Machine and method for vacuum assisted servicing of a fluid enclosure
AssigneeRed Dog Vac Trac LLC
InventorOscar T. Scott, IV
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable battery-powered vacuum pump includes a housing having an intake vent, an outlet, and a fan assembly including a fan. The vacuum pump includes a magnet having a holding strength great enough to resist terrestrial gravitational force acting on the vacuum pump, a battery, and a power and control circuit that selectively applies power from the battery to rotate the fan, such that gas is drawn into the intake vent and expelled from the outlet.
Claims24
A portable battery-powered vacuum pump, comprising:
- an elongate housing having proximal and distal ends and a long axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the housing includes first and second surfaces, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the first surface forms a sidewall of the housing disposed between the proximal and distal ends, the second surface is at the proximal end and is formed at an angle to the first surface, and the inlet is formed through the second surface, wherein the long axis is orthogonal to the second surface and the second surface forms a maximum extension of the housing along the long axis;
- a fan assembly disposed within the housing, the fan assembly including a fan;
- a battery disposed within the housing;
- a power and control circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the power and control circuit is configured to selectively apply power from the battery to rotate the fan, such that gas is drawn into the inlet and expelled from the outlet;
- and
- a magnet disposed on the second surface in which the inlet is formed, wherein:
- the magnet surrounds the inlet;
- the magnet is configured to fixedly secure the second surface of the housing in direct contact with a mating face of an enclosure containing the gas such that the inlet is in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure;
- and
- the magnet exerts magnetic force great enough to support an entire weight of the vacuum pump subject to terrestrial gravitational force.
A method of servicing a system including an enclosure having first and second openings and containing a gas and a liquid fluid, the method comprising:
- providing a portable battery-powered vacuum pump, including:
- a housing having a first surface forming a sidewall, a second surface formed at an angle to the first surface, an inlet formed in the second surface, and an outlet;
- a fan assembly disposed within the housing, the fan assembly including a fan;
- a battery disposed within the housing;
- a power and control circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the power and control circuit is configured to selectively apply power from the battery to rotate the fan, such that gas is drawn into the inlet and expelled from the outlet;
- and
- a magnet disposed on the second surface in which the inlet is formed, wherein the magnet surrounds the inlet and exerts magnetic force great enough to secure the housing to a mating face of the enclosure and to support an entire weight of the vacuum pump subject to terrestrial gravitational force;
- positioning the vacuum pump with the inlet in fluid communication with the first opening and the magnet magnetically secured to the mating face;
- operating the vacuum pump such that gas from the enclosure is drawn through the first opening into the inlet of the vacuum pump;
- while operating the vacuum pump, removing a cover of the second opening in the enclosure, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the liquid fluid;
- and
- thereafter, covering the second opening in the enclosure and discontinuing operating the vacuum pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.