Wet/dry vacuum machine

Claim 1

In a vacuum machine for removing hazardous materials in liquid or dry condition, the improved combination comprising: a reservoir for storing collected materials, said reservoir including an upright side wall defining an upper edge for receiving and holding the inlet edge of a collection container extending downwardly into the reservoir; an adapter comprising a side wall and an integral bottom wall received on said reservoir and sealingly engaging said upper edge of said reservoir, said bottom wall defining an air intake aperture communicating the interior of said reservoir with the interior of said adapter; an intake conduit having a first section extending through the side wall of said adapter for receiving an intake hose and a second section extending downwardly through said bottom wall of said adapter and into said reservoir; a float valve in operative relation with said air intake aperture of said adapter bottom wall for sealing said aperture when the liquid level in said reservoir reaches a predetermined level; a lid mounted to cover the top of said adapter; a vacuum motor beneath said lid and at least partially encompassed by said adapter side wall; filter means for filtering air passing through said adapter; whereby said machine may be used as a liquid vacuum machine without a collection container or as a dry vacuum machine with the mouth of a sack folded over said upper edge of said reservoir and sealed thereagainst when said adapter is assembled thereto.