U.S. patent number RE33,050 [Application Number 07/109,996] was granted by the patent office on 1989-09-12 for hand held gas engine blower.
This patent grant is currently assigned to White Consolidated Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael Baker, Jeffrey S. Franke, Lloyd H. Tuggle.
United States Patent |
RE33,050 |
Tuggle , et al. |
September 12, 1989 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Hand held gas engine blower
Abstract
A hand held portable blower/vacuum assembly includes a gasoline
engine mounted on a blower housing that is interchangeably operable
as a blower or vacuum unit and is symmetrically arranged for right
or left hand use. A U-shaped carrying handle is secured to an upper
housing enclosing the engine by means of a mounting structure that
includes anti vibration elements. For eliminating the effect of
both gyroscopic and centrifugal forces, the engine is arranged with
the piston and crankshaft in horizontal and vertical orientations
respectively, while both exhaust and cooling air are discharged
from the front of the unit away from an operator so as to provide a
balanced unit operable with either the right or left hand. A
multi-position throttle located on the backside of the unit removed
from the handle is incrementally settable for operating the unit at
preselected fixed speeds. The vacuum inlet is located on the
underside of the housing and is generally closed by a hinged cover
providing only for induction air flow when the unit is used in the
blower mode. Included about the vacuum inlet is a connecting flange
for attaching a vacuum intake tube when the cover is hingedly moved
outward for using the unit in the vacuum mode. A discharge opening
on the front side of the unit includes a connecting flange to which
either a blower tube and nozzle can be attached for the blower mode
or tubing and bag can be attached for the vacuum mode.
Inventors: |
Tuggle; Lloyd H. (Shreveport,
LA), Baker; Michael (Gloster, LA), Franke; Jeffrey S.
(Shreveport, LA) |
Assignee: |
White Consolidated Industries,
Inc. (Cleveland, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
26807604 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/109,996 |
Filed: |
October 16, 1987 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
804683 |
Dec 3, 1985 |
4674146 |
Jun 23, 1987 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/330; 15/344;
15/405 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
5/14 (20130101); F02B 2075/025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
5/14 (20060101); A47L 5/12 (20060101); F02B
75/02 (20060101); A47L 005/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/330,344,327C,405,410 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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219017 |
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Apr 1925 |
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GB |
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488347 |
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Jul 1938 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Moore; Chris K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hubbard, Thurman, Turner &
Tucker
Claims
We claim:
1. A portable power tool comprising an internal combustion engine,
a first housing enclosing said internal combustion engine, a blower
unit mounted on the underside of said internal combustion engine
and having a second housing containing a blower impeller operably
connected to the crankshaft of said internal combustion engine, an
operator's handle mounted along the top of said first housing, said
internal combustion engine being arranged with its crankshaft in a
substantially vertical orientation relative to the normal carrying
mode of said tool, said second housing including a vacuum opening
defined in the bottom wall thereof and a discharge opening defined
in a sidewall thereof, connecting means at said openings adapted
for connecting appurtenances enabling interchangeably operating
said tool alternatively in either a blower mode or a vacuum mode
including a tubular collar surrounding each of said openings
adapted to receive a tubular extension for mounting thereat and
clamp means associated with each of said collars for securing a
tubular extension received in the respective of said openings and a
cover unit pivotally supported on said second housing and
positionable between a first position exposing said vacuum collar
to enable securing a tubular extension thereat and a second
position generally underlying said vacuum collar for precluding
receipt of a tubular extension thereat.
2. A portable power tool according to claim 1 including spring
means urging said cover unit pivotally toward said second position
and latch means to enable securing said cover unit in said second
position.
3. A portable power unit according to claim 1 in which said cover
unit is dimensionally larger than the diametrical dimension of said
vacuum collar so as to define an air inlet therebetween when said
cover unit is in said second position.
4. A portable power tool according to claim 3 in which for
operating said tool in a blower mode said cover unit is positioned
in said second position and there is included an elongated tubular
extension mounted on said discharge collar.
5. A portable power tool according to claim 1 in which for
operating said tool in a vacuum mode, said cover unit is positioned
in said first position and there is included a first elongated
tubular extension mounted on said vacuum collar and a second
tubular extension mounted on said discharge collar and a refuse
collection receptacle connected to the discharge end of said second
extension.
6. A portable power tool according to claim 1 in which said handle
is oriented so that the normal carrying mode of said tool is with
its forwardmost face generally forward of an operator carrying said
tool and there is provided means to discharge engine exhaust
through said forwardmost face in a direction away from the
operator.
