초록 ▼

A particulate blaster assembly ( 100 ) for use as an attachment to a portable air blower ( 150 ) includes an air directing tube ( 110 ), a vacuum generating assembly ( 120 ), and a particulate material aspirator ( 130 ). The air directing tube ( 110 ) has an inlet end ( 112 ) formed for coupling to

A particulate blaster assembly ( 100 ) for use as an attachment to a portable air blower ( 150 ) includes an air directing tube ( 110 ), a vacuum generating assembly ( 120 ), and a particulate material aspirator ( 130 ). The air directing tube ( 110 ) has an inlet end ( 112 ) formed for coupling to the air blower ( 150 ) to receive air discharged therefrom and a movable exhaust end ( 114 ) formed for discharge of air and particulate material ( 212 ) entrained in the air toward a target site ( 160 ). The vacuum assembly ( 120 ) is coupled to the air directing tube ( 110 ) and formed to produce a partial vacuum as air passes in the tube ( 110 ) over the vacuum generating assembly ( 120 ). The particulate material aspirator ( 130 ) is coupled to the vacuum assembly ( 120 ) and is responsive to the partial vacuum generated by the vacuum generating assembly ( 120 ) to aspirate a particulate material ( 212 ) from a particulate material source ( 340 ) into the air directing tube ( 110 ) for acceleration and discharge of the entrained particulate material ( 212 ). Preferably, a positive pressure, generating assembly ( 182 ) communicates positive pressure to aspirator ( 130 ) for cooperation with the partial vacuum at the aspirator ( 130 ) to aspirate particulate material ( 212 ) into the air directing tube ( 110 ).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A particulate blaster assembly for use as an attachment to a portable leaf blower comprising:an air directing tube having an inlet end configured for coupling to the portable leaf blower to receive air discharged therefrom and having a movable exhaust end formed for discharge of air and particula

1. A particulate blaster assembly for use as an attachment to a portable leaf blower comprising:an air directing tube having an inlet end configured for coupling to the portable leaf blower to receive air discharged therefrom and having a movable exhaust end formed for discharge of air and particulate material entrained in the air toward a target site;a vacuum generating structure fluidly coupled to the air discharge tube and formed to produce a partial vacuum as air passes in the tube beyond the vacuum generating structure; anda particulate material aspirator fluidly coupled to the vacuum structure and to the air discharge tube and responsive to the partial vacuum generated by the vacuum structure to aspirate a particulate material from a particulate material source into the air discharge tube for acceleration of the particulate material in the air discharge tube and discharge of air and entrained particulate material from the exhaust end and wherein,the particulate material source is provided as a volume of particulate material and wherein,the aspirator assembly is positioned in part below an upper surface of the volume of particulate material and wherein,the aspirator assembly includes a base movably supported on an upper surface of the particulate material,a vacuum conduit having an end coupled to the vacuum structure and an opposite open vacuum end, andthe vacuum conduit being mounted to the base to extend downwardly therefrom into the particulate material for aspiration of particulate material under the partial vacuum generated by the vacuum structure. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, and a portable leaf blower, and wherein, the air directing tube is coupled to receive air from the portable leaf blower. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein,the vacuum structure includes a vacuum tube having an end transversely disposed within the air directing tube, the vacuum tube including an opening facing downstream toward the exhaust end to produce a negative pressure as air moves past the vacuum tube. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein,the end of the vacuum tube which is disposed in the air discharge tube extends only partially across the air discharge tube and opens in a direction perpendicular to air flow as well as having an opening facing away from the air flow. 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein,the aspirator assembly further includes a pressure conduit mounted to the base and having a pressure end coupled to the air discharge tube;and an opposite open pressure end mounted to the base and extending downwardly therefrom in sufficiently close proximity to the open vacuum end to facilitate the fluidization of the particulate material for aspiration. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein,the open vacuum end and the open pressure end extend the top surface of the particulate material by a distance greater than the height dimension of the angle of repose of the particulate material. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein,at least one of the vacuum conduit and the pressure conduit is adjustably mounted to enable variation in the distance between the open vacuum end and the open pressure end. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein,the open vacuum end and the open pressure end are formed as a beak-like structure with obliquely oriented oppositely facing openings spaced apart for passage of the particulate material therebetween into the vacuum conduit. 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein,the vacuum conduit and pressure conduit are movably mounted to the base for adjusting the spacing between the obliquely oriented oppositely facing openings. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, anda vibrator coupled to the base and adapted to agitate the base to cause movement of the particulate material into the vacuum conduit. 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein,one of the vacuum conduit and the pressure conduit are pivotally mounted to the base, and an adjustment structure coupled to a pivotally mounted conduit and formed to pivot the pivotally mounted con duit to effect adjustment of the spacing therebetween the open vacuum end and the open pressure end. 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein,the vacuum conduit and the pressure conduit are both pivotally mounted to the base, and the adjustment structure is provided by a turnbuckle assembly coupled between the vacuum conduit and the pressure conduit. 13. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein,the air discharge tube is formed with a tapered portion disposed between the inlet end and the vacuum structure, and the pressure conduit is fluidly coupled to the tapered portion of the air discharge tube. 14. An aspirator assembly responsive to a vacuum source to aspirate a particulate material from a particulate material source, the aspirator assembly comprising:a base configured to rest on an upper surface of the particulate material and move under the force of gravity to follow the upper surface down am particulate material is aspirated from the particulate material source; anda vacuum conduit mounted to the base and extending downwardly below the base to an open vacuum end positioned in the particulate material in order to enable aspiration of the particulate material from the source, the vacuum conduit having an opposite end formed to be coupled to a vacuum source. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, anda pressure conduit mounted to the base and extending downwardly below the base to an open pressure end positioned in the particulate material, the pressure conduit having an input end adapted for coupling to a source of gas under a positive pressure; andthe open vacuum end and the open pressure end being positioned sufficiently close together to cooperate in the aspiration of the particulate material from the particulate material source. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein,the vacuum end and the pressure end define a beak, and the vacuum conduit and the pressure conduit are mounted to the base for adjustment of the opening between the beak. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein,the length of the vacuum conduit and the length of the pressure conduit below the base positions opening between the beak below the altitude of an angle of repose of the particulate material. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein,the ends of the vacuum conduit and the pressure conduit define oblique opposed spaced apart openings. 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume of particulate material is provided in a container. 20. A particulate blaster assembly for use as an attachment to a portable leaf blower comprising;an air directing tube having an inlet end configured for coupling to the portable leaf blower to receive air discharged therefrom and having a movable exhaust end formed for discharge of air and particulate material entrained in the air toward a target site;a vacuum generating structure fluidly coupled to the air discharge tube and formed to produce a partial vacuum as air passes in the tube beyond the vacuum generating structure;a particulate material aspirator fluidly coupled to the vacuum structure and to the air discharge tube and responsive to the partial vacuum generated by the vacuum structure to aspirate a particulate material from a particulate material source into the air discharge tube for acceleration of the particulate material in the air discharge tube and discharge of air and entrained particulate material from the exhaust end, anda vibrator coupled to the base and adapted to agitate the particulate material aspirator to cause movement of the particulate material into the particulate material aspirator.