Method and apparatus of driving multiple shafts in a wet/dry vacuum and liquid pump

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1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to wet and dry vacuums. More specifically, the invention relates to wet and dry vacuums capable of pumping liquids.

2. Description of Related Art

Well known wet and dry vacuum cleaners can vacuum wet or dry materials into a container. Typically, a suction system with a motor creates a vacuum of pressure less than ambient pressure and is mounted in a lid that is removably attached to a collection drum for receiving the vacuumed materials. A portion of the lid extends downward into the drum and mounts a filter support assembly, such as commonly known as a “cage,” that covers a vacuum intake to the suction assembly in the lid. The suction system in the lid suctions external air or water through a hose into an opening in the drum, so that water or dirt is deposited into a lower volume of the drum. Remaining material, mainly air, then flows upward and inward through the filter surrounding the cage, continues through the cage into a suction impeller in the lid, and then is exhausted from the vacuum cleaner.

Periodically, the drum is emptied of waste. For larger drum capacities, the heavy weight of deposited material therein has caused the creation of alternatives to lifting the container and dumping the waste into a waste container. Some vacuum cleaners include an outlet on the lower portion of the drum with a cap that can be removed and at least a portion of the waste allowed to drain. However, many locations, such as in a basement, do not facilitate easy draining. In other circumstances, pumps can be used. Recently, one manufacturer has introduced a compact pump accessory that can be threadably attached to the external surfaces of the drum outlet and pump the liquids to a remote location using a hose. In that design, the pump accessory includes a motor separate from the vacuum motor with an electrical connection that requires another outlet, such as a wall electrical outlet or one built into the vacuum itself. Further, the design operates on the principle of a “flooded suction,” in that the suction to the pump is normally below the liquid level and thus will operate without independent priming of the pump each time to start the pumping process.

Another manufacturer has installed a fluid suction inlet inside the lower portion of the drum with a hose attached between the inlet and the vacuum impeller to pull fluid up through the vacuum inlet. The vacuum impeller centrifugally causes the liquid portion of the vacuumed material to flow through a diverter valve and out the unit at a separate exit port from the typical vacuum outlet and so does not constitute a distinct pump separate from the vacuum unit. It also necessitates the vacuum material with the liquid to flow into the drum first and then to enter the vacuum impeller cavity, relying on prefiltration to remove impurities that could clog, impair, or damage the impeller. The arrangement makes the disassembly and maintenance of the vacuum somewhat more complicated and the flow paths are problematic.

Mounting the pump above the water line such as in the lid at the top of the vacuum cleaner with the vacuum motor can also be problematic. The pump, generally a centrifugal pump, often needs priming. Without the priming, the pump impeller can spin but no to very little pumping action generally occurs.

Thus, there remains a need for an improved pumping system for a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.

The present disclosure provides a method and system to supply pumping capabilities to a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. A single motor can operate a vacuum unit and the pump distinct from the vacuum unit. A port in the vacuum flow path can act as a vacuum tap to prime the pump when necessary. The pump can be arranged so it pumps fluids out of the drum or can directly pump the fluids without having to flow first into the drum container of the vacuum cleaner. The system can allow independent operation of the vacuum unit and the pump, and allow different, more efficient speeds for each, which allows a higher overall performance, since maximum power for the system can be provided to either operating device while the other one is not operating. Accordingly, the disclosure further provides a system and method for separately engaging and disengaging the vacuum unit and the pump. In at least one embodiment, the various engagements of the pulleys with their respective belts and shafts can be controlled by clutches and other known drive systems to selectively operate in the different modes described herein.

The disclosure provides a wet and dry vacuum system, comprising: a vacuum unit; a pump coupled to the vacuum unit mounted above a fluid inlet; and at least one motor adapted to drive the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof.

The disclosure also provides a method of operating a wet and dry vacuum system having a vacuum unit and a pump distinct from the vacuum unit, comprising: operating the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof.

The disclosure further provides a wet and dry vacuum system, comprising: a vacuum unit; a pump coupled to the vacuum unit and mounted above a fluid inlet; at least one motor adapted to drive the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof; and a means for controlling a coupling and decoupling of the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof with the motor.