Patent Application
20200245569
The invention herein resides in the art of blowers employed for moving dirt and debris by subjecting the same to an air stream. More particularly, the invention relates to blowers configured as backpack units that may be employed for blowing leaves and/or other debris from various surfaces by use of a generated air stream forced from a hand-held wand or the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a backpack blower that includes an adapter for introducing water spray into the air stream in such a way as to mitigate the effects of dust or dirt-laden air generated by such blowers by introducing a water spray of a regulatable nature into the air stream used as the force mechanism for removing the dirt and debris. Additionally, the modified backpack blower may be employed as a power washer of sorts employed for light washing of various surfaces.
The utilization of backpack blowers for generating an air stream sufficient in power to blow dirt, debris, leaves and the like has now become commonplace. However, the air stream of such blowers is known to stir up clouds of dust and granular debris and scatter the same rather than provide an effective means for urging such dust and debris to a central area where it can be collected and disposed. This is particularly true when the blowers are used on hard, barren surfaces such as driveways, parking areas, and the like.
Similarly, the use of power washers has become generally known, but such are typically used in association with a powerful stream of water alone, having far more force than is required for cleaning many surfaces.
There is a need in the art for a blower system that entrains water particles within an air stream such as to generate a water mist within the air stream to both contain dust and particulate debris and to also accommodate the washing or cleansing of surfaces not requiring the power of traditional power washers.
In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the invention to provide a water spray adapter for backpack leaf blowers that is capable of introducing a water mist into the vortex of the generated air stream.
A further aspect of the invention is the provision of a water spray adapter for backpack leaf blowers that accommodates regulation of the amount of water introduced into the air stream.
Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a water spray adapter for backpack leaf blowers in which the air stream itself is adjustable.
Still another aspect of the invention is the provision of a water spray adapter for backpack leaf blowers which allows the leaf blower to operate with or without the introduction of water particles into the air stream.
Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a water spray adapter for backpack leaf blowers that is readily adapted for implementation with presently known backpack leaf blowers.
Still a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a water spray adapter for backpack leaf blowers in which additives may be included in the water introduced into the air stream.
Still another aspect of the invention is the provision of a water spray adapter for backpack leaf blowers that accommodates use as a device for generating an air/water stream to direct dust, dirt and debris to a particular location and to alternatively serve as simply a light-duty pressure washer for removing dust and dirt from a surface in a slurry.
An additional aspect of the invention is the provision of a water spray adapter for backpack leaf blowers which is easy to construct with state-of-the-art materials and devices.
The foregoing and other aspects of the invention that will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds are achieved by a backpack blower with water spray capability, comprising: a leaf blower power unit having an engine driving a fan, said fan being in communication with a wand having an outlet orifice; a spray nozzle within said wand adjacent said outlet orifice; a source of liquid to be sprayed; and a control valve interposed between said spray nozzle and said source of liquid.
Other aspects of the invention which will become apparent herein are achieved by a water spray adapter for a backpack blower, comprising: an inlet tube; an outlet tube; a valve interposed between said inlet and outlet tubes; and a spray nozzle connected to a first end of said outlet tube opposite a second end of said outlet tube connected to said valve.
For a complete understanding of the various aspects and features of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly
As shown, the leaf blower power unit and hose assembly 12 consists of an engine 16 fueled by an appropriate source such as gasoline retained in and fed from a fuel tank 18. A fan assembly 20 consists of a housing retaining a fan therein driven by the engine 16 and exhausting high-pressure air through the flexible pipe 22 to a rigid pipe or wand 24. It will be appreciated that the flexible pipe 22 accommodates maneuverability of the wand 24 to direct the air stream to an appropriate target area. The wand 24 has an outlet orifice 26, shown in
With further reference to
With the backpack in place, the user may hand-engage a control arm 30 (
With reference to
A valve lever 42 actuates and regulates the water control valve 38 by hand pressure applied thereto, regulating the degree that the valve 38 is open. The lever 42 is of the type that may be selectively locked in any of various states of actuation as by an appropriate retainer or the like. Accordingly, the user may select air speed by locking of the trigger 34 and the amount of water introduced into the air stream (as will be discussed below) by means of the locking valve lever 42.
An inlet tube 44 is connected to an inlet side of water control valve 38 and is adapted for interconnection with an appropriate supply of liquid, such as water, as through a hose or other appropriate means. Again, it will be appreciated that the valve 38 may regulate the flow of plain water, detergent-treated water, “spot-free” water, wax or the like. In any event, the inlet tube 44 is adapted for appropriate interconnection with a feed hose 46, which in turn connects to the appropriate desired liquid source. An inlet connector 48 is provided on the inlet side of the valve 38, preferably threaded to the valve itself and clamped by means of an appropriate hose clamp to inlet tube 44.
On the outlet side of the water control valve 38, an outlet connector 50, such as an elbow connector, is threaded to the housing of the valve 38 and clamped to an outlet tube 52 that is secured to the rigid pipe or wand 24 along its outer surface by appropriate zip ties 54 or similar means for secured engagement. The invention further contemplates that molded receptacles may be provided along the wand 24 to receive the outlet tube 52 in a snap-fit engagement. At the opposite end of the outlet tube 52 is an elbow connector 56 that passes into the interior of the wand 24 near the end thereof. As best shown in
With the system just described, it will be appreciated that an operator can regulate and/or set the airflow speed of the air passing through and out of the wand 24, as well as the volume of water being sprayed into the vortex of that air stream. Different speeds and volumes are desired, depending upon the use to which the unit 10 is placed. It is contemplated that the unit 10 may be used for blowing debris, leaves, and the like as is customary, with the water entrained within the air serving to settle dust and small particulate matter, which would otherwise be stirred by the forceful air flow across the surface being cleared. The unit 10 is also contemplated as being used as a low-pressure spray washer, which may be used for spraying off parking lots, drive surfaces, and the like. It may also be used for spraying off building siding, lawn furniture, and the like. An additional use is that of spraying off vehicles on a car lot, in which case a detergent and/or spot-free surfactant and/or wax may be placed into the water to leave vehicles with a clean, shiny, spot-free appearance.
Thus it can be seen that the various aspects of the invention have been achieved by the system presented and described above. While in accordance with the patent statutes only the best mode and preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented and described in detail, the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the scope and breadth of the invention reference should be made to the following claims.
