Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a speed control system for a motor that includes a fixed speed control portion and a variable speed control portion. The fixed speed control portion is operable to control a speed of a motor in a fixed speed mode wherein the motor is operated at a preselected fixed speed below a predetermined fixed speed mode threshold speed. The variable speed control portion is operable to control the motor in a variable speed mode wherein the motor is operated such that a speed of the motor can be selectively varied within a range between the fixed speed mode threshold speed and a maximum motor speed. The system additionally includes a switching device structured and operable to selectively switch the speed control system between the fixed speed mode and the variable speed mode.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a speed control system for a motor that includes a fixed speed control portion and a variable speed control portion. The fixed speed control portion is operable to control a speed of a motor in a fixed speed mode wherein the motor is operated at a preselected fixed speed below a predetermined fixed speed mode threshold speed. The variable speed control portion is operable to control the motor in a variable speed mode wherein the motor is operated such that a speed of the motor can be selectively varied within a range between the fixed speed mode threshold speed and a maximum motor speed. The system additionally includes a switching device structured and operable to selectively switch the speed control system between the fixed speed mode and the variable speed mode.

Abstract: A ceiling fan motor includes a motor housing having an end wall and a side wall; a stator assembly mounted within the housing; a rotor assembly mounted within the housing to rotate relative to the stator assembly; and a fan blade hub adapted to have fan blades mounted thereto. The fan blade hub includes a central opening and the rotor assembly includes a driving member shaped complementarily to the opening of the fan blade hub. The driving member positively engages the fan blade hub (and hence the fan blades) as the rotor rotates. A grommet is positioned between the fan blade hub and the driving member to vibrationally isolate the fan blade hub from the rotor.

Abstract: Low cost multi-pole motor constructions and related methods of manufacture are disclosed. The economic advantages inherent in the construction and manufacture of C-frame motors, including modified and improved C-frame or twin bobbin motor constructions, have been applied to a variety of different kinds of motors including two pole, four pole and six pole permanent split capacitor motors; four pole, six pole, and eight pole shaded pole motors; stepper motors; multi-pole switched reluctance motors including two pole, four pole, six pole, and other multi-pole switched reluctance motors; as well as various other types of multi-pole motors. Such modified and improved C-frame motor constructions include the mounting of electrically conductive coils on at least one pair of adjacent and spaced side legs on one or both sides of a multi-pole central portion. Related methods for manufacturing laminations used in such motors from an elongated strip of material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A controlled adjustable method for forming and stacking laminations that are used in an electro-magnetic device such as a motor or transformer is disclosed. The method steps provide the incremental forming of a predetermined number of laminations from magnetically conductive material with each lamination having at least one coil winding segment of predetermined incrementally varying width. Each coil winding segment is formed by the movement of variable electrically adjustable mechanical forming elements such as punching or stamping dies or laser devices relative to magnetically conductive material.

Abstract: A double twin bobbin four pole motor is disclosed. The motor includes a first and second stack of magnetically conductive stacked laminations. The first stack includes a four pole central portion with a rotor opening and two pairs of spaced side legs, each spaced pair of side legs extending from opposite sides of the central portion generally in mirror image relationship with one another and terminating in an outer free extremity. Each of the stacked side legs of the stacked spaced pair of side legs have a combined predetermined outer cross sectional configuration. The second stack of laminations includes a pair of separate magnetically conductive stacked laminations for attachment to the outer free extremities of each pair of stacked side legs. Each of the second stack of laminations have a combined predetermined outer cross sectional configuration.

