Jet Pump Suction-devices Patents (Class 15/409)
  • Patent number: 5989360
    Abstract: A portable, self-contained vacuum device designed for hand-held use to create a moderate vacuum effect for various applications. A small diameter tube (10) is firmly attached (14) to the nozzle or spray tip of an aerosol canister and inserted at a point (16) through the wall of, and directed in one direction along the interior length of a larger diameter tube (12). The tubes may be fixed to the exterior of the aerosol canister, may be detachable for storage, or may be manufactured into the interior of the aerosol canister. When propellant gas from the aerosol canister is released and injected out of the outflow end (20) of the smaller diameter tube toward one end of the larger diameter tube, the resulting aspiration of ambient gasses creates a vacuum effect at the opposite end, or intake end (18), of said larger diameter tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas I. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 5944911
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sweeping seating areas is provided which enables the operator to stand substantially upright while directing a stream of air substantially horizontally along the floor supporting the seats. The apparatus includes a handle adapted for connection to a source of compressed air, a substantially elongated wand connected to the handle, and a nozzle which directs a stream of air along the floor substantially perpendicular to the wand. The nozzle is configured to intake additional air besides the compressed air supplied through the handle to provide increased air volume at pressures reduced from that supplied by the compressed air source. The method includes positioning the apparatus behind seats, particularly in stair-stepped stadium seating areas to provide a substantially horizontal air flow reaching into corners between the riser wall and landing of the seating area and around the bottoms of the seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Winters Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Winters, Thomas P. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5940926
    Abstract: An evacuation apparatus for evacuating waste particles from a plurality of waste sources. A plurality of vacuum lines are in fluid communication with a collector for transporting the waste particles from the waste source to the collector. An ejector is disposed in each of the vacuum lines to provide independent adjustable control of the vacuum level at each inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard Inzinna, Mark G. Merritt
  • Patent number: 5924166
    Abstract: The cleaning gun of this invention is equipped for connection to a source of compressed air under 80 psi, and with a directional dial that is mutually adjustable to cause a vacuum to draw in ambient air through an inlet/outlet tube as for removing oily dust and lint from machinery, and to cause air to be blown through the inlet/outlet tube under a maximum of 30 psi as for removing dry dust and lint from machinery and clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventors: Christopher R. Jones, Darrell K. Terpstra
  • Patent number: 5884360
    Abstract: With one or several pressure streams projected at an acute angle (.alpha.) in relation to the surface to be processed, shearing forces can be reached that are high enough to move solid particles and/or fluid media and thus make it easier to suck them away. The recognition of this fact is used in a delivery/suction nozzle arrangement together with the per se known Coanda effect. The invention may be used with all fluid media, preferably for cleaning practicable and passage surfaces; also for drying and/or degassing surfaces, as well as for industrial processes, in particular substance separation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Festo KG
    Inventor: Sandor Palffy
  • Patent number: 5867865
    Abstract: A device for extraction of vacuum-cleaned material comprising a propellant ozzle (1) operated by propellant gas that has on a suction side a vacuum tube (4) with vacuum tool (20) on the end for extraction of vacuum cleaned material and on a discharge side is connected to an extraction pipe (9) leading to a suction and filtering system, wherein means (5,6) to automatically trigger a function switching on said propellant nozzle (1) when said vacuum tool (20) is removed from its rest position and that automatically trigger a function switching off said propellant nozzle (1) when said vacuum tool (20) is inserted in its res position into a mounting (7) into which a plunger (6) of a valve (5) controlling the propellant gas slidably projects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: T.E.T.-Umwelttechnik Gesellschaft fur Lufttechnische Verfahren mbH
    Inventors: Herbert J. Obermuller, Ulrich H. Kethers
  • Patent number: 5864919
