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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A hand-held vacuum pump, comprising:
(a) cylinder means for isolating a certain volume from the atmosphere and
equipped with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,
(b) biased piston means, for drawing a vacuum through the inlet opening of
the cylinder means when said biased piston means is drawn back, and for
automatically returning said piston means to the end of said cylinder
means when said piston means is no longer drawn back,
(c) first valve means coupled with the inlet opening of the cylinder means,
wherein said first valve means comprises an umbrella valve, and second
valve means coupled with the outlet opening of the cylinder means, said
second valve means being separate from the first valve means,
(d) hand operated piston retractor means for drawing said piston means back
within said cylinder means, whereby drawing said piston means back causes
air to be drawn into said cylinder means via the inlet opening of the
cylinder means, and whereby releasing said piston retractor means causes
that air which was drawn in to be forced out via the outlet opening of
said cylinder means, and
(e) vacuum release valve means located in the inlet forwardly of the first
valve means, including an arm associated with a valve closure means, said
arm being operable by a finger of a hand about the piston retractor means,
and substantially without removal of said hand from the piston retractor
means, the arm in a first position corresponding to the vacuum release
valve being open and in a second position corresponding the release valve
being closed.
2. A hand-held vacuum pump, comprising:
(a) cylinder means for isolating a certain volume from the atmosphere and
equipped with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,
(b) biased piston means for drawing a vacuum through the inlet opening of
the cylinder means when said piston means is drawn back, and for
automatically returning said piston means to the end of the cylinder means
when said piston means is no longer drawn back,
(c) first valve means coupled with the inlet opening of the cylinder means,
and second valve means coupled with the outlet opening of the cylinder
means, wherein said second valve means comprises a duckbill valve, said
second valve means being separate from the first valve means,
(d) hand operated piston retractor means for drawing said piston means back
within said cylinder means, whereby drawing said piston means back causes
air to be drawn in via the inlet opening of the cylinder means, and
whereby releasing said piston retractor means causes that air which was
drawn in to be forced out via the outlet opening of the cylinder means,
and
(e) vacuum release valve means located in the inlet forwardly of the first
valve means, including an arm associated with a valve closure means, said
arm being operable by a finger of a hand about the piston retractor means,
and substantially without removal of said hand from the piston retractor
means, the arm in a first position corresponding to the vacuum release
valve being open and in a second position corresponding the release valve
being closed.
3. A hand-held vacuum pump, comprising:
(a) cylinder means for isolating a certain volume from the atmosphere,
equipped with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,
(b) biased piston means, for drawing a vacuum through the inlet opening of
said cylinder means when said piston means is drawn back, and for
automatically returning said piston means to the end of said cylinder
means when said piston means is no longer drawn back,
(c) first valve means coupled with the inlet opening of said cylinder
means, wherein said first valve means comprises an umbrella valve, and
second valve means coupled with the outlet opening of said cylinder means,
wherein said second valve means comprises a duckbill valve, said second
valve means being separate from the first valve means,
(d) hand operated piston retractor means for drawing said piston means back
within said cylinder means, whereby drawing said piston means back causes
air to be drawn in via the inlet opening of the cylinder means, and
whereby releasing said piston retractor means causes that air which was
drawn into be forced out via the outlet opening of the cylinder means, and
(e) vacuum release valve means located in the inlet forwardly of the first
valve means, including an arm associated with a valve closure means, said
arm being operable by a finger of a hand about the piston retractor means,
and substantially without removal of said hand from the piton retractor
means, the arm in a first position corresponding to the vacuum release
valve being open and in a second position corresponding the release valve
being closed.
4. A hand-held vacuum pump as claimed in claim 3 wherein the arm is rotable
about an axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the
pump between positions to either side of said longitudinal axis.
5. A hand-held vacuum pump as claimed in clam 4 including barrier means for
limiting the movement of the arm between its open and closed position, and
wherein the arm is located in a helical slot, whereby the valve closure
means is movable towards and away from a valve seat.
