Abstract: A hammer comprising: a body; a tool holder mounted on the body for holding a cutting tool; a handle, comprising a grip portion, pivotally mounted on the body about an axis of pivot; a first vibration dampener which connects between the handle and the body and which reduces the amount of angular vibrations transmitted from the body to the handle; a motor mounted within the body; a hammer mechanism mounted in the body, capable of being driven by the motor when the motor is activated, the hammer mechanism, when driven, imparting impacts onto a cutting tool when held by the tool holder; wherein at least the grip portion of the handle is also slideably mounted on the body so that the position of the grip portion can be linearly moved relative to the body; and there is further provided a second vibration dampener located between the grip portion and the body which reduces the amount of linear vibrations transmitted from the body to the grip portion.

Abstract: A wheel restraint includes a wheel chock that is manually movable between a retracted position clear of a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock and an operative position to block the path of the wheel. In the retracted position, the chock can be manually moved freely along a track that is mounted to a driveway of the dock. When the chock is manually moved from its retracted position to its operative position, a locking feature automatically restricts the movement of the chock relative to the track. When the chock is manually moved back to its retracted position, the locking feature automatically disengages. Although the wheel chock is connected to a track, most of the force exerted by the wheel against the chock is transmitted directly from the chock to the driveway.

Abstract: An example wheel restraint includes a wheel chock that is manually movable between a retracted or release position clear of a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock and an operative position to block the path of the wheel. In the release position, the chock can be manually moved freely along a track that is mounted to a driveway of the dock. When the chock is manually moved from its release position to its operative position, a locking feature automatically restricts the movement of the chock relative to the track. When the chock is manually moved back to its release position, the locking feature automatically disengages. Although the wheel chock is connected to a track, much of the force exerted by the wheel against the chock can be transmitted directly from the chock to the driveway.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a power tool is disclosed. The handle assembly has a handle (84), a metal strip (82) for releasably mounting the handle assembly to the housing of a power tool, and a fastening mechanism (80, 100, 104) for tightening and loosening the metal strip on the housing of the power tool. Vibration dampers (124, 126) are located between the handle and the fastening mechanism to damp vibrations transmitted from the fastening mechanism to the handle. Limited rotation of the handle relative to the metal strip is possibly, but rotation beyond predetermined limits causes the fastening mechanism to tighten and/or loosen the metal strip on the housing.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for moveably mounting a handle of a power tool to a housing of the power tool is disclosed. The mounting assembly has a metal bar (324) mounted to a housing (290) of the power tool and a vibration damper (332) mounted to a handle (294) of the power tool and slidably mounted to the metal bar. The vibration damper includes a vibration damping member (344) for damping vibrations tending to cause the vibration damper to pivot relative to the metal bar about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metal bar.

Abstract: A handle housing for a handle for a power tool, the handle housing having a first housing part; and a second housing part adapted to be mounted to the first housing part and subjected to a bending stress when mounted to said first housing part, the said first and second housing parts defining a chamber for accommodating one or more components of the power tool.

Abstract: A hand held motor driven electrically powered tool, in particular a rotary hammer, comprising a spindle (40) for rotatingly driving a tool or bit (68), a spindle rotary drive train (14, 5, 10) for rotatingly driving the spindle (40) and an arrangement for detecting blocking events (16, 17). Blocking events occur when the tool or bit of the tool become rotationally fixed in the material being bored in which case the rotary drive on the spindle from the motor causes the tool housing to rotate in a user's grip.

Abstract: A dock leveler for a truck loading dock includes a pivotal deck that is raised by an inflatable actuator. The actuator includes a pliable upper section that when inflated has a generally vertical cylindrical shape that can provide a heavy deck with substantial columnar support. The actuator also includes a relatively rigid base that is sealingly joined to the pliable upper section such that upper section and the rigid base define an inner chamber of air. A blower for inflating the actuator can be installed inside or outside the actuator. In some embodiments, a valve system reverses the airflow so that the blower can forcibly deflate and compress the actuator up against the bottom of the deck so that the area underneath the actuator can be cleaned.

Abstract: A powered hammer includes a body in which is disposed a motor and a hammer mechanism driven by the motor when the motor is activated. A tool holder is coupled to a front portion of the body and which is capable of holding a cutting tool. The hammer mechanism, when driven by the motor, is capable of imparting impacts to a cutting tool, when held by the tool holder. A handle is moveably coupled to a rear portion of the body for movement toward and away from the body along a tool axis of the tool holder. The handle includes a grip portion and first and second end connection sections coupled to opposite end portions of the grip portion. The first and second end connection sections are slideably mounted on first and second arms that project rearward from the body. A movement control mechanism is mounted inside the handle and coupled to the first and second arms and the handle.

Abstract: A power hammer has a handle mounted to a housing and capable of limited movement relative thereto. A hollow axle is attached to the housing and is rotatable between a first and second position and is biased towards the first position by a torsional spring which extends within the axle. Rotation of the axle causes rotation of arms connected thereto. Connectors are slidably mounted within guides and are respectively connected at one end to each of the arms and at the other end to the handle. Vibrations in the housing cause movement of one end of the handle, which causes movement of the associated connector and arm. Movement of the one arm causes rotation of the axle, which therefore causes movement of the other arm and connector, and the other end of the handle. Thus, the movement of one end of the handle is coupled to the other end.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a stationary dock leveler with a ramp (10, 20) and with a dock leveler (12, 22) that is tiltably held, over a horizontally oriented pivot joint (14, 24), to the ramp (10, 20), whereby the dock leveler (12, 22) contains a dock leveler top plate (13, 23) constructed as a surface that can be driven over, and whereby a ramp plate (11, 21), constructed as a surface that can be driven over, is provided on the ramp (10, 20). Providing a device that reduces the impact on the vehicle that traverses it to a minimum, and that can be manufactured economically, achieved by that a ramp plate (11, 21) extending up to over the pivot joint (14, 24) and a dock leveler top plate (13, 23) also extending up to over the pivot joint (14, 24), so that a gap (15, 25) formed between the ramp plate (11, 21) and the dock leveler top plate (13, 23) is arranged over the center of the pivot joint (14, 24).

