Variable-Length Blower Layout for High Airflow and Better Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blowers are heavy due to large motors, making them difficult to maneuver despite providing high airflow rates and airflow forces, resulting in an operator having to exert significant effort to hold and maneuver the blower.
Innovation Solution
The blower design includes a passageway with a variable length, a motor coupled to a fan, a handle with a trigger and sensor, and control circuitry that adjusts motor speed based on trigger position, with the control circuitry and battery offset to reduce weight and improve maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large motors with heavy components are used to generate high airflow rates, then airflow performance is improved, but blower weight increases making it difficult to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The blower is divided into modular components including a handle assembly, motor housing, and detachable nozzle sections. This segmentation allows the heavy motor components to be concentrated in a centralized housing while the handle and nozzle remain lighter and more maneuverable, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high airflow performance and improving maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the control circuitry and battery in spatially offset locations within the blower assembly, creating a balanced weight distribution along the longitudinal axis. This dimensional arrangement allows the heavy components to be strategically positioned to achieve better balance and reduce operator fatigue, rather than simply minimizing total weight.
2Strength
If heavy supporting structures are used to support large motors, then structural strength is improved, but operator effort to hold and maneuver the blower increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a balanced weight distribution strategy where heavy components (motor, battery, control circuitry) are positioned to create counterbalancing moments around the handle grip point. This anti-weight arrangement reduces the net torque the operator must counteract, improving ease of operation while maintaining the structural strength needed to support the powerful motor.
3Device complexity
If control circuitry is positioned close to the motor for efficient control, then control efficiency is improved, but weight concentration increases reducing balance
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuitry is positioned in a spatially offset location from the motor, utilizing the third dimension (longitudinal axis of the blower) to achieve both control efficiency and weight balance. The control circuitry is placed within accessible distance for efficient signaling while being positioned to create optimal weight distribution, demonstrating how dimensional arrangement resolves the contradiction between control efficiency and balance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The blower achieves high airflow rates and forces while maintaining a lightweight construction, allowing easy maneuverability and reduced user fatigue, with a balanced weight distribution and noise reduction features.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor that detects a position of the trigger
Implementation Method 2
a motor disposed in the passageway and operably coupled to a fan... control circuitry in communication with the motor and the sensor, wherein the control circuitry controls a speed of the motor based on information from the sensor
Implementation Method 3
a motor disposed in the tube and operably coupled to a fan, the fan rotatable about a longitudinal axis parallel to a direction of airflow through the tube
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A blower including: a passageway for directing airflow from an air inlet to a front end of the blower, the passageway having a variable length; a motor disposed in the passageway and operably coupled to a fan, a handle disposed below the passageway, wherein the handle comprises a trigger that receives a user input and a sensor that detects a position of the trigger; and a control circuitry in communication with the motor and the sensor, wherein the control circuitry controls a speed of the motor based on information from the sensor, wherein the length of the passageway between the air inlet and air outlet is greater than or equal to 12 inches.