Abstract: A drive shaft assembly for connecting a drive unit to a rotary tool is disclosed. The drive shaft assembly is especially well suited for use in combination with a rotary tool having an axis of rotation at an angle with respect to the axis of the drive unit. The rotary tool and drive unit are supported on an elongated tubular support housing having substantially straight end sections inclined with respect to each other and an intermediate section forming a curved transition from one straight end to the other. A continuous length of tubular liner received within the housing produces a cylindrical bearing surface through at least the curved transition section. The liner provides a yieldable bearing surface having a coefficient of friction substantially less than that of the housing surface. A flexible drive shaft extends through the liner and support housing and is received in rotary sockets coupled to the rotary tool and drive unit, respectively.

Abstract: A portable power operated cultivator includes a power unit comprising an internal combustion engine having a handle portion and being connected to one end of an elongated boom. A right angle gear drive mechanism is mounted on the opposite end of the boom and is driveably interconnected with the power unit by an elongated drive shaft disposed within the boom. An output shaft extends from opposite sides of the gear drive unit and is adapted to mount respective rotary cultivator blades on the ends thereof. A second handle is adjustably mounted on the boom to provide for a balanced weight distribution of the cultivator unit. The spaced apart cultivator blades are identical and include a plurality of radially projecting ground engaging tines. Adjacent tines on each blade have tip portions which are bent in the opposite direction with respect to each other along a bend line which provides for a positive angle of incidence or entry of the tine into the earth being worked by the cultivator.

Abstract: A lightweight air blower attachment for a portable power unit such as a hand held internal combustion engine. The blower attachment includes a generally tubular shaped housing adapted for close coupling of the blower to the power unit. The housing provides a shroud and a support for an axial flow impeller having a shaft which extends through a mounting boss on the housing and includes a drive tang adapted to be drivably connected to a power takeoff shaft. The blower includes an elongated nozzle having a handle portion and being rotatably mounted on the housing to provide for changing the direction of the exit air flow without rotating the entire power unit and blower attachment. The nozzle is provided with a conical portion which converges to a throat and transitions to a somewhat flat circular sector shaped air exit portion providing for an air flow pattern particularly adapted for sweeping and dusting operations.

Abstract: A centrifugal air blower unit includes a casing comprising two separable sections which enclose a centrifugal impeller. The impeller has a hub including a threaded bore for attaching the impeller to the distal end of a drive shaft extending from a support of a portable power unit. The casing is adapted to mount on a support housing for the drive shaft. The hub of the impeller includes a portion extending in a direction opposite to the threaded portion and through an opening in the bottom wall of the casing whereby the impeller may be threaded onto and off of the drive shaft for connecting and disconnecting the blower unit to the bearing housing without disassembly of the casing. The casing includes a mounting pad formed integral with one of the casing parts and supported by a plurality of spaced apart radially projecting webs forming an air inlet opening and also forming combination inlet guide vanes and a trash guard for the impeller.

Abstract: A hand carriable powered snow removal apparatus having an internal combustion engine power unit removably connected to one end of a tubular boom which supports an elongated drive shaft connected to the engine power takeoff shaft at and to a right angle drive gear unit mounted at the opposite end of the boom. The gear unit includes a housing mounted on the end of the boom and providing a centered drive arrangement for a pair of opposed paddle type impellers mounted on respective ends of an output shaft projecting from opposite sides of the gear housing. A shroud mounted on the gear housing includes an upwardly projecting rear wall and spaced apart lateral side walls partially enclosing the impellers and providing directional control for the snow being discharged from the impellers. A set of movable guide vanes is mounted on the forward end of the shroud and is adjustable to provide for varying the directional attitude of snow being discharged from the shroud.

Abstract: A power operated lawn edger includes a power unit comprising an internal combustion engine having a handle portion and being connected to one end of an elongated support boom. A cutter head including a vertically disposed rotating cutter blade is mounted at the other end of the support and comprises a right angle gear drive unit which is driven by the power unit through an elongated drive shaft mounted within the support. The cutter head includes a single adjustable gauge wheel for varying the depth of cut in normal operation of the edger. The gauge wheel is mounted on a support bracket which is pivotally connected to the cutter head. The gauge wheel support bracket is releasably retained in a selected position by a manually adjustable retaining member. A laterally projecting tubular support handle is mounted on the support by a bracket member which provides for moving the handle between a folded position alongside the power unit and a working position.

Abstract: A power operated lawn edger includes a power unit comprising an internal combustion engine having a handle portion and being connected to one end of an elongated support boom. A cutter head including a vertically disposed rotating cutter blade is mounted at the other end of the support and comprises a right angle gear drive unit which is driven by the power unit through an elongated drive shaft mounted within the support. The cutter head includes a single adjustable gauge wheel for varying the depth of cut in normal operation of the edger. The gauge wheel is mounted on a support bracket which is pivotally connected to the cutter head. The gauge wheel support bracket is releasably retained in a selected position by a manually adjustable retaining member. A laterally projecting tubular support handle is mounted on the support by a bracket member which provides for moving the handle between a folded position alongside the power unit and a working position.