Abstract: A vacuum plate converts a conventional wheelbarrow into a wet and dry dual purpose vacuum cleaner receptacle. Collection of fluids and solids directly into a wheelbarrow simplifies larger cleaning tasks, small flood remediation, transport of bulk particulate materials such as sand, pea stone, and mulch, and allows hydro-excavation to be carried out in home improvement and small scale professional landscaping projects. A fluid level sensor prevents the wheelbarrow from overflowing when collecting large quantities of fluid, and a sump pump allows fluids to be drained from collected slurries, leaving only solids in the wheelbarrow for reuse or independent disposal.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a screen cage that is permanently attached to a lid that fits on a receptacle. The screen cage has multiple layers of screens with different screen sizes, including an inner support that has greater rigidity and larger apertures that the primary screen, and an outer screen that also has greater rigidity and larger apertures than the primary screen, and is made of a different material than the support. A replaceable filter mounts to a power head that can be removed from the lid while the lid remains attached to the receptacle, and nests in the screen cage. A thermal cutoff shuts the vacuum cleaner off when the temperature of air in a part of the flowpath exceeds a limit.

Abstract: A wet-type dust collector for a vacuum cleaner. The disclosed wet-type dust collector includes a first separating portion, the inside of which is filled with water for separating dust from air that is suctioned in from the outside; an exhaust pipe unit having an exhaust outlet and installed inside the first separating portion; and a passage-closing unit installed inside the exhaust pipe unit, wherein the passage-closing unit closes the exhaust outlet of the exhaust pipe unit by means of the combined forces of the suctioning force through the exhaust pipe unit and the buoyant force of the water, in order to prevent the water from leaking out from the first separating portion.

Abstract: The invention is a separator designed to separate an incoming stream of liquid, gas, and some particulate matter into a separate gas stream, and a separate liquid stream containing the particulate matter. This is achieved through cyclonic action and the use of a float to operate internal valves within the cyclone. The float is mounted on a shaft which is rotated by the motion of the incoming fluid stream and this motion is used to agitate the solids in the liquid so as to prevent the outlet port from becoming jammed. The outlet port also has an auger contained therein that removes particulate matter.

Abstract: A natural gas reclaimer device includes a pressure vessel with an inlet port and an outlet port. A conditioner is disposed in the pressure vessel to remove contaminants and stabilize the flow of natural gas received by the inlet port and prior to releasing the natural gas from the outlet port for subsequent use.

Abstract: A drainage system is for a compressor assembly that includes at least one separator with a chamber. The system includes a drain valve fluidly coupled with the separator chamber and adjustable between open and closed states. An actuator is operatively coupled with and adjusts the valve between the open and closed states or/and a sensor senses when the valve is open. A pressure sensor is configured to sense pressure within the chamber and a logic circuit is coupled with the pressure sensor and determines when the valve either has been or should have been adjusted to the open state. The logic circuit also generates an output signal or/and operates a device when the chamber pressure remains substantially constant or varies by less than a predetermined amount subsequent to the valve being opened and/or when the chamber pressure varies by at least the predetermined amount after the valve is opened.

Abstract: A natural gas reclaimer device includes a pressure vessel with an inlet port and an outlet port. A conditioner is disposed in the pressure vessel to remove contaminants and stabilize the flow of natural gas received by the inlet port and prior to releasing the natural gas from the outlet port for subsequent use.

Abstract: Gas/liquid separating devices include a separator (1) for separating a mixed gas/liquid flow (M). A liquid drain (2) communicates with the separator and defines a liquid storage chamber (30). The liquid drain serves to temporarily store a liquid separated from the mixed flow within the liquid storage chamber, so that a space that is not occupied by the liquid is ensured within the liquid storage chamber. An adjusting mechanism (52, 152) may serve to adjust the pressure within the space of the liquid storage chamber.

Abstract: A universal drum lid for vacuum systems includes an inlet port configured to intercept downwardly flowing influent at a baffle and engage a direction plate which redirects the flow laterally against an adjacent side wall of the receptacle. An outlet port is shielded by the direction plate. Maximum liquid removal and minimal liquid carryover is achieved through the use of the drum lid. Preferably, a disengagement chamber precedes the baffle for disengaging suspended particles, including liquid, and permitting debris to pass the baffle without blockage. A single float ball-valve is sensitive to flow and will seal the outlet on high liquid entrainment and on high liquid levels.

Abstract: A universal drum lid for vacuum systems comprises an inlet port configured to intercept downwardly flowing influent at a baffle and engage a direction plate which redirects the flow laterally against an adjacent side wall of the receptacle. An outlet port is shielded by the direction plate. Maximum liquid removal and minimal liquid carryover is achieved through the use of the drum lid. Preferably, a disengagement chamber precedes the baffle for disengaging suspended particles, including liquid, and permitting debris to pass the baffle without blockage. A single float ball-valve is sensitive to flow and will seal the outlet on high liquid entrainment and on high liquid levels.

Abstract: Gas/liquid separating devices include a separator (1) for separating a mixed gas/liquid flow (M). A liquid drain (2) communicates with the separator and defines a liquid storage chamber (30). The liquid drain serves to temporarily store a liquid separated from the mixed flow within the liquid storage chamber, so that a space that is not occupied by the liquid is ensured within the liquid storage chamber. An adjusting mechanism (52, 152) may serve to adjust the pressure within the space of the liquid storage chamber.

