Blower with speed control and boost function

Abstract

Blower (100) comprising the following: a drive unit and a blower assembly that is driven by the drive unit; a stepless trigger (146); a control circuit designed to at least partially regulate the power input in order to drive the blower assembly based on a position of the stepless trigger (146), and one or more keys, wherein the blower assembly rotates at a speed which in a first operating mode is proportional to the position of the stepless trigger (146), and wherein the control circuit is designed to enable an operator to press a first button (164) of one or more buttons to switch to a second operating mode in which the speed of the blower assembly over at least part of a movement range of the stepless trigger (146) is not proportional to the position of the stepless trigger (146), wherein switching to the second operating mode by pressing the first button (164) sets an upper speed limit for the motor, and the speed below the upper speed limit remains proportional to the position of the stepless trigger (146).

Description

[0001] The embodiments relate to motorized work equipment for outdoor use in general and relate in particular to a speed control and increase function for motorized work equipment, such as a blower.

[0002] Outdoor power equipment includes devices such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, chainsaws, blowers, and the like. Although powering such equipment could be achieved in any number of ways, these devices are most commonly driven by a gasoline (internal combustion) engine or an electric motor. The engine or motor is connected to the shaft of a tool, such as a cutting blade or blower assembly, which rotates to perform useful work. The operator can precisely control the engine or motor speed by manipulating a stepless trigger, thereby selectively controlling the input of required power to the engine or motor.

[0003] During operation, the operator may frequently wish to fix the engine speed. For example, when mowing a lawn to a uniform grass length or blowing a driveway, the operator may wish to bring the engine or combustion engine up to a desired speed and then use a speed control to maintain that speed for consistent results. To this end, gasoline or fuel-powered blowers typically employ a speed control function, implemented mechanically, to maintain engine or combustion engine speed above or around a desired level. In particular, such a function can maintain an engine speed at a fixed RPM by mechanically locking the trigger control in a fixed position using a lever that the operator can operate.In electric motors, buttons with different stages are defined such that a discrete change in speed is associated with each stage. Thus, a desired speed can be achieved by advancing to the corresponding desired stage.

[0004] AU 2014 100 150 A4 discloses a blower with a handle and levers for operating control. The levers include a trigger, a lock button, a boost button (142), and a speed control knob. The trigger is used to switch the blower on and off. The lock button prevents the blower from starting unintentionally, for example, if the trigger is accidentally activated. By pressing the boost button (142), the blower can be operated at maximum speed. The speed control knob is designed to allow a specific speed to be set, which is then activated when the trigger is pressed. For example, if the speed control knob is set to speed d and the trigger is pressed, the blower runs at speed d. If the boost button is pressed, the blower runs at maximum speed, regardless of the speed d set by the speed control knob.

[0005] German patent DE 102010 046 565 A1 discloses a blowing device having a housing with a handle. The handle is equipped with an operating lever, an operating lever lock, and a slide 12, by means of which the blowing device can be operated by a user. Details of the function of the operating elements are not described.

[0006] EP 1 537 814 A2 discloses a blowing device with a handle and a single control element. A throttle lever is also arranged near the handle.

[0007] DE 10 2006 003 202 A1 discloses a blowing device with a handle, a gas lever, and a locking lever for locking the gas lever.

[0008] To improve the operational control of the blower, it may be desirable to provide control functions that can limit the motor speed in a simple and intuitive way, and also, if desired, to provide a speed increase.

[0009] The object of the invention is, in particular, to provide a blowing device and a method for controlling a blowing device, which are accordingly improved. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0010] An embodiment of a blower may include the following: a drive unit and a blower assembly driven by the drive unit, a stepless trigger, a control circuit designed to regulate at least part of the power input to drive the blower assembly based on a position of the stepless trigger, and one or more buttons. The blower assembly may rotate at a speed proportional to the position of the stepless trigger in a first operating mode. The control circuit may be designed to allow the operator to press a first button of the one or more buttons to switch to a second operating mode in which the speed of the blower assembly is not proportional to the position of the stepless trigger over at least part of its range of motion.

