Portable electrically powered debris blower apparatus

Abstract

There is provided a portable, electrically powered debris blower that includes a noise reducing and energy efficient design. The debris blower includes a blower that is powered by a portable power supply, such as electrochemical battery cells. The blower includes an air intake, a curved blower housing that acts as an air inlet guide tube, an axial fan, and an air exhaust. To reduce noise and vibration output from the blower, the blower further includes a noise and vibration reducing material covering the inside walls of the blower, vibration and noise isolating mounts supporting the axial fan within the blower, and the air inlet is angled towards the ground with respect to the axis of the axial fan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power tool comprising:
 an electric motor;   a power supply for providing electric power to the power tool;   a power control board electrically coupled to the electric motor and the power supply for collecting data corresponding to operation of the power tool, the power control board comprising a power controller, a memory, one or more sensors for acquiring data, a timer, and a communication interface;   wherein the timer is to monitor running time of the electric motor over a time period, and the memory is to store data related to the running time;   wherein when the power tool is powered on, the power controller determines cumulative energy usage of the power tool over the time period based on measuring power supplied to the electric motor over the time period and the monitored running time of the electric motor over the time period;   wherein the memory is to store the cumulative energy usage; and   wherein the communication interface is to transmit the cumulative energy usage to a device.   
     
     
         2 . The power tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the power tool comprises an electric debris blower comprising:
 an air inlet guide duct defining an inlet of the electric debris blower and an air exhaust tube defining an outlet of the electric debris blower; and   an axial fan between the inlet and the outlet comprising the electric motor and a rotor, wherein the axial fan is to direct air along an air flow path from the inlet to the outlet.   
     
     
         3 . The power tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the time period is an entire lifetime of the tool, and wherein when the power tool is powered on, the power controller determines usage of the power tool based on cumulative energy used by the power tool over the time period. 
     
     
         4 . The power tool according to  claim 3 , wherein the usage of the power tool is based on a comparison of the cumulative energy used by the power tool over the time period to a gasoline powered tool. 
     
     
         5 . The power tool according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a current sensor coupled to electrical wires entering the power control board for measuring current supplied to the electric motor;   a voltage sensor coupled to electrical wires entering the power control board for measuring voltage supplied to the electric motor; and   a handle for orienting the power tool;   wherein the handle comprises the power control board, and   wherein measuring power supplied to the electric motor over the time period is based on measurements from the current sensor and the voltage sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The power tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the time period is a total time since the power tool was powered on. 
     
     
         7 . The power tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the communication interface is a Bluetooth interface. 
     
     
         8 . The power tool according to  claim 2 , further comprising a display, wherein the power controller is to recall the cumulative energy usage and the display is to show the cumulative energy usage. 
     
     
         9 . The power tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the power control board comprises a temperature sensor, the power controller is to monitor a temperature of the power control board, and wherein when the temperature of the power control board falls outside of a set range, the power controller is to attenuate or turn off power to the power tool and the memory is to store a fault code. 
     
     
         10 . An electric debris blower comprising:
 an air inlet guide duct defining an inlet of the electric debris blower and an air exhaust tube defining an outlet of the electric debris blower;   an axial fan between the inlet and the outlet comprising an electric motor and a rotor, wherein the axial fan is to direct air along an air flow path from the inlet to the outlet;   a power supply for providing electric power to the axial fan; and   a power control board electrically coupled to the axial fan and the power supply for collecting data corresponding to operation of the axial fan, the power control board comprising a power controller, a memory, one or more sensors for acquiring data, a timer, and a communication interface;   wherein the timer is to monitor running time of the electric motor and the memory is to store data related to the running time;   wherein the power controller is to monitor one or more operational characteristics of the electric debris blower and the memory is to store the one or more operational characteristics; and   wherein the communication interface is configured to report or transmit the one or more operational characteristics of the electric debris blower; and   further comprising an electronic speed controller to control speed of the axial fan and wherein the one or more operational characteristics of the electric debris blower comprises an electronic speed controller temperature.   
     
     
         11 . An electric debris blower comprising:
 a housing comprising an air inlet guide duct defining an inlet of the electric debris blower and an air exhaust tube defining an outlet of the electric debris blower;   a handle for directing the electric debris blower, the handle positioned between the inlet and the outlet;   an axial fan comprising an electric motor and a rotor and configured to direct air along an air flow path from the inlet to the outlet, the axial fan positioned between the handle and the outlet; and   one or more isolation mounts for reducing vibration of the blower during operation, the isolation mounts located between the housing and the axial fan.   
     
     
         12 . The electric debris blower according to  claim 11 , wherein the isolation mounts surround at least a portion of a circumference of the axial fan and the isolation mounts are press fit between the housing and the axial fan. 
     
     
         13 . The electric debris blower according to  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of ribs extending in a direction towards the isolation mounts and the isolation mounts are press fit between the plurality of ribs and the axial fan. 
     
     
         14 . The electric debris blower according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ribs includes a slot and the axial fan comprises a tab configured to be received in the slot. 
     
     
         15 . The electric debris blower according to  claim 11 , wherein the handle is mounted to the air inlet guide duct, the axial fan is located in the inlet guide duct. 
     
     
         16 . The electric debris blower according to  claim 15 , wherein the handle is located above the air inlet guide duct. 
     
     
         17 . The electric debris blower according to  claim 11 , wherein the axial fan further comprises a fairing having an electrical connector for providing electrical power to the axial fan, the fairing located downstream of the rotor of the fan relative to air flow path. 
     
     
         18 . The electric debris blower according to  claim 11 , wherein the isolation mounts are a rubber elastomeric material. 
     
     
         19 . The electric debris blower according to  claim 11 , wherein the air inlet duct guide comprises an inlet absorbing material having a textured surface. 
     
     
         20 . The electric debris blower according to  claim 11 , further comprising a power control board for collecting data corresponding to the operation of the axial fan, the power control board comprising a power controller, memory, a timer, and a communication interface, the power control board electrically coupled to the axial fan.