Vertical shaft blower on trailer

• US 6,364,628 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerry Giroux, Potts, David
• Original Assignee: Jerry Giroux, Potts, David
• Inventors: Potts, David, Giroux, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Solak, Timothy P.
• Application Number:
  US09/175,851
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 417/234, 417/364, 417/423.1, 417/423.9, 417/423.6, 417/424.1
• US Class Current: 417/234
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/02 Units comprising pumps and their driving means
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/701 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps

Abstract

An apparatus mounted on a trailer is used to connect to an underground pipe array such as is installed under a golf course. The apparatus includes a vertical shaft blower unit with an impeller rotating in a horizontal plane. An engine mounted on the blower unit has a vertical engine shaft connected to the vertical shaft of the blower unit. An inlet duct of the blower unit is located below a discharge duct of the blower unit. The inlet duct and discharge duct are oriented in the same direction, and when the engine is a gasoline engine having an exhaust muffler, the exhaust muffler is oriented in the same direction as the inlet and discharge ducts. Since all the noise discharge points of the apparatus are pointed in the same direction, the trailer can be turned so that the noise generated during operation of the apparatus is directed away from players on the golf course. A water separator is preferably connected between the inlet duct and the impeller. In addition, a frame is connected to either the blower unit or the trailer for easy stowage of the flexible hose used to connect the blower unit to the underground pipe array.

Claims

1. An apparatus mounted on a trailer comprising:

a) a blower unit having a vertical shaft connected to a frame, wherein at least one flexible hose can be stowed on the frame;

b) an impeller of said blower unit rotating in a horizontal plane;

c) an inlet duct of said blower unit being below a discharge duct of the blower unit, wherein the inlet duct and the discharge duct are oriented in the same direction; and

d) an engine mounted on said blower unit having a vertical engine shaft connected to said vertical shaft of the blower unit, wherein said engine has an exhaust muffler and said exhaust muffler is oriented in the same direction as said inlet duct and said discharge duct.

2. An apparatus mounted on a trailer comprising:

a) a blower unit having a vertical shaft connected to a frame, wherein at least one flexible hose can be stowed on the frame;

b) an impeller of said blower unit rotating in a horizontal plane;

c) an inlet duct of said blower unit being below a discharge duct of the blower unit, wherein the inlet duct and the discharge duct are oriented in the same direction;

d) an engine mounted on said blower unit having a vertical engine shaft connected to said vertical shaft of the blower unit; and

e) a water separator connected between said inlet duct and said impeller.

3. An apparatus mounted on a trailer, comprising:

a) a blower unit having a vertical shaft;

b) an impeller of said blower unit rotating in a horizontal plane;

c) an engine mounted on said blower unit having a vertical engine shaft connected to said vertical shaft of said blower unit;

d) an inlet duct of said blower unit being below a discharge duct of said blower unit;

e) wherein said inlet duct and said discharge duct are oriented in a same direction; and

f) wherein said engine has an exhaust muffler and said exhaust muffler is oriented in the same direction as said inlet duct and said discharge duct.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a water separator connected between said inlet duct and said impeller.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a frame connected to one of said blower unit and said trailer, whereby at least one flexible hose can be stowed on said frame.