    Abstract: A lawn maintenance apparatus for the collection of leaves, lawn debris or particulate matter, the apparatus comprised of a fixed tubular duct member having an ingress opening and an egress opening, an annular collar proximate to the ingress opening and in communication with air blower means for the introduction of pressurized air flow into the fixed tubular duct member in the direction of the egress opening, a perforated collection bag securable to the egress opening of the fixed tubular duct member and a telescoping tubular duct member retractably secured to the egress opening and extendable into the collection bag to insure the complete filling of the collection bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Horacio D. Pineda
  • Patent number: 5836044
    Abstract: A surface cleaner and collector system includes: a chamber having an opening for receiving a surface to be cleaned; at least one pressurized air delivery system proximate the surface for establishing an air flow for loosening and entraining contaminants on the surface; a sealing system for sealing the chamber and creating a positive pressure therein; and a collector for trapping the entrained contaminants and passing the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Chapman Corporation
    Inventors: Chandler G. Sinnett, Marshall Edward Hall
  • Patent number: 5802653
    Abstract: A device for automatically cleaning the bottom and walls of a swimming-pool includes a suction/discharge body (11) having an orifice or suction opening (12) and a discharge orifice (13), an ejector comprising a driving nozzle (14) and a venturi diffuser (15) and a moveable device (17) for collecting debris. The ejector is disposed inside the body (11) and the nozzle (14) is able to be connected to a discharge opening (5) of the swimming-pool via a conduit with one portion being formed by an accordion wall flexible pipe (10). The device further comprises a propulsion device which creates between the discharge opening (5) and the nozzle (14) a transient and repeated escapement of the pressurized water of the conduit externally so as to create a movement of the device by repeated elastic expansion/constriction of the flexible pipe (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Max Roumagnac
  • Patent number: 5768743
    Abstract: A clean fan debris collecting apparatus is disclosed in which the suction of debris is performed by an entrained stream of air (34). The apparatus comprises a motor (24) which drives an impeller (20) which generates at air steam which is directed down an air supply duct (6). The air stream is then directed into a collecting duct (4) through an air inlet (8) which is located adjacent to a collecting mouth (5) of the collecting duct. The air stream, upon entering the collecting duct (4) generates the entrained stream of air (34) which sucks debris into the collecting mouth (5) and transports it up the collecting duct (4) to a collecting bag (30). An air stream dispersing apparatus (26) is located adjacent to the air inlet (8) to disperse the air stream as it enters to collecting duct (4). This dispersion improves the efficiency with which the entrained stream of air can be generated. Alternatively the air inlet (8) can be formed to include the static air dispersing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Webster
  • Patent number: 5727283
    Abstract: A collection apparatus includes an air outlet, a collection mouth and an apparatus for creating an airstream for discharge at the air outlet. The collection apparatus further includes a cylinder mounted at the air outlet for rotation and a device for directing an airstream tangentially across the surface of said cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Duncan Webster
  • Patent number: 5701632
    Abstract: A debris blowing apparatus with a motor, a fan driven by the motor, an inlet to the fan and an air outlet from the fan. A portion of the air which is emitted through the outlet is recycled through a metering aperture into the air inlet to maintain a constant load on fan whilst varying the air output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Webster, John Sadler
  • Patent number: 5697116
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a device for cleaning and accelerating objects which are globular. In particular the invention relates to a device for cleaning golf balls with a high throughput of balls. Devices of this kind are mainly used on golf courses for practice operations as for that purpose, on the one hand, a great number of golf balls is used and, on the other hand, the balls get dirty when they touch the soil or have contact with very short grass residues, which result from the cutting of the greens. Especially the dirt sticking between the dimples of the golf balls, which might dry and become hard, leads to an extremely negative influence on the flight properties of the golf balls. In order to guarantee smooth and economic practice operations, a device of this kind must ensure a high degree of cleaning power as well as a high throughput of balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Georg Loferer
  • Patent number: 5673457
