Abstract: A muffler for a two-cycle internal combustion engine used to power lawn and garden equipment includes two mating shells and two plates, sandwiching a spark arrestor screen, are disposed between the shells to form first and second expansion chambers between each plate and the adjacent shell. The first chamber includes an opening for coupling to the exhaust port of the engine. Within one plate is stamped a first depression, a baffle within that depression, and an elongated depression separate from the first depression. In the other plate is stamped a second depression that is punched with an air passage. When mated, an attenuating tube having an entrance in the second of the two expansion chambers and an exit into the atmosphere is formed. The first and second depressions cooperate to expose a large area of the spark arrestor screen to a flow of exhaust gas from the first chamber, through the baffle and into the second chamber.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held blower/vacuum unit has a housing structure defined by an upper engine shroud removably connected to the top wall of a lower impeller housing. Disposed within the shroud is a small internal combustion engine having a vertical crankshaft which extends downwardly through a depending well section formed on the top wall of the impeller housing, the lower shaft end being drivingly connected to a centrifugal fan impeller positioned within the impeller housing and operative to force a flow of ambient air therethrough. The engine is resiliently and floatingly mounted within the shroud by a resilient support system which prevents rigid contact between the engine and the shroud or the impeller housing to thereby substantially reduce engine vibration transmitted to the housing structure, and permit deflection of the engine relative to the housing structure to lessen the possiblity of engine damage caused by impeller impact from ingested objects.

Abstract: A gasoline engine driven flexible line trimmer is provided with a modularly constructed power head section which significantly facilitates the original manufacturing assembly, and subsequent service disassembly, of the power head. In a clutch drive embodiment thereof, the power head has four readily separable modules--an engine module comprising a main engine shroud to which the engine is internally secured; a fan housing module; a starter module comprising a starter housing and a recoil starter mechanism retained therein; and a coupling module comprising a clutch housing carrying therein structure for operatively interconnecting the engine's clutch to the flexible drive shaft disposed within the trimmer shaft. In a direct drive version thereof, the power head has two separable modules--the engine module and a combined fan housing, starter and coupling module defined by a single housing within which the starter and coupling structure is carried.