Debris blowing apparatus

• US 5,701,632 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sadler, John, Webster, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US08/711,329
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 15/329, 15/330, 15/344, 15/405, 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

Abstract

A debris blowing apparatus with a motor, a fan driven by the motor, an inlet to the fan and an air outlet from the fan. A portion of the air which is emitted through the outlet is recycled through a metering aperture into the air inlet to maintain a constant load on fan whilst varying the air output.

Claims

1. A debris blowing apparatus comprising:

a motor;

a fan driven by the motor;

an air inlet to the fan;

an air outlet from the fan;

a metering aperture through which air expelled from the outlet can be recirculated into the air inlet;

an aperture cover for selectively covering the metering aperture;

and a blower duct a first end of which communicates with the air outlet so that air which is not recirculated into the inlet travels along the blower duct and exits from a second working end of the duct.

2. A debris blowing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the metering aperture has a sliding cover.

3. A debris blowing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sliding cover is operated by a rack and pinion arrangement.

4. A debris blowing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a knob on the outside of the apparatus controls the aperture cover.

5. A debris blowing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus additionally comprises a suction duct a first end of which communicates with the inlet to the fan when the apparatus is used in vacuum mode so that air is drawn into the second working end of the suction duct along the suction duct and through the fan to a collection point.

6. A debris collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a suction duct which has a working end into which in use of the apparatus debris enters and said end includes a means for generating an entrained airflow in the suction duct which means communicates with the outlet from the fan.