U.S. patent application number 09/739553 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-10 for lawn and garden tool.
This patent application is currently assigned to AME GROUP, INC.. Invention is credited to Leimbach, Wendell B., Marshall, James W., Martin, James A..
Application Number | 20010000881 09/739553 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23384540 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010000881 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marshall, James W. ; et
al. |
May 10, 2001 |
Lawn and garden tool
Abstract
A hand-held portable lawn and garden tool having implements. A
housing encloses a motor and at least two sets of gears arranged in
cascade to provide low speed and high torque to the implements.
Each set of gears is a sun gear with a plurality of planetary
gears. Embodiments energized by battery packs, line power and
internal combustion engines are disclosed.
Inventors: |
Marshall, James W.;
(Phoenix, MD) ; Martin, James A.; (Baltimore,
MD) ; Leimbach, Wendell B.; (Baltimore, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONARD BLOOM & ASSOCIATES, LLC
Intellectual Property Law Offices
Suite 905
401 Washington Avenue
Towson
MD
21204
US
|
Assignee: |
AME GROUP, INC.
|
Family ID: |
23384540 |
Appl. No.: |
09/739553 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09739553 |
Dec 18, 2000 |
|
|
|
09352289 |
Jul 13, 1999 |
|
|
|
6189627 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
172/41 ; 172/118;
172/123; 172/250 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01B 1/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
172/41 ; 172/118;
172/123; 172/250 |
International
Class: |
A01B 049/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a hand-held portable power driven tool for using a tool
implement, the improvement comprising: a housing enclosing a
permanent magnet electric motor, the motor driving a planetary gear
system having at least two sets of gears arranged in cascade to
provide a low speed, high torque output, the output of the gear
system driving the tool implement, the motor being powered by at
least one rechargeable battery pack, the battery pack being
replaceably inserted into the lawn and garden tool.
2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the gear system reduces the speed
of the tool implement to less than 100 rpm.
3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the speed of the tool implement is
approximately 30 to 60 rpm.
4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the torque applied to the tool
implement is approximately 6 to 12 foot pounds.
5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the housing is attached to one end
of a wand and a handle is attached to the opposite end of the
wand.
6. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a single ring gear
disposed within the housing and engaging the planetary gear
system.
7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one battery pack is
inserted in the housing.
8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one battery pack is
inserted into a handle connected to the housing.
9. A portable, hand-held lawn and garden tool comprising: a wand
having a first end and an opposite second end, a handle connected
to the first end, a housing connected to the second end, a first
set of gears in the housing, the first set of gears being a sun
gear engaging a plurality of planetary gears, a plurality of sets
of gears similar to the first set of gears, the sets of gears being
connected in cascade to an output shaft, a plurality of implements,
a selected one of the implements being removably attached to the
output shaft connected to the cascade of sets of gears, wherein the
respective implements are interchangeable, means for driving the
sets of gears connected to the sets of gears such that the selected
implement is driven at a selected high torque and a selected low
speed dependent upon the arrangement of the plurality of sets of
gears.
10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the means for driving the sets of
gears is an electric motor disposed in the housing.
11. The tool of claim 10, wherein the electric motor is battery
powered.
12. The tool of claim 11, wherein at least one rechargeable battery
pack is disposed in the tool and electrically connected to the
motor through an electrical switch mounted in the tool.
13. The tool of claim 10, wherein the electric motor is powered
through a line cord connected to a source of power.
14. The tool of claim 9, wherein the means for driving the sets of
gears is an internal combustion engine connected to the tool.
15. The tool of claim 9, wherein the implement is selected from the
group consisting of a tiller, an auger, a mixer and a core
driller.
16. The tool of claim 9, wherein the gears reduce the speed of the
implement to less than 100 rpm.
17. The tool of claim 16, wherein the speed of the implement is
approximately 30 to 60 rpm.
18. The tool of claim 9, wherein the torque applied to the
implement is approximately 6 to 12 foot pounds.
19. The tool of claim 9, wherein the wand has an adjustable length
such that the tool may be long for use by a stand-up operator and
may be short for use by a kneeling operator.