[0011] In another embodiment, a method for operating a blower may be provided. This method may involve manipulating a stepless trigger during a first operating mode to accelerate the blower motor to a desired speed proportional to the position of the stepless trigger, and pressing a first button to switch to a second operating mode in which a maximum speed limit for the motor is set, but the speed below this limit remains proportional to the position of the stepless trigger. The method may further involve pressing a second button to temporarily increase the motor speed to a predefined maximum speed for a predefined duration.

[0012] The boost button can be the same as the one used to activate the speed control or different from it. The boost function can be activated independently of the speed control function or in combination with it. Additionally, the keypad may include light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that illuminate to indicate the status of each keypad function.

[0013] Having now described the invention in general terms, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which: Fig. 1. A side view of a blowing device according to an exemplary embodiment is illustrated; Fig. 2 A perspective side view of the blowing device is illustrated to show a control panel according to an exemplary embodiment; Fig. 3. A top view of the blowing device is illustrated to show a control panel according to an exemplary embodiment; and Fig. 4 illustrates a control field according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0014] Some embodiments are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show some, but not all, of these embodiments. However, the examples described and illustrated here should not be considered as limiting the scope of protection, applicability, or configuration of this disclosure. Rather, these embodiments are provided to ensure that this disclosure will meet applicable legal requirements. Identical reference numbers consistently refer to the same elements. Furthermore, the term "or," as used here, is to be understood as a logical operator that results in true statements whenever one or more of its operands are true.As used here, operational coupling should be understood to refer to direct or indirect connection which, in any case, enables functional connection of components that are operationally coupled to each other.

[0015] In some cases, a blower operator may wish to use a speed control function to limit the engine speed, preventing excessive dust from being blown into the air, conserving energy, or achieving the peak operating efficiency of the combustion engine or motor. Additionally, an operator encountering thick weeds or sticky substances while blowing may want to temporarily increase the engine or motor speed to overcome these challenging conditions. Therefore, a temporary increase in engine or motor speed that is easy to implement may be desirable, while also preventing prolonged operation at elevated speeds that could overload the blower or drain the battery too quickly.

[0016] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a blower 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that the blower 100 merely represents an example of a motorized work tool to which an exemplary embodiment can be applied. With reference to Fig. 1. The blower 100 can comprise a housing 110, within which various components of the blower 100 are housed. The blower 100 can further include a motor, an internal combustion engine, or a drive unit for supplying the driving forces to move air through the blower 100. In some embodiments, the drive unit can be a three-phase electric motor, operated under the control of a control unit or a regulation circuit and powered by a battery or battery adapter. However, in some embodiments, a DC motor, an internal combustion engine, or another drive unit could also be used. In this embodiment, the motor is housed in the motor housing part 120, which adjoins the blower tube 150.

[0017] The housing 110 can be made of plastic, composite materials, metals, or any desirable material of sufficient rigidity. In one embodiment, the housing 110 can be formed from two or more molded parts that can be assembled. In some cases, the molded parts can form half-shells (for example, right and left shells) that can be joined together by welding, adhesives, snap closures, fasteners (e.g., screws), and / or the like. When the molded parts are assembled, they may form a gap between the molded parts at the point of joining.

[0018] In some embodiments, the control unit or the control circuit can be housed in its own part of the housing 110. The part of the housing 110 in which the control unit is housed can be referred to as a control unit housing part 132, and the control unit housing part 132 can be an integral part of a half-shell (as described above) or can be a separate housing part attached to other housing parts. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the control unit housing part 132 can be arranged on a front part of the housing 110.

[0019] In one embodiment, the battery can be housed in a battery compartment 142, which can be arranged at the rear of the housing 110, separated from the control unit housing part 132 by a handle 144. The handle 144 can be formed by extending from a distal end of the control unit housing part 132 to an upper part of the battery compartment 142. Thus, the handle 144 can extend over the motor housing part 120. In some embodiments, the handle 144 can form an opening or passage in the housing 110 to allow an operator's hand to close around the handle 144. The opening can be referred to as a handle opening 145.