7. A portable power tool according to claim 6 in which there is
defined an air outlet through said forwardmost face for discharging
ambient air carrying heat from about the surface of said
engine.
8. A portable power tool comprising an internal combustion engine,
a first housing enclosing said internal combustion engine, a blower
unit mounted on the underside of said internal combustion engine
and having a second housing containing a blower impeller operably
connected to the crankshaft of said internal combustion engine, an
operator's handle mounted along the top of said first housing, said
internal combustion engine being arranged with its crankshaft in a
substantially vertical orientation relative to the normal carrying
mode of said tool, said second housing including a vacuum opening
defined in the bottom wall thereof and a discharge opening defined
in a sidewall thereof, connecting means at said openings adapted
for connecting appurtenances enabling interchangeably operating
said tool alternatively in either a blower mode or a vacuum mode
and a throttle control means operably connected to the engine
carburetor and including adjustable means incrementally settable at
any of a plurality of selected predetermined fixed speeds of said
internal combustion engine for operably setting said throttle
control means.
9. A portable power tool according to claim 8 in which said
adjustable means includes a hollow knob rotatably supported at the
rear of said first housing, an elongated cam received within said
knob, a follower formed on an internal surface of said knob
positioned in engagement with said cam and effective when said knob
is rotated to longitudinally displace said cam relative to said
knob and an elongated operating link secured extending from the
distal end of said cam into operable engagement with said throttle
control means for the carburetor of said internal combustion
engine.
10. A portable power tool according to claim 8 in which said
adjustable means is contained on a rearward face of said first
housing for convenient setting by an operator when utilizing said
tool.
11. A portable power tool according to claim 8 in which said
adjustable means includes a knob rotatably supported through an
opening in the rear of said first housing, said knob including a
shoulder facing the wall surface of said first housing surrounding
said opening thereat, said wall surface including a plurality of
consecutive troughs incrementally spaced uniformly in an annular
concentric arrangement about said opening, said knob shoulder
including a plurality of uniformly spaced protruberances forwardly
extending from said shoulder into engagement with said troughs and
spring means maintaining said protruberances in a rotatable spring
engagment with said troughs for enabling uniform incremental
rotation of said knob.
12. A portable power tool according to claim 1, or 8 including
vibration isolator means securing said handle to said first
housing.
13. A portable power tool according to claims 1, 8 or 9 including
grounding means for electrically grounding said handle.
14. A portable power tool according to claim 13 in which said
handle is of a composition having electrically conductive
properties and there is included a conductor extending from said
handle to a metal grounding surface.
15. A portable power tool according to claim 8 in which said
adjustable means is located about the exterior of said first
housing displaced from said operator's handle.
16. A portable power tool according to claim 15 also including an
ignition switch, and a choke adjuster and said adjustable means,
said ignition switch and said choke adjuster are all contained
spaced apart on a common exterior wall of said first housing.
17. A portable power tool according to claim 16 in which said
common wall comprises the rear wall of said first housing.
.Iadd.
18. A portable, hand-carried, internal combustion engine powered
air moving device which is configured to conveniently permit either
right or left handed use thereof, is easily convertible between
blower and vacuum modes of operation, and substantially reduces
undesirable gyroscopic forces generated by the engine, said device
comprising:
a generally hollow body having:
a top end with an operator carrying handle secured thereto,
a bottom end,
a front side,
an upper portion adapted to house an internal combustion engine
having a muffler assembly, said upper portion having an outlet
opening extending through said front side for discharging in a
forward direction muffler assembly cooling air from within said
upper portion,
a lower end chamber downwardly bounded by said bottom end,
air inlet means for defining an air inlet opening extending through
said bottom end into said lower end chamber, said air inlet means
being selectively connectable to vacuum inlet conduit means to
permit use of said device in said vacuum mode, and
air discharge means for defining an air discharge opening extending
outwardly from said lower end chamber through said front side, said
air discharge means being selectively connectable to blower
discharge conduit means to permit use of said device in said blower
mode, or to vacuum outlet conduit means to permit use of said
device in said vacuum mode;
a cover member carried by said lower end for selective movement
relative thereto between a first position in which said cover
member extends across a portion of said air inlet means in a manner
permitting air to be drawn inwardly through said air inlet opening
but precluding connection of vacuum inlet conduit means to said air
inlet means, and a second position permitting connection of vacuum
inlet conduit means to said air inlet means,
an internal combustion engine housed in said upper body portion and
including:
a crankshaft carried within said upper body portion for driven
rotation about an axis which, with said device in a normal
operating position, is generally vertically oriented,
a cylinder disposed forwardly of said crankshaft within said upper