    Abstract: A debris blower and/or vacuum device is disclosed which comprises a motor unit which drives an impeller. When the device is to be used as a blower, a volute arrangement adopted for blowing in which the impeller is locatable is releasably attached to the motor unit. The blower volute includes an air inlet and an air outlet duct for expelling a stream of air created by the impeller. When the device is to be used as a vacuum, a volute arrangement adapted for vacuuming in which the impeller is locatable is releasably attached to the motor unit. The vacuum volute includes a suction duct for transporting debris to the impeller in an airstream created by the impeller and an air expelling duct for transporting debris away from the impeller in the stream of air to a collecting location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Webster, John Sadler
  • Patent number: 5642766
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for removing sawdust from the kerf of a workpiece. The system includes a nozzle for directing fluid at a predetermined pressure in the kerf of a workpiece, a pressure source for providing fluid at a predetermined pressure to the nozzle, a vacuum source for suctioning sawdust from the kerf of the workpiece, a support member for removably supporting the nozzle adjacent a saw blade of a multiple head band saw, and means for adjusting the position of the nozzle relative to the workpiece and the saw blade. The nozzle includes first and second ends. The first end is adapted to be positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane as the saw blade. The first end is further suitably sized and shaped to direct air at a predetermined pressure into the kerf of a workpiece. Preferably, the vacuum source is operated at the same time the nozzle directs air under pressure into the kerf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: John Rock & Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. MacCauley, III
  • Patent number: 5624239
    Abstract: A portable pneumatic vacuum source includes a source of pressurized fluid and a vacuum pump in fluid connection with the pressurized fluid source, the vacuum pump operative to generate a vacuum in response to pressurized fluid flow therethrough. A nozzle is included in vacuum connection with the vacuum pump. A pressure regulator and filter combination is interposed between and in fluid connection with the pressurized fluid source and vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of the pressurized fluid entering the vacuum pump and for filtering particulates and liquids from the pressurized fluid. A relief valve is also interposed between and in fluid connection with the pressurized fluid source and vacuum pump for limiting pressure of the pressurized fluid. Finally, a check valve is positioned intermediate and in fluid connection with the vacuum pump and nozzle for preventing loss of vacuum upon cessation of pressurized fluid flow through the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Thomas W. Osika
  • Patent number: 5621945
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for collecting debris including grass cuttings, vegetation, fallen leaves and other rubbish frequently encountered on gardens, public highways and parklands. In particular, the apparatus for collecting debris from a surface includes a collection duct having a mouth for receiving debris and an outlet through which debris is discharged into a receptacle, an impeller for establishing a flow of pressure air along the duct for collecting and conveying entrained debris therealong from the mouth to the outlet of the collection duct to the receptacle, and a cutting chamber including a cutting blade or cutting line disposed within the cutting chamber for reducing the size of at least a portion of the collected debris to be discharged into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Electrolux Outdoor Products Limited
    Inventor: Paul E. Howells
  • Patent number: 5606768
    Abstract: A van-mounted or mountable cleaning system as disclosed includes a water heater having a burner therein to heat the water and a flue outlet to release combustion gases therefrom. A motor driven vacuum blower has an air input port and an output port for blower exhaust, both the water heater and the vacuum blower being mounted or mountable in an interior portion of the van body. A flue gas duct is connected to said flue outlet and extends downwardly toward lower extremities of the van body and then, in use, leads outwardly of the van body. An exhaust conduit enters into said flue gas duct in such manner as to create a Venturi effect therewith tending to draw combustion gases away from said burner along said downwardly extending flue gas duct and thence outwardly of a lower portion of the van body in which the system is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Esteam Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Lorne Sundberg
  • Patent number: 5577294
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a moving web of sheet material. The apparatus includes a Coanda nozzle having an elongated, curved foil and a slit for directing gas at a high rate of speed along the foil. The gas from the foil impacts a layer of air entrained by the web of sheet material flowing in an opposed direction. Impact occurs within a gap formed between the foil and the web which becomes increasingly restricted in the direction of movement of the web. The entrained layer of air is caused to reverse direction within the gap and is mixed with the gas from the nozzle under turbulent conditions to clean the web and remove particulate material such as dust therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: James River Paper Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney E. Pollock
