Abstract: A hair shearing device is driven by a motor to duplicate the cut obtained by manually operated scissors. One blade of the hair shearing device is held stationary while the other blade is powered to cross over the stationary blade at a predetermined speed. The speed of the movable blade is controlled and is variable.

Abstract: A hand-held fluid power-operated shears characterized by a body including a pistol grip handle portion, a blade-receiving recess and a cylindrical cavity with a removable cover over the blade-receiving recess. One of a variety of different size and design pairs of interchangeable shear blades may be installed in the blade-receiving recess. The blades are pivotally connected and each has a forward cutting section projecting forwardly of the housing and a rearward extension, the extensions being removably received in the blade-receiving recess to hold one blade fixed while permitting relative movement of the other. One end of a piston rod is fixed to a piston provided in the cylindrical cavity for reciprocal movement therein. The other end of the piston rod is in direct detachable engagement with the rearward end of the extension of the relatively movable shear blade.

Abstract: A pole mounted pruning tool with a pair of cutting jaws, one being pivotally movable in relation to the other to effect a cutting action. The movable jaw is pivoted by an operating lever which has an adjustable length, thereby providing a means of varying the cutting torque.

Abstract: The invention is a high-power portable cutting tool which is particularly effective in cutting through sheet metal. The tool can thus be used for extricating accident victims from wreckage. The tool is operated by hydraulic power, and has one movable blade and one stationary blade. The movable blade is curved, and is mounted so as to close onto the stationary blade. The curvature of the movable blade is such that its initial contact with the stationary blade occurs at its free end. The stationary blade is formed on an anvil, anchored within the frame of the tool. The anvil is sufficiently long that its end extends beyond the end of the movable blade. The anvil is anchored within a slot formed in the cover portion of the frame, and is locked into position with a dowel. The mounting of the anvil within the slot is such that the forces exerted on the blade are directed against the heavy cover, and not against the dowel.

Abstract: In pruning shears a rope-and-pulley device is incorporated between the shears legs in such a manner that by pulling the free end of the rope an amplified closing force is obtained. For convenient remote operation one shears leg force lever arm is connected fixedly or detachably to a handle of any desired length, by a handle securing coupling which extends parallel to the shears leg. An opening spring biases the shears in the opening direction.

Abstract: An improved cutting mechanism for a pole pruner; the cutting mechanism includes a head mounted on the upper end of an elongate vertical pole. The head has an upwardly, radially forwardly and downwardly turned, recurvant, work-engaging hook defining a downwardly and laterally opening hook opening with an inner shearing edge. An elongate normally vertically extending cutting blade is normally positioned adjacent one side of the hook and is pivotally mounted at its upper end to pivot forwardly and upwardly across the hook opening. The cutting blade has an elongate actuating lever normally projecting upwardly and rearwardly from its upper end. The lever arm is pivoted rearwardly and downwardly by manually applied force to pivot the blade from its normal position across the hook opening.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for trimming a reed used in conjunction with a musical instrument includes a support structure and at least one cutting instrument that can be manually coupled to and removed from the support structure. When the cutting instrument is positioned in the support structure, the reed is inserted between a die portion and a punching portion of the cutting instrument. A force applied to a lever mechanism coupled to the support member forces the punching member in to the plane of the die portion thereby trimming the edge of the reed. In addition to the convenient interchangeability of the cutting instruments permitting a plurality of reed sizes to be trimmed, the support structure can be fabricated from a single sheet of material. The number of parts needed for the apparatus is further reduced by having the lever mechanism comprised of two identical parts.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hand held hydraulic cutting tool particularly useful to deactivate ejection seats in military aircraft rescue operations. The tool consists primarily of a hydraulic system composed of a fluid reservoir 11, a pumping piston 16, and an actuator piston 26. Mechanical cutting jaws 28, 29 are attached to the actuator piston rod 26. The hydraulic system is controlled by a pump handle 18. As the pump handle 18 is operated the actuator piston rod 26 is forced outward and thus the cutting jaws are forced together. The frame of the device is a flexible metal tubing 30 which permits easy positioning of the tool cutting jaws in remote and normally inaccessible locations. Bifurcated cutting edges 28a and 28b ensure removal of a section of the tubing or cable (40, FIG. 3) to thereby reduce the possibility of accidental reactivation of the tubing or cable being severed.

