Portable Drive Unit

Abstract

A portable drive unit ( 10 ) for operating a handheld power tool ( 70 ) by means of suction and/or blown air, is portable in an especially handy and space-saving way in that it has a housing ( 11 ), which is designed as a case ( 13 ) that is closable with a lid ( 24 ), and that its air feeding power is adapted to the power requirement of the handheld power tool ( 70 ), and it serves to store at least one such or similar handheld power tool ( 70 ), particularly with its accessories, such as air-carrying tubes and hoses.

1 . A portable drive unit ( 10 ) for operating a handheld power tool ( 70 ) by means of suction and/or blown air, characterized in that it has a housing ( 11 ), which is designed as a case ( 13 ) that is closable with a lid ( 24 ), and that its air feeding power is adapted to the power requirement of the handheld power tool ( 70 ), and it serves to store at least one such or similar handheld power tool ( 70 ), particularly with its accessories, such as air-carrying tubes and hoses. 
   
   
       2 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that its housing ( 11 ) is designed as a rectangular case, with outward-curved edges, rounded corners, and a flat lid ( 24 ) curves inward in dishlike fashion, as well as with a flat underside and top side ( 15 ,  25 ). 
   
   
       3 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that its housing ( 11 ) comprises a case part ( 13 ), open at the top, which is openable and closable at the top by means of a lid ( 24 ) that in particular is hinged about a hinge region ( 26 ). 
   
   
       4 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 3 , characterized in that the lid ( 24 ) is formed of two parts ( 23 ,  27 ), of which one flat outer lid shell ( 23 ) has a central opening ( 280 ), which is spanned by a strutlike bridge ( 28 ) and has curved edges and corners, and an inner lid shell ( 27 ) engages the opening ( 280 ) from below and has a spacing toward the bottom from the strutlike bridge ( 28 ). 
   
   
       5 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that a side face ( 16 ) of the case ( 13 ) has at least one, in particular mushroom-shaped protrusion ( 38 ), around which a power cord ( 42 ) can be wound and thus retained, and the protrusion ( 38 ) forms a parking face on which the drive unit ( 10 ) can set down and at the same time forms an impact face, for absorbing unwanted impacts for instance in heavy-duty construction site operation, on a hinge region ( 26 ) of the lid ( 24 ). 
   
   
       6 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by one of the  claim 1 , characterized in that elements for firmly holding the handheld power tool ( 70 ), in particular elastic elements for firm holding and clamping, preferably in the form of inflatable air cushions, are located in the case ( 13 ). 
   
   
       7 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that on one of the two shorter side faces ( 18 ,  20 ) of the case ( 13 ), suction and blower openings ( 32 ,  33 ) with means for coupling a suction hose ( 78 ) are located, in particular side by side. 
   
   
       8 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that the case ( 13 ) comprises a case skeleton ( 22 ), which forms riblike reinforcing parts. 
   
   
       9 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that recesses ( 69 ) on the reinforcing parts are provided, which are closable by means of attachable elastic shells ( 19 ,  21 ) of softer, less-expensive material. 
   
   
       10 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that hand-actuatable parts, such as lid closure buttons and a sealing lid, have a contrasting color compared to the housing ( 11 ). 
   
   
       11 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that the case ( 13 ) has at least one vertical partition, which in the housing ( 11 ) forms a storage compartment ( 63 ) for the handheld power tool ( 70 ). 
   
   
       12 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that characterized in that the two cases ( 55 ,  62 ), located side by side and in particular integrated with the case ( 13 ), in particular each having its own lid ( 48 ,  61 ), are closable, preferably in interlocking fashion, receive the motor ( 105 ), and act as a dust box. 
   
   
       13 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that the two cases a motor case ( 62 ) and a dust box ( 55 ) with dust monitoring means. 
   
   
       14 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that located on the inside of the lid ( 24 ) are retaining means ( 94 ) for receiving the suction hose ( 78 ), and these means are locatable in overlooking fashion, spirally, parallel to the lid ( 24 ). 
   
   
       15 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that a bypass valve ( 50 ) is located on the dust lid ( 56 ). 
   
   
       16 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that sealing means are located between the lids ( 24 ,  56 ,  61 ) and the case ( 13 ,  55 ,  62 ). 
   
   
       17 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that located in the interior of the drive unit ( 10 ), in particular in the storage compartment ( 63 ) or in the interior of the lid ( 24 ), are lighting means, in particular with LEDs and/or in the form of a fluorescent written marking. 
   
   
       18 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that hand-actuatable user control elements ( 30 ,  31 ,  34 ), particularly for opening and closing a lid or for actuating a switch button for turning the drive unit on or off, are located inside the outer contour of the housing ( 11 ). 
   
   
       19 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that the switch button ( 34 ) for turning the drive unit on or off is accessible from outside for foot- or hand-operated control via an opening ( 29 ) in the lid ( 24 ). 
   
   
       20 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that a blower adapter ( 83 ) is located in fixable fashion on the blower opening ( 33 ) and is replaceable by a blower grille ( 46 ), in particular having a dust filter ( 44 ). 
   
   
       21 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that an adapter for the suction hose ( 78 ) is provided, with which the hose can be coupled to handheld power tools, such as electric handheld oscillating sanders, with a suction stub of a different diameter from the suction hose ( 78 ). 
   
   
       22 . The portable drive unit ( 10 ) as defined by  claim 1 , characterized in that an intermediate hose coupling ( 91 ) is provided, for coupling the suction hose ( 78 ) to an extension piece for the suction hose.