Abstract:
An inlet hose feeds a tank that may be placed in a household sink which is too high above a floor for a conventional wet vacuum to lift a column of water. One or more inlet hoses each have a water pickup tube at the distal end. The hoses are connected to the tank chamber which has a vacuum created by a vacuum cleaner apparatus. An air inlet aperture in the pickup tube at the distal end of the inlet hose is kept above the water level. An air stream is drawn into the aperture of the pickup tube by the vacuum, which causes turbulence in the water stream in the pick up tube and breaks the water into droplets. This enables the vacuum of a given magnitude to lift the droplets to a higher elevation than a solid water column. Air inlet and water discharge valves are provided on the tank to control the water fill rate into the tank. An interior hose or channel stops the vacuum to the pickup hose when the fluid in the tank gets too high. A window in the tank permits observation of the fill rate. The valves are arranged to provide optimum water fill and discharge rates.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to vacuum apparatus for removing water or other liquids from a space, and, more particularly, to apparatus for lifting volumes of liquid with vacuum apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Most conventional vacuum cleaner machines can not lift water or other heavy liquids to typically above 29 to 30 inches above the liquid level being withdrawn. This is a problem with most households having such conventional machines. Most households have sinks or basins for receiving and draining water at about 35 inches or more above floor level. Such conventional cleaners include shop vacuums sometimes referred to as wet/dry vacuum machines, which are designed for use in shops, garages and basements and so on for vacuuming water off a floor. Water weighs about 8.34 lb/gal (1 kg/l). A wet shop vacuum machine typically may have a 5 gallon (21 l) capacity. When filled with water the water weighs 41.7 lb (19 kg) which is heavy for an average home maker to lift into a sink for emptying the contents without spilling. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,224 a portable vacuum cleaner attachment is disclosed which attaches to an end of a vacuum cleaner hose to remove and separate liquid, so the liquid does not enter the vacuum unit. Attached to the unit is a tank that stores liquid to be removed. A first inlet receives the vacuum and a second inlet receives the liquid at a nozzle. A deflector deflects the incoming liquid into the tank from the vacuum exhaust inlet inside the tank which vacuum sucks the liquid into the nozzle. This patent does not address the problem of using conventional wet vacuums and the heavy water load therein. The tank in this patent cannot be too large or else it presents the same problem of lifting a heavy liquid load. Thus this apparatus can only deal with small liquid volumes. Vents are provided to allow air flow into the vacuum unit. 
     In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,974,624 and 5,377,383 disclose a similar device with a passage that directs the stream along a path. They disclose a tank adjacent to the inlet nozzle which limits the volume of water that can be picked up. Neither patent discloses an apparatus that lifts water or other liquids in relatively long columns above the water level being removed. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,881 discloses a universal vacuum cleaner and a relatively large tank that rolls on wheels over a floor. Lifting the full tank to empty it would be difficult. This system uses a cyclonic separator. This patent does not disclose lifting liquids in relatively long columns above the water lever being removed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,009 discloses a carpet cleaning waste water disposal apparatus. 
     The present inventor recognizes a need for an apparatus that can be used with conventional vacuum machines and can be used to lift liquids at greater height columns than heretobefore known with conventional vacuum cleaners. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a wet attachment for a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum inlet. The attachment includes a fluid tank having a first chamber for receiving fluid in a fluid inlet. The tank has a vacuum inlet arranged to be attached to the vacuum inlet to apply a vacuum to the chamber. The attachment also includes at least one elongated fluid inlet conduit having a first end coupled to the tank fluid inlet and a second end for immersion in fluid to be conveyed to the chamber in response to the vacuum applied to the chamber. The conduit has an air inlet spaced from the first end medially the first and second end. The air inlet is responsive to the vacuum in the conduit from the chamber for drawing ambient atmosphere air into the conduit and for injecting the drawn ambient air into the conveyed fluid to form an assemblage wherein the air and fluid are spatially segregated into separate regions. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention an attachment is provided for a wet vacuum cleaner having a tank with a first chamber for applying a vacuum to and receiving fluid from a fluid inlet. The attachment includes at least one elongated fluid inlet conduit having a first end coupled to the tank fluid inlet and a second end for immersion in fluid to be conveyed to the chamber in response to the vacuum applied to the fluid inlet. The conduit has an air inlet spaced from the first end medially the first and second ends. The air inlet is responsive to the vacuum in the conduit from the fluid inlet for drawing ambient atmosphere air into the conduit and for injecting the drawn ambient air into the conveyed fluid to form an assemblage wherein the air and fluid are spatially segregated into separate regions. 
