Abstract: A speaker can have a main body with a generally spheroidal shape, which can be supported standing on its end. The speaker can include a subwoofer that faces forward. A plurality of mid-range drivers can be distributed around the sub-woofer, facing generally forward and radially outward. A plurality of tweeters can be distributed around the sub-woofer, facing generally forward and generally outward. The outer housing portion of the speaker can be covered with a fabric material. A user interface ring 162 can be touch sensitive to receive input, and can have a plurality of lights that can be illuminated separately to convey information to the user.

Abstract: A reciprocating apparatus for high torque transfer to a fitting, including tightening or loosening, having two coaxially synchronized engageable drive members provided with a sector geared radial flange engageable with an engageable rotatable drive gear, one internally supported split ratchet gear and drive socket maintained in contact with a spring biased ratchet pawl, together simultaneously rotatable in a first driving direction and independently disengageable in a second direction for reciprocative advancement of a ratchet geared socket in driving engagement with a fitting.

Abstract: Apparatus are disclosed for coupling integrated segments of an assemblage. The coupler apparatus includes a carrier connectable to one segment and slidably receiving another segment and has an elongate slot defined at one wall portion of a cavity therein. A restraint includes a conic wedge receivable in the carrier and has an actuator arm angularly extending from the wedge that is receivable through the elongate slot of the carrier.

Abstract: Apparatus are disclosed for coupling integrated segments of an assemblage. The coupler apparatus includes a carrier connectable to one segment and slidably receiving another segment and has an elongate slot defined at one wall portion of a cavity therein. A restraint includes a conic wedge receivable in the carrier and has an actuator arm angularly extending from the wedge that is receivable through the elongate slot of the carrier.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use of synchronized plural epicyclical transmissions to stabilize and to drive an output gear of a machine capable of bending tubing, conduit, and pipe requiring high torque, as well as swaging, cutting, and threading. One embodiment of the apparatus includes multiple transmissions encircling and engaged with a centrally mounted motor. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes multiple transmissions, each engaged with a mounted motor. Transmissions can be equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of an output gear.

Abstract: Adaptations, apparatus and methods are disclosed for associating various utility tools with a nut driving tool. The adaptation of includes a receiver connectable to one side of the nut driving tool adjacent to a socket driver. A utility tool mounting body includes a base portion releasably engageable with the receiver and a station portion on the base portion releasably engageable with the selected utility tool. The utility tool of this invention includes a head having a mounting interface, the station portion releasably engageable with the mounting interface of the utility tool head. In one embodiment, the utility tool is reaction unit for engaging a nut or a fitting body. In other embodiments, utility tools for tube cutting, sawing, and/or bending, and/or grasping of adjacent fitting types or fitting sizes are provided.

Abstract: A drive is disclosed that is useful with a variety of apparatus for either multiplying torque or increasing rotational speed. The drive includes a supported inner shaft having a sun gear at one end, the inner shaft receivable through a hollow outer coaxial shaft having an engageable transmittance (a spur gear, for example) intermediate first and second opposite ends thereof. A planetary gear set platform is located at one end of the outer shaft, planet gears rotatably mounted thereabout in engagement with the sun gear received through the platform for rotation in a stationary ring gear. A right angle translate gear is affixed to the inner shaft adjacent an end thereof opposite the sun gear, a rotational source engagable at one of the translate gear and the transmittance and a utility output engagable at the other.

Abstract: Interchangeable tubing manipulating appliances for use with nut driving tools are disclosed for tubing manipulation, cutting, bending and the like. The appliances include tubing locating and stabilizing structure and securement for aligning and stabilizing the locating and stabilizing structure at one side of the driving tool adjacent to its nut driving head. A rotatable member is engagable at the nut driving head for selective rotation thereof relative to the tubing locating and stabilizing structure. The rotatable member includes a tubing engaging portion and a faceted engagable portion receivable at the nut driving tool. Embodied for tubing cutting, a cutting utility is included mounted adjacent the securement. The rotatable member receives and rotates the tubing. Embodied as a tubing bender, the rotatable member includes a tubing guide end, the locating and stabilizing structure adapted to receive tubing thereat and having an opening for receipt of the rotatable member therethrough.

Abstract: A test kit for unevenly worn sheave grooves, a tool for regrooving sheave grooves that are found to be unevenly worn, and a method for testing for and maintaining the sheave grooves utilizing the test kit and tool. The test kit includes magnetic standards which adhere to a sheave beneath the portion of the sheave touched by the ropes, facilitating testing without having to unrope the sheave. Unevenly worn sheave grooves are visually ascertained by holding a straightedge adjacent to the magnetic standards. The regrooving tool includes a shank that can be received by a stand set up next to the sheave, a body attached to the shank, and an interchangeable cutting insert received by the body that is inserted in the sheave groove. When the sheave is rotated, the sheave groove is ground by the cutting insert, with each groove being ground sequentially until all grooves are again uniform.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use of synchronized plural epicyclical transmissions to stabilize and to drive an output gear of a machine capable of bending tubing, conduit, and pipe requiring high torque, as well as swaging, cutting, and threading. One embodiment of the apparatus includes multiple transmissions encircling and engaged with a centrally mounted motor. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes multiple transmissions, each engaged with a mounted motor. Transmissions can be equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of an output gear.

Abstract: A powered driver and methods are disclosed, the driver including a head having a gapped jaw and housing a motor driven drive transfer assembly for operating a rotatable split socket engageable at a threaded connector. A reaction unit is movably maintained through the head, and a probe is associated with the reaction unit. The methods of this invention include setting a selected rotational limitation at the driver relating to fitting characteristics, operating the driver to cause relative rotation of a connector nut located in the socket and connector body engaged by the reaction unit. One of a plurality of operational modes for driver operations is selected and relative movement of the head and reaction unit are monitored during driver operation. The driver is controlled so that driver operation ceases when a selected combination of events related to operational mode selected and at least one of rotational limitation setting, monitored relative movement or driver operation occurs.