body portion and having a piston mounted in said cylinder for
generally horizontal reciprocation when said device is in a normal
operating position, said piston being connected to said crankshaft
to rotationally drive it during piston reciprocation, and
a muffler assembly carried in said upper body portion forwardly of
said crankshaft, said muffler assembly being adapted to receive
exhaust gas from said cylinder and discharge the received exhaust
gas through said front side of said body adjacent said outlet
opening; and
a centrifugal fan impeller positioned within said lower end chamber
and rotationally drivable by said crankshaft about said axis to
sequentially draw air into said lower end chamber through said air
inlet opening and discharge the air from said lower end chamber
outwardly through said air discharge opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
19. The device of claim 18 wherein:
said cover member is mounted on said lower end for pivotal movement
between said first and second positions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The
device of claim 19 wherein:
said cover member is spring-biased toward said first position.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A portable, hand-carried, internal combustion
engine powered air moving device which is configured to
conveniently permit either right or left handed use thereof, is
easily convertible between blower and vacuum modes of operation,
and substantially reduces undesirable gyroscopic forces generated
by the engine, said device comprising:
a generally hollow body having:
a top end with an operator carrying handle secured thereto,
a bottom end adapted to engage the ground and support said body
thereon between use periods of said device,
a front side,
an upper portion having an outlet opening extending through said
front side,
a lower end chamber downwardly bounded by said bottom end,
air inlet means for defining an air inlet opening extending through
said bottom end into said lower end chamber, said air inlet means
being selectively connectable to vacuum inlet conduit means to
permit use of said device in said vacuum mode, and
air discharge means for defining an air discharge opening extending
outwardly from said lower end chamber through said front side, said
air discharge means being selectively connectable to blower
discharge conduit means to permit use of said device in said blower
mode, or to vacuum outlet conduit means to permit use of said
device in said vacuum mode;
a cover member carried by said lower end for selective movement
relative thereto between a first position in which said cover
member extends across a portion of said air inlet means in a manner
permitting air to be drawn inwardly through said air inlet opening
but precluding connection of vacuum inlet conduit means to said air
inlet means, and a second position permitting connection of vacuum
inlet conduit means to said air inlet means,
an internal combustion engine housed in said upper body portion and
including:
a crankshaft carried within said upper body portion for driven
rotation about an axis which, with said device in a normal
operating position, is generally vertically oriented,
a cylinder disposed forwardly of said crankshaft within said upper
body portion and having a piston mounted in said cylinder for
generally horizontal reciprocation when said device is in a noraml
operating position, said piston being connected to said crankshaft
to rotationally drive it during piston reciprocation, and
a muffler carried in said upper body portion forwardly of said
crankshaft, said muffler being adapted to receive exhaust gas from
said cylinder and discharge the received exhaust gas through said
front side of said body adjacent said outlet opening;
a centrifugal fan impeller positioned within said lower end chamber
and rotationally drivable by said crankshaft about said axis to
sequentially draw air into said lower end chamber through said air
inlet opening and discharge the air from said lower end chamber
outwardly through said air discharge opening; and
anti-entrainment means for preventing the entrainment of small but
relatively heavy ground-disposed objects, such as pebbles or the
like, into ground level inlet air approaching said cover member and
said air inlet means when said engine is running, said cover member
is in said first position thereof, and said bottom end of said body
is resting upon or in close proximity to the ground, said
anti-entrainment means being operative to maintain the velocity of
said ground level inlet air at a magnitude generally insufficient
to entrain said small but relatively heavy ground-disposed objects
into said ground level inlet air,
whereby said lower end of said body may be rested upon or placed in
close proximity to the ground, with said engine running and said
device in said blower mode, without significant risk of drawing
said small but relatively heavy objects into said lower end chamber
and discharging them at high
velocity through said discharge opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The
device of claim 21 wherein:
said cover member is mounted on said lower end for pivotal movement
between said first and second positions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The
device of claim 22 wherein:
said cover member is spring-biased toward said first position.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A portable, hand-carried air moving device
which is convertible between blower and vacuum modes of operation,
comprising:
a body having:
a top end with an operator carrying handle secured thereto,
a bottom end,
a front side,
a lower end chamber downwardly bounded by said bottom end,
air inlet means for defining an air inlet opening extending through
said bottom end into said lower end chamber, said air inlet means
being selectively connectable to vacuum inlet conduit means to
permit use of said device in said vacuum mode, and
