Air concentrator nozzle for portable blower

• US 6,003,199 A
• Filed: 05/15/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Chadwick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beisner, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/079,546
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 15/405, 15/414, 15/415.1, 15/417
• US Class Current: 15/405
• 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 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00

Abstract

An improved air concentrator nozzle for creating an increased air exit velocity from an extension tube of a portable blower or blower/vacuum. The extension tube tapers from a larger, upstream end to a smaller, downstream end. The nozzle is inserted into the upstream end of the extension tube and drops until it protrudes outwardly from the downstream end of the extension tube. An interference fit between an exterior surface of the nozzle and an interior surface of the downstream end of the extension tube restrains the nozzle relative to the tube.

Claims

1. A portable blower comprising:

a) a housing including an air outlet;

b) an extension tube removably engageable with the air outlet and including an upstream end with an upstream opening and a downstream end with an outlet orifice; and

c) an air concentrator nozzle for insertion into the extension tube, the nozzle including an upstream end and a downstream end wherein the nozzle, when dropped downstream end first into the upstream end of the extension tube, falls to the downstream end of the extension tube and partially protrudes from the downstream end of the extension tube but is retained from further downstream movement in an interference fit relationship with the extension tube.

2. The portable blower of claim 1, wherein the upstream end of the extension tube includes a first inner cross-sectional area and the downstream end of the extension tube includes a second inner cross-sectional area which is smaller than the first inner cross-sectional area.

3. The portable blower of claim 2, wherein the upstream end of the nozzle has a first outer cross-sectional area and the downstream end of the nozzle has a second outer cross-sectional area which is smaller than the first outer crosssectional area.

4. The portable blower of claim 3, wherein the first outer cross-sectional area of the nozzle is smaller than the first inner cross-sectional area of the extension tube, the first outer cross-sectional area of the nozzle is larger than the second inner cross-sectional area of the extension tube and wherein the second outer cross-sectional area of the nozzle is smaller than the second inner cross-sectional area of the extension tube.

5. In a portable blower with a housing including an air outlet, an extension tube removably engageable with the air outlet and including an upstream end with an upstream opening and a downstream end with an outlet orifice, an air concentrator nozzle comprising:

a) an upstream end; and

b) a downstream end with a downstream opening having a smaller crosssectional area than the cross-sectional area of the outlet orifice of the extension tube

wherein the nozzle, when dropped downstream end first into the upstream end of the extension tube, falls toward the downstream end of the extension tube but is stopped in the downward fall at some point within the extension tube and retained from further downstream movement relative to the extension tube.

6. The portable blower of claim 5, wherein the nozzle, when dropped downstream end first into the upstream end of the extension tube, falls to a point where the nozzle protrudes partially from the downstream end of the extension tube.

7. A method for increasing the exit air velocity capability of a portable blower, wherein the blower has a housing and an air outlet on the housing, an extension tube removably engageable with the air outlet and including an upstream end with an upstream opening and a downstream end with an outlet orifice, and an air concentrator nozzle with an upstream end and a downstream end, comprising the steps of:

a) removing the extension tube from the air outlet;

b) inserting the nozzle, downstream end first, into the upstream end of the extension tube;

c) positioning the upstream end of the extension tube above the downstream end of the extension tube enabling the nozzle to slide to the downstream end of the extension tube such that the nozzle partially protrudes from the downstream end of the extension tube; and

d) attaching the extension tube to the air outlet.

8. A method for decreasing the exit air velocity capability of a portable blower, wherein the blower has a housing and an air outlet on the housing, an extension tube removably engageable with the air outlet and including an upstream end with an upstream opening and a downstream end with an outlet orifice, and an air concentrator nozzle with an upstream end and a downstream end, comprising the steps of:

a) removing the extension tube from the air outlet;

b) forcing the downstream end of the nozzle toward the upstream end of the extension tube until it dislodges;

c) positioning the upstream end of the extension tube below the downstream end of the extension tube, thereby enabling the nozzle to slide to the upstream end of the extension tube such that the nozzle can be removed from the upstream end of the extension tube; and

d) attaching the extension tube to the air outlet.

9. A portable blower comprising:

a) a housing including an air outlet;

b) a extension tube removably engageable with the air outlet and including an upstream end with an upstream opening and a downstream end with an outlet orifice of smaller cross-sectional area than the upstream opening; and

c) an air concentrator nozzle for insertion into the extension tube, the nozzle including an upstream end with an upstream opening and a downstream end with a downstream opening of smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the outlet orifice of the extension tube

wherein the nozzle, when dropped downstream end first into the upstream end of the extension tube, falls to the downstream end of the extension tube and wherein the insertion of the nozzle increases the velocity of the air exiting the blower compared to the velocity of the air exiting the blower without the nozzle.