Abstract: A redundant actuation lock apparatus includes an interface, an electronic mechanism, and a manual mechanism. The interface manipulates lock bar(s) into a locked/unlocked position. The electronic mechanism includes an actuator and power drive. The actuator is disengageably coupled to and drives the interface. The power drive is coupled to and drives the actuator in response to a control signal. The manual mechanism includes a key input and an output. The key input receives and rotates with a mechanical key. The output disengageably couples to the interface and rotates with the mechanical key. The actuator is engaged with and the output is disengaged from the interface in an electronic mode, while the actuator is disengaged from and the output is engaged with the interface in a manual mode.

Abstract: A redundant actuation lock apparatus includes an interface, an electronic mechanism, and a manual mechanism. The interface manipulates lock bar(s) into a locked/unlocked position. The electronic mechanism includes an actuator and power drive. The actuator is disengageably coupled to and drives the interface. The power drive is coupled to and drives the actuator in response to a control signal. The manual mechanism includes a key input and an output. The key input receives and rotates with a mechanical key. The output disengageably couples to the interface and rotates with the mechanical key. The actuator is engaged with and the output is disengaged from the interface in an electronic mode, while the actuator is disengaged from and the output is engaged with the interface in a manual mode.

Abstract: A multi-mode air compressor pressure switch is disclosed. A first mode of operation of the switch has a first range that includes a first cut-out pressure and a first cut-in pressure. A second mode of operation of the switch has a second range that includes a second cut-out pressure and a second cut-in pressure. The second range is smaller than the first range. The second mode of operation adds compressor output over the first mode of operation to extend operable time of a tool that is connected to a compressor that is controlled by the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: Various battery packs are presented for use with twenty volt (20 V) power tools. In some embodiments, one or more lithium-ion battery cells of the battery packs are received by a handle of the power tool.

Abstract: An improved piston forging for use in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The piston forging comprises a crown, a pair of pin towers extending generally axially away from the crown, and a skirt extending generally axially away from the crown. The improved piston forging further comprises a plurality of grains flowing across the piston forging. The plurality of grains are reoriented during the forging operation into a configuration that follows the surfaces and features of the piston forging. More specifically, the plurality of grains are reoriented in a manner that is most beneficial to resist combustion and inertial forces that are enacted upon a machined piston during operation.

Abstract: A lawn mowing apparatus may include sensors that are fastened to both its mower deck and its chassis. The sensors may sense a position of the mower deck in relation to the chassis. The sensed position of the mower deck may be presented to the operator via a dashboard display of the lawn tractor or transmitted via a wireless signal to another device. Based on such sensed position, an operator of the lawn tractor may manually adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable operating range. In some embodiments, servomotors may used to adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable range.

Abstract: A redundant actuation lock apparatus includes an interface, an electronic mechanism, and a manual mechanism. The interface manipulates lock bar(s) into a locked/unlocked position. The electronic mechanism includes an actuator and power drive. The actuator is disengageably coupled to and drives the interface. The power drive is coupled to and drives the actuator in response to a control signal. The manual mechanism includes a key input and an output. The key input receives and rotates with a mechanical key. The output disengageably couples to the interface and rotates with the mechanical key. The actuator is engaged with and the output is disengaged from the interface in an electronic mode, while the actuator is disengaged from and the output is engaged with the interface in a manual mode.

Abstract: Various battery packs are presented for use with twenty volt (20 V) power tools. In some embodiments, one or more lithium-ion battery cells of the battery packs are received by a handle of the power tool.

Abstract: A multi-mode air compressor pressure switch is disclosed. A first mode of operation of the switch has a first range that includes a first cut-out pressure and a first cut-in pressure. A second mode of operation of the switch has a second range that includes a second cut-out pressure and a second cut-in pressure. The second range is smaller than the first range. The second mode of operation adds compressor output over the first mode of operation to extend operable time of a tool that is connected to a compressor that is controlled by the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: Various embodiments of power tool and method of operating same are described. The power tool may include a first position sensor, a second position sensor, a third position sensor, and a controller. The first, second, and third position sensors may each generate a signal indicative of a distance between the respective position sensor and a workpiece. The controller may determine one or more angles of the power tool with respect to the workpiece based on the first, second, and third signal and present an indication as to whether the one or more angles are within a predetermined range. The controller may further obtain a depth measurement based on the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal and generate, based on the obtained depth measurement, one or more control signals that control operation of the power tool.

