Abstract: A pump, such as a vacuum pump, includes at least one housing and a motor and oil reservoir disposed within the housing. The pump housing can include a bottom exterior surface and one or more side and/or front exterior surfaces that extend generally up from the bottom exterior surface. An oil drain port can be positioned at or near the intersection of the bottom exterior surface and the side or front exterior surface. The housing can include an interior bottom surface that defines at least a portion of a drain passageway for the pump and can be fluidicly coupled to the oil reservoir. At least a portion of the interior bottom surface can be angled downward at an acute angle to the horizontal towards the oil drain port to improve the draining and replacement of oil in the pump.

Abstract: A storage container can include a bottom surface and one or more sides that extend up from the bottom surface to define a storage area. The storage container can also include a lid rotatably coupled to at least one of the sides and can be moved from a closed position, preventing or limiting access to the storage area, to an open position, allowing access. The storage container can also include a work surface rotatably coupled to a bottom side of the lid. When the lid is opened, the work surface is rotated into a substantially horizontal position providing a planar top surface to work on. The storage container can also include a leg support assembly that is rotatably coupled to one or more of the side walls of the storage container and can be adjusted into a support position to provide vertical support for a portion of the work surface.

Abstract: A band saw blade can include a blade body having a longitudinally extending back edge along one side and a cutting edge defined by multiple teeth on an opposing side of the blade body. Each tooth can have tip, a rake face disposed along the front side of the tooth, and a relief surface disposed along the opposing rear side of the tooth. A gullet can be disposed between each pair of teeth and can extend from the rake face of one tooth to the relief surface of the next adjacent tooth in the cutting direction. A notch can be defined by the junction of the rake face and the gullet. The rake face can be disposed at a positive angle and with the notch can promote the movement of swarf generated by the tip cutting a work piece into the gullet.

Abstract: A bimetal band saw blade has a cutting edge with a plurality of cutting teeth defining repeating, variable pitch patterns and variable set patterns within pitch patterns. Each relatively heavy set tooth defines a first primary clearance angle, and each unset and relatively light set tooth defines a second primary clearance angle. Each first primary clearance angle is less than or equal to about 20°, each second primary clearance angle is less than or equal to about 25°, and each first primary clearance angle is within the range of about 4° to about 6° less than each second primary clearance angle. Each unset or light set tooth defines a greater gullet area than a respective heavy set tooth and/or a finer pitch than the respective heavy set tooth. Each tooth defines a positive rake angle within the range of about 3° to about 10°.

Abstract: A saw blade can include a blade body having a cutting edge defined by multiple teeth. The teeth can be disposed in a repeating pattern including a raker tooth, a first set tooth having a light offset to a right side of the blade body, a second set tooth having a heavy offset to the left side of the blade body, a second raker tooth, a third set tooth having a light offset to the left side, and a fourth set tooth having a heavy offset to the right side of the blade body. Each tooth can include a tip, rake face, gullet having a gullet depth, and one or more clearance surfaces. The pitch distance and gullet depth of the heavy offset teeth can be less than the pitch distances and gullet depths of the remaining teeth to provide an increased amount of strength for the heavy offset teeth.

Abstract: A hole cutter can include a cylindrical blade body with a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures. Each axially-elongated aperture can include a first fulcrum axially spaced from the cutting edge, and a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum. The blade body can also include a third fulcrum defined by a second aperture different from the one or more axially-elongated apertures. The third fulcrum may be spaced closer to the cutting than the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screw driver, can be inserted into the apertures and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body. The third fulcrum may alternatively be defined by another axially-elongated aperture that is located a different distance from the cutting edge than the axially-elongated aperture containing the first and second fulcrums.

Abstract: A bimetal band saw blade has a cutting edge with a plurality of cutting teeth defining repeating, variable pitch patterns and variable set patterns within pitch patterns. Each relatively heavy set tooth defines a first primary clearance angle, and each unset and relatively light set tooth defines a second primary clearance angle. Each first primary clearance angle is less than or equal to about 20°, each second primary clearance angle is less than or equal to about 25°, and each first primary clearance angle is within the range of about 4° to about 6° less than each second primary clearance angle. Each unset or light set tooth defines a greater gullet area than a respective heavy set tooth and/or a finer pitch than the respective heavy set tooth. Each tooth defines a positive rake angle within the range of about 3° to about 10°.

