Patent Publication Number: US-2016235012-A1

Title: Air Blower

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to debris removal devices, more specifically but not by way of limitation a debris removal device that is operable to have a first mode and a second mode wherein the first mode provides assistance in removal of a first type of debris and a second mode is present to provide removal of a second type of debris wherein in the second mode the debris removal device uses air that has been heated to a temperature that exceeds that of its external environment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Whether it is for cleaning up during the lawn care process or for removing debris from a desired area, conventional air blowers are routinely utilized by homeowners and professionals. As is known in the art, conventional air blowers utilize either an electric or gas motor that is coupled with a blower motor. As the electric or gas motor drives the blower motor, the air produced therefrom is directed through a discharge tube wherein the user places an end of the discharge tube proximate debris or other similar object to be removed. 
     One problem with conventional air blowers is their inability to effectively remove certain types of debris. Debris such as but not limited to snow accumulates in certain climates during the winter season and can present a challenge in the removal thereof. Currently most individuals rely on devices such as but not limited to snow shovels and/or snow blowers to remove snow from places such as but not limited to a driveway and/or a sidewalk. The need for additional implements such as a snow shovel or snow blower creates an additional expense for either the homeowner or the professional that is responsible for removing debris such as snow. Additionally, those individuals suffering from chronic maladies such as but not limited to lower back pain are unable to use items such as snow shovels. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a blower that is operable to have a first mode and a second mode wherein the second mode provides effective removal of accumulated snow and the like through the utilization of discharged air that is warmer than that of its external surroundings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide an air blower that is operable to remove a first type of debris and a second type of debris that utilizes a gas powered combustible engine. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an air blower that is operable to remove at least two types of debris wherein the second type of debris is snow. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an air blower that is operable to remove at least two types of debris wherein the air blower further includes an electrical generator. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an air blower that is operable to remove debris wherein the air blower includes a blower motor operably coupled to the gas combustible engine and wherein the blower motor is operably coupled to a discharge tube. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide an air blower that includes a first heating element and a second heating element that are operable to heat the air passing through the discharge tube. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an air blower operable to remove at least two types of debris wherein the second heating element is disposed within a removable section of the discharge tube. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an air blower that is operable to remove at least two types of debris that includes a bypass module that is operable to provide operation of the air blower in a first mode or a second mode. 
     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an air blower that includes an ignition module for starting thereof. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide an air blower that is operable to remove at least two types of debris that is worn on a back of a user. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a external view of the present invention engaged with a user; and 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of the discharge tube of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view of the operational components of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated an air blower  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     The air blower  100  includes a gas motor  10  that is operable to provide power to the air blower  100 . The gas motor  10  is mounted to the frame  5  of the air blower utilizing suitable durable techniques. While no particular power output is required, good results have been achieved by utilizing a gas motor having an output of at least two horsepower. The gas motor  10  includes a conventional exhaust pipe  11 . The gas motor  10  provides the mechanical energy input needed for the electrical alternator  15 . The electrical alternator  15  is a conventional electrical alternator that produces electrical output from the mechanical input supplied by the gas motor  15 . While not illustrated in detail herein, the electrical alternator  15  is a conventional electrical alternator that includes components such as but not limited to a stator, rotor, magnets and an exciter that are operable to produce an electric current. The electrical current output by the electrical alternator  15  is alternating current (AC) voltage. 
     The air blower  100  further includes a blower motor  20 . The blower motor  20  is operably coupled to the gas motor  10  and is mechanically operated therefrom utilizing a conventional component such as but not limited to a drive shaft (not illustrated herein). The blower motor  20  is a conventional blower motor that includes components such as but not limited to a rotatable impeller or similar device that is operable to produce an airflow. The airflow that is produced by the blower motor  20  is directed towards and into the discharge tube  30  proximate end  31 . While no particular velocity of discharge airflow is required, good results have been achieved by utilizing a blower motor  20  that produces an airflow within the range of eighty-five to one hundred and ninety miles per hour. The blower motor  20  is secured to the frame  5  utilizing suitable durable techniques and is encased within housing  21 . While not illustrated herein, housing  21  includes an opening to allow thereinto to facilitate operation of the blower motor  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , that air blower  100  further includes an ignition module  40 . The ignition module  40  is operably coupled to the power supply  45  and the gas motor  10  and provides a means to start and stop the gas motor  10 . The ignition module  40  is a conventional electronic ignition module having the necessary electronics and user interface to supply power to start the gas motor  10 . The power supply  47  is a conventional DC power supply and is operable to provide the necessary current to start the gas motor  10 . It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the power supply  47  could be provided in numerous different sizes. 
     The electrical alternator  15  is operably coupled to a first heating element  65 . The first heating element  65  is disposed within the discharge tube  30  proximate end  31 . The first heating element  65  is manufactured from a nickel chromium alloy and is operable to heat the air passing through the discharge tube  30 . The bypass module  50  functions to allow a user to place the air blower  100  in a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the air blower  100  is operable to produce an airflow through the discharge tube  30  wherein the air has a temperature that is approximately equivalent to its surroundings. In the first mode, the bypass module regulates the voltage produced from the electrical alternator  15  such that the voltage is not directed to the first heating element  65 . In the second mode of the air blower  100 , the bypass module  50  closes the circuit between the electrical alternator  15  and the first heating element  65  and second heating element  70  so as to provide electrical current thereto. In the second mode of operation, the air blower  100  is operable to produce an airflow through the discharge tube  30  wherein the air exiting end  29  of the discharge tube  30  is has a temperature that is greater than that of its surroundings. While no particular temperature for the air exiting the end  29  of the discharge tube  30  is required, good results have been achieved producing an airflow that has a temperature range of approximately one hundred and twenty five degrees to one hundred and seventy five degrees Fahrenheit as the airflow exits the discharge tube  30  at end  29 . In the second mode of operation, the air blower  100  is utilized to remove accumulated snow and/or frozen precipitation from a desired area. The aforementioned temperature range is required to provide effective melting of the frozen precipitation while the airflow provides directional movement of the resulting water. The bypass module  50  is a conventional electronic module that contains the necessary electronics to provide regulation and direction of the electrical current to the first heating element  65  and second heating element  70 . 
     The discharge tube  30  is operably coupled to the blower motor  20  is substantially hollow having a passage  71  therethrough. Air produced by the blower motor  20  travels through the discharge tube  30  and exits proximate end  29 . The discharge tube  30  includes a flexible section  75  that facilitates the manipulation of the discharge tube  30  in both a lateral and up/down direction. The flexible section  75  is manufactured from a suitable durable material and is integrally formed with elbow  74  and first tube member  76 . The first tube member  76  is constructed of a suitable durable material such as but not limited to plastic. The first tube member  76  is coupled with the second tube member  77  utilizing union  81 . Union  81  is a conventional plastic fitting that utilizes threads and/or other conventional fastening techniques to provide the releasable securing of the first tube member  76  to the second tube member  77 . A handle  85  is perpendicularly secured to the second tube member  77  and functions to provide an interface for a user to manipulate the direction of the discharge tube  30 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the handle  85  could be formed in numerous different shapes and secured in various locations along the discharge tube  30 . 
     A third tube member  78  is releasably secured to the second tube member  77  utilizing union  82 . Union  82  is a conventional slip-fit and/or threaded fitting that provides the releasable coupling of the third tube member  78  to the second tube member  77 . As shown in particular in  FIG. 2  herein, the second tube member  77  and third tube member  78  include an insulative layer  88  proximate the outer wall  89 . The insulative layer  88  provides thermal protection so as to reduce the temperature reduction of the airflow as the air travels through passage  71 . While no particular insulation material is required to produce the insulative layer  88 , good results have been achieved utilizing mineral wool as it does not melt or support combustion. This is desirable given the proximity to the second heating element  70 . 
     Still referring in particular to  FIG. 2 , the second heating element  70  is disposed within the passage  71  of the third tube member  78 . The second heating element  70  receives current from the electrical alternator  15  when the air blower is placed in its second mode of operation. The second heating element  70  is manufactured from a suitable alloy such as but not limited to nickel chromium and functions to provide an additional heating source proximate end  29 . The configuration of the second heating element  29  proximate the end  29  of the discharge tube  30  ensures that the air temperature of the airflow exiting the discharge tube  30  is within the aforementioned range during use of the air blower  100  in cold environments. The second heating element  70  is operably coupled to the electrical alternator  15  via wire  90 . Wire  90  is a conventional coated copper wire operable to transmit electrical current. The bypass module  50  as previously discussed herein is electrically intermediate the second heating element  70  and the electrical alternator  15  so as to control the mode of operation of the air blower  100  in a first mode or a second mode. 
     While a first heating element  65  and a second heating element  70  have been disclosed herein, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the air blower  100  could utilize as few as one heating element or more than two heating elements to produce an airflow having the desired temperature as described herein. 
     Referring to the drawings submitted herewith, a description of the operation of the air blower  100  is a s follows. In use, a user will start the gas motor  10  utilizing ignition module  40 . Subsequent the gas motor  10  being started the user will engage the bypass module  50  to select either a first mode or a second mode of operation. Ensuing a selection of mode of operation, a user will secure the frame  5  adjacent to their back and direct the discharge tube  30  in the desired direction. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.