Shop Vac Corporation

Alan D Kaufman

Robert C Berfield

Vincent Knauff

Dennis Lamberty

A vacuum cleaner for collecting liquid material is capable of continuously operating while periodically discharging liquid from an outlet. The vacuum cleaner includes a tank having first and second chambers and divided by an intermediate apertured wall and a vent located on the second chamber. A pressure responsive drain valve member is associated with a tank outlet. A pressure responsive control valve member associated with the aperture having a normally open position in which the liquid material is allowed to flow through and having a closed position to close off the aperture when a high liquid level is present in the second chamber. The vent reduces the partial vacuum level in the second chamber, thereby to discharge liquid material from the second chamber through the outlet. A reset assembly is provided for reestablishing the partial vacuum level in the tank second chamber.

Vacuum cleaner with continuous liquid pick-up

A vacuum cleaner capable of collecting wet or dry media includes a hose having an inlet end and an outlet end that is coupled to the vacuum cleaner. A motor is supported by a portion of the vacuum cleaner and applies a vacuum to the outlet end of the vacuum hose. A media inlet is positioned near the inlet end of the vacuum hose. An air intake for admitting air into the vacuum hose is provided near the media inlet. The air intake can be adapted to receive a detachable separate device in order to provide an air intake that is remotely positioned from the media inlet. Alternatively, the air intake can be provided on an attachment to or an integral part of the vacuum hose for providing the air intake at a remote distance from the media inlet. A distal end of the vacuum hose is immersed in a liquid to be collected so that the media inlet is immersed in the liquid and so that the air intake is exposed to a source of air. A vacuum is applied to the vacuum hose to collect the liquid through the media inlet while air is simultaneously drawn via the air intake into the vacuum hose and mixed with the collected liquid to increase the liquid lift height capability of the vacuum cleaner.

Nozzle and method providing increased liquid lift height for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner

A vacuum apparatus includes a holding tank for holding debris picked up by the vacuum apparatus, a lid cage for holding a filter between a vacuum inlet and a vacuum outlet of the vacuum device, a motor housing for housing a motor subassembly as a source of vacuum, attaching means for attaching one of the lid cage and the motor housing to the holding tank, and a detent cooperating with the motor housing and the lid cage for providing an indication to an assembler that the lid cage and the motor housing have been properly seated with respect to one another. A pilot is provided for guiding relative movement between the lid cage and the motor housing in order to facilitate the indication provided by the detent that the lid cage and the motor have been properly seated.

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South Williamsport, PA, United States of America

Alan D Kaufman