Blower nozzle with variable velocity output

• US 20030127546A1
• Filed: 01/10/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commercial Turf Products Ltd (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saha, Amit, Eavenson, Jimmy N. Sr., Kocka, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,419,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/594
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 20/47 Vacuum or blower devices
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0809 Loosening or dislodging by blowing combined with suction E01H1/0863; with steam E01H1/10; removing snow by blowing E01H5/106; cleaning rails by blowing E01H8/105, E01H8/125; removing fog by blowing E01H13/00; cleaning joints in road construction by blowing E01C23/0906; Drying by means of gas streams by heat only E01H1/08; combined with snow or ice melting E01H5/10, E01H5/106, E01H5/108

Abstract

A nozzle for use with a walk-behind blower includes a nozzle restriction due to a sloped upper wall of the nozzle body. The nozzle restriction increases the air velocity in the upper region of the nozzle and forces leaves and debris downward so that airflow through the lower region of the nozzle more effectively laterally displaces them. The configuration of the nozzle body may be adapted to accommodate a variety of engine outputs while utilizing a common design for a blower frame, impeller and shroud.

Claims

1. A nozzle adapted for mounting on the discharge chute of an associated blower, said nozzle comprising:

a nozzle body having an upper wall, a lower wall, and spaced, generally parallel side walls defining a channel being open at an inlet end and open at an outlet end, said upper wall including a sloped region to provide a nozzle restriction.

2. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein said sloped region gradually reduces a height of said channel from said inlet end to said outlet end.

3. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein said lower wall is generally planar throughout a length, L, of said nozzle body.

4. The nozzle of claim 1 further comprising:

an attachment region located at said inlet end.

5. A nozzle adapted for mounting on the discharge chute of an associated blower, said nozzle comprising:

a nozzle body being open at an inlet end and open at an outlet end, said inlet end and said outlet end being in flow communication through a channel formed in said nozzle body, said nozzle body including a nozzle restriction and being adapted so that air passing through an upper region of said channel changes direction from said inlet end to said outlet end and wherein air passing through a lower potion of said channel flows in a generally constant direction from said inlet end to said outlet end.

6. A nozzle adapted for mounting on the discharge chute of an associated blower, said nozzle comprising:

a nozzle body being open at an inlet end and open at an outlet end, said inlet end and said outlet end being in flow communication through a channel formed in said nozzle body, said channel being associated with a first cross-sectional area at said inlet end, and said channel being associated with a second cross-sectional area at said outlet end, wherein said second cross-sectional area is less than said first cross-sectional area.

7. The nozzle of claim 6 wherein said second cross-sectional area is approximately 50% to 75% of said first cross-sectional area.

8. A nozzle adapted for mounting on the discharge chute of an associated blower, said nozzle comprising:

a nozzle body being open at an inlet end and open at an outlet end, said inlet end and said outlet end being in flow communication through a channel formed in said nozzle body, said channel being associated with a first cross-sectional area at said inlet end, and said channel being associated with a second cross-sectional area at said outlet end, wherein said channel is reduced in cross-sectional area from said inlet end to said outlet end by a gradual reduction in channel height from a first height H₁ at said inlet end to a second height H₂ at said outlet end.

9. The nozzle of claim 8 wherein H₂ is approximately from 50% to 75% of H₁.

10. In combination, a blower for generating a flow of air, said blower having a discharge chute, and a nozzle, said nozzle being adapted for mounting on the discharge chute, wherein the airflow through said discharge chute generally has a greater velocity in a lower region than in an upper region, wherein the combination comprises:

said discharge chute having a generally planar lower interior surface; and

,

said nozzle having a nozzle body having an upper wall, a lower wall, and spaced side walls defining a channel being open at an inlet end and open at an outlet end, said lower wall having an interior surface being generally aligned with said lower interior surface of said discharge chute and said upper wall including a sloped region to provide a nozzle restriction.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein:

said channel is associated with a first cross-sectional area at said inlet end, and said channel is associated with a second cross-sectional area at said outlet end, wherein said second cross-sectional area is less than said first cross-sectional area.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein:

said second cross-sectional area is approximately 50% to 75% of said first cross-sectional area.

13. The combination of claim 10 wherein:

said channel is associated with a first cross-sectional area at said inlet end, and said channel is associated with a second cross-sectional area at said outlet end, wherein said channel is reduced in cross-sectional area from said inlet end to said outlet end by a gradual reduction in channel height from a first height H₁ at said inlet end to a second height H₂ at said outlet end.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein H₂ is approximately 50% to 75% of H₁.