Pump with angled drain system

Abstract

A pump, such as a vacuum pump, includes at least one housing and a motor and oil reservoir disposed within the housing. The pump housing can include a bottom exterior surface and one or more side and/or front exterior surfaces that extend generally up from the bottom exterior surface. An oil drain port can be positioned at or near the intersection of the bottom exterior surface and the side or front exterior surface. The housing can include an interior bottom surface that defines at least a portion of a drain passageway for the pump and can be fluidicly coupled to the oil reservoir. At least a portion of the interior bottom surface can be angled downward at an acute angle to the horizontal towards the oil drain port to improve the draining and replacement of oil in the pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum pump comprising:
 a base configured for resting on a ground surface;   a frame secured to the base;   a first housing secured to the frame, wherein the first housing hosts an impeller;   a second housing secured to the frame such that the frame extends between the first housing and the second housing, wherein the second housing hosts a reservoir configured for containing an oil, wherein the second housing hosts a port configured for outputting the oil from the reservoir, wherein the second housing hosts an inclined passageway fluidly extending between the reservoir and the port such that the oil can gravitationally flow from the reservoir to the port via the inclined passageway when the base rests on the ground surface;   an inlet in fluid communication with the impeller; and   a handle secured to the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a foot. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum pump of  claim 2 , wherein the foot is adjustable with respect to the base such that the base is adjustably angled thereby. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the handle extends over the first housing such that the first housing extends between the handle and the base. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a first member and a second member, wherein the first member extends vertically from the frame when the base rests on the ground surface, wherein the second member extends horizontally from the first member when the base rests on the ground surface. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum pump of  claim 5 , wherein the first member includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion extends from the frame, wherein the second member extends horizontally from the distal end portion. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum pump of  claim 5 , wherein the second member is orthogonal to the first member. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum pump of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a drive shaft coupled to the impeller such that the drive shaft extends between the second member and the base.   
     
     
         9 . The vacuum pump of  claim 8 , wherein the drive shaft extends between the impeller and the reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum pump of  claim 5 , wherein the second member avoids extending over the reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum pump of  claim 5 , wherein the second member avoids extending over the inclined passageway. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing hosts a sight glass configured for granting a visual access to the oil in order to determine a level thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum pump of  claim 12 , wherein the second housing has a side distal to the frame, wherein the side avoids extending over the base, wherein the side hosts the sight glass. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing hosts a cap granting a fluid access to the reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum pump of  claim 14 , wherein the cap avoids extending over the base. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing is removably secured to the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the base is a plate. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined passageway is angled at 45 degrees or less. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum pump of  claim 1 , wherein the port avoids extending over the base. 
     
     
         20 . A vacuum pump comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a bottom exterior surface; 
 a front exterior surface extending up from the bottom exterior surface; 
 an oil drain port extending through the bottom exterior surface and disposed adjacent an intersection of the front exterior surface and the bottom exterior surface; and 
 a bottom interior surface defining at least a portion of a drain passageway in fluid communication with an oil reservoir, wherein at least a portion of each of the bottom interior surface and bottom exterior surface each extend at a downward angle with respect to a horizontal towards the oil drain port, wherein the oil reservoir is disposed within the housing; and 
   a motor, wherein at least a portion of the motor is disposed within the housing.