Patent Publication Number: US-2010126029-A1

Title: Reconfigurable portable powered tool and method of reconfiguring such a tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to portable, powered tools and, more particularly, to tools having a working component driven by a shaft. 
     2. Background Art 
     Portable, powered tools are used in many different industries and for many different applications by both professionals and non-professionals. Many different types of such tools are utilized in the landscaping industry. In this industry, the working component may be: a rotary, flexible line trimmer; a cutter utilizing an endless moving chain; a cutter with relatively movable blades, etc. 
     In the landscaping industry, these types of tools are commonly made with elongate housings which permit an extended reach and controlled placement of the working component at an operating site. For example, working components that utilize reciprocating cutting blades to trim hedges, and the like, are often made with elongate housings to allow cutting at relatively high elevations with the user remaining safely on the ground. This obviates the need for lifts and ladders upon which a user might be precariously situated. 
     Tools such as this are commonly made with an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end, with the working component located at the latter. The user lifts and repositions the tool by controllably manipulating the proximal end of the housing. A drive, also at the proximal end of the housing, transmits an operating force to the working component through a shaft within the housing. 
     In designing tools of this type, one contends with a number of often competing objectives. First of all, it is desirable to extend the reach of the tool as much as possible without compromising the strength of the tool or making it difficult to control for a user. At the same time, consideration must be given to making the tool with a configuration that is practical for transportation from site to site, as may be carried out by a landscaping crew multiple times in any given day. It is known to make the housings extendable in nature, whereby the overall length can be extended on a job and reduced for transportation. This is commonly accomplished by providing telescoping housing and shaft lengths. 
     Even if the above type of structure is used to compact the tool for storage and transportation, it inherently has a long profile that is even more significant in the event that a working component itself has a significant length. For example, hedge trimmers utilizing reciprocating blades often have a lengthwise extent that may be on the order of one foot or greater. With the housing reconfigured for storage and transportation, the working component projects significantly beyond the length thereof. 
     Aside from the fact that the working component adds length, it also is prone to being damaged since it remains fully exposed with the unit in a storage/transportation configuration. This is particularly a problem in the landscaping environment wherein the tool may be placed in an unprotected state in a truck or upon a trailer where it may be intermixed with other equipment or materials. 
     Another problem with this type of tool is that it is normally configured to be operated primarily in a single orientation. That is, gripping components and handles are generally arranged to be held in a particular fashion in which the unit has the same orientation. Often, field conditions will require that a user reorient the working component, potentially into positions that were not contemplated by its design. Thus, a user may be required to improvise and potentially awkwardly support the tool during all or part of a particular operation. Extended use of a tool in an unintended orientation may cause user fatigue, and in a worst case an injury. 
     Alternatively, some tools of this type are made with handles and gripping components that can be unbolted and repositioned relative to the frame. However, this generally is difficult and time consuming enough that it will not be carried out by a user on a work site. Additionally, this operation generally requires specific tools which may not be kept on hand. 
     The industry continues to seek out designs that overcome the above problems and address the above objectives. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one form, a portable powered tool has a frame, a working component on the frame for performing an operation, a drive on the frame for operating the working component, a shaft having a first output portion that is driven by the drive around a first axis to thereby cause operation of the working component, and a transmission assembly operatively connected to the first output portion of the shaft to transmit a drive force from the first output portion to the working component to thereby cause operation of the working component. 
     In one form, the transmission assembly has a second output portion that is driven around a second axis by the drive through the first output portion. 
     In one form, the transmission assembly is configured to allow an angular relationship between the first and second axes to be selectively varied. 
     In one form, the transmission assembly has first and second housing parts that are movable guidingly relative to each other around a third axis to thereby change the angular relationship between the first and second axes. The first housing part has a first connection that attaches to the frame. The second housing part is operatively connected to the working component. 
     In one form, the transmission assembly has a shaft element that connects to the first and second housing parts and at least one of the first and second housing parts is guided by the shaft element around the third axis relative to the other of the first and second housing parts to thereby change the angular relationship between the first and second axes. 
     In one form, the second housing part has a second connector that attaches to the working component. 
     In one form, at least one of: a) the first connector is movable around the first axis relative to the frame to thereby change an angular orientation of the transmission assembly relative to the frame; and b) the second connector is movable around the second axis relative to the working component to thereby change an angular orientation of the transmission assembly relative to the working component. 
