Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An automatically draining vacuum apparatus for collecting a fluid to be vacuumed. The vacuum apparatus includes a vacuum generating source which generates a suction force and a tank for holding the fluid to be vacuumed. The tank includes a vacuum port, an inlet and a drainage opening for emptying fluid held within the tank. The suction force at the vacuum port draws the fluid to be vacuumed into the tank through the inlet and prevents the fluid within the tank from passing from the tank through the drainage opening. A float is located in the tank for closing off the vacuum port to prevent the fluid within the tank from passing through the vacuum port. The float has a positive buoyancy with respect to the fluid and is positioned within the tank such that when the fluid within the tank is above a predetermined level, the suction force at the vacuum port and the float buoyancy maintain the float in a blocking position to at least partially block the vacuum port, creating a second suction force. The second suction force, which is less than the first suction force in the tank, allows the fluid within the tank to drain to a level below the predetermined level to cause the float to move from the blocking position and restore the first suction force in the tank.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim