Liquid Aspirator Vacuum Attachment

This invention relates to a liquid aspirator which attaches to standard vacuum cleaner hoses preventing water damage to said vacuum cleaner motor.

Liquid may be extracted from carpets and floors by many apparatuses which may be connected to standard vacuum hoses or are self-contained larger units. All of the apparatuses used are designed for large amounts of liquid and are constructed so that liquid aspirated is discharged into large reservoirs. The large reservoirs thus make it necessary to concentrate filters and baffles inside of reservoir or in front of shut-off valves.

These devices entail many major inconveniences in that besides all being large and awkward to use, if the devices are accidently tipped over or laid on the floor while electric motor of vacuum is still running, liquid may be drawn passed the cut off valves and into the electric motors. If detergents are also picked up with liquid, suds created inside the reservoir do not allow the floats, designed to stop air flow, to activate, thus danger of electric shock may occur. When these devices are laid on floor or tipped over while suction of cleaner is terminated, liquid may also run back out of nozzles onto floor creating an inconvenience.

I have discovered methods in which these inconveniences may be overcome and allows a small, compact, lightweight unit which attaches conveniently to any vacuum hose.

I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by constructing the device much smaller than any other and allowing said device to pick up smaller quantities at any one time. The liquid aspirated is discharged to the rear of the device where a cartridge containing a filter as well as a retainer plate slows down the air speed being the major cause of liquids splashing inside the main reservoir. The liquid once drawn through the filter and retaining plate enters a chamber which stabilizes the liquid and discharges said liquid slowly and steadily into front reservoir thus eliminating splash. When said liquid enters into front reservoir to a predetermined level, floats are activated to cut off air flow. To eliminate any possibility of liquids being drawn past the cut-off valves when unit is laid down or tipped upside down while motor of vacuum is still operating, the tube protruding through the rear body part, filter, retaining plate and cartridge wall, extends into the front reservoir far enough that the maximum capacity of liquid allowed to the reservoir cannot flow over the valve seal at any angle.

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of invention,

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the complete unit assembled,

FIG. 2 is a three dimensional view of device assembled showing external front and rear body parts,

FIG. 3 is a three dimensional view of the rear body part,

FIG. 4 is a three dimensional view of the filter,

FIG. 5 is a three dimensional view of the retainer plate,

FIG. 6 is a three dimensional view partly in section of the filter cartridge,

FIG. 7 is a three dimensional view of the valve seal and cage containing two ball floats,

FIG. 8 is a three dimensional view partly in section of the front body part .

In the attached drawings the liquid aspirator consists of a rear body part 1 from which a protruding end piece 2 fastens to a conventional vacuum cleaner hose (not shown) and acts as a handle. A cartridge 3 (shown in embodiment FIG. 6), contains inside of said cartridge a retainer plate 4 (shown in embodiment FIG. 5), a filter made of pourous material 5 (shown in embodiment FIG. 4). The cartridge 3 is secured into rear body part 1 by threaded extension 6 which also comprises rubber cut-off seal 7 as well as float cage 8 all molded into one unit (shown in embodiment FIG. 7). The said threaded extension 6 is fastened to end of main airflow tube 9 after cartridge is inserted into rear body part 1. The front body part 10 which consists of water reservoir 11 front nozzle 12 and liquid traverse tube 13 all molded into one unit (see FIG. 8) fastens to rear body part 1 by sliding onto front extension lip 14 of cartridge 3. A rubber seal 15 moulded directly to cartridge 3 creates water tight seal between rear body part 1 and front body part 10. During assembly the extension pipe 16 of liquid traverse tube 13 which is connected directly to front body part 10, slides through opening 17 on cartridge 3 opening 18 on retainer plate 4 and opening 19 in filter 5. The extension pipe 16 does not touch the back wall 20 of rear body part 1. Retainer plate 4 is held apart from inside wall 21 of cartridge 3 by small spacers 22 molded into inner walls 23 of inside lip 24 of cartridge 3 thus creating air compartment 25. During operation a vacuum is created by a conventional vacuum cleaner. Said vacuum cleaners hose connecting to extension tube 2. A vacuum is then created in liquid reservoir 11. Air is then drawn through opening 26 on filter cartridge 3 creating vacuum in air chamber 25. Air is then drawn through openings 27 in retainer plate 4 and proceeds to draw air through filter 5 creating vacuum in rear air compartment 28 of rear body unit 1 drawing air and liquid through traverse tube 13 from end nozzle 12 of front body part 10. Liquid enters air chamber 28 at high speed and is slowed down by filter 5. Liquid is then discharged through openings 27 evenly across area of retainer plate 4 and at a slow speed into air chamber 25 which in turn stabilizes any splash and funnels water at a slow speed through opening 26 of cartridge 3 into reservoir 11. Retainer plate 4 also serves the purpose of holding filter 5 back from being drawn into opening 21 of cartridge 3. As the liquid in reservoir 11 fills up, the ball float 29 pushes ball float 30 toward rubber seal 7 ball float 29 serves the purpose of providing sufficient distance between water level and rubber seal 7 so as no droplets of liquid are drawn through opening 31 from air speed or air turbulence. When liquid reaches a predetermined point ball float 30 seals up opening 31 by sealing space between ball float 30 and rubber seal 7. Ball float 30 and 29 are guided into position by float cage 8. The volume of compartment 11 is such that the maximum volume of liquid which can be aspirated when the device is in a vertical position is less than the volume of liquid required to rise above the rubber seal 7 and enter opening 31 when the device is in a horizontal or inverted position. The volume of liquid flows around an axis point being at the mouth of opening 31. The traverse tube 13 also serves the purpose in that when the device is put on the ground upside down or at any angle and suction is terminated by switching of the vacuum, liquid may not escape back out the nozzle 12 because of angle 32 which demands the liquid to stay in compartment 28 by gravity. Should the device be laid on its side or any other angle the opening 33 of traverse pipe 13 is in such a position that liquid cannot enter.