Abstract: A hammer drill includes a body, a motor; a centre of gravity, and a hammer mechanism driven by the motor in reciprocating movement along a hammer axis at a first distance from the centre of gravity. A counter mass is mounted within the body for sliding movement along a slide axis at a second further distance from the centre of gravity. A biasing member biases the counter mass to a mid-position along the slide axis. The biasing means may be a leaf spring or a helical spring. The counter mass may be slideably supported on rods and may be able to twist about a number of axes.

Abstract: An overload clutch assembly for a power tool having two torque settings through which rotary drive is transmitted to a spindle. The overload clutch assembly is capable of being between switched between the two torque settings by at least one actuator. The clutch assembly comprises a carrier rotationally mounted on a output clutch spindle; a first clutch plate operational for transmitting torque below a first level; and a second clutch plate operational for transmitting torque below a second level higher than the first; and characterised in that, when the overload clutch is in the higher torque setting, the torque is transferred from the carrier to the output clutch spindle via the second clutch plate only.

Abstract: A dock leveler includes a vehicle-engaging pivotal lip extending from the front end of a pivotal deck, wherein the lip has one or more unique features that provide a smooth transition for forklifts traveling between the lip and a trailer bed upon which the lip is resting. The smooth transition minimizes jolting and vibration of the forklift and its driver as the forklift wheels pass over the leading edge of the lip. The special features of the lip may include one or more of the following: a curved traffic-bearing surface terminating at a sharp or blunt leading edge, a traffic-bearing surface that includes both flat and curved sections, a multifaceted traffic-bearing surface that approximates a curved surface, a rubber or plastic shock absorbing element, an articulated nose piece at the lip's leading edge, and a main lip plate that is coplanar with the deck's traffic surface (i.e., zero crown angle).

Abstract: A handle assembly for a power tool, the handle assembly comprising:- attachment means for attaching the assembly to a housing of a power tool; handle means adapted to be held by a user of the power tool, wherein the handle means is mounted to said attachment means and is capable of limited movement relative to the housing of the power tool; and vibration damping means acting between said housing and said handle means. The vibration damping means can comprise elastomeric material. The attachment means can be mounted in use to the housing via a bolt on one of the attachment means and the housing passing through a respective aperture in the other of said attachment means and the housing, wherein at least some of the elastomeric material is arranged in use between at least one said bolt and a corresponding said aperture. The handle means can be pivotable and/or slidable relative to said attachment means. The vibration damping means can comprise at least one spring eg. compression/spring or torsion.

Abstract: A dock leveler includes a vehicle-engaging lip extending beyond the front end of a pivotal deck, wherein the lip has one or more unique features that reduce the level of vibration generated when the lip contacts a trailer bed as material handling equipment traverses the lip. By damping the vibration generated when the lip interacts with the trailer bed, the special features also reduce the level of noise emitted. The special features of the lip may include a cushion attached to an undersurface of the lip such that the cushion is adapted to be compressed between the lip and the trailer bed as material handling equipment traverses the lip.

Abstract: An overload clutch assembly for a power tool having two torque settings through which rotary drive is transmitted to a spindle. The overload clutch assembly is capable of being between switched between the two torque settings by at least one actuator. The clutch assembly comprises a carrier rotationally mounted on a output clutch spindle; a first clutch plate operational for transmitting torque below a first level; and a second clutch plate operational for transmitting torque below a second level higher than the first; and characterised in that, when the overload clutch is in the higher torque setting, the torque is transferred from the carrier to the output clutch spindle via the second clutch plate only.

Abstract: A reciprocating drive mechanism for a striker in a hammer, a rotary hammer, or a power drill having a hammer action, includes a sinusoidal cam channel formed on a drive member and a cam follower, in the form of a ball bearing, attached to a driven member which, due to the interaction of the cam and cam follower, results in a reciprocating movement of the driven member. Both the drive member and driven member can be rotatingly driven by a motor, their relative speeds resulting in the reciprocating movement of the driven member. The driven member is connected to the striker either via a mechanical helical spring or an air spring.

Abstract: An overload clutch assembly for a power tool having two torque settings through which rotary drive is transmitted to a spindle. The overload clutch assembly is capable of being between switched between the two torque settings by at least one actuator. The clutch assembly comprises a carrier rotationally mounted on a output clutch spindle; a first clutch plate operational for transmitting torque below a first level; and a second clutch plate operational for transmitting torque below a second level higher than the first; and characterised in that, when the overload clutch is in the higher torque setting, the torque is transferred from the carrier to the output clutch spindle via the second clutch plate only.

Abstract: A power tool has a handle assembly which is biased by a torsional spring. The torsional spring has an engaging arm the position of which is fixed relative to the housing by an adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism has a lever which extends outside the housing of the power tool, and a cam surface, and is mounted on and rotatable at least partially around an axle. In use, the tension in the torsional spring may be adjusted by movement of the lever. The lever is moved, causing rotation of the adjusting cam around the axle. As a result, the cam surface causes the engaging arm of the spring to be moved axially along the axle and more or less tension is applied to the torsional spring.