Blower with improved balance and construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld outdoor power equipment blowers often require heavy batteries to maintain balance, limiting their usability to robust users due to significant size and weight, which restricts mobility and accessibility for users of all ages and sizes.
Innovation Solution
The blower design positions the battery to intersect with the common axis of the motor and fan, distributing weight evenly and reducing overall weight by placing components such as the motor, fan, and battery equidistant from the handle, allowing for improved ergonomics and balance while maintaining power and maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the battery is positioned near the motor and fan to maintain balance, then the blower achieves proper balance, but the overall weight becomes significant and limits usability to robust users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the battery from a conventional location near the motor to an extended rear position along the longitudinal axis of the blower. This dimensional redistribution of mass allows the battery to serve as a counterbalance to the motor-fan assembly, achieving proper balance while extending the overall length of the device rather than concentrating mass in a compact configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric component distribution along the longitudinal axis, with the motor and fan positioned forward and the battery positioned rearward. This asymmetric arrangement creates a balanced center of gravity that improves ergonomics while allowing the use of a heavy-duty battery for sustained power without overwhelming the user.
2Stability of the object's composition
If heavy batteries are used to maintain balance, then proper balance is achieved, but mobility and accessibility are restricted for users of all ages and sizes
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the battery to the rear along the longitudinal axis, the patent distributes weight more evenly along the length of the blower, creating a balanced center of gravity that reduces the effective burden on the user's arm and shoulder, thereby improving ease of operation for diverse users.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear-positioned battery acts as a counterweight to the forward-positioned motor and fan assembly. This counterbalancing arrangement offsets the inherent weight of the power components, making the blower easier to handle and maneuver while maintaining proper balance during operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the battery is extended to the rear along the longitudinal axis, then weight is distributed evenly and balance is improved, but the device length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the blower to position the battery at the rear, distributing mass along the length of the device. This approach accepts increased device length as a trade-off for achieving superior balance and ergonomics, allowing the heavy battery to be positioned where it counterbalances the motor-fan assembly effectively.
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
This design results in a lightweight, powerful, and versatile blower that is easier to handle and use for extended periods, enhancing usability across a wider range of operators without compromising performance.
Implementation Method 1
The fan may be operably coupled to the motor via a shaft to force air through a blower tube responsive to operation of the motor
Data Source
AI summary
A blower (100) includes a blower attachment housing (112), a power head housing (122) having a handle (130) operably coupled thereto, a motor (140) disposed in the power head housing (122), a fan (160) disposed in the blower attachment housing (112), a battery (150), and an intake chamber (174) disposed between the motor (140) and the fan (160) to enable the air to enter the blower (100) between the motor (140) and the fan (160).