Abstract: A drive is disclosed that is useful with a variety of apparatus for either multiplying torque or increasing rotational speed. The drive includes a supported inner shaft having a sun gear at one end, the inner shaft receivable through a hollow outer coaxial shaft having an engageable transmittance (a spur gear, for example) intermediate first and second opposite ends thereof. A planetary gear set platform is located at one end of the outer shaft, planet gears rotatably mounted thereabout in engagement with the sun gear received through the platform for rotation in a stationary ring gear. A right angle translate gear is affixed to the inner shaft adjacent an end thereof opposite the sun gear, a rotational source engagable at one of the translate gear and the transmittance and a utility output engagable at the other.

Abstract: Adaptations, apparatus and methods are disclosed for associating various utility tools with a nut driving tool. The adaptation of includes a receiver connectable to one side of the nut driving tool adjacent to a socket driver. A utility tool mounting body includes a base portion releasably engageable with the receiver and a station portion on the base portion releasably engageable with the selected utility tool. The utility tool of this invention includes a head having a mounting interface, the station portion releasably engageable with the mounting interface of the utility tool head. In one embodiment, the utility tool is reaction unit for engaging a nut or a fitting body. In other embodiments, utility tools for tube cutting, sawing, and/or bending, and/or grasping of adjacent fitting types or fitting sizes are provided.

Abstract: Interchangeable tubing manipulating appliances for use with nut driving tools are disclosed for tubing manipulation, cutting, bending and the like. The appliances include tubing locating and stabilizing structure and securement for aligning and stabilizing the locating and stabilizing structure at one side of the driving tool adjacent to its nut driving head. A rotatable member is engagable at the nut driving head for selective rotation thereof relative to the tubing locating and stabilizing structure. The rotatable member includes a tubing engaging portion and a faceted engagable portion receivable at the nut driving tool. Embodied for tubing cutting, a cutting utility is included mounted adjacent the securement. The rotatable member receives and rotates the tubing. Embodied as a tubing bender, the rotatable member includes a tubing guide end, the locating and stabilizing structure adapted to receive tubing thereat and having an opening for receipt of the rotatable member therethrough.

Abstract: A powered driver and methods are disclosed, the driver including a head having a gapped jaw and housing a motor driven drive transfer assembly for operating a rotatable split socket engageable at a threaded connector. A reaction unit is movably maintained through the head, and a probe is associated with the reaction unit. The methods of this invention include setting a selected rotational limitation at the driver relating to fitting characteristics, operating the driver to cause relative rotation of a connector nut located in the socket and connector body engaged by the reaction unit. One of a plurality of operational modes for driver operations is selected and relative movement of the head and reaction unit are monitored during driver operation. The driver is controlled so that driver operation ceases when a selected combination of events related to operational mode selected and at least one of rotational limitation setting, monitored relative movement or driver operation occurs.

Abstract: A powered driver and methods are disclosed, the driver including a head having a gapped jaw and housing a motor driven drive transfer assembly for operating a rotatable split socket engageable at a threaded connector. A reaction unit having a biased fitting engagement attached to rail guides is movably maintained through the head, and a probe and switch are associated with different ones of the reaction unit and the head. A safety assembly includes a biased gate switch engageble with a roller switch and is located at the head for sending run status electrical signals to the driver dependent on position of the gate switch. Control lights and switches are provided for user interface and driver status monitoring.

Abstract: Powered drivers and methods are disclosed, the drivers including a head housing a motor driven drive transfer assembly for operating a rotatable socket engageable at a threaded connector. A reaction unit having a fitting engagement attached to rail guides is movably maintained through the head. A biasing unit is maintained at the head and is operatively associated with the rail guides of the reaction unit to bias the fitting engagement of the reaction unit toward the rotatable socket during tightening rotation of the engaged threaded connector. A probe and switch are associated with different ones of the reaction unit and the head, and are brought into operative association at selected relative locations of the reaction unit and the head during connector rotation to cause motor cessation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for precision control of degree of socket rotation where desired degree of rotation exceeds about 360°. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a cam structure associable with an assembly for holding and driving the socket so that either forward or reversed rotation of the cam structure and the socket are coincident. The cam structure includes a circumferentially projecting cam face construct movable through a path of rotation and having first and second spaced stop surfaces oriented across the rotation path. A rotation limiting mechanism includes first and second units for limiting cam rotation in each direction of rotation. Each unit includes a barrier portion and an actuating portion, movement of the barrier portion into the rotation path initiated by interaction of the rotating cam face construct and the actuating portion.

Abstract: Line fitting orientation guides for use with a split socket and socket drive assembly are disclosed, the guides including an opening for receiving and abutting the line on which the fitting is maintained as the fitting is received and properly positioned in the socket. The orientation guide may be integral to either the socket or the drive assembly structure, or may be a separate unit mounted to the drive assembly structure.

Abstract: A split socket having movable fitting contacting facets and a drive transfer assembly are disclosed which are particularly well suited for manipulating line fittings. The split socket preferably includes first and second movable dogs pivotably mounted at opposite surfaces of an opening in a rotatable socket. The socket opening is at least as wide as the point-to-point diameter of the fitting to be received thereat. Each of the dogs has a facet configured for engaging and thereby, in conjunction with one another, rotating the fitting when the socket is rotated in a first direction, the dogs being movable by the fitting away from engagement when the socket is rotated in the opposite direction, thus allowing rotation of the socket in the opposite direction while the fitting remains substantially still.