Abstract: A rotary device has a releasable tool holder. A spindle with two ends has one end adapted to secure to a rotary device and the other includes a bore to receive a tool. A mechanism to retain and release the tool from the spindle bore is coupled with the spindle adjacent the bore end. At least two unlike retention members to apply a force on the tool in the bore are adjacent the bore. A sleeve surrounds the bore end of the spindle as well as the at least two unlike retention members. The sleeve has a common surface to apply a force on the at least two unlike retention members such that when the sleeve is axially moved along the spindle, the force is varied with respect to the position of the surface on the retention member. This force maintains the tool in the bore or enables the tool to be removed from the bore. A biasing member maintains the sleeve in a retention position on the spindle.

Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, retains the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position the chuck is enabled to be removed from the spindle.

Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, retains the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position the release mechanism enables the chuck to be removed from the spindle.

Abstract: An automatic shaft lock is incorporated into the transmission or drive components of a power driving tool of the type commonly used to tighten or loosen threaded fasteners, for example. The automatic shaft lock operates to prevent an externally-applied rotational back-force or back-torque, such as results from use of the tool to manually tighten or loosen a fastener, from being transmitted all the way through the drive components to the tool's motor or armature shaft. The shaft lock also effectively reduces the amount of back-torque, functioning automatically in either rotational direction, due to being disposed at an intermediate location in the drive train, between an intermediate gear enmeshed for driving rotation with the tool's armature shaft and an output gear enmeshed in a driving relationship with the tool's output shaft.

Abstract: A removable chuck has a chuck member for holding a drill bit. Also, a mechanism is coupled with the chuck body to retain the chuck body to a drill spindle. The retention mechanism, in a first position, retains the chuck on the drill spindle and in a second position the release mechanism enables the chuck to be removed from the spindle.

Abstract: A battery pack 13 comprises an elongated cylindrical, metal casing 35, a plurality of cells 41, 43 in casing 35 and three coaxial pack terminals 46, 54, 61. For enhanced convenience, pack terminals 46, 54, 61 are electrically connectable in a cordless device 11 regardless of the angular orientation of the pack 13 about casing axis 33. To reduce cost and increase durability, pack 13 has no welded connections and will permit high current discharge rates. Cells 41, 43 are electrically connected but are mechanically disconnected. A spring 73 engages cell 41 and biases cells 41, 43 tightly together in compression to form good, low resistance electrical contact between cells 41, 43, casing base cap 45 and top 53. To provide a pack with two output voltages, the third pack terminal 61 has a polarity (relative to first pack terminal 46) the same as second pack terminal 54 and is electrically connected to the cell can terminal 43b of forward cell 43, thereby electrically by-passing cell 43.

Abstract: A battery pack 13 (FIG. 2) comprises an elongated cylindrical, metal casing 35, a plurality of cells 41, 43 in casing 35 and three coaxial pack terminals 46, 54, 61. For enhanced convenience, pack terminals 46, 54, 61 are electrically connectable in a cordless device 11 regardless of the angular orientation of the pack 13 about casing axis 33. To reduce cost and increase durability, pack 13 has no welded connections and will permit high current discharge rates. Cells 41, 43 are electrically connected but are mechanically disconnected. A spring 73 engages cell 41 and biases cells 41, 43 tightly together in compression to form good, low resistance electrical contact between cells 41, 43, casing base cap 45 and top 53. To provide a pack with two output voltages, the third pack terminal 61 has a polarity (relative to first pack terminal 46) the same as second pack terminal 54 and is electrically connected to the cell can terminal 43b of forward cell 43, thereby electrically by-passing cell 43.

Abstract: A battery pack 13 (FIG. 2) comprises an elongated cylindrical, metal casing 35, a plurality of cells 41, 43 in casing 35 and three coaxial pack terminals 46, 54, 61. For enhanced convenience, pack terminals 46, 54, 61 are electrically connectable in a cordless device 11 regardless of the angular orientation of the pack 13 about casing axis 33. To reduce cost and increase durability, pack 13 has no welded connections and will permit high current discharge rates. Cells 41, 43 are electrically connected but are mechanically disconnected. A spring 73 engages cell 41 and biases cells 41, 43 tightly together in compression to form good, low resistance electrical contact between cells 41, 43, casing base cap 45 and top 53. To provide a pack with two output voltages, the third pack terminal 61 has a polarity (relative to first pack terminal 46) the same as second pack terminal 54 and is electrically connected to the cell can terminal 43b of forward cell 43, thereby electrically by-passing cell 43.