20. The tool of claim 9, further having an auxiliary handle
attached to the wand, the auxiliary handle facilitating use and
balance of the tool.
21. The tool of claim 9, wherein the implement is removably
attached to the housing by a twist and lock-type connector.
22. The tool of claim 9, further comprising a single ring gear
disposed within the housing and engaging the first set of
gears.
23. A portable hand-held lawn and garden tool comprising: a wand
having a first end and an opposite second end, a handle connected
to the first end, a motor in a housing attached to the second end,
a source of power for the motor, a switch in the handle to control
power to the motor, a first set of gears connected to the motor
within the housing, the first set of gears being a sun gear
engaging a plurality of planetary gears, a plurality of sets of
gears similar to the first set of gears, the sets of gears being
connected in cascade, a plurality of implements, a selected one of
the plurality being removably attached to the cascade of sets of
gears and to the housing, wherein the respective implements are
interchangeable, such that the selected implement is driven at a
selected high torque and a selected low speed depending upon the
arrangement of the plurality of sets of gears.
24. The tool of claim 23, wherein the motor is battery-powered, at
least one rechargeable battery pack being disposed in the tool.
25. The tool of claim 24, wherein four rechargeable battery packs
are provided, the battery packs being removably disposed on four
sides of the motor housing.
26. The tool of claim 23, wherein the implement is selected from
the group consisting of a tiller, an auger, a mixer and a core
driller.
27. The tool of claim 23, wherein the implement is a pair of
tillers disposed side-by-side such that one of the tillers rotates
in a clockwise direction and the other tiller rotates in a
counterclockwise direction.
28. The tool of claim 23, wherein the gears reduce the speed of the
implement to less than 100 rpm.
29. The tool of claim 28, wherein the speed of the implement is
approximately 30 to 60 rpm.
30. The tool of claim 23, wherein the torque applied to the
implement is approximately 6 to 12 foot pounds.
31. The tool of claim 23, wherein the wand has an adjustable length
such that the tool may be long for use by a stand-up operator and
may be short for use by a kneeling operator.
32. The tool of claim 23, further having an auxiliary handle
attached to the wand, the auxiliary handle facilitating use and
balance of the tool.
33. The tool of claim 23, wherein the implement is removably
attached to the housing by a twist and lock-type connector.
34. The tool of claim 23 further comprising a single ring gear
disposed within the housing and engaging the first set of
gears.
35. In a lawn-and-garden tool, the combination of a housing having
a longitudinal axis and further having respective side portions,
each of which has an opening formed therein generally parallel to
the longitudinal axis of the housing, at least one rechargeable
battery pack removably received in each of the openings in the
housing, such that the housing is balanced, a permanent magnet
motor within the housing and selectively energized by the battery
packs, a plurality of planetary gear systems driven by the motor
and arranged in cascade in the housing, an output shaft powered by
the planetary gear systems, the output shaft having a
relatively-low output speed and, conversely, a relatively-high
output torque, and a tool implement externally of the housing and
driven by the output shaft.
36. A tool comprising: a drive means having a motor, a gear system
having a plurality of planetary gears driven by the motor, and a
single ring gear engaging the plurality of planetary gears.
37. The tool of claim 36, wherein the motor is a permanent magnet
motor powered by at least one battery.
38. The tool of claim 37, wherein the tool has a housing containing
therein the motor and the gear system, the at least one battery
being replaceably disposed in the housing.
39. The tool of claim 37, wherein the tool has a handle connected
to the motor and gear system, the at least one battery being
replaceably disposed in the handle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
1. The present invention relates to a lawn and garden tool and,
more particularly to a portable tool having interchangeable
implements which operate at high torque and low speed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
2. Preparation and maintenance of lawns and gardens has great
commercial and homeowner interest. Portable tools for work on lawns
and gardens are largely manually operated. In recent years, the use
of powered tools has increased especially gasoline engine and
electrically powered tools. These tools include lawn edgers,
trimmers, cultivators, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers.
3. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,504 Schneider discloses a rotary,
hand-held apparatus for performing various soil working operations.