  • Patent number: 5522115
    Abstract: A blower vacuum unit for selective operation in a blower mode and in a suction mode, comprises: a housing having means forming an air inlet and means forming an air outlet; a motor carried within the housing, an impeller rotatably driven by the motor and positioned for drawing air into the housing through the air inlet and discharging the air from the housing through the air outlet; a debris collection conduit one end of which conduit is an operating end and the other end of which conduit is adapted for attachment to a debris collection container and means for generating an entrained air flow, using the air discharged through the air outlet, at the operating end of the debris collection conduit into the debris conduit. The housing and the debris collection conduit comprise separate components and the conduit is adapted to be releasably mounted on the housing so that the operating end of the conduit is located for co-operation with the air outlet of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Craig D. Webster
  • Patent number: 5511281
    Abstract: A debris collecting apparatus (2) includes a debris conduit (4), one end of which debris conduit is an operating end (8) and the other end of which debris conduit (4) is adapted for attachment to a debris collecting container (30); the apparatus further generates an entrained air flow at the operating end (8) of the debris conduit (4) into the debris conduit (4) and comminutes the debris. Also, the entrained air flow is generated external to the debris conduit (4), but the comminution of the debris occurs within the debris conduit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Craig D. Webster
  • Patent number: 5490300
    Abstract: An air amplifier utilizing the coanda effect is disposed adjacent to a web of material to be cleaned. A relatively small volume of compressed air is driven from a slot onto a curved wall surface. The "coanda effect" causes that compressed air to adhere to the wall, and causes a suction creating a relatively high-volume air flow upstream from the slot to be drawn along with the small volume of air adhering to the wall. The high-volume amplified flow of air is drawn along the surface of a web of material to be cleaned to entrain impurities from the web of material to be cleaned. A vacuum source is mounted adjacent to the end of the wall such that impurities are drawn into the vacuum source and removed from the area. In addition, ionized particles are directed into the relatively high-volume air flow to increase the cleaning efficiency of the system. The present invention provides a high efficiency web cleaning system that need not be mounted as close to the web as prior systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Inventor: Paul E. Horn
  • Patent number: 5477585
    Abstract: A suction and blowing device exhibits three air conduits connected to a source of pressurized air and partially terminating in a common transport conduit and has a selectable control body located between the air conduit entrance openings and the pressurized air source for regulating the entrance of the pressurized air into the air conduits. The device allows for the selective direction of pressurized air to one or more of the three air conduits to perform completely different functions such as: suction with an injector nozzle, vacuum cleaning using an injector nozzle and an additional cleaning pressure jet, blowing using a nozzle with large dynamic pressure and air velocity, and blowing using an injector nozzle and high air through-put.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Electrostar Schottle GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hentzschel, Norbert Buchele, Hans-Peter Dohse
  • Patent number: 5454139
    Abstract: A portable vacuum generation device uses a conventional gas stream source such as is commonly available on vehicles. A specially constructed annular venturi-type nozzle pipe is capable of generating substantial vacuum from the gas stream. A removable connector for connecting the vacuum generator to the gas stream source is provided. A vacuum pipe, formed as a portion of the vacuum generator, connects to a flexible hose and conventional vacuum cleaning tools. The vacuum generator requires no moving parts and will operate in the presence of any moving gas stream. In one embodiment, the gas stream is provided by an on-board pneumatic blower. In another embodiment, the gas stream is provided by the exhaust gas stream from a vehicle internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventor: Ronald K. Beck
  • Patent number: 5450649