     In one form, at least one of: a) the first connector can be fixed relative to the frame with the transmission assembly in different angular orientations relative to the frame; and b) the second connector can be fixed relative to the working component with the transmission assembly in different angular orientations relative to the working component. 
     In one form, the transmission assembly has a two-sided center gear that is guided by the shaft element in movement around the third axis. The center gear transmits a drive force from the first output portion to the second output portion. 
     In one form, the two-sided center gear has a first gear and the first output portion has a first bevel gear that is in mesh with the first gear. 
     In one form, the two-sided center gear has a second gear and the working component has a second bevel gear that is in mesh with the second gear on the center gear at the second output portion of the transmission assembly. 
     In one form, the transmission assembly is a self-contained unit that can be separated from each of the working component and the frame. 
     In one form, the tool further has a locking assembly with a first locking component on the first housing part and a second locking component on the second housing part. The first and second locking components are configured to allow the first and second housing parts to be releasably maintained in a plurality of different relative portions corresponding to different angular relationships between the first and second axes. 
     In one form, one of the first and second locking components is in the form of a pin and the other of the first and second locking component consists of at least one member with a plurality of apertures to receive the pin with the first and second housing parts in different relative positions. 
     In one form, there are components cooperating between at least one of: a) the first connector and frame; and b) the second connector and working component to allow selection of a predetermined angular orientation between the at least one of: a) the first connector and frame; and b) the second connector and working component. 
     In one form, there is a clamp mechanism for releasably maintaining a predetermined angular orientation between the at least one of: a) the first connector and frame; and b) the second connector and working component. 
     In one form, the frame is in the form of a tubular element with an elongate shape having a length extending along the first axis. The shaft resides within the tubular element. 
     In one form, the working component is one of: a) a flexible line trimmer; b) a cutter with a cutting chain that moves in an endless path; and c) a cutter with at least one movable cutting blade. 
     The invention is further directed to a method of reconfiguring a portable powered tool including the steps of: a) providing a portable powered tool having: i) a frame; ii) a working component on the frame for performing an operation; iii) a drive on the frame for operating the working component; and iv) a shaft having an output portion that is driven by the drive around a first axis to thereby drive an input portion on the working component around a second axis to thereby cause operation of the working component; b) providing a transmission assembly with an input portion that is movable around one axis and an output portion that is caused by movement of the input portion of the transmission assembly around the one axis to move around another axis, the another axis having an angular relationship with the one axis that can be changed by reconfiguring the transmission assembly; c) separating the working component from the frame; and d) operatively connecting the transmission assembly to the working component and frame so that: i) the output portion on the frame is operatively engaged with the input portion of the transmission assembly; and ii) the output portion of the transmission assembly is operatively engaged with the input portion of the working component so that a force from the drive is transmitted through the transmission assembly to the working component for operation thereof. 
     In one form, the step of operatively connecting the transmission involves relatively moving the transmission assembly and frame along the first axis to thereby operatively engage the output portion on the frame with the input portion on the transmission assembly. 
     The method may include the step of relatively repositioning the working component and transmission assembly around the another axis. 
     The method may further include the step of selectively fixing the angular relationship of the one and another axes in any of a plurality of different angular relationships. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a portable powered tool, of a type into which the present invention can be incorporated; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a portable powered tool, as in  FIG. 1 , and incorporating a transmission assembly, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, perspective view of one specific, exemplary form of portable powered tool, corresponding to that shown schematically in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, partially schematic, cross-sectional view of the transmission assembly in  FIG. 3 , in relationship to a portion of a frame and a working component, attached to separate housing parts thereon; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken away, perspective view of the working component on the tool in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the transmission assembly, showing portions of the components to which it connects, from the same perspective as in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged, perspective view of the inventive transmission assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the transmission assembly showing a locking assembly for housing parts thereon; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially schematic representation of a portion of the locking assembly in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of the inventive tool with the working component thereon in two different orientations relative to the frame, one of which represents a stored state; 
         FIG. 11  is an end view of the working component on the inventive tool in different orientations relative to the housing part upon which it is mounted; 
         FIG. 12  is a view as in  FIG. 10  wherein the working component is placed in a stored state that is an alternative to that shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic representation of a clamp arrangement for locking housing parts relative to each other as an alternative to the locking assembly structure shown in  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic representation of a method of reconfiguring a portable power tool, according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In  FIG. 1 , a schematic representation of a conventional, portable powered tool, into which the present invention can be incorporated, as shown at  10 . The tool  10  consists of a frame  12  upon which a working component  14  is provided for performing an operation. A drive  16  is provided on the frame  12  for operating the working component  14  through a shaft  18 . An exemplary form of the tool  10  is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,282. With this configuration, the working component  14  has a fixed relationship to the frame  12 . Consequently, the design is such that it is contemplated the user will support and operate the tool in a predetermined orientation. At the same time, the fixed configuration for the tool does not permit it to be compacted appreciably for transportation and storage. 
