Wet Paint Small Debris Extractor

Abstract

A small debris extractor for removing debris from wet paint. The small debris extractor provides a focused vacuum allowing insects, dust, and other small debris to be removed from wet paint without disrupting the paint finish. The various embodiments of the small debris extractor include an integral pressurized air source or connect to an external pressurized air source. The pressurized air passes through the small debris extractor to create a vacuum in a hose extending from the body. The vacuum has sufficient suction to extract the small debris from the paint and insufficient volume to disrupt the paint finish.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for extracting small debris from wet paint, said apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining a channel and a vacuum port, said channel having an inlet and an outlet, said vacuum port outlet connecting to said channel between said inlet and said outlet, said channel having an inside diameter and a first region located above said vacuum port;   a obstruction proximate to said first region of said channel, said obstruction blocking a portion of said channel thereby creating a lower fluid pressure in said first region;   a valve operatively connected to said channel inlet, said valve having at least an open position and a closed position, said open position allowing fluid to blow through said channel, said closed position preventing fluid from blowing through said channel, said valve adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source;   a hose having a first end and a second end, said first end operatively engaging said vacuum port; and   a vacuum tip connected to said hose second end and tapered to an opening substantially smaller than said channel inside diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  characterized in that said obstruction is a flange located between said first region and said vacuum port and proximate to said vacuum port, said flange defining an opening having an inside diameter less than an inside diameter of said channel. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a stem having a first end and a second end, said first end installed in said vacuum port and said second end extending out of said housing from said vacuum port. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  characterized in that said obstruction is an obstructing portion of said first end of said stem extending into said channel first region. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  characterized in that said obstructing portion has a height sized to draw a selected amount of vacuum at said vacuum port. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  characterized in that the ratio of said channel inside diameter to said obstructing portion height is in the range of approximately 3:1 to approximately 20:1. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  characterized in that said vacuum tip opening has a diameter less than approximately 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  characterized in that the ratio of said channel inside diameter to said diameter of said vacuum tip opening is in the range of approximately 5:1 to approximately 25:1. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  characterized in that the ratio of said channel inside diameter to said diameter of said vacuum tip opening is approximately 15:1. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  characterized in that said valve further comprises a control for moving said valve between said open position and said closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  characterized in that said pressurized fluid source travels with said housing. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  characterized in that said pressurized fluid source is remote from said housing. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  characterized in that said pressurized fluid source is an air compressor. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  characterized in that said valve further comprises a control operable by a hand holding said housing. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for extracting small debris from wet paint, said apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining a channel and a vacuum port, said channel and said vacuum port being in fluid communication, said channel having an inside diameter and a first region located above said vacuum port;   an obstruction blocking a portion of said channel thereby creating a lower fluid pressure in said first region;   a valve operatively connected to said channel and adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source, said valve controlling fluid flow through said channel;   a hose having a first end and a second end, said first end operatively connected to said vacuum port; and   a vacuum tip releasably connected to said hose second end and tapered to an opening substantially smaller than said channel inside diameter.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  characterized in that said valve further comprises a control operable by a hand holding said housing. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a stem positioned within said vacuum port, said obstruction being a portion of said stem extending into said channel. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  characterized in that said obstruction is a flange located between said first region and said vacuum port and proximate to said vacuum port, said flange defining an opening having an inside diameter less than an inside diameter of said channel. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for extracting small debris from wet paint, said apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining a channel and a vacuum port, said channel and said vacuum port being in fluid communication, said channel having an inlet with a first cross-sectional area and an outlet with a second cross-sectional area;   an obstruction forming a region in said channel having an effective cross-sectional area less than said channel first cross-sectional area and said channel second cross-sectional area thereby creating a lower fluid pressure above said vacuum port;   a hose having a first end and a second end, said first end operatively connected to said vacuum port; and   a vacuum tip connected to said hose second end and tapered to an opening having a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than said air channel cross-sectional area.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  characterized in that said obstruction is a flange.