Adjustable outlet for mobile blower

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11673168-B2
Application number	US-202016851216-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2020
Priority date	Apr 19, 2019
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

A blower includes a motor mounted to a frame. The frame includes wheels mounted to the frame. The blower includes a fan powered by the motor and a blower outlet. The fan is configured to expel air from the fan through the blower outlet. The blower outlet is movable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The blower includes a horizontal control for controlling a horizontal position of the blower outlet. The blower includes a vertical control for controlling a vertical position of the blower outlet. Both the horizontal and vertical controls are positioned remote from the blower outlet.

First claim

We claim:

1. A blower comprising:
a motor mounted to a frame, wherein the frame includes wheels mounted to the frame;
a fan powered by the motor;
a blower outlet, the fan being configured to expel air from the fan through the blower outlet, the blower outlet being movable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction;
a horizontal flow element through which the expelled air flows;
a vertical flow element through which the expelled air flows after flowing through the horizontal flow element;
a horizontal control for controlling the horizontal flow element to vary a horizontal position of the blower outlet; and
a vertical control for controlling the vertical flow element movably attached to the horizontal flow element to vary a vertical position of the blower outlet;
both the horizontal and vertical controls being positioned remote from the blower outlet.

2. The blower of claim 1 , wherein both the horizontal and vertical controls are attached to the frame at a control station, wherein the control station further includes at least one handle to control the movement of the blower.

3. The blower of claim 1 , wherein the both the horizontal and vertical controls are connected to the blower outlet by way of cables.

4. The blower of claim 1 , wherein the blower outlet is biased to a neutral vertical position.

5. The blower of claim 1 , wherein the blower outlet is biased to a neutral horizontal position.

6. The blower of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal flow element is movably mounted to the frame.

7. The blower of claim 6 , wherein the horizontal flow element includes a stop for limiting the rotation of the horizontal flow element with respect to the frame.

8. The blower of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal flow element is a curved tube with an opening and the vertical flow element is a ring that includes one or more louvers.

9. A blower comprising:
a motor mounted to a frame, wherein the frame includes wheels mounted to the frame;
a fan powered by the motor;
a blower outlet, the fan being configured to expel air from the fan through the blower outlet, the blower outlet including:
a horizontal flow element through which the expelled air flows, the horizontal flow element being movably mounted to the frame; and
a vertical flow element through which the expelled air flows after flowing through the horizontal flow element, the vertical flow element being movably attached to the horizontal flow element, at least one of the horizontal and vertical flow elements being spring biased to a neutral position; and

a control station attached to the frame, wherein the control station includes:
a horizontal control for controlling movement of the horizontal flow element of the blower outlet; and
a vertical control for controlling movement of the vertical flow element of the blower outlet.

10. The blower of claim 9 , wherein the vertical flow element is biased to a neutral position.

11. The blower of claim 9 , wherein the control station includes a motor control configured to control a position of a throttle of the motor.

12. The blower of claim 9 , wherein the horizontal control is movable between preset positions.

13. The blower of claim 12 , wherein the horizontal control includes at least three preset positions.

14. The blower of claim 9 , wherein the horizontal control includes a first actuation mechanism and a second actuation mechanism, wherein both the first actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism are connected to the horizontal flow element.

15. The blower of claim 14 , wherein the first and second actuation mechanisms are cables, wherein, when the horizontal control is moved in a first control direction, the first actuation mechanism moves the horizontal flow element in a first flow direction, and wherein, when the horizontal control is moved in a second control direction, the second actuation mechanism moves the horizontal flow element in a second flow direction.

16. The blower of claim 9 , wherein the horizontal flow element is a curved tube with an opening and the vertical flow element is a ring that includes one or more louvers.

17. A blower comprising:
a motor mounted to a frame, wherein the frame includes wheels mounted to the frame;
a fan powered by the motor;
a blower outlet configured to direct air from the fan; and
a control station attached to the frame, wherein the control station further includes:
a first control for controlling movement of a first element of the blower outlet in a first direction, wherein air is directed through the first element;
a second control for controlling movement of a second element of the blower outlet in a second direction, the second element being movably attached to the first element, wherein air is directed through the second element after flowing through the first element; and
at least one of the group comprising:
a motor control configured to control the motor; and
a self-propel control configured to control a driving speed of the wheels.

18. The blower of claim 17 , wherein the first control controls a horizontal position of the blower outlet, and the second control controls a vertical position of the blower outlet.

19. The blower of claim 17 , wherein the first control is movable between preset positions.

20. The blower of claim 19 , wherein the first control includes at least three preset positions.

21. The blower of claim 17 , wherein the first control includes a first actuation mechanism and a second actuation mechanism, wherein both the first actuation mechanism and the second actuation mechanism are connected to the blower outlet.

22. The blower of claim 17 , wherein the first element is a curved tube with an opening and the second element is a ring that includes one or more louvers.

Assignees

• Country Home Products Inc
• Generac Power Systems Inc

Inventors

• Wooden William D
• Orgain Anthony
• Joubert Seth

Classifications

• A01G20/47 Primary

  Vacuum or blower devices · CPC title

• B08B5/02 Primary

  Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} · CPC title

• E01H1/0809

  Loosening or dislodging by blowing (combined with suction E01H1/0863; with steam E01H1/10; removing snow by blowing E01H5/106; cleaning rails by blowing E01H8/105, E01H8/125; removing fog by blowing E01H13/00; cleaning joints in road construction by blowing E01C23/0906); Drying by means of gas streams (combined with snow or ice melting E01H5/10) · CPC title