6. A hand-held vacuum pump, comprising:
(a) cylinder means for isolating a certain volume from the atmosphere and
equipped with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,
(b) biased piston means for drawing a vacuum through the inlet opening of
the cylinder means when said piston means is drawn back, and for
automatically returning said piston means to the end of the cylinder means
when said piston means is no longer drawn back,
(c) first umbrella valve means coupled with the inlet opening of the
cylinder means, and second valve means held between the outlet opening of
the cylinder means and an exhaust means wherein said second valve means
comprises a duckbill valve,
(d) hand-operated piston retractor means for drawing said piston means back
within said cylinder means, whereby drawing said piston means back causes
air to be drawn in via the inlet opening of the cylinder means, and
whereby releasing said piston retractor means causes that air which was
drawn into be forced out via the outlet opening of the cylinder means, and
(e) vacuum release valve means located in the inlet forwardly of the first
valve means, including an arm associated with a valve closure means, said
arm being operable by a finger of a hand about the piston retractor means,
and substantially without removal of said hand from the piston retractor
means, the arm in a first position corresponding to the vacuum release
valve being open and in a second position corresponding the release valve
being closed.
7. A hand-held vacuum pump, comprising:
(a) cylinder means for isolating a certain volume from the atmosphere and
equipped with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,
(b) biased piston means, for drawing a vacuum through the inlet opening of
the cylinder means when said biased piston means is drawn back, and for
automatically returning said piston means to the end of said cylinder
means when said piston means is no longer drawn back,
(c) first valve means coupled with the inlet opening of the cylinder means,
wherein said first valve means comprises a recessed umbrella valve, and
second valve means coupled with the outlet opening of the cylinder means,
said second valve means being separate from the first valve means,
(d) hand operated piston retractor means for drawing said piston means back
within said cylinder means, whereby drawing said piston means back causes
air to be drawn into said cylinder means via the inlet opening of the
cylinder means, and whereby releasing said piston retractor means causes
that air which was drawn in to be forced out via the outlet opening of
said cylinder means, and
(e) vacuum release valve means located in the inlet forwardly of the first
valve means, including an arm associated with a valve closure means, said
arm being operable by a finger of a hand about the piston retractor means,
and substantially without removal of said hand from the piston retractor
means, the arm in a first position corresponding to the vacuum release
valve being open and in a second position corresponding the release valve
being closed.
8. A hand-held vacuum pump, comprising:
(a) cylinder means for isolating a certain volume from the atmosphere and
equipped with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,
(b) biased piston means for drawing a vacuum through the inlet opening of
the cylinder means when said piston means is drawn back, and for
automatically returning said piston means to the end of the cylinder means
when said piston means is no longer drawn back,
(c) first valve means coupled with the inlet opening of the cylinder means,
and second valve means coupled with the outlet opening of the cylinder
means, wherein said second valve means comprises a recessed duckbill
valve, said second valve means being separate from the first valve means,
(d) hand operated piston retractor means for drawing said piston means back
within said cylinder means, whereby drawing said piston means back causes
air to be drawn in via the inlet opening of the cylinder means, and
whereby releasing said piston retractor means causes that air which was
drawn in to be forced out via the outlet opening of the cylinder means,
and
(e) vacuum release valve means located in the inlet forwardly of the first
valve means, including an arm associated with a valve closure means, said
arm being operable by a finger of a hand about the piston retractor means,
and substantially without removal of said hand from the piston retractor
means, the arm in a first position corresponding to the vacuum release
valve being open and in a second position corresponding the release valve
being closed.
9. A hand-held vacuum pump, comprising:
(a) cylinder means for isolating a certain volume from the atmosphere,
equipped with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,
(b) biased piston means, for drawing a vacuum through the inlet opening of
said cylinder means when said piston means is drawn back, and for
automatically returning said piston means to the end of said cylinder
means when said piston means is no longer drawn back,
(c) first valve means coupled with the inlet opening of said cylinder
means, wherein said first valve means comprises a recessed umbrella valve,
and second valve means coupled with the outlet opening of the cylinder
means, wherein said second valve means comprises a recessed duckbill
valve, said second valve means being separate from the first valve means,
(d) hand operated piston retractor means for drawing said piston means back
within said cylinder means, whereby drawing said piston means back causes
air to be drawn in via the inlet opening of the cylinder means, and
whereby releasing said piston retractor means causes that air which was
drawn in to be forced out via the outlet opening of said cylinder means,
and
(e) vacuum release valve means located in the inlet forwardly of the first
valve means, including an arm associated with a valve closure means, said
arm being operable by a finger of a hand about the piston retractor means,
and substantially without removal of said hand from the piston retractor
means, the arm in a first position corresponding to the vacuum release
valve being open and in a second position corresponding the release valve
being closed.
