US-20260123587-A1 - WALK-BEHIND BLOWER

US20260123587A1US 20260123587 A1US20260123587 A1US 20260123587A1US-20260123587-A1

Abstract

A walk-behind blower includes a frame, one or more movable elements, a housing, and a fan assembly. The one or more movable elements are mounted to the frame to movably support the frame. The housing is supported on the frame. The housing defines an airflow conduit extending therethrough between a first end and a second end. At least a portion of the housing is movable relative to the frame to selectively redirect an airflow from the airflow conduit. The fan assembly is disposed between the first end and the second end to motivate the airflow through the airflow conduit.

Inventors

Michael S. Van Dyke
Brady C. Hawks
Joseph S. Wilinski, Jr.
Marcus T. Jenkins
Katherine G. Stringfield
John S. Scott
Austin F. de Veer
Bradford A. Gill
Adam F. Czerwonka
Seamus J. D. Herson
Shreyas Sidar
Devlin N. Thyne
Adam M. Lason
Michael J. Caelwaerts

Assignees

MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251009

Claims (20)

1 . A walk-behind blower comprising: a frame; one or more movable elements mounted to the frame to movably support the frame; a housing supported on the frame, the housing defining an airflow conduit extending therethrough between a first end and a second end, at least a portion of the housing being movable relative to the frame to selectively redirect an airflow from the airflow conduit; and a fan assembly disposed between the first end and the second end to motivate the airflow through the airflow conduit.
2 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of batteries attached to the frame in electric communication with the fan assembly.
3 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , further comprising a propulsion motor in mechanical communication with the one or more movable elements to motivate travel of the walk-behind blower.
4 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a rigid main body and an elbow segment rotatably mounted to the rigid main body, wherein the elbow segment defines a curved portion of the airflow conduit offsetting the first end from the second end, and wherein the elbow segment defines the second end as an exhaust of the housing.
5 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a rigid main body defining the first end and the second end, and wherein the rigid main body is rotatably mounted on the frame to rotate about a pivot axis axisymmetric to an exhaust at the second end.
6 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , further comprising a ring assembly disposed on the housing about an exhaust defined at the second end to illuminate a region in a direction of the airflow from the exhaust.
7 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , wherein the frame defines a blower dock to receive a hand-held blower thereon.
8 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , further comprising an additive hopper mounted to the housing in fluid communication with the airflow conduit between the first end and the second end to deliver an additive material to the airflow prior to being exhausted from the second end.
9 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , further comprising a pivotable handle attached to the frame, the pivotable handle being movable about a lateral pivot axis between a first position and a second position, the first position extending the pivotable handle perpendicular to a lateral direction away from a first end of the walk-behind blower, and the second position extending the pivotable handle perpendicular to the lateral direction away from a second end of the walk-behind blower.
10 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a first segment and a second segment movably connected to the second segment, the second segment extending between a supported end and a free end, the frame being movable between an extended position holding the free end distal to the first segment and a folded position holding the free end proximal to the first segment.
11 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , further comprising a positional motor attached to the housing in mechanical communication with the housing to selectively redirect the air conduit according to a directional input signal.
12 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , further comprising a turret base supporting the housing on the frame, the housing being rotatable about a turret axis defined by the turret base.
13 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , further comprising a positional motor attached to the housing in mechanical communication with the housing to selectively redirect the air conduit according to a defined target.
14 . The walk-behind blower of claim 1 , further comprising a propulsion motor in mechanical communication with the one or more movable elements to motivate travel of the walk-behind blower; and a controller in electrical communication with the propulsion motor to direct movement of the walk-behind blower according to an identified mobile target.
15 . A walk-behind blower comprising: a frame; one or more movable elements mounted to the frame to movably support the frame; a housing supported on the frame, the housing defining an airflow conduit extending therethrough between a first end and a second end, at least a portion of the housing being movable relative to the frame to selectively redirect an airflow from the airflow conduit; a propulsion motor in mechanical communication with the one or more movable elements to motivate travel of the walk-behind blower; a fan assembly disposed between the first end and the second end to motivate the airflow through the airflow conduit; a positional motor attached to the housing in mechanical communication with the housing to selectively redirect the air conduit according to a directional input signal; and a plurality of batteries attached to the frame in electric communication with the propulsion motor, the fan assembly, and the positional motor.
