Abstract: A compact hand held suction cup type pickup tool is disclosed having a self contained, finger actuated vacuum pump that can be repeatedly cycled to maintain a very strong holding action for an indefinite period of time. The multicycling is achieved by automatic, unidirectional valving associated with the pump.

Abstract: A hand held vacuum or venturi effect pickup tool is disclosed having a body and a forwardly extending tubular member, which may be curved, carrying a rotatable pickup head on its forward end. A rotatable nozzle is carried by the forward portion of the body and an elastomeric tube connected to the nozzle and to the pickup head and extending loosely over the tubular member retains the pickup head to the tubular member and provides a rotational, positioning control of the pickup head by rotating the nozzle about its connection to the body of the tool.

Abstract: A hand held pickup tool is disclosed having a pickup head which may selectively operate as a suction cup for holding small parts or as a venturi effect lift device. For the suction cup mode the tool is supplied with a vacuum and in the venturi lift mode with a positive air flow. A pneumatic circuit is disclosed which includes a venturi vacuum generator operated by a source of shop compressed air. By a simple air switch, the operator may select whether the circuit provides vacuum to the pickup tool or whether the venturi generator is, effectively bypassed to supply a positive air flow to the tool. Various examples of pickup heads for the tool are disclosed which function selectively either as suction holders or venturi lift devices.

Abstract: An air filtering, fume collecting mechanism is disclosed in which the contaminated air is drawn by a fan through a filter element which spins transversely across the flow of air being drawn by the fan. The filter element may be a disc removeably mounted on the hub of the fan blade assembly or it may be shaped to function as the impeller itself.

Abstract: A soldering tip and heat accumulator therefor are disclosed in which the heat accumulator is essentially a hollow cylinder which is disposed over both a cylindrical heater and a major portion of the metal soldering tip. The accumulator is deeply slotted both from its rear and front ends whereby although before assembly it has radial clearance over both, when compressed during assembly by an outer retaining sleeve, the accumulator snugly engages both and provides a very high degree of thermal coupling between the heater and the soldering tip.

Abstract: A soldering tip is disclosed which fits loosely over a ceramic heater rod. The rear skirt of the tip is slotted into segments the rear edges of which are tapered rearwardly inwardly to be engaged by a forwardly opening conical surface on the front of a metallic sheath covering and supporting the rear portion of the ceramic rod. When the soldering tip is urged rearwardly in its assembly to the remainder of the soldering tool the segmented portions of the skirt are then pressed radially inwardly over the ceramic rod. The slots dividing the skirt into segments extend well forwardly thereof whereby the bending of the segments is forwardly of the tip of the ceramic rod where a thermocouple type temperature sensor may be disposed. Thus the skirt portions make good thermal contact with the rear and central portions of the ceramic rod but not with the temperature sensor front tip portion.

Abstract: An air filtering, fume collecting mechanism is disclosed in which the contaminated air is drawn by a fan through a filter element which spins transversely across the flow of air being drawn by the fan. The filter element may be a disc removeably mounted on the hub of the fan blade assembly or it may be shaped to function as the impeller itself.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a bulkhead mounted energy absorbing pad especially useful to protect the head of a passenger seated immediately aft of that bulkhead in a vehicle undergoing a severe frontal crash event. The energy absorbing structure of the pad is a thick panel of low strength aluminum foil honeycomb having its cells aligned essentially with the impact vector. Thin, protective and aesthetic cover sheets and protective edge closeout structure is disclosed.

Abstract: A fully automated cappuccino, latte, and espresso brewing machine which includes a refrigerated milk supply from which milk is drawn by a steam driven venturi apparatus. The venturi subcombination includes independently electrically operated valving for the driving steam, for drawing milk from its supply, and for drawing air, as desired, for foaming the milk in a vortex mixer coupled to the output of the venturi. The valving may be sequential so that with each cycle of use of the apparatus, it is hygienically steam cleaned of all milk residue.

Abstract: A soldering system is disclosed having a stored program microcontroller by which one or more temperatures can be selected for a soldering iron tip. The system then automatically maintains such tip temperature during the soldering operation. The programmed microcontroller is coupled through input/output and interface circuits to a heating control that in turn is connected to the iron heater element for switching AC power in units of full waveform cycles across the element while the temperature of the tip is measured by a resistor sensor and an associated bridge measurement circuit so as to produce a signal that is applied to an input of the microcontroller forming a feedback loop. This causes the resistor sensor and hence the iron tip to reach the desired temperature.

Abstract: An electric soldering iron is disclosed in which a gas such as compressed air is electrically heated and then forced through a metallic soldering tip which is deeply slotted or finned for maximum heat transfer thereto. Soldering is then accomplished by applying the thusly heated tip to the workpiece. The slots may be formed to exhaust the hot gas forwardly over the tip to add heat to the workpiece and control the gaseous environment thereof; or the slots may be formed to exhaust the hot gas laterally or rearwardly to help in removing pollutants from the operator's environment.