Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pneumatic tubing wrench wherein a radially slotted socket member is rotatably mounted in a housing end portion having a similar slot. When the slots of the socket and the housing are aligned, the socket may be placed over a length of tubing and engaged on a fastener. For realignment of the slots following tightening of a fastener and axial disengagement of the socket from the fastener, a spool type valve is provided near the throttle valve. When the throttle lever is depressed only slightly, the throttle valve is opened to admit a very small flow of air through the secondary exhaust flow path of the tool's air motor, thereby driving the motor in reverse. A spring-biased pin and inclined slot arrangement on a portion of the tool's gearing permits the motor to be driven backward only to the position wherein the socket and housing slots are aligned.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling a sheet of storage battery separator material about a lead battery plate is disclosed. A battery plate is fed against the center of a flat sheet of battery separator material. The sheet is retained by guides above and below the line against which the battery plate is fed, so that as the plate is fed past the guides, the sheet is folded and enveloped about the somewhat narrower battery plate. As the enveloped plate continues to advance forward, it is engaged between pairs of opposed belt conveyors which take the battery and separator through a heating station. The adjacent inner edge surfaces of the folded separator are heat-sensitive, so that when the hot air and combustion gases at the heating station strike the adjacent inner edge surfaces, they become tacky.

Abstract: A locker or stowage system particularly suited for athletic or school use is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of adjacent rows or tiers made up of a number of adjacent lockers or individual stowage compartments with access to each compartment provided on the lateral face of each tier. The tiers of compartments are positioned side-by-side with their lateral faces closely adjacent and each tier is adapted to individually move relative to one another, in a direction parallel to the lateral faces, between a closed, retracted position and an open, extended position. The installed system can be fully closed with all tiers in retracted position to eliminate access to all lockers or comparements. When selected or alternate tiers are moved to open position, access to lockers in those extended tiers is provided in the space between such alternate tiers defined by the width of the still closed or retracted tiers.

Abstract: A combination tool particularly adapted for use by operators of semi-trailer trucks. The tool includes an elongate hollow body of rigid material having a pivoted handle or bail on one end and a weight at the other end circumjacent the body. An axially slidable hook protrudes from the weighted end for use in operation of a fifth wheel hitch when extended. An extensible graduated depth gauge is telescopically positioned within the body at the handle end which, when extended, is a depth-type fuel gauge for checking fuel depth in truck tanks. The pivoted handle may be swung away from its axial position to permit extension of the depth gauge and a secondary tool grip is provided circumjacent the body of the tool at the handle end thereof.

Abstract: A power transmission system for small vehicles or machinery having a principal forward speed and variable forward and reverse speeds capable of providing lower variable speeds is disclosed. The transmission system includes a primary transmission and a secondary transmission connected in series. In one of three positions, the two transmission housings and primary output shaft are keyed together. This results in a non-variable output, principal forward speed with a 1 to 1 ratio between the speed at which the engine rotates the primary transmission housing and the speed of the output shaft. In a second setting, the secondary transmission housing is keyed only to the output shaft from the primary transmission. This results in a forward speed having a variable output depending upon the load placed on the input shaft to the primary transmission. In a third position, the housings for the primary and secondary transmissions and the output shaft from the primary transmission are each disengaged from each other.

Abstract: An extractor for pulling individual tubes from a tube sheet in a heat exchanger. The extractor includes two pairs of drivers mounted in a housing on parallel rotatable shafts. The two drivers in each pair have inclined teeth which project into opposite sides of a passageway along which a tube is drawn. A variable speed pneumatic motor and a gear transmission rotate the four drivers at the same controlled speed and rotate the two drivers in each pair in opposite directions to advance a tube through the passageway.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a stratified charge to a reciprocating internal combustion engine is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical rotary valve body disposed for rotation within the head of an internal combustion engine. The valve body defines first and second inlet ports and an exhaust port. The first inlet port is disposed, upon rotation in the valve body, to establish communication between an intake manifold for transporting a fuel lean charge and a main combustion chamber of the engine. The second inlet port is disposed for establishing simultaneous communication between a second manifold for transporting a fuel-rich charge and a pre-combustion chamber adjacent the main combustion chamber. The exhaust valve is disposed for establishing communication between an exhaust manifold and the main combustion chamber. In a second embodiment of the invention, the inlet passages and the exhaust passages are located in separate valve bodies mounted for rotation within the head.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus includes a chemical dehumidifier which employs an aqueous hygroscopic solution of a glycol and a solar energy collector for use in regenerating the solution. Air to be conditioned is circulated through a contactor of the chemical dehumidifier, in contact with cooled glycol solution. Concentrated hygroscopic glycol solution is circulated from a regenerator to the contactor, while dilute solution is circulated from the contactor to the regenerator. Energy from the solar collector is transferred to facilitate concentration thereof. In one disclosed embodiment energy from the solar collector is also transferred to the generator of heat-powered refrigeration apparatus, e.g., absorption or rankine engine driven refrigeration apparatus.