Abstract: A wet pickup attachment for vacuum cleaners has a pair of independent float operated valves to close primary and secondary exhaust openings responsive to different water levels in a collection tank and thereby prevent aspiration of water into a vacuum cleaner that powers the attachment.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an electric motor driving an air impeller for creating a low pressure and a pump which draws liquid material through an inlet tube from the bottom of a tank and expels it from the tank. A priming apparatus is provided for priming the pump impeller. An outlet of the pump is connected to a discharge outlet carried by an upper vacuum assembly. Outlet piping connects the pump outlet to the discharge outlet. A pinch valve selectively closes the outlet piping to allow the priming apparatus to prime the pump. The pump and outlet piping are preferably carried by the upper vacuum assembly to facilitate conversion of the vacuum cleaner between wet and dry pick-up.

Abstract: A pump has a housing defining a pump chamber and having a shaft opening. An impeller shaft extends through the shaft opening and is sized to define a gap between the impeller shaft and the shaft opening. An impeller is attached to the shaft inside the pump chamber. The impeller includes a first set of impeller blades for transporting fluid through the pump chamber and a second set of impeller blades for creating a pressure force which pushes fluid away from the shaft opening. The pump with sealless shaft prevents fluid from leaking through the gap, and therefore is particularly suited for use in a tank-type vacuum cleaner capable of collecting both dry material and fluid. The gap is used in such an application to prime the pump, thereby discharging fluid collected in the tank.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a housing and a float. The housing is constructed and arranged to inhibit movement of the float between a resting position to a position where it is situated in its valve seat, unless a selected liquid volume within the valve housing is attained. In one embodiment, a series of projection members or rings creates a tortuous path, such that there is no clear path for the float to reach the valve seat. In another embodiment, vacuum pressure is created between the float and its cup support. Still other embodiments utilize magnets, springs, linkages, and bent wires. Methods for preventing liquid ingestion into an engine through an air intake are also provided.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an electric motor driving an air impeller for creating suction and a pump which draws liquid material through an inlet tube from the bottom of a tank and expels it from the tank. A priming mechanism is disposed in fluid communication with the outlet portion of the pump. The priming mechanism primes the pump from the outlet side of the pump by collecting liquid received by the tank of the vacuum cleaner in the priming mechanism and establishing a pressure differential across this collected liquid.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a dual filter assembly includes a filter cage, a primary filter disposed on the filter cage, and a secondary filter disposed downstream of the primary filter. A float valve between the primary filter and the secondary filter inhibits liquid from coming into contact with the secondary filter.

Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. Supply tanks are removably mounted to the handle or base while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle or base. An outlet in each supply tank includes a valve to close the outlet when the supply tank is removed from the base. A float valve assembly in the recovery tank includes a first end for covering an air outlet port from the recovery tank and a second end, which is buoyant and elevated by the rising recovered fluid in the tank, for raising the first end to cover the air outlet port.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a housing and a float. The housing is constructed and arranged to inhibit movement of the float between a resting position to a position where it is situated in its valve seat, unless a selected liquid volume within the valve housing is attained. In one embodiment, a series of projection members or rings creates a tortuous path, such that there is no clear path for the float to reach the valve seat. In another embodiment, vacuum pressure is created between the float and its cup support. Still other embodiments utilize magnets, springs, linkages, and bent wires. Methods for preventing liquid ingestion into an engine through an air intake are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for separating fluids of differing specific gravities are discussed. More specifically, apparatus and methods for separating a high volume flow mixture of air and water into an essentially dry air component and a pure water component are discussed. The separator is high volume and is structured around three physical elements which are defined as an input, a water chamber and an air separator chamber. A composite flow enters the input where most of the heavier water component separates, under the force of gravity, and flows into the water chamber. The remaining fluid, which is air and water in the form of vapor, mist, or droplets, is drawn into the air separator chamber using a vacuum pump, and subsequently flows through a condensate sub chamber which physically is an element of the air separator chamber. Any moisture in this flow is condensed within, and drained from, the condensate chamber such that dry air is discharged from the air separator chamber.

Abstract: A wet and dry vacuum that includes a housing that is open across its top end and is arranged to be covered by a removable lid wherein is mounted a vacuum source. The housing includes an inlet port to receive a vacuum hose connected therein to pull in wet or dry materials and is formed to direct such materials towards the housing inner wall, which inlet port enters the housing above a filter system that is a lower portion of an intermediate cover that connects to the lid undersurface, which intermediate cover includes an opening into the filter cage that functions as a valve seat. The filter system includes a float ball contained in a cage to float on water as is pulled into the housing during wet operations, with the float ball, when a liquid level of a certain height is present in the housing, is pulled by the vacuum source into the open seat, closing off an air flow pulled though the housing.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an electric motor driving an air impeller for creating suction and a pump impeller which is located in the tank and draws liquid material from the bottom of the tank and expels it from the tank. The vacuum cleaner may have an electrical or mechanical shut-off apparatus which turns off the electric motor if the water level in the tank is too high. The shut-off switch may be bypassed by a user to allow the motor to continue driving the pump impeller to remove liquid from the tank.

Abstract: This invention consists of apparatus and methods for separating fluids of differing specific gravities, and more particularly apparatus and methods for separating a high volume flow of fluid comprising a mixture of air and water into an essentially dry air component and a pure water component. The separator is high volume and is structured around three physical elements which are defined as an input, a water chamber and an air separator chamber. A composite flow enters the input where most of and flows into the water chamber. The remaining fluid, which is air and water in the form of vapors mist, or droplets, is drawn into the air separator chamber using a vacuum pump, and subsequently flows through a condensate sub chamber which physically is an element of the air separator chamber. Any moisture in this flow is condensed within, and drained from, the condensate chamber such that dry air is discharged from the air separator chamber.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for Percolating Vacuum Cleaning wherein driven by vacuum incoming to the apparatus mixture of air and other substances is directed under the top surface of a liquid, where heavier than air particles remain, but cleaned air particles percolate up to the sucking entrance of the vacuum initiator and then are exhausted from the apparatus.