GB2311462A

GB2311462A - Blower vacuum

Info

Publication number: GB2311462A
Application number: GB9606500A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Craig Duncan Webster
Original assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Current assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Priority date: 1996-03-28
Filing date: 1996-03-28
Publication date: 1997-10-01
Also published as: GB9606500D0

Description

Blower Vacuum The present invention relates to a debris collecting apparatus, in particular a garden debris collecting apparatus of the kind which may be used either in a vacuum mode to suck debris into the apparatus or in a blowing mode to discharge a stream of air from a nozzle so that debris can be blown into piles.

Such debris collecting apparatus is already known. In one such apparatus, according to US Patent No. 4,325,163 a centrifugal impeller is used to take in air through an inlet and blow it through an outlet. In the vacuum mode, debris passes through the impeller, which will inevitably result in wear to the impeller, even though a chopping blade may be mounted on the impeller shaft immediately upstream of the impeller.

It is also known, for example from European Patent No.114,114, to provide a debris collection apparatus in which an impeller is used to create an entrained air flow. In the vacuum mode, debris is picked up in this entrained air flow and carried via a duct to a collecting bag. The debris does not pass through the impeller, thus reducing wear and tear to the impeller. Such a system, however, does have the disadvantage that where the apparatus is being used in the blowing mode, and it is not desired to collect debris, the collecting bag and duct are still attached to the blower, which makes the apparatus heavier and less manoeuvrable for the user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved debris collecting apparatus.

The present invention provides a blower vacuum unit for selective operation in a blower mode and in a suction mode, comprising: a housing having means forming an air inlet and an air outlet; a motor carried within the housing; a power source to power the motor; an impeller rotatably driven by the motor and positioned for drawing air into the housing through the air inlet and discharging the air from the housing through the air outlet; a debris collection conduit one end of which conduit is an operating end and the other end of which conduit is adapted for attachment to a debris collection container; means for generating an entrained air flow in the debris collecting conduit by directing the air dicharged through the air outlet into the operating end of the debris collection conduit; characterised in that; a power driven implement is disposed at the operating end of the debris collection conduit and a power connection is provided to connect the power driven implement to said power source.

The housing and debris collection conduit may comprise separate components wherein the conduit is adapted to be releasably mounted on the housing so that the operating end of the debris conduit is located for co-operation to the air outlet of the housing and the power connection includes a power connection interface between the housing and the debris collection conduit to connect the power driven implement to said power source when the debris collection conduit is mounted on the housing. Therefore, when the unit is to be used in the blowing mode the debris collecting conduit can be removed thus making the unit less cumbersome to use.

The connection interface may comprise a plug on the debris collection conduit and a socket in the housing. The plug may be mounted at said other end of the debris collection conduit, and a cable runs the length of said conduit from the plug to the implement.

Alternatively, the socket may be mounted adjacent the air outlet, a cable running the length of the air outlet from said source to the socket.

Preferably said power source is a cable for connection to mains electricity and said motor is an electric motor and said implement is electrically powered.

Preferably said implement comprises a working element and a second motor to drive the working element. The working element may be an agitator, such as, a cylindrical brush which is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, the rotation of which is driven by the second motor.

The agitator serves to loosen debris adhered to the ground, such as may occur in wet ground conditions when and the debris is leaves and the like.

Alternatively, the working element could comprise reciprocating scissor cutters, the reciprocation of which is powered by the implement motor unit. The reciprocating scissor cutters can be used for cutting grass or weeds and for mulching debris to be collected.

To enable the replacement of one implement with another, the implement may be detachable from the collection conduit with a power connection interface provided between the implement and the collection conduit. Alternatively, the working element may be detachable from the unit housing the motor with a power drive interface provided between the working element and the implement motor unit so that when the working element is attached to the implement motor unit it is driven by the implement motor unit. Thus an agitator can be replaced with other types of implements or working elements as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art.

The invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of a blower vacuum unit according to the present invention Figure 2 is a side view showing a second embodiment of a blower vacuum unit according to the present invention except with the debris collection conduit separated from the blower unit; Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Figure 2, except the debris collection conduit is shown in cross section and the collection bag is shown detached; Figures 4a and b are views in the direction of the Arrows a and b respectively in Figure 3, but of an embodiment of the invention different to that shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section on the lines V-V in Figures 4a andb; Figure 6 shows a similar view to that shown in Figure 3 of a further embodiment of the present invention in which the implement is detachable from the collection conduit; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the detachable implement shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows an alternative detachable implement which can replace the implement shown in Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 shows a working element which can replace the working element of the implements shown in Figures 1 to 3,6 and7.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3 a blower vacuum unit (2) comprises a housing (4) having a grip handle (6) and (6a). The housing (4) constitutes a blower unit having an air inlet in the form of slots (8) and an air outlet in the form of a nozzle (10). The housing includes an electric motor (12) driving an impeller (14) which draws air into the inlet (8) and expels it through and from the nozzle (10).

A debris collection conduit (24) has an air socket (30) (see Figure 2) adapted to receive the front end of the nozzle (10), and connection means (not shown) at the motor end of the housing (4) to secure detachably the housing and collection conduit together.

When connected together, air expelled through the nozzle (10) is channelled through air socket (30) and into an operating end (24a) of the conduit (24). The air entering the conduit in this way entrains further air, drawing such air through the operating end and so that debris lying near the operating end (24a) is lifted and transported along the conduit (24) to the other end (24b) thereof. A debris collection bag (26) is connected to said other end (24b) of the conduit and collects debris picked up by the unit (2).

Debris which is loosely adhered to the ground, (for example, wet leaves on concrete or like surfaces), may prove difficult to prise from the ground using merely the suction effect of such entrained air. Thus the present invention provides a powered agitator (40) disposed adjacent the operating end (24a) of the conduit (24).

Agitator (40) comprises a rotatable brush or sweeper (42) journalled in the conduit (24), and a motor (44) to rotate the brush (42) via a belt drive (46).

A cable (48) supplying electric power to the motor (44) is arranged in a channel (50) in the base of the conduit (24) and which cable terminates in a plug (52) at the other end (24b) of the conduit (24). When the blower housing (4) and conduit (24) are interconnnected, the plug (52) makes electrical connection with the socket (54) provided on the housing (4). The socket is supplied by a branch in a cable (56) supplying power to the motor (12).

Agitator (40) is required only when the blower vacuum unit (2) is to be used in its debris collection mode. Thus when the collection conduit (24) is detached from the blower housing (4), so that the blower housing can be used alone in the blower mode of operation of the unit (2), then the agitator (40) is discarded with the collection unit so that it does not inconvenience the user when it is not needed.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which the debris collecting conduit (24) is an integral part of the blower vacuum unit. The blower vacuum shown in Figure 1 works in the same way as that described above in relation to Figures 2 and 3 and like parts are indicated by like numerals. As the debris collection conduit 24 is always attached to the unit no plug (52) or socket (54) is necessary. Instead the power cable (48) is extended and is connected directly to the main power supply cable (56) of the unit.

The unit shown in Figure 1 can be converted from vacuum mode into blowing mode by moving the flap (19) from the closed position to the open position (shown in dotted lines). When the flap (19) is in the open position air travelling down the nozzle (10) is directed out of the unit.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the plug/socket power interface (52,54) between the housing (4) and conduit (24) is located in a different position, that is to say, in which it is incorporated in the nozzle/air socket interface (10,30) of the housing and conduit.

Here, a socket (54') is formed adjacent the end of the nozzle (10) and is supplied with a cable (56') branching from the main supply cable (56) and lying in a channel (not shown) formed along the nozzle (10).

A plug (52') is formed on the conduit (24) adjacent the air socket (30) so that positive engagement between the plug and socket occurs when the nozzle (10) is inserted in the air socket (30).

A further preferred embodiment is shown in Figures 6 to 8 in which the agitator (40) can be replaced by a different tool, such as, reciprocating scissors (Figure 8). This embodiment is shown on a unit in which the debris collecting conduit is detachable, however it can equally be applied to a unit in which the debris collecting conduit is permanently attached to the unit.

Referring to Figure 6, the blower vacuum unit (2) has an implement (shown generally by (60)) which is detachable from the collection conduit (24). A power connection interface is provided between the implement (60) and the collection conduit (24). The power connection interface comprises a plug (62) which is electrically connected to the motor (44) and a socket (64) which is electrically connected to the cable (48). When the implement (60) is attached to the collection conduit (24) the plug (62) and the socket (64) come into electrical contact.