     A schematic representation of a portable powered tool, according to the present invention, is shown in  FIG. 2  at  20 . The tool  20  has an arrangement of components that is similar to that for the tool  10  in  FIG. 1 . That is, the tool  20  has a frame  22  upon which a working component  24  is provided for performing an operation. A drive  26  is provided on the frame  22  for operating the working component  24 . The drive  26  cooperates with a shaft  28  that has an output portion  30  that is driven by the drive  26  around a first axis, to thereby cause operation of the working component  24 . 
     A transmission assembly  34  is operatively connected to the output portion  30  of the shaft  28  to transmit a drive force from the output portion  30  to an input portion  36  on the working component  24 , to thereby cause operation of the working component  24 . The transmission assembly  34  has an output portion  38  that is driven around a second axis by the drive  26 . To effect this force transmission, the output portion  30  on the shaft  28  drives an input portion  40  on the transmission assembly  34 . The input portion  40  on the transmission assembly  34  is driven around the first axis, around which the output portion  30  is likewise driven. Similarly, the input portion  36  on the working component  24  is driven around the same second axis as is the output portion  38  on the transmission assembly  34 . The transmission assembly  34  is configured to allow an angular relationship between the first and second axes to be selectively varied. 
     The components in  FIG. 2  are shown in schematic form since the invention contemplates virtually an unlimited number of different configurations for each such component. For example, the frame  22  may be an element with a straight, elongate shape, or may be otherwise configured over part or all of its extent. For example it might be curved, angled, etc., over part or all of its lengthwise extent. 
     The working component  24  may be any type of device that performs an operation on an object against which it is placed. As examples, the working component may be one that incorporates: a) a rotary, flexible trimmer line, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,336; b) an endless cutting chain, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,282; or c) a trimmer with at least one moving/reciprocating cutting blade, as shown in U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. 2007/0169599 A1. The disclosure in each of these patent documents is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The drive  26  may be operated by one of: a) a combustible fuel; b) a battery; or c) electrical current from a separately generated supply, such as a household supply that may be connected as through a power cord. 
     The frame  22  and shaft  28  may have fixed lengths. Alternatively, the frame  22  and shaft  28  may each be made from multiple components that are telescoped, or otherwise moved relative to each other, to effect length adjustment. 
     One specific form of the tool  20  will be described hereinbelow with respect to  FIGS. 3-12 , with it being understood that this form is but exemplary in nature only. The frame  22  on the tool  20  is made from a hollow, tubular element  42 , that is substantially straight between proximal and distal ends  44 ,  46 , respectively, of the frame  22 . 
     The drive  26  is provided at the proximal end  44  of the frame  22 . In this embodiment, the drive  26  is shown in the form of a two cycle engine. A cushioned grip  48  is also provided at the proximal end  44  of the frame  22  and can be grasped in a manner whereby a user&#39;s finger upon the grasping hand can reposition a throttle lever  50  to change the speed of operation for the drive  26 . 
     The shaft  28  extends within a hollow passageway  52  bounded by the tubular element  42 . One shaft end (not shown) is coupled to the drive  26  to be turned thereby around the aforementioned first axis  54 . The output portion  30  of the shaft  28  has a splined configuration and projects to beyond the distal end  46  of the frame  22 . 
