Abstract: A hydraulically and/or pneumatically actuated cutting tool is provided having a housing with a piston assembly slidably disposed between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The piston assembly comprises a seal which is operable between two positions. In a first position the seal produces a substantially water-tight seal between the piston and the interior surface of the housing. As a result, fluid entering the chamber through the fluid inlet advances the piston assembly toward the fluid outlet. In a second position a gap is formed between the seal and the interior surface of the housing such that fluid communication is established between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. As the fluid is removed from the housing through the fluid outlet, a spring biases the piston assembly back to its original resting position.

Abstract: A hydraulically and/or pneumatically actuated cutting tool is provided having a housing with a piston assembly slidably disposed between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The piston assembly comprises a seal which is operable between two positions. In a first position the seal produces a substantially water-tight seal between the piston and the interior surface of the housing. As a result, fluid entering the chamber through the fluid inlet advances the piston assembly toward the fluid outlet. In a second position a gap is formed between the seal and the interior surface of the housing such that fluid communication is established between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. As the fluid is removed from the housing through the fluid outlet, a spring biases the piston assembly back to its original resting position.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated garden tool including a housing, a piston in the housing and a shaft connected to the piston extending out of the housing and terminating in a cutting blade. A guide is provided receiving the blade therein when the piston is actuated. A water inlet, controlled by a handle, is provided leading into the housing so that the introduction of water under pressure into the housing moves the piston, when the handle is actuated, to move the blade into the guide to cut a branch trapped therebetween.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus for documents requiring secure handling, such as banknotes. The documents are fed one at a time along a main flow-line in which they are sensed to determine whether they are in a fit condition or in an unfit condition. If unfit, they are routed into a secondary flow-line leading to a shredder, the secondary flow-line including further checking structure to ensure that documents classed as unfit in the main flow-line are present in the secondary flow-line at the appropriate time and are guided to the shredder.