Combination vertical rotary vane suction pump and liquid separator
AssigneeGast Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsDelbert Thomas, Christopher Lee Blackburn, Troy Smits
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact suction and separation device is shown and described. The suction and separation device includes a pump and a separator. The pump includes a vertically oriented rotary vane pump comprising a suction inlet and an exhaust outlet. The separator includes a collector configured to receive combinations of solids, liquids and air. The separator separates solids and/or liquids from the air. Air from the separator is routed from an air discharge into the suction inlet of the pump. Solids and/or liquids are drained from a liquids/solids discharge of the separator. The separator may be gravity-based or centrifuge-type separator driven by the pump motor.
Claims20
A compact combination suction and separation apparatus, comprising:
- a pump comprising a suction inlet and an exhaust outlet;
- a liquid separator comprising a separator inlet configured to receive air, liquids and solids, an air discharge in communication with the suction inlet of the pump, and a liquids/solids discharge configured to drain liquids and solids from the liquid separator;
- and
- a motor disposed between and coupled to the pump and separator.
A compact combination suction and liquid separation apparatus, comprising:
- a rotary vane pump comprising a pump casing with a removable upper cap, a suction inlet and an exhaust outlet;
- a separator comprising an inlet for receiving air, liquids and solids from a medical suction tool, the inlet disposed between upper and lower chambers, the separator further comprising a flapper valve separating the upper and lower chambers, the lower chamber being connected to a bottom reservoir, the upper chamber comprising a vent valve for exposing the upper chamber to the atmosphere and the bottom reservoir comprising an upper level indicator for indicating when the bottom reservoir is full and a discharge outlet including a check valve, the upper chamber further comprising an air discharge connected to the suction inlet of the pump,
- the upper level indicator and vent valve being linked so the vent valve is opened when the upper level indicator in the reservoir is activated by the presence of accumulated liquid and solids.
A compact combination suction and separation apparatus for use with dental procedures, comprising:
- a vertically oriented rotary vane pump comprising a pump casing disposed between a removable upper cap and a lower head plate, the head plate comprising a suction inlet and an exhaust outlet in communication with the pump casing, the pump further comprising a pump rotor slidably coupled to a plurality of vanes;
- a liquid separator comprising a housing and a separator rotor, the separator housing being coupled to an inlet for receiving air, liquids and solids from a dental suction tool, an air discharge coupled to the suction inlet of the pump and a liquids/solids discharge;
- and
- a motor disposed between the pump and separator and being coupled to a vertical drive shaft extending upward into the pump casing and being coupled to the pump rotor, the drive shaft also extending downward to the separator housing and being coupled to the separator rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.