Abstract: A C-frame motor having cooperating first and second stack of laminations is disclosed. The first stack of laminations includes an end leg with a spaced pair of side legs which are attached at one end to the end leg and terminate in an opposite end in an outer free extremity. A rotor opening is provided in the end leg of each first stack of laminations. When stacked, the rotor openings of adjacent stacked end legs provide an aligned rotor opening for receiving a rotor. Each of the stacked side legs have a combined predetermined outer cross sectional configuration coil winding area that provides a coil winding area for receiving an electrically conductive coil on each of the stacked side legs. The second stack of laminations is attached to the outer free extremity of the spaced pair of stacked side legs in the first stack of laminations in order to provide a combined magnetic inductor circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and stacking laminations that are used in an electro-magnetic device such as a motor or transformer is disclosed. The method steps and apparatus used provides the incremental forming of a predetermined number of laminations from magnetically conductive material with each lamination having at least one coil winding segment of predetermined incrementally varying width. Each coil winding segment is formed by the movement of forming elements such as punching or stamping dies or laser devices and the magnetically conductive material relative to one another.

Abstract: A variable high/low vacuum/blower device is disclosed as including an interchangeable vacuum or blower device with high pressure/low air flow or low pressure/high air flow operation. The device includes a housing having air flow channels. Air inlet and air outlet ports or openings extend through the housing and are connected to the air flow channels. Motor driven blower wheels create air flow through the air flow channels. A first valve, operable between first and second position, can selectively change the air flow in the air flow channels from high pressure/low air flow to low pressure/high air flow, while a second valve, also operable between first and second positions, can selectively change the air flow through the air inlet and air outlet ports or openings, enabling the device to operate either as a vacuum or blower device. The first valve is adjustable to variable positions from high pressure/low air flow through zero to low pressure/high air flow.

Abstract: A radial arm saw guard with operational interlock and adjustable outfeed user barrier is disclosed. The radial saw includes a motor driven saw blade that is mounted on a yoke depending from a supporting arm that overhangs a worktable. The motor driven saw blade is movable relative to a worktable mounted fence in order to enable the motor driven saw blade to be operated for rip cutting of workpieces longitudinally relative to the fence and for cross cutting transverse relative to the fence. A blade guard is mounted in fixed position relative to the yoke for covering at least approximately an upper half of the motor driven saw blade. An adjustable outfeed user barrier is mounted to the upper blade guard for operation between an upper disengaged position exposing the motor driven saw blade and a lower engaged position covering an outfeed end of the motor driven saw blade to protect a user during rip cutting.

Abstract: A variable high/low vacuum/blower device is disclosed as including an interchangeable vacuum or blower device with high pressure/low air flow or low pressure/high air flow operation. The device includes a housing having air flow channels. Air inlet and air outlet ports or openings extend through the housing and are connected to the air flow channels. Motor driven blower wheels create air flow through the air flow channels. A first valve, operable between first and second position, can selectively change the air flow in the air flow channels from high pressure/low air flow to low pressure/high air flow, while a second valve, also operable between first and second positions, can selectively change the air flow through the air inlet and air outlet ports or openings, enabling the device to operate either as a vacuum or blower device. The first valve, when operable in a first position, directs exhausted air from the lower blower wheel to the upper blower wheel for high pressure/low air flow operation.

Abstract: A combined belt and disc sander is disclosed which provides a belt sander than can be pivoted from a horizontal to vertical position, a disc sander that is fixed below the upper horizontal plane of the belt sander, and a drive motor assembly than can drive both the belt sander and disc sander. A movable work table for supporting a workpiece is capable of being used with the belt sander or the disc sander, as may be desired. The angle of the work table relative to the belt sander or the disc sander can be adjusted so that the workpiece can be placed at the desired angle relative to the belt or disc sander. The sander further includes a sawdust collection mechanism that can be attached to a utility vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A scroll saw is disclosed as having a saw blade connected between the free ends of the arms of a C-shaped member. The C-shaped members is reciprocated about a horizontal pivot shaft at the closed or yoke end of the C-shaped member in order to reciprocate or drive the saw blade. An automatic bearing adjustment mechanism is provided for the horizontal pivot shaft that reciprocates the C-shaped member. For this purpose, an outwardly directed resilient force is applied against one of two bearings at opposite ends of the horizontal pivot shaft, the resilient force also applying an inwardly directed force through the horizontal pivot shaft to the other bearing, in order to eliminate any bearing play during operation and use of the scroll saw.

