Patent Publication Number: US-2013228232-A1

Title: Hot Air Blower

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/629,729, filed on Sep. 28, 2012, of which the entire disclosure is incorporated herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hot air blower and, particularly to, a hot air blower improved to blow air in a more focused and less spread manner and to allow a user to effectively control the extent of airflow. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,899 discloses a gas hot air gun including a main body, an air blower, an ignition device, a nozzle and a switch set. The main body includes a barrel, a handle, a heating chamber and a mixing chamber on the inner front of the barrel. A battery set and a gas can are inside the handle. One end of the nozzle is connected to the gas can. The switch set includes a power switch and an ignition switch. Users press the power switch and have gas spray out from the nozzle into the heating chamber to generate heat. The blower sends out hot air in the heating chamber out of the main body. A metal slice to regulate the direction of air and a catalyst to avoid flames from coming out of the nozzle area are inside the heating chamber. 
     Applicant finds his patented gas hot air gun can be further improved to have better controls of gas flow rates and heating temperatures. It is acknowledged that there may be situations in which a high gas flow rate inhibits a flame from being ignited, and when the gas flow rate and oxygen supply rate are increased in order to achieve a higher heating temperature, the increased supply of oxygen proportionally causes air to travel at a higher speed as the gas hot air gun includes an air passage with a fixed cross sectional area. However, air can blow out a flame when the burning speed of oxygen is slower or the density of gas is low. 
     The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a hot air blower includes a shell, and a fuel canister, a fan mechanism, a combustion device, a vane mechanism, and a flame protector are disposed within the shell. The fan mechanism blows air. The combustion device includes a burning end for giving out heat of combustion. The vane mechanism is disposed in a position making the combustion device locate between the fan mechanism and the vane mechanism. The vane mechanism includes a clipping seat and a plurality of guiding vanes. Each of the plurality of guiding vanes extend obliquely on the clipping seat to prevent air passing through the vane mechanism from generating turbulence and to achieve a flow-regulating effect. The clipping seat and the plurality of guiding vanes are formed as a one-piece structure. The flame protector is disposed in the vane mechanism and hoods the burning end of the combustion device. The air passing the vane mechanism is able to be expelled out of the flame protector. The clipping seat and the flame protector form a half-closed combustion chamber therebetween. Heat in the half-closed combustion chamber causes a thermal expansion of the air and thereby increasing a speed and a volume of the air passing the guiding vanes of the vane mechanism. An external flow tube is fixed in and extended out of the shell. Heated air discharged out of the hot air blower from the external flow tube and which controls a heating range of an area of the hot air blower. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     Other objects, advantages, and new features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hot air blower in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the hot air blower of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial, exploded perspective view of the hot air blower of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the hot air blower of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is another cross-sectional view of the hot air blower of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing the hot air blower of  FIG. 1  in operation. 
         FIG. 7  is another cross-sectional view showing the hot air blower of  FIG. 1  in operation. 
         FIG. 8  is a cutout view showing the hot air blower of  FIG. 1  in operation. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a hot air blower in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the hot air blower of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a partial, exploded perspective view of the hot air blower of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the hot air blower of  FIG. 9  and a fuel canister engagable therewith. 
         FIG. 13  is a continued perspective view of  FIG. 12  and shows the hot air blower in engagement with the fuel canister. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view showing the hot air blower of  FIG. 9  in operation. 
         FIG. 15  is a cutout view showing the hot air blower of  FIG. 9  in operation. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a hot air blower in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the hot air blower of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is another exploded perspective view of the hot air blower of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view showing the hot air blower of  FIG. 16  in operation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 8  show a hot air blower in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The hot air blower includes a shell  10 , a fuel canisterister  20 , a fan mechanism  30 , a combustion device  40 , a vane mechanism  50 , a flame protector  60 , a internal flow tube  70 , and an external flow tube  80 . The shell  10  includes first and second outer shells  11  and  12  symmetrically joined to each other. The first and second shells  11  and  12  include first and second clamping collars  13  and  14  disposed therein. The shell  10  is substantially T-shaped including first and second extensions  101  and  102  transverse to each other. The fan mechanism  30 , the combustion device  40 , the vane mechanism  50 , and the flame protector  60  are disposed in the first section  101  of the shell  10 . The fuel canister  20  is disposed in the second section  102  of the shell  10 . 