The soil working implements selectively include soil engaging
tines, auger, drill, etc. The device may employ manual, electrical,
gas, etc. power sources and cultivating, mulching, weeding, boring,
etc. implements. In one embodiment, an electric drill is secured to
a handle to drive the implements. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,041
Holmstadt et al disclose a power cultivator with a debris-excluding
barrier and scraper, wherein the tillers are counter-rotated and
include interdigitating tines which engage and move the earth
forwardly. Worm gears on the tillers are driven by a common
centrally located shaft mounted worm gears. Rickard et al in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,802,724 and Everts et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,653
disclose a coupling for a split-boom power tool having an
attachment which may include a hedge trimmer, line trimmer, pruner,
blower or extension. The motor directly drives the attachment,
there being no gearing therebetween. Lessig III et al in U.S. Pat.
No. D 252,879, disclose an electric-powered earth tiller.
4. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,848 Roberts discloses a portable
power-driven device for boring holes which has a pinion gear on the
power shaft of the motor and a larger driven gear meshing with the
teeth of the pinion gear. The driven gear is attached to the shaft
of a chuck. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,871 Dieterle et al disclose a
motor-driven screwdriver, wherein a planetary gear carrier carries
a plurality of circumferentially-displaced planet gears meshing
with a pinion driven by the motor of the screwdriver. The
screwdriver does not have a cascade of planet gears.
5. There is a need for a portable power-driven lawn and garden tool
which has interchangeable implements.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
6. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable,
power-driven lawn and garden tool which has interchangeable
implements and the implements are driven at high torque and low
speed.
7. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there
is disclosed a hand-held portable power driven tool for using a
tool implement. A housing encloses a permanent magnet electric
motor. The motor drives a planetary gear system having at least two
sets of gears arranged in cascade to provide a low speed, high
torque output. The output of the gear system drives the tool
implement. The motor is powered by at least one rechargeable
battery pack, the battery pack being replaceably inserted into the
lawn and garden tool.
8. In further accordance with the teachings of the present
invention, there is disclosed a portable, hand-held lawn and garden
tool which has a wand having a first end and an opposite second
end. A handle is connected to the first end and a housing is
connected to the second end. A first set of gears is disposed in
the housing, the first set of gears being a sun gear engaging a
plurality of planetary gears. A plurality of sets of gears similar
to the first set of gears are provided, the sets of gears being
connected in cascade to an output shaft. A plurality of implements
are provided. A selected one of the implements is removably
attached to the output shaft connected to the cascade of sets of
gears, wherein the respective implements are interchangeable. Means
are provided for driving the sets of gears connected to the sets of
gears such that the selected implement is driven at a selected high
torque and a selected low speed dependent upon the arrangement of
the plurality of sets of gears.
9. Also in accordance with the teachings of the present invention,
there is disclosed a portable lawn and garden tool. The tool has a
wand having a first end and an opposite second end. A handle is
connected to the first end. A motor in a housing is attached to the
second end. A source of power is provided for the motor and a
switch is disposed in the handle to control the power to the motor.
A first set of gears is attached to the motor within the housing.
The first set of gears is a sun gear engaging a plurality of
planetary gears. A plurality of sets of gears similar to the first
set of gears is provided, the sets of gears being connected in
cascade. A plurality of implements are provided, a respective one
of the plurality is removably attached to the cascade of sets of
gears. The respective implements are interchangeable. The implement
is driven at a selected high torque and a selected low speed
depending upon the arrangement of the plurality of sets of
gears.
10. Still further in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention, there is disclosed, in a lawn-and-garden tool, the
combination of a housing having a longitudinal axis and further
having respective side portions. Each of the respective side
portions has an opening formed therein generally parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the housing. At least one slide-in
rechargeable battery pack is removably received in each of the
openings in the housing, such that the housing is balanced. A
permanent magnet motor is disposed within the housing and
selectively energized by the battery packs. A plurality of
planetary gear systems are driven by the motor and arranged in
cascade in the housing. An output shaft is powered by the planetary
gear systems, the output shaft having a relatively-low output speed
and, conversely, a relatively-high output torque. A tool implement
is disposed externally of the housing and driven by the output
shaft.