16 . The walk-behind blower of claim 15 , further comprising a ring assembly disposed on the housing about an exhaust defined at the second end to illuminate a region in a direction of the airflow from the exhaust.
17 . The walk-behind blower of claim 15 , further comprising an additive hopper mounted to the housing in fluid communication with the airflow conduit between the first end and the second end to deliver an additive material to the airflow prior to being exhausted from the second end.
18 . The walk-behind blower of claim 15 , further comprising a pivotable handle attached to the frame, the pivotable handle being movable about a lateral pivot axis between a first position and a second position, the first position extending the pivotable handle perpendicular to a lateral direction away from a first end of the walk-behind blower, and the second position extending the pivotable handle perpendicular to the lateral direction away from a second end of the walk-behind blower.
19 . The walk-behind blower of claim 15 , wherein the frame comprises a first segment and a second segment movably connected to the second segment, the second segment extending between a supported end and a free end, the frame being movable between an extended position holding the free end distal to the first segment and a folded position holding the free end proximal to the first segment.
20 . The walk-behind blower of claim 15 , further comprising a turret base supporting the housing on the frame, the housing being rotatable about a turret axis defined by the turret base.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/705,138 filed on Oct. 9, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to outdoor power equipment, and more particularly to improved debris collection tools, such as for collection of leaves and other outdoor debris. BACKGROUND Improved performance, durability, and/or longevity in outdoor power equipment, especially in debris collection tools, is desired. For instance, blower tools have long been used to move large volumes of debris, particularly leaves, in order to clear property. This may require significant amounts of force to propel the leaves. In the case of hand-held or backpack blower tools, it may be difficult to provide a tool capable of reaching suitable power levels, particularly one that is not unwieldy, cumbersome, or expensive for many users. Some walk-behind blower tools exist to help mitigate such problems. Existing tools typically rely on an internal combustion engine, which may power rotation of a centrifugal fan. Often, such tools are still noisy, inefficient, or difficult to maneuver. Additionally or alternatively, existing tools may be especially difficult to control. In particular, many existing walk-behind blowers include a fixed or predetermined direction of output. In turn, a user may be required to awkwardly or uncomfortably manipulate the entire blower. Accordingly, improvements which address the above-described issues are desired in the art and would be advantageous. For instance, it may be advantageous to provide walk-behind blower able to deliver significant blower force (e.g., in a relatively compact profile). Additionally or alternatively, an easily maneuverable walk-behind blower may be useful. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology. In accordance with one embodiment, a walk-behind blower is provided. The walk-behind blower may include a frame, one or more movable elements, a housing, and a fan assembly. The one or more movable elements may be mounted to the frame to movably support the frame. The housing may be supported on the frame. The housing may define an airflow conduit extending therethrough between a first end and a second end. At least a portion of the housing may be movable relative to the frame to selectively redirect an airflow from the airflow conduit. The fan assembly may be disposed between the first end and the second end to motivate the airflow through the airflow conduit. In accordance with another embodiment, a walk-behind blower is provided. The walk-behind blower may include a frame, one or more movable elements, a housing, a propulsion motor, a fan assembly, a positional motor, and a plurality of batteries. The one or more movable elements may be mounted to the frame to movably support the frame. The housing may be supported on the frame. The housing may define an airflow conduit extending therethrough between a first end and a second end. At least a portion of the housing may be movable relative to the frame to selectively redirect an airflow from the airflow conduit. The propulsion motor may be in mechanical communication with the one or more movable elements to motivate travel of the walk-behind blower. The fan assembly may be disposed between the first end and the second end to motivate the airflow through the airflow conduit. The positional motor may be attached to the housing in mechanical communication with the housing to selectively redirect the air conduit according to a directional input signal. The plurality of batteries may be attached to the frame in electric communication with the propulsion motor, the fan assembly, and the positional motor. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the technology. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present application, including the best mode of making and using the present systems and methods, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a walk-behind blower in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of a fan assembly and housing of the exemplary walk-behind blower of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of the exemplary fan assembly and housing of FIG. 2, wherein a cross-