Patent ID: 7870837

Claim:
A blower system for livestock, comprising: a housing configured to rest on a support surface during use, the housing comprising: a bottom surface that contacts the support surface when the hosing rests on the support surface during use; and a top surface located opposite the bottom surface of the housing, wherein the top surface of the housing is located away from a support surface when the housing rests on the support surface during use; an air inlet located on the top surface of the housing, wherein the air inlet is configured to draw in at least some air from the surrounding atmosphere; an air outlet located on the housing; one or more motors located in the housing; one or more fans coupled to at least one of the motors, the fans being located in the housing, and the fans being configured to draw air in through the air inlet and expel air out through the air outlet located on the housing; and a valve comprising: a valve air inlet coupled to the air outlet of the blower system such that all of the air expelled by the one or more fans is routed into the valve air inlet via the air outlet; a first valve air outlet comprising a first passageway configured to expel air into the blower system upstream of one or more of the fans such that air exiting the valve via the first valve air outlet is recirculated through one or more of the fans of the blower system, a second valve air outlet comprising a second passageway coupled to a nozzle configured to expel air to exit the blower system, such that air exiting the valve via the second valve air outlet exits from the blower system via the nozzle; and a valve configured to selectively direct air expelled from the fans through the first valve air outlet or the second valve air outlet, wherein the valve is positionable to route all of the air expelled by the fans through the first valve outlet such that all of the air expelled from the fans is subsequently recirculated through one or more of the fans during use; and the nozzle configured to expel the air to livestock for grooming.