11. In another aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed
a tool having a drive means having a motor. A gear system having a
plurality of planetary gear is driven by the motor. A single ring
gear engages the plurality of planetary gears.
12. These and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in
conjunction with the enclosed drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
13. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tool of the present
invention with one of the interchangeable implements adjacent to
the tool and another of the implements attached to the tool.
14. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the tool with the adapter plate and
output shaft removed.
15. FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away view of the housing showing the
motor and the sets of gears, the gears and a portion of the housing
being in cross section.
16. FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the motor and gear.
17. FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the motor showing the input
gear.
18. FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the internally toothed
annulus.
19. FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the sun gear.
20. FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the sun gear of FIG. 7.
21. FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a planetary gear.
22. FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the planetary gear.
23. FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the output shaft.
24. FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the output housing.
25. FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the output housing.
26. FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the adapter plate.
27. FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the adapter plate.
28. FIG. 16 is a bottom elevation view of the tiller implement.
29. FIGS. 17-19 are a sequence of perspective views showing the
attachment of the implement by a twist and lock system.
30. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the tiller implement being
moved toward the tool.
31. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the pins on the tool
being inserted into the slots in the implement.
32. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the twisting of the
implement with respect to the tool to lock the pins in the
slots.
33. FIG. 20 is a partial cut-away view showing the implement
connected to the output of the tool.
34. FIG. 21 is a view across lines 21--21 of FIG. 20 showing the
battery wells in the housing.
35. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the rechargeable
batteries being inserted into the tool.
36. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the handle portion of the tool
having a replaceable battery pack.
37. FIG. 24 is an electrical diagram showing the connection of the
power source to the motor through a switch.
38. FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the length of the wand
being adjusted.
39. FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment
showing an angled handle having a connector therein to which is
attached an electrical cord to a source of power.
40. FIG. 27 is an alternate embodiment having a D handle attached
to the housing.
41. FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the tool having an internal
combustion engine.
42. FIG. 29 is a side elevation view of an auger-type
implement.
43. FIG. 30 is a side elevation view of a side-by-side tiller
implement.
44. FIG. 31 is a top plan view of the side-by-side tiller
implement.
45. FIG. 32 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of an arm of
the tiller implement.
46. FIG. 33 is an enlarged cross section view taken along the lines
33--33 of FIG. 32.
47. FIG. 34 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of an
arm of the tiller having a cutting blade.
48. FIG. 35 is an enlarged cross section view taken across the
lines 35--35 of FIG. 34.
49. FIG. 36 is an end view of a core drill mounted on the implement
plate.
50. FIG. 37 is a side elevation view of the core drill mounted on
the implement plate.
51. FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a mixer mounted on the
implement plate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
52. The power-driven lawn and garden tool 10 has a wand 12 with a
handle 14 at one end and a housing 16 at the opposite end (FIG. 1).
The housing 16 contains an electric motor 18. The electric motor 18
may be a permanent magnet-type low voltage motor powered by
batteries as will be described or it may be a motor powered by
standard AC current and connected by wire to a standard convenience
outlet. A battery-powered motor which has been found satisfactory
is Model HC683LG manufactured by Johnson which has a nominal speed
of approximately 7000 rpm and an output torque of approximately 20
inch ounces. Other types of electric motors known to persons
skilled in the art may be used. An electric switch 20 is mounted in
the tool 10 to control power to the electric motor 18. Preferably,
the switch 20 is located in the handle 14 convenient to the hand of
the operator of the tool.
53. On the inner wall of the housing 16, there is formed an annular
internal gear 24 (a ring gear) having spaced-apart teeth (FIGS. 2
and 6). Also within the housing 16, there is disposed a plurality
of sets of gears 22 which are connected to the motor 18 (FIGS.
2-5). Each set of gears 22 has a centralized sun gear 26 (FIGS.
7-8) which has teeth to engage cooperating teeth on a plurality of
planetary gears 28 (FIGS. 9-10). The gears are connected with pins
27. The output of the motor 18 preferably is an output gear 30
(FIGS. 2, 4, 5) which drives the first planetary gear 28 in the
first set of gears 22. The sets of gears 22 are connected in a
cascade or stacked manner in such a manner as to significantly
reduce the speed of the sets of gears from the speed of the motor.
