Portable blower/vacuum and impeller for use with same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An impeller for a portable blower/vacuum comprising:
- a base comprising a first side and a peripheral edge;
a hub located centrally on the first side of the base and defining a rotational axis of the impeller, wherein the hub comprises a face surface offset from the first side of the base; and
a plurality of impeller blades disposed upon the first side of the base and extending generally from the hub to the peripheral edge, each of the impeller blades being arc-shaped when viewed parallel to the rotational axis of the impeller, wherein each impeller blade comprises;
a first edge surface extending outwardly from the hub and away from the first side of the base, the first edge surface terminating at or near the face surface;
a second edge surface extending inwardly from the peripheral edge and away from the first side of the base; and
an intermediate, third edge surface connecting the first edge surface to the second edge surface,wherein each of the impeller blades, when viewed parallel to the rotational axis of the impeller, defines an inlet angle of about 26 degrees to about 34 degrees, the inlet angle measured between;
a first line that extends orthogonally from the rotational axis of the impeller to a first point located on the third edge surface; and
a second line that is tangent to the impeller blade at the first point.
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Abstract
A blower/vacuum and an impeller for use with generating air flow in a blower/vacuum. The impeller may include a hub for mounting the impeller on a rotatable output shaft of a motor of the blower/vacuum. The impeller may further include a plurality of air-flow generating blades that define a particular range of inlet and outlet angles. Additional features of the impeller may include a plurality of shortened member that facilitate mulching of air-entrained debris.
105 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An impeller for a portable blower/vacuum comprising:
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a base comprising a first side and a peripheral edge; a hub located centrally on the first side of the base and defining a rotational axis of the impeller, wherein the hub comprises a face surface offset from the first side of the base; and a plurality of impeller blades disposed upon the first side of the base and extending generally from the hub to the peripheral edge, each of the impeller blades being arc-shaped when viewed parallel to the rotational axis of the impeller, wherein each impeller blade comprises; a first edge surface extending outwardly from the hub and away from the first side of the base, the first edge surface terminating at or near the face surface; a second edge surface extending inwardly from the peripheral edge and away from the first side of the base; and an intermediate, third edge surface connecting the first edge surface to the second edge surface, wherein each of the impeller blades, when viewed parallel to the rotational axis of the impeller, defines an inlet angle of about 26 degrees to about 34 degrees, the inlet angle measured between;
a first line that extends orthogonally from the rotational axis of the impeller to a first point located on the third edge surface; and
a second line that is tangent to the impeller blade at the first point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An impeller for a portable blower/vacuum comprising:
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a base comprising a first side and a peripheral edge; a hub protruding from the first side of the base, the hub comprising a face surface and an outer surface that intersect at an outer hub edge, wherein an opening formed in the hub defines a rotational axis of the impeller; and a plurality of impeller blades each disposed upon the first side of the base and extending generally between the hub and the peripheral edge, wherein each of the impeller blades, when viewed parallel to the rotational axis of the impeller, is substantially arc-shaped, each of the impeller blades comprising; a first edge surface extending outwardly from a first location that is at or near the outer hub edge, to a second location intermediate the hub and the peripheral edge, wherein the second location is at an elevation below an elevation of the face surface; a second edge surface extending inwardly from the peripheral edge to a third location intermediate the hub and the peripheral edge, the third location at substantially the same elevation as that of the second location; and a third edge surface connecting the first edge surface to the second edge surface, wherein each of the impeller blades defines an inlet angle of about 28 degrees to about 32 degrees, the inlet angle being measured between;
a first line that extends orthogonally from the rotational axis of the impeller to a first point located on the third edge surface and along a centerline of the impeller blade; and
a second line, coplanar with the first line, that is tangent to the impeller blade at the first point. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A portable blower/vacuum comprising:
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a housing; an electric motor secured to the housing; and an impeller attached to a first end of an output shaft of the electric motor, the impeller comprising; a base comprising a first side and a peripheral edge; a hub protruding from the first side of the base, the hub comprising a face surface offset from the base, wherein an opening formed in the hub defines a rotational axis of the impeller; and a plurality of impeller blades each disposed upon the first side of the base and extending generally between the hub and the peripheral edge, wherein each of the impeller blades, when viewed parallel to the rotational axis of the impeller, is substantially arc-shaped, and wherein each of the impeller blades comprises; a first edge surface extending outwardly from the hub and away from the first side of the base, the first edge surface terminating at or near the face surface; a second edge surface extending inwardly from the peripheral edge and away from the first side of the base; and an intermediate, third edge surface connecting the first edge surface to the second edge surface, wherein each of the impeller blades, when viewed parallel to the rotational axis of the impeller, defines an inlet angle of about 26 degrees to about 34 degrees, the inlet angle measured between;
a first line that extends orthogonally from the rotational axis of the impeller to a first point located on the third edge surface; and
a second line, coplanar with the first line, that is tangent to the impeller blade at the first point. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification