Abstract: A storage chest, or tool cabinet, is provided. The storage chest includes a wall structure defining an open-front compartment, and at least one upstanding drawer slidable into and out of the compartment through the open front. Each drawer includes an upstanding holding panel having upper and lower ends and front and back surfaces, a support coupled to the panel for supporting items above the lower end, and a catch basin extending below the lower end of the holding panel and projecting forwardly from the front surface. The catch basin includes a front flange projecting upwardly from the lower end toward the upper end. The catch basin advantageously catches and retains items that may fall off the holding panel.

Abstract: A reversible ratchet wrench has a ratchet body with a cavity receiving the ratchet assembly. A pawl-engaging reversing lever is insertable through an opening in the ratchet body from the cavity and has a flange dimensioned to be trapped between the body and the pawl. A seal between the reversing lever and the ratchet body is provided by an O-ring seated in a groove in the outer surface of the reversing lever hub. A cover plate closes the cavity and cooperates with the pawl and the flange to retain the reversing lever in place.

Abstract: A cabinet is provided which includes wall structure defining an open-faced compartment containing a plurality of upright drawers or panels mounted in the compartment for movement from a first position totally within the compartment to a second position extending out of the compartment. The cabinet includes a lock bar movable between unlocked and locked positions, wherein in the locked position the lock bar prevents drawers disposed in the first position from moving to the second position and biasing structure coupled to the lock bar and resiliently urging the lock bar toward the unlocked position. The lock bar moves to its locked position in response to movement of a drawer to its second position.

Abstract: A biasing structure for maintaining a pawl in engagement with a toothed gear of a ratchet wrench is provided. The structure includes an elongated plunger having an axis, a pawl engagement end, a spring insertion portion having a free end, a central portion connecting the engagement end to the spring insertion portion, and an annular first shoulder having a shoulder diameter formed between the spring insertion portion and the central portion. The spring insertion portion is tapered from a maximum diameter at the first shoulder to a minimum diameter at the free end. The structure also includes a compression spring coupled to the plunger assembly and having a plurality of coils, wherein at least one of the coils has a diameter less than the shoulder diameter and is disposed about the central portion. A reversible ratchet wrench having a pawl and using the biasing structure is also provided.

Abstract: An interference fit joint is provided and includes a first member having a plurality of internal splines separated by valleys and defining a splined aperture having a first axis. Each of the internal splines has a crest and first and second internal sides and is symmetrical about a plane which includes the first axis. This joint also includes a second member having a second axis and an exterior surface having a plurality of external splines separated by valleys and engageable with the internal splines to form an interference fit therebetween. Each of the external splines has a crest and first and second external sides and is symmetrical about a plane which includes the second axis. The first and second external sides are respectively shaped differently from and engageable with first and second internal sides of adjacent internal splines, there being no engagement at the crests and valleys. An indexable head ratchet wrench employing the joint is also disclosed.

Abstract: An exhaust emissions analyzer for an automotive internal combustion engine has sensors for detecting constituents of the exhaust emissions, including a nitric oxide cell which receives the emissions and outputs an electrical signal indicative of nitric oxide in the emissions. An R-C circuit is interposed between the output of the nitric oxide cell and processing circuitry for enhancing the response time of the nitric oxide cell, reducing the rise and fall times of the cell output of signal. A temperature-responsive switching circuit disconnects the R-C enhancement circuit above a predetermined ambient temperature.

Abstract: A replaceable, flexible and resilient grip is slidably fitted over a generally cylindrical handle portion of a power hand tool housing. In one embodiment, for use with a pistol grip housing with a separable end cap, the grip has a flange which is clamped between the end cap and the barrel of the housing and has lugs which fit in recesses in the barrel and end cap. The grip also has a strap portion which fits between the trigger and the barrel and a flange which fits in a groove adjacent to the barrel. In another embodiment, the tool has an air exhaust port adjacent to the handle portion and the grip defines an exhaust air passage alongside the handle portion, the grip being held in place by a retaining plate.