     In one embodiment, the at least one conduit is a tube with a longitudinal axis and a concave depression and the air inlet comprises an aperture in the depression lying in a plane inclined toward the longitudinal axis and toward the tank end of the at least one conduit. 
     In a further embodiment, the at least one conduit comprises an annular wall, the air inlet is an aperture in the wall, further including a shield attached to the at least one conduit in spaced relation to the wall forming a second chamber there between, the shield having opposing third and fourth ends on opposite sides of the air inlet with the third shield end being attached to the at least one conduit in a region between the air inlet and the at least one conduit second end so that the second chamber is water impervious between the at least one conduit second end and the shield third end. 
     In a further embodiment, the air inlet is a hole in the at least one conduit. In a further embodiment, the tank has a bottom wall and an annular side wall and at least one tube connected to the fluid inlet and extending medially the fluid inlet and bottom wall to limit the volume of fluid that can enter the first chamber. 
     In a further embodiment, the tank has a top wall, a bottom wall and an annular side wall forming the first chamber, the tank including an interior wall in the first chamber forming a channel with the side wall, the channel being in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the channel extending toward the bottom wall to limit the volume of fluid that can enter the first chamber. 
     In still other embodiments the far end of the conduit can be totally immersed in the fluid because an air inlet in the conduit is spaced a significant distance from the immersing fluid. Furthermore, the tank has means for limiting the fluid drawn into the tank to a predetermined level. 
     A window may be in the tank side wall for observing the amount of fluid in the tank 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above brief description as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation sectional view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a more detailed, fragmented, sectional, and elevational view of the inlet conduit and tube of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 3,  4  and  5  are views similar to the view of FIG. 2 showing different embodiments; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmented view of further embodiments of the inlet conduit for use with the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational, sectional view of an apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an end view of a clamp and portion of the inlet pipe of a further embodiment; 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the clamp and portion of the inlet pipe of FIG. 8; and 
     FIG. 10 is a side, elevational, sectional, and fragmented view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 taken along line  9 — 9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, wet attachment apparatus  2  for vacuum cleaners comprises a tank  4  having a circular cylindrical side wall  6 , a bottom wall  8 , and a top wall  10 . The tank has an interior chamber  12 . Inside the chamber  12  is a wall  14  which may extend across the chamber  12  or may be semi-circular pipe forming a channel  16 . The wall  14  depends from the top wall  10  or, in the alternative, may depend from a further top wall (not shown) inside the chamber. The channel  16  is open at the bottom  18  in a direction toward bottom wall  8 . 
     The side wall  6  has two openings  20 . The openings are near the channel closed top  22  or may be at the top of the channel  16 . Two hoses  24  are secured in the openings  20 , one hose in each opening. It will be appreciated that other embodiments may use a different number of hoses, including the use of just a single hose, The hoses  20  may be any conventional fluid hose as known in this art, and preferably are flexible, but may also be rigid plastic tubes, as also known in this art. The hoses terminate at distal ends  26 . 
     A tube  28 , preferably having a ½ inch (1.3 cm) internal diameter, is attached to end  26  of each hose, one tube being shown. The tube  28  may have other diameters according to a given implementation as will be described. Tube  28  may be made of copper, plastic, or other materials. An aperture  30  is in tube  28  in fluid communication with the tube&#39;s hollow internal core. 
     An opening  32  is in the tank top wall  10 . A vacuum cleaner inlet nozzle  34  is attached to the top wall  10  coupled to the opening  32 . An optional fluid deflector screen  36  may be in the opening  32  near the top wall  10 . A conventional vacuum cleaner hose  38  is attached to the nozzle  34  for applying a vacuum to the chamber  12 . The hose  38  draws air from the interior of the tank in chamber  12  in direction  40 . This causes air to flow through the hoses  24  into the chamber  12  in direction  42  through the openings  20 . The deflector screen  36  prevents water or other fluids drawn into the chamber  12  from being drawn out of the chamber  12  into the vacuum cleaner hose  38  attached to the nozzle  34 . 