[0020] The handle 144 may include a stepless trigger 146, which can be operated with one finger of the operator while holding the handle 144. Actuation of the stepless trigger 146 can cause current from the battery to be selectively supplied to the motor to rotate the motor based on control provided by the control unit. In some cases, the control unit may include interlocks, protective functions, or other control mechanisms that can detect various conditions of the blower 100 via sensors, switches, or other mechanisms in order to selectively control the supply of current to the motor, based on indications of user intent (e.g., by actuating the stepless trigger 146) and / or determinations regarding the state of the blower 100 as provided by the sensors, switches, or other mechanisms. As indicated by the Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the stepless trigger 146 extends from the handle 144 downwards into the handle opening 145.

[0021] It goes without saying that, although Fig. Figure 1 shows an example in which the stepless trigger 146 is used to selectively energize the motor. Other embodiments may employ a selector, a switch, a button, or another such control element to selectively control the operation of the motor. Thus, for example, on / off, speed control, or other operating functions for controlling the motor can be performed using a control element of any desired shape, and the stepless trigger 146 is merely an example.

[0022] The blower 100 may further include a blower tube 150, which is attached to (or forms part of) the housing 110 and through which air can be expelled. The blower tube 150 may include an inlet and an outlet 156. The outlet 156 may be located at a distal end of the blower tube 150, and the inlet may be located at an opposite end of the blower tube 150, near the motor and battery. In one embodiment, the inlet may be located near an opening 158, which may include louvers, flaps, guide holes, or other such openings formed in the housing 110 to allow air to enter the blower tube 150 in response to the operation of the motor and be expelled through the outlet 156.In this respect, the operation of the motor can cause a vane or blower assembly to rotate, creating a low-pressure area that draws air through the opening field 158 into the inlet section, to be guided through the blower assembly and expelled by the blowpipe 150 at the outlet 156 to blow away leaves, dirt, or other material. In some cases, the louvers, flaps, guide holes, or other such openings formed in the housing 110 to create the opening field 158 can be strategically placed to reduce the possibility of noise from the motor or the airflow in the blowpipe 150 being transmitted to the operator's ears. Furthermore, the louvers, flaps, guide holes, or other such openings of the opening field 158 can be formed on each respective side panel of the housing 110, as shown in [Figure 1]. Fig. 1 is shown.

[0023] An embodiment of a blower 100 can therefore include a housing 110 that encloses the internal components, such as a motor, a blower assembly, a control circuit, and a battery. The housing 110 can define a handle 144 with a handle opening 145, and the blower assembly can be operationally coupled to the blower tube 150 to force air through the blower tube 150 in response to the operation of a motor. When the continuously variable trigger 146 is compressed, the motor speed can increase proportionally to the force of the compression. Thus, the operator can increase the speed by compressing the continuously variable trigger 146 further. Then, when a desired motor speed and a corresponding airflow level through the blower are reached, the operator can select to implement a speed control function using a keypad, according to one embodiment.

[0024] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, one embodiment may include a control keypad 160 located on top of the blower housing 110 at the front end of the handle 144. The keypad 160, which is described in more detail below, provides for easy operation or control of the blower, either in conjunction with or independently of the stepless trigger 146. The keypad 160 may contain one or more keys (162, 164, and 166) that can be easily manipulated by the operator. Note that the keypad 160 may be connected to a processing circuit, which may include a processor and working memory, where various instructions, applications, and / or the like are stored in the working memory and executed by the processor.Several of the functions described here can therefore be implemented by operating the processing circuit to direct or cause the corresponding functionality to be carried out in response to the execution of stored instructions to carry them out (when executed).

[0025] Fig. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the keypad 160, which includes three buttons for controlling the blower. The “ON” button 162, or power button, starts and stops the blower; the “C” button 164 (i.e., a first button) activates the speed control function; and the “B” button 166 (i.e., a second button) activates the lifting function. The keypad also includes one or more indicator elements 168, preferably light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which illuminate when the blower is on or when the function associated with the indicator element is activated, thus indicating the operating status of the blower to the operator.