Abstract: A portable wet/dry vacuum cleaner is disclosed having a handle base and a combination nozzle/debris container. The vacuum cleaner further includes a charging base for holding or mounting the vacuum cleaner. The charging base has a recess formed therein to receive at least a portion of the handle base. The handle base has a notch or receptacle formed therein and a finger from the recharging base fits into the receptacle such that electrical charging terminals both on the vacuum cleaner and on the recharging base engage one another in sliding frictional electrical engagement while the vacuum cleaner is resiliently held in place on the base so as to permit recharging of the batteries within the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A portable wet/dry vacuum cleaner is disclosed having a handle base and a combination nozzle/debris container. The handle base comprises a housing having a motor, a blower driven by the motor, and a battery pack for energization of the motor located therein. The blower is in communication with the container for forceably drawing air and entrained debris in the air into the container, for depositing the debris in the container, and for exhausting air from the handle base. A channel is provided within the outer end of the container, which channel extends inwardly and upwardly, but terminates short of the housing. The latter has an air duct between the nozzle/debris container and the blower having an inlet spaced from the inner end of the channel. A deflector is disposed between the inner end of the channel and the inlet of the air duct for directing debris entrained into the air exhausted from the channel away from the air duct inlet.

Abstract: A portable wet/dry vacuum cleaner is disclosed having a handle base and a combination nozzle/debris container. The handle base comprises a housing having a motor, a blower driven by the motor, and a battery pack for energization of the motor located therein. The blower is in communication with the container for forceably drawing air and entrained debris in the air into the container, for depositing the debris in the container, and for exhausting air from the handle base. A channel is provided within the outer end of the container, which channel extends inwardly and upwardly, but terminates short of the housing. The latter has an air duct between the nozzle/debris container and the blower having an inlet spaced from the inner end of the channel. A deflector is disposed between the inner end of the channel and the inlet of the air duct for directing debris entrained into the air exhausted from the channel away from the air duct inlet.

Abstract: A room humidifier is disclosed as having a reservoir tank containing a freely and independently floatable wick element providing a constant evaporative area as the water level in the tank rises and falls. A fan is mounted in fixed position relative to an upper end of the tank. An extensible and collapsible closed air path is provided between the wick element and the fan, and an outside air flow path extends between open upper areas of the tank and the wick element, while also being in air flow communication with the fan. When the fan is operated, air is drawn into the outside air flow path for contact with the constant evaporative area of the wick element, while also drawing air with increased humidity through the constant evaporative area of the wick element as well as upwardly through the closed air flow path for discharge from the humidifier into the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A room humidifier is disclosed having a floating wick assembly having wick elements, the wick assembly floating on a water supply thereby to maintain a constant water depth and evaporative area on the wick element as the water level within the humidifier rises and falls. The wick element is formed of a web of non-woven, fibrous material (e.g., a paper-like material) which draws water by capillary action from the reservoir onto the evaporative area of the wicking element from when water is evaporated into the air drawn through the wicking element by a fan for discharge into the room. The wick element may readily be removed from the wick assembly for cleaning or replacement.

Abstract: A whole house ventilator which can be installed without framing and cutting joists. Struts below the fan blade serve as a support for a fan motor and for a venturi. Adjustable pre-cut sleeving fits over the joists and around the fan to eliminate framing. A shutter assembly may be surface-mounted to the ceiling below the joists.

Abstract: A double twin bobbin four pole motor is disclosed. The motor includes a first and second stack of magnetically conductive stacked laminations. The first stack includes a four pole central portion with a rotor opening and two pairs of spaced side legs, each spaced pair of side legs extending from opposite sides of the central portion generally in mirror image relationship with one another and terminating in an outer free extremity. Each of the stacked side legs of the stacked spaced pair of side legs have a combined predetermined outer cross sectional configuration. The second stack of laminations includes a pair of separate magnetically conductive stacked laminations for attachment to the outer free extremities of each pair of stacked side legs. Each of the second stack of laminations have a combined predetermined outer cross sectional configuration.