     The tank  4  side wall  6  has two openings  44  and  46  on a side of wall  6  opposite the fluid inlet openings  20 , hoses  24  and channel  16 . Opening  44  is near the top wall  10  and is a vent for letting air flow into the chamber  12  in direction  48 . Opening  46  is near or at the bottom wall  8  to drain fluid, e.g., water or any liquid, stored in the tank. The side wall  6  has a clear window  13  to permit observation of the fluid volume in the tank  4  and to adjust the parameters of the fluid and air flows accordingly. A slide valve  52  selectively opens and closes the opening  44  to selected different aperture sizes to control the vacuum level in the chamber  12 . 
     A slide valve  54  is connected to the side wall  6  for selectively opening and closing the drain opening  46 . The valves  52  and  54  move in directions  56 . Preferably the slide valves  52  and  54  are interconnected by a link  58  represented by a dashed line to show it is optional. In this way both openings  44  and  46  are opened and closed simultaneously to selectively control the amount of air admitted to the chamber  12  while also controlling the flow of fluid  60  out of the chamber  12 . 
     The valves are cracked open slightly and gradually as the fluid volume in the tank  4  is being observed in the window  13 . The valves are adjusted to maximize unattended water flow. The drain valve  54  is important because it permits the fluid to drain out of the chamber  12  while valve  52  controls the air flow into the chamber  12  at the same time. Negative pressure is required in the chamber  12  in order to draw the fluid into the chamber before flowing out of drain opening  46 . 
     If the valve  54  opening  46  is too small, little drainage occurs and the fluid level in the tank rises, theoretically choking openings  20 , which then stop supplying fluid for reasons to be described presently. If the valve  52  opening  44  is too small, then little air bleeding occurs and a high vacuum exists, which also draws excessive fluid from openings  20  and again causes a high fluid level in the tank chamber  12 . On the other hand, if valves  52  and  54  are both opened too wide, excessive air will bleed into chamber  12  along the directions  48  and  50 , thereby reducing the negative pressure in tank chamber  12  and producing little fluid flow through openings  20 . 
     Accordingly, valves  52  and  54  should be adjusted to produce a favorable negative pressure in tank chamber  12 . The proper amount the valves ought to be opened can be determined by watching the fluid fill level in the tank and the fluid volume draining from the tank  4  until there is a balance so the apparatus can be left unattended to remove the unwanted fluid  66 . An operator will adjust the valves  52  and  54  to increase the outflow  60  until a stable flow occurs that does not cause the fluid level in tank chamber  12  to rise excessively. 
     By tying both valves to operate together, an optimum point is reached for both valves in which fluid dumping and air in is balanced to obtain a balance fluid flow into and out of the tank  4 . A level float device (not shown) may be provided in chamber  12  to shut off the flow of fluid into the chamber  12  if the fluid in the chamber is too high in place of the channel  18  of FIG.  1 . 
     In operation, the hose  38  from the vacuum cleaner is connected as shown. The tank  4  is placed in a sink  62  or other convenient receptacle having a drain  64 . The apparatus  2  thus is of a size to conveniently fit in most household sinks. The tube  28  for one or both hoses  24  is placed in and immersed with the tip fully submerged into the fluid  66  to be removed by apparatus  2 . The fluid  66  may be water or other liquid on a floor, in a clogged sink, a basement sump or elsewhere where ever fluid may collect undesirably. 
     The hoses  24  are sufficiently long to reach the desired location of the fluid  66  with the apparatus placed in a drain sink  62 . The sink  62  may be typically 35 inches above a floor, for example, of a basement from which the fluid is to be removed. Normally, filling and lifting a 5 gallon tank to the sink  62  of prior art shop vacuums to empty their tanks would be difficult due to the excess weight of the fluid, e.g., water. In this case, the light empty tank  4 , which may be molded thermoplastic and thus relatively light, is easily lifted and placed in the sink prior to starting the removal of fluid  66 . 
     The aperture  30  is spaced sufficiently from the end of the tube  28  being immersed so that no fluid  66  is near the aperture. Fluid over the aperture would defeat the purpose of the operation of apparatus  2 . Preferably, the aperture  30  is spaced from the end of tube  28  about 20 inches (0.5 m) or less., if low fluid levels are expected. This is to ensure vertical lift of the fluid without immersion of aperture  30  as fluid is drawn into the hoses  24  and tank  4 . The hoses  24  are preferably about 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) in length. The tubes  28  are preferably vertical to ensure no fluid blocks the aperture  30  during use. A snorkel hose (such as hose  108 , FIG. 4) can be coupled to the aperture  30 . The upper end of the snorkel hose will remain above the level of fluid  66  so that aperture  30  will not be blocked. 
