Vacuum Assembly

Abstract

The disclosed vacuum cleaner system for an automobile fits in a cavity in the vehicle and has a tank that can be removed in a lateral direction without tools and without detaching the vacuum hose. The motor/fan assembly is positioned above a chassis wall. Lateral flanges on opposed sides of the tank support the tank in generally horizontal sliding motion from a forward position to an elevated rearward position. A rear flange supports the tank as it pivots to a mounted position in which an inlet on a removable lid on the tank communicates with a hose, and an outlet on the lid communicates with the motor/fan assembly. In a removed position, the inlet and outlet are disconnected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum assembly that has:
 a chassis wall beneath a motor/fan assembly;   an impeller opening that is positioned on the chassis wall and is in fluid communication with an impeller in the motor/fan assembly;   a hose opening that is also positioned on the chassis wall and is in fluid communication with a hose;   a tank that mounts to the chassis wall; and   a pair of gaskets that, when the tank is mounted and the motor/fan assembly is running, seal flow from one part of the tank up into the impeller opening and seal flow from the hose down into another part of the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum assembly of  claim 1  in which:
 airflow through both the impeller opening and the hose opening is generally vertical, and flow though each opening is generally in an opposed direction to flow through the other opening. 
 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum assembly of  claim 1  in which:
 the vacuum assembly is mounted in an interior of a vehicle, within an internal cavity between an external panel of a vehicle and a generally vertical cabin wall within the interior of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum assembly of  claim 4  in which the tank is mounted for removal through a generally vertical opening in the generally vertical cabin wall. 
     
     
         6 . A vacuum assembly that has:
 a chassis wall beneath a motor/fan assembly;   an impeller opening that is positioned on the chassis wall and is in fluid communication with an impeller in the motor/fan assembly;   a hose opening that is also positioned on the chassis wall and is in fluid communication with a hose;   a tank that removably mounts to the chassis wall;   a pair of gaskets that, when the tank is mounted to the chassis wall and the motor/fan assembly is running, seal flow from one part of the tank up into the impeller opening and seal flow from the hose down into another part of the tank;   lateral flanges on the tank; and   a pair of angled ramp portions that are fixed in position with respect to the chassis wall and guide the tank for movement to an aligned position in which at least one of the gaskets is aligned beneath the impeller opening or the hose opening.   
     
     
         7 . The vacuum assembly of  claim 6 , in which:
 airflow through both the impeller opening and the hose opening is generally vertical, and flow though each opening is generally in an opposed direction to flow through the other opening; and   the movement of the tank along the ramp portions is generally horizontal, straight-line movement.   
     
     
         8 . The vacuum assembly of  claim 6 , in which:
 the vacuum assembly is mounted in an interior of a vehicle, within an internal cavity between an external panel of a vehicle and a generally vertical cabin wall within the interior of the vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The vacuum assembly of  claim 8 , in which the angled ramp portions guide the tank for movement through an opening in the cabin wall. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum assembly of  claim 6 , in which the tank is arranged for movement in which the seals at the impeller opening and the hose opening are broken simultaneously.