Abstract: A manifold includes a plurality of inlet passages provided in fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet passage. A housing retains a pressurized gas cartridge in sealed fluid communication with each of the inlet passages. A check valve is located in at least one of the inlet passages. The check valve is biased to a closed position that prevents gas from flowing through the check valve to the inlet of the inlet passage. Thus, gas cannot exit through the inlet when a pressurized gas cartridge is not sealed thereto. The housing retains a viscous product cartridge and forms a gas enclosure separated from a product enclosure by a movable wall. The gas from the pressurized gas cartridges passes into the gas enclosure and generates a force on the movable wall to dispense product from the product cartridge.

Abstract: A cordless device for dispensing a viscous material including housing components for a product cartridge, a DC motor, an air pump, and a rechargeable battery. The device has a pressure limiting switch that maintains a pre-determined pressure of compressed air in a gas enclosure. A manually actuated trigger, when depressed, is adapted to open a flow valve allowing the device to forcefully dispense the viscous material from the product cartridge.

Abstract: A drill includes a chuck which has a body member including a bore to receive a tool. Jaw members frictionally engage the tool to retain the tool in the chuck. A member is associated with the jaw members and the body to move the jaw members between clamping and non-clamping position. A centering mechanism extends radially into the body member to center tool bits within the chuck while prohibiting the tool bit from contacting the bore wall.

Abstract: A workbench has at least one drive member to clamp table members against one another. The drive member has a receiving tube and a crank tube. The receiving tube and crank tube are coupled with respect to one another for telescoping movement. One of the tubes has a threaded member and the other tube has a thread engaging member. A mechanism engages and disengages the thread engaging member into the threaded member such that in an engaged position, the crank tube can be rotated in the receiving tube for screw type movement. In a disengaged position, the crank tube is freely slidable for sliding movement in the receiving tube.

Abstract: An inlet is adapted to receive pressurized gas from a CO2 gas cartridge. A variable compression member has a normal height, under normal operating temperature conditions, adapted to provide a normal compressive force between the gas cartridge and the inlet to effectively seal the gas cartridge to the inlet. The variable compression member also has a reduced height, under heightened temperature conditions, adapted to provide a reduced compressive force between the gas cartridge and the inlet to allow pressurized gas to escape between the gas cartridge and the inlet. A seal member is compressed between the gas cartridge and the inlet. The inlet may be part of a pneumatic dispensing device. The gas inlet is in fluid communication with a gas enclosure to enable pressurized gas delivered through the inlet to provide a dispensing force on a product cartridge to cause dispensing of the viscous product.

Abstract: A pressurized gas cartridge drives a dispensing device for viscous product cartridges. The dispensing device and the viscous product cartridge form a gas enclosure separated from a product enclosure by a movable wall. A valve is driven by a rack and pinion valve drive mechanism between an open position and a closed position upon rotation of the pinion. The rack rotates the pinion upon linear movement thereof. A trigger is adapted to impart linear movement to the rack upon manual actuation of the trigger. The open position of the nozzle valve permits viscous product to flow through the dispensing passage, and the closed position of the nozzle valve prevents viscous product from flowing through the dispensing passage. The interface between the trigger and rack is designed to operationally disengage rather than transmit a force therebetween that is capable of damaging the device.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an automatic tape measure having a housing, a tape assembly, and a light assembly. The tape assembly is supported in the housing and contains a reel having a tape adapted to extend and retract from the front wall of the housing. The light assembly is received in the housing and contains a power source, a light source, a switch, and a lens. The lens is coupled with an opening in the front wall of the housing and is adapted to move between a first position where the light source passes through the lens and a second position where the light source projects downwardly onto the extended tape.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for modeling communication networks includes a memory and a processing module. The memory stores configuration data for a plurality of network types. The configuration data associates each network type with components, connections, and rules for connecting the components using the connections. The processing module is coupled to the memory and allows a user to select one of the network types and to design a communication network using the components and connections associated with the selected network type according to the configuration data.

