Abstract: An apparatus for splitting masonry material which includes a frame and table vertically moveable in the frame, the table also having an attached lower blade, for supporting masonry material thereon to be split. An upper blade is positioned in the frame over the table in alignment with the lower blade. A hydraulic jack with an extendable ram is also supported in the frame below the table and is actuated by an actuating lever to thereby raise the table and lower blade combination to engage masonry material supported thereon between the upper and lower blades for splitting. A mechanism for quickly raising the table with its attached lower blade and the ram of the hydraulic jack for initial fast engagement of the upper and lower blades with the masonry material to be split is provided upon initial actuation of the actuating lever.

Abstract: An apparatus for splitting masonry material which includes a frame and table vertically moveable in the frame, the table also having an attached lower blade, for supporting masonry material thereon to be split. An upper blade is positioned in the frame over the table in alignment with the lower blade. A hydraulic jack with an extendable ram is also supported in the frame below the table and is actuated by an actuating lever to thereby raise the table and lower blade combination to engage masonry material supported thereon between the upper and lower blades for splitting. A mechanism for quickly raising the table with its attached lower blade and the ram of the hydraulic jack for initial fast engagement of the upper and lower blades with the masonry material to be split is provided upon initial actuation of the actuating lever.

Abstract: A trash compactor having a compactor unit and a separable trash storage container is provided that accommodates liquid within the trash that is compacted. The liquid is admitted into a reservoir within the storage container of the trash compactor where it is isolated from the compacted trash. When the storage container is removed to a disposal site, the compacted trash is emptied and the liquid from the reservoir is also emptied at the disposal site. For trash that has a large volumetric quantity of liquid, an overflow tank may be provided in the storage container to receive the overflow from the reservoir within the storage container. The overflow tank may also receive liquid that accumulates in the compactor unit while the compactor is operating.

Abstract: A ratcheted nut assembly is provided to enable a nut to be tightened onto a bolt in a limited area. The ratcheted nut assembly includes an internally threaded nut that has radially extending teeth on its outer surface. The nut is held rotatably captive within an elongated housing that has a generally "Y" shaped ratchet member pivoted so that the ratchet member may have pawls that are formed on it engaged with the teeth of the nut to rotate the nut. The operator positions the ratchet member into engagement with the radially extending teeth on the nut depending upon which direction the operator desires to turn the nut. The ratchet mechanism remains with the nut after the nut is tightened.

Abstract: A trash compactor is provided that has a single ram that simultaneously precompacts trash in an auxiliary precompacting chamber and compacts trash that already has been precompacted in a main compacting and storage chamber. The ram has a single actuating device and has first and second parts which are both actuated by the single actuating device. Latches are provided to latch the two ram parts together and also to latch one of the ram parts to the wall of the trash compactor during various times during the compacting cycle of the ram.

Abstract: A trash compactor is provided that has a single ram that simultaneously precompacts trash in an auxiliary precompacting chamber and compacts trash that has already been precompacted in a main copacting and storage chamber. The ram has a single actuating device and efficiently provides for both precompacting in the auxiliary precompacting chamber and for compacting in the compacting and storage chamber with each stroke of the ram.

Abstract: A trash compactor is provided that has a single ram that simultaneously precompacts trash in an auxiliary precompacting chamber and compacts trash that has already been precompacted in a main compacted and storage chamber. The ram has a single actuating device and efficiently provides for both precompacting in the auxiliary precompacting chamber and for compacting in the compacting and storage chamber with each stroke of the ram.