Vacuum

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a vacuum including a dust extraction system. The system includes a filter assembly, an airflow generation assembly, and valve assembly. The airflow generation assembly is configured to draw contaminated air toward the filter assembly and exhaust filtered air as a discharge stream. The filter assembly is configured to remove contaminants from the contaminated airflow by capturing particulate material suspended within the airflow. The valve assembly is configured to selectively direct filtered airflow into the filter assembly such that the filtered air stream cleans the filter.

1 . A vacuum device comprising:
 a tank portion including a collection chamber;   a head portion including an airflow chamber;   a filter disposed within the tank collection chamber;   an airflow assembly disposed within the airflow chamber, the airflow assembly including:
 an airflow generating device operable to generate airflow within the vacuum device such that an intake airstream is drawn into the collection chamber via an air inlet and an exhaust airstream is exhausted from the airflow chamber via an exhaust outlet, 
 a first conduit in fluid communication with the filter, the first conduit directing airflow between the collection and airflow chambers, and 
 a second conduit in fluid communication with the filter, the second conduit directing airflow between the airflow and collection chambers; and 
   a valve assembly operable to selectively permit the airflow through either the first conduit or the second conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the filter defines a central filter axis;   the device operates in a first mode, in which air is drawn inward, toward the filter axis; and   the device further operates in a second mode, in which air is directed outward, away from the filter axis.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the device operates in the first mode for a first period of time;   the device operates in the second mode for a second period of time; and   the second period of time differs from the first period of time.   
     
     
         4 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airflow generating device comprises a fan rotating about a fan rotational axis; and   the fan rotational axis is oriented generally orthogonal to the filter axis.   
     
     
         5 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow generating device comprises a centrifugal fan. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum device of  claim 1  further comprising a manifold including:
 a first manifold chamber operable to direct airflow from the first conduit toward the airflow generating device; and 
 a second manifold chamber operable to direct the exhaust airstream toward the second conduit. 
 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vacuum device further comprises a separator plate separating the collection chamber from the airflow chamber;   the separator plate comprises a platform and a plurality of legs depending from the platform; and   the legs elevate the platform within the tank portion.   
     
     
         8 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a butterfly valve including a first disc configured to selectively open and close the first conduit and a second disc operable to selectively open and close the second conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the filter is a first filter;   the first and second conduits are in fluid communication with the first filter;   the valve assembly is a first valve assembly; and   the vacuum device further comprises:
 a second filter disposed within the collection tank, 
 a third conduit in fluid communication with the second filter, 
 a fourth conduit in fluid communication with the second filter, and 
 a second valve assembly operable to selectively permit suction airflow through the third conduit and the exhaust airstream through the fourth conduit. 
   
     
     
         10 . A vacuum device comprising:
 a body comprising a collection chamber and an airflow chamber;   a separator disposed within the body, the separator separating the collection chamber from the airflow chamber, wherein the separator plate comprises:
 a platform including a first conduit adjacent a second conduit, each conduit providing fluid communication between the collection chamber and the airflow chamber, and 
 a leg depending from the platform operable to elevate the platform within the body; 
   an air generating device disposed on the separator platform; and   a filter assembly disposed within the collection chamber,   wherein contaminated air enters the collection chamber of the body, passes through the filter, and enters the airflow chamber as filtered air via the first conduit.   
     
     
         11 . The vacuum device of  claim 10 , wherein the filter assembly comprises a central channel coupled to the separator platform such that the central channel is generally aligned with the first and second conduits. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum device of  claim 10  further comprising a switch mechanism configured to selectively open and close each of the first and second conduits. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum device of  claim 12 , wherein the switch mechanism comprises a butterfly valve including a first disc disposed over the first conduit and a second disc disposed over the second conduit, wherein the first disc is rotationally offset from the second disc. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum device of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second discs are connected to a rod rotated from a first position, in which the first conduit is opened and the second conduit is closed, to a second position, in which the first conduit is closed and the second conduit is opened. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the filter assembly is a first filter assembly;   the separator platform further comprises a third conduit disposed adjacent a fourth conduit;   the vacuum device further comprises a second filter assembly disposed within the collection chamber; and   the contaminated air further passes through the second filter assembly to enter the airflow chamber as filtered air via the third conduit.   
     
     
         16 . The vacuum device of  claim 10 , comprising a switch mechanism is further configured to selectively open and close each of the platform conduits. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum device of  claim 16 , wherein the switch mechanism comprises:
 a first butterfly valve including a first disc disposed over the first conduit and a second disc disposed over the second conduit;   a second butterfly valve including a third disc disposed over the third conduit and a fourth disc disposed over the fourth conduit; and   a switch control operable to control the first and second butterfly valves to selectively open and close the platform conduits.   
     
     
         18 . The vacuum device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first butterfly valves comprises a first rod;   the first disc and the second disc are mounted on the first rod such that the first disc is rotationally offset from the second disc;   the second butterfly valve comprises a second rod; and   the third disc and the fourth disc are mounted on the second rod such that the third disc is rotationally offset from the fourth disc.   
     
     
         19 . The vacuum device of  claim 10  further comprising a telescoping handle assembly including a handle repositionable from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum device of  claim 19 , wherein the handle assembly further comprise a latch mechanism operable to secure the handle at a predetermined handle position.