air discharge means for defining an air discharge opening extending
outwardly from said lower end chamber through said front side, said
air discharge means being selectively connectable to blower
discharge conduit means to permit use of said device in said blower
mode, or to vacuum outlet conduit means to permit use of said
device in said vacuum mode;
drive means selectively operable to power said device, said drive
means including shaft means carried by said body for driven
rotation about an axis which, with said device in a normal
operating position, is generally vertically oriented, said shaft
means extending longitudinally upwardly from said lower end
chamber;
a centrifugal fan impeller positioned within said lower end chamber
and rotationally drivable by said shaft means about said axis to
sequentially draw air into said lower end chamber through said air
inlet opening and discharge the air from said lower end chamber
outwardly through said air discharge opening; and
anti-entrainment means for preventing the entrainment of small but
relative heavy ground-disposed objects, such as pebbles or the
like, into air drawn into said inlet opening during operation of
said device in said blower mode,
anti-entrainment means being operative, when said lower end of said
body is placed against or in close proximity to the ground during
driven rotation of said impeller, to maintain the velocity of
ground level inlet air initially approaching said air inlet means
at a magnitude generally insufficient to entrain said small but
relatively heavy ground-disposed objects into said inlet air,
thereby significantly reducing the risk of drawing such objects in
said lower end chamber and discharging them at
high velocity through said discharge opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A
portable, hand-carried, internal combustion engine powered air
moving device which is configured to conveniently permit either
right or left handed use thereof, is easily convertible between
blower and vacuum modes of operation, and substantially reduces
undesirable gyroscopic forces generated by the engine, said device
comprising:
a generally hollow body having:
a top end with an operator carrying handle secured thereto,
a bottom end,
a front side,
an upper portion having an outlet opening extending through said
front side,
a lower end chamber downwardly bounded by said bottom end,
air inlet means for defining an air inlet opening extending through
said bottom end into said lower end chamber, said air inlet means
being selectively connectable to vacuum inlet conduit means to
permit use of said device in said vacuum mode, and
air discharge means for defining an air discharge opening extending
outwardly from said lower end chamber through said front side, said
air discharge means being selectively connectable to blower
discharge conduit means to permit use of said device in said blower
mode, or to vacuum outlet conduit means to permit use of said
device in said vacuum mode;
a cover member carried by said lower end for selective movement
relative thereto between a first position in which said cover
member extends across a portion of said air inlet means in a manner
permitting air to be drawn inwardly through said air inlet opening
but precluding connection of vacuum inlet conduit means to said air
inlet means, and a second position permitting connection of vacuum
inlet conduit means to said air inlet means,
an internal combustion engine housed in said upper body portion and
including:
a crankshaft carried within said upper body portion for driven
rotation about an axis which, with said device in a normal
operating position, is generally vertically oriented,
a cylinder disposed forwardly of said crankshaft within said upper
body portion and having a piston mounted in said cylinder for
generally horizontal reciprocation when said device is in a normal
operating position, said piston being connected to said crankshaft
to rotationally drive it during piston reciprocation, and
a muffler carried in said upper body portion forwardly of said
crankshaft, said muffler being adapted to receive exhaust gas from
said cylinder and discharge the received exhaust gas through said
front side of said body adjacent said outlet opening;
a centrifugal fan impeller positioned within said lower end chamber
and rotationally drivable by said crankshaft about said axis to
sequentially draw air into said lower end chamber through said air
inlet opening and discharge the air from said lower end chamber
outwardly through said air discharge opening; and
grounding means for electrically grounding said operator carrying
handle to
prevent user static electric shock. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The air
moving device of claim 25 wherein:
said device has a metal grounding portion,
said operator carrying handle is of a material having electrically
conductive properties, and
said grounding means include an electrical conductor member
operatively interconnected between said operator carrying handle
and said metal grounding portion of said device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The air moving device of claim 26 wherein:
said operator carrying handle is of a plastic polymer material
containing about ten percent carbon. .Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of art to which the invention pertains comprises the art
of brushing, scrubbing and general cleaning as more specifically
directed toward hand held portable air-blast apparatus in which an
internal combustion engine drive a fan-wheel blower.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The hand held blower unit has within the 1980's achieved a high
level of domestic popularity, principally, for use in and about
residential areas and for commercial applications such as sport
arenas, etc. Some such units can interchangeably be operative as
either a blower or vacuum as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No.
