Blower/mulcher

A blower comprising:

• a passageway defining a passageway axis extending between a first opening and a second opening;
• a fan assembly positioned in the passageway and including
• a first axial fan,
• a first shaft having a first driven gear and coupled to the first axial fan,
• a second axial fan,
• a second shaft having a second driven gear and coupled to the second axial fan;
• a housing coupled to the passageway;
• a motor supported by the housing;
• and
• a transmission coupled to the motor and operably coupled to the first axial fan and the second axial fan, the transmission including
• a transmission shaft extending from the housing to the passageway along a transmission axis, the transmission axis being substantially orthogonal to the passageway axis, the transmission shaft including a drive gear meshing with the first driven gear and the second driven gear, rotating the drive gear causing the first driven gear, the first shaft and the first axial fan to rotate in a first direction about the passageway axis and the second driven gear the second shaft, and the second axial fan to rotate in an opposite, second direction about the passageway axis;
• wherein the fan assembly is rotatable about the transmission axis to displace the first axial fan and the second axial fan one-half revolution.

A method for operating an air-flow generating device, the device including a housing defining a passageway extending along a passageway axis between a first opening and a second opening, a motor supported by the housing, a fan assembly driven by the motor and operable to cause flow through the passageway, the fan assembly including a first axial fan and a second axial fan, a transmission operably coupling the first axial fan and the second axial fan to the motor, the transmission including a transmission shaft rotatable about a transmission axis, the transmission axis being substantially perpendicular to the passageway axis, and an actuator operably coupled to the fan assembly, the method comprising:

• in a first condition, operating the fan assembly by rotating the first axial fan and the second axial fan about the passageway axis to cause flow through the passageway in a first direction from the second opening toward the first opening;
• operating the actuator to adjust the fan assembly to a second condition;
• and
• in the second condition, operating the fan assembly by rotating the first axial fan and the second axial fan about the passageway axis to cause flow through the passageway in a second direction from the first opening toward the second opening.