Abstract: A hydraulic tube expander includes expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube; a source of hydraulic fluid, a valve located between the source and the expanding jaws and a single-action release actuator operatively coupled to the valve. The valve is moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, hydraulic fluid can pass from the source to the expanding jaws and in the open position the hydraulic fluid can pass from the expanding jaws to the source. The actuator is movable between first and second positions. In the first position the valve is in the closed position. Movement of the actuator in a direction from the first position toward the second position moves the valve into the open position.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a cylindrical blade body including a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures formed within a side wall of the blade body. The axially-elongated aperture is configured to receive a lever, such as a screwdriver, therethrough. Each axially-elongated aperture includes a first fulcrum axially spaced adjacent to the cutting edge, a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum, and optionally a third fulcrum axially spaced between the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted into the aperture and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body.

Abstract: A step drill bit can include a cutting head defining a longitudinal axis and multiple steps having different effective diameters. First and second cutting edges can be formed in the cutting head. The first cutting edge and the second cutting edge can be arranged such that the bit is asymmetric in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis relative to a plane containing the longitudinal axis. The step drill bit can further include one or more flutes. Each flute can define a groove in the cutting head that extends along a helical path about the longitudinal axis. Each flute can have a variable helix angle such that the angle of the helix about the longitudinal axis changes at one or more points along the length of the flute.

Abstract: A bar clamp has a slide bar supporting a movable jaw assembly. The slide bar is supported in a fixed jaw assembly. The fixed jaw assembly includes a drive mechanism for moving the slide bar relative to the fixed jaw assembly. Mechanisms for expanding the capacity of the bar clamp including the use of straps and two slide bars. Specialized jaws are provided where the jaws may be removable from the jaw assemblies. Additional clamping jaws are provided in addition to the movable and fixed jaw assemblies for varying the clamping force applied to a workpiece.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a cylindrical blade body including a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures formed within a side wall of the blade body. The axially-elongated aperture is configured to receive a lever, such as a screwdriver, therethrough. Each axially-elongated aperture includes a first fulcrum axially spaced adjacent to the cutting edge, a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum, and optionally a third fulcrum axially spaced between the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted into the aperture and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body.

Abstract: A hydraulic tube expander includes expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube; a source of hydraulic fluid, a valve located between the source and the expanding jaws and a single-action release actuator operatively coupled to the valve. The valve is moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, hydraulic fluid can pass from the source to the expanding jaws and in the open position the hydraulic fluid can pass from the expanding jaws to the source. The actuator is movable between first and second positions. In the first position the valve is in the closed position. Movement of the actuator in a direction from the first position toward the second position moves the valve into the open position.

Abstract: A band saw blade may include a cutting edge defining a cutting plane and configured to engage a workpiece during movement of the band saw blade in a cutting direction, and a back edge located on an opposite side of the band saw blade relative to the cutting edge and defining a repeating back edge pattern. The back edge pattern may include, in sequential order, a ramp-down section defining an acute ramp-down angle relative to a plane parallel to the cutting plane, a first ramp-up section defining a first acute ramp-up angle relative to the plane parallel to the cutting plane, an intermediate section oriented at least substantially parallel to the cutting plane, a second ramp-up section defining a second acute ramp-up angle relative to the plane parallel to the cutting plane, and a spacing section oriented at least substantially parallel to the cutting plane.

Abstract: A recip blade has a cutting edge defining a cutting direction and a repeating pattern of cutting teeth. Each repeating pattern includes (i) a leading tooth with respect to the cutting direction that includes a rake face defining a first rake angle that is negative, and (ii) a trailing tooth following the leading tooth with respect to the cutting direction that includes a rake face defining a second rake angle that is less negative than the first rake angle.

Abstract: In a device and method for taking temperature readings on an HVAC system, a first probe is connectable in thermal communication with the HVAC system for taking a first temperature reading thereof. A second probe is connectable in thermal communication with the HVAC system for taking a second temperature reading thereof that is independent of the first temperature reading. A digital display is connectable to the first and second probes for displaying the first and second temperature readings.