Abstract: A hand-held power-operated hedge trimmer for trimming plant growth such as hedges, shrubs, tree branches and the like. The hedge trimmer includes a housing containing a motor assembly, a blade assembly extending forwardly in a lengthwise direction from the housing, and a drive mechanism for coupling a movable cutting blade of the blade assembly to an output of the motor assembly for causing reciprocatory rectilinear movement of the movable cutting blade relative to a stationary combing blade in response to selective actuation of the motor assembly. The cutting blade includes a series of cutter teeth formed along its opposite longitudinal edges with each cutter tooth having a compound tooth profile. The compound tooth profile includes a pair of shear tooth segments formed along opposite lateral edges of the cutter tooth and a saw tooth segment formed at its distal edge between the shear tooth segments.

Abstract: A battery pack 13 (FIG. 2) comprises an elongated cylindrical, metal casing 35, a plurality of cells 41, 43 in casing 35 and three coaxial pack terminals 46, 54, 61. For enhanced convenience, pack terminals 46, 54, 61 are electrically connectable in a cordless device 11 regardless of the angular orientation of the pack 13 about casing axis 33. To reduce cost and increase durability, pack 13 has no welded connections and will permit high current discharge rates. Cells 41, 43 are electrically connected but are mechanically disconnected. A spring 73 engages cell 41 and biases cells 41, 43 tightly together in compression to form good, low resistance electrical contact between cells 41, 43, casing base cap 45 and top 53. To provide a pack with two output voltages, the third pack terminal 61 has a polarity (relative to first pack terminal 46) the same as second pack terminal 54 and is electrically connected to the cell can terminal 43b of forward cell 43, thereby electrically by-passing cell 43.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for forming a power distribution system during a punching operation. A planar member of conductive material is located proximate to the substrate upon which the power distribution system is to be formed. A punch used to form the conductors from the planar member and deposit the conductors on the substrate. The action of the punch causes mechanical interference between the conductor and the substrate thereby securing the conductor to the substrate.

Abstract: A keyless chuck (10; 301) comprises a jaw housing (28; 303) with jaws (32; 333, 335, 337 ) which are slidably mounted in guideways (40; 319, 321, 323) between a rearward opened position and a forward closed position. A jaw thrust member (34; 345) is coupled to the jaws and is slidably mounted in the jaw housing to apply a thrust force to the jaws and to maintain the jaws in the same relative axial location. A nut (42; 355) is fixed to the jaw housing and has a threaded opening (46; 357) coaxial with the chuck axis (A.sub.x). A threaded spindle (48; 305) is engaged in the nut opening and is movable forwardly to apply clamping force to the jaws and rearwardly to remove clamping force. The spindle preferably engages the jaw thrust member through a small area contact patch (72; 401) to limit operating friction.

Abstract: A unitary end bell 66 includes a body 90 and a bridging section 92 and is assembled with a lamination stack 74 in the formation of a stator subassembly 150. End bell 66 is formed with base surfaces 118 at one end thereof which insulate adjacent portions of lamination stack 74 from coil windings 152 and is further formed with wire-retaining shrouds 110 which retain coil windings 152 in a wound configuration. Bridging section 92, which straddles the other end of body 90, is formed with brush channels 120 for supporting brush boxes and a bearing nest 138 for supporting an armature bearing.

Abstract: A unitary end bell 66 includes a body 90 and a bridging section 92, and is assembled with a lamination stack 74 in the formation of a stator subassembly 150. End bell 66 is formed with base surfaces 118 at one end which insulate adjacent portions of lamination stack 74 from coil windings 152, and is further formed with wire-retaining shrouds 110 which retain coil windings 152 in a wound configuration. Bridging section 92, which straddles the other end of body 90, is formed with brush channels 120 for supporting brush boxes and a bearing nest 138 for supporting an armature bearing.Methods of assembling the elements to form stator subassembly 150, and various assembly aids such as shroud support 168 and pallet 212 are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for forming a power distribution system during a punching operation. A planar member of conductive material is located proximate to the substrate upon which the power distribution system is to be formed. A punch used to form the conductors from the planar member and deposit the conductors on the substrate. The action of the punch causes mechanical interference between the conductor and the substrate thereby securing the conductor to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for forming a power distribution system during a punching operation. A planar member of conductive material is located proximate to the substrate upon which the power distribution system is to be formed. A punch used to form the conductors from the planar member and deposit the conductors on the substrate. The action of the punch causes mechanical interference between the conductor and the substrate thereby securing the conductor to the substrate.

Abstract: A unitary end bell 66 includes a body 90 and a bridging section 92 and is assembled with a lamination stack 74 in the formation of a stator subassembly 150. End bell 66 is formed with base surfaces 118 at one end thereof which insulate adjacent portions of lamination stack 74 from coil windings 152, and is further formed with wire-retaining shrouds 110 which retain coil windings 152 in a wound configuration. Bridging section 92, which straddles the other end of body 90, is formed with brush channels 120 for supporting brush boxes and a bearing nest 138 for supporting an armature bearing.Methods of assembling the elements to form stator subassembly 150, and various assembly aids such as shroud support 168 and pallet 212 are added.