Patent Application
20080092976
In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In
The blower main body 10 is equipped with an air sending port 11 to which the duct 20 is connected, a volute 12 supplying air to the air sending port 11, and a throttle 13 for adjusting an amount of air supplied by the volute 12. The volute 12 has a rotary fan (not shown). This rotary fan receives a drive force transmitted from an engine (not shown) provided inside the blower main body 10, and rotates at a rotating speed according to an amount by which the throttle 13 is operated. Through the rotation of the rotary fan, outside air is sucked in through an intake port 12A, and is supplied to the air sending port 11. Instead of the engine provided inside the blower main body 10, it is also possible to provide an electric motor.
The duct 20 is equipped with an elbow 21 connected to the air sending port 11 of the blower main body 10, a bendable portion 22 connected to the elbow 21, an operation pipe 23 connected to the bendable portion 22, and an air outlet 24 connected to the operation pipe 23.
The elbow 21 is curved in a circular arc shape. The inner diameter of the elbow 21 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the air sending port 11. With this construction, the air introduced from the air sending port 11 passes through the elbow 21 without involving any pressure loss, and is supplied to the bendable portion 22.
As shown in
In the normal state in which the tube 221 is not greatly contracted, or if not in the normal state, in a state in which the tube 221 is expanded by an external force applied thereto, an inner peripheral surface 221A of the tube 221 is a smooth cylindrical surface without any protrusions or recesses. The protruding portions 222 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tube 221 are formed integrally with the tube 221. The protruding portions 222, which protrude as continuous ring-like portions extending in a circumferential direction of the tube 221, are arranged at predetermined intervals in an axial direction of the tube 221. The portions between the protruding portions 222 are formed as groove portions 225 adapted to be recessed toward the axis when the tube 221 is contracted.
In the tube 221, constructed as described above, the groove portions 225 between the protruding portions 222 are deflected and recessed toward the axis of the tube 221, whereby the tube 221 as a whole can be contracted and curved, thereby generating protrusions and recesses on the inner peripheral surface 221A. However, when the tube 221 is in the normal state or in the expanded state, the inner peripheral surface 221A is a cylindrical surface without any protrusions or recesses, so no turbulence occurs, and no air pressure loss is generated. Even when the tube 221 is in the curved state, the groove portions 225 of the tube 221 are recessed toward the axis to generate protrusions and recesses in the portion of the inner peripheral surface 221A on the inner side (contracted side) of the curved portion. However, on the outer side (expanded side) of the curved portion, the groove portions 225 are not recessed, so the corresponding portion of the inner peripheral surface 221A is kept as a smooth surface, thus making it possible to minimize the air pressure loss.
The operation pipe 23 is connected to the bendable portion 22 and the air outlet 24, and causes the air from the bendable portion 22 to be blown out of the air outlet 24. Further, the operation pipe 23 is equipped with an operating grip 231. The operating grip 231 is a portion grasped by the operator when the portable blower 100 is to be operated; while grasping the operating grip 231, the operator directs the duct 20 in a desired direction in which air is to be blown out. It is also possible for the operating grip 231 to be equipped, for example, with an operation control lever for controlling the operation and stopping of the blower.
As described above, in the portable blower 100 of the exemplary embodiment, the inner peripheral surface 221A is a cylindrical surface without any protrusions or recesses when the tube 221 of the bendable portion 22 is in the normal state or in an expanded state. Thus, unless the tube 221 is greatly curved, no turbulence is generated in the airflow passing through the tube 221, thus making it possible to suppress pressure loss. Thus, the flow velocity of the air guided through the duct 20 is not lowered by pressure loss, thereby making it possible to suppress a deterioration in air blowing efficiency.
When the bendable portion 22 is curved, the inner peripheral surface 221A is contracted to generate protrusions and recesses on the inner side of the curved portion of the tube 221. In contrast, on the outer side of the curved portion of the tube 221, the inner peripheral surface 221A is expanded and reliably provides a smooth curved surface. Thus, even when the tube 221 is curved, due to the presence of the above-mentioned smooth surface, it is possible to reduce the air pressure loss as compared with that in the bendable portion of the related art blower duct, thus making it possible to achieve an improvement in air blowing efficiency.
The invention is not restricted to the above-described exemplary embodiment but allows the following modifications as long as they help to achieve the object of the invention.
For example, while in the above-described exemplary embodiment a plurality of protruding portions 222 are provided as annular members extending along the outer peripheral surface of the tube 221 and arranged at predetermined intervals, this should not be construed restrictively. For example, the protruding portion may be one formed in a spiral configuration extending along the outer peripheral surface of the tube 221.
Further, while in the above-described exemplary embodiment the bendable portion 22 with a smooth inner peripheral surface is only provided between the elbow 21 and the operation pipe 23, this should not be construed restrictively. For example, it is also possible for the bendable portion 22 to be directly attached to the air sending port 11; it is also possible for the air outlet 24 to be directly attached to the bendable portion 22; further, it is also possible for the bendable portion 22 and the air outlet 24 to be formed integrally.
Apart from the above, the specific construction and procedures for carrying out the invention allow appropriate modifications as long as they help to achieve the object of the invention.
The basic application Number JP2005-255469 upon which this patent application is based is hereby incorporated by reference.
