Debris blower and/or vacuum devices

• US 5,673,457 A
• Filed: 01/30/1996
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sadler, John, Webster, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/594,113
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 15/344, 15/405, 15/330, 15/409
• US Class Current: 15/330
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 20/47 Vacuum or blower devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/14 cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/08 in connection with the locking of doors, covers, guards, or like members giving access to moving machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/20 wherein an auxiliary movement thereof, or of an attachment thereto, is necessary before the main movement is possible or effective, e.g. for unlatching, for coupling

Abstract

A debris blower and/or vacuum device is disclosed which comprises a motor unit which drives an impeller. When the device is to be used as a blower, a volute arrangement adopted for blowing in which the impeller is locatable is releasably attached to the motor unit. The blower volute includes an air inlet and an air outlet duct for expelling a stream of air created by the impeller. When the device is to be used as a vacuum, a volute arrangement adapted for vacuuming in which the impeller is locatable is releasably attached to the motor unit. The vacuum volute includes a suction duct for transporting debris to the impeller in an airstream created by the impeller and an air expelling duct for transporting debris away from the impeller in the stream of air to a collecting location.

Claims

1. A blower/vacuum device comprising:

a motor unit,

an impeller which is drivable by the motor unit,

a blower volute which is releasably attachable to the

motor unit and in which the impeller is locatable including;

an air inlet, and

an air outlet duct for expelling a stream of air generated by the impeller,

and a vacuum volute which is releasably attachable to the motor unit and in which the impeller is locatable including;

a suction duct for transporting debris to the impeller in an air stream created by the impeller,

and an air expelling duct for transporting debris away from the impeller in the air stream to a collecting point,

characterised in that the blower volute and the vacuum volute are interchangeable.

2. A device according to claim 1 characterised in that a porous collecting bag is releasably locatable at the end of the expelling duct distant from the impeller.

3. A blower/vacuum device comprising:

a motor unit,

an impeller which is drivable by the motor unit, and a clean fan volute within which the impeller is locatable, including;

a suction duct having a working end into which debris is sucked,

an air outlet which communicates with the suction duct near to said working end to create an entrained air stream in said suction duct, and

an air inlet, characterised in that the clean fan volute is releasably attachable to the motor unit.