Integrated pump priming system

Abstract

A vacuum accessory and a pump motor assembly are disclosed. An exemplary pump motor assembly includes a motor having a housing. The motor drives a pump impeller. The pump motor assembly further includes a primer assembly secured to the motor, the primer assembly defining an impeller cavity receiving the pump impeller. The primer assembly includes a primer cavity in fluid communication with the impeller cavity, and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the primer cavity. The fluid inlet is configured to receive fluid from a fluid reservoir, and the pump impeller is configured to pump the fluid from the impeller cavity when the motor is driven.

1 . A pump motor assembly, comprising:
 a motor having a housing, the motor driving a pump impeller; and   a primer assembly defining an impeller cavity ( 210 ) that receives the pump impeller, the primer assembly including:   a primer cavity in fluid communication with the impeller cavity;   a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the primer cavity, the fluid inlet configured to receive fluid from a fluid reservoir; and   at least two fluid passages extending between the primer cavity and the impeller cavity, each of the at least two fluid passages allowing fluid communication between the primer cavity and the impeller cavity;   wherein the pump impeller is configured to pump the fluid from the impeller cavity when the motor is driven.   
     
     
         2 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an upper one of the at least two fluid passages extends between the primer cavity and an upper portion of the impeller cavity, and a lower one of the at least two fluid passages extends between the primer cavity and a lower portion of the impeller cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft driven by the motor, the pump impeller secured to the shaft and fixed for rotation therewith, the shaft disposed partially within the housing and extending out of the housing;
 wherein the primer assembly is secured to the motor assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the primer cavity includes a vacuum port configured to receive a vacuum pressure, thereby drawing fluid into at least one of the impeller cavity and the primer cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a float ball disposed within the primer cavity, the float ball formed of a buoyant material and configured to prevent fluid from freely flowing out of the vacuum port when the primer cavity is filled with fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the float ball and the vacuum port cooperate to allow air in the primer cavity to purge through an interface between the float ball and the vacuum port when the primer cavity contains an amount of fluid sufficient to push the float ball against the vacuum port. 
     
     
         7 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein one of the float ball and the vacuum port includes one of a groove and a grain pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid communication between the impeller cavity and the primer cavity generally maintains fluid in the impeller cavity when the primer cavity is filled with fluid. 
     
     
         9 . A pump motor assembly, comprising:
 a motor having a housing, the motor driving a pump impeller; and   a primer assembly defining an impeller cavity that receives the pump impeller, the primer assembly including:   a primer cavity in fluid communication with the impeller cavity;   a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the primer cavity, the fluid inlet configured to receive fluid from a fluid reservoir; and   a float ball disposed within the primer cavity, the float ball formed of a buoyant material;   wherein the primer cavity includes a vacuum port configured to receive a vacuum pressure, thereby drawing fluid from the fluid inlet into at least one of the impeller cavity and the primer cavity, the float ball configured to prevent fluid from freely flowing out of the vacuum port when the primer cavity is filled with fluid; and   wherein the float ball and the vacuum port cooperate to allow air from the primer cavity to purge through an interface between the float ball and the vacuum port when the primer cavity contains an amount of fluid sufficient to push the float ball against the vacuum port;   wherein the pump impeller is configured to pump the fluid from the impeller cavity when the motor is driven.   
     
     
         10 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein one of the float ball and the vacuum port includes one of a groove and a grain pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a shaft driven by the motor, the pump impeller secured to the shaft and fixed for rotation therewith, the shaft disposed partially within the housing and extending out of the housing;
 wherein the primer assembly is secured to the motor assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The pump motor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid communication between the impeller cavity and the primer cavity generally maintains fluid in the impeller cavity when the primer cavity is filled with fluid. 
     
     
         13 . A vacuum accessory, comprising:
 a pump motor assembly;   a suction wand configured to supply a vacuum pressure to the pump motor assembly; and   a fluid reservoir configured to supply a fluid to the pump motor assembly;   wherein the pump motor assembly includes:   a housing;   a shaft having a pump impeller secured thereto and fixed for rotation therewith, the shaft disposed partially within the housing and extending out of the housing; and   a primer assembly secured to the motor assembly, the primer assembly defining an impeller cavity receiving the pump impeller, the primer assembly including:   a primer cavity in fluid communication with the impeller cavity; and   a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the primer cavity, the fluid inlet configured to receive fluid from the fluid reservoir; and   wherein the pump impeller is configured to pump the fluid from the fluid reservoir when the motor is driven.   
     
     
         14 . The vacuum accessory of  claim 13 , wherein the primer assembly includes a vacuum port disposed adjacent the primer cavity, the vacuum port in fluid communication with the suction wand such that fluid is drawn from the fluid reservoir into at least one of the impeller cavity and the primer cavity when the suction wand supplies a vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum accessory of  claim 14 , further comprising a float ball disposed within the primer cavity, the float ball formed of a buoyant material and configured to prevent fluid from freely flowing out of the vacuum port when the primer cavity is filled with fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum accessory of  claim 15 , wherein the float ball and the vacuum port cooperate to allow air in the primer cavity to purge through an interface between the float ball and the vacuum port when the primer cavity contains an amount of fluid sufficient to push the float ball against the vacuum port. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum accessory of  claim 15 , wherein one of the float ball and the vacuum port includes one of a groove and a grain pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum accessory of  claim 13 , wherein the primer assembly includes at least two fluid passages extending between the primer cavity and the impeller cavity, each of the at least two fluid passages allowing fluid communication between the primer cavity and the impeller cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum accessory of  claim 18 , wherein an upper one of the at least two fluid passages extends between the primer cavity and an upper portion of the impeller cavity, and a lower one of the at least two fluid passages extends between the primer cavity and a lower portion of the impeller cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum accessory of  claim 13 , wherein the impeller cavity and the primer cavity are in fluid communication, such that the primer cavity generally maintains fluid in the impeller cavity when the primer cavity is filled with fluid.