10. A hand-held vacuum pump as claimed in claim 9, wherein the arm is
rotable about an axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of
the pump between positions to either side of said longitudinal axis.
11. A hand-held vacuum pump as claimed in claim 10, including barrier means
for limiting the movement of the arm between its open and closed
positions, and wherein the arm is located in a helical slot, whereby the
valve closure means is movable towards and away from a valve seat.
12. A hand-held vacuum pump, comprising:
(a) cylinder means for isolating a certain volume from the atmosphere and
equipped with an inlet opening and an outlet opening,
(b) biased piston means for drawing a vacuum through the inlet opening of
the cylinder means when said piston means is drawn back, and for
automatically returning said piston means to the end of the cylinder means
when said piston means is no longer drawn back,
(c) first recessed umbrella valve means coupled with the inlet opening of
the cylinder means, and second valve means held between the outlet opening
of the cylinder means and an exhaust means wherein said second valve means
comprises a recessed duckbill valve,
(d) hand operated piston retractor means for drawing said piston means back
within said cylinder means, whereby drawing said piston means back causes
air to be drawn in via the inlet opening of the cylinder means, and
whereby releasing said piston retractor means causes that air which was
drawn in to be forced out via the outlet opening of said cylinder means,
and
(e) vacuum release valve means located in the inlet forwardly of the first
valve means, including an arm associated with a valve closure means, said
arm being operable by a finger of a hand about the piston retractor means,
and substantially without removal of said hand from the piston retractor
means, the arm in a first position corresponding to the vacuum release
valve being open and in a second position corresponding the release valve
being closed. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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The application is also associated with a co-pending application Ser. No.
904,697, filed Sept. 8, 1986. The contents of those applications are
incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to the filed of handheld vacuum pumps. It is
a novel and useful improvement on the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,612,722, issued to Theodore C. Neward.
Vacuum pumps are generally useful whenever a vacuum is desired, for
example, to provide suction. Many types of vacuum pumps have been devised,
but they often suffer from such drawbacks as complexity, expense, or
excessive bulk. Accordingly, there is a need for a simple, inexpensive,
lightweight, and compact handportable vacuum pump which can pull a useful
vacuum, such as the vacuum pump of the present invention.
Hand-held and inexpensive vacuum pumps are especially useful in the
automotive industry for vacuum system testing and repair, and for liquid
sampling. They are also useful in some first aid applications, for testing
for throat blockage of choking victims and for generating suction to
eliminate any blockage.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,722 discloses a hand-held vacuum pump, and is
incorporated herein by reference. The present invention is an improvement
upon that device.
In particular, the present invention improves on the prior art in that it
will produce a better vacuum which lends the new vacuum pump to a wider
range of potential uses. The pump can also be used to provide a pressure
of about two atmospheres for applications requiring air pressure. The
present invention also improves on the prior art in that it is more
resistant to dirt, contaminating fluids, and other foreign objects which
may cause damage. This makes the new vacuum pump more reliable, a quality
which is much desired in many environments.
Further, the present invention improves on the prior art in that it can be
assembled and disassembled faster. This lends the new vacuum pump to
easier and less costly manufacture and to quicker repair, which makes the
new vacuum pump more available and more reliable. The present invention
also improves on the prior art in that it uses less expensive parts. This
reduces the cost of the new vacuum pump and makes it more available to
quantity purchasers.
In prior art pumps where the vacuum is to be released, it is necessary to
use a second hand to operate any release mechanism which may be provided.