    Abstract: A collection device having a duct for transporting material entrained in a stream of pressurized primary air from a collection mouth at an upstream end of the duct to a downstream region of the duct for collection. The device provides at least one primary air inlet opening into the duct for delivering pressurized air to form a primary air stream directed generally downstream of the duct and at least one secondary air outlet for delivering pressurized air to form a secondary air stream directed onto an area of the surface confronting the collection mouth. The secondary air stream serves to dislodge material on the confronting area for entrainment in the primary air stream and transportation from the collection mouth to the downstream region of the duct for collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Electrolux Outdoor Products Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Turnbull
  • Patent number: 5317780
    Abstract: An oil well drill pipe thread cleaning system uses mechanical brushes to clean the drill pipe, and a closed loop cleaning fluid system for continuously washing the drill pipe and the cleaning threads with solvent, an eductor is used to continuously suction dirty cleaning fluid from the drill pipe, and a source of compressed air powers the eductor, and the mechanical cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Inventor: J. Paul Hobgood
  • Patent number: 5280667
    Abstract: The present specification discloses a collection device comprising an elongate duct for conveying loose material towards a downstream region thereof from a collection mouth at an upstream end thereof. at least one air outlet is disposed adjacent the collection mouth and arranged to in use direct an air flow transversely to the longitudinal axis of the duct over a curved, generally convex flow control surface of the collection mouth such that at least a portion of said air flow follows said curved surface and is directed downstream within said duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: John E. Coathupe
  • Patent number: 5255412
    Abstract: An air pressure powered vacuum has a housing with a continuous channel through it. Positive pressure air is introduced into and accelerates in an annular shaped plenum in the housing. The high velocity air is diffused from the plenum into the channel towards a debris collection bag. The diffuser is shaped so that the air diffuses at an angle with respect to the surface of the channel and such that laminar air flow occurs adjacent said channel wall downstream. This creates strong suction at the channel inlet and debris is carried to the collection bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Inventors: Sujith N. V. Mally, David W. Sharpe, Jeffrey L. Colehour
  • Patent number: 5238585
    Abstract: A debris cleaning accessory for a spa tub having high pressure water jets directed into the tub includes an adapter selectively attachable to one of the spa jets to supply water into a conduit. A nozzle disposed in the conduit has an inlet communicating with the adapter and an outlet which opens into a passageway between the adapter and the outlet of the conduit. Another passageway communicates with the conduit at the location of the nozzle outlet. A hose has an outlet which communicates with the second passageway and an inlet which may be placed in the water within the spa tub. A mesh filter bag is attached to the outlet of the conduit and collects debris received from the hose while filtered water passes through the bag back into the spa tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Inventor: Douglas D. Reed, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5167046
    Abstract: An induction vacuum includes a cylindrical body having an inlet plate, an outlet plate, and a vacuum connector; a nozzle detachably mountable to the inlet plate, a mixing tube detachably mountable to the outlet plate and an exhaust bell detachably mountable to the mixing tube. An induction vacuum kit includes a body, a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of mixing tubes, and at least one exhaust bell. The nozzles and mixing tubes may include identifying indicia and the kit may include instructions recommending nozzle and mixing tube combinations for achieving different vacuum properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Inventor: Ronald C. Benson
  • Patent number: 5142730
    Abstract: An apparatus for sucking up liquid spills of relatively small volumes is provided, comprising a container to which vacuum can be applied pneumatically, and a pick-up hose and wand. The apparatus is totally free from electrically operated components, so as to eliminate risk of fire-causing sparks during operation, and is light-weight, portable and small in size, so as to be disposed in handy positions adjacent to factory locations where spillage may occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Inventors: Jorma G. Braks, Maxime A. Corso
  • Patent number: 5125126
