Importance

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Abstract

A hand held portable blower/vacuum assembly includes a gasoline engine mounted on a blower housing that is interchangeably operable as a blower or vacuum unit and is symmetrically arranged for right or left hand use. A U-shaped carrying handle is secured to an upper housing enclosing the engine by means of a mounting structure that includes anti vibration elements. For eliminating the effect of both gyroscopic and centrifugal forces, the engine is arranged with the piston and crankshaft in horizontal and vertical orientations respectively, while both exhaust and cooling air are discharged from the front of the unit away from an operator so as to provide a balanced unit operable with either the right or left hand. A multi-position throttle located on the backside of the unit removed from the handle is incrementally settable for operating the unit at preselected fixed speeds. The vacuum inlet is located on the underside of the housing and is generally closed by a hinged cover providing only for induction air flow when the unit is used in the blower mode. Included about the vacuum inlet is a connecting flange for attaching a vacuum intake tube when the cover is hingedly moved outward for using the unit in the vacuum mode. A discharge opening on the front side of the unit includes a connecting flange to which either a blower tube and nozzle can be attached for the blower mode or tubing and bag can be attached for the vacuum mode.

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First Claim