Indexing Carriage For A Blower

Abstract

An indexing carriage for a blower. The blower, and its power source, are mounted on a carrousel that is rotatably supported on a frame. The emitting port from the blower discharges in a plane located eccentrically with respect to the rotational axis of the carrousel so that the reaction force created by the discharge of air from the emitting port will tend to rotate the carrousel. At least two sear means, spaced circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis of the carrousel, are provided on the carrousel for selective engagement by a single trip means carried on the frame. An actuating means engages and disengages the trip means from the sear means to permit the carrousel to self-position the emitting port for the discharge of air in preselected directions. When employing laterally oriented discharges and the frame is supported on two wheels they may be longitudinally spaced to avoid interference with the discharge, but when so spaced it is preferable that at least one wheel be castered.

Description

The present invention relates to an indexing carriage for a blower whereby the pressurized air can be discharged in predetermined directions.

Blowers are used for a variety of purposes, not the least of which is to move objects from place to place. As an example, leaves, twigs, and even snow can be propelled by the directionally controlled discharge of air under pressure, and any devices have been built which employ blowers for this specific purpose. However, except in the most complex and expensive constructions, the blower has been traditionally affixed to a wheeled frame so as to discharge the blast of air in only one direction with respect thereto-- generally laterally.

When a blower is so fixed, the operator is severely limited in the course he must traverse to effect a controlled movement of the objects being propelled by the blast of air, particularly when the blower can only be pushed or pulled but not both. For example, should one wish to blow the objects in a given area in only one direction with a blower so mounted, and should the area be of sufficient size that one work pass of the blower would not accomplish this result, he would be required to make a plurality of the work passes in only one direction and return, between work passes, the full length thereof with the emitting port of the blower aimed ineffectively in the opposite direction. Such a procedure is grossly inefficient.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an indexing carriage for a blower whereby the discharge of the blower can be selectively oriented in a plurality of a predetermined directions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an indexing carriage, as above, in which such selective orientation is achieved by uncomplicated means that are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain and in which the power source used to effect the selective positioning of the discharge is the reaction force therefrom.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an indexing carriage, as above, which permits at least lateral discharge orientations from a blower carried on a frame, the blower being located medially of the lateral wheel means on which the frame is supported without interference between the wheels and the discharge and with the wheels supporting the frame in such a way as to permit it to be turned without scuffing the wheels against the ground.

These and other objects, together with the advantages thereof over existing and prior art forms, which will become apparent from the following specification, are accomplished by means hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, an indexing carriage embodying the concept of the present invention has a carrousel mounted for rotation upon a frame. A blower, and its power source, are fixed to the carrousel such that the blower discharges in a plane eccentrically of the axis about which the carrousel rotates. In this way the reaction force of the discharge tends to rotate the carrousel.

A plurality of sear means on the carrousel are selectively engageable by a trip means mounted on the frame selectively to direct the discharge in predetermined directions.

In order to alleviate possible interference between the discharge and the wheels supporting the frame, particularly when only two wheels are employed and the blower is positioned generally medially thereof, the wheels may be longitudinally spaced. However, when the two wheels are longitudinally spaced, they will not swing about a common point as the direction in which the frame is moving is changed. It is, therefore, preferable in such a situation that at least one wheel be castered.

One preferred and one alternative embodiment of the subject invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings and are described in detail without attempting to show all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied; the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan of an indexing carriage on which a blower is mounted, the indexing carriage embodying the concept of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the indexing carriage and blower depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross section taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and depicting the carrousel, sear means, trip means and a portion of the frame in top plan;

FIG. 4 is a further cross section taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and depicting the bumper means and adjacent indexing beam of one form of sear means;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIG. 4 depicting, in elevation, the engagement of a trip means secured to the frame with the indexing beam of one form of sear means mounted on the carrousel; and,

FIG. 7 is a partial area similar to FIG. 3 depicting an alternative form of sear means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An indexing carriage embodying the concept of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10 in the enclosed drawings and is depicted in conjunction with a blower 11. The blower 11, may, as shown, be of the centrifugal variety in which an impeller, or fan, 12 is incorporated within a volute housing 13 to discharge air, under pressure from an emitting port 14, directed tangentially of the volute housing. The fan 12 is rotated by a shaft 15 that couples to an engine 16, all mounted on a carrousel 18.

The carrousel 18 is supported on a frame 19 to rotate about vertical axis 20, as best seen in FIG. 4. For example, an axle 21 may be secured to the frame 19 and extend vertically upwardly through the central portion of a bearing block 22 also carried on the frame 19. An annular race 23 in the bearing block 22 may be filled with ball bearings 24 that also engage an opposed race 25 in a bearing block 26 secured to the underside of the carrousel 18.

