Vacuum Bypass Vent and Vacuums Incorporating Such Bypass Vents

Abstract

A vacuum appliance capable of picking up both wet and dry material is described, wherein the vacuum appliance includes an impeller configured to induce liquid into the vacuum appliance, a motor configured to turn the impeller, a restrictor assembly to prevent the liquid from being ingested into the motor, and a bypass vent assembly configured to allow sufficient air to reach the motor in order to keep the motor cool while the restrictor is preventing the liquid from being ingested into the motor. The vacuum appliance also includes a drum configured to retain the liquid and an impeller intake between the impeller and the drum. The restrictor may comprise a float configured to rise with a level of the liquid in the drum and prevent the liquid from entering the impeller intake. The bypass vent assembly may be configured to allow airflow to bypass the restrictor and/or the drum.

1 . A vacuum appliance capable of picking up both wet and dry material, the appliance comprising:
 a powerhead comprising a motor, an impeller, and an impeller chamber, the impeller configured to induce a liquid into the vacuum appliance and the motor configured to turn the impeller;   a restrictor configured to prevent the liquid from being ingested into the impeller; and   a bypass vent configured to allow sufficient air to reach the impeller chamber in order to keep the impeller chamber cool while the restrictor is preventing the liquid from being ingested into the impeller.   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a drum configured to retain the liquid and an impeller intake between the impeller and the drum. 
   
   
       3 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the restrictor comprises a float configured to rise with a level of the liquid in the drum and block the liquid from entering the impeller intake. 
   
   
       4 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the bypass vent is configured to allow airflow to bypass the restrictor. 
   
   
       5 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the bypass vent is configured to allow the impeller to induce airflow to bypass the restrictor. 
   
   
       6 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the bypass vent is configured to allow airflow to enter the vacuum appliance and bypass the drum. 
   
   
       7 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the bypass vent is configured to allow the impeller to induce airflow to enter the vacuum appliance and bypass the drum. 
   
   
       8 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bypass vent comprises a bypass area of between about 0.01 square inches and about 0.1 square inches 
   
   
       9 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the bypass vent comprises a bypass area of between about 0.025 square inches and about 0.075 square inches. 
   
   
       10 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the bypass vent comprises a bypass area of about 0.05 square inches. 
   
   
       11 . A vacuum appliance capable of picking up both wet and dry material, the appliance comprising:
 a drum configured to retain the material;   a powerhead releasably secured over the open top of the drum, the powerhead including an impeller in an impeller chamber, the impeller being configured to induce a liquid into the vacuum appliance and a motor configured to turn the impeller;   a float in the drum configured to prevent the liquid from entering the powerhead; and   a bypass vent configured to allow sufficient air to reach the impeller chamber in order to keep the impeller chamber cool while the float is preventing the liquid from entering the powerhead.   
   
   
       12 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 11 , further including an impeller intake between the impeller and the float. 
   
   
       13 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the float is configured to rise with a level of the liquid in the drum and prevent the liquid from entering the impeller intake. 
   
   
       14 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the bypass vent is configured to allow airflow to bypass the float. 
   
   
       15 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the bypass vent is configured to allow the impeller to induce airflow to bypass the float when the float is in an up position. 
   
   
       16 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the bypass vent is configured to allow airflow to enter the vacuum appliance and bypass the drum. 
   
   
       17 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the bypass vent comprises a bypass area of between about 0.01 square inches and about 0.1 square inches. 
   
   
       18 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the bypass vent comprises a bypass area of between about 0.025 square inches and about 0.075 square inches. 
   
   
       19 . The vacuum appliance as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the bypass vent comprises a bypass area of about 0.05 square inches. 
   
   
       20 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an outer housing having an air flow opening;   a source of vacuum located within the housing, the source of vacuum including a motor and an impeller within an impeller chamber;   a separable air chamber contained within the outer housing and surrounding the impeller;   a restrictor configured to prevent a liquid from being drawn into the motor impeller during operation of the vacuum cleaner; and   a bypass vent configured to allow sufficient air to reach the motor impeller chamber in order to keep the impeller chamber cool while the restrictor is simultaneously blocking the liquid from being drawn into the motor impeller.