Dust extractor with flat back

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904424-B2
Application number	US-201715709584-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2017
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A dust extractor for a drill is provided, including a single air flow path, a shroud having an internal chamber for collecting dust in fluid communication with a first end of the single air flow path, a filter assembly located in the single air flow path, a vacuum source connected to a second end of the single air flow path, and an air flow control mechanism controlling a direction of air flow generated by the vacuum source. During a normal operation, the vacuum source draws air and entrained debris from the internal chamber of the shroud through the single air flow path. During a back flush operation, the vacuum source blows air and entrained debris through the single air flow path towards the shroud. The air passes through the filter assembly to remove the entrained debris in either direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dust extractor for use with a power tool comprising:
a housing forming a dust collection chamber and a main chamber separated from one another via an internal wall having an aperture;
an electric fan disposed within the main chamber to generate an airflow stream through the dust collection chamber and the aperture;
a shroud mounted to the housing in fluid communication with the dust collection chamber;
a filter assembly located on the aperture such that the airflow stream flowing between the dust collection chamber and the main chamber passes through the filter assembly and the aperture; and
a valve assembly disposed within the main chamber configured to change a direction of the airflow stream through the aperture,
wherein, during a normal operation of the dust extractor, the valve assembly is configured in a first orientation to guide the airflow stream in a first direction in which the airflow stream is introduced from outside the housing and through the shroud into the dust collection chamber and includes dust particles generated by an operation of the power tool, and the filter assembly traps the dust particles as the airflow stream passes from the dust collection chamber and through the aperture into the main chamber; and
during a backflush operation of the dust extractor, the valve assembly is configured in a second orientation to guide the airflow stream in a second direction in which the airflow stream passes from the main chamber and through the aperture and collects the dust particles trapped by the filter assembly to clean the filter assembly as it passes into the dust collection chamber.

2. The dust extractor of claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly comprises a single filter or a plurality of filters located in series and/or in parallel with each other.

3. The dust extractor of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a rotary valve, the rotary valve comprising:
a circular housing; and
a rotatable cover rotatably mounted between the circular housing and the fan, wherein the rotatable cover is rotatable between the first orientation and the second orientation relative to the circular housing.

4. The dust extractor of claim 3 , wherein the circular housing includes a first plurality of openings and a second plurality of openings therein; the rotatable cover rotatably includes a third plurality of openings and a fourth plurality of openings therein, and wherein:
in the first orientation, the first plurality of openings is aligned with the third plurality of second openings but the second plurality of openings is not aligned with the fourth plurality of openings so the airflow stream passes in the first direction from the aperture, through the first plurality of openings and the third plurality of openings, and into the fan, and
in the second orientation, the first plurality of openings is not aligned with the third plurality of second openings but the second plurality of openings is aligned with the fourth plurality of openings so the airflow stream passes from the fan, through the second plurality of openings and the fourth plurality of openings, and into the aperture in the second direction.

5. The dust extractor of claim 3 , wherein the fan comprises a radial fan mounted inside the rotatable cover, and the circular housing extends circumferentially around the rotatable cover.

6. The dust extractor of claim 3 , wherein the circular housing includes a raised section received into the aperture.

7. The dust extractor of claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor disposed within the main chamber configured to drive the fan.

8. The dust extractor of claim 7 , wherein the electric motor is located adjacent the fan across from the valve assembly.

9. The dust extractor of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a plurality of pivotal flaps configurable in the first orientation or the second orientation.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Rompel Markus
• Bell Ian S
• Nemetz Uwe

Classifications

• B23Q11/0071

  dust collectors for hand tools · CPC title

• B23Q11/005

  by blowing · CPC title

• B23Q11/0046 Primary

  by sucking · CPC title

• B28D7/02

  for removing or laying dust, e.g. by spraying liquids; for cooling work · CPC title