portion  46  of the diffuser body  30  also provides a pair of annular grooves for receiving a pair of similar annular flexible seals  50  for preventing pressurized air from passing between the diffuser body  30  and the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28 . The conical end portions  48  of the diffuser body  30  extend and taper outward from opposite ends of the central cylindrical portion  46  of the diffuser body  30  such that the conical end portions  48  extend underneath and across the vacuum pressure inlet  16  and the purge pressure inlet  22  at an angle within the vacuum collar  26  and the purge collar  28 . 
     To create vacuum within the vacuum generator  12 , a vacuum nozzle  54  is received by a first or vacuum end of the aperture  32  provided in the vacuum collar  26 . The vacuum nozzle  54  has a substantially cylindrical configuration that tapers narrowly toward a first end  58  of the vacuum nozzle  54 . An aperture  56  extends through and along the longitudinal axis  34  of the vacuum nozzle  54  from the vacuum port  14  created at a second end of the vacuum nozzle  54  toward the tapered first end  58  of the vacuum nozzle  54 . The vacuum nozzle  54  has a threaded portion  55  formed on an outer periphery of the mid portion of the vacuum nozzle  54 , wherein the threaded portion  55  of the vacuum nozzle  54  threadably engages a threaded portion formed on an inner periphery of the vacuum collar  26  defining the aperture  32 . The threaded engagement of the vacuum collar  26  and the vacuum nozzle  54  allows the vacuum nozzle  54  to be adjustably positioned along the longitudinal axis  34  of the vacuum collar  26 . A cylindrical vacuum lock collar  60  may be threadably connected to the threaded portion of the vacuum nozzle  54  and threadably tightened against the vacuum collar  26  to secure and hold the vacuum nozzle  54  in a desired position. A flexible annular seal  62  is position between the vacuum nozzle  54  and the vacuum collar  26  between the threaded portion  55  and the tapered end  58  of the vacuum nozzle  54 . The flexible annular seal  62  prohibits pressurized air from passing between the vacuum nozzle  54  and the vacuum collar  26 . 
     In order to form the venturi jet  18  within the vacuum generator  12 , the tapered end  58  of the vacuum nozzle  54  is adjacently aligned with one conical end portion  48  of the diffuser body  30 . The outer periphery of the tapered end  58  of the vacuum nozzle  54  and the inner periphery of the conical end portion  48  of the diffuser body  30  are complementarily shaped to form an hourglass shaped vacuum passageway  59  that extends between the vacuum pressure inlet  16  and the air passageway  53 . The hourglass shaped vacuum passageway  59  provides a narrowing portion extending between larger portions at each end of the narrowing portion thereby establishing the venturi jet  18 . As pressurized air is supplied to the vacuum pressure inlet  16 , as shown by arrow  80  in  FIG.  6   , the pressure level of the pressurized air builds in the vacuum passageway  59  prior to the narrowing potion of the vacuum passageway  59 . The speed at which the pressurized air is traveling accelerates as the pressurized air passes through the narrowing portion in the vacuum passageway  59 . As the high speed pressurized air passes through the vacuum passageway  59  and into the air passageway  53  of the diffuser body  30 , air is drawn into the air passageway  53  from the vacuum port  14  thereby reducing the air pressure and creating vacuum in the vacuum port  14  of the vacuum nozzle  54 , as shown by arrow  82  in  FIG.  6   . The size or width of the vacuum passageway  59  may be adjusted by threadably adjusting the vacuum nozzle  54  along the longitudinal axis  38  of the aperture  32 . By increasing the size or width of the vacuum passageway  59 , the vacuum level in the vacuum port  14  may be reduced, and by decreasing the size or width of the vacuum passageway  59 , the vacuum level within the vacuum port  14  may be increased. 
     To provide pressurized air to the vacuum port  14 , a purge nozzle  64  is received by a second or purge end of the aperture  32  provided in the purge collar  28 , similar to the vacuum nozzle  54  provided in the aperture  32  of the vacuum collar  26 . That is, the purge nozzle  64  has a substantially cylindrical configuration that tapers narrowly toward a first end  66  of the purge nozzle  64 . An aperture  56  extends through and along the longitudinal axis  38  of the purge nozzle  64  from the purge port  20  created at a second end of the purge nozzle  64  toward the tapered first end  66  of the purge nozzle  64 . The purge nozzle  64  has a threaded portion  67  formed on an outer periphery of the mid portion of the purge nozzle  64 , wherein the threaded portion  67  of the purge nozzle  64  threadably engages a threaded portion formed on an inner periphery of the purge collar  28  defining the aperture  32 . The threaded engagement of the purge collar  28  and the purge nozzle  64  allows the purge nozzle  64  to be adjustably positioned along the longitudinal axis  38  of the purge collar  28 . A cylindrical purge lock collar  72  is threadably connected to the threaded portion  67  of the purge nozzle  64  and may be threadably tightened against the purge collar  28  to secure and hold the purge nozzle  64  in a desired position. A flexible annular seal  74  is position between the purge nozzle  64  and the purge collar  28  between the threaded portion  67  and the tapered end  66  of the purge nozzle  64 . The flexible annular seal  74  prohibits pressurized air from passing between the purge nozzle  64  and the purge collar  28 . 