     The working component  24  is shown as a trimmer with reciprocating blades  56 ,  58 . The blades  56 ,  58  project from a housing  60  which contains drive components  62  that convert rotational movement of the input portion  36  around the aforementioned second axis  64  to a reciprocating action for the blades  56 ,  58  that cooperate to produce a scissors-like cutting action. The details of the mechanism for, and operation of, the working component  24  are set forth in U.S. Patent Publication 2008/0066325A1, which is incorporated herein by reference. The mechanical and operational details are not critical to the present invention and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted. It suffices to say that the input portion  36  on the working component  24  has a polygonally-shaped receptacle  66  that can be engaged with a complementarily-shaped shaft  68  that is part of the output portion  38  of the transmission assembly  34 , as described in detail hereinbelow. 
     The transmission assembly  34  has first and second housing parts  70 , 72  that are movable guidingly relative to each other. A shaft element  74  maintains the first and second housing parts  70 ,  72  together. More specifically, the shaft element  74  projects through aligned bores  76 ,  78  in the first and second housing parts  70 ,  72 , respectively. An enlarged head  80  thereon nests flushly in a receptacle  82  in the second housing part  72  with the shaft element  74  fully extended into place. The opposite shaft element end  84  is threaded to accept a securing nut  86 . A locking pin  87  extends through the nut  86  and shaft element  74 , to prevent inadvertent turning of the nut  86  as might cause loosening thereof in use. 
     The first housing part  70  has an annular, projecting rim  88  that is concentric with the shaft element  74  and defines a receptacle  90  for the shaft element end  84  and nut  86  thereon. The rim  88  defines a protective shield around the shaft element end  84  and nut  86  to prevent hanging up of the shaft element end  84  and nut  86  upon foliage, or other objects, in use or when the tool  20  is stored. 
     Each of the housing parts  70 ,  72  has a similar overall construction. The first housing part  70  has a cup-shaped portion  92  extending around the axis  94  of the shaft element  74 . A generally cylindrical connector  96  projects from the cup-shaped portion  92  orthogonally to the axis  94 . The housing part  72  has a corresponding cup-shaped portion  98  and a connector  100 . 
     Annular rims  102 ,  104  on the first and second housing parts  70 ,  72 , respectively, are joined, one within the other. A sealing component  106  is located between the rims  102 ,  104  to prevent ingress of foreign matter into a gear chamber  108 , bounded by the cup-shaped portions  92 ,  98 , and to confine a lubricant therewithin. With this arrangement, the first and second housing parts  70 ,  72  are guided for movement relative to each other around the axis  94  by the shaft element  74  and the interacting rims  102 ,  104 . 
     The first housing part  70  contains the input portion  40  for the transmission assembly  34 , with the second housing part  72  containing the output portion  38  for the transmission assembly  34 . 
     The input portion  40  consists of a bevel gear  110  with a splined receptacle  112  for the complementarily-splined output portion  30  on the shaft  28 . The bevel gear  110  is mounted for guided rotation around the axis  54  by a pair of bearings  114 ,  116 . 
     To operatively connect the frame  22  to the transmission assembly  34 , the connector  96  and frame  22  are coaxially aligned in spaced relationship, as shown in  FIG. 4 , with the output portion  30  at the entry to a receptacle  118  defined by the connector  96 . By then moving the first housing part  70  and frame  22  axially towards each other, the splined output portion  30  makes a keyed connection with the bevel gear  110  within the receptacle  112 . At the same time, the end  120  of the tubular element  42  is extended into, and fits closely within, the receptacle  118 . Through a conventional clamping arrangement at  122 , built into the connector  96 , the connector  96  is fixed relative to the frame  22 . More specifically, the clamping arrangement  122  is defined by producing a slot  124  in a connector wall  126 . By tightening a bolt  128 , portions  130 ,  132  of the wall  126 , on opposite sides of the slot  124 , are drawn closer to each other to thereby effectively reduce the diameter of the receptacle  118 . 
     It may be desired to establish and maintain a predetermined angular relationship between the frame  22  and transmission assembly  34 . For that purpose, a fastener/bolt  134  may be extended through registrable bores  136 ,  138  in the connector  96  and frame  22 , respectively. 
     The output portion  38  of the transmission assembly  34  consists of a bevel gear  140  with a construction similar to the bevel gear  110 . The bevel gear  140  is fixed to the shaft  68  for rotation therewith around the axis  64 . The bevel gear  140  is guided in rotation by a pair of bearings  142 ,  144  on the housing part  72 . 