    Abstract: A high pressure cleaner comprises a cleaning device (10) and an effluent recovery device (12). The cleaning device (10) is mainly constituted by a cleaning head (20) having a central chamber (44) into which a nozzle (26) sprays a high pressure cleaning liquid, the effluents being recovered in a peripheral chamber (46) connected to a decanter (54) of the recovery device (12). The actual decanter (54) is connected to an exhauster (72) across a liquid-gas separator (60) and filters (70). The liquid phase of the effluents is periodically recovered by a tube (80) immersed in the decanter (54) and connected to a hydroejector (82). The solid phase of the effluents is held back by a filter (92) surrounding the tube (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: COGEMA - Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventor: Jean Bonnant
  • Patent number: 5117531
    Abstract: A suction or blowing apparatus and/or pneumatic conveying apparatus for different types of dust and bulk material. The apparatus includes two tubes arranged one within the other, wherein propellant air is admitted to the inner tube. To increase the suction effect, the outer tube is also connected to a propellant air-generating device. The tubes are arranged concentrically within each other and form an annular injection nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Electrostar Schottle GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hentzschel
  • Patent number: 5073258
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for skimming contaminants from a reservoir of a liquid such as an industrial solvent, including a tubular wand having an end inlet extending into the reservoir, a pressure air line extending along the wand, the air line protruding a side wall of the wand and terminating at a nozzle proximate the inlet, the nozzle being directed into the wand, away from the inlet for producing a vacuum. The wand is adjustably mounted to a base that attaches to the reservoir, and is connected to a vented container for collecting the contaminants that are drawn into the wand. Contaminants can be removed from the surface of the liquid, from proximate the bottom of the reservoir, or from a submerged layer concentrated at an intermediate depth within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Inventors: George E. Boullain, II, Edward C. Allen
  • Patent number: 4915245
    Abstract: A miniaturized vacuum generator is powered by pressurized air, such as is commonly available in shop air lines. The generator includes a transducer coupled to the pressurized air line and utilizing the venturi principle to develope a vacuum at a vacuum port to which a vacuum hose may be coupled. This may be used in cleaning circuit boards and small electronic assemblies to pick off bits of solder, filings and other debris and contaiminants which more conventional vacuum cleaners do not effectively remove. The apparatus includes an in-line filter for collecting such debris and contaiminants and preventing them from being blown about by the exhaust. The apparatus may also be used as a pickup device for microchips and other miniature complements on an electronic assembly at a production line. Other uses of the device may be in the jewelry repair field where the debris to be picked up often contains dust and filings of precious metal and, occasionally, lost gemstones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corp., Pomona Div.
    Inventors: Alfred Wouters, Suzan D. Weber, Michael J. Maciocia
  • Patent number: 4817230
    Abstract: A dust collector having a selector valve which enables a cleaning pipe to be connected with either a suction circuit communicating with a dust collecting portion, or a discharge circuit communicating with the discharge opening of a fan. By carrying out the shifting operation of said selector valve, the dust collector can be changed to suck and collect dust, or to blow and gather dust without rearranging the cleaning pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Komatsu Zenoah Co.
    Inventor: Katsumi Kiyooka
  • Patent number: 4809381
    Abstract: An underwater pylon cleaning apparatus is disclosed in which a rigid suction conduit mounted on an oceangoing vessel includes an eductor therein for providing a suction or lower pressure at the conduit inlet when water under pressure is supplied by a pump to the inlet of the eductor. A flexible hose connects an intake nozzle having an opening adapted to conform to the lateral surface of a cylindrical pylon to the inlet of the suction conduit. A discharge hose is connected to the outlet of the suction conduit by a flexible hose so that a diver may position the intake nozzle against the marine growth attached to the pylon whereby the growth will be removed from the pylon, transported through the hose and suction conduit and expelled through the outlet hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Inventors: Alan K. Brandenburger, John R. Widly
  • Patent number: 4799863
    Abstract: A vacuum device comprising a by-pass fan pump, a conduit connecting the inlet of the pump to a member in which pressure is to be reduced and a flow passage formation enabling a stream of air to enter the pump and to by-pass the member. In a preferred embodiment the inlet to the by-pass fan pump is connected to the outlet of a Venturi pump and the member is connected to the exhaust inlet of the Venturi pump. The device is directed particularly to the replacement of air by preserving gases in the packaging of foodstuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: FGL Projects Limited
