Abstract: A telescoping downdraft ventilator with a system for self-aligning a vent within a housing is provided. The telescoping downdraft ventilator of the present invention comprises a housing with a side panel that includes a channel, a vent sized to fit within the housing, a drive assembly that moves the vent along the channel, and a guide attached to the vent for engaging the channel, wherein the guide is operably coupled with a biasing element. In one embodiment, a pair of guides is respectively coupled with a pair of springs and is positioned on opposite sides of the vent along a line that is substantially perpendicular to a pair of channels.

Abstract: A cooktop is provided that has a downdraft ventilator with a seal arrangement that may include a plenum seal and a vent grate seal. The plenum and vent grate seals may be arranged at interconnections of a plenum, a panel of the cooktop, and a vent grate to provide a layered and substantially airtight interconnection between such components.

Abstract: A telescoping downdraft ventilator with a system for self-aligning a vent within a housing is provided. The telescoping downdraft ventilator of the present invention comprises a housing with a side panel that includes a channel, a vent sized to fit within the housing, a drive assembly that moves the vent along the channel, and a guide attached to the vent for engaging the channel, wherein the guide is operably coupled with a biasing element. In one embodiment, a pair of guides is respectively coupled with a pair of springs and is positioned on opposite sides of the vent along a line that is substantially perpendicular to a pair of channels.

Abstract: A cooktop is provided that has a downdraft ventilator with a seal arrangement that may include a plenum seal and a vent grate seal. The plenum and vent grate seals may be arranged at interconnections of a plenum, a panel of the cooktop, and a vent grate to provide a layered and substantially airtight interconnection between such components.

Abstract: A trailer hitch ball for use with a trailer hitch, a lock housing, a lock washer and a nut. The trailer hitch ball can be used to secure a trailer to a vehicle. The hitch ball includes a ball portion, a base portion and a threaded portion. The ball portion includes an integral drive member such that when torque is applied to the drive member, force is applied to the ball portion and the ball portion rotates relative to a trailer hitch. The outer surface of the ball portion may define two parallel and opposing tool engaging surfaces. When a trailer coupler is locked to the ball portion, the trailer and trailer hitch ball are secure from theft.

Abstract: A lock including a lock body, lock cylinder, a threaded member and an engagement member. The engagement member moves within the lock body to engage the threaded member in at least two different positions. One of the positions allows the lock threaded member to be tightened onto a corresponding threaded connection and then locked into place, thereby securing the object which contains the threaded connection. Another one of the positions allows the lock threaded to be loosened from the corresponding threaded connection and thereby allows the lock to be removed from the object which contains the threaded connection.

Abstract: A tool lock, especially useful in preventing theft or unauthorized use of a tool. The tool lock has a housing in which a lock cylinder assembly and locking balls are disposed. The tool lock housing has an opening at one end in which a portion of a tool, such as a pneumatic fitting on a pneumatic tool, may be inserted and secured by the engagement of the locking balls. The tool lock housing may further include a shackle portion which can be used in conjunction with a cable, either integral or separate, padlock, or chain to secure the tool lock to another object.

Abstract: A lock assembly for securing a trailer including a hitch ball, a lock housing, a lock washer and a nut. The lock housing is placed over the lock washer and nut to prevent the nut from turning. A threaded portion of the hitch ball is placed through a hole in the lock housing and through the lock washer and nut to secure the hitch ball. When a trailer coupler is locked to the ball portion of the hitch ball, the trailer and hitch ball are secure from theft.

Abstract: A lock including a lock body, lock cylinder, a threaded member and an engagement member. The engagement member moves within the lock body to engage the threaded member in at least two different positions. One of the positions allows the lock threaded member to be tightened onto a corresponding threaded connection and then locked into place, thereby securing the object which contains the threaded connection. Another one of the positions allows the lock threaded to be loosened from the corresponding threaded connection and thereby allows the lock to be removed from the object which contains the threaded connection.

Abstract: A lock assembly for securing a trailer including a hitch ball, a lock housing, a lock washer and a nut. The lock housing is placed over the lock washer and nut to prevent the nut from turning. A threaded portion of the hitch ball is placed through a hole in the lock housing and through the lock washer and nut to secure the hitch ball. When a trailer coupler is locked to the ball portion of the hitch ball, the trailer and hitch ball are secure from theft.

Abstract: A tool lock, especially useful in preventing theft or unauthorized use of a tool. The tool lock has a housing in which a lock cylinder assembly and locking balls are disposed. The tool lock housing has an opening at one end in which a portion of a tool, such as a pneumatic fitting on a pneumatic tool, may be inserted and secured by the engagement of the locking balls. The tool lock housing may further include a shackle portion which can be used in conjunction with a cable, either integral or separate, padlock, or chain to secure the tool lock to another object.

