Abstract: A combustion chamber system for use within a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, and a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool having the combustion chamber system incorporated therein, is disclosed. The combustion chamber system comprises a dual combustion chamber system comprising a pre-combustion chamber and a final combustion chamber. The pre-combustion chamber is characterized a high aspect ratio and has different obstacles fixedly incorporated therein for selectively retarding or enhancing the rate of burn and the rate of speed of the flame front propagating through the pre-combustion chamber.

Abstract: A mechanism for generating a flame jet has a volume formed of at least one vertical structure and two opposing horizontal structures. A rotatable fan is located within the volume, and is rotatable in a plane generally parallel to the planes of the horizontal structures. The mechanism also contains means for igniting a combustible gas which is contained within the volume, to propel a flame jet outside of the volume.

Abstract: A welding system having a welding gun with a handle. The handle has a first end and a second end. The handle may be operable to receive a welding cable from a first and a second direction, respectively. The handle may be operable to position a trigger in any one of four quadrants of the handle. The handle may increase in cross-sectional area in each direction from a gripping portion located between the first and second ends towards the first and second ends.

Abstract: A MIG welding gun has a diffuser with an external thread and a frusto-conical back ramp. A nozzle assembly includes an insert with a back ramp and a thread that mates with the diffuser thread. The threads of the diffuser and insert have respective ramps that mate. A single turn of the nozzle assembly on the diffuser causes simultaneous engagement of the insert and diffuser back ramps and of the insert and diffuser thread ramps. Such engagement centers the nozzle to be concentric with the diffuser and also produces a wedging action that retains the nozzle assembly on the diffuser until a relatively substantial reverse torque is applied to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle front end has a narrow annulus, which reduces the amount of radiant heat from the welding arc that reaches the nozzle.

Abstract: A MIG welding gun has a diffuser with an external thread and a frusto-conical back ramp. A nozzle assembly includes an insert with a back ramp and a thread that mates with the diffuser thread. The threads of the diffuser and insert have respective ramps that mate. A single turn of the nozzle assembly on the diffuser causes simultaneous engagement of the insert and diffuser back ramps and of the insert and diffuser thread ramps. Such engagement centers the nozzle to be concentric with the diffuser and also produces a wedging action that retains the nozzle assembly on the diffuser until a relatively substantial reverse torque is applied to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle front end has a narrow annulus, which reduces the amount of radiant heat from the welding arc that reaches the nozzle.

Abstract: A MIG welding gun has a diffuser with an external thread and a frusto-conical back ramp. A nozzle assembly includes an insert with a back ramp and a thread that mates with the diffuser thread. The threads of the diffuser and insert have respective ramps that mate. A single turn of the nozzle assembly on the diffuser causes simultaneous engagement of the insert and diffuser back ramps and of the insert and diffuser thread ramps. Such engagement centers the nozzle to be concentric with the diffuser and also produces a wedging action that retains the nozzle assembly on the diffuser until a relatively substantial reverse torque is applied to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle front end has a narrow annulus, which reduces the amount of radiant heat from the welding arc that reaches the nozzle.

Abstract: A MIG welding gun has a diffuser with an external thread and a frusto-conical back ramp. A nozzle assembly includes an insert with a back ramp and a thread that mates with the diffuser thread. The threads of the diffuser and insert have respective ramps that mate. A single turn of the nozzle assembly on the diffuser causes simultaneous engagement of the insert and diffuser back ramps and of the insert and diffuser thread ramps. Such engagement centers the nozzle to be concentric with the diffuser and also produces a wedging action that retains the nozzle assembly on the diffuser until a relatively substantial reverse torque is applied to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle front end has a narrow annulus, which reduces the amount of radiant heat from the welding arc that reaches the nozzle.

Abstract: A system for controlling the energy output of a combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool in which a fan is arranged to produce turbulence in a combustion chamber when the fan is driven, in which a direct current motor is arranged to drive the fan when a driving voltage is applied across the motor, and in which a battery provides a battery voltage not less than the driving voltage. A voltage divider includes a settable resistance, either a potentiometer or two parallel, fixed resistances that can be alternatively selected, and is used to provide a setpoint voltage. A comparator, an inverter, and a transistor switch are arranged to sample a voltage proportional to the rotational speed of the fan, to compare the sampled voltage to the setpoint voltage, to apply the driving voltage across the motor if the sampled voltage is less than the setpoint voltage, and to remove the driving voltage from across the motor if the sampled voltage is not less than the setpoint voltage.