     An adapter  146  resides within a receptacle  148  bounded by the connector  100 . The adapter  146  is closely received within the receptacle  148  for guided movement around the axis  64  relative to the housing part  72 . 
     The adapter  146  has a portion  150  that projects axially from the connector  100 . The extending portion  150  can be directed into a sleeve  152  on the housing  60  on the working component  24 . With the extending portion  150  fully seated, the shaft  68  makes a keyed connection within the receptacle  66  of the input portion  36 , whereby the shaft  68  and input portion  36  rotate together around the axis  64 . The sleeve  152  can be releasably fixed to the extending portion  150  through a clamping arrangement  154  that is similar to the aforementioned clamping arrangement  122 . 
     The working component  24  and transmission assembly  34  can be selectively assembled and separated by effecting relative movement in an axial direction towards and away from each other. That is, to effect assembly of the separated working component  24  and transmission assembly  34 , the shaft end  156  can be aligned at the entry to a receptacle  158 , bounded by the sleeve  152 , to be coaxial with the input portion  36 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . By thereafter moving the working component  24  and transmission assembly  34  axially towards each other, the shaft  68  can be directed into the receptacle  66 , whereupon the clamping arrangement  154  can be tightened. 
     To maintain a predictable and predetermined angular relationship between the adapter  146  and working component  24 , a fastener/pin/bolt  160  can be directed radially through registrable bores  162 , 164 , respectively in the sleeve  152  and adapter  146 . 
     For reasons that will be explained further below, the adapter  146 , and the working component  24  attached thereto, may be angularly reoriented relative to the connector  100  around the axis  64  and maintained in any of a plurality of different, selected, angular relationships. To accomplish this, a release pin assembly  166  is provided, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The release pin assembly  166  consists of a pin  168  that can be extended and retracted radially in the direction of the double-headed arrow  170 , as through manipulation of a head  172  thereon. The pin  168  may be normally spring loaded to an extended position, wherein it projects through a bore  174  in the connector  100  and into any of a plurality of angularly spaced, registrable bores  176  (see also  FIG. 4 ) through a wall  178  on the adapter  146 . The pin  168  is biased through a spring arrangement  180  radially inwardly to the solid line position in  FIG. 9 . The head  172  can be manipulated to draw the pin  168  radially outwardly against a force produced by the spring arrangement  180 , to the dotted line position in  FIG. 9 , to thereby allow the working component  24 /adapter  146  to be turned relative to the connector  100  around the axis  64  until a desired angular relationship is achieved, whereupon the pin  168  is released to be radially extended into one of the bores  176  aligned therewith. 
     A clamp arrangement  181  may be provided on the connector  100  to fix the angular relationship between the connector  100  and adapter  146 , in place of, or in conjunction with, the fastener/pin  160 . 
     Drive forces are transmitted between the input portion  40  and output portion  38  on the transmission assembly  34  through a two-sided center gear  182 , that is guided by the shaft element  74  for movement around the axis  94 . A plurality of needle bearings  184  act between the shaft element  74  and center gear  182  to guide movement of the center gear  182  around the shaft element  74  and axis  94 . 
     One gear  186  on the center gear  182  is in mesh with the bevel gear  110 , with the other gear  188  in mesh with the bevel gear  140 . The gears  186 ,  186  may be identical, whereby the rotational speed of both bevel gears  110 ,  140  is the same. This, however, is not a requirement. 
     With the tool  20  assembled, the axes  54 ,  64  reside in substantially parallel planes. This, while a preferred arrangement, is not required. By relatively turning the housing parts  70 ,  72  around the axis  94 , the angular relationship between the axis  54  for the frame  22  and axis  64  for the working component  24  can be selectively varied. The configuration shown allows repositioning of the working component  24  through a 360° range around the axes  54 ,  64 ,  94 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the working component  24  may be repositioned around the axis  94  between one extended operating position, as shown in dotted lines at A in that Figure, and one stored position, as shown in solid lines at B. The working component  24  may be repositioned to any location between the A and B positions. 