4,325,163. These blower units are typically utilized around a home
or elsewhere for removing or displacing loose debris or refuse from
walkways, gutters, benches or similar surfaces by means of an air
blast flow. Commonly, such units are operative by means of an
internal combustion engine having a vertically oriented piston
motion and a horizontally oriented crankshaft on which the blower
impeller is mounted. That construction is known to produce
undesirable difficulties in handling of the unit resulting from the
gyroscopic and centrifugal forces associated with that arrangement.
A construction utilizing an internal combustion engine arranged for
piston motion in a relative horizontal orientation with a
crankshaft oriented vertically is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,461,055.
Whatever constructions have been utilized previously however, have
generally been characterized by one or more disadvantages either in
performance limitations or operator handling. In addition to the
gyroscopic problem mentioned, some units are characterized by a
weight imbalance, feasibility restriction to right hand use only
attributed to an arrangement of operating controls and/or location
of engine exhaust, undesirable suck up at start up, etc.
Such units are manufactured by a number of companies and
competitively marketed largely on the basis of features, quality
and price. For remaining competitive, each manufacturer
instinctively strives to improve his product in a way that will
enhance sales and increase profit. This has not always been easy to
come by in a generally well developed highly competitive art.
Obvious desired virtues of such units not universally achieved by
constructions of the prior art are lightweight, ease of operation,
minimal vibration, right or left hand use, etc., while producing
reasonably high volume of highly forceful air in serving the
intended purpose of the unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to hand held blowers and more specifically to
an improved construction for an engine driven blower unit
interchangeably operative as either a blower or vacuum unit and
symmetrically arranged for right or left hand use. The foregoing is
achieved utilizing a gasoline driven engine arranged with a piston
and crankshaft in a relatively horizontal and vertical orientation
respectively as to eliminate the adverse effect of gyroscopic and
centrifugal forces previously associated with units of this type.
At the same time both the engine exhaust and cooling air are
discharged at the central front in a location removed from the
operator while a U-shaped carrying handle, free of operating
controls, is secured to an upper housing by means of a mounting
structure that includes anti vibration elements.
The handle is of sufficiently greater length and angle than
previously utilized as to enable tilting or disposing the unit as
desired. A multipositionable throttle located on the backside of
the unit is incrementally settable for operating the unit at
preselected fixed speeds. The vacuum inlet is located on the
underside of the housing raised above the set down engagement
portion of the unit and is generally closed by means of a hinged
cover providing only for induction air flow when the unit is used
in a blower mode. Included about the inlet is a connecting collar
for attaching a vacuum intake tube when the cover is opened for
using the unit in the vacuum mode. A discharge opening on the front
of the unit also includes a connecting flange to which either a
blower tube and nozzle can be attached for the blower mode or
tubing and bag receptacle can be attached for the vacuum mode.
By virtue of the foregoing construction the unit is advantageously
weight balanced and readily handled equally well by either right
handed or left handed persons so as to readily accommodate persons
of either preference. At the same time, since the suction inlet is
raised above the set-down plane of the unit in combination with a
cover shielded inlet, suck up of debris during start up is
minimized if not eliminated.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel
construction for a hand held blower/vacuum unit affording increased
versatility for such units.
It is a further object of the invention to effect the latter object
with a highly symmetrical unit affording more ready handling by
persons having right or left handed preference.
It is a further object of the invention to effect the foregoing
objects with a novel construction for enhancing competitive
advantages in features afforded by such units.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is pictorial representation of the blower/vacuum unit hereof
as utilized in the blower mode;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the blower/vacuum unit
illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top planar view of the blower/vacuum unit illustrated
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an underside planar view of the blower/vacuum unit
illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the blower/vacuum unit illustrated in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view through the unit as seen substantially
from the position 6--6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view as seen substantially from the position
7--7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view as seen substantially from the position
8--8 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view as seen substantially from the position
9--9 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view as seen substantially from the position
10--10 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view as seen substantially from the position
11--11 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 12 is an exploded isometric view of the throttle control
apparatus;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view as seen substantially from the position
12--13 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 14 is an exploded elevation of the throttle to carburetor
connection;
FIG. 15 is a pictorial view of the blower/vacuum unit hereof as
utilized in the vacuum mode; and
FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the encircled portion of
FIG. 6 as modified for using the unit in the vacuum mode of FIG.
15.
