Cutting Apparatus with On-Board Vacuum and Debris Collection

Abstract

A cutting apparatus. The apparatus includes a motor and a cutting blade driven by the motor. An enclosure defines a blade chamber for the cutting blade. A vacuum impeller is disposed in a vacuum chamber of a vacuum housing to generate airflow to move debris created by the cutting blade into a removable debris collection bag. A pair of vacuum flow paths directs the airflow from the blade chamber to the vacuum chamber. The motor operates both the cutting blade and the vacuum impeller.

1 . A cutting apparatus comprising:
 a motor having a drive shaft;   a cutting blade operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement during operation of said motor;   an enclosure defining a blade chamber and at least partially enclosing said cutting blade;   a vacuum impeller operably coupled to said motor and rotatable in a first direction during operation of said motor to generate airflow, said vacuum impeller having a plurality of blades defining an outer blade periphery;   a vacuum housing enclosing said vacuum impeller and defining a vacuum chamber, said vacuum housing defining at least one inlet configured to direct the airflow into said vacuum chamber transverse to said first direction and inside said outer blade periphery, and an outlet configured to direct the airflow out of said vacuum chamber;   first and second vacuum flow paths fluidly connecting said blade chamber to said vacuum chamber for directing the airflow from said blade chamber to said vacuum chamber; and   a debris collection container in communication with said outlet for collecting debris moving through said vacuum housing by said vacuum impeller.   
     
     
         2 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes:
 a protective housing; and 
 a collapsible structure connected to said protective housing and extending downwardly therefrom such that said protective housing and said collapsible structure define said blade chamber for said cutting blade. 
 
     
     
         3 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said collapsible structure is flexible such that said cutting blade can be adjusted for depth and angle. 
     
     
         4 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said at least one inlet includes a plurality of inlets configured to direct the airflow into said vacuum chamber transverse to said first direction and inside said outer blade periphery, each of said vacuum flow paths being in fluid communication with one of said plurality of inlets. 
     
     
         5 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes a section being transparent for viewing said cutting blade through said enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising first and second vacuum tubes wherein said first vacuum tube defines said first vacuum flow path and said second vacuum tube defines said second vacuum flow path. 
     
     
         7 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said cutting blade is generally circular and said enclosure includes a shoulder having a semi-circular shape with a plurality of positions defined along said shoulder, said first vacuum tube being connected to said shoulder at a first of said plurality of positions and said second vacuum tube being connected to said shoulder at a second of said plurality of positions spaced from said first of said plurality of positions. 
     
     
         8 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising at least one intermediate vacuum tube interconnecting said enclosure and said vacuum housing. 
     
     
         9 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said enclosure includes a front section and a rear section and:
 said first vacuum tube has a first end connected to said front section; and 
 said second vacuum tube has a first end connected to said rear section. 
 
     
     
         10 . A cutting apparatus comprising:
 a motor having a drive shaft;   a cutting blade operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement during operation of said motor;   an enclosure defining a blade chamber and at least partially enclosing said cutting blade;   a vacuum impeller operably coupled to said motor and rotatable in a first direction during operation of said motor to generate airflow, said vacuum impeller having a plurality of blades defining an outer blade periphery;   a vacuum housing enclosing said vacuum impeller and defining a vacuum chamber, said vacuum housing defining at least one inlet configured to direct the airflow into said vacuum chamber transverse to said first direction and inside said outer blade periphery, and an outlet configured to direct the airflow out of said vacuum chamber;   first and second vacuum flow paths fluidly connecting said blade chamber to said vacuum chamber for directing the airflow from said blade chamber to said vacuum chamber; and   a debris collection bag coupled to said vacuum housing at said outlet for collecting debris moving through said vacuum housing by said vacuum impeller.   
     
     
         11 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said enclosure includes:
 a protective housing; and 
 a collapsible structure connected to said protective housing and extending downwardly therefrom such that said protective housing and said collapsible structure define said blade chamber for said cutting blade. 
 
     
     
         12 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said collapsible structure is flexible such that said cutting blade can be adjusted for depth and angle. 
     
     
         13 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said at least one inlet includes a plurality of inlets configured to direct the airflow into said vacuum chamber transverse to said first direction and inside said outer blade periphery, each of said vacuum flow paths in fluid communication with one of said plurality of inlets. 
     
     
         14 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said enclosure includes a section being transparent for viewing said cutting blade through said enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 10  further comprising first and second vacuum tubes wherein said first vacuum tube defines said first vacuum flow path and said second vacuum tube defines said second vacuum flow path. 
     
     
         16 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said cutting blade is generally circular and said enclosure includes a shoulder having a semi-circular shape with a plurality of positions defined along said shoulder, said first vacuum tube being connected to said shoulder at a first of said plurality of positions and said second vacuum tube being connected to said shoulder at a second of said plurality of positions spaced from said first of said plurality of positions. 
     
     
         17 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 16  further comprising at least one intermediate vacuum tube interconnecting said enclosure and said vacuum housing. 
     
     
         18 . A cutting apparatus as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said enclosure includes a front section and a rear section and:
 said first vacuum tube has a first end connected to said front section; and 
 
       said second vacuum tube has a first end connected to said rear section. 
     
     
         19 . A cutting apparatus comprising:
 a motor having a drive shaft;   a cutting blade operatively coupled to said drive shaft for movement during operation of said motor;   an enclosure including a collapsible structure and defining a blade chamber, said enclosure at least partially enclosing said cutting blade;   a vacuum impeller operably coupled to said motor and rotatable in a first direction during operation of said motor to generate airflow, said vacuum impeller having a plurality of blades defining an outer blade periphery;   a vacuum housing enclosing said vacuum impeller and defining a vacuum chamber, said vacuum housing defining at least one inlet configured to direct the airflow into said vacuum chamber transverse to said first direction and inside said outer blade periphery, and an outlet configured to direct the airflow out of said vacuum chamber;   first and second vacuum flow paths fluidly connecting said blade chamber to said vacuum chamber for directing the airflow from said blade chamber to said vacuum chamber; and   a debris collection bag coupled to said vacuum housing at said outlet for collecting debris moving through said vacuum housing by said vacuum impeller.