Abstract: A switch lockout mechanism for a power tool includes a handle housing for gripping by a power tool operator. The handle housing is generally elongated in a direction corresponding to the gripping axis of a power tool operator. A switch is attached to the housing and is actuatable between an "on" position and an "off" position. A locking member is rotatably or pivotally attached to the housing. The locking member is rotatable about an axis that generally extends in the same direction as the handle housing in an elongated direction. The locking member has a first rotatable position wherein the switch is locked in its "off" position, and a second rotatable position wherein the switch is actuated to its "on" position. An actuating member allows a tool operator to move the locking member between its first and second positions.

Abstract: A bit attaching arrangement for a power tool includes a bit locking member rotatable with respect to the output shaft of the power tool. A first gear is fixed to the bit locking member so that rotation of the first gear causes rotation of the locking member. A second gear is fixed to the output shaft so that rotation of the second gear causes rotation of the output shaft. A third gear engages both said first and second gear simultaneously and is capable of rotation by an operator of the power tool. Rotation of the third gear results in counter rotation between the bit locking member and the output shaft so as to result in securement of the bit to the shaft. A further aspect of the invention includes a pinion shaft onto which the third gear is mounted.

Abstract: A window assembly is provided for use on a hand-held circular saw. The window assembly has a transparent member that is attached to an upper guard of the saw in a covering relationship with an aperture provided in the upper guard. A projecting rib is provided that is coupled to and which extends outwardly from the guard adjacent the forward edge of the transparent member. The projecting rib substantially prevents light emanating forwardly of the saw from reflecting off of the member.

Abstract: A high speed thrust bearing assembly is provided for use on a hand-held circular saw. The thrust bearing assembly is held in place within a plastic housing which has a through hole therethrough. The plastic housing further has a first counterbore which is larger than the through hole, and a second counterbore which is larger than the first counterbore. A high speed thrust plate is placed within the plastic housing. The thrust plate has a flange section and a bearing section. The bearing section has an indentation therein. The thrust plate is placed within the plastic housing so that the bearing section is disposed through the through hole of the plastic housing with the flange section being held within the first counterbore. A sleeve bearing is thereafter placed within the second counterbore and surrounds a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft has a terminal end with a cylindrical projection thereon which matingly fits within the indentation of the bearing section in the thrust plate.

Abstract: A viewing window for covering an aperture in a hand-held circular saw includes an optically transmissive member adapted to be coupled with the guard. The member is movable between a closed position, wherein the member substantially covers the aperture, and the open position, wherein the member at least partially uncovers the aperture, to allow the cleaning of the member. A structure is provided for biasing the member to the closed position.

Abstract: A window assembly is provided for use on a hand-held circular saw. The window assembly has a transparent member that is attached to an upper guard of the saw. The transparent member has a forward edge and a rearward edge and slopes downwardly to form a rearwardly facing acute angle with respect a planar base of the saw. The acute angle has a minimum value to prevent light from overhead sources from reflecting into the user's eyes and has a maximum value to prevent light from forward light sources from reflecting into the user's eyes. The forward edge of the transparent member is located rearwardly of the point at which a predetermined line intersects the guard. Additionally, a lower blade guard is provided for use on a circular saw having a clear viewing window on the upper blade guard. The lower blade guard has a truncated portion that allows a line of sight between the workpiece being sawed and the clear viewing window even when the lower guard is in a fully retracted position.

Abstract: A fluid filtration system for use with an apparatus, such as an electrical apparatus, having a casing within a working fluid, such as oil, is contained utilizes a filter-supporting flow conduit having an entrance end and an exit end and a filter medium supported within conduit. A pump is also associated with the filter-supporting means for pumping working fluid through the flow conduit