Vacuum / Blower Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016238010-A1
Application number	US-201615016755-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2016
Priority date	Feb 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vacuum/blower device is provided with a drive motor and a fan operatively connected to the drive motor and driven by the drive motor. A switching device is provided that switches the vacuum/blower device from a vacuum operation to a blower operation and from the blower operation to the vacuum operation. A suction pipe with an intake opening is provided, wherein, in the vacuum operation of the vacuum/blower device, a suction air flow is sucked in from the intake opening toward the fan in a first flow direction. The switching device switches a rotational direction of the fan, wherein the fan in the blower operation conveys a blower air flow through the suction pipe in a second flow direction that is oriented from the fan toward the intake opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vacuum/blower device comprising:
a drive motor; a fan operatively connected to the drive motor and driven by the drive motor; a switching device configured to switch the vacuum/blower device from a vacuum operation to a blower operation and from the blower operation to the vacuum operation; a suction pipe comprising an intake opening, wherein, in the vacuum operation of the vacuum/blower device, a suction air flow is sucked in from the intake opening toward the fan in a first flow direction; wherein the switching device switches a rotational direction of the fan, wherein the fan in the blower operation conveys a blower air flow through the suction pipe in a second flow direction that is oriented from the fan toward the intake opening.

2 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 1 , wherein the switching device comprises a gearbox operatively connected to the drive motor, wherein the drive motor drives the fan through the gearbox.

3 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive motor is an internal combustion engine.

4 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive motor is an electric motor.

5 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 4 , wherein the switching device switches a rotational direction of the electric motor.

6 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 1 , wherein the fan is an axial fan comprising at least one fan wheel.

7 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 1 , wherein the fan is arranged within the suction pipe.

8 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 1 , further comprising an inlet opening that is arranged upstream of the suction pipe in the blower operation, wherein the fan in the blower operation sucks in air through the inlet opening.

9 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 8 , further comprising an outlet opening arranged downstream of the suction pipe in the vacuum operation, wherein material collected in the vacuum operation through the intake opening exits through the outlet opening.

10 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 9 , further comprising a valve that, in a first switching position of the valve, produces a connection connecting the suction pipe with the inlet opening and, in a second switching position of the valve, produces a connection connecting the suction pipe with the outlet opening.

11 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 10 , wherein the valve is a ball valve.

12 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 10 , wherein the valve is a pivotable flap.

13 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 10 , wherein a switching position of the switching device is coupled to the first and second switching positions of the valve.

14 . The vacuum/blower device according to claim 13 , wherein the switching device comprises a switch that is actuated by a valve body of the valve.

Assignees

• Stihl Ag & Co Kg Andreas

Inventors

• Schäffler Kevin
• Gindele Cornelius
• Hittmann Markus
• Barth Christian

Classifications

• F04D19/005 Primary

  reversible fans · CPC title

• F04D25/06

  the pump being electrically driven (F04D25/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01G20/47 Primary

  Vacuum or blower devices · CPC title

• F02B63/02

  for hand-held tools · CPC title

• E01H1/08

  Pneumatically dislodging or taking-up undesirable matter {or small objects}({E01H1/006 and E01H1/005 take precedence;} suction cleaners in general A47L5/00 - A47L9/00; {sucking-off liquids or semi-liquids E01H1/108}); Drying by heat only or by streams of gas (permanently-installed heating or blowing devices E01C11/26; heating or drying for road- building or repairing E01C23/14; {devices for melting snow or ice in situ E01H5/10, E01H8/08; for scorching undesirable vegetation E01H11/00}); Cleaning by projecting abrasive particles (sand-blasting in general B24C; {roughening of road surfaces E01C23/08; cleaning of road joints E01C23/0906}) · CPC title