Abstract: In one illustrative embodiment, a power tool may comprise a housing supporting a motor, a primary switch coupled to the housing and configured to control a supply of energy to the motor, and an secondary switch that is reconfigurable between a first position near the primary switch and a second position spaced apart from the first position. When the secondary switch is coupled to the housing in the first position, the primary switch and the secondary switch may be configured such that a user holding the power tool with only one hand can operate both the primary switch and the secondary switch using the one hand. When the secondary switch is coupled to the housing in the second position, the primary switch and the secondary switch may be configured to require the user of the power tool to simultaneously operate the primary switch and the secondary switch using two hands.

Abstract: In one illustrative embodiment, an adapter for transferring electrical signals to a pneumatic tool may comprise a housing having a tool interface and a charger interface, the tool interface shaped to receive a portion of the pneumatic tool, the charger interface shaped to be received by a charger unit that is configured for charging a battery of an electric tool, a tool connector disposed at the tool interface and configured to be removably coupled to electronics of the pneumatic tool, a charger connector disposed at the charger interface and configured to be removably coupled to electronics of the charger unit, and an adapter circuit disposed within the housing and coupled to both the tool connector and the charger connector, wherein the adapter circuit is configured to receive a first power signal via the charger connector and to supply a second power signal via the tool connector.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a valve assembly, the valve assembly structured to selectively permit the flow of a motive fluid from the fluid inlet to a fluid driven motor, wherein the valve assembly further includes a first plunger including a plurality of axially extending fluid channels, wherein the plunger is selectively movable by an actuator in a manner such that as the plunger is displaced farther away from a closed position, the number of axially extending fluid channels placed in fluid communication with the fluid inlet increases, and wherein the axially extending fluid channels permit the flow of the motive fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid driven motor.

Abstract: A compressor includes a rotor having an outer compression surface and a plurality of inner heat exchange surfaces. A coolant supply manifold fluidly connects with a coolant inlet in a first axial end of the rotor, and delivers coolant fluid by way of conduits having an axial distribution in the rotor so as to deliver coolant fluid to the heat exchange surfaces. The coolant may be a refrigerant that undergoes a phase change within the rotor.

Abstract: An impact moisture separator for separating a liquid moisture from a compressed gas. The impact moisture separator includes a plurality of impact plates that are positioned within the inner region of the separator and may be downstream of at least one strut. The strut may be configured to disperse the flow of compressed gas. The impact plates each have a plurality of vanes that extend beyond a plate portion of the impact plates. The vanes are configured to provide a passage for the flow of compressed gases and are offset from the vanes of the adjacent, successive impact plate. Further, the impact plates and strut(s) are tilted toward the incoming flow of compressed gas so as to assist in influencing the downward flow of the compressed gas, and thereby facilitate the flow of separated liquid moisture toward a reservoir of the housing.

Abstract: A compressor system is disclosed with a base structure configured to support a compressor. A removable oil reservoir is connectable with the base structure. An oil drain tube is configured to be in fluid communication with portions of the compressor system and the oil reservoir. The oil reservoir is configured to slidingly move relative to the base structure and engage with the oil drain tube in a fluid sealing arrangement.

Abstract: An electrical machine has passages in the rotor. The passages have an inlet port and an exit port disposed at different locations. The passages remove heat from the electrical machine during operation. Another embodiment is an electrical machine rotor. The rotor has passages that remove heat from an electrical machine during operation. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for electrical machines and the cooling of electrical machine rotors and/or stators.

Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a tool may comprise an output shaft configured to rotate about an axis, the output shaft including a socket mount having a tip and a solid root, and a socket retainer including (i) a retaining pin coupled to the tip of the socket mount and configured to move perpendicularly to the axis between a releasing position in which the retaining pin is located entirely within a first space formed in the tip and a retaining position in which the retaining pin extends outwardly through a first aperture formed in the tip and opening to the first space and (ii) a release pin coupled to the tip of the socket mount and configured to move along the axis to cause the retaining pin to move between the releasing position and the retaining position.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a motor housing structured to receive at least a portion of an electric motor, a tool housing including a first half and a second half, wherein the tool housing defines an end taper, a tool attachment in mechanical communication with the electric motor, and a retention member including an inner taper structured to interface with the end taper of the tool housing to resist relative motion between the tool housing and the motor housing.

Abstract: An air compressor system is disclosed that includes a housing sized to enclose an air compressor pump as well as a dryer structured to remove moisture from air that is compressed by the compressor pump. The air compressor pump may be intermittently placed into operation, but the dryer itself is structured in one form to continuously maintain a heat exchanger in a desired temperature range in anticipation of operation of the air compressor pump. The heat exchanger of the dryer can include sufficient thermal mass such that a refrigerant pump of the dryer need not be operated continuously in anticipation of operation of the air compressor pump. While a cooling air flow can be created by operation of the air compressor pump, when the air compressor pump is not operated a cooling fan can be used provide cooling to the heat generating components of the dryer.