     With the vacuum cleaner turned on, the vacuum is applied to the chamber  12  and to the hoses  24  and tubes  28 . This draws the fluid  66  into the tubes  28  and hoses  24 . In FIG. 2, the tube  28  has a depression  70  or dimple. This depression may be preferably semi-spherical. In other embodiments, the depression may be frustro-conical, elipsoidal, prismatic, or have other shapes. In still other embodiments, a short circumferential incision may be made in the wall of tube  28 , and the wall can be pressed in only on the upstream side of the incision to create an opening facing in the downstream direction (that is, a configuration similar to that used in simple pipe whistles). In yet other embodiments, the wall of tube  28  will not be deformed with a concavity, but will be pierced by a channel that is preferably (but not necessarily) inclined toward the downstream direction. 
     The aperture  30  is in the depression  70 . The aperture is in a wall of the depression  70  that lies in a plane  72  that is inclined to the longitudinal axis  74  of the tube  28 . This causes the air  76  flowing into the tube  28  through the aperture  30  to be inclined in a downstream direction toward the direction  42  of fluid flow along the axis  74 . In some embodiments the orientation of the aperture may be inclined toward a downstream direction without employing a concave depression or otherwise deforming tube  28 . For example, a short tubule (not shown) may be installed obliquely through the wall of tube  28 . Alternatively, a small amount of filling material (not shown) may be secured on an inside face of tube  28  before drilling a hole at an angle through the tube  28  and filling. In still other embodiments, tube  28  may have an aperture in a flared transition (not shown) where the inside diameter increases, thereby creating an opening inclined toward the downstream direction. 
     The air is drawn into the tubes  28  apertures  30  by the low pressure vacuum in the tube communicated from the chamber  12  and vacuum cleaner via hose  38 . The low pressure vacuum causes the fluid  66  to flow into the tube at  66 ′ (FIG. 2) in direction  42 . The air stream  76  through the aperture  30  impinges upon the fluid  66 ′ stream and creates turbulence, breaking the liquid up into an assemblage wherein the air and fluid are spatially segregated into separate regions. In some embodiments the fluid will be broken up into separate droplets  78 . The size of the droplets  78  will depend on the speed and volume of incoming air. With sufficiently energetic incoming air, the liquid can be atomized. These droplets form a somewhat atomized unit volume that is a fluid and air mixture and, thus, is lighter per unit volume than the fluid, e.g., water, alone. In still other embodiments, the injected air can create bubbles or a froth from the fluid. In some regions the fluid may form a film that is driven up the inside surface of the tube by the moving air. As a result of one or more of these mechanisms, the column of mixed air-fluid or water is lighter than a similar length of only the fluid or water column. 
     This lighter air-fluid mixture column can be lifted higher by a given vacuum level than only a corresponding fluid, i.e., water column. Also, since the air-fluid or water mixture is lighter, it also moves faster than the heavier fluid, i.e., water, for a given vertical force imposed by the vacuum. In part, the air stream quickly flows around the slower moving liquid droplets, causing a dynamic pressure that urges the droplets up to the hose end  24 . This mechanism is dominant for droplets clinging to the inside wall of tube  28  or hose  26 . For relatively small droplets, these may become detached from the inside wall and entrained in the air stream and move at or near the speed as the air, depending upon droplet size. Thus the generally low power conventional shop vacuum cleaners and household vacuum cleaners can lift the fluid-air mixture column directly into the sink via the tank  4 . 
     It can be shown that for ⅝th inch (1.6 cm) hose  26  and a ½ inch (1.3 cm) ID tube  28  with a ⅛th inch (0.3 cm) aperture  30 , water can be removed to a sink elevated at 35 inches (0.9 m) above fluid  66  into the tank  4  and drained therefrom at a rate of 60 gallons (54.5 l) per hour and as much as 90 (82 l) gallons per hour. An arrangement using a four hose-tube combination (e.g. FIG. 6) can pump 240 gallons (218 l) of water an hour at a height of 40 inches (1.0 m). Also pumping of 360 gallons (327 l) an hour is possible. Opening the valve  52  fully lets a high volume of air into the chamber  12 , shutting down the vacuum and stopping the fluid withdrawal operation. 
     The channel  16  (FIG. 1) at its lower edge  19  limits the amount of fluid that flows into the tank. Once the fluid reaches edge  19 , the vacuum at the openings  20  is interrupted and the fluid removal stops. This effectively produces a self-regulating feature for preventing an excessively high liquid level. 
