Abstract: A rotary chuck includes a clamp assembly, a first drive mechanism for operating the clamp assembly to clamp an associated workpiece, a frame rotationally fixed to the clamp assembly, and a second drive mechanism for rotating the frame and the clamp assembly. The second drive mechanism can rotate the frame and the clamp assembly around 360 degrees. A pair of alignment springs are engaged with a mounting plate upon which the second drive mechanism is mounted. The mounting plate can pivot relative to a stable surface to which it is mounted, and the springs limit the pivotal movement. Each first and second drive mechanism includes a motor, and are connected to a microprocessor for operation of the respective motor.

Abstract: A conduit bender having a unitary frame is mounted to a wheeled base which provides for transportation of the bender. A braking assembly provides for simplified locking of the wheels to secure the bender in a location. The bender is mounted to the base through a pivoting assembly which allows for bending of conduit in either a horizontal or vertical plane. A circuit is provided for controlling the bending operation. An auto-sensing portion of the circuit receives information regarding the characteristics of the conduit to be bent upon placement of the conduit in the bender. A feed back portion of the circuit is used to provide a precise bending operation.

Abstract: An assembly includes a fish tape device or a duct rodding device having digital measurement unit attached thereto. A tape is housed in the fish tape device or a duct rodding device and is paid out of the device. The digital measurement unit includes an optical sensor which is positioned proximate to the tape. As the tape is passed by the optical sensor, the optical sensor uses digital image correlation to take successive images of the tape to determine a length measurement of tape that has passed by the optical sensor.

Abstract: A rotary chuck includes a clamp assembly, a first drive mechanism for operating the clamp assembly to clamp an associated workpiece, a frame rotationally fixed to the clamp assembly, and a second drive mechanism for rotating the frame and the clamp assembly. The second drive mechanism can rotate the frame and the clamp assembly around 360 degrees. A pair of alignment springs are engaged with a mounting plate upon which the second drive mechanism is mounted. The mounting plate can pivot relative to a stable surface to which it is mounted, and the springs limit the pivotal movement. Each first and second drive mechanism includes a motor, and are connected to a microprocessor for operation of the respective motor.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for forming holes in a workpiece. The assembly includes an arbor, a pin sleeve and a cutting device. The arbor has a nose having at least one threaded portion and at least one unthreaded portions on an external surface thereof. The arbor also has at least one pin passageway extending therethrough. The pin sleeve has at least one pin extending from a main body. The arbor extends through the pin sleeve. The cutting device has a back plate and a plurality of teeth extending therefrom. The back plate has a passageway defined by a wall with at least one threaded portion and at least one unthreaded portion. The at least one threaded portion of the cutting device is capable of engaging with the at least one threaded portion of the nose, and the at least one pin of the pin sleeve is capable of engagement with the at least one pin passageway of the arbor to secure the components together.

Abstract: A cable roller for use in positioning a cable relative to a cable tray or relative to a ceiling of a building includes a mounting channel, a support assembly attached thereto which is moveable relative to the mounting channel, and at least one roller attached to the support assembly for allowing the cable to roll thereover. The support assembly can be moved from a closed position to an open position to allow for the easy removal of the cable from the cable roller.

Abstract: An assembly includes a die and a punch which cut a hole in a workpiece. The die has a base wall having outer and inner surfaces and a passageway extending therethrough, and a wall extending from the base wall. The inner surface of the base wall has at least one portion which is angled relative to a central axis of the die. The punch includes a body having a bore therethrough, a leading edge on the body which is capable of piercing and cutting a workpiece, and cutting edges on the body for cutting a hole in the workpiece. The leading edge has inclined surfaces between the bore and the piercing points which engage with the portion of the inner surface of the die.

Abstract: A cable roller for use in positioning a cable relative to a cable tray or relative to a ceiling of a building includes a mounting channel, a support assembly attached thereto which is moveable relative to the mounting channel, and at least one roller attached to the support assembly for allowing the cable to roll thereover. The support assembly can be moved from a closed position to an open position to allow for the easy removal of the cable from the cable roller.

Abstract: An assembly includes a quick-release head, a tail piece and a flexible metal rod. The tail piece includes a shaft and a male coupler formed of a head, body, and flute. At least a portion of the male coupler head has a reduced outer dimension relative to an outer dimension of the body. When the male coupler is mounted in a second quick-release head or drill, a clearance space is provided between the reduced outer dimension portion and the second quick-release head or drill. During use, the assembly may undergo bending which results in significant forces applied in particular to the male coupler head. By providing the clearance space, these forces are predominantly shifted to the male coupler body, thereby reducing the likelihood that the male coupler head will shear from the remainder of the male coupler.

