VACUUM CLEANER WITH CONTINUOUS LIQUID PICK-UP

摘要

The disclosed vacuum cleaner can continuously collect liquid while periodically discharging liquid from an outlet. It has a tank with two chambers divided by an intermediate wall with an aperture. One chamber is vented to the atmosphere, and has an outlet with a pressure--responsive drain valve that closes when a partial vacuum is present and opens when the partial vacuum is reduced and liquid in the chamber presses on the drain valve. The aperture has a pressure-responsive control valve that closes when the liquid level in the second chamber is high, so that liquid collects in the first chamber while the vent reduces the partial vacuum level, thereby discharging liquid through the outlet. A reset assembly can re-establish a partial vacuum level to close the drain valve and open the control valve.