Variable high/low vacuum/blower device

• US 5,400,464 A
• Filed: 01/26/1994
• Issued: 03/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Steiner, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US08/186,509
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 15/330, 417/423.2, 417/423.9
• US Class Current: 15/330
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0072 Mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/08 with means adapted for blowing

Abstract

A variable high/low vacuum/blower device is disclosed as including an interchangeable vacuum or blower device with high pressure/low air flow or low pressure/high air flow operation. The device includes a housing having air flow channels. Air inlet and air outlet ports or openings extend through the housing and are connected to the air flow channels. Motor driven blower wheels create air flow through the air flow channels. A first valve, operable between first and second position, can selectively change the air flow in the air flow channels from high pressure/low air flow to low pressure/high air flow, while a second valve, also operable between first and second positions, can selectively change the air flow through the air inlet and air outlet ports or openings, enabling the device to operate either as a vacuum or blower device. The first valve is adjustable to variable positions from high pressure/low air flow through zero to low pressure/high air flow. The second valve is also adjustable to variable positions from maximum vacuum through zero to maximum blowing.

Claims

1. A vacuum/blower device having vacuum/blower means for engaging debris comprising:

a housing having air flow channels;

air inlet/outlet means extending through said housing and connected to said air flow channels;

means for establishing high pressure/low air flow in said air flow channels;

means for establishing low pressure/high air flow in said air flow channels; and

means for selectively changing the air pressure and air flow in said air flow channels from high pressure/low air flow to low pressure/high air flow when operated as a vacuum device and also as a blower device.

2. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for selectively changing the air flow in said air flow channels from high pressure/low air flow to low pressure/high air flow comprises valve means.

3. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for creating air flow through said air flow channels includes motor driven blower wheel means.

4. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 3 wherein said valve means cooperates with said motor driven blower wheel means to provide the high pressure/low air flow or low pressure/high air flow operation.

5. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 4 including second valve means for selectively changing the air flow through said air inlet/outlet means to enable said variable air flow device to operate as either a vacuum or blower device.

25. The variable air flow device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for selectively changing the air flow in said air flow channels includes means for adjusting the air flow through a range of variable adjustment from high pressure/low air flow through zero to low pressure/high air flow.

6. A vacuum/blower device having vacuum/blower means including:

a housing having air flow channels;

air inlet/outlet means extending through said housing and connected to said air flow channels;

means for establishing high pressure/low air flow in said air flow channels;

means for establishing low pressure/high air flow in said air flow channels;

means for selectively changing the air pressure and air flow in said air flow channels from high pressure/low air flow to low pressure/high air flow when operated as a vacuum device and also as a blower device.

7. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for changing the air flow through said air inlet/outlet means includes an air inlet/outlet port and air exhaust/intake means both being connected to said air flow channels and extending through the housing, said air exhaust/intake means exhausting air when air is introduced into said air inlet/outlet port for operating said device as a vacuum cleaner, said air exhaust/intaking means intaking air when air is directed out through said inlet/outlet port for operating said device as a blower.

8. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 7 wherein the means for selectively changing the air flow in said air flow channels from high pressure/low air flow to low pressure/high air flow comprises valve means.

9. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for selectively changing the air flow through said air inlet/outlet port to provide either a vacuum or blower device includes second valve means.

10. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 9 wherein said first and second valve means are also manually operable.

11. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 10 wherein said first and second valve means are also manually operable.

12. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for creating air flow through said air flow channels includes motor driven blower wheel means.

13. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 12 wherein said valve means cooperates with said motor driven blower wheel means to provide the high pressure/low air flow or low pressure/high air flow operation.

14. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 13 wherein said second valve means also cooperates with said motor driven blower wheel means to change the device from a vacuum cleaner to a blower device.

15. A vacuum/blower device having vacuum/blower means including:

a housing;

an air inlet/outlet port extending through the housing;

a motor operatively connected to means within the housing for creating air flow in and through said housing;

means for establishing high pressure/low air flow in said air flow channels;

means for establishing low pressure air flow in said air flow channels;

means for selectively changing the air pressure and air flow in said air flow channels from high pressure/low air flow operation to low pressure/high air flow operation when operated as a vacuum device and also as a blower device;

means for selectively changing said air flow through said air inlet/outlet port from a positive air outflow through zero to a negative air inflow; and

air exhaust/intake means also extending through said housing for exhausting air when there is a negative air inflow and for intaking air when there is a positive air outflow.

16. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 15 wherein said means for changing the air flow from high pressure/low air flow to low pressure/high air flow operation comprises a first independently operable valve means.

17. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for changing the air flow from a positive air outflow through zero to a negative air inflow comprises a second independently operable valve means.

18. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 17 wherein said first independently operable valve means is adjustable to variable positions from high pressure/low air flow through zero to low pressure/high air flow.

19. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 18 wherein said second independently operable valve means is adjustable to variable positions from maximum vacuum through zero to maximum blowing.

20. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 19 wherein said first valve means includes a manually operable actuator mounted on an exterior surface of said housing for access by a user.

21. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 20 wherein said second valve means also includes a manually operable actuator mounted on an exterior surface of said housing for access by a user.

22. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 21 wherein said means for creating air flow in and through said housing comprises motor driven blower wheel means operating in conjunction with said first and second valve means.

23. A vacuum/blower device having vacuum/blower means including:

a housing having an air inlet/outlet port extending through the housing;

said housing having air flow channels connected to said port;

a motor disposed within said housing;

blower wheel means operated by said motor for directing high pressure/low air flow or low pressure/high air flow through said air flow channels dependent on the position of first valve means;

said first valve means connected to said air flow channels for changing the air pressure and air flow from a high pressure/low air flow to a low pressure/high air flow operation when operated as a vacuum device and also as a blower device;

second valve means connected to said air flow channels for changing the air flow through said air flow inlet/outlet port from a positive air flow through zero to a negative air inflow;

said vacuum/blower device operating as either a vacuum with a negative air inflow or as a blower with a positive air outflow dependent on the position of said second valve means; and

air exhaust/intake means also extending through said housing for exhausting air when operated as a vacuum device and for intaking air when operated as a blower device.

24. The vacuum/blower device as defined in claim 23 wherein said blower wheel means includes first and second blower wheels that are connected to said air flow channels and operate in conjunction with said first and second valve means to operate as either a vacuum or blower device with high pressure/low air flow or low pressure/high air flow.