Patent Document

[0001]     This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/575,271 filed May 28, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to vacuums used with floor sanders for sanding floors of surfaces including, but not limited to, wood, concrete, stone, tile, and the like.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The floor sanding vacuum is designed to be used in conjunction with floor sanding machines when refinishing wooden floors, concrete floors, stone floors, tile floors and the like. The use of the vacuum provides a dust-free, or near dust free process, and eliminates airborne dust that can settle on and damage the newly finished surface. Use of a dust free system also eliminates dust being dispersed throughout the home, increases the speed and efficiency of the job, and reduces worker/consumer exposure to potentially harmful sanding byproducts.  
         [0004]     The vacuum consists of a fabricated base that may also include an integral silencer. Mounted to the base of the unit is either a gas engine or high efficiency electric motor with an integral control keypad and digital readout, a cyclone separator, dust containment hopper, and a high efficiency and or a H.E.P.A filter.  
         [0005]     The motor or engine is used to drive a positive displacement blower. The blower creates a high vacuum that draws air through the sanding machine via a flexible hose connected to a cyclone separator where the sanding debris drops into the integral hopper. After the cyclone, the air is drawn through a air filter and or a H.E.P.A. filter to the blower where the cleaned air is discharged through either an optional integral silencer built into the base of the vacuum or a commercially available silencer for noise reduction.  
         [0006]     At least two models will be available; a gasoline model that will be installed in a truck, trailer, van or other vehicle; an electric motor driven unit that will be portable and mounted on wheels so it can be moved into a building, close to the work area. When used in a building, the electric model may be equipped with a High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter (H.E.P.A.) with a filtration efficiency of 99.97% for particles 0.3 microns or larger.  
         [0007]     Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the floor sanding vacuum;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the floor sanding vacuum;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the floor sanding vacuum mounted on a base;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the floor sanding vacuum mounted on a base;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the base;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the base;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the base;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the floor sanding vacuum; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the floor sanding vacuum with a gasoline motor.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     The floor sanding vacuum  10  includes a motor  11  coupled to a positive displacement blower  13 . The motor  11  is preferably an electric motor with an integral electronic control pad  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . One skilled in the art will recognize other types of motors can be used with this invention. For instance, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a gasoline motor  17  can be used. The power of the gas engine may be of 12 HP and have a 12 V battery.  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show the electric motor  11  includes a first drive shaft  19  connected to a coupling  21 . The coupling  21  is connected to a second drive shaft  23  of a displacement blower  13 . With such an arrangement, the rotational force of the electric motor  13  is transferred to the positive displacement blower  13  allowing the blower to create a draw of air or a high vacuum. In an alternate embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the gasoline motor  17  includes a pulley  25  to which is connected a drive belt  27 . The drive belt  27  is connected to a second pulley  29  attached to the displacement blower  13 . One skilled in the art will recognize that other arrangements for transferring the power from the motor to the displacement blower  13  can be used. A gear box would be but one example.  
         [0019]     The positive displacement blower  13  is connected by suitable duct work  31  to a cyclone separator  33 . The cyclone separator includes a hopper  35  to collect the sanding debris. The duct work  31  may also include a vacuum relief valve  30 .  
         [0020]     The cyclone separator includes an input  37  to allow for connection to the sanding machine, not shown. The sanding machine, as one skilled in the art will recognize, generates sanding dust as it operates. The sanding machine will often have an output allowing a vacuum to be connected to the sanding machine in order to draw the sanding particles away from the sanding machine, so they are not distributed throughout the room. The connection between the input  37  and the sanding machine is preferably done with a flexible hose, as typically used in vacuum applications. The input  37  is generally suitable for a 2 inch hose, to connect to a sanding machine. When using more than one hose to connect a sanding machine to input  37 , hose connectors will generally be used, or any other suitable means of connecting currently known in the art and hereafter developed.  
         [0021]     In operation, sanding particulates are drawn through the input  37  into the cyclone separator  33 , where particulates fall out of the air and are collected in the integral hopper  35 . The air is then drawn through a replaceable filter element  39 . The replaceable filter element is preferably a HEPA filter, capable of removing 99.97% of particulates 0.3 microns or larger. The air is then drawn through the duct work  31  to the positive displacement blower  13 , where it is expelled out in output  41 . The air can also then be sent through an optional silencer  43 , to reduce the noise associated with the operation. The silencer  43  may also filter the exhaust output of the gasoline motor  17 . Both the integral hopper  35 , and the silencer  43 , may be part of the base  40 , to which the motor, displacement blower  13 , and the cyclone separator  33  are attached.  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  an embodiment of the base ( 40 ) and the silencer  43  being attached. A collector bag (not shown), generally made of plastic or any suitable material known in the art, may be connected, by any means known in the art, to the vacuum  10  to collect the dust and debris from the output  41 .  
         [0022]     The filter element  39  requires regular cleaning, preferably at least once per day when in use. To clean the filter element  39 , the housing  20 , shown in  FIG. 9 , is opened with knob  16 . Bolt  22  and filter retaining plate  12  are removed to allow access to filter element  39 . The filter element  39  is pulled straight out to remove from housing. To clean the filter element  39 , it is rapped to dislodge any loose dust and is reinserted into the housing. As recognized by those skilled in the art, a pressure gauge may be appropriately adapted to the present disclosure. If a pressure gauge reads 40″ W.C. or pressure drop is excessive, the vacuum should be shutdown and filter cleaned as described herein.  
         [0023]     In another embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the floor sander vacuum  10  has the gasoline motor  17  and includes a pulley  25 , which may also be a sheave, to which is connected a drive belt  27 , which may also be a V-belt. The pulley  25 , may have a first bushing  26 . The drive belt  27  is connected to a second pulley  29 , which may also have a second bushing  28 , attached to the positive displacement blower  13 . In addition,  FIG. 9  shows a tensioner  36  to allow for appropriate tension in drive belt  27 .  
         [0024]     The positive displacement blower  13  is connected by suitable duct work  31  and a hose  24 , secured by a clamp strap  32  to a cyclone separator  33 . The cyclone separator includes a hopper  35  to collect the sanding debris. The duct work  31  may also include a vacuum relief valve  30 .  
         [0025]     The cyclone separator includes an input  37 , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , there are two locations present for input, to allow for connection to the sanding machine, not shown. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , a knob  16 , having a coupling nut  18  and gasket  14  is located at the superior surface of the cyclone separator  3  and also at the superior surface of the hopper  35 .  
         [0026]     In operation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , the air expelled from the cyclone separator  33  is then drawn through the duct work  31 , pipe  44  and pipe elbow  42  to, where it is then expelled out of output  41  and optionally through the silencer  43 .  FIG. 9  also depicts a mounting bracket  38 , for attaching the motor  17 , displacement blower  13 , and the cyclone separator  33  to base  40 .  
         [0027]     As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the dimensional specifications of the present disclosure may vary to suit a variety of apparent embodiments. Generally, the vacuum in the present disclosure has a height of approximately 61 inches (155 cm), depth of approximately 28 inches (71 cm), height of approximately 62.5 inches (159 cm), weight of approximately 750 pounds (340 kg) and air volume of about 360 CFM MAX.  
         [0028]     Although preferred embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated and described in connection with particular features, it can be adapted for use with a wide variety of floor and sanding machines. Other embodiments and equivalent floor sanding vacuums are envisioned within the scope of the claims. Various features of the disclosure have been particularly shown and described in connection with illustrated embodiments. However, it must be understood that the particular embodiments merely illustrate and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the claims.

Technology Category: 7