A split bearing 28 may also be mounted about the axle 21 on the upper side of the carrousel 18 and the entire assembly secured by a nut 29 on the end of axle 21.

In the embodiment depicted, a tongue means 30 extends forwardly of the frame 19 and provides a means by which the indexing carriage 10 may be hitched to the draw bar (not shown) of a tractor, or the like. Of course, the indexing concept, as will become apparent, is readily adaptable to enumerable frame configurations.

By mounting the blower 11 such that the discharge from emitting port 14 is directed in a plane eccentrically of the vertically oriented rotational axis 20 (FIG. 3), the reaction force, which is equal and opposite the discharge force designated generally by arrows D, tends to rotate the carrousel 18 in the direction of arrow R about axis 20. Selective engagement between at least two sear means 31A and 31B carried on the carrousel 18 and a single trip means 32 carried on the frame 19 maintains the emitting port 14A in predetermined orientations.

In the preferred embodiment of the subject control, the sear means 31A and 31B each comprise an indexing beam 33 mounted to swing horizontally on a pivot pin 34 extending perpendicularly from the carrousel 18. A bumper 35 is also secured to the carrousel 18 to lie adjacent the indexing beam 33 and within its plane of rotation about pivot pin 34 so that when a trip flange 36 on the arresting arm 38 of the bell crank forming the trip means 32 engages the radially outer end of the indexing beam 33, the reaction force of the discharge from the emitting port 14 which tends to rotate the carrousel 18 will be transferred from the indexing beam 33, as it bears against bumper 35, into the trip means 32. This interengagement maintains the preselected orientation of the discharge.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, the indexing beam 33 may be provided with a foot 37 to facilitate the engagement between beam 33 and the flange 35 on trip means 32. As best seen from FIG. 3, the bell crank forming trip means 32 is pivotally mounted at apex 39 on a pin 40 secured to, and extending upwardly from, the frame 19. The arresting arm 38 and a release arm 41 extend divergently outwardly from the apex 39, and a spring 42, connected between the release arm 41 and the frame 19, biasingly urges the arresting arm 38 against a stop 43 fixed to the frame 19. With the arm 38 thus maintained against stop 43, the trip flange 36 is positioned to be engaged by the foot 37 on beam 33.

An actuating means, such as line 44, connects to the release arm 41 outwardly of the apex 39 and extends forwardly to a position in proximity to the operator. Accordingly, should the operator desire to change the direction in which in the emitting port 14 is oriented, he need merely apply pressure to, and then release, line 44. The application of pressure to line 44 overcomes the biasing action of spring 42 to rotate the trip means 32 counterclockwise to the chain line position depicted in FIG. 3. So positioned, the trip flange 36 releases the foot 37 of beam 33 and the carrousel 18 is rotated, by the reaction force of the air being discharged from emitting port 14, in the direction of arrow R. A stop 45 is mounted on frame 19 for engagement by release arm 41 and defines the limit to which the trip means can be rotated against the biasing action of spring 42.

After the trip means 32 disengages from beam 33A the operator releases line 44 and the spring 42 rotates the trip means 32 in a clockwise direction to bring the arresting arm 38 against stop 43. The trip flange 36 is thereby repositioned adjacent the circumference of carrousel 18 so that when the reaction force of the air blast discharging from emitting port 14 has rotated the carrousel 18 through approximately 180.degree., the foot 37B on indexing beam 33B will be brought into engagement therewith and the air blast will be maintained in the orientation controlled by beam 33B. In the embodiment depicted that would be in the direction indicated by arrows D.sub.1 (FIG. 1).

In order to alleviate any shock loading that may occur when the beams 33A and 33B on the rotating carrousel 18 are swung into contact with the trip means 32, the bumpers 35 should each be provided with a resilient, shock-absorbing collar 46. And, in order to maintain each indexing beam 33 juxtaposed to its respective bumper 35, even when the rotation of the carrousel 18 is suddenly arrested, a position pin 48, affixed to frame 19, should extend upwardly thereof adjacent each beam 33 on the side opposite bumper 35.

When, as desired, pressure is again applied to, and released from, the line 44, the carrousel will again rotate in the direction of arrow R sequentially to bring the next indexing bar into engagement with the trip means.

Although only two, diametrically opposed indexing bars 33A and 33B are disclosed, it must be appreciated that the present concept is not so limited. A plurality of sear means, at a plurality of orientations, may be employed with facility to accomplish the desired purpose.