The gear ratio, preferably is approximately 120:1 to 160:1 so that
the output of the sets of gears is less than 100 rpm at very high
torque. At a ratio of 120:1, the output torque is in the range of
6-12 foot pounds. In a preferred embodiment, the output torque is
8.88 foot pounds. The output speed is approximately 30-60 rpm with
a preferred speed being approximately 40 rpm. The output speed and
torque is dependent on the speed of the motor and the arrangement
and types of gears used in the sets of gears 22 and may be selected
during manufacture of the tool to provide the desired speed and
torque consistent with the nature and types of implements which
will be used with the tool 10. An advantage of the gear arrangement
and the low speed output is to reduce drain on the batteries and
provide a longer battery life in the embodiment which is powered by
batteries. The output of the set of gears 22 is connected to a
selected implement 32 by means known to persons skilled in the art.
In a preferred embodiment (FIG. 2) the output of the sun gear 26 of
the final set of gears 22 is formed as an elongated bar 34 which is
received in and engages a cooperating slot 34' in an output shaft
31. It is further preferred that the output shaft 31 pass through
an output housing 33 which spaces the selected implement from the
gear set 22 (FIGS. 11-13). The output shaft 31 has an end distal
from the gear set 22 which may be threaded to be received in a
cooperatively threaded nut-like means 35 connected to the adapter
plate 40. It is understood that other means, such as engaging
gears, may be used to transmit force between the gear sets 22 and
the implements 32.
54. A plurality of implements 32 are provided for use as a part of
the tool. The implements 32 are all interchangeably attached to the
housing 16 by a simple easily connected/disconnected means (FIGS.
14-16). A preferred means is a twist and lock type junction in
which projecting pins 38 on the adapter plate 40 attached to the
output of the sets of gears 22 is engaged in slots or recesses 44
in the implement plate 42 (FIGS. 17-19). The drive from the gear
sets is directly engaged with the rotatable center shaft in the
implement as noted above. Other locking means may be used.
55. The implements may be many and of varied types. The following
are typical examples and are not, in any manner, limiting. FIGS.
16-20 show a tiller (aerator) 36 having three angled arms 37 with
pointed tips. The tiller arms 37 may be straight or angled. The
tiller arms may have a flat or sharpened leading edge to be
selected depending upon the nature of the soil, i.e., sandy or
loose (FIGS. 32 and 33) or clay soil, roots, etc. (FIGS. 34 and
35). Also, the tiller may have two arms or four arms. Additional
implements may be an auger 32 which may be used for digging post
holes, aerating and fertilizing (FIGS. 1 and 28), a core drilling
implement 60 for bulb planting (FIGS. 36 and 37), a mixer for
concrete, driveway coating, etc. (FIG. 38) and other implements not
limited to those set forth herein. The tool 10 may also drive two
cooperating implements such as side-by-side tillers 46 (FIGS. 30
and 31). One tiller is driven in a clockwise direction and the
second tiller is driven in a counterclockwise direction. This type
of tiller does not "walk" during use and provides more effective
working of the ground. Thus, the lawn and garden tool of the
present invention is a very versatile tool.
56. As shown in FIGS. 17-19, the implement 32 is easily attached
and removed from the tool 10. A center opening in the implement
plate 42 is aligned with the nut-like means 35 on the adapter plate
40 such that the pins 38 on the adapter plate 40 are oriented with
respect to the recesses 44 in the implement plate 42. Alternately,
the pins 38 may be on the implement plate 42 and the recesses 44
may be in the drive plate. Also, the drive means on the output of
the sets of gears (such as the bar 34) is simultaneously aligned
with the slot in the center shaft of the implement. Preferably, the
pins 38 have an enlarged head and the recesses are in the form of a
slot having an end with an enlarged diameter. The heads of the pins
38 are received in the enlarged diameter of the recesses and the
adapter plate 40 and the implement plate 42 are twisted with
respect to one another such that the heads of the pins 38 are
locked in the more narrow portion of the recesses thereby securing
the implement plate 42 (and also the implement) with the adapter
plate 40 (and also the tool 10). Reversing the procedure removes
the implement 38 from the tool 10.