    Inventor: Raymond Gannon
  • Patent number: 4768532
    Abstract: A low profile carriage is mounted on widely spread wheels to roll along the underwater surfaces of a swimming pool. The carriage is propelled by a high velocity stream of water projecting from a rearwardly directed thrust nozzle. There is a venturi restriction just forward of the thrust nozzle, creating a low pressure zone that induces flow of water through the bottom of the carriage, drawing in leaves and other debris. The water so drawn in passes through a screen, trapping the debris in a removable pod or bin depending from the carriage. The top of the carriage is relatively flat and the depending debris pod is curved downward to form an inverted air foil, whereby the pressure differential between the top and bottom of the carriage biases the carriage against the swimming pool surface traversed thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Jandy Industries
    Inventor: Bruce R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4745655
    Abstract: An air-powered vacuum-producing apparatus or vacuum tool is disclosed which may be utilized in combination with a discharge collection assembly to pick up and collect debris, dust and liquids. The apparatus may be powered by any suitable, relatively high pressure gaseous medium such as compressed air. The apparatus includes a body having an elongated central chamber and a high pressure inlet, a suction inlet and a discharge outlet in communication with the chamber. The high pressure inlet is located downstream of the suction inlet and injects pressurized gaseous fluid into the chamber so as to more efficiently create a reduced pressure area or vacuum adjacent to the suction inlet. The body may be provided with first and second interconnected body portions respectively having first and second interconnected chamber portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Inventor: Emil R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4736489
    Abstract: A jet pump vacuum device for picking up debris includes an elongated tubular vacuum member having an input end and an output end and a high pressure air tube for discharging a jet of high pressure air into said elongated vacuum member at a point therein between said input and output ends, whereby said high pressure air discharged flows to said output end and draws ambient air into said input end, the flow of said ambient air into said input end being sufficient to carry said debris into said input end, through said vacuum member and out said output end is adapted with means for varying the position of said point of discharge of high pressure air within said elongated vacuum member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Inventor: James Egan
  • Patent number: 4712740
    Abstract: A venturi spray nozzle having a cleaning fluid manifold with a plurality of fingers extending into a plurality of venturi nozzle channels of an air manifold such that the air manifold educes cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid manifold and projects it on a surface to be cleaned. The cleaning fluid manifold is centrally positioned in the air manifold and a pressurized source of cleaning fluid is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: The Regina Co., Inc.
    Inventors: L. Scot Duncan, Hugh F. Groth, John M. Collins
  • Patent number: 4651381
    Abstract: For the removal of dust, various types of jets are used, mostly as attachments to household and industrial suction tools.In order to achieve a contactless and, therefore, protective cleaning, the attachable blow and suction jet according to this invention is configurated in such a way that a turbine wheel (7) positioned in a suction pipe (1) is driven by means of a suction tool and then moves a second turbine wheel (8) in a pressure pipe (5) via a shaft (9) thus generating compressed air. The compressed air is conducted to a blow pipe (31) via connecting pipes (24). With the use of an additional cap (26) the exhaust air can whirl with the intake air in some distance from the mouth of blow pipe (31) and be carried off between the connecting pipes (24) via the suction pipe (1) into the suction tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: Karlheinz Meidel
  • Patent number: 4615069
    Abstract: A debris collecting apparatus includes a debris conduit (2) one end of which is an operating end (4) and the other end of which is a collecting end with a collecting bag (6) attached thereto. An impeller (8) discharges air into a straight part of the conduit. A switch arrangement is provided to switch the air flow between first "vacuum" flow in which air discharged from the impeller induces an air flow in the debris conduit (2) from the operating end (4) to the collecting end and a second "blowing" flow in which air is discharged from the impeller through the operating end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Henning
  • Patent number: 4586386
