Abstract: A thermal control valve for use in a lubricant flooded compressor system including a controller that generates a control signal includes a valve body including a hot coolant inlet, a cooled coolant inlet, a mixed coolant outlet, an actuator space, and a cylinder bore. A sleeve is positioned within the cylinder bore and is movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, and an electrical actuator is at least partially disposed within the actuator space and is operable in response to the control signal to move the sleeve between the first position, the second position, and the third position.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a modular approach to a lubrication package. Certain components such as the filter and cooler are directly connected to a block that has connections to accept them and internal porting to establish the proper flow paths for circulation, cooling and filtration of the circulating lubricant. The block can accept one or more coolers and one or more filters. The isolation valving for redundant equipment can also be integrated into the block. Many connections that had been used in past designs for the piping network are integrated into the block. The block can also be close mounted to the reservoir while a submersible pump further saves space and piping connections. Indeed, having the ability to maintain mechanical equipment (e.g.

Abstract: A compressor system including a lubricant inlet compresses a gas and discharges a mixed flow of compressed gas and lubricant. A valve housing includes a hot and a cooled lubricant inlet, and a lubricant outlet. A sleeve is disposed within the valve housing and is movable between a first and a second position. The sleeve defines a mixing chamber and includes a first aperture with the hot lubricant inlet and a second aperture with the cooled lubricant inlet. The hot and cooled lubricant mix in the mixing chamber are directed to the lubricant inlet of the compressor. A thermal element is positioned to sense a temperature and moves the sleeve in response. The movement of the sleeve varies the amount of hot lubricant admitted through the first aperture and varies the amount of cooled lubricant admitted through the second aperture to control a lubricant temperature.

Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a rotary impact tool comprises a motor including a rotor and an input shaft coupled to the rotor for rotation therewith about an input axis, an anvil configured to be rotated about an output axis and including an output shaft, a carrier driven by the input shaft and having a passage extending through a distal end thereof, and a hammer supported and driven by the carrier and configured to impact the anvil to cause the anvil to rotate about the output axis. The anvil may comprise a blade coupled to the output shaft and configured to direct a lubricating fluid through the passage when the anvil or carrier rotates about the output axis.

Abstract: An electric generator includes a housing with a stator positioned thereabout. A rotor (i.e., magnetic member) is positioned within the housing and is adapted to move within the housing in response to a pulsed air input, such as from a pulsed-air exhaust device. The pulsed air input creates a pressure chamber between the pulsed air input and the magnetic member, which forces the magnetic member to axially advance in a first direction through the housing to magnetically interact with the stator to generate electric current therein. A biasing member may be positioned within the housing and in operative communication with the magnetic member. The magnetic member may compress the biasing member in the first direction, but the biasing member may exert a spring-back force against the magnetic member to force the magnetic member in a second direction through the stator to magnetically interact therewith to generate additional electric current therein.

Abstract: A dryer operable to separate a portion of an entrained liquid from a flow of gas includes a pressure vessel to contain the flow of gas and entrained liquid within the pressure vessel. A precooler/reheater is positioned within the pressure vessel to cool the flow of gas and the entrained liquid and an evaporator is positioned within the pressure vessel to cool the flow of gas and the entrained liquid from the precooler/reheater. A separator receives the flow of gas and the entrained liquid from the evaporator and is operable to separate the flow of gas and the entrained liquid into a flow of substantially dry gas and a liquid. The liquid collects in the bottom of the pressure vessel. A drain valve is movable between an open position and a closed position in response to the quantity of liquid within the bottom of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a gas compression system that includes a gas compressor having a drive shaft, an impeller drive shaft magnetically coupled to the drive shaft, and a shroud disposed between the drive shaft and the impeller drive shaft. In other embodiments provided is method that includes magnetically coupling a first drive shaft to a second drive shaft, receiving a rotational torque at the first drive shaft, transmitting the rotational torque from the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft via the magnetic coupling, and rotating a gas compressor impeller coupled to the second drive shaft.

Abstract: A socket for an impact tool includes an input recess configured to receive an anvil of the impact tool and an output recess configured to receive a head of a fastener.

Abstract: A socket for an impact tool includes an input recess configured to receive an anvil of the impact tool and an output recess configured to receive a head of a fastener.

Abstract: A system including a lubrication system, including a block with a first cooler interface, a second cooler interface, and at least one lubrication passage extending through the block, wherein the at least one lubrication passage fluidly couples to the first cooler interface and to the second cooler interface, a first cooler including a first mating cooler interface coupled to the first cooler interface, and a second cooler including a mating second cooler interface coupled to the second cooler interface, and a first valve within the block, wherein the first valve is configured to control a flow of a lubricant through the at least one lubrication passage relative to the first cooler and/or the second cooler.

