Multi-purpose ground sweeping machine

Abstract

A multi-purpose ground sweeping machine includes a housing unit for receiving an impeller and defining an air blowing route and a guiding path between the air blowing route and an outlet. The housing unit has a first intake port disposed forwardly and forming a first flow duct, a second intake port disposed upwardly and rearwardly and forming a second flow duct, and an air-flow passage in communication with the first and second flow ducts. A first valve unit is operated to only permit suction air to be introduced from the first or second intake ports for drawing leaves on the ground surface into the housing unit. A second valve unit is operated to only permit blowing air to eject from an air-flow conduit disposed forwardly of the housing unit or the outlet for blowing away leaves on the ground surface.

1 . A multi-purpose ground sweeping machine adapted to be moved over a ground surface, comprising:
 an upper housing having an accommodation chamber which defines an air blowing route surrounding a central axis, and which extends downwards to terminate at a major lower wall that defines an internal port extending along the central axis, said upper housing having an outlet that is disposed rearwardly of said accommodation chamber, and defining therein a guiding path that is disposed laterally of said accommodation chamber, and that extends to communicate the air blowing route with said outlet;   a lower housing which is disposed under said major lower wall, and which defines therein an air-flow passage that extends upwardly to be communicated with said internal port, said lower housing having a first intake port which is disposed forwardly of said accommodation chamber, and which extends rearwardly to form a first flow duct that is in communication with said air-flow passage, and a second intake port which is disposed upwardly and rearwardly of said first intake port, and which extends forwardly to form a second flow duct that is in communication with said air-flow passage;   an impeller which is received in said accommodation chamber, and which is driven to rotate about the central axis so as to force air which is introduced into said accommodation chamber through said internal port to flow along the air blowing route;   a first valve unit including a first valve disc which is disposed to be movable between a first suck-up position, where said first flow duct is exclusively communicated with said air-flow passage, and a second suck-up position, where said second flow duct is exclusively communicated with said air-flow passage, and a first manually operable knob disposed to move said first valve disc between the first and second suck-up positions;   an outflow nozzle disposed forwardly of said accommodation chamber;   an air-flow conduit which is disposed upstream of said outflow nozzle and downstream of the guiding path; and   a second valve unit including a second valve disc which is disposed to be movable between a forward blowing position, where said air-flow conduit is exclusively communicated with the guiding path, and a rearward blowing position, where said outlet is exclusively communicated with the guiding path, and a second manually operable knob disposed to move said second valve disc between the forward and rearward blowing positions.   
   
   
       2 . The multi-purpose ground sweeping machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible hose which is configured to be detachably connected to one of said second intake port to be disposed upstream of said second flow duct when said first valve disc is in the second suck-up position, and said outlet to be disposed downstream thereof when said second valve disc is in the rearward blowing position. 
   
   
       3 . The multi-purpose ground sweeping machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of wheels rotatably mounted laterally of said lower housing, and a handle mounted on and extending upwardly and rearwardly from said upper housing for gripping by a user. 
   
   
       4 . The multi-purpose ground sweeping machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dust collection box connected to and communicated with said outlet. 
   
   
       5 . The multi-purpose ground sweeping machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said first valve unit includes a stem which is rotatably disposed in said lower housing, and which is configured to couple said first manually operable knob to said first valve disc so as to permit said first manually operable knob to turn said first valve disc together with said stem to thereby move said first valve disc between the first and second suck-up positions. 
   
   
       6 . The multi-purpose ground sweeping machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said second valve disc is in the form of a cylindrical rotor which is rotatably mounted in the guiding path about a revolving axis parallel to the central axis, and which has a passageway, said cylindrical rotor being turnable by said second manually operable knob between the forward position, where said passageway communicates said air-flow conduit with the guiding path, and the rearward position, where said passageway communicates said outlet with the guiding path. 
   
   
       7 . The multi-purpose ground sweeping machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said air-flow conduit is in the form of an extension tube which interconnects said upper and lower housings. 
   
   
       8 . The multi-purpose ground sweeping machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a drive member disposed to drive said impeller, and a controller which is disposed to be operable manually to control said drive member. 
   
   
       9 . The multi-purpose ground sweeping machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower housing has a flattened pipe which extends forwardly of said upper housing to define said first intake port so as to facilitate sucking of leaves from the ground surface ahead. 
   
   
       10 . The multi-purpose ground sweeping machine according to  claim 9 , wherein said outflow nozzle is disposed on said flattened pipe.