Reverse flow vacuum system

Abstract

A vacuum uses reverse pulses from the vacuum motor to clean the filter associated therewith. Vacuum filters may be cleaned quickly and efficiently without expelling collected debris from the vacuum. Vacuums with two motors may be operated from 220 or 110 volt sources without a loss of power.

1 . A vacuum comprising:
 a vacuum motor having an inlet and an outlet;   a filter
 a valve manifold, the valve manifold having:
 a first port fluidly connected to the vacuum motor inlet; 
 a second port fluidly connected to the vacuum motor outlet; 
 a third port fluidly connected to the vacuum filter; and 
 wherein the valve manifold is movable between a first position and a second position, the first position placing the third port in communication with the first port such that the motor draws air through the filter to create suction in the filter, the second position placing the third port in communication with the second port such that the motor blows air through the filter to create pressure in the filter. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein, in the first position the second port is in communication with the atmosphere. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein, in the second position the first port is in communication with the atmosphere. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is disposed in a debris canister, and wherein the debris canister has an inlet for collecting debris. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second vacuum motor having an inlet and an outlet;   a second filter   a second valve manifold, the valve manifold having:
 a first port fluidly connected to the vacuum motor inlet; 
 a second port fluidly connected to the vacuum motor outlet; 
 a third port fluidly connected to the vacuum filter; and 
 wherein the valve manifold is movable between a first position and a second position, the first position placing the third port in communication with the first port such that the motor draws air through the filter to create suction in the filter, the second position placing the third port in communication with the second port such that the motor blows air through the filter to create pressure in the filter. 
   
     
     
         6 . The vacuum of  claim 5 , wherein the vacuum comprises:
 a 220 volt cord for receiving power from a 220 volt outlet;   a power panel;   two 110 volt outlets disposed in the power panel, the two 110 volt outlets being connected to the 220 volt cord to receive 110 volt power therefrom; and   two 110 volt power cords connected to the first vacuum motor and the second vacuum motor.   
     
     
         7 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the valve manifold is biased into the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , further comprising a lever operatively connected to the valve manifold for moving the valve manifold between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         9 . A vacuum comprising:
 a vacuum motor having an inlet and an outlet;   a filter;   a valve manifold, the valve manifold being movable between a first position wherein the filter is fluidly connected to the vacuum motor inlet to create suction in the filter and a second position wherein the filter is fluidly connected to the vacuum motor outlet to create pressure therein.   
     
     
         10 . The vacuum of  claim 9 , the valve manifold having:
 a first port fluidly connected to the vacuum motor inlet;   a second port fluidly connected to the vacuum motor outlet;   a third port fluidly connected to the vacuum filter.   
     
     
         11 . The vacuum of  claim 9 , wherein the valve manifold is biased into the first position. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum of  claim 9 , further comprising a lever connected to the valve manifold, the lever being movable to move the valve manifold into the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second vacuum motor having an inlet and an outlet;   a second filter:
 a second valve manifold, the valve manifold being movable between a first position wherein the filter is fluidly connected to the vacuum motor inlet to create suction in the filter and a second position wherein the filter is fluidly connected to the vacuum motor outlet to create pressure therein. 
   
     
     
         14 . The vacuum of  claim 13 , further comprising a debris canister, and wherein the first filter and the second filter are disposed in the debris canister. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a 220 volt inlet cord;   a power panel having two 110 volt receptacles, the 220 volt cord being connected to the two 110 volt receptacles to provide 110 volts to each receptacle;   a first 110 volt power cord connected to the first vacuum motors and connected to the first 110 volt receptacle; and   a second 110 volt power cord connected to the second vacuum motors and connected to the second 110 volt receptacle.   
     
     
         16 . A vacuum comprising:
 a first 110 volt vacuum motor;   a first 110 volt power cord connected to the first vacuum motor;   a second 110 volt vacuum motor;   a second 110 volt power cord connected to the second vacuum motor;   a power panel having a first 110 volt receptacle and a second 110 volt receptacle, the first 110 volt cord being removably connected to the first 110 volt receptacle, the second 110 volt cord being removably connected to the second 110 volt receptacle; and   a 220 volt power cord connectable to a 220 volt receptacle to draw power therefrom and connected to the first and second 110 volt receptacles to provide 110 volts thereto.   
     
     
         17 . The vacuum of  claim 16 , further comprising a first filter fluidly connected to the first vacuum motor and a second filter operatively connected to the second vacuum motor, the first and second filters being disposed in a single debris canister.