This is unduly cumbersome, especially when operating in a confined
environment with limited maneuverability or when there are time
restrictions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hand-held
vacuum pump.
It is a second object of the present invention to produce a hand-held
vacuum pump which produces a better vacuum.
It is a third object of the present invention to produce a hand-held vacuum
pump which is more resistant to dirt and fluids.
It is a fourth object of the present invention to produce a hand-held
vacuum pump which can be assembled and disassembled more quickly.
It is yet a fifth object of the present invention to produce a hand-held
vacuum pump that is less expensive and that uses less expensive parts.
It is also an object to provide a pump operable with a single hand and
wherein the vacuum can be released easily under finger control while held
in the same hand that operates the vacuum release control.
These and other objects of the present invention will become clear after an
examination of the drawings, the description, and the claims herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A pair of small handles suitable for gripping in one hand are arranged in a
lever configuration, so that squeezing the handles causes a spring loaded
piston to be drawn back in a sealed chamber. An umbrella valve is placed
at one end of the sealed chamber and is recessed into the end of the
chamber. Thus, when the piston is drawn back, a partial vacuum is created
in the chamber and pressure is equalized by the creation of suction
through the umbrella valve. When the handles are released, the spring
causes the piston to be pushed forward to the end of the sealed chamber,
releasing air through a second separate valve, namely a duckbill valve,
also placed at the end of the chamber. Repeated squeezing and releasing of
the two handles causes air to be steadily pumped in via the umbrella valve
and out via the duckbill valve, thus generating a vacuum.
A vacuum release valve is located forwardly of the handles and the umbrella
valve and is operable by extending the index finger of the hand about the
handles to activate a movable arm to open and close the release valve.
SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an umbrella valve.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a duckbill valve. FIG. 4 is a top view
of a duckbill valve. FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of a second embodiment of
the invention.
FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation of the vacuum release valve and vacuum
gauge.
FIG. 7 is an underview, partially cutaway, of the vacuum release valve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to FIG. 1, the operation of the present invention is
disclosed.
The pump includes a fixed handle 102, which is attached to a sealed
cylinder 104, and together they form the body of the pump. The fixed
handle 102 is shaped to include indentations 106 for the fingers of an
operator's hand. A movable handle 108 is pivoted at a joint 110 on a
support 112 which is attached to the fixed handle 102. The end of the
movable handle 114 is coupled via a joint 115 to a piston rod 116.
The piston rod 116 extends into the cylindrical chamber 104 and terminates
in a cylindrical piston cap 118 with a resilient cylindrical piston 120
disposed thereon. The cap 118 and piston 120 are shown slightly drawn back
from the inner end 121 of the cylindrical chamber 104. The piston 120 is
pressed to the inner end of the cylinder 104 by a spring 122. One end of
the spring 122 bears against a cap 124 secured to the outer end of the
cylinder 104, and the other end of the spring 122 bears against a spreader
ring 123. The spring 122 thus presses against the back side of the
spreader ring 123 which in turn presses against the back side of the
piston 120 to thereby improve the seal between the piston 120 and the
cylinder 104.
The piston rod 116 may be flat and may have a pair of reinforcing ribs on
either side, although only one rib 125 is shown in FIG. 1. When the pair
of handles 102 and 108 is squeezed, the piston 120 will be drawn back.
When the pair of handles is released, the spring 122 will cause the piston
120 to return to the inner end 121 of the cylinder 104.
At the inner end of the cylindrical chamber 104 is a first recessed area
126 where an umbrella valve 128 is placed (see FIG. 2). Also at the inner
end of the cylindrical chamber 104 is a second recessed area 130 at which
a separate valve is placed, namely a duckbill valve 132 (see FIGS. 3 and
4). Note that the second recessed area 130 is normal to the axis of the
cylindrical chamber. The cylindrical piston 120 can cover and seal this
second recessed area 130 when the piston is at that end of the chamber.