Abstract: A computer system (200) includes a baseboard (202) having a first side (201) and a second side (203), where the first side and the second side define a first key opening (205) and a second key opening (207). A mezzanine card interface (208) is coupled to the baseboard. A keying mechanism (219) is coupled to interface with the baseboard through the first key opening, where coupling the keying mechanism to the baseboard initiates a first key signal (225), and where the first key signal operates a logic circuit (229) to permit a first operating voltage (218) to power the mezzanine card interface. Alternatively, the keying mechanism can be coupled to interface with the baseboard through the second key opening, where coupling the keying mechanism to the baseboard initiates a second key signal (227), and where the second key signal operates the logic circuit to permit a second operating voltage (220) to power the mezzanine card interface.

Abstract: An automatic screwfeeder is adapted for use with a hand drill. The automatic screwfeeder operates to transfer uncollated screws from a screw holder into a staged position. A driving bit sequentially engages individual fasteners and drives them into a workpiece. The screwfeeder includes a front assembly separable from a rear assembly to allow replacement of the driving bit.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a viscous material and a method for controlling the dispensing pressure. The device has a manually actuated control valve, that, when depressed, releases high pressure gas from the source, such as a CO2 cartridge, into a gas enclosure. An indicator signals a pre-determined pressure in the gas enclosure sufficient to forcefully dispense a viscous material from a product cartridge.

Abstract: A software interface used in designing communications circuits receives input from a user (20). In response, the software interface initiates accessing of a route plan (16) comprising a first route point group (38) associated with a first circuit end point (34), a second route point group (38) associated with a second circuit end point (34), and one or more routes (32) connecting the first and second route point groups (38). Each route (32) is available for use in designing the circuit. The software interface also initiates selection of a route (32) according to the route plan (16) and initiates the automatic assignment of the selected route (32) to the circuit in designing the circuit. The software interface provides information to the user (20) reflecting assignment of the route (32) to the circuit. The route plan (16) may be selected from among multiple route plans (16) according to a service application (14) automatically derived from an associated circuit order.

Abstract: A power tool has a mechanism for ejecting a battery pack which includes a receiving frame which defines a cavity to receive a battery pack. A receiving member is adjacent the cavity. The receiving member meshes with a member on the battery pack to hold the battery pack in the cavity. A biasing member is in the cavity adjacent the receiving member. The biasing member ejects the battery pack from the ejecting mechanism. A member retains the biasing member in the cavity. The member guides a portion of the battery pack meshing with the receiving member into contact with the biasing member such that when the battery pack is locked onto the frame, the biasing member is in a compressed condition and when the battery pack is an unlocked position, the biasing member ejects the battery pack from the frame.

Abstract: A system (10) for designing diverse communications circuits (36) includes a diversity set (14) identifying at least one circuit (36) that is to be diverse from one or more other circuits (36) in the diversity set (14). The system (10) further includes one or more diversity rules (16) applicable to one or more circuits (36) belonging to the diversity set (14). A diversity engine (12) validates the assignment of at least one circuit element to a circuit (36) in the diversity set (14), according to the diversity rules (16), such that the circuit (36) is diverse from at least one other circuit (36) in the diversity set (14) with respect to that circuit element. The diversity engine (12) may generate one or more diversity violations (18) if the assignment of the circuit element fails to comply with the diversity rules (16) and may associate the diversity violations (18) with the circuit (36) and its diversity set (14) to indicate a possible need to modify the assignment.

Abstract: An interface for coupling a device to a bus suitably includes a first resistive path having a first electrical resistance and a second resistive path having a second electrical resistance different from the first electrical resistance, with a switch configured to switchably couple the device to the bus via the first resistive path if the device operates at a first data rate, and to couple the device to the bus via the second resistive path if the device operates at a second data rate different from the first data rate. The interface may be used to provide an appropriate resistive coupling for devices that support conventional peripheral component interface (PCI) bus standards and/or PCI-X standards.

Abstract: A power tool has a mechanism for ejecting a battery pack which includes a receiving frame which defines a cavity to receive a battery pack. A receiving member is adjacent the cavity. The receiving member meshes with a member on the battery pack to hold the battery pack in the cavity. A biasing member is in the cavity adjacent the receiving member. The biasing member ejects the battery pack from the ejecting mechanism. A member retains the biasing member in the cavity. The member guides a portion of the battery pack meshing with the receiving member into contact with the biasing member such that when the battery pack is locked onto the frame, the biasing member is in a compressed condition and when the battery pack is an unlocked position, the biasing member ejects the battery pack from the frame.