[0026] During operation, the operator achieves the required airflow for a specific task by manipulating the stepless trigger 146. Once sufficient airflow is achieved, the operator can press the speed control button 164, which sets the maximum motor speed relevant to the blower's airflow. When speed control is activated, the associated LED indicator 168 illuminates, and the speed limit is stored in memory until speed control is deactivated and the stepless trigger 146 is released. The speed control function prevents the motor speed from exceeding this maximum speed limit, regardless of how far the stepless trigger 146 is depressed. Thus, the operator could, for example, simply depress the stepless trigger 146 fully and does not need to worry about maintaining a specific pressure or compression level.However, lower motor speeds are still possible by reducing the compression level below the maximum speed limit setting point. The operator can deactivate the speed control and simply resume normal trigger control of the blower by pressing the speed control button 164 again. Switching off the blower (e.g., by pressing the power button 162) or removing the battery also resets the speed control function and the speed limit.

[0027] A boost function can also be activated via the keypad 160. In the exemplary embodiment, the boost function is controlled by a separate button (e.g., the B button 166). However, the boost function could alternatively be activated using the same button as the speed control, for example, by holding the button for a different duration compared to the speed control function, or by providing a specific actuation pattern (e.g., a double press, etc.). The boost function can be activated when the stepless trigger 146 is pressed with at least a prescribed force, for example, 10% of the full trigger position, or when the speed control is activated. When the boost function is activated, the motor rotates for a predefined time (e.g., five seconds) up to a maximum (or predetermined) speed, providing the user with an increased airflow and air velocity (i.e.,This lifting function could be used, for example, to remove stuck or wet objects from a surface. To save battery life and prevent components from overheating, the use of this function can be time-limited, for example, by making the five-second lift available only once every thirty seconds.

[0028] The boost function can be used independently of the speed control function or in combination with it. Speed ​​control is a very convenient solution when it's desirable to save power or limit the overall airflow to prevent excessive dust from being blown into the air. Using the boost function, it's possible to have a high airflow for a short time, for example, to remove items stuck to the floor, without overloading the blower or draining the battery too quickly.

[0029] It is understood that, although the keypad 160 is located on top of the handle in the embodiments discussed above, it could instead be located anywhere on the blower housing 110, which provides for easy operator input and function selection. For example, the keypad 160 could be located on the underside or side of the handle 144, in the handle opening 145, or on the stepless trigger 146 itself. Furthermore, the control buttons need not be limited to a single keypad or panel at all, but could instead be located as individual buttons on the blower housing 110.However, by placing the keypad 160 on the front end of the handle 144 and placing all the keys (162, 164 and 166) on the keypad 160 together with their respective LED indicator elements 168, operators can conveniently manipulate the keypad keys without otherwise adjusting their operation, and the LED indicator elements 168 remain easily visible during operation.

[0030] Accordingly, a blower of one embodiment can include a drive unit and a blower assembly driven by the drive unit, a stepless trigger, a control circuit designed to regulate at least partially the power input to drive the blower assembly based on a position of the stepless trigger, and one or more buttons (e.g., on a keypad). The blower assembly can rotate at a speed that, in a first operating mode, is proportional to the position of the stepless trigger. The control circuit can be designed to allow the operator to press a first button below the one or more buttons (e.g., on the keypad) to switch to a second operating mode in which the speed of the blower assembly is not proportional to the position of the stepless trigger over at least part of its range of motion.

[0031] In some cases, the above features may be modified, extended, or enhanced in various ways. For example, in some cases, activating a speed control function in response to pressing a speed control button on the keypad may enter the second mode, thereby setting a maximum speed for the fan assembly equal to the fan assembly speed at which the speed control function was activated. In some embodiments, the operator may be permitted to deactivate the speed control function by pressing the speed control button again. In one embodiment, the operator may be permitted to activate a boost function by pressing a button on the keypad, causing the fan assembly to accelerate to a maximum speed.In some cases, the boost function may be restricted to allowing activation only once within a predefined time interval. In some embodiments, the boost function may be restricted to allowing activation only for a predefined duration. In some examples, the predefined duration is approximately five seconds and the predefined time interval is approximately thirty seconds. In one embodiment, the button may be the first button or another button. If the button is the first button, a single press of the first button may switch the device to the second operating mode (i.e., the speed control function), and a double press of the first button may cause the device to switch to a third operating mode (i.e., the boost function). In some embodiments, the boost function is only available after the stepless trigger has been activated with a predefined force (i.e.,The lift function is activated when the button has been pressed for at least approximately 10% of its length. In some cases, the lift function is activated independently of the speed control function, and in others, it is activated in response to a previous activation of the speed control function. In one embodiment, light-emitting diode (LED) indicators placed on the keypad can show an operating mode of the blower.