Abstract: A palm driver has a rotatable drive member and an ergonomic handle body connected to the drive member through a ratchet mechanism and covered by a cushioning grip. The handle body is asymmetrically curved and is substantially continuously convex along portions engageable in use with the user's hand, having a generally flattened top surface opposite the drive member and receivable in the user's palm, and a peripheral side surface which has a plan outline which is continuously convex and has a generally flattened heel portion and an opposed, much smaller radius finger portion, respectively engageable with the heel and fingers of the user's hand in use.

Abstract: A ratcheting electronic torque wrench has an input beam in the form of a hollow housing with a handle end and a work end, a ratchet head disposed within the work end of the housing and rotatable relative thereto and a reaction beam disposed within the housing and having one end fixed to the ratchet head for pivoting therewith about the axis thereof and an input end resiliently urged to a neutral position relative to the housing by two bias springs respectively engaging opposite sides of the reaction beam. A Hall-effect sensor carried by the input end of the reaction beam is disposed between two permanent magnets and is powered by a battery for producing an output indicative of reaction beam movement, which is proportional to applied torque. A display circuit can display the applied torque or a predetermined torque level set by a preset circuit. An alarm signal is generated when the applied torque reaches the predetermined level.

Abstract: A ratchet tool has a ratchet body carrying a ratchet mechanism including a gear and a pair of pawls resiliently urged into engagement with the gear by spring-loaded balls. A handle is releasably received on a post which projects from one end of the ratchet body and is retained thereon by a spring-loaded ball receivable in a circumferential groove in the handle bore to accommodate free spinning thereof. A latching pin in the handle is selectively insertable in any of a plurality of recesses in the ratchet body to lock the handle to the body. A reversing sleeve is rotatably carried by the other end of the ratchet body for engaging the pawls to selectively control the direction of the ratcheting movement. The reversing sleeve has a tubular post which forms a part of an axial push-pull quick-release coupler for releasably retaining a bit in engagement in an axial bore of the ratchet gear.

Abstract: A pneumatic tool includes a housing defining an air inlet and first and second exhaust passages and an air motor fluidly coupled to the air inlet and disposed in the housing. The motor produces exhaust air in operation and is fluidly coupled to the first and second exhaust passages. The tool also includes an exhaust valve carried by housing for selectively opening and closing only the second exhaust passage.

Abstract: A power tool is provided and includes a tool housing having interior and exterior surfaces and inlet and outlet air vents and a motor disposed in the tool housing and having a motor housing with an external surface and inlet air ports for the passage of cooling air into the motor and outlet air ports for passage of warmed exhaust air from the motor. The inlet and outlet air ports open at the external surface and the outlet air ports are spaced from the inlet air ports. The tool also includes an air deflector resiliently coupled to the external surface. The air deflector includes wall structures bracketing the outlet air ports. The structures have portions extending to and contacting the interior surface of the tool housing and bracketing the outlet air vents to form a barrier around the outlet air ports and vents to channel exhaust air to the outlet vents and substantially inhibit exhaust air from the outlet air ports from entering the inlet air ports or other portions of the tool.

Abstract: A tip valve for a pneumatic tool includes a first valve member having a bore with a central axis and defining a valve seat about the bore and a second valve member having an engaging surface engageable with the valve seat to form a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith. A stem is coupled to the second valve member and extends through the bore, with at least a portion of the stem being offset from the axis, and a valve operating member is coupled to the stem for movement between a closed position wherein the second valve engages the valve seat to close the bore and an open position wherein the second valve member is tilted from the valve seat to open the bore. A spring urges the second valve member and the valve operating member to the closed position. In one embodiment, the stem is bent and in another it is straight but eccentrically mounted on the second valve member.

Abstract: A combination screwdriver, scraper and prybar has a handle with an elongated shank terminating in a multi-function blade. The blade has opposed, flat, planar blade faces converging toward and joined by a distal planar end surface which intersects and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank. The blade faces are respectfully inclined to the axis at substantially three degrees and substantially seven degrees. The shank may be square or circular in transverse cross-section and, if square, opposed sides of the shank lie in planes perpendicular to the blade faces.