Abstract: A blower vacuum unit for selective operation in a blower mode and in a suction mode, comprises: a housing having means forming an air inlet and means forming an air outlet; a motor carried within the housing, an impeller rotatably driven by the motor and positioned for drawing air into the housing through the air inlet and discharging the air from the housing through the air outlet; a debris collection conduit one end of which conduit is an operating end and the other end of which conduit is adapted for attachment to a debris collection container and means for generating an entrained air flow, using the air discharged through the air outlet, at the operating end of the debris collection conduit into the debris conduit. The housing and the debris collection conduit comprise separate components and the conduit is adapted to be releasably mounted on the housing so that the operating end of the conduit is located for co-operation with the air outlet of the housing.

Abstract: A flange lock 10 for retaining a disc or blade on a spindle of a power tool and for facilitating removal therefrom, comprising a support member 22 for threadedly engaging a spindle of a power tool, a plurality of cam devices 30 mounted through the support member 22, a pressure plate 44 for applying pressure to a flange of a disc or blade to hold the disc or blade on the power tool, the pressure plate 44 including a cam surface 46 for bearing against the cam devices 30, and a housing for receiving the support member 22, the cam devices 30 and the pressure plate 44 and including means 14, 34 for driving the cam devices 30 between an active position (FIG. 3 ) in which the pressure plate 44 is held spaced from the support member 22 and an inactive position (FIG.

Abstract: A saw (10) comprises a frame, a table (12) mounted in the frame and adapted to adopt two positions. A pivot member (14) is on a first side of the table and a saw assembly (16) is pivoted (at 18) to the pivot member. A blade (26) is journalled in the assembly and a motor (22) drives the blade. An upper guard (32) covers an upper portion of the blade and is pivoted to the assembly, while a lower guard (40) covers a lower portion of the blade. A slot in the table permits the blade to protrude through the table.In a first of said two positions of the table, the saw assembly is above the table and the saw is a chop saw for performing plunge cuts on workpieces supported on said first side of the table (FIG. 1). In a second of said two positions, the saw assembly is below the table and the saw is a bench saw for performing cuts on workpieces passed through the blade on a second opposite side of the table (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A debris collecting apparatus (2) includes a debris conduit (4), one end of which debris conduit is an operating end (8) and the other end of which debris conduit (4) is adapted for attachment to a debris collecting container (30); the apparatus further generates an entrained air flow at the operating end (8) of the debris conduit (4) into the debris conduit (4) and comminutes the debris. Also, the entrained air flow is generated external to the debris conduit (4), but the comminution of the debris occurs within the debris conduit (4).

Abstract: A workpiece trimmer power tool (eg. a laminate trimmer 10) has a waste collector attachment (26) for collecting dust and other waste material generated by the trimmer in use. The attachment can be fitted in a first position (FIG. 2) adjacent to an edge of the trimmer base (12) adapted for trimming a workpiece face, or in a second position (FIG. 5) adjacent to the underside of the trimmer base (12) adapted for trimming an edge surface of a workpiece. The attachment (26) provides a handle surface, also a guard surface and a fence surface for controlling edge trimming. Skis can be attached to the trimmer base (12) for face trimming.

Abstract: A grass cutting device suitable for automatic and unattended operation, comprisesat least one drive wheel;a power unit operatively coupled to said drive wheel to propel said device;a cutter mechanism to cut grass over which said device passes andobstacle detection means capable of detecting an obstacle in the path of said device and being operably linked to said power unit to cause said device to retreat and turn away from said obstacle.The grass cutting device preferably further comprisesmechanical long grass detection means arranged to detect long grass in the path of said device.

Abstract: A hammer mechanism (200,200') for a power tool comprises a housing (203), a chuck spindle (201) journalled for rotation in the housing and having axial freedom of movement in the housing, a rotary ratchet (204) fixed on the spindle, the ratchet having teeth (207) facing a rear end of the housing, a fixed ratchet (205) rotationally fixed in the housing but having axial freedom of movement in the housing, the fixed ratchet surrounding the spindle and having teeth (207) facing the teeth of the rotary ratchet, and a spring (213) between the fixed ratchet and housing resiliently biasing the fixed ratchet towards the rotary ratchet.A first cam (208,209) between the fixed and rotary ratchets has two positions. In a first position, the ratchets can engage one another, whereby reciprocal motion is imparted on the spindle on rotation thereof. In a second position the ratchets are prevented from inter-engagement.A second cam (224) between the fixed ratchet and housing have two positions.