57. Also, the tool may be made as a single purpose tool with the
implement 32 permanently attached to the output of the gear system.
Thus, a family of tools may be provided, each for a specific
use.
58. The battery-operated embodiment preferably has at least one
replaceable, rechargeable battery 48 removably received in the tool
10 (FIGS. 21, 22 and 23). Preferably, a battery pack is used and in
one embodiment, four battery packs such as "VERSAPAK" Model VP 100
Type 2 made by Black and Decker are slidably received in pockets or
wells 49 formed in the outer surface of the housing 16. In this
embodiment the battery pack may have a positive center post and a
negative annular ring which makes electrical contact with
cooperating positive and negative terminals 49, 50 in the pocket
50. This arrangement assures electrical contact and prevents
incorrect insertion of the battery pack. A means such as a clamp,
detent means or retaining pocket cover is provided to keep the
battery pack in the pocket and in electrical contact during use of
the tool 10. It is understood by persons skilled in the art that
other types of batteries may be used and may be mounted in the tool
in a manner different from the example described above. For
example, a rechargeable battery may be mounted in the tool with an
electrical connection for recharging the battery.
59. For example, FIG. 23 shows a battery pack 48 such as "SKIL
92931" made by S. B. Power Tool which is attached to the handle 14.
The battery pack 48 may have prongs which make electrical contact
with cooperating receptors in the handle 14. An electrical switch
20 may be incorporated in the handle 14. The switch 20 may be load
sensitive to open and remove power from the tool if the current
spikes due to the tool locking up or jamming.
60. FIG. 24 shows a typical electrical wiring diagram. If the
battery is formed from more than one battery pack, the batteries
are connected in series. In a four battery pack, each battery pack
has an output voltage of 3.5V to power the 14V motor. It is
understood that the voltage of the motor may be different from the
example given herein and battery packs having the appropriate
voltage would be used. An electrical switch 20 is to provide the
operator with control over the power to the tool. A typical layout
of the disposition of the battery connections in the tool 10 is
shown in FIG. 21.
61. The tool 10 may be used by a standing, kneeling or seated
operator and, to have a versatile tool which can be used in all of
these postures and also to provide more comfortable use by
operators of differing heights, the wand 12 may be made adjustable
(FIG. 25). A telescoping wand may be provided with adjustable stop
and locking means known to persons skilled in the art. Alternately,
the wand 12 may be made with a shorter length and a separate
embodiment may have a longer length.
62. The tool 10 may be powered by standard commercially available
electrical power such as 115V AC. FIG. 26 shows an angled handle 14
on the first end of the wand 12 with an electrical connector formed
in the angled handle 14. An electrical cord is connected to the
connector in the handle 14 and extends to a convenience outlet for
115V AC power. The electrical cord may also be connected to a
source of power carried as a back pack or waist pack by the
operator. The switch 20 is placed in the handle 14 for ready access
to the hand of the operator. Also, an auxiliary balance handle 54
may be mounted on the wand 12 to assist the operator in two-handed
use of the tool 10. The balance handle 54 may be fixedly or
adjustably mounted on the wand and may include an extension to
assist in torque control.
63. In still another embodiment (FIG. 27), a D-shaped handle 56 may
be formed on the first end of the wand 12 or may be formed on the
housing 16. An auxiliary handle 54 may be included to steady the
tool against rotation while in use. Other handle shapes such as a
pistol type handle may be used.
64. The tool 10 may also be powered by an internal combustion
engine 58 (FIG. 28). The output from the engine 58 is used to drive
the sets of gears 22 in a manner similar to the drive by electrical
motors. A switch is included in the handle to turn off the engine
55.
65. Thus, there is disclosed a compact, portable tool which has
interchangeable implements and is used for lawns and gardens. Due
to low speed, high torque output obtained from the engine gearing
between the power source and the implements, a very efficient tool
is provided.
66. Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing
from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the
scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other
than has been specifically described herein.
* * * * *