Abstract: A method of operating a two-stroke, spark-ignited, internal combustion engine in which the ignition is time-based controlled at low or idle speeds and is crank-angle-based controlled at higher speeds.

Abstract: A method of partially fabricating a precisely dimensioned fuel pump wherein selected pump elements are partially assembled before those elements are machined. After machining, the partially assembled elements exhibit enhanced concentricity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel pump comprising a housing including therein a high pressure fuel chamber, a fuel outlet valve communicating with the high pressure fuel chamber and being operable to prevent fuel inflow and to permit fuel outflow when the fuel pressure is above a predetermined level, a fuel inlet valve communicating with the high pressure chamber and being operable to prevent fuel outflow and to permit fuel inflow, and a bearing bore extending from the high pressure chamber, a rod slideably and sealingly supported in the bearing bore for movement relative to a retracted position, and structure located in the housing for displacing the rod from the retracted position and in the direction toward the high pressure fuel chamber through an initial stroke length without encountering substantial resistance and thereafter displacing the rod through a subsequent stroke length which is effective to highly pressurize the fuel in the high pressure fuel chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of machining and assembling members of a solenoid fuel pump to produce a magnetic gap length between an armature assembly which includes an armature member having first and second axially spaced end surfaces, and a radially outwardly extending surface forming a part of a housing member having an axis and including an axial bore defined by an inner surface having therein a magnetic gap defined, in part, by the radially outwardly extending surface which extends from the inner surface, and having a counterbore located in spaced axial relation from the radially outwardly extending surface and defined, in part, by an annular shoulder, which method comprises the steps of fabricating the housing member with the axis and including the axial bore defined by the inner surface having therein the magnetic gap defined, in part, by the surface extending radially outwardly from the inner surface, and the counterbore located in spaced outward axial relation from the radially outwardly extending s

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a valve construction comprising a main body having therein a bore extending along an axis, adapted to contain fuel under pressure, and having, at the axially outer end thereof, an axially outwardly diverging conical surface extending at a first acute angle to the axis, and a needle valve located in the axial bore, movable relative to the main body between open and closed positions, and including a stem portion, and a head portion including a first diverging conical surface which extends axially outwardly from the stem portion at a second acute angle greater than the first acute angle and terminates in a first edge which, when the needle valve is in the closed position, sealingly engages the conical surface of the main body, and which has a diameter, a second surface which extends axially outwardly from the first edge in increasingly spaced relation from the conical surface of the main body and then in decreasingly spaced relation from the conical surface of the main body and which terminat

Abstract: A method of constructing a magnetic flux gap comprising fabricating a first portion from a material having low reluctance and so as to provide an end surface, and a cylindrical inner surface having a diameter, fabricating a second portion from a material having high reluctance and so as to provide axially spaced first and second end surfaces, and a cylindrical inner surface having a diameter greater than the diameter of said cylindrical inner surface of said first portion, fabricating a third portion from a material having low reluctance and so as to provide an end surface, and a cylindrical inner surface having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical inner surface of said first portion, fixing together the first and second portions with the first end surface of the second portion in axially abutting adjacent relation to the end surface of the first portion and with said cylindrical inner surfaces in concentric relation, fixing together the second and third portions with the second

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nozzle assembly comprising a housing including a central bore having, at one end thereof, a valve seat, an elongated needle member having, at one end thereof, a valve portion engageable with the valve seat, and having, at the other end thereof, an end portion, a retainer member having therein a bore receiving the end portion of the needle, and being fixed to the end portion of the needle, and a spring acting between the housing and the retainer member to bias the valve portion into engagement with the valve seat, and a method of assembly therefor comprising the steps of locating the needle member in the bore in the housing with the valve portion in engagement with the valve seat and with the end portion extending from the housing, locating the spring in surrounding relation to the end portion of the needle member and in operative engagement with the housing, locating the retainer member with the end portion of the needle member passing through the bore in the retainer member, spacing the

Abstract: A valve assembly including a valve housing adapted to be fixed in the bore of a member supplying fuel under pressure, the valve housing including a bore which extends along an axis, which is adapted to communicate with the bore of the member and which has an end portion defining a valve seat, a valve member moveable in the axial bore in the valve housing between a closed position in which the valve member is engaged with the valve seat and an open position in which the valve member is spaced from the valve seat, the valve member including an inner end, a retainer rigidly fixed to the inner end of the valve member, and a spring bearing against the valve housing and against the retainer so as to bias the valve member into the closed position when the fuel pressure in the valve assembly is below a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A single-piece foam pattern for use in the lost foam casting of a ported cylinder sleeve is formed in a molding tool having a pair of displaceable elements and a removable center core. Ports, of preselected size, shape and location, are defined by movable cores which are extended into position between the displaceable elements and the center core. Following introduction of a molding material, the movable cores are retracted after which the mold elements and center core are separated and the foam pattern is removed.