Abstract: A child-resistant handle to be mounted to a valve stem to which is affixed a cogwheel adapter by a shoulder screw. The shoulder screw rotatably mounts the freely rotatable handle to the valve stem. The handle has an inverted cup shape that extends over and covers the cogwheel adapter. A clutch member connected to the handle with a resilient member engaging the clutch to normally keep the clutch member out of engagement with the cogwheel adapter. The clutch member linearly shiftable to engage the cogwheel adapter whereby rotation of the handle will cause a like rotation of the valve stem.

Abstract: A valve assembly 30 having a pressure balancer 38 disposed in a housing 32 in which is formed a chamber 48. A one-piece poppet unit 46 is mounted for movement in the chamber 48. The poppet unit 46 has a shaft 51 with a circular disc 106 to which is bonded a diaphragm 56 and a pair of poppets 52 and 54 formed at either end thereof. The diaphragm 56 divides the chamber to form a compartment on either side thereof in which there is zero leakage across the diaphragm 56 of the poppet unit 46 and eliminating any cross-flow leakage between the hot and cold water, respectively, in the chamber compartments.

Abstract: A voltage converter (100) converts a high voltage, low frequency input to a low D.C. voltage output. The input is rectified to facilitate the operation of an oscillator (202) which operates alternately a pair of MOSFETS (124 and 126).Upon operation of MOSFET (124), the intermediate D.C. voltage is applied across and directs current in one direction through a primary winding (132) of a high frequency step-down transformer (134) and also charges a series-connected capacitor (152). Upon operation of MOSFET (126), capacitor (152) discharges to provide current through primary winding (132) in the opposite direction. In this manner, an alternating voltage at a high frequency is stepped down to a secondary winding (142) of transformer (134) and is rectified to provide the low D.C. voltage output.Diodes (120 and 122) prevent undesirable oscillations within voltage converter (100) if a short should occur in any load connected to the output of the converter.

Abstract: A non-isolated battery charger for direct connection to an AC source provides rectified DC current to the battery being charged. A thermostat in a heat conducting relationship with the battery senses battery temperature and discontinues the charging current when the temperature of the battery rises after attaining full charge. In one form of the invention, a trickle charge path is provided to the battery to maintain its charge state after the full charge has been attained. The trickle charge path is provided by an impedance shunting the thermostat and is operative as a current path when the thermostat is in its open condition. The trickle charge path can be a resistor where the thermostat is in the DC part of the charger circuit or a capacitor where the thermostat is in the AC part of the charge circuit.

Abstract: A keyless chuck includes a jaw housing with jaws that are advanced in respective guideways to grip a tool bit and retracted to loosen the grip on the tool bit. A jaw thrust member is coupled to the jaws and to a threaded spindle and is forced forwardly or rearwardly to advance or retract the jaws. The threaded chuck spindle engages the jaw thrust member through a small-area contact patch to limit the operating friction and thus provide a chuck which can be readily hand-tightened and which self-tightens in response to torque transmitted through the chuck. A lock mechanism is provided to selectively lock a chuck adjusting sleeve relative to the jaw housing to allow uni-directional movement of the chuck adjusting sleeve relative to the jaw housing or selective bi-directional locking of the chuck adjusting sleeve relative to the jaw housing.

Abstract: A cordless power-operated device, such as a saw 20, is powered by a low level D.C. voltage provided by battery pack cells to operate the saw in a cordless mode. The cells are housed in a container 32 which fits into a cavity 23 formed in a housing 22 of saw 20. Another container 66 includes a first section 64 which is shaped externally in the same configuration as container 32. First section 64 houses a voltage converter 62 which converts conventional A.C. voltage, such as 120 volts at 60 Hz, to the low level D.C. voltage required to operate saw 20. Container 66 can be inserted into cavity 23 of saw 20 and voltage converter 62 can be connected to a conventional A.C. source to operate the saw in a corded mode. Container 66 also includes a second section 68 which houses a cooling motor 70. Cooling motor 70 provides powered cooling of saw motor 28, the cooling motor and voltage converter 62.

Abstract: A dual-mode system for operating electrically powered devices, such as hand-held power tools and appliances, includes a cordless battery pack that supplies the power and current demands of the device in a cordless mode or a corded voltage converter that supplies the necessary power and current demands in a physical envelope commensurate in size and interchangeable with that of the battery pack. The corded voltage converter is provided with a high efficiency power supply that allows the converter to generate the power and current required by the driven device and accommodate widely varying loads consequent to normal operation of the device and do so in a physical envelope that is commensurate in size with and interchangeable with the cordless battery pack. The corded voltage converter includes a power conditioner that conditions input source current, such as 120 or 240 volts AC or DC, to provide a relatively high DC voltage that is chopped at a comparatively high frequency, e.g., 25 KHz, by switching devices.