Abstract: In a machine for dispensing stackable roofing washers individually and for driving fasteners through such washers, a shuttle is actuatable to displace a lowermost washer of one from a stack, either a small, circular or large, square washer. A gate is biased toward a lowermost position wherein it provides sufficient clearance for the lowermost washer but not any overlying washer to pass beneath it. A pawl mounted pivotally to the gate is biased to a lowermost position wherein the pawl engages a small washer displaced by the shuttle so as to restrain it against backward movement. A stop is adjustable so as to limit movement of a washer of whichever size is being displaced. A measuring bar is mounted via the stop. A screw gun, which provides a primary handle, and a secondary handle are mounted to an upright element so as to be independently adjustable.

Abstract: A collated screw package is formed with a plurality of parallel screws secured to each other with two wires which are sufficiently friable to permit the screws to be singly detached from the package as the screw is driven by a rotary drilling device. The wires are preferably spot welded to unthreaded portions of each screw which prevents fragments of the wires and fragments of the spot welded joints from interfering with the screw threads. To form the unthreaded portions, the thread of each screw is interrupted for a portion to allow at least one of the wires to be secured to the screw shank at the interruption. The interruption is formed by a relief in a continuous surface of thread forming tooling.

Abstract: In a machine for dispensing stackable roofing washers individually and for driving fasteners through such washers, a shuttle is actuatable to displace a lowermost washer of one from a stack, either a small, circular or large, square washer. A gate is biased toward a lowermost position wherein it provides sufficient clearance for the lowermost washer but not any overlying washer to pass beneath it. A pawl mounted pivotally to the gate is biased to a lowermost position wherein the pawl engages a small washer displaced by the shuttle so as to restrain it against backward movement. A stop is adjustable so as to limit movement of a washer of whichever size is being displaced. A measuring bar is mounted via the stop. A screw gun, which provides a primary handle, and a secondary handle are mounted to an upright element so as to be independently adjustable.

Abstract: For a combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool, a combined ignition and fuel system comprises a battery, two normally opened switches connected to the battery, namely a head switch and a trigger switch, a fuel injector including a solenoid and an associated circuit controlling the fuel injector to enable the fuel injector to inject a combustible fuel for a first time interval, a circuit for producing ignition, and a circuit for monitoring the head and trigger switches, for disabling the injector-controlling circuit if the trigger switch is closed while the head switch is opened or if both switches are opened, for enabling the solenoid if the trigger switch is closed while the head switch is closed, for enabling the ignition-producing circuit after a second time interval succeeding the first time interval, and for disabling the ignition-producing circuit when the injector-controlling circuit is disabled as mentioned.

Abstract: For use in a combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool having a combustion chamber, a source of a combustible fuel, and a switch that must be closed to enable the tool, a fuel system comprises a fuel injector, which includes a normally closed, solenoid-energized valve between the fuel source and the combustion chamber, and an electronic circuit responsive to the switch for energizing the solenoid to open the valve when the switch is closed and for deenergizing the solenoid after a time interval. A resistive-capacitive network defining the time interval includes a first resistor, a second resistor arranged to be selectively connected in parallel therewith, a thermistor connected in parallel therewith, and a variable resistor connected to the parallel resistors. Another network effects a time delay between closure of the switch and energization of the solenoid. Optionally, another network varies the time interval in response to ambient pressure.

Abstract: A device for electrostatically charging and dispensing a high resistivity cutting lubricant to a workpiece includes a source of high resistivity cutting lubricant and a capillary tube having an entrant end in fluid communication with the high resistivity cutting lubricant and a tapered discharge end forming a sharp point. A high voltage power supply is used for generating a high voltage of less than 5,000 volts d.c. The power supply has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A high voltage electrode has its one end connected to the positive terminal of the power supply and has its other end operatively coupled to the discharge end of the capillary tube. A nearby grounded electrode is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship from the discharge end of the capillary tube so as to create a high electric field therebetween for electrostatically charging the lubricant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gas turbine disk made from powder metal, wherein the bore has improved fatigue life compared to conventional articles because the bore is formed from a fine fraction of powder separated from a lot of conventional powder metal suitable for hot isostatic compaction. The outer and rim portions of the disk, which are less prone to fatigue failure, are made from the remainder of the lot but nonetheless have no more limited performance from that resulting when a unitary unseparated powder lot is used. Improved bore fatigue properties result because the coarse fatigue failure-causing nonmetallic inclusions are biased into the outer portions of the disk where they do not have adverse effect.