Blower adapter assembly

Abstract

The invention describes an airflow adapter for a blower having an outlet duct, and which includes a closed, substantially tubular conduit having an mating section and an exit cylinder, the mating section shaped to mate with the outlet duct of the blower, and having selected geometry to complement the cross-sectional geometry of the outlet duct of the blower, and wherein the exit cylinder has a circular cross-section. Intermediate the mating section and the exit cylinder is a transitional chamber providing a continuous flowpath between the mating section and the exit cylinder. The invention also includes abutment means adjacent the mating section for aligning the adapter relative to the blower. The adapter has a longitudinal axis parallel to the flowpath of a selected length along its longitudinal axis such that the combination of the transitional chamber and the exit cylinder is configured to eliminate air separation from the internal surface of the exit cylinder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An airflow adapter for a blower having an outlet duct, the adapter comprising a closed, substantially tubular conduit having a mating section and an exit cylinder, the mating section shaped to mate with the outlet duct of the blower, the exit cylinder having a circular cross-section, the adapter having a transitional chamber between the mating section and the exit cylinder, the transitional chamber providing a flowpath between the mating section and the exit cylinder, and wherein the dimensions of combination of the transitional chamber and the exit cylinder are selected so as to eliminate air separation from the internal surface of the exit cylinder.  
     
     
         2 . The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the cross-sectional geometry of the mating section is selected to complement the cross-sectional geometry of the outlet duct of the blower.  
     
     
         3 . The adapter of  claim 2  wherein the mating section is sized to receive the outlet duct of the blower.  
     
     
         4 . The adapter of  claim 2  wherein the mating section is sized to encapsulate the outlet duct of the blower.  
     
     
         5 . The adapter of claims  2  wherein the mating section is of generally extended ellipsoidal cross-section, having two opposing parallel straight sides and two opposing semi-circular sides.  
     
     
         6 . The adapter of  claim 1  additionally comprising abutment means adjacent the mating section, the abutment means for aligning the adapter relative to the blower.  
     
     
         7 . The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the adapter has a longitudinal axis parallel to the flowpath, and the adapter has a selected length along its longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         8 . The adapter of  claim 7  wherein the selected length is from about 12 inches to about 15 inches.  
     
     
         9 . The adapter of  claim 8  wherein the ratio of the cross-section of the mating section to the cross-section of the exit cylinder is about 1:2.5.  
     
     
         10 . The adapter of  claim 1  additionally comprising means for securing the adapter to the blower.  
     
     
         11 . An airflow adapter for a blower having an outlet duct, the adapter comprising: 
 (a) a closed, substantially tubular conduit having an mating section and an exit cylinder, the mating section shaped to mate with the outlet duct of the blower, the cross-sectional geometry of the mating section selected to complement the cross-sectional geometry of the outlet duct of the blower;    (b) the exit cylinder having a circular cross-section;    (c) a transitional chamber between the mating section and the exit cylinder, the transitional chamber providing a flowpath between the mating section and the exit cylinder;    (d) abutment means adjacent the mating section, the abutment means for aligning the adapter relative to the blower; and    wherein the combination of the transitional chamber and the exit cylinder is configured to eliminate air separation from the internal surface of the exit cylinder.    
     
     
         12 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the mating section is sized to receive the outlet duct of the blower.  
     
     
         13 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the mating section is sized to encapsulate the outlet duct of the blower.  
     
     
         14 . The adapter of claims  11  wherein the mating section is of generally extended ellipsoidal cross-section, having two opposing parallel straight sides and two opposing semi-circular sides.  
     
     
         15 . The adapter of  claim 11  wherein the adapter has a longitudinal axis parallel to the flowpath, and the adapter has a selected length along its longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         16 . The adapter of  claim 15  wherein the selected length is from about  12  inches to about  15  inches.  
     
     
         17 . The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of the cross-section of the mating section to the cross-section of the exit cylinder is about 1:2.5.  
     
     
         18 . The adapter of  claim 11  additionally comprising means for securing the adapter to the blower.  
     
     
         19 . An airflow adapter for a blower having an outlet duct, the adapter comprising: 
 (a) a closed, substantially tubular conduit having an mating section and an exit cylinder, the mating section shaped to mate with the outlet duct of the blower, the cross-sectional geometry of the mating section selected to complement the cross-sectional geometry of the outlet duct of the blower;    (b) the exit cylinder having a circular cross-section;    (c) a transitional chamber between the mating section and the exit cylinder, the transitional chamber providing a continuous flowpath between the mating section and the exit cylinder;    (d) abutment means adjacent the mating section, the abutment means for aligning the adapter relative to the blower; and    wherein, the adapter has a longitudinal axis parallel to the flowpath, the adapter having a selected length along its longitudinal axis, and the combination of the transitional chamber and the exit cylinder is configured to eliminate air separation from the internal surface of the exit cylinder.    
     
     
         20 . The adapter of  claim 19  wherein the mating section is sized to receive the outlet duct of the blower.  
     
     
         21 . The adapter of  claim 19  wherein the mating section is sized to encapsulate the outlet duct of the blower.  
     
     
         22 . The adapter of claims  19  wherein the mating section is of generally extended ellipsoidal cross-section, having two opposing parallel straight sides and two opposing semi-circular sides.  
     
     
         23 . The adapter of  claim 19  wherein the selected length is from about 12 inches to about 15 inches.  
     
     
         24 . The adapter of  claim 19  wherein the ratio of the cross-section of the mating section to the cross-section of the exit cylinder is about 1:2.5.  
     
     
         25 . The adapter of  claim 19  additionally comprising means for securing the adapter to the blower.