     In FIG. 3, metal tube  80  is immersed in fluid  82 , i.e., water. The tube has an outer jacket  84  which is tubular and encloses a portion of tube  80 , forming a shield about the tube  80 . The jacket  84  forms a chamber  86  around the tube  80 . The tube  80  has in the chamber  86  an air inlet aperture  88  in the semi-spherical depression  92 . As before, aperture  88  is positioned to direct the air stream through the aperture  88  in direction  94  toward the tank and close to the same direction  96  of the fluid drawn into the tube  80 . The chamber  86  is sealed closed at the bottom wall  90 , which may be bonded, glued or welded to the inner tube  80  to form a water tight seal therewith. Chamber  86  is, however, open at the top to allow incoming air to flow through the chamber and into aperture  88 . This mixes the fluid  82  with the air, creating turbulence and fluid, i.e., water, droplets as described above. 
     The size of the aperture  88  is a function of the amount of vacuum, the size of the tube  80  and the nature, i.e., viscosity, of the fluid so as to form the desired mixture. This is determined empirically for a given implementation. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, tube  98  has an aperture  104 , preferably {fraction (1/16)} inch (1.6 mm) in diameter for a ½ inch (1.3 cm) ID tube  98 , and optional deflector  106  (shown in phantom). Water  100  is drawn into the tube in direction  102 . An optional hose  108  (shown in phantom) is connected air tight to aperture  104  to permit the tube and aperture to be immersed totally in the water  100  at level  110 . No air can enter the aperture  104  so long as the distal end of hose  108  remains above water. This hose  108  permits the relatively long tube  98  to be immersed in relatively deep water and permits the aperture  104  to inject air for breaking up the water in the tube into droplets as desired. 
     In FIG. 5, a length of tube  28 ′ has a ½ inch (1.3 cm) ID and an aperture  30 ′ of {fraction (1/16)} inch (1.6 mm) in diameter. The aperture is in a semi-spherical depression  70 ′. 
     In FIG. 6, a hose  109  has an outer conduit jacket  110  containing four internal tubes  114 - 120 . Each tube  114 - 120  has an air inlet aperture  112 . Ends  122  of the tubes  114 - 120  are connected to the tank  4 . This arrangement is for use with commercially available wet shop vacuum cleaners (not shown), which are being provided in smaller sizes. The ends  122  of the tubes  114 - 120  are fitted into the intake vacuum port of the wet vacuum cleaner. The valves of FIG. 1 may be added to this vacuum cleaner. No vacuum nozzle is needed as this machine is itself a vacuum chamber. This unit provides the desired withdrawal of fluid and can pump 240 gallons of water an hour. The hose  109  can also be used with the tank  4  of FIG.  1 . 
     In FIG. 7, apparatus  122  is generally the same as apparatus  2  of FIG. 1, except hoses  124  and  126  (also referred to as tubular passages) are substituted for the channel  18  created by walls  14  and  16 . Hoses  124  and  126  serve the same purpose as the channel  18  to limit the level of fluid in the chamber  128 . When the fluid reaches the approximate level  130  at the tip of the free ends of the hoses  124  and  126 , the vacuum to the hoses  132  and  134  ceases. 
     In FIGS. 8,  9  and  10 , a thermoplastic clamp  138  is fitted over tube  140 , which may be an ordinary garden hose. Tube  140  is to be immersed in water that is to be removed. Tube  140  is connected to tank  4  as described previously. The clamp  138  is secured to the tube  140  by screws  142  and nuts  144 . A tube  146  is embedded in the clamp  138  and pierces tube  140  to reach the interior of tube  140 . Tube  146  acts as the air-water mixing inlet aperture. The tube  146  can terminate more centrally of the core of tube  140  to direct the inlet air directly into the stream of water flowing in the tube  140 . 
     The air-water mixing tube  146  is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis  148  of the tube  140 . The fluid is flowing in the tube  140  in direction  150 . The inclined tube  146  assists in forcing the continued flow of fluid in the tube  140  and forms bubbles and droplets as described above. 
     It will occur to one of ordinary skill that various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments which are given by way of illustration and not limitation. For example, the illustrated tank may be part of a wet vacuum that does not employ the illustrated tank openings  44  and  46  and channel  14 . The scope of the invention is as defined in the appended claims.