Abstract: A lawn mowing apparatus may include sensors that are fastened to both its mower deck and its chassis. The sensors may sense a position of the mower deck in relation to the chassis. The sensed position of the mower deck may be presented to the operator via a dashboard display of the lawn tractor or transmitted via a wireless signal to another device. Based on such sensed position, an operator of the lawn tractor may manually adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable operating range. In some embodiments, servomotors may adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable range.

Abstract: A rechargeable device is disclosed. The rechargeable device may include an enclosure, a rechargeable battery cell, a constellation assembly, and charging circuitry. The enclosure may include a receptacle defining a longitudinal opening into the enclosure. The constellation assembly may include a diaphragm, a puck, and a contact point affixed to the puck and configured to engage an electrode of a charging pad surface. The charging circuitry may be configured to charge the battery cell based on electrical power received from the charging pad surface via the contact point. The receptacle may further permit movement of the puck and the affixed contact point along the longitudinal opening.

Abstract: A redundant actuation lock apparatus includes an interface, an electronic mechanism, and a manual mechanism. The interface manipulates lock bar(s) into a locked/unlocked position. The electronic mechanism includes an actuator and power drive. The actuator is disengageably coupled to and drives the interface. The power drive is coupled to and drives the actuator in response to a control signal. The manual mechanism includes a key input and an output. The key input receives and rotates with a mechanical key. The output disengageably couples to the interface and rotates with the mechanical key. The actuator is engaged with and the output is disengaged from the interface in an electronic mode, while the actuator is disengaged from and the output is engaged with the interface in a manual mode.

Abstract: Various embodiments of power tool and method of operating same are described. The power tool may include a first position sensor, a second position sensor, a third position sensor, and a controller. The first, second, and third position sensors may each generate a signal indicative of a distance between the respective position sensor and a workpiece. The controller may determine one or more angles of the power tool with respect to the workpiece based on the first, second, and third signal and present an indication as to whether the one or more angles are within a predetermined range. The controller may further obtain a depth measurement based on the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal and generate, based on the obtained depth measurement, one or more control signals that control operation of the power tool.

Abstract: A rechargeable device is disclosed. The rechargeable device may include an enclosure, a rechargeable battery cell, a constellation assembly, and charging circuitry. The enclosure may include a receptacle defining a longitudinal opening into the enclosure. The constellation assembly may include a diaphragm, a puck, and a contact point affixed to the puck and configured to engage an electrode of a charging pad surface. The charging circuitry may be configured to charge the battery cell based on electrical power received from the charging pad surface via the contact point. The receptacle may further permit movement of the puck and the affixed contact point along the longitudinal opening.

Abstract: A system and method for charging battery packs is provided. The system may include a charging pad comprising a power supply, a charging pad surface, and a microcontroller unit. The power supply may provide charging power. The charging pad surface may include a first charging region and a second charging region. The microcontroller unit may control delivery of charging power to the first charging region and the second charging region such that a device placed on the first charging region is given a higher charging priority than a device placed on the second charging region.

Abstract: A system and method for charging battery packs is provided. The system may include a charging pad comprising a power supply, a charging pad surface, and a microcontroller unit. The power supply may provide charging power. The charging pad surface may include a first charging region and a second charging region. The microcontroller unit may control delivery of charging power to the first charging region and the second charging region such that a device placed on the first charging region is given a higher charging priority than a device placed on the second charging region.

Abstract: Various embodiments of tools with integrated measurement devices are described. An apparatus may include a tool to be applied to a workpiece, an integrated measurement device in a feed path of the tool, and a controller. The integrated measurement device may generate signals indicative of rotation of a roller in a feed path of a workpiece. The controller may generate, based on the signal, a distance measurement of the workpiece. The distance measurement may indicate a distance between an end of the workpiece and a location of the workpiece to which the tool is to be applied.

Abstract: A rechargeable device is disclosed. The rechargeable device may include an enclosure, a rechargeable battery cell, a constellation assembly, and charging circuitry. The enclosure may include a receptacle defining a longitudinal opening into the enclosure. The constellation assembly may include a diaphragm, a puck, and a contact point affixed to the puck and configured to engage an electrode of a charging pad surface. The charging circuitry may be configured to charge the battery cell based on electrical power received from the charging pad surface via the contact point. The receptacle may further permit movement of the puck and the affixed contact point along the longitudinal opening.

Abstract: A lawn mowing apparatus may include sensors that are fastened to both its mower deck and its chassis. The sensors may sense a position of the mower deck in relation to the chassis. The sensed position of the mower deck may be presented to the operator via a dashboard display of the lawn tractor or transmitted via a wireless signal to another device. Based on such sensed position, an operator of the lawn tractor may manually adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable operating range. In some embodiments, servomotors may used to adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable range.