     To maintain different angular relationships between the frame  22  and working component  24  around the axis  94 , a locking assembly is provided at  190 . The locking assembly  190  consists of cooperating components, one of which is on the housing part  72  in the form of a plate  192 , with a rim  194  extending fully around the axis  94 . The rim  194  has a series of circumferentially spaced apertures  196 , spaced around the axis  94  at a constant diameter. The apertures  196  are selectively registrable with an aperture  198  through a tab  200  on the first housing part  70 . The other of the cooperating components on the locking assembly  190  consists of a pin  202  that is extendible through the aligned apertures  196 ,  198  to releasably maintain a desired angular relationship between the working component  24  and frame  22 . 
     The pin  202  may have any conventional construction that lends itself to being extended into, and retracted from, the aligned apertures  196 ,  198  while at the same time positively remaining in place without fear of inadvertent repositioning. The pin  202  may have a spring-loaded construction, as for the pin  168 , previously described. Alternatively, the pin  202  may have a separate fastening element  204 . In the depicted embodiment, the pin  202  has a ring  206  that can be conveniently grasped to hold and manipulate the pin  202 . 
     By reason of having the ability to angularly reorient the working component  24  relative to both the first housing part  70  and the second housing part  72 ; and the first and second housing parts  70 ,  72  relative to each other, a plurality of different tool configurations are made possible. Aside from the potentially 360° of relative movement between the housing parts  70 ,  72 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , the working component  24  can likewise be turned potentially through  360 ° relative to the second housing part  72 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . As an example, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the working component  24  may be turned around the axis  64  to the solid line position, or 90° therefrom as shown in dotted lines at A, and in positions therebetween, as shown for the exemplary position in dotted lines at B. This same angular reorientation may be accomplished by turning the transmission assembly  34  around the axis  54 . 
     This feature permits reconfiguration to a stored state different than that shown in  FIG. 10 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the working component  24  may be turned 180°, from the B position in  FIG. 10 , to be folded against the frame  22  to a stored position as shown at B 1  in  FIG. 12 . Stored states, with the working component between the B and B′ positions are also contemplated. 
     The transmission assembly  34  is designed as a self-contained unit that can be separated from each of the working component  24  and the frame  22 . By providing seals  208  at the bevel gears  110 ,  140 , the housing parts  70 ,  72  define a sealed gear box. Lubricant can be introduced into, and replenished in, the sealed chamber  108 , as through conventional lubrication fittings  210 . This construction permits retrofitting of a fixed configuration tool with the transmission assembly  34  to allow incorporation of the adjusting features that make the resulting tool  22  more versatile and at the same time compactable conveniently to any of a number of different stored states. 
     More particularly, the invention is further directed to a method of reconfiguring a portable powered tool, as shown in flow diagram form in  FIG. 13 . 
     As shown at block  212 , a portable powered tool is provided consisting of: a) a frame; b) a working component on the frame for performing an operation; c) a drive on the frame for operating the working component; and d) a shaft having an output portion that is driven by the drive around a first axis to thereby drive an input portion on the working component around a first axis, thereby to cause operation of the working component. 
     As shown at block  214 , a transmission assembly is provided with an input portion that is movable around one axis and an output portion that is caused by movement of the input portion of the transmission assembly around the one axis to move around another axis. The another axis has an angular relationship with the one axis that can be changed by reconfiguring the transmission assembly. 
     As shown at block  216 , the working component is separated from the shaft. 
     As shown at block  218 , the transmission assembly is operatively connected to the working component and frame so that: a) the output portion on the frame is operatively engaged with the input portion of the transmission assembly; and b) the output portion of the transmission assembly is operatively engaged with the input portion on the working component so that a drive force from the drive is transmitted through the transmission assembly to the working component, for operation thereof. 
     As noted previously, many variations from the structure, described above, are contemplated. As one example, while each of the housing parts  70 ,  72  is movable relative to the shaft element  74  around the axis  94 , it is possible that one of the housing parts  70 ,  72  may be fixed relative to the shaft element  74 . 
     As an alternative to using the cooperating pin  202  and plate  192 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , a clamp arrangement  220 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , having any conventional design, may be used to releasably maintain the first and second housing parts  70 ,  72  in different, selected, angular relationships. 
     Similarly, the connection between the first housing part  70  and frame  22 , and that between the working component  24  and second housing part  72 , may be such as to be maintainable in any angular relationship with any type of structure utilizing clamps or other repositionable elements. Clamping arrangements permit a universal adjusting capability. 
     The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.