Fluid extraction station and related method

Abstract

A fluid extraction station includes a hub having a fluid passageway therethrough. A plurality of legs extend in spaced relation from a periphery of the hub, at least a portion of each leg forming a fluid dam. Adjacent legs form a fluid pathway for directing fluid towards a fluid inlet of the fluid passageway for extraction from the floor surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid extraction station, comprising:
 a hub having a fluid passageway extending therethrough from a fluid inlet adjacent a floor or ground surface to a fluid outlet attachable to a source of vacuum; and   a plurality of legs extending in spaced relation from a periphery of the hub, at least a portion of each leg forming a fluid dam and adjacent legs forming a fluid pathway for directing fluid towards the fluid inlet of the fluid passageway for extraction from the floor or ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passageway is formed within the hub. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , wherein an opening area of the fluid inlet is larger than an outlet area of the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passageway tapers inwardly from a periphery of the inlet aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet is disposed over the floor or ground surface in spaced relation thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 5 , wherein the legs support the hub a distance from the ground or floor surface. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of each leg along a length thereof is in contact with the ground or floor surface. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , wherein at least three legs extend from the hub at one end thereof and diverge from one another at a generally opposite end thereof to form a converging fluid pathway towards the fluid inlet of the hub. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet is operably coupled to a fluid extraction hose. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , including a hose fitting attachable to the fluid outlet at one end thereof and a fluid extraction vacuum hose at an opposite end thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 10 , wherein the hose fitting has an elbow configuration and is rotationally adjustable with respect to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , wherein the hub includes an inner wall defining the fluid passageway and an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall to form a weighting material receiving cavity therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid extraction station of  claim 1 , wherein the legs comprise elongated walls extending away from the hub and upwardly from the floor or ground surface. 
     
     
         14 . A method of extracting fluid from a floor or ground surface, comprising:
 providing a fluid extraction station comprising a hub having a fluid passageway therethrough from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, and a plurality of legs forming fluid dams extending from the hub in spaced relation to one another and forming a converging fluid pathway towards the fluid inlet of the hub;   attaching a vacuum hose to the fluid outlet;   directing fluid from a ground or floor surface towards the fluid dams, causing the fluid to flow along the fluid pathway; and   extracting the fluid from the ground or floor surface through the fluid inlet and to the vacuum hose.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the directing step includes the step of manually pushing the fluid on the ground or floor surface towards the fluid dams of the fluid extraction station. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , including the step of attaching a hose fitting having an elbow configuration at one end thereof to the fluid outlet and the generally opposite end thereof to the vacuum hose. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , including the step of rotating the hose fitting. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , including the step of placing weighting material into a cavity of the hub. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the providing step includes providing a fluid extraction station having elongated walls forming the legs and fluid dams extending divergently away from the hub and in contact at a lower edge thereof with the ground or floor surface to form the fluid pathway. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid inlet is positioned at a base of the hub and tapers inwardly from a periphery thereof.