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

Abstract

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 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 at different, more optimal speeds for each, allowing a higher performance on each of the vacuum unit and the pump, since maximum power for the system can be provided to either the 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.

1 . A wet and dry vacuum system, comprising:
 a container having a waste portion for containing waste of the vacuum system;   a vacuum unit coupled to a container;   a pump fluidicly disposed above the waste portion of the container; and   at least one motor adapted to drive the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump priming hose coupled to the pump and adapted to use negative pressure to prime the pump. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the priming hose is fluidicly coupled to a vacuum chamber intake to create a vacuum on the pump with the priming hose. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a vacuum flow restrictor coupled to the vacuum chamber intake to restrict flow through the vacuum chamber intake. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the flow restrictor is slidably coupled to the vacuum chamber intake to be moved between a closed position and an open position. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the flow restrictor is rotatably coupled to the vacuum chamber intake to be rotated between a closed position and an open position. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the priming hose is coupled to the container, wherein the container is under vacuum during operation of the vacuum unit. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a priming switch adapted to control the opening and closing of the priming hose. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an idler drive system adapted to selectively couple and decouple the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the idler drive system comprises at least one idler set having at least one idler pulley and adapted to be moved from a first position to a second position relative to the vacuum unit or the pump to selectively couple and decouple the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the idler drive system comprises two idler sets, each set having at least one idler pulley and adapted to be moved from a first position to a second position relative to the vacuum unit and the pump. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a vacuum idler set is disposed in relation to the vacuum unit and a pump idler set is disposed in relation to the pump, wherein the vacuum unit is coupled to the motor when the vacuum idler set is disposed in the first position and the pump idler set is disposed in the first position. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a vacuum idler set is disposed in relation to the vacuum unit and a pump idler set is disposed in relation to the pump, wherein the pump is coupled to the motor when the vacuum idler set is disposed in the second position and the pump idler set is disposed in the second position. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a vacuum idler set is disposed in relation to the vacuum unit and a pump idler set is disposed in relation to the pump, wherein the vacuum unit and the pump are coupled to the motor when the vacuum idler set is disposed in one of the first or second positions and the pump idler set is disposed in the opposite of the first or second positions from the vacuum idler set. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a single motor is adapted to drive the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof are selectively engageable. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the vacuum unit and the pump have independent operating speeds using the same motor. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first motor to drive the vacuum unit and a second motor to drive the pump. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more controls adapted to restrict operation of the pump when the vacuum unit is operating and to restrict operation of the vacuum unit when the pump is operating. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an independent flow path for the pump to pump fluids compared to a flow path for the vacuum unit to vacuum materials. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is adapted to pump liquids stored in the container. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one clutch assembly adapted to selectively couple and decouple the motor from operation of the pump, the vacuum unit, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one float coupled to a container, the container being adapted to contain fluid to be pumped and the float being adapted to control operation of the pump, the vacuum unit, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       24 . A method of operating a wet and dry vacuum system having a vacuum unit coupled to a container with a waste portion for holding vacuumed material and a separate pump distinct from the vacuum unit, the pump being fluidicly disposed above the waste portion of the container, comprising:
 operating the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising priming the pump by using a vacuum pressure created by operation of the system. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein priming the pump comprises operating the vacuum unit to create the vacuum to prime the pump. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein priming the pump comprises at least partially blocking an air flow through a vacuum chamber intake. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein priming the pump comprises using a vacuum created in the container to prime the pump. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising at least temporarily ceasing operating the vacuum unit after the pump is primed. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising operating the system with a motor selectively engageable with the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising selectively coupling and decoupling the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof from the motor. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein selectively coupling and decoupling comprises adjusting engagement of an idler drive system with the motor and the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the idler drive system comprises a vacuum idler set and a pump idler set, each set having at least one idler pulley, and wherein adjusting the engagement comprises adjusting the vacuum idler set position relative to the vacuum unit and adjusting the pump idler set position relative to the pump. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising operating the vacuum unit at a different speed than the pump using the same motor. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising restricting the pump from operating when the vacuum unit is operating and restricting the vacuum unit from operating when the pump is operating. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 24 , pumping liquids through a separate flow path from the vacuum unit. 
   
   
       37 . A wet and dry vacuum system, comprising:
 a vacuum unit;   a pump;   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.   
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the means for controlling the coupling and decoupling comprises a drive system that can be selectively engaged and disengaged with the vacuum unit, the pump, or a combination thereof with the motor.