[0032] Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions presented herein will occur to a person skilled in the art, including those inventions which offer the advantages of the teachings presented in the preceding descriptions and the associated drawings. It is therefore understood that the inventions are not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of protection of the appended claims. Furthermore, it is understood that, although the preceding descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and / or functions, other combinations of elements and / or functions can be provided by alternative embodiments without deviating from the scope of protection of the appended claims.In this respect, other combinations of elements and / or functions than those explicitly described above are also envisaged, as set forth in some of the appended claims. Where advantages, benefits, or solutions to problems are described herein, it is understood that such advantages, benefits, and / or solutions may be applicable to some embodiments, but not necessarily to all embodiments. Thus, advantages, benefits, or solutions described herein should not be considered critical, necessary, or essential for all embodiments or for those claimed herein. Although specific terms are used here, they are employed only in a generic and descriptive sense and not for the purpose of limitation.

Claims

[1] Blowing device (100) comprising the following: a drive unit and a blower assembly that is driven by the drive unit; a stepless trigger (146); a control circuit designed to at least partially regulate the power input in order to drive the blower assembly based on a position of the stepless trigger (146), and one or more keys, wherein the blower assembly rotates at a speed which in a first operating mode is proportional to the position of the stepless trigger (146), and wherein the control circuit is designed to enable an operator to press a first button (164) of one or more buttons to switch to a second operating mode in which the speed of the blower assembly over at least part of a movement range of the stepless trigger (146) is not proportional to the position of the stepless trigger (146), wherein switching to the second operating mode by pressing the first button (164) sets an upper speed limit for the motor, and the speed below the upper speed limit remains proportional to the position of the stepless trigger (146). [2] Blower (100) according to claim 1, wherein by activating a speed control function in response to pressing the first button (164) the second mode is entered, whereby the speed limit for the blower assembly is set to be equal to a speed of the blower assembly when the speed control function was activated. [3] Blower (100) according to claim 2, wherein the operator is able to deactivate the speed control function by pressing the first button (164) again. [4] Blower (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operator is able to activate a lifting function by pressing a second button (166), causing the blower assembly to accelerate to a maximum speed. [5] Blowing device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the lifting function is limited to enabling activation only once in a predefined time interval. [6] Blowing device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the lifting function is limited to enabling activation for a predefined period of time. [7] Blowing device (100) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the predefined time duration is five seconds and the predefined time interval is thirty seconds. [8] Blowing device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the first button (164) and the second button (166) are provided on a keypad (160). [9] Blowing device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a single actuation of the first button (164) switches to the second operating mode and wherein a double actuation of the first button (164) causes a switch to a third operating mode. [10] Blowing device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the keypad (160) is provided close to a handle (144) of the blowing device (100). [11] Blowing device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the lifting function is only enabled for activation after the stepless trigger (146) has been pressed by a predefined force. [12] Blowing device (100) according to claim 11, wherein the predefined strength is 10%. [13] Blowing device (100) according to one of claims 4-8 and 10-12, wherein the lifting function is enabled for activation independently of the speed control function. [14] Blower (100) according to one of claims 4-8 and 10-12, wherein the lifting function is unlocked in response to prior activation of the speed control function. [15] Blowing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein light-emitting diodes (LED) indicator elements (168) placed on the keypad (160) indicate an operating mode of the blowing device (100). [16] Method for controlling a blowing device (100) comprising the following: Manipulating, during a first operating mode, a stepless trigger (146) to accelerate the motor of the blower (100) to a desired speed proportional to a position of the stepless trigger (146); and Pressing a first button (164) to switch to a second operating mode and to set a speed limit for the motor, whereby the speed below the speed limit remains proportional to the position of the stepless trigger (146). [17] Method according to claim 16, further comprising pressing a second button (166) to temporarily increase the motor speed to a predefined maximum speed for a predefined period of time.

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