It must also be appreciated that alternative forms of both the sear and trip means may be employed. One alternative form of the sear means is depicted in FIG. 7. The sear means 131 of the FIG. 7 embodiment comprises an indexing notch 50 recessed into the peripheral edge 51 of the carrousel 18. The notch 50 has a generally radially directed shoulder 52 adapted to be engaged by the trip flange 36 on the arresting arm 38 of the trip means 32 to maintain the preselected orientation of the emitting port 14. As with the previous embodiment, the application of pressure to line 44 sufficient to overcome the biasing force of spring 42 rotates the trip means 32 about pin 40 to disengage the trip flange 36 from the shoulder 52 of indexing notch 50 and the carrousel 18 will rotate, again by the reaction force of the air discharged from emitting port 14, until the trip flange 36 engages the next successive sear means (not shown).

Generally, it will be desired to employ at least lateral orientations for emitting port 14 so that air may be selectively discharged at least in the direction of arrows D and D.sub.1 in FIG. 1. It should also be remembered that to blow leaves, or the like, effectively it is necessary that the discharge be located as close to the ground as practical. Thus, in order to minimize the eccentricity of the blower location with respect to the axis about which the carrousel rotates, and thereby also to limit the lateral distance between the wheel means 55 and 56, when only two are employed, on which the frame 19 is supported, it is generally preferable that the wheel means 55 and 56 be longitudinally spaced. As is readily apparent from FIG. 1, the wheel means 55 is spaced longitudinally rearwardly of the wheel means 56.

When the wheel means are thus longitudinally spaced, however, the wheel means 55 and 56 cannot swing about a common pivotal center when the frame 19 is drawn around a corner. As a result, one, or both, of the wheel means will be scuffed unless at least one of the wheel means is castered.

Accordingly, wheel means 56 may comprise a wheel 58 mounted on a fixed stub axle 59 extending laterally from a pedestal 60 secured to the frame 19. The wheel means 55 may then be castered as follows. A wheel 61 is mounted on a axle 62 supported between the arms of a yoke 63 that is swingable about a vertical axis defined by the connecting pin 64 that attaches the yoke 63 to a supporting arm 65 that extends upwardly and outwardly from a pedestal 66 secured to the frame 19. In order to assure castering of the wheel means 55, the axle 62 is located longitudinally rearwardly of the connecting pin 64, as shown in FIG. 1.

It should now be apparent that a blower mounted on an indexing carriage embodying the concept of the present invention is afforded selective discharge in predetermined directions by relatively uncomplicated means.

Claims

I claim:

1. An indexing carriage for a blower comprising, a frame, a trip carried on said frame, a carrousel supported on said frame to be fully rotatable about an axis, a blower mounted on said carrousel to discharge in planes eccentrically of said axis, at least two sear means on said carrousel, said sear means spaced circumferentially of said axis at selected angular displacements which may be as much as 180.degree. with respect to each other, said sear means being sequentially engaged by said trip to maintain the blower discharge at predetermined orientations against the reaction force of the eccentric blower discharge, and actuating means to engage and disengage said trip from the selected sear means, said carrousel being rotated between sequential engagements of the trip means with said sear means by the reaction force of the eccentric blower discharge.

2. An indexing carriage, as set forth in claim 1, in which the sear means are oriented to provide blower discharge at least in laterally opposite directions with respect to said frame, and in which the frame is supported by wheel means located laterally of said frame in longitudinally spaced relation with respect to the rotational axis of said carrousel to accommodate the eccentricity of the blower discharge with respect to said axis and thereby allow the discharge to pass forwardly of the wheel means on one side of said frame and rearwardly of the wheel means on the other side of said frame.

3. An indexing carriage, as set forth in claim 2, in which at least one said wheel means is castered.

4. An indexing carriage for a blower comprising, a frame, a trip carried on said frame, a carrousel supported on said frame and rotatable about an axis, a blower mounted on said carrousel to discharge in a plane eccentrically of said axis, at least two indexing beams carried on said carrousel, said indexing beams spaced circumferentially of said axis and selectively engaged by said trip to maintain the blower discharge at predetermined orientations against the reaction force of the eccentric blower discharge, actuating means to engage and disengage said trip from the selected indexing beam and a resilient bumper means to cushion the carrousel from the engagement of said trip means with said indexing beam.

5. An indexing carriage, as set forth in claim 4, in which said bumper means is carried on said carrousel and the indexing beam is pivotally mounted on said carrousel to swing against said bumper upon engagement by said trip means.

6. An indexing carriage, as set forth in claim 1, in which said sear means comprises a selected plurality of notches in the periphery of said carrousel.