    Abstract: A pneumatic powder collector for determining the transfer efficiency of a powder spray system comprises a funnel for directing powder into a sealed collection chamber. A vacuum is drawn on this chamber by an air flow amplifier having an air flow inlet open to the chamber and an exhaust open to atmosphere. Contained within the chamber there is an air permeable powder collection bag having an inlet open to the funnel so that air entrained powder drawn into the funnel is collected in the bag. The amount of vacuum drawn on the chamber is controlled by a pressure regulator through which high pressure air is supplied to the air flow amplifier so that the vacuum is just sufficient to pull all powder sprayed by a spray gun of the spray system into the chamber without increasing the flow of powder from the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Hollstein, Robert A. Herrig, Terrence M. Fulkerson, John Sharpless
  • Patent number: 4562612
    Abstract: A fluid-driven transducer vacuum tool is disclosed in the preferred embodiment. Pressurized liquid or compressed gas passes through a nozzle tip which is enclosed in a casting. Because the cavities leading to the nozzle tip are of increasingly smaller diameter, a drop in pressure is achieved by the increased velocity of the fluid. Thus, as the fluid leaves the nozzle tip, a vacuum is created which allows substances such as sand or other abrasives, rocks, or slurry to be pulled into the tool through the vacuum inlet. The vacuumed substances pass directly through the apparatus without harming it because the venturi casting of the tool contains a replaceable liner which prevents wear to the tool itself. Because the material can be pulled directly through the tool in this manner, an efficient, portable, and durable tool is provided. As the vacuumed substances are discharged from the apparatus, they can be expelled some distance away from the worksite or transferred to a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Inventors: Raymond F. Williams, William H. Smith
  • Patent number: 4492001
    Abstract: A method and a device to clean up oil spills or similar substances. Sorbent material for oil or similar products is blown out by means of an air current on to the oil via a spreading duct through a spreading opening. The sorbent material is brought to sorb the oil and oil and sorbent material is sucked up by means of a suction opening via a suction duct to a receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Sancon Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Stig Erik T. Hedrenius
  • Patent number: 4473921
    Abstract: Cleaning device for the internal peripheral surfaces of pipelines or hollow cylindrical vessels, including instrument carriers having at least one working head being fixable in a working position and being movable along defined feed paths through the interior of the pipelines or vessels which are invisible from the outside, and instruments mounted on the at least one working head, the instruments including rotatable brushes being mounted on said working head and being pressable against inner wall surfaces to be cleaned, at least one suction nozzle being mounted on the working head and being movable into alignment with a given brush engagement region of a pipeline or vessel, an injector having a suction side connected to the suction nozzle, a discharge side and a propulsion nozzle, a propellant line feeding the propulsion nozzle of the injector from outside the pipeline or vessel, and a dust collecting bag connected downstream of the discharge side of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Weber, Siegfried Forner
  • Patent number: 4458377
    Abstract: A wet carpet cleaning apparatus having a nozzle movable over the surface to be cleaned. Structure is associated with the nozzle for selectively delivering cleaning liquid to a cleaning portion of the nozzle. A suction apparatus is removably mounted to the nozzle for removing liquid including dirt-laden water from the surface being cleaned. The suction apparatus comprises a removable suction fan or blower module which may be employed to advantage in a number of other applications. A jet pump is associated with the nozzle for discharging removed dirt-laden liquid as to a drain. The cleaning liquid is obtained from a pressurized water supply through an elongated flexible duct and the discharge to drain is through an elongated flexible duct which may be of similar construction. Manually controlled structure is provided for selectively introducing detergent into the cleaning liquid to permit selective cleaning and rinsing operations with the supplied pressurized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin H. Frohbieter
  • Patent number: 4455706
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing or reducing the amount of an adherent film of liquid on a surface. The apparatus comprises an elongate suction nozzle having a suction inlet and a longitudinal edge which comprises a scraping tool. In use, under-pressure in the suction nozzle is used to press the scraping tool against the surface and simultaneously remove liquid from the surface being scraped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Ing. Jurgen Volkmann, GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Volkmann, Hans H. Gross