Air blower and/or vacuum with static charge mitigation
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorLandon Martin Schulteis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus may be configured as a blower, vacuum, or combination thereof. The apparatus includes a fan and motor operable to generate an airflow. A flow tube of the apparatus has an inlet end, an outlet end and an interior surface. The flow tube is coupled receive the airflow at the inlet end and deliver the airflow to the outlet end. An ion generator of the apparatus is operable to ionize the airflow moving through the interior surface of the flow tube to reduce static electrical charges induced within at least the flow tube.
Claims18
An apparatus configured as a blower, vacuum, or combination thereof, comprising:
- a fan and motor operable to generate an airflow;
- a flow tube having an inlet end, an outlet end, and an interior surface, wherein, when configured as the blower, the fan forces the airflow into the inlet end and the flow tube delivers the airflow to the outlet end;
- and
- an ion generator operable to ionize the airflow moving through the interior surface of the flow tube to reduce static electrical charges induced within at least the flow tube, wherein the ion generator is located at one of:
- between the fan and the inlet end of the flow tube;
- or
- at an inlet of the fan facing away from the inlet end of the flow tube.
An apparatus configured as a blower, vacuum, or combination thereof, comprising:
- a fan and motor operable to generate an airflow;
- a flow tube having an inlet end, an outlet end, and an interior surface, the flow tube coupled receive the airflow at the inlet end and delivers the airflow to the outlet end;
- an ion generator operable to ionize the airflow moving through the interior surface of the flow tube to reduce static electrical charges induced within at least the flow tube;
- and
- a humidity sensor producing a humidity sensor signal, the humidity sensor signal used to perform one or both of:
- adjusting an output magnitude of the ion generator in response to a change in humidity indicated by the humidity sensor signal;
- and
- enabling and disabling the ion generator in response to a threshold humidity indicated by the humidity sensor signal.
A blower comprising:
- a fan and motor operable to generate an airflow from an outlet of the fan;
- a flow tube comprising:
- an inlet end coupled to receive the airflow from the outlet of the fan;
- an outlet end coupled to expel the airflow from the blower;
- and
- an interior surface that encloses the airflow;
- and
- an ion generator operable to ionize the airflow moving through the interior surface of the flow tube to reduce static electrical charges induced within at least the flow tube, wherein the ion generator is located at one of:
- between the fan and the inlet end of the flow tube;
- or
- at an inlet of the fan facing away from the inlet end of the flow tube.
A blower comprising:
- a fan and motor operable to generate an airflow from an outlet of the fan;
- a housing that encloses the fan and motor;
- a flow tube coupled to the housing comprising:
- an inlet end coupled to receive the airflow from the outlet of the fan;
- an outlet end coupled to expel the airflow from the blower;
- and
- an interior surface that encloses the airflow;
- and
- an ion generator operable to ionize the airflow moving through the interior surface of the flow tube to reduce static electrical charges induced within at least the flow tube, wherein the ion generator is located at one of:
- within the housing;
- at an air inlet of the housing;
- or
- within the flow tube near the inlet end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.