Backpack blower

Abstract

A blower including a housing at least partially defining a chamber, a motor including a drive shaft defining a rotational axis, and an impeller drive by the motor to generate an air flow in the chamber. The blower also includes a coupler operably connected between the drive shaft and the impeller to transmit torque therebetween, the coupler being connected to one of the drive shaft and the impeller and including a plurality of ribs configured to engage the other of the drive shaft and the impeller, each rib defining a rib axis transverse to the rotational axis, each rib axis being arranged tangent to a circle centered on the rotational axis.

1 . A blower comprising:
 a housing at least partially defining a chamber;   a motor including a drive shaft defining a rotational axis;   an impeller driven by the motor to generate an air flow in the chamber; and   a coupler operably connected between the drive shaft and the impeller to transmit torque therebetween, the coupler being connected to one of the drive shaft and the impeller and including a plurality of ribs configured to engage the other of the drive shaft and the impeller, each rib defining a rib axis transverse to the rotational axis, each rib axis being arranged tangent to a circle centered on the rotational axis.   
     
     
         2 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the other of the drive shaft and the impeller defines a plurality of slots, each slot being configured to receive an associated rib. 
     
     
         3 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler further includes a central hub and a semi-spherical hood extending from the hub, each rib extending between the hub and the hood. 
     
     
         4 . The blower of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the impeller extends into the hood. 
     
     
         5 . The blower of  claim 4 , wherein the portion of the impeller defines a plurality of slots, each slot being configured to receive an associated rib. 
     
     
         6 . The blower of  claim 4 , wherein the portion of the impeller defines an aperture, and wherein the hub extends into the aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The blower of  claim 3 , wherein the hub defines a threaded aperture connected to the drive shaft.