Claims
- 1. A dental vacuum system for use in dental operatories comprising:
a vacuum means for the generation of an air stream and a control means for said vacuum means, said vacuum means in communication with an aspirator tip positioned within a patient's oral cavity, said aspirator tip for the removal of fluids, solid debris and air from the oral cavity by said air stream, there being disposed between said aspirator tip and said vacuum means; a separation means for the separation of fluids and solid debris from the air stream, said separation means comprising a container having a cylindrical side wall, a decreasing diameter base member having a fluid outlet in communication with a drain, an open top having a lid securable thereto, an inlet means for the introduction of said fluid, said debris, and said air stream into said separation chamber, and an exit means for the evacuation of said air stream to the vacuum means; said exit means comprising a conduit in communication with said vacuum means, said conduit positioned through said side wall of said container proximate said lid, said conduit having an exit port formed thereon, said exit port oriented upwardly toward said lid, said conduit having secured thereto a pivot arm having a first end and a second said pivot arm having a sealing means at said first end of said pivot arm cooperable with said exit port for sealing said exit port, said pivot arm having a float means depending downwardly from said second end of said pivot arm, said downward dependency of said float means being adjustable, said float means reactive to said fluid level to pivot said pivot arm to seal said exit port.
- 2. The dental vacuum system for use in dental operatories in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inlet means for said separation chamber is oriented tangentially to said cylindrical side wall circumference of said container to impart a helical flow to said air stream and fluids within said container.
- 3. The dental vacuum system for use in dental operatories in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inlet means on said separation means for the introduction of fluid, solid debris and said air stream has positioned in spaced apart relationship within said separation means, a baffle means for redirection of said air stream, fluids, and solid debris.
- 4. The dental vacuum system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vacuum means comprises a side channel two stage blower.
- 5. The dental vacuum system in accordance with claim 1 wherein a vacuum relief valve is positioned between said separation chamber and said vacuum means.
- 6. The dental vacuum system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said separation chamber drain has positioned therein a check valve.
- 7. A separation chamber for use in a dental vacuum system for the separation of fluids and debris from an air stream drawn by a vacuum means, said separation chamber comprising:
a cylindrical body member defined by a side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, an upper end and a lower end; a decreasing diameter base member secured to said lower end of said cylindrical body member terminating in a drain orifice; a lid means removably secured to said upper end of said cylindrical body member; inlet means for the introduction of an air stream containing fluids and debris; an outlet means for the evacuation of said air stream from said separation chamber, said outlet means comprising an outlet conduit with outlet port, said outlet port oriented upwardly in the direction of said lid of said separation chamber; a sealing means for said outlet port, said sealing means comprising a pivot arm mounted on a pivot point, said pivot point mounted to said conduit, said pivot arm having a first end and a second end, said first end having positioned thereon a seal cooperative with said outlet port to seal said outlet port, said second end of said pivot arm having an adjustable float means depending from said second end, said float means reactive to resistance to operate said pivot arm about said pivot point to bring said seal in cooperative sealing with said outlet port to seal same.
- 8. The dental vacuum system for use in dental operatories in accordance with claim 7 wherein said inlet means for said separation chamber is oriented tangentially to said cylindrical side wall circumference of said container to impart a helical flow to said air stream and fluids within said container.
- 9. The dental vacuum system for use in dental operatories in accordance with claim 7 wherein said inlet means on said separation means for the introduction of fluid, solid debris, and said air stream has positioned in spaced apart relationship within said separation means, a baffle means for redirection of said air stream, fluids, and solid debris.
- 10. The separation chamber in accordance with claim 7 wherein said float means is reactive to resistance of fluids.
- 11. The separation chamber in accordance with claim 7 wherein said float means is reactive to resistance of fluid foam.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/271,069 filed Feb. 26, 2001.