초록 ▼

A foot attachment for a pneumatic rotary tool is configured to be attached to a nose portion of the housing of the tool. The rotary tool includes a housing that defines an air flow channel. A nose portion of the housing defines an air flow inlet for the air flow channel. The foot attachment includes

A foot attachment for a pneumatic rotary tool is configured to be attached to a nose portion of the housing of the tool. The rotary tool includes a housing that defines an air flow channel. A nose portion of the housing defines an air flow inlet for the air flow channel. The foot attachment includes a shroud portion that extends from the nose portion of the housing and surrounds a working space in front of the nose portion of the housing. The shroud portion defines at least one tangential opening that directs air flow into the shroud portion along a tangent such that a vortex is generated within the working space.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vacuum-powered rotary tool comprising: a housing having a nose portion and a main body portion, the housing defining at least one air flow channel for guiding a flow of air within the housing, the at least one air flow channel including an air flow inlet located in the nose portion of the housi

1. A vacuum-powered rotary tool comprising: a housing having a nose portion and a main body portion, the housing defining at least one air flow channel for guiding a flow of air within the housing, the at least one air flow channel including an air flow inlet located in the nose portion of the housing and at least one air flow outlet located in the main body portion of the housing, the main body portion of the housing being configured to be connected to a vacuum source for generating the flow of air in the at least one air flow channel;a pneumatic drive system enclosed within the housing in the air flow channel and including an output shaft, the output shaft having an axis of rotation and including a tool holder that extends from the nose portion of the housing and is configured to retain a working tool, the pneumatic drive system being configured to use the flow of air in the air flow channel to drive the output shaft to rotate about the axis of rotation, the tool holder being configured to rotate with the output shaft and defining a working space in front of the nose portion of the housing where the working tool performs work while being rotated; anda foot attachment removably attached to the nose portion of the housing, the foot attachment having a shroud portion, the shroud portion comprising a wall that extends generally forwardly from the nose portion of the housing in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and surrounds the working space, the wall having a leading edge, the leading edge forming a perimeter around the working space and lying substantially in a single plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation,wherein air is drawn into the at least one air flow channel via the air flow inlet in response to the vacuum source generating the flow of air in the at least one air flow channel,wherein the air inlet is in fluid communication with the working space such that the air flow inlet draws air into the at least one air flow channel from the working space,wherein the shroud portion includes at least one tangential air flow inlet for guiding an air flow into the working space from outside of the shroud portion as air is being drawn into the at least one air flow channel via the air flow inlet, andwherein the at least one tangential air flow inlet is configured to generate a vortex within the working space when the flow of air is being generated by the vacuum source. 2. The rotary tool of claim 1, wherein the shroud portion has a funnel shape. 3. The rotary tool of claim 2, wherein the foot attachment includes a first circular end portion that is attached around the nose portion of the housing and a second circular end portion that forms the leading edge, wherein the first circular end portion and the second circular end portion are centered on the axis of rotation, andwherein the second circular end portion has a diameter that is greater than the first circular end portion. 4. The rotary tool of claim 3, wherein the shroud portion tapers from the second circular end portion to the first circular end portion. 5. The rotary tool of claim 4, wherein the nose portion of the housing includes an external thread structure and the first circular end portion includes an internal thread structure that is threadingly engaged with the external thread structure. 6. The rotary tool of claim 1, wherein the shroud portion includes two tangential air inlets located on opposing sides of the working space. 7. The rotary tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one tangential air flow inlet includes at least one baffle surface configured to direct the air flow into the working space, the at least one baffle being configured to direct the air flow into the working space in an air flow direction that defines a tangent substantially with respect to the shroud portion. 8. A rotary tool comprising: a housing having a nose portion and a main body portion, the housing defining at least one air flow channel for guiding a flow of air within the housing, the at least one air flow channel including an air flow inlet located in the nose portion of the housing and at least one air flow outlet located in the main body portion of the housing, the main body portion of the housing being configured to be connected to a vacuum source for generating the flow of air in the at least one air flow channel;a pneumatic drive system enclosed within the housing in the air flow channel and including an output shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the output shaft including a tool holder that extends from the nose portion of the housing and is configured to retain a working tool, the pneumatic drive system being configured to use the flow of air in the air flow channel to drive the output shaft to rotate about the axis of rotation, the tool holder being configured to rotate with the output shaft and defining a working space in front of the nose portion of the housing where the working tool performs work while being rotated; anda foot attachment removably attached to the nose portion of the housing, the foot attachment having a shroud portion that extends generally forwardly from the nose portion of the housing in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and surrounds the working space, the shroud portion having a leading edge that forms a perimeter around the working space and lies substantially in a single plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation,wherein the shroud portion includes at least one tangential air flow inlet for directing air flow into the working space from outside of the shroud portion in a direction that defines a tangent with respect to the shroud portion such that a vortex is generated in the working space as air is drawn into the at least one air flow channel via the air flow inlet. 9. The rotary tool of claim 8, wherein the shroud portion has a funnel shape. 10. The rotary tool of claim 9, wherein the foot attachment includes a first circular end portion that is attached around the nose portion of the housing and a second circular end portion that forms a leading edge of the shroud portion, wherein the second circular end portion has a diameter that is greater than the first circular end portion. 11. The rotary tool of claim 9, wherein the shroud portion tapers from the second circular end portion to the first circular end portion. 12. The rotary tool of claim 11, wherein the nose portion of the housing includes an external thread structure and the first circular end portion includes an internal thread structure that is threadingly engaged with the external thread structure. 13. The rotary tool of claim 8, wherein the shroud portion includes two tangential air inlets located on opposing sides of the working space. 14. The rotary tool of claim 8, wherein the at least one tangential air flow inlet includes at least one baffle surface configured to direct the air flow into the working space, the at least one baffle being configured to direct the air flow into the working space in an air flow direction that defines a tangent substantially with respect to the shroud portion.