Referring generally to FIGS. 1-5 and 15, the blower/vacuum unit
hereof is attractively designed and generally designated 10. The
unit is comprised of a two cycle gasoline engine 48 (FIG. 6)
enclosed in a housing 12 to which a blower housing or shroud 14 is
mounted underneath. Screws 15, 17 and 19 enable removal of housing
12 for engine servicing. For portable carrying of the unit, a
handle 16 is secured to the top side of housing 12 while at the
underside the housing 14 includes a downwardly depending second
handle 18 enabling two handed operation when required. A downwardly
depending foot 224 terminates coplanar with the underside of handle
18 so that the unit can be set down when not in use. Operating
appurtenances for the unit as generally illustrated in these
figures include a starter rope handle 20, an on/off switch 22, a
throttle control unit 24, a choke 26 and a filler fuel cap 28 with
all but rope handle 20 being contained on the backface of housing
12. For securing a shoulder strap 30 (FIG. 15), handle 16 includes
a ring 32.
For utilizing unit 10 in the blower mode illustrated in these
Figures, there is included a blower tube 34 adapted to be secured
via a handle clamp 36 to a discharge tube 38 extending forward from
the front end of the housing 14. Threadably connected to the blower
tube 34 is an arcuate nozzle extension 40. When utilized in the
vacuum mode of FIG. 15, blower tube 34 is replaced by a bag 44 and
elbow unit 45 connected to discharge tube 38 and having a shoulder
strap 30 while a vacuum intake tube 42 is connected to the
underside of housing 14 as will be described.
Engine 48, as can be best understood with reference to FIGS. 5-12,
is generally enclosed within fan housing 12 and is arranged with
cylinder 50 containing a piston 52 reciprocally operable in a
horizontal plane within finned engine block 51. In this arrangement
connecting rod 54 is mounted on crankshaft 56 having a vertical
orientation and supporting flywheel 57 in a vertical axis so as to
minimize any gyroscopic effect on the operator. Securing flywheel
57 thereat is by means of nut 59 immediately above which is a
springbiased starter pulley 61 on which starter rope 20 is wound.
The pulley includes a downwardly depending pulley ratchet 21
engageable with nut 59 and is mounted on housing knob 23 by means
of screw 25.
Crankshaft 56 is supported for rotation in a crankcase assembly 58
that includes bearings 60 and 62. Beneath bearing 62 the crankshaft
includes a flange 64 engaging a top surface of a coupling 66 to
which the crankshaft is threadedly connected via end nipple 67.
Joined threadedly to the underside of coupling 66 via a nipple 69
is a shaft-arbor 68 that includes a flange 70 engaging the
underside of coupling 66 and extending downward to lower flange 72
seated against the inner race of ball bearing 74. Bearing 74
supports shaft-arbor 68 for rotation and beneath which the
shaft-arbor extends to a threaded nipple 76. Mounted for rotation
on arbor shaft 68 at that location is impeller 78 secured by means
of nut 80 and washer 81.
Fuel 83 is contained in tank 85 that is secured in position by a
screw 87 and retainer 89 secured against a cushion 91. Fuel from
the tank is supplied to carburetor 182 having an air intake opening
183 containing cellulose filter element 185. Securing carburetor
182 mounted in position are bolts 189 and 191.
Engine ignition is provided when switch 22 is in the "on" position
by spark plug 82 secured in finned engine block 51 through threaded
plug bore 53 communicating with cylinder 50. Plug 82 connects via
lead wire 84 to a solid state ignition module 86 mounted on the
block by means of clamp 88 and bolt 90. Communicating with a side
face of cylinder 50 is a port 92 enlarging to a diffuser-muffler 94
extending inward of body muffler assembly 96 contained within
enlarged cavity 97. Muffler assembly 96 is positioned forward of
heat deflector shield 103 and includes a cover 98 and a tubular
neck 100 leading to outward of housing 12 for discharging engine
exhaust 99. Securing the muffler assembly in position are a pair of
tensioned springs 102, 104 (FIG. 9) that extend from the underside
of cover 98 to ear projections 106 and 108 respectively. In this
arrangement engine exhaust is discharged through muffler neck 100
at a centrally front location forward of handle 16 and in a forward
direction away from an operator standing behind the unit.
Concomitantly discharging in a forward direction from cavity 97
about muffler assembly 96 is ambient cooling air 101 passing over
finned block 51.
