US20020157209A1 - Blower with interchangeable fixed and flexible tubes - Google Patents

Blower with interchangeable fixed and flexible tubes Download PDF

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Publication number
US20020157209A1
US20020157209A1 US09/844,197 US84419701A US2002157209A1 US 20020157209 A1 US20020157209 A1 US 20020157209A1 US 84419701 A US84419701 A US 84419701A US 2002157209 A1 US2002157209 A1 US 2002157209A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
discharge tube
flexible
outlet
blower device
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US09/844,197
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
James Marshall
Michael Milligan
Patrick Mooney
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Black and Decker Inc
Original Assignee
Black and Decker Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Black and Decker Inc filed Critical Black and Decker Inc
Priority to US09/844,197 priority Critical patent/US20020157209A1/en
Assigned to BLACK & DECKER INC. reassignment BLACK & DECKER INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MARSHALL, JAMES D., MILLIGAN, MICHAEL A., MOONEY, PATRICK A.
Priority to AU37041/02A priority patent/AU783648B2/en
Priority to EP02253002A priority patent/EP1253249A3/de
Publication of US20020157209A1 publication Critical patent/US20020157209A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H1/00—Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface
    • E01H1/08—Pneumatically dislodging or taking-up undesirable matter or small objects; Drying by heat only or by streams of gas; Cleaning by projecting abrasive particles
    • E01H1/0809—Loosening or dislodging by blowing ; Drying by means of gas streams
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G20/00—Cultivation of turf, lawn or the like; Apparatus or methods therefor
    • A01G20/40—Apparatus for cleaning the lawn or grass surface
    • A01G20/43—Apparatus for cleaning the lawn or grass surface for sweeping, collecting or disintegrating lawn debris
    • A01G20/47—Vacuum or blower devices

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to debris blowers and more particularly to a debris blower having fixed and flexible discharge tubes which may be selectively coupled to the outlet of a blower housing.
  • Debris blowers are known in which an impeller or a fan driven by a motor creates an air stream which is directed into a duct.
  • the air stream discharged from the open end of the duct is employed to blow debris from walkways, driveways and lawns, etc.
  • hand-held debris blowers are provided with a rigid tube assembly that requires the operator to move the entire debris blower to change the orientation and position of the air that is discharged therefrom.
  • back-packed debris blowers tend to be less efficient than similarly sized hand-held portable debris blowers having rigid tube assemblies. Accordingly, the back-packed debris blower may need to be sized relatively larger than a hand-held portable debris blower to accomplish the same tasks.
  • the present invention provides a portable blower device with a housing, a power source, a fan structure and a set of discharge tubes.
  • the fan structure is coupled to a movable output member of the power source and produces an air flow that enters into the housing from an inlet and discharges therefrom via an outlet in response to movement of the output member.
  • Each discharge tube includes a coupling portion that is configured to permit the discharge tube to be releasably engaged to the outlet.
  • the set of discharge tubes include a rigid discharge tube that is configured such that it does not significantly deflect when its coupling portion is engaged to the outlet and the remaining portion of the rigid discharge tube extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet in an unsupported manner.
  • the set of discharge tubes also includes a flexible discharge tube that is configured such that at least a portion of it does significantly deflect when its coupling portion is engaged to the outlet and the remaining portion of the flexible discharge tube extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet in an unsupported manner.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a blower constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the blower of FIG. 1 taken along its longitudinal axis;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the blower of FIG. 1, illustrating the flexible discharge tube in greater detail;
  • FIG. 4 is a partially broken away side view of the flexible discharge tube
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a partially broken away bottom view of the flexible discharge tube
  • FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the coupling of the flexible discharge tube and the secondary discharge tube
  • FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of the flexible discharge tube
  • FIG. 9 is an end view of the portion of the flexible discharge tube illustrated in FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 but illustrating the position of the protrusion on the secondary discharge tube as the secondary discharge tube is engaged to the flexible discharge tube;
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the blower of FIG. 1 as operated with the rigid discharge tube coupled to the outlet in the housing;
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the blower of FIG. 1 as operated with the flexible discharge tube coupled to the outlet in the housing.
  • a blower constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 .
  • the blower 10 is shown to include a power source 12 , a switch assembly 14 for selectively controlling the power source, a housing 16 , a fan structure, such as an impeller 18 , a set of discharge tubes 20 , a secondary discharge tube 22 and a strap 24 .
  • the power source 12 is illustrated to include a motor assembly 30 having an electric motor 32 with a pair of terminals 34 and an output shaft 36 .
  • the motor assembly 30 and switch assembly 14 are conventional in their construction and operation and need not be discussed in significant detail.
  • the switch assembly 14 is coupled to a source of electric power (e.g., via a power cord 40 ) and via the terminals 34 , selectively provides the motor 32 with electricity in a predetermined manner that is related to the amount by which a trigger button 46 on the switch assembly 14 is depressed.
  • a source of electric power e.g., via a power cord 40
  • the switch assembly 14 includes a toggle switch, but as those skilled in the art will readily understand, any appropriate switch may be used.
  • the housing 16 is illustrated to include a pair of housing shells 50 that collectively define a motor mounting portion 52 , a switch mounting portion 54 , a handle 56 and a volute 58 having an impeller cavity 60 , a primary inlet 62 , a secondary inlet 64 and an outlet 68 .
  • the motor and switch mounting portions 52 and 54 are conventional in their construction and operation, being employed to fixedly couple the motor assembly 30 and the switch assembly 14 , respectively, within the housing 16 .
  • the distal end of the output shaft 36 extends rearwardly into the impeller cavity 60 .
  • the impeller cavity 60 extends radially around the output shaft 36 and is substantially enveloped on its forward and rearward sides by a pair of annular endwalls 70 and 72 , respectively, into which the secondary and primary inlets 62 and 64 , respectively, are formed.
  • a plurality of vent apertures 76 that are skewed to the rotary axis 80 of the output shaft 36 are formed through the housing 16 forwardly of the endwall 70 .
  • a plurality of circumferentially extending inlet apertures 86 are spaced around the housing 16 rearwardly of the endwall 72 . The circumference of the portion of the housing 16 into which the inlet apertures 86 are formed is illustrated to be larger than the diameter of the primary inlet 62 .
  • the outlet 68 intersects the impeller cavity 60 tangent to the outer diameter of the impeller cavity 60 in a manner that is conventionally known. However, the outlet 68 turns forwardly after this intersection and extends along an axis that is offset both vertically and horizontally from the rotary axis 80 of the output shaft 36 .
  • the outlet 68 terminates at a coupling portion 90 that will be discussed in greater detail, below.
  • the impeller 18 is illustrated to be coupled for rotation with the output shaft 36 and include a flange member 102 , a set of first impeller blades 104 and a set of second impeller blades 106 .
  • the flange member 102 extends radially outwardly in a continuous manner to thereby completely segregate the sets of first and second impeller blades 104 and 106 from one another.
  • the impeller 18 rotates within the impeller cavity 60 .
  • Rotation of the set of first impeller blades 104 imparts momentum to the air that is disposed between each adjacent pair of first impeller blades 104 , slinging the air radially outwardly toward the outlet 68 .
  • the air exiting the outlet 68 as a result of the momentum imparted by the set of first impeller blades 104 creates a negative pressure differential that generates a primary air flow 120 that enters the housing 16 through the inlet apertures 86 and is directed into the set of first impeller blades 104 by the primary inlet 62 in a direction generally parallel the rotary axis 80 .
  • rotation of the set of second impeller blades 106 imparts momentum to the air that is disposed between each adjacent pair of second impeller blades 106 , slinging the air radially outwardly toward the outlet 68 .
  • the air exiting the outlet 68 as a result of the momentum imparted by the set of second impeller blades 106 creates a negative pressure differential that generates a secondary air flow 122 that enters the housing 16 through the vent apertures 76 .
  • the housing 16 is constructed such that the motor 32 rejects heat to the secondary air flow 122 before it travels through the secondary inlet 64 .
  • the secondary inlet 64 directs the secondary flow 122 into the set of second impeller blades 106 in a direction generally parallel the rotary axis 80 and opposite the primary air flow 120 .
  • the primary and secondary air flows 120 and 122 combine in the outlet 68 and are discharged through the coupling portion 90 .
  • the height of the first impeller blades 104 is substantially larger than that of the second impeller blades 106 and as such, the mass flow rate of the primary air flow 120 will be substantially larger than the mass flow rate of the secondary air flow 122 .
  • the primary and secondary flows 120 and 122 cannot travel in an axial direction beyond the flange member 102 until they have been slung radially outwardly of the impeller 18 .
  • the set of discharge tubes 20 is illustrated to include a rigid discharge tube 200 and a flexible discharge tube 202 , both of which are illustrated to have a coupling portion 210 that is configured to releasably engage the coupling portion 90 of the outlet 68 .
  • the rigid discharge tube 200 is a generally hollow cylindrical structure that is preferably unitarily formed from a plastic material.
  • the rigid discharge tube 200 includes a body portion 220 , to which the coupling portion 210 is fixedly coupled to its proximal end and a second coupling portion 222 is fixedly coupled to its distal end.
  • the rigid discharge tube 200 is configured such that it does not significantly deflect when its coupling portion 210 is engaged to the coupling portion 90 of the outlet 68 and the remaining portion of the rigid discharge tube 200 extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet 68 in an unsupported manner.
  • the flexible discharge tube 202 is configured such that at least a portion of it does significantly deflect when its coupling portion 210 is engaged to the coupling portion 90 of the outlet 68 and the remaining portion of the flexible discharge tube 202 extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet 68 in an unsupported manner.
  • the flexible discharge tube 202 is illustrated to include a flexible hose assembly 230 , a first end structure 232 , into which the coupling portion 210 is integrated, and a second end structure 234 .
  • the flexible hose assembly 230 includes a hose portion 240 and a reinforcing member 242 that is wrapped around the hose portion 240 in a helical manner to provide both guard against wear on the hose portion 240 and to restrict the expansion of the hose portion 240 should the flow of air out the secondary discharge tube 22 be restricted.
  • the first end structure 232 is a rigid structure that is formed by a pair of molded plastic shells 246 that are configured to fit around and fixedly engage a proximal end of the flexible hose assembly 230 .
  • the second end structure 234 is also a rigid structure that is formed by a pair of molded plastic shells 248 that are configured to fit around and fixedly engage a distal end of the flexible hose assembly 230 .
  • the second end structure 234 includes a handle 250 that is configured to be manipulated by an operator to permit the distal end of the flexible hose assembly 230 to be positioned and oriented in a desired manner relative to the housing 16 .
  • the second end structure 234 also includes a second coupling portion 254 that is identical in configuration to the second coupling portion 222 on the distal end of the rigid discharge tube 200 .
  • each of the first and second end structures 232 and 234 is shown to include a helical engagement member 260 that is configured to threadably engage the reinforcing member 242 .
  • attachment means including adhesives, may also or alternatively be employed.
  • the secondary discharge tube 22 is a generally hollow cylindrical structure that is preferably unitarily formed from a plastic material.
  • the secondary discharge tube 22 includes a body portion 270 , to which a coupling portion 272 is fixedly coupled to its proximal end and a discharge outlet 274 is formed in its distal end.
  • the coupling portion 272 is configured to matingly engage the second coupling portions 222 and 254 in the rigid and flexible discharge tubes 200 and 202 , respectively.
  • the coupling portions 210 and 272 on the rigid discharge tube 200 and the secondary discharge tube 22 include a pair of protrusions 280 that extends outwardly from the outer surface of a generally cylindrical end body 282 and which are spaced apart from one another by 1800 .
  • the protrusions 280 are illustrated to have a cross-shape but may be shaped in any desired manner.
  • the coupling portion 210 incorporated into the first end structure 232 is generally similar, but also includes a pair of axially extending slots 284 on the opposite sides of each protrusion 280 which permit the rather rigid shells 246 to deflect somewhat to facilitate the coupling of the flexible discharge tube 202 to the outlet 68 .
  • the coupling portion 254 is shown to include a cylindrical aperture 300 , which is sized to engage the cylindrical end body 282 of the secondary discharge tube 22 , and a pair of L-shaped channels 304 which are spaced 180 ° apart from one another and configured to receive the protrusions 280 from the coupling portion 272 .
  • Each of the L-shaped channels 304 includes a first portion 310 , which is arranged generally parallel a longitudinal axis of the second end structure 234 , and a second portion 312 , which is coupled to an end of the first portion 310 and extends circumferentially around the second end structure 234 away from the first portion 310 .
  • the first portion 310 is shown to taper inwardly from the end 314 of the second end structure 234 to the second portion 312 to thereby facilitate the insertion of the protrusions 280 into the L-shaped channels 304 .
  • a ramp 320 is formed in the L-shaped channel 304 and includes first and second tapered surfaces 322 and 324 , respectively.
  • the ramp 320 is positioned in the L-shaped channel 304 so as to resist the movement of the protrusion 280 out of the second portion 312 to maintain the flexible discharge tube 202 and the secondary discharge tube 22 in a coupled relation.
  • the second tapered surface 324 extends into the second portion 312 of the L-shaped channel 304 to a degree wherein the protrusion 280 is partially engaged thereto as shown in solid line in FIG. 10. Configuration of the ramp 320 in this manner is advantageous in that the interference between the ramp 320 and the protrusion 280 generates a force that operates to clamp the flexible discharge tube 202 and the secondary discharge tube 22 together.
  • the shoulder strap 24 is illustrated to be releasably coupled at its opposite ends to a pair of buckle clips 350 that are formed in the housing 16 .
  • the shoulder strap 24 may be removed from the housing 16 so as not to inhibit the manipulation of the blower 10 when the operator is employing the handle 56 .
  • attachment of the shoulder strap 24 to the housing 16 permits a loop 356 to be formed which can then be draped over the shoulder 360 of the operator to thereby support the weight of the housing 16 , the power source 12 and the fan structure 18 .
  • the rigid discharge tube 200 is coupled to the distal end of the flexible discharge tube 202 .
  • the secondary discharge tube 22 may be coupled directly to the distal end of the flexible discharge tube 202 or that either of the rigid and flexible discharge tubes 200 and 202 may be employed without the use of the secondary discharge tube 22 .
  • the secondary discharge tube 22 may also be incorporated directly into one or both of the rigid and flexible discharge tubes 200 and 202 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
US09/844,197 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 Blower with interchangeable fixed and flexible tubes Abandoned US20020157209A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/844,197 US20020157209A1 (en) 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 Blower with interchangeable fixed and flexible tubes
AU37041/02A AU783648B2 (en) 2001-04-27 2002-04-26 Blower with interchangeable fixed and flexible tubes
EP02253002A EP1253249A3 (de) 2001-04-27 2002-04-26 Gebläse mit auswechselbaren Steifen und flexiblen Rohren

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/844,197 US20020157209A1 (en) 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 Blower with interchangeable fixed and flexible tubes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20020157209A1 true US20020157209A1 (en) 2002-10-31

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/844,197 Abandoned US20020157209A1 (en) 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 Blower with interchangeable fixed and flexible tubes

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20020157209A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1253249A3 (de)
AU (1) AU783648B2 (de)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030140453A1 (en) * 2002-01-30 2003-07-31 Mtd Products Inc Retractable clip for shoulder strap
US20040143931A1 (en) * 2003-01-28 2004-07-29 Dennis Robert J. Gutter cleaning system
US20050133354A1 (en) * 2003-12-19 2005-06-23 Fuji Robin Kabushiki Kaisha Handheld blower
US20050251954A1 (en) * 2003-05-14 2005-11-17 Michael Guest Mobile blower assembly for use with a multi-functional cleaning machine
US20090071115A1 (en) * 2007-09-17 2009-03-19 Freewalt James L Air-powered rotary rake
US8984710B2 (en) 2010-09-29 2015-03-24 Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd. Blower apparatus and an air conveying apparatus
WO2015180750A1 (en) * 2014-05-26 2015-12-03 Husqvarna Ab Tube connection for blower/vacuum device
US20180223490A1 (en) * 2017-02-09 2018-08-09 Freddie Garcia Portable Blower

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2422192A (en) * 2005-01-13 2006-07-19 Louis William Green Portable roof drying blower heated by a drive motor
EP3133973B1 (de) * 2014-04-24 2018-02-28 Husqvarna AB Laubbläser mit einer öse
CN108677844B (zh) * 2015-05-11 2019-06-28 南京德朔实业有限公司 吹风机
US20210059238A1 (en) * 2019-08-28 2021-03-04 Denis Remi Proulx Fan With Support For Mosquito Coil

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6129778Y2 (de) * 1978-02-15 1986-09-02
SE8502774D0 (sv) * 1985-06-05 1985-06-05 Stefan Moszkowski Sugkanal for transport av luft
US5722110A (en) * 1995-10-10 1998-03-03 Paul Curtis McIntyre Portable industrial vacuum machine
JPH108430A (ja) * 1996-06-21 1998-01-13 Kioritz Corp ブロワパイプ

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030140453A1 (en) * 2002-01-30 2003-07-31 Mtd Products Inc Retractable clip for shoulder strap
US20040143931A1 (en) * 2003-01-28 2004-07-29 Dennis Robert J. Gutter cleaning system
US20050251954A1 (en) * 2003-05-14 2005-11-17 Michael Guest Mobile blower assembly for use with a multi-functional cleaning machine
US20060037171A1 (en) * 2003-05-14 2006-02-23 Michael Guest Grout tool for use with an all surface cleaning apparatus
US7406739B2 (en) 2003-05-14 2008-08-05 Karcher Floor Care, Inc Grout tool for use with an all surface cleaning apparatus
US20050133354A1 (en) * 2003-12-19 2005-06-23 Fuji Robin Kabushiki Kaisha Handheld blower
US20090071115A1 (en) * 2007-09-17 2009-03-19 Freewalt James L Air-powered rotary rake
US8042223B2 (en) * 2007-09-17 2011-10-25 Realtek Solutions, L.L.C. Air-powered rotary rake
US8984710B2 (en) 2010-09-29 2015-03-24 Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd. Blower apparatus and an air conveying apparatus
WO2015180750A1 (en) * 2014-05-26 2015-12-03 Husqvarna Ab Tube connection for blower/vacuum device
US20180223490A1 (en) * 2017-02-09 2018-08-09 Freddie Garcia Portable Blower

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1253249A3 (de) 2003-12-10
EP1253249A2 (de) 2002-10-30
AU783648B2 (en) 2005-11-17
AU3704102A (en) 2002-10-31

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BLACK & DECKER INC., DELAWARE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MARSHALL, JAMES D.;MILLIGAN, MICHAEL A.;MOONEY, PATRICK A.;REEL/FRAME:011776/0458

Effective date: 20010427

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION