Portable vacuum pump with protection against suction of liquids

A portable vacuum pump with protection against suction of liquids, the portable vacuum pump comprising:

• an air pump for pumping air (vacuuming), the air pump being powered by a motor and a power source;
• at least one sensor with a metal spring or at least two sensors for sensing liquid for sensing liquid at an entry of an air suction channel of the portable vacuum pump;
• a controller arranged to terminate vacuuming upon the sensors sensing liquid;
• a housing having an opening for connection with a valve or opening that allows vacuum storing in a vacuum vessel, wherein the housing contains:
• the air suction channel starting at the opening of the housing and extending into an interior of the housing to form a pathway along which air is sucked into an interior of the air pump, wherein the air suction channel is located approximately in the centre of an interior of the housing;
• the at least one sensor with a metal spring or the at least two sensors;
• and
• the controller in communication with the at least one sensor with the metal spring or with the at least two sensors, via connecting cables or wires, wherein the controller is operable to terminate pumping upon sensing liquid with the sensor with the metal spring or with the at least two sensors;
• a removable cover of the housing protecting the air suction channel and the at least one sensor with the metal spring or the at least two sensors against environmental conditions, wherein removal of the cover enables maintenance access to the at least one sensor with the metal spring or the at least two sensors;
• wherein the removable cover is a designed as a one-piece silicon sealing piece that upon removal ensures access to the at least one sensor with the metal spring or the at least two sensors and has a circular shape to fit into the opening of the housing, wherein the sealing piece is provided with protrusions configured to ensure sealing and fit into the housing of the air pump;
• wherein the housing is provided with corresponding structures for closure;
• and
• wherein the at least one sensor with the metal spring or the at least two sensors are spaced apart to receive a droplet of liquid therebetween, and wherein the at least one sensor with the metal spring or the at least two sensors are connected to the controller of the air pump.