Handle 16 is of substantially U-shaped configuration that includes
an angularly upward extending front leg 107 joined to a backwardly
inclined central hand grip 109 which in turn is joined to a
horizontal reverse-bend rear leg 111. For securing handle 16 to
housing 12 in a manner affording minimum of engine vibration
transmitted to the handle, there is provided on the topside of
housing 12, as best seen in FIGS. 3, 5, 10 and 11, a pair of
upstanding spaced apart lugs 110 toward the front of the housing
and a pair of spaced apart upstanding lugs 112 near the rear of the
housing. For effecting joinder of handle 16 with the front lugs
110, front leg 107 includes a transverse aperture 114 adapted to
align axially with apertures 116 in the lugs. Mounting thereof
includes a resilient hard rubber isolator 118 centrally recessed at
120 for insertion within handle aperture 114. Enclosed within the
isolator is a tubular spacer 122 internally threaded at both ends
for receipt of cap screws 126. Cup washers 124 are positioned at
either end of spacer 122 about the isolator ends and against the
inside face of the lug 110 thereat. Cap screws 126 along with a
washer 128 threaded inward of spacer 122 secure the assembly in
position.
Rear mounting of the handle to housing 12 is effected similarly in
that lower handle leg 111 terminates in a T-shaped connector 130
having oppositely threaded bores 132. Each lug 112 includes an
aperture 134 for receiving a grommet-like isolator 136 of
construction similar to that described above with respect to
isolator 118. A recess 138 in each of the isolators enables
positioning the isolator in an aperture 134 of lug 112 along with
an internal spacer 140. With cap washers 142 and 144 in position
the entire unit is assembled together via elongated screws 146
threaded into bores 132.
In the preferred embodiment user protection against static shock is
provided in that the handle 16 is of an electrically conductive
composition such as a special conductive molded plastic polymer
comprised for example of nylon containing about ten percent carbon.
Grounding of the handle is achieved by means of wire 141 secured to
handle 16 by screw 143 and extending to a connection with a metal
portion of the blower via screw 145 (FIGS. 5 and 6). In this
arrangement wire 141 passes from the handle 16 into and then out of
housing 12.
Throttle control 24 will now be described with specific reference
to FIGS. 5, 6 and 12-14. As thereshown, the throttle control is
comprised of a generally hollow knob 148 having a recess 150 at its
rear and forming a shoulder 152 toward its front. From that point
the knob includes a reduced diameter neck 149 extending to its
distal end through an aperture 153 in rear housing cover plate 46
secured to block 51 by bolts 49. Near the distal end of knob 148
there is provided an annular recess 154 on which is contained a
wave washer 155 and retainer ring 157. Shoulder 152 includes a
plurality of protuberances 156 uniformly spaced circumferentially
at a controlled angular spacing as will be understood. When
assembled in position protuberances 156 are adapted to engage the
incrementally troughed face 158 of boss 160 formed on the front
face of cover plate 46 surrounding opening 153. Washer 155 and
retainer ring 157 secure knob 148 thereat in a springlike
compression with protruberances 156 engaging the incremental
troughs 158. The circumferential spacing of protruberances 156 is
made to correspond with a multiple of trough increments 158 as to
enable position setting of the knob 148 in a spring-like rotational
movement to increase or decrease a fixed operating speed of engine
48.
Longitudinally extending internally of knob 148 is helix cam member
166 adapted to be engaged by a follower 168 on the internal surface
of knob 148. In this arrangement, rotation of the knob in one
direction will cause an inward longitudinal displacement movement
of the cam as represented by arrow 170 while rotating knob 148 in
the other direction will cause an outward displacement movement of
the cam as represented by arrow 170. A screw 174 with a washer 172
is positioned within recess 150 and threadedly secured to cam
aperture 176 as to limit cam movement leftward of knob shoulder 151
as viewed in FIG. 13. Extending leftward from the distal end of the
cam is an elongated u-shaped rigid wire actuator 178 having a bead
179 secured molded-in-place within knob 140. Actuator 178 generally
extends at an angular offset with respect to the axis of cam 166
and connects to an arcuately displaceable throttle plate 180
controlling a butterfly valve (not shown) in carburetor assembly
182. Choke knob 26 (FIG. 6) is mounted extending through cover
plate aperture 93. Mounted on the backface of choke knob 26 by
means of screw 195 is a rotatable offset arm 184 extending inward
to engage a slot 186 in a shutter choke plate 188 of the
carburetor.
Blower housing or shroud 14 as will now be described with
particular reference to FIGS. 2, 4-7 and 16 is formed of
complementary mating sections including a top section 190 and a
lower section 192 partially interfitting between upper arcuate
cavity 197 and lower arcuate rib 199. Together the sections form an
enclosure cavity 194 containing impeller 78. Extending laterally
towards the front side of the unit is the enlargement from a
passage 196 to air discharge tube 38.