The implement (60) comprises an agitator (40) driven by the motor (44) via a belt drive (46) which operates in the same way as the agitator described above in relation to Figures 1 to 3.

As the implement (60) is detachable from the collection conduit (24) it can be replaced by an alternative powered implement, such as the reciprocating scissor blade implement (66) shown in Figure 7. This implement includes two blades (68) and (70) which are mounted for relative reciprocating movement. Similarly, the blades (68,70) are driven by a motor which is powered via the electrical cable (48) when the plug (62) on the implement (66) is received within the socket (64) on the collection conduit (24). Thus, different implements can be located at the working end (24b) of the collecting conduit (24) for different applications of the device. The scissor blade implement (66) would be useful for trimming small patches of vegetation so that the cut vegetation can be collected in the collecting bag (26) for easy disposal.

The implements shown in Figures 1 to 3, 6 and 7 include a working element, such as the agitator (40) or the blade assembly (68,70). An alternative way to change the nature of the implement is to change the working element of the implement, for different applications.

The belt driven agitator (40) can be replaced, for example, by the belt driven lawn raker (72) shown in Figure 9. As shown in Figure 7, the agitator (40) is mounted on supports (74,76) for rotation about its longitudinal axis so that it can be detached as necessary. The rotation of the agitator (40) is driven by the belt (46). The agitator (40) can thus be detached from the supports (74,76) and the belt (46) and replaced by the lawn raker (72). The lawn raker (72) is attached to the support (74,76) and the belt (46) in the same way. The lawn raker attachment comprises sprung tines (78) and would be used to rake debris, such as, moss from a lawn. The debris would be sucked up the collection conduit (24) on removal from the lawn for easy disposal.

Claims

1. A blower vacuum unit (2) for selective operation in a blower mode and in a suction mode, comprising: a housing (4) having means forming an air inlet (8) and an air outlet (10); a motor (12) carried within the housing; a power source (56) to power the motor; an impeller (14) rotatably driven by the motor and positioned for drawing air into the housing through the air inlet and discharging the air from the housing through the air outlet; a debris collection conduit (24), one end of which conduit is an operating end (24a) and the other end (24b) of which conduit is adapted for attachment to a debris collection container (26); means (30) for generating an entrained air flow in the debris collection conduit, by directing the air discharged through the air outlet into the operating end of the debris collection conduit; characterised in that; a power driven implement is disposed at the operating end of the debris collection conduit and a power connection is provided to connect the power driven implement to said power source.

2. A blower vacuum unit according to claim 1 characterised in that the housing and the debris collecting conduit comprise separate components and the conduit is adapted to be releasably mounted on the housing so that the operating end of the debris collecting conduit is located for co-operation with the air outlet of the housing and the power connection includes a power connection interface between the housing and the debris collection conduit to connect the power driven implement to said power source when the debris collection conduit

3. A blower vacuum unit according to claim 2, characterised in that the connection interface comprises a plug (52,52') on the debris collection conduit and a socket (54,54') in the housing.

4. A blower vacuum unit according to Claim 3, characterised in that the plug is mounted at said other end of the debris collection conduit, and a cable (48) runs the length of said conduit from the plug to the implement.

5. A blower vacuum unit according to Claim 4, characterised in that the socket is mounted adjacent the air outlet, and a cable (56') runs the length of the air outlet from said source to the socket.

6. A blower vacuum unit according to any one of the preceeding claims characterised in that said power source is a cable (56) for connection to mains electricity and said motor is an electric motor and said implement is electrically powered.

7. A blower vacuum unit according to any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that said implement comprises a working element and a second motor (44) to drive the working element.

8. A blower vacuum unit according to claim 7, characterised in that said working element is a rotatable brush (40).

9. A blower vacuum unit according to claim 7, characterised in that said working element is a reciprocating scissor cutter (68,70).

10. A blower vacuum unit according to any one of the preceeding Claims, characterised in that the implement is detachable from the collection conduit and a power connection interface (62,64) is provided between the implement and the collection conduit.

11. A blower vacuum unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the implement comprises a motor unit (41) and a working element (40,72) driven by the motor unit, the working element is detachable from the motor unit, and a drive interface (46) is provided between the working element and the motor unit.

12. A blower vacuum unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.