Abstract: A unique compressor system includes a compressor and an oil separation system. The oil separation system may include an oil separator element in fluid communication with a compressor discharge; an oil reservoir in fluid communication with the oil separator element that receives and accumulates separated oil; an oil-level controlled valve to control the flow of the oil from the oil reservoir to the compressor; and a check valve in fluid communication with the oil reservoir, the check valve being structured to prevent a reverse oil flow into the oil reservoir. A unique oil separation system, includes an oil separator element; an oil reservoir to accumulate separated oil; an oil-level controlled valve to control the flow of the from the oil reservoir; and a check valve to prevent a reverse oil flow into the oil reservoir.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a seal assembly including a first seal and a second seal, wherein the first seal and the second seal axially abut one another within a retaining bore of a compressor, and cooperatively form an outer radial contour of the seal assembly that is retained by the retaining bore.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a centrifugal compressor, a heat exchanger integral with the centrifugal compressor and configured to transfer heat from a fluid pressurized by the centrifugal compressor to a cooling fluid flow, and a cooling fluid supply head of the heat exchanger comprising an integral flow control valve configured to regulate a cooling fluid flow rate through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a diaphragm pump may include a sleeve formed to include (i) a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and (ii) a sleeve port that opens to the bore, and a spool supported in the bore of the sleeve and formed to include a spool port, the spool being configured to move with a diaphragm during at least a portion of a stroke of the diaphragm such that the spool slides relative to the sleeve and, when the diaphragm reaches a turndown position that is between first and second end-of-stroke positions, the spool port aligns with the sleeve port to cause a pilot signal to be supplied to a cut-off valve. At least one of the sleeve and the spool may be rotatable about the longitudinal axis to adjust a location of the turndown position relative to the first and second end-of-stroke positions.

Abstract: Battery packs include a battery pack housing, at least one battery release member held by the battery housing, a (blind) latch held by the battery pack housing in communication with the battery release member that releaseably locks the battery pack to a device, and a tactile feedback mechanism that is held by the battery pack housing and is in communication with the battery release member. The tactile feedback mechanism generates a tactile feedback that reduces or increases an application force required by a user to manually actuate the at least one release member. The tactile feedback transmitted through the at least one battery release member. The tactile feedback is generated when the at least one release member has been manually actuated by the user a sufficient distance to allow the user to easily remove the battery pack from the device.

Abstract: A modular silencer for use on a compressor or blower mounted on a vehicle. The compressor has an intake port and an exhaust port, and the silencer has an inlet port in communication with the exhaust port of the compressor. The silencer includes a silencer housing and a resonator assembly removably positioned inside the housing. In one embodiment, the compressor includes a compressor housing and a power input shaft protruding from the compressor housing adjacent the air exhaust port. The silencer housing preferably includes a concave portion that at least partially receives the power input shaft. The silencer housing can also include a groove on the inner surface, and the resonator assembly can be at least partially positioned in the groove. Preferably, the resonator assembly includes a resonator plate, a plurality of resonator pipes extending through the plate, and a reinforcing flange coupled between at least two of the resonator pipes.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, an electric motor mounted in the housing, and a switching device for reversing rotation direction of the motor. The switching device includes an actuator slidably secured to the housing and movable between first and second positions. The actuator includes a magnet. A first ferromagnetic member is attached to a first housing section so as to be within range of attraction force of the magnet when the actuator is in the first position and a second ferromagnetic member is attached to a second housing section so as to be within range of attraction force of the magnet when the actuator is in the second position. A hall sensor is attached to the housing so as to be proximate the magnet as the actuator is moved between first and second positions. Proximity of the magnet and hall sensor reverses the direction of rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A working fluid case includes a housing and a breather device. The breather device includes a vent passage located in a recess formed in the housing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrical machine includes selecting a desired threshold control current, selecting dimensions to modify stator teeth of a magnetic bearing based on the desired threshold control current, and modifying the stator teeth using the selected dimensions. A method of producing a rotating machine includes selecting an operating point of a magnetic bearing of the rotating machine, and shaping at least some stator teeth of the magnetic bearing to generate increased force at control currents above the control current at the selected operating point.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of pump systems and methods are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a piston pump including a motor and a plunger, where the motor is configured to drive linear reciprocating motion of the plunger in response to being supplied with a flow of compressed fluid, a metering valve fluidly coupled to the motor, the metering valve being configured to control the flow of compressed fluid to the motor, a purge valve fluidly coupled between the metering valve and the motor, a linear encoder coupled to the piston pump, the linear encoder configured to generate sensor data indicative of a position of the plunger, and an electronic controller operatively coupled to the metering valve, the purge valve, and the linear encoder, where the electronic controller is configured to receive sensor data from the linear encoder and to control the metering valve and the purge valve.