Abstract: A rotary engine includes a compressor assembly and two power assemblies that receive compressed air from the compressor assembly. Each assembly includes at least two intermeshing rotors. The rotors of the compressor assembly compress air, either alone or in an air/fuel mixture, in a compression chamber located in that assembly. The compressed air is transferred to the expansion chambers of the power assemblies, where fuel is ignited to initiate a power stroke. A line bisecting the axes of the rotors of the compressor assembly is inclined at an acute angle relative to a line bisecting the axes of the rotors of the power assemblies. The power assemblies operate 180° out of phase with respect to one another to minimize power fluctuations in the engine.

Abstract: A rotary engine includes a compressor assembly and two power assemblies that receive compressed air from the compressor assembly. Each assembly includes at least two intermeshing rotors. The rotors of the compressor assembly compress air, either alone or in an air/fuel mixture, in a compression chamber located in that assembly. The compressed air is transferred to the expansion chambers of the power assemblies, where fuel is ignited to initiate a power stroke. A line bisecting the axes of the rotors of the compressor assembly is inclined at an acute angle relative to a line bisecting the axes of the rotors of the power assemblies. The power assemblies operate 180° out of phase with respect to one another to minimize power fluctuations in the engine.

Abstract: A rotary pump includes a valve rotor and one or more vane rotors positioned around it. Each vane rotor has a vane that engages a slot in the valve rotor as the vane rotor rotates. A housing around the valve rotor and the vane rotor(s) defines a generally constant-radius pump space around each vane rotor and includes inlet and discharge openings associated with each vane rotor. As each vane rotor rotates within the housing, its vane sealingly interacts with the housing, while that vane rotor sealingly interacts with the valve rotor. The vane interacts with the channel, allowing the vane to move past the valve rotor. As the vane rotor rotates, the vane enters the pump space to divide the pump space into at least inlet and discharge portions, while fluid within the discharge portion is discharged or compressed and additional fluid is drawn into the inlet portion.

Abstract: A series of regularly spaced cylindrical paddles are affixed to a steel strand cable. Each end of the cable is provided with a swaged ball shank which is pivotably received within a nut. The threaded nuts are connected by a threaded screw. The paddles are advanced on the cable through a conduit by a rotatable drive wheel. The system is thus adapted for moving ice cubes and chips. The drive wheel has eight teeth, each of which has a connector trough dimensioned to receive the connector assembly. Each tooth has a leading finger with a drive face which engages a paddle when it is received within a paddle trough defined between neighboring teeth. The drive face has a radially extending wall which engages the disk of the paddle, and a second radially extending wall spaced outwardly from the first which engages the protruding shoulder of the disk, such that the disks are always driven at two spaced locations.

Abstract: A hand pruner including a first handle and a second handle pivotally connected to said first handle, a first cutting blade secured to said second handle, a second cutting blade pivotally connected to said second handle for movement into engagement with said first cutting blade and a link connecting said second blade to said first handle whereby said second blade is pivoted into engagement with said first blade when said first handle is pivoted into engagement with said second handle, the cutting blades being laterally offset to provide a scissors cut and are convertible to an anvil cutting blade by mounting an anvil plate on the second cutting blade.

Abstract: A soft touch scissors including a first or lower blade assembly having a handle and a blade having a tang molded in the handle and a second or upper handle assembly having a handle and a blade having a tang molded in the handle, the blade assemblies being pivotally connected, and biased by a spring to an open position, a rib on the top of the lower handle assembly and a rib on the bottom of the upper handle assembly located in a position to engage the rib on the lower handle assembly and a latch slidably mounted on the upper handle assembly for movement into engagement with the rib on the lower handle assembly to lock the handle assemblies in a closed position.

Abstract: A scissors including a first handle assembly and a second handle assembly pivotally interconnected for movement between open and closed positions. A latch mounted on one of the handle assemblies for movement into engagement with the other of the handle assemblies on closing the scissors, the latch being movable on one handle assembly into engagement with the other handle assembly to lock the handles in a closed position and a reversible sheath operatively engaging the handle assemblies to enclose the scissor blades on the handle assemblies.

Abstract: An all purpose pair of scissors including a first blade assembly and a second blade assembly, the assemblies being pivotally connected for opening and closing movements, the first blade assembly including a handle having a first catch and a recess in the handle adjacent the first catch, the second blade assembly including a handle having a second catch and a recess in the handle adjacent the second catch, the first and second catches being so located that on closing the first and second blade assemblies the first catch will be seated in the recess in the second handle and the second catch will be seated in the recess in the first handle, the first and second catches interengaging each other on opening the blade assemblies.

Abstract: A rotary cutter having a handle, a cylindrical head formed on one end of the handle and having an internal cavity with a planar surface on each side, an actuating member is pivotally mounted in the cavity with a circular blade secured to one side of the actuating member in a parallel relation to one of the planar surfaces, a pivoting member is provided on the periphery of the head for moving the actuating member to an operative position with a portion of the blade projecting outwardly from the cylindrical head, the actuating member being biased to a storage position within the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A portable extendable pruner for cutting limbs, branches and the like, the pruner including a hollow elongate housing assembly having a pair of telescoping tubular sections, a shears mounted on the outer end of one of the sections, an actuating element mounted on the outer end of the other of the sections, a first cable for connecting the actuating element to the shears, a second cable having one end connected to one of the tubular sections and the other end connected to the other of the tubular sections, and a compensating pulley assembly connecting the second cable to the first cable to maintain tension in the first cable when the tubular sections are moved axially relative to each other to adjust the length of the housing assembly.

Abstract: An improved spring biased reciprocable latch-reset member is provided for a relay of the type including an armature mounted on a support block for pivotal movement about an axis, a coil for displacing the armature from a first position to a second position when the coil is energized, a spring biasing the armature from the second position to the first position when the coil is de-energized, and an electrical contact controlled by the position of the armature. The latch-reset member is operable in response to displacement of the armature to the second position by energization of the coil to hold the armature in the second position, and is displaceable thereafter to release the armature for movement back to the first position by the armature biasing spring.