Turbine for vacuum driven tools

Abstract

An improved turbine for vacuum driven tools provides higher speed and power output while reducing problems such as the clogging and stopping of the turbine due to dust and debris. The turbine has a closed bottom and open sides and top, and draws air in through the sides and out through the top of the turbine.

1 . A vacuum driven power tool comprising:
 a body;   a turbine mounted in the body, the turbine comprising a base, a central spindle connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom so as to prevent air from passing to the inside of the spindle, and a plurality of vanes extending between the base and spindle and connected to the base and the spindle, the turbine having sides which are open along the height thereof above the base and a top which is open along the width thereof outside of the spindle such that the vanes are exposed along the outside sides and tops thereof;   a power tool output operatively connected to the turbine;   a vacuum port attached to the body and configured for connection to a vacuum; and   at least one passage for directing air through the body, into the sides of the turbine and out of the top of the turbine by flowing between the sides of the plurality of vanes and out of the turbine between the tops of the plurality of vanes to thereby rotate the turbine, and through the vacuum port and into a vacuum.   
   
   
       2 . The power tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a top cover attached to the body, and wherein the vacuum port is attached to the top cover. 
   
   
       3 . The power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum tool is a sander and comprises a sanding pad attached to the body via an eccentric drive. 
   
   
       3 . The power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passage comprises an air passage disposed in the body and oriented in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the turbine so as to direct air laterally towards the vanes. 
   
   
       4 . The power tool of  claim 3 , wherein the turbine is disposed in the middle of the body, and wherein the at least one passage comprises at least two passages extending inwardly from opposing sides of the body and extending around a portion of the perimeter of the turbine such that the sides of the turbine are generally open to the at least two passages. 
   
   
       5 . The power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine base comprises a closed bottom plate so as to prevent the passage of air therethrough. 
   
   
       6 . The power tool of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of vanes are curved. 
   
   
       7 . The power tool of  claim 5 , wherein the spindle diameter is between 25 percent and 75 percent of the turbine diameter. 
   
   
       8 . The power tool of  claim 5 , wherein the spindle diameter is between 25 percent and 50 percent of the turbine diameter. 
   
   
       9 . A vacuum driven power tool comprising:
 a body;   a sanding pad mounted to the body;   a turbine operatively connected to the sanding pad such that rotation of the turbine causes an orbital motion of the sanding pad, the turbine comprising a plurality of vanes extending outwardly from a spindle and a base which is attached to the bottom of the plurality of vanes and attached to the bottom of the spindle, such that the inside sides of the vanes are connected to the spindle and the bottom of the vanes are connected to the base to prevent the passage of air therethrough, and such that the outside sides and top of the vanes being open and un-obscured to allow air flow between the sides and tops of the vanes;   a vacuum port configured for connection to a vacuum;   an airflow passage for directing airflow into the body, through the turbine, and through the vacuum port when a vacuum is connected to the vacuum port, the airflow causing rotation of the turbine, the airflow passage being configured to direct airflow into the side of the turbine between the plurality of vanes, and the turbine being configured such that the airflow exits the top of the turbine between the plurality of vanes and outside of the turbine spindle.   
   
   
       10 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the turbine comprises an axis of rotation, a closed bottom plate perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and a plurality of vanes extending upwardly from the closed bottom plate and outwardly from the axis of rotation, and wherein the airflow passage comprises an air passage disposed in the body and oriented so as to extend in a horizontal direction towards a side of the turbine and extending around the sides of the turbine such that the sides of the turbine are generally open and are without obstruction. 
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the airflow passages are disposed in a plane which is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation so that air moves horizontally towards the turbine and wherein the body comprises a cavity disposed above the turbine and in communication with the vacuum port so that air exits the tops of the turbine blades and exits the body in a generally vertical direction. 
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the vanes are curved. 
   
   
       13 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein the spindle is attached to the base and extends upwardly therefrom to prevent the flow of air from between the vanes to the rotational axis of the turbine. 
   
   
       14 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the turbine is generally cylindrical. 
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the airflow passage draws air from around the sanding pad. 
   
   
       16 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the turbine is generally cylindrical, and wherein the airflow passage is configured to introduce airflow to the turbine at the side of the turbine in a direction generally tangential to the turbine sides and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the turbine, and wherein the passage is configured to extract airflow from the turbine at the open top of the turbine in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the turbine. 
   
   
       17 . A vacuum driven tool comprising:
 a working member;   a housing;   a turbine disposed in the housing and coupled to the working member such that rotation of the turbine moves the working member, the turbine having a plurality of vanes extending outwardly from a central spindle and a base attached to the bottom of the vanes and the bottom of the spindle, the turbine having open sides and an open top such that the sides and tops of the vanes are not covered, the turbine being configured for receiving air between the plurality of vanes on the open sides thereof and for passing said air between the plurality of vanes and out the open top of the turbine on the outside of the spindle; and   at least one channel disposed in the housing configured for directing air into the open sides of the turbine, the portion of the channel adjacent the turbine being disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the turbine so as to direct air towards the side of the turbine.   
   
   
       18 . The tool of  claim 17 , further comprising a vacuum port configured for extracting air from the open top of the turbine, the vacuum port being disposed in communication with a cavity formed in the body above the turbine. 
   
   
       19 . The tool of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one channel draws air into the housing from adjacent the working member. 
   
   
       20 . The tool of  claim 17 , wherein the working member comprises a sanding pad. 
   
   
       21 . The power tool of  claim 17 , wherein the central spindle is attached to a bottom plate and wherein the central spindle extends upwardly therefrom to prevent the flow of air from between the vanes to a rotational axis of the turbine. 
   
   
       22 . The power tool of  claim 17 , wherein the vanes have generally vertical sides and generally horizontally top surfaces.