When the piston is drawn back, air will be drawn from the pump's inlet area
134 into the area 136 evacuated by piston 120. When the handle is released
and the spring loaded piston 120 returns to the inner end 121 of the
cylindrical chamber 104 the air in the cylinder's evacuated area 136 will
be forced to exit via the duckbill valve 132 to the pump's exhaust area
138. It can be easily seen that repeated squeezings and releasings of the
two handles 102 and 108 will result in air being pumped from the inlet
area 134 to the outlet area 138, and a high vacuum will be generated. In
addition, pressure will be generated through the exhaust area 138, and
such pressure may be utilized for appropriate applications.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the operation of an umbrella valve is disclosed.
The umbrella valve 128 operates in conjunction with a pair of air inlets
202 and 204. It comprises a rubber plug 206 (which may be made of
polyfluorosilicone), which is inserted through retaining wall 208 at a
plug-hole 210 and which is thickened at a section 212 to prevent it from
falling through the plug-hole 210. Valve 128 also comprises a broad gas
shield 214 which covers the air inlets 202 and 204 and which is
impermeable to gases. The gas shield is flexible but has some tension, so
that gas flow may occur from the inlet area 134 (FIG. 1), through the air
inlets 202 and 204, past an edge 220 of the gas shield 214, to the other
side of the gas shield shown as area 136. When the air pressure of inlet
134 exceeds that of area 136, gas flow will occur. However, when this air
pressure differential is reversed, no gas flow will occur. By having
inlets 202 and 204 on opposite sides of the central axis of the umbrella
valve, and having a continuous chamber area 500 about the gas shield 214
the edge 220 is rendered uniformly operable about its perimeter thereby
ensuring smooth gas flow with the valve and smooth operation of the pump.
An umbrella valve is a standard device and is well-known in the art.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation of a duckbill valve is
disclosed.
The duckbill valve 132 comprises a pair of solid, flexible walls 302 and
304 (which may be made of polyfluorosilicone) and which are compressed
together at a lip 306. The valve 132 is anchored with a solid base 308
connected to the solid walls 302 and 304. The walls terminate in a lip 306
which is flexible but which has some tension, so that gas flow may occur
from the inside area 130 to the outside areas 138 of the valve 132. When
the air pressure of area 130 exceeds that of area 138, gas flow will occur
from area 130 to area 138, but when the air pressure differential is
reversed, no gas flow will occur.
A duckbill valve is a standard device and is well-known in the art.
In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 there is illustrated the vacuum release valve mechanism
400 which includes a casing 401 with a valve seat 402 about which there is
located an 0-ring 403. A rotatable closure member 404 is movable upwardly
and downwardly as indicated by arrow 405 to seat with the seat 402 or to
be spaced from the seat, as indicated in FIG. 5.
The closure member 404 has two extending radial cams 406 and 407 which are
operable by the index finger of the hand around the gripping handles of
the pump. The closure member has a longitudinally directed axle 408 and
409. The axle 408 is housed in above 410 in a housing closure member 411
which is screw connected at 412 to the casing 401 (see FIG. 5 and 7). In
this manner, the vacuum release valve can be easily assembled and
disassembled. The screw connections 412 extend in pillars 413 located
transversely of the pump longitudinal axis, the pillars 413 acting as
barriers to limit the movement of the radial arms 406 and 407 to an arc
transverse to the longitudinal axis. By this construction the arm 406 is
maintained in a position which always faces the handles of the pump, and
thereby control with the index finger is facilitated.
Operation of the arms 406 and 407 is such that they ride up or down a
vertical slot 419 in the casing 401 thereby moving the closure member to
or from the valve seat 402 (see FIG. 6). When on the seat the vacuum can
be drawn by the pump, and when removed from the seat the vacuum is
released.
The vacuum release valve is mounted ahead of the handles and the umbrella
valve in a vacuum release body 414 which has a nozzle 415 at the leading
end and a pipe 416 to permit connection of a vacuum gauge 417 (see FIG.
5). A support brace 418 connects the vacuum release body 414 to the vacuum
pump duckbill valve housing.
The vacuum release body 414 is itself screw connected at 420 with the
vacuum pump body. In this manner assembly and disassembly is also
facilitated.
It should be understood that while a presently preferred embodiment has
been disclosed, variations are possible which remain within the scope of
the present invention.
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