Abstract: The invention discloses pruning apparatus of the compound action hook and blade type. At the upper end of a longitudinally-extending handle, a stationary hook is fixed and extends upwardly therefrom in a plane parallel to and offset from the longitudinally-extending plane of the handle. It defines a downwardly-facing arcuately-shaped limb-engaging-surface for engagement with a limb. There is a movable blade which has a cutting edge and is operable to be reciprocated in an intersecting manner through cutting and return strokes with relation to the engaged limb and to the limb engaging surface of the fixed hook. A lever is pivotally mounted relative to the hook and a link pivotally interconnects to each of the lever and movable blade. The hook and movable blade and lever and link are each disposed contiguous to a common vertical plane.

Abstract: A hydraulic secateur or pruning shears includes a device for continuously and smoothly controlling the separation of its cutting blades. This avoids the disadvantage inherent in conventional hydraulic-assisted pruning shears, in which the cutting blades must either be open completely or closed completely, resulting in the entanglement of branches and other undesirable objects with the cutting blades. The controlling device includes a trigger, distribution apparatus for pressurized fluid, an inlet for the fluid and an outlet for the fluid. At least one of the blades is pivotable and activated by hydraulic apparatus. The blades can be set and maintained at any position between the two extreme positions.

Abstract: A strap cutter is secured to the top structure on an oil well casing and as the discharge pipe supporting a submersible pump is withdrawn, the cutting head of the strap cutter engages with and cuts the straps which secure the pump power cable to the discharge pipe. The strap cutter is manually guided into place but employs the upward motion of the discharge pipe string to supply the cutting force. The method comprises the use of the upward motion to accomplish the cutting step.

Abstract: A pruning tool is provided that allows the individual operating the tool to make flush cuts of vegetative growth to stems and branches having a wide range of directions of the extension with respect to the point at which the individual is standing, without moving from that point. The pruning tool includes a cutting head, a pole, and operating mechanism including a cord extending down the pole from the cutting head, and a connection between the cutting head and the pole that allows relative angular movement between the cutting head and the pole. The connection may be a coil spring. The operating mechanism includes a 3-pulley system, one of the pulleys being mounted within the pole. A readily moveable sleeve mounted on the pole allows the flexible connection between the pole and the cutting head to be rendered inoperative if desired.

Abstract: A hydraulic secateurs has two blades at least one of which is a movable blade operated by a hydraulic device including a drive piston controlled by the movable blade and mounted for sliding with play in a longitudinal bore formed in a handle for the secateurs, and a hydraulic distributor controlling the movements of the piston and including a distributing slide valve moving in a cylindrical jacket positioned to the rear of the drive piston and perpendicularly to its axis.

Abstract: A pole type pruner with an enclosed blade type construction whereby the blade is supported from the sides thru the whole cutting cycle so a thinner blade can be used for easier cutting and less distortion to the wood and bark. This distortion is further reduced by a more choke type, more confining type cutting method, and because regardless of tree limb direction or position the cutting angle of the blade can be directed nearly perpendicular to the limb due to the use of a pole section angle changing box. A pruning saw, one end pivoted to the end of the cutter blade handle, sheathed when desired, being used as part of the cutter blade pull system makes the saw always conveniently available to be pivoted to proper angle of saw direction and clamped to the cutter blade in this position for saw pruning and yet eliminates an awkward outward projection when it's not used for saw pruning. The twist type of blade return coil spring used also reduces any awkward projection.