Abstract: An audio tone probe is used by a technician to identify a conductor carrying an applied tracing tone signal. A probe tip is positioned proximate a conductor. A mains warning circuit and a tracing circuit are provided in communication with the probe tip and a speaker is provided in communication with the mains warning and tracing circuits. Signals detected by the probe tip are provided to the mains warning circuit and the tracing circuit. The mains warning circuit determines whether a mains signal is present in the detected signal and activates a warning generator if a mains signal is present. The tracing circuit filters mains signals from the detected signals. A tracing circuit output provides a tone generating signal to the speaker for use in identifying the presence of the applied tracing tone. The probe incudes a test tone generator to verify that the probe is operational.

Abstract: An assembly includes a hole saw, an arbor, a collar and a nut. The hole saw is formed from a back plate and a skirt which has a cutting edge on its free end. A passageway is provided through the hole saw. The arbor is rotatably mounted to the hole saw and extends through the passageway. The collar is nonrotatably mounted on the arbor. The collar has a protrusion extending from an end face thereof. A nut is rotatably mounted on the arbor. The collar is trapped between the nut and the hole saw. The nut directly bears against the end face and the protrusion of the collar, which causes the nut to cock relative to the collar. As a result, the nut does not easily come loose on the arbor, even during aggressive use.

Abstract: A non-contact, hand-held voltage detector is used to determine if AC voltage is present in a tamper-resistant receptacle. The voltage detector includes a pair of pins to open both shutters of the tamper-resistant receptacle.

Abstract: The test instrument is used to perform both time domain reflectometry (TDR) and analysis of transmission signals on a line under test. Further, the test instrument provides for both pulse TDR and step TDR. A coupling transformer having an enhanced low frequency response provides for coupling of the test instrument to the line under test. Isolation circuits between the coupling transformer and the line under test to prevent damage to the test instrument due to voltages on the line under test allow the test instrument to be used in connection with an active line under test. Two isolation circuits are utilized to maintain longitudinal balance of the circuit. During step TDR, the positive and negative transmitter circuits provide step-shaped impulse signals.

Abstract: A punch assembly includes a punch, a sleeve, a draw stud and a die. The sleeve adds rigidity to the draw stud, thereby reducing elastic deflection of the draw stud, reducing bending moment on the draw stud, reducing punching force, and extending the punch, draw stud and die fatigue life. The sleeve also aids in axial alignment of the punch, die and workpiece with a pilot hole drilled through a workpiece.

Abstract: A punch assembly includes a punch, a sleeve, a draw stud and a die. The punch has a punch profile which provides a cutting edge that has a uniform “sharpness” along entire perimeter of the punch. The punch assembly provides additional punch-to-die clearance over what was done in the prior art. This reduces excessive punching forces which result from axial deflection of the draw stud and “tipping” of a large diameter punch as the draw stud deflects under a load.

Abstract: A relief valve assembly limits the maximum torque of a gear motor of a hydraulically driven tool. The relief valve assembly dumps flow to a return channel to return hydraulic fluid to the supply when the relief valve assembly is activated. The relief valve assembly is placed in the channel of a directional valve spool, and varies its pressure setting depending upon spool position. This is useful to vary the pressure settings of a hydraulic motor in different directions.

Abstract: A handle for a hydraulically driven tool is provided reduces the amount of heat transmitted to the user of the tool as a result of the high temperature fluid flowing through the inner body of the handle. The inner body is formed of a heat transmissive material which has at least one channel through which the fluid flows. The handle has a number of properties which reduces heat transmission to the user, including standoffs, ribs and fastener receiving extensions.

Abstract: A bypass assembly varies the hydraulic motor revolutions per minute (rpm) of a hydraulically driven tool, such as a wrench or a drill. This controls the torque of a driven mechanical mechanism, such as used on an impact wrench. The tool includes a body having a supply channel capable of being connected a source of fluid, a bypass spool channel in fluid communication with the supply channel, and a return channel in fluid communication with the bypass spool channel via a port and in fluid communication with the source. A bypass spool seats in the bypass spool channel. The bypass spool can be rotated to three discrete positions within the bypass spool channel to provide three different settings of revolutions per minute (rpm) of the gear motor.