Abstract: An adjustable air-powered starter motor that provides a plurality of different operational configurations. The air-powered starter motor includes a motor housing assembly that houses at least a portion of a rotary actuator assembly, and which may be connected to a cover assembly. The motor housing may be selectively attached to a mounting structure along first or second sides of the motor housing. Additionally, the motor housing may be attached to the mounting structure at a plurality of different angular orientations. The motor housing further includes an air inlet having first and second air inlet ports that are positioned on opposite sides of the motor housing, and an air outlet port that is positioned along a lateral axis that is generally parallel to, and offset from, a lateral axis of the inlet port. A mounting pin may align and interconnect the motor housing and rotary actuator assembly at each operational configuration.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of impact tools having pressure verification and/or adjustment systems are disclosed. According to at least one illustrative embodiment, an impact tool may comprise a housing, an impact mechanism supported in the housing, a motor supported in the housing, and a pressure probe coupled to the housing. The impact mechanism may be configured to drive rotation of an output shaft about a first axis, the motor may be configured to drive the impact mechanism when energized, and the pressure probe may be configured to couple to a valve of a motor vehicle tire to measure an air pressure of the motor vehicle tire.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of sheet cutting shears are disclosed. A sheet cutting shears may include a tool body and a cutting head. The tool body may include a drive housing and a handle coupled to the drive housing. The handle may be inclined toward the cutting head so that at least a portion of the drive housing located between the handle and the cutting head is within a footprint of the handle when viewed from above. A handle axis and a housing axis may form an acute angle located at least in part between a front side of the handle and a top side of the drive housing. The sheet cutting sheers may further include a trigger configured to move between an off position and an on position, the trigger being spaced apart from the drive housing.

Abstract: A golf cart vehicle is disclosed having a suspension that includes a single suspension device that provides for a plurality of functions. In one embodiment the single suspension device includes a plurality of transverse mounted leaf springs that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another to provide a spring and control arm combined effect. The leaf springs can be coupled to a wheel, such as through a steering knuckle via a ball and socket joint. The leaf springs can further be mounted to a chassis via clamps. In one embodiment the clamps are connected to the leaf springs through resilient bushings which can be spaced apart from one another to provide an anti-roll bar effect.

Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a centrifugal compressor diffuser that includes an elliptical plate including multiple vane receptacles disposed about an axis of the plate and multiple detachable vanes attached to the plate. Each vane receptacle includes a first two dimensional (2D) projection along a plane of the elliptical plate and each detachable vane includes a second two dimensional (2D) projection along a base portion of the vane, where each detachable vane is disposed in a respective vane receptacle with the first and second 2D projections blocking movement of the detachable vane in at least a first axial direction relative to the elliptical plate. In certain embodiments, the first and second 2D projections may include a first tab to fit in a recess between a pair of second tabs, respectively, or vice versa. However, in other embodiments, the first and second 2D projections may include alternative mating surfaces.

Abstract: The volute is cast integrally with the gearbox base to allow closer radial tolerances to be used to improve efficiency. In the preferred embodiment, compressors for multi-stage compression are assembled with intercoolers and the integral volute is cast together with the impeller housing and the lower gearbox housing and the associated intercooler. Efficiency increases of 2% or more are achievable. In multistage applications, efficiency gains in the early stages are compounded in each subsequent stage. Speed changes that change center distance between bull gear and pinion are accommodated by an offset opening in the inlet and diffuser that can line up with the impeller shaft as well as an offset opening in the fluid seal despite a pinion gear change, by reorientation and remounting of those parts.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a system that includes a gas compressor including an engine, a compressor driven by the engine, and a vapor absorption cycle (VAC) system driven by waste heat from the compressor, wherein the VAC system is configured to cool at least one medium. In other embodiments is provided a method that includes generating waste heat while compressing a gas, driving a vapor absorption cycle (VAC) system with the waste heat, and cooling at least one medium via the VAC system.

Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a grinding tool may comprise a housing including a mount, a shaft extending from the mount along a drive axis, where the shaft is configured to support a grinding wheel for rotation about the drive axis, and a guard coupled to the mount. The guard may comprise a central ring extending around the mount, a shroud extending radially outward from the central ring along a first portion of a circumference of the central ring, and a standoff coupled to a second portion of the circumference of the central ring. The standoff may extend from the central ring along a direction substantially parallel to the drive axis such that the standoff limits rotation of the guard about a tipping axis that is substantially perpendicular to the drive axis.