Forming the vacuum inlet to cavity 194 at the underside of section
192 is a circumferentially slit collar 198 on which to receive and
mount vacuum intake tube 42. About collar 198 is contained an
adjustable band clamp 200 for securing the vacuum intake tube in
position when the tool is to be utilized in the vacuum mode as will
be described. Supported to alternatively cover or expose collar 198
in a cover door 202 secured to pivot pin 204 and which is biased
toward a closed position of the cover via a pair of spring members
206 wound about pin 204. A washer 208 and a screw 210 secure pin
204 in position. It is important to note that in a preferred
embodiment the undersurface of cover 202 in the closed position is
in a plane coincident with undersurfaces of handle 18 and foot 224
(FIG. 2) to afford stability when the unit is free standing on a
flat surface.
For latching cover 202 in the closed position, there is provided a
downwardly dependent male screw 212 (FIG. 6) supported in a
counterbore 211 and secured by nut 213 and adapted to be received
within the threaded portion of female thumb screw 214. For
containing screw 214, cover 202 includes a radial projection 216
having an aperture 218 and a counterbore 219. By thumb or
screwdriver rotation of screw 214 with cover 202 in the closed
position, screw 212 will engage the internal threads thereof until
a clamping action is achieved between the opposed surfaces thereat.
With cover 202 in the closed position and tool 10 being operative
in the blower mode, debris is generally prevented from entering
suction collar 198, there being defined an air induction passage
220 intervening, as illustrated by the arrows 222 in FIG. 7,
between the internal diameter of the cover 202 and the external
diameter of collar 198.
.Iadd.This anti-entrainment function provided by the cover 202, and
the elevated air induction passage 220 which it defines with the
collar 198, is of particular benefit when the bottom end of the
unit is rested upon or placed in close proximity to the ground
adjacent small but relatively heavy ground-disposed objects such as
pebbles or the like. With the cover 202 in its collar-covering
position depicted in FIG. 7, and the unit in its blower mode with
the impeller 78 being rapidly rotated by the engine 48, pebbles or
the like adjacent the cover 202 are essentially prevented from
being drawn inwardly through the induction passage 220. This is due
to the fact that the illustrated cover member 202 and the passage
220 which it defines automatically function to maintain the
velocity of ground level inlet air being drawn toward the cover
member 202 and the passage 220 at a magnitude generally
insufficient to entrain the pebbles or the like into such ground
level inlet air. The potential for ingesting pebbles or the like
into the lower housing cavity 194, and then rapidly discharging
them, projectile-like, from passage 196 is thus greatly
diminished.
For converting the unit 10 from the blower mode of FIGS. 1-7 to the
vacuum mode of FIGS. 15 and 16, it is only necessary to loosen hand
clamp 36 to remove the blower tube 34 and nozzle 40 from discharge
tube 38. With the unit upended on its back side so as to expose
cover 202, thumb screw 214 is operated to release the connected
with screw 212. With the cover 202 in the open position of FIG. 16
exposing inlet collar 190, vacuum intake tube 42 is inserted within
collar 198 after which clamp 200 is screwdriver tightened to secure
tube 42 in position. Thereafter, elbow 45 to which bag 44 is
secured is positioned inward of tube 38 and secured thereat by
handclamp 36. With shoulder strap 30 appropriately wrapped about
the operator and connected to handle ring 32, engine 48 can be
started by throwing switch 22 and pulling rope handle 20.
By the above description there is disclosed novel structure for a
hand held compact blower unit that can be readily interchanged for
enabling operation in a blower mode or vacuum mode. By means of the
engine having a piston and crankshaft in a horizontal and vertical
orientation respectively, both exhaust and cooling air can
conveniently be discharged from the front of the unit away from an
operator while minimizing any gyropscopic effect that could
otherwise occur. All operating apurtenances requiring operator
positioning or selection are located conveniently on the back of
the unit where they can be readily seen and adjusted as required
when hand held by the operator. The foregoing features in
combination provide a balanced and symmetrical unit that is readily
operable by persons haivng right hand or left hand preference.
Specifically feature is a multipositionable throttle incrementally
settable for operating the unit at preselected fixed speeds. The
vacuum unit being located on the underside of the housing is
generally closed over by a cover plate during the blower mode and
which cover plate can be hingedly displaced for mounting a vacuum
intake tube when operating in the vacuum mode. Consequently, the
construction hereof affords improvements in features of
construction and performance that are highly desirable in
competitive units of this type.
Since many changes could be made in the above construction and many
apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be
made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that
all matter contained in the drawings and specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *