| CPC A01G 20/47 (2018.02) [F04D 29/441 (2013.01); F04D 29/462 (2013.01); F04D 29/464 (2013.01); F04D 29/422 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |
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1. A stand-on blower, comprising:
a chassis that includes a frame;
an engine mounted to the frame;
a pair of drive wheels supported by the frame and selectively receiving power from the engine for moving the stand-on blower;
a riding platform mounted to the frame and upon which an operator stands during use of the stand-on blower;
a blower system, including:
an impeller that selectively receives power from the engine to create an airflow for moving leaves or other debris from a lawn or other surface;
an impeller housing that surrounds the impeller to direct a volume of air that is accelerated by the impeller in a downstream direction through the blower system as an accelerated airflow;
an outlet nozzle that is movably mounted relative to the impeller housing and includes a nozzle outlet opening that faces different directions corresponding to movement of the outlet nozzle to direct the accelerated airflow in different directions out of the blower system, wherein the outlet nozzle defines a range of motion between a first rotational limit position that corresponds to first maximum rotational position and a second rotational limit position that corresponds to a second maximum rotational position; and
a nozzle positioning system that is configured to move the outlet nozzle and reposition the nozzle outlet opening to vary a flow direction of the accelerated airflow with the nozzle position system having multiple operational modes, including:
a full rotation mode that drives the outlet nozzle to one of the first and second rotational limit positions in response to a full rotation command that corresponds to a single discrete user input;
a partial rotation mode that drives the outlet nozzle to an intermediate position that is spaced from each of the first and second rotational limit positions in response to a partial rotation command that corresponds to a real-time command to start and stop driving the outlet nozzle;
a nozzle rotation control input system having:
a first input device that controls the full rotation mode, wherein the first input device is configured to receive the single discrete user input to drive the outlet nozzle in the full rotation mode, and
a second input device that controls the partial rotation mode, wherein the second input device is configured to receive the real-time command to start and stop driving the outlet nozzle in the partial rotation mode.
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16. A stand-on blower, comprising:
a chassis that includes a frame;
an engine mounted to the frame;
a pair of drive wheels supported by the frame and selectively receiving power from the engine for moving the stand-on blower;
a pair of casters pivotally attached to the frame, each caster defining a pivot axis at a respective attachment location;
a riding platform mounted to the frame and upon which an operator stands during use of the stand-on blower;
a blower system, including:
an impeller housing that surrounds an impeller to direct a volume of air that is accelerated by the impeller in a downstream direction through the blower system;
a housing outlet duct that extends between the impeller housing and an outlet nozzle, the housing outlet duct defining a duct body that extends in a scroll fashion angularly forward from the impeller housing with:
a housing outlet duct inlet end extending tangentially from the impeller housing;
a housing outlet duct outlet end arranged forward of the housing outlet duct inlet end and the impeller housing; and
the outlet nozzle movably connected to the housing outlet duct outlet end and rotatable about a vertical axis that is positioned forward of each of the pivot axes of the pair of casters.
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21. A stand-on blower, comprising:
a chassis that includes a frame;
an engine mounted to the frame;
a pair of drive wheels supported by the frame and selectively receiving power from the engine for moving the stand-on blower;
a pair of casters pivotally attached to the frame, each caster defining a pivot axis at a respective attachment location;
a riding platform mounted to the frame and upon which an operator stands during use of the stand-on blower;
a blower system, including:
an impeller housing that surrounds an impeller to direct a volume of air that is accelerated by the impeller in a downstream direction through the blower system;
a housing outlet duct that extends between the impeller housing and an outlet nozzle, wherein:
the housing outlet duct extends angularly forward from the impeller housing with:
a housing outlet duct inlet end connected to and receiving an airflow from the impeller housing a housing outlet duct outlet end arranged forward of the housing outlet duct inlet end and the impeller housing and defining a downwardly-facing opening;
the outlet nozzle defines an inlet end with an upwardly-facing opening that receives the airflow from the downwardly-facing opening of the housing outlet duct; and
the outlet nozzle is configured to rotate about a vertical axis that:
extends through the housing outlet duct downwardly-facing opening;
extends through the outlet nozzle upwardly-facing opening; and
is positioned forward of each of the pivot axes of the pair of casters.
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