     In order to accelerate the pressurized air from the purge pressure inlet  22  to the vacuum port  14 , the tapered end  66  of the purge nozzle  64  is adjacently aligned with one conical end portion  48  of the diffuser body  30 . The outer periphery of the tapered end  66  of the purge nozzle  64  and the inner periphery of the conical end portion  48  of the diffuser body  30  are complementarily shaped to form an hourglass shaped purge passageway  61  that extends between the purge pressure inlet  22  and the air passageway  53 . The hourglass shaped purge passageway  61  provides a narrowing portion extending between larger portions at each end of the narrowing portion of the purge passageway  61 . As pressurized air is supplied to the purge pressure inlet  22 , as shown by arrow  84  in  FIG.  7   , the pressure level of the pressurized air builds in the purge passageway  61  prior to the narrowing portion in the purge passageway  61 . The speed at which the pressurized air is traveling accelerates as the pressurized air passes through the narrowing portion in the purge passageway  61 . As the high speed pressurized air passes through the narrowing portion of the purge passageway  61  into the air passageway  53  of the diffuser body  30 , the pressurized air is directed toward the vacuum port  14 , as shown by the arrow in  FIG.  7   , thereby establishing the purge mode. Due to the angle of the purge passageway  61  and the close proximity to the vacuum passageway  59 , the pressurized air is primarily directed through the air passageway  53  and not the vacuum passageway  59 , thereby avoiding the pressurized air from affecting the venturi jet  18  in the vacuum passageway  59 . The size or width of the purge passageway  61  may be adjusted by threadably adjusting the purge nozzle  64  along the longitudinal axis  38  of the aperture  32 . By increasing the size or width of the purge passageway  61 , the level of pressurized air directed to the vacuum port  14  may be reduced, and by decreasing the size or width of the purge passageway  61 , the level of pressurized air to the vacuum port  14  may be increased. 
     To change the apparatus  10  between the vacuum mode and the purge mode, a vacuum sensor may be utilized to monitor the vacuum level within the vacuum port  14 , and a purge sensor may be utilized to monitor the pressurized level within the purge port  20 . The vacuum sensor is mounted within a vacuum sensor port  76  formed by an aperture that extends through a wall of the vacuum nozzle  54  in order to monitor the level of vacuum in the vacuum nozzle  54 . The purge sensor is similarly mounted within a purge sensor port  78  formed by an aperture that extends through a wall of the purge nozzle  64  in order to monitor the level of pressurized air in the purge port  20 . A controller is in electronic communication with the vacuum sensor and the purge sensor. When the controller determines that the pressure levels measured by the vacuum sensor and/or the purge sensor are within a specified range for operating the apparatus  10  in the vacuum mode, the controller maintains the apparatus  10  in the vacuum mode. When the controller determines that the pressure levels measured by the vacuum sensor and/or the purge sensor are outside of the normal operating range, the controller may shut down the pressurized air to the vacuum pressure inlet  16  and engage pressurized air to the purge pressure inlet  22  to remove any obstructions or debris that may be lodged in the vacuum port  14 . Once the obstruction or debris is removed from the vacuum port  14 , the controller may return the apparatus  10  to the vacuum mode. In the alternative, the controller may simply provide a warning when the vacuum sensor and/or the purge sensor are out of the normal performance range. When this occurs, an operator may manually disengage pressurized air to the vacuum pressure inlet  16  while engaging pressurized air to the purge pressure inlet  22  to remove any obstructions or debris that may be lodged in the vacuum port  14 . 
     In operation, the apparatus  10  normally operates in the vacuum mode. That is, pressurized air is supplied to the vacuum pressure inlet  16 , as shown by arrow  80  in  FIG.  6   , and pressurized air is not supplied to the purge pressure inlet  22 . By supplying pressurized air to the vacuum pressure inlet  16 , vacuum is generated in the vacuum port  14  by pressurized air passing through the venturi jet  18  provided in the vacuum passageway  59  and into the air passageway  53 , as shown by arrow  82  in  FIG.  6   , thereby establishing the vacuum mode. If an obstruction or debris becomes lodged within the vacuum port  14 , the vacuum sensor and the purge sensor will indicate that the operating pressure levels are outside of the normal operating specifications, and thus, the controller will indicate the same. At that time, the controller may automatically, or a user may manually, disengage the pressurized air from the vacuum pressure inlet  16  and engage the pressurized air to the purge pressure inlet  22 , as shown by arrow  84  in  FIG.  7   , so as to establish the purge mode. This will allow pressurized air to flow through the purge passageway  61  toward the vacuum port  14 , as shown by arrow  86  in  FIG.  7   , thereby dislodging the obstruction or debris lodged within the vacuum port  14 . Once the obstruction or debris is dislodged from the vacuum port  14 , the pressurized air to the purge pressure inlet  22  may be disengaged, and the pressurized air to the vacuum pressure inlet  16  may be reengaged so that vacuum may return to the vacuum port  14  thereby reestablishing the vacuum mode. The cycle may then repeat itself. 
     While the disclosure has been made in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the disclosure is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements.