Blower with improved sound reduction

• US 10,670,048 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Landen, Goran, Nyberg, Tobias, Wibling, Fredrik, Bylund, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Jennings, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US15/577,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20180163750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 20/47 Vacuum or blower devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/06 the pump being electrically driven F04D25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/08 the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/522 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/663 Sound attenuation

Abstract

A blower (100) may include a housing (110), a motor (120), a fan assembly (170) and an inlet assembly (160). The housing (110) may include a handle (140) operably coupled thereto. The fan assembly (170) may be operably coupled to the motor (120) to force air through a blower tube (150) responsive to operation of the motor (120). The blower tube (150) may define a tube axis (152). The inlet assembly (160) may provide a path for air to the fan assembly (170). The inlet assembly (160) may include an inlet aperture (162) formed at an end of the housing (110). The inlet assembly (160) may further include an inlet mesh (164) disposed within the housing (110) spaced apart from the inlet aperture (162).

Claims

1. A blower comprising:

a housing including a handle operably coupled thereto;

a motor;

a blower tube defining a tube axis;

a fan assembly operably coupled to the motor to force air through the blower tube responsive to operation of the motor; and

an inlet portion at a rear of the blower rearward of the motor, the inlet portion including an inlet assembly providing a path for air to the fan assembly,

wherein the inlet assembly comprises an inlet aperture formed as an opening into the housing, and

wherein the inlet assembly further comprises an inlet mesh disposed within the housing spaced apart from the inlet aperture.

2. The blower of claim 1, wherein the inlet aperture is defined by a perimeter lying in a plane at an angle relative to the tube axis.

3. The blower of claim 2, wherein the plane is angled to face downward and rearward responsive to the handle being grasped by an operator.

4. The blower of claim 1, wherein the inlet mesh has a first end proximate to the inlet aperture and a second end distally located relative to the inlet aperture, and wherein a diameter of the inlet mesh decreases from the first end to the second end.

5. The blower of claim 4, wherein a rate of diameter decrease of the inlet mesh increases as distance to the second end decreases.

6. The blower of claim 4, wherein the inlet mesh has a substantially conical shape.

7. The blower of claim 6, wherein all portions of the conical shape are disposed inside the housing.

8. The blower of claim 4, wherein an angle between the tube axis and a line extending from a top of the perimeter of the inlet aperture to a bottom of the second end of the inlet mesh is about sixty degrees or less.

9. The blower of claim 4, wherein the inlet mesh comprises a spiral helix that tapers to the second end.

10. The blower of claim 4, wherein the inlet mesh comprises a plurality of circular members each having decreasing diameters as the second end is approached, the circular members being connected to each other via connectors extending in a direction of extension of the blower tube.

11. The blower of claim 1, wherein a distance between the inlet mesh and the inlet aperture is at least about 30 mm.

12. The blower of claim 1, wherein the motor comprises an electric motor powered via a battery or mains power.

13. A blower comprising:

a housing including a handle operably coupled thereto;

a motor; and

a fan assembly operably coupled to the motor to force air through a blower tube responsive to operation of the motor, the blower tube defining a tube axis;

wherein the fan assembly is provided in an outlet tube corresponding to the blower tube, and air is fed to the fan assembly via an inlet tube spaced apart from the outlet tube such that the outlet tube and inlet tube are operably coupled to each other via an acoustic chamber defined by the housing.

14. The blower of claim 13, wherein a diameter of the acoustic chamber is greater than a diameter of the inlet tube and a diameter of the outlet tube.

15. The blower of claim 14, wherein the diameter of the inlet tube and the diameter of the outlet tube are approximately equal.

16. The blower of claim 13, wherein a distance between the inlet tube and the outlet tube is less than a length of the acoustic chamber along the tube axis.

17. The blower of claim 16, wherein the distance between the inlet tube and the outlet tube is greater than about 10 mm.

18. The blower of claim 13, wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the inlet tube and the outlet tube is substantially aligned with the tube axis.

19. The blower of claim 13, wherein the acoustic chamber is disposed at a portion of the housing that is below the handle (140).

20. The blower of claim 13, wherein the acoustic chamber comprises a free space, or wherein the acoustic chamber includes one or more acoustic absorbers disposed therein.