     The fuel canister  20 , the fan mechanism  30 , the combustion device  40 , the vane mechanism  50 , and the flame protector  60  are disposed within the shell  10 . 
     The fan mechanism  30  blows air. The fan mechanism  30  includes a fan  31 , a flow-regulating sleeve  32 , a fan motor  33 , and a shielding cover  34 . The flow-regulating sleeve  32  includes a first end encasing the fan  31 . The flow-regulating sleeve  32  includes a hole extended therethrough, and the fan  31  is disposed in the hole and at the first end and of the flow-regulating sleeve  32 . The fan  31  is completely disposed within the hole of the flow-regulating sleeve  32 , but not regarded as limiting. The flow-regulating sleeve  32  includes a second end covering the fan motor  33 . The fan motor  33  is disposed in the hole of the flow-regulating sleeve  32 . The fan motor  33  is not completely disposed within the hole of the flow-regulating sleeve  32 , but not regarded as limiting. The fan  31  is connected with and driven by the fan motor  33 . The shielding cover  34  includes an end attached to the flow-regulating sleeve  32 . The fan motor  33  includes a motor spindle  331  the fan  31  is connected thereto. The fan  31  is rotated upon rotation of the motor spindle  331 . The shielding cover  34  is attached to the second end of the flow-regulating sleeve  32 . The flow-regulating sleeve  32  and the shielding cover  34  are in a tandem arrangement. The flow-regulating sleeve  32  includes an annular internal wall  321 , an annular external wall  322 , and a plurality of fins  323  extending between the internal and external walls  321  and  322 . The plurality of fins  323  extends obliquely on the internal wall  321  and radially from the internal wall  321  to the external wall  322 . The internal wall  321  delimits a bore  324 . The bore  324  includes the fan motor  33  tightly fitted therein. 
     Combustions is carried out in the combustion device  40 . A catalyst net  41  can tame and prevent a flame from extending out of the combustion device  40 . The combustion device  40  includes an end connecting with a first fuel line  42  and another end defining a burning end  43 . The burning end  43  gives out heat of combustion. The combustion device  40  is mounted on the vane mechanism  50 . 
     The vane mechanism  50  includes a first clipping seat  51  a flow-regulating net  52 , a second clipping seat  53 , a plurality of guiding vanes  54 , and a heating tube  55 . The first clipping seat  51  includes a bottom side  511 , and a first through hole  513  is extended through the bottom side  511 . The first through hole  513  is disposed in a central position of the first clipping seat  51 . The combustion device  40  is insertably disposed through the first through hole  513 . A plurality of guide holes  514  are disposed circumferentially around the first through hole  513 . An ignition wire  516  is connected with an ignition device  517  disposed on the first clipping seat  51 . The ignition device  517  is able to produce a flame. The flow-regulating net  52  is received within the first clipping seat  51 . The flow-regulating net  52  includes a plurality of meshes  521 . The flow-regulating net  52  includes a second through hole  522 . The second through hole  522  corresponds to the first through hole  513 . The combustion device  40  is insertably disposed through the first and second through holes  513  and  522 . The flow-regulating net  52  is made of metal. The second clipping seat  53  is formed separately from the first clipping seat  51 . One of the first and second clipping seats  51  and  53  includes a first lateral side  512  extended annularly and along a circumference of the bottom side  511  and including a plurality of protruded first clamping sections  515 . The other of the first and second clipping seats  51  and  53  includes a second lateral side  531  extended annularly and including a plurality of recessed second clamping sections  532 , as well as defining an embedding wall  533 . The first and second clipping seats  51  and  53  are connected together with the plurality of protruded first clamping sections  515  correspondingly engaged with the plurality of recessed second clamping sections  532 . The first and second clipping seats  51  and  53  are engaged together and hold the plurality of guiding vanes  54 . Each of the plurality of guiding vanes  54  includes a recessed hook section  541  and an anti-disengagement protruded hook section  542  on the same side and adjacent to each other. The recessed hook section  541  of each of the plurality of guiding vanes  54  is hooked onto the embedding wall  533 . The anti-disengagement protruded hook sections  542  of each of the plurality of guiding vane  54  is engaged and being clamped between one of the plurality of protruded first clamping sections  515  and one of the plurality of recessed second clamping sections  532 , thereby preventing disengagement from the first and second clipping seats  51  and  53 . Each of the plurality of guiding vanes  54  also includes a recessed limiting section  543 . The recessed limiting section  543 , the recessed hook section  541 , and the anti-disengagement protruded hook section  542  are on the same side and adjacent to one another. The heating tube  55  mounted on and disposed in the first clipping seat  51 . The heating tube  55  is U-shaped. The heating tube  55  includes an end defining a fixing end  551 . The heating tube  55  is insertably disposed through and includes the fixing end  551  fixed in one of the plurality of guide holes  514 . The heating tube  55  includes two legs extended separately, with one leg connecting with the first fuel line  42  and the other leg connecting with a second fuel line  552 , respectively. The heating tube  55  is disposed in front of the fan mechanism  30  and aside of the combustion device  40 . The combustion device  40  is able to give off heat energy to the heating tube  55  and prevents fuel condensed and clogged therein. Therefore, the heating tube  55  has a better combustion efficiently. The shielding cover  34  includes a lateral side extended annularly and delimiting a cavity and including a cutout  341  penetrating therethrough. The cutout  341  allows the ignition wire  516  and the second fuel line  552  to extend therethrough. 
     The flame protector  60  is mounted on the vane mechanism  50  and hoods the burning end  43  of the combustion device  40 . The flame protector  60  is axially disposed with respect to the vane mechanism  50 . The flame protector  60  includes a side extended annularly and delimiting a cavity, and has an end defining an open end  61  and another end defining an air exit end  62 . The exit end  62  has a wall and an orifice extended through the wall. The burning end  43  of the combustion device  40  is hooded in the cavity and disposed adjacent to the open end  61  of the flame protector  60 . The open end  61  of the flame protector  60  is fixed to the second clipping seat  53  of the vane mechanism  50 . The flame protector  60  has an end fixed to the lateral side  531  of the second clipping seat  53 . Therefore, the flame protector  60  is mounted on the vane mechanism  50 . In the embodiment, the second clipping seat  53  and the flame protector  60  are fixed together by a fastener. Moreover, the second clipping seat  53  is disposed between the first clipping seat  51  and the flame protector  60 . The flame protector  60  also includes the wall including a plurality of vents  63  extended therethrough, and the air passing the vane mechanism  50  flows out of the flame protector  60  through the plurality of vents  63 . The plurality of vents  63  allow heat convection and tames the flame. Therefore, the flame from the combustion device  40  is prevented from propagation through the flame protector  60 . The plurality of vents  63  are circumferentially disposed on the flame protector  60  and are parallel to one another. Moreover, the first and second clipping seats  51  and  53  and the flame protector  60  form a half-closed combustion chamber a therebetween. 
     The internal flow tube  70  is disposed within the shell  10 . The first and second clamping collars  13  and  14  cooperate together to hold the internal flow tube  70  fixed inside the shell  10 . The internal flow tube  70  includes a periphery delimiting a cavity, and the combustion device  40  and the vane mechanism  50  are disposed in the cavity of the internal flow tube  70 . The internal flow tube  70  is disposed between the fan mechanism  30  and the external flow tube  80 . Additionally, the shielding cover  34  is disposed between the flow-regulating sleeve  32  and the internal flow tube  70 . 
     The external flow tube  80  controls a heating range of an area of the hot air blower. The external flow tube  80  has one end mounted in the shell  10  and another end extended out of the shell  10 . The external flow tube  80  includes a first end  81  mounted on the internal flow tube  70  and a second end  82  extended out of the shell  10 . Moreover, the external flow tube  80  includes a cavity extended therethrough from the first end to the second end  81  and  82  thereof, and the flame protector  60  is extended in the cavity of external flow tube  80 . 
     Furthermore, the internal and external flow tubes  70  and  80  form a plurality of gaps b between junctions therebetween. 
     When the hot air blower is in operation, the air flows through the plurality of guide holes  514  and is regulated by the plurality of meshes  521  of the flow-regulating net  52 . The flow-regulating net  52  limits the amount of air passing the vane mechanism  50  per unit time to achieve a flow-regulating effect. Each of the plurality of guiding vanes  54  extends obliquely between the first and second clipping seats  51  and  53 . The plurality of guiding vanes  54  are circumferentially arranged on the first and second clipping seats  51  and  53 . The plurality of guiding vanes  54  prevent the air passing through the vane mechanism  50  from generating turbulence to achieve a flow-regulating effect. Heat in the half-closed combustion chamber a would cause a thermal expansion of the air, thereby increasing a speed and a volume of the air passing the guiding vanes  54  of the vane mechanism  50 . The internal flow tube  70  keeps the air flowing therein. The heated air would be discharged out of the hot air blower from the external flow tube  80 . The plurality of gaps b causes a venturi effect allowing an increased amount of external air to flow therein. Furthermore, the plurality of gaps b prevents impedance of circulation of the air avoiding the flame being put off, particularly when a user operates the hot air blower too close to an object to be heated. 
       FIGS. 9 through 15  show a hot air blower in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, and same numbers are used to correlate similar components of the first embodiment, but bearing a letter a. The second embodiment is modified from the first embodiment such that the first and second embodiments differentiate from each other in that a shell  10   a  does not enclose a fuel canister  20   a  engaged therewith. The shell  10  includes a second extension  102   a  to which the fuel canister  20   a  is joined. Also, a fan mechanism  30   a  does not include the shielding cover  34 . In addition, the vane mechanism  50  includes the first and second clipping seats  51  and  53 , but a vane mechanism  50   a  includes a clipping seat  56   a , and the clipping seat  56   a  and a plurality of guiding vane  54   a  are formed as a one-piece structure. Furthermore, each of the plurality of vanes  54   a  extends obliquely, and the plurality of guiding vanes  54   a  are circumferentially arranged on the outer circumference of the clipping seat  56   a.  Therefore, since the clipping seat  56   a  and the plurality of guiding vanes  54   a  are formed as a one-piece structure, the vane mechanism  50   a  has a better structure strength and longer life, and a user can install the vane mechanism  50   a  more easily. Moreover, the hot air blower includes a flame protector  60   a  and a tamer  64   a  disposed in the flame protector  60   a.  The flame protector  60   a  defines an open end  61   a  and an air exit end  62   a,  and includes a plurality of vents  63   a  circumferentially disposed and extended therethrough. The tamer  64   a  is made of metal and includes a plurality of meshes. The tamer  64   a  is in the form of a tube. The tamer  64   a  retards heat loss, thereby enabling a combustion device  40   a  of the hot air blower to emit heat stably and at a stable speed. The tamer  64   a  can also prevent the flame from the combustion device  40   a  from spreading out of the flame protector  60   a.  The clipping seats  56   a  and the flame protector  60   a  form a half-closed combustion chamber a therebetween. In addition, the arrangements between the combustion device  40 , the vane mechanism  50 , the flame protector  60 , the internal flow tube  70 , and the external flame tube  80  also apply to the second embodiment. Furthermore, the shell  10   a  includes first and second clamping collars  13   a  and  14   a  disposed therein holding an internal tube  70   a  securely. 
       FIGS. 16 through 19  show a hot air blower in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention and same numbers are used to correlate similar components of the first embodiment, but bearing a letter b. The third embodiment is modified from the first embodiment, and the first and third embodiments differentiate from each other in that a fan mechanism  30   b  does not include the shielding cover  34 . Also, a vane mechanism  50   b  of the hot air blower of the third embodiment includes a clipping seat  56   b  instead of two clipping seats. The clipping seat  56   b  includes a plurality of guiding vanes  54   b,  and the clipping seat  56   b  and a plurality of guiding vane  54   b  are formed as a one-piece structure. Each of the plurality of guiding vanes  54   b  extends obliquely, and the plurality of guiding vanes  54   b  are circumferentially arranged on the outer circumference of the clipping seat  56   b.  Therefore, since the clipping seat  56   b  and the plurality of guiding vanes  54   b  are formed as a one-piece structure, the vane mechanism  50   b  has a better structure strength and longer life, and a user can also install the vane mechanism  50   a  more easily. Moreover, the flame protector  60   b  differentiates from the flame protector  60 . The flame protector  60   b  defines an open end  61   b  and an air exit end  62   b  including a plurality of meshes. The plurality of meshes of the air exit end  62   b  of the flame protector  60   b  are made of metal. Further, a ring (not numbered) is used to keep the flame protector  60   b  on the clipping seat  56   b  stably. In addition, the hot air blower of the third embodiment also includes a shell  10   b  enclosing a fuel canister  20   b  engaged therewith. The fuel canister  20  is joined to a second extension  102   b  of the shell  10   b . A fan  31   b  is received in a flow-regulating sleeve  32   b . A combustion device  40  defines a burning end  43   b  hooded by a flame protector  60   b . An internal flow tube  70  and an external flow tube  80  are in a tandem arrangement. The arrangements between the combustion device  40 , the vane mechanism  50 , the flame protector  60 , the internal flow tube  70 , and the external flame tube  80  also apply to the third embodiment, except that the hot air blower of the third embodiment includes a heating tube  55   b  disposed outside the clipping seat  56   b  and adjacent to the plurality of guiding vanes  54   b.    
     In view of the foregoing, the flame protectors  60 ,  60   a , and  60   b  are axially disposed with respect to the vane mechanisms  50 ,  50   a , and  50   b , respectively. The plurality of vents  63 ,  63   a  allows the heated air in the half-closed combustion chamber a to flow thereout. The combustion devices  40 ,  40   a , and  40   b  and the vane mechanism  50 ,  50   a , and  50   b  are insertably disposed in the internal flow tubes  70 ,  70   a , and  70   b , respectively. The external flow tubes  80 ,  80   a , and  80   b  are extended out of the shell  10 ,  10   a , and  10   b , respectively. The air can flow spirally, and cold and hot air can be thoroughly mixed, and the heated air can be discharged out at a predetermined angle in order to control a heating range of an area of the hot air blower. The half-closed combustion chamber a would be less affected by the speed of the flow outside, thereby providing a greater heating range of an area. Furthermore, since the vane mechanisms  50 ,  50   a , and  50   b  can reduce backflow, thereby enabling a stable flow field inside and outside of the half-closed combustion chamber a and allowing the heated air to be spirally discharged. Therefore, it would be easier for a user to control a heating range of an area in this regard. Each of the plurality of guiding vanes  54 ,  54   a , and  54   b  is obliquely extended at an angle determined from the rotation speed of the respective fan mechanisms  30 ,  30   a , and  30   b , thereby stabling a spiral flow field and reducing backflow and turbulence and increasing air flow stability and efficiency. The air flows at higher speed at a zone radially outward of a center of the spiral flow field and at slower speed at a zone towards the center. Furthermore, since the flame protectors  60 ,  60   a , and  60   b  cover the respective combustion device  40 ,  40   a , and  40   b,  and the half-closed combustion chamber a is close to the center of the spiral flow field where the air flows slower, supply of oxygen and the speed of air can be stably controlled in an internal area of the respective flame protectors  60 ,  60   a , and  60   b  when the hot air blower blows a greater amount of air and needs greater combustion. Furthermore, since the plurality of guiding vanes  54 ,  54   a , and  54   b  are disposed away from the center of the spiral flow field where the air flows faster, and conform to a streamline curvature of the spiral flow field, drag can be effectively reduced to the least and backflow can be effectively reduced and cold and hot air can be mixed thoroughly. 
     While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of invention, and the scope of invention is only limited by the scope of accompanying claims.