Abstract: A spool (30) for a rotary cutter, such as a lawn mower edger or trimmer of the type using a flexible line (38) as a cutting member, comprises a core portion (32) and at least two flange portions (34), (36) spaced apart on the core portion (32) for supporting at least one coil of flexible line (38). At least one coiled line member (38) is disposed about the core portion (32) and has a first end (40) secured to the spool (30) and a second end (42) adapted to extend from the coiled line (38) to provide a length of line (12) for cutting.

Abstract: A battery pack 13 (FIG. 2) comprises an elongated cylindrical, metal casing 35, a plurality of cells 41, 43 in casing 35 and three coaxial pack terminals 46, 54, 61. For enhanced convenience, pack terminals 46, 54, 61 are electrically connectable in a cordless device 11 regardless of the angular orientation of the pack 13 about casing axis 33. To reduce cost and increase durability, pack 13 has no welded connections and will permit high current discharge rates. Cells 41, 43 are electrically connected but are mechanically disconnected. A spring 73 engages cell 41 and biases cells 41, 43 tightly together in compression to form good, low resistance electrical contact between cells 41, 43, casing base cap 45 and top 53. To provide a pack with two output voltages, the third pack terminal 61 has a polarity (relative to first pack terminal 46) the same as second pack terminal 54 and is electrically connected to the cell can terminal 43b of forward cell 43, thereby electrically by-passing cell 43.

Abstract: A clamp nut 10 comprising a split threaded nut 12 for engaging a threaded spindle (not shown), a coiled spring 16 encircling the split nut 12, means 20 for holding the spring 16 tightly coiled around the split nut 12 and a cap 30, engaging the spring 16, which can be turned in a first direction (A) to tighten the spring 16 around the split nut 12 and in a reverse direction to release the holding means 20 thereby loosening the spring 16 around the split nut 12 and enabling the split nut 12 to expand radially to facilitate removal of the clamp nut 10 from a threaded spindle. The mechanism for releasing the holding means 20 preferably includes a cam surface 32, formed integrally with the cap 30, which lifts an end 19 of the coiled spring 16 off a set of ratchet teeth.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a device, such as a saw blade, on a base (3) to enable the blade to be positioned accurately in either of two distinct positions relative to the base. The apparatus comprises a pivot member (21) for supporting the blade (not shown) pivotally mounted on a fixed member (11). The fixed member (11) includes a pair of abutments (142,144) and the pivot member has at least one asymmetric stop (160) for abutting the abutments (142,144) after rotation of the pivot member (21) relative to the fixed member to define the distinct positions of the blade. These positions are defined generally by the positions of the abutments (142,144) and accurately by the orientation of the or each asymmetric stop (160). The apparatus may further include a device (170) for adjusting accurately one of the distinct positions by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A power tool has an application mechanism (300) for connection to the output of an epicyclic gearbox provided with a torque control ring. The mechanism has a body (310) journalling a chuck spindle (302). Outside the body is a clutch control arrangement comprising balls (334,336) pressed against the torque control ring by individual springs (330) controlled by a control ring (322) threaded on the body. The mechanism includes a hammer arrangement having rotary and fixed ratchet plates (378,376) and cam ring (308) operable to engage and separate the plates by a lever (360) which projects between the springs (330).

Abstract: A display package for a circular saw blade or similar article having an aperture including a paperboard display card upon which is mounted the blade or article by means of a deformable connecting member which is reusable so that the package is also used for storage of the blade or article. The display card is provided with a pocket or pouch in which a portion of the blade or article is inserted such that an area of descriptive information is visible to a perspective purchaser. A length of protective material such as clear split plastic tubing is wrapped around the periphery of the blade or article to cover at least a portion of the saw blade teeth, and a layer of shrink-wrap is applied over the entire package.

Abstract: A chuck spindle device (300) has the following basic components:--a body (310), a bearing (316) mounting a chuck spindle (302) and an end cap (312) through which the spindle projects for connection to a gearbox. An annular space is defined in the body to receive a hammer mechanism in the form of rotary ratchet (378), fixed ratchet (376) and cam ring (308) to press them together. The body has a slot to accept a control knob (360) of the cam ring. The body is threaded (317) to receive a clutch mechanism in the form of control ring (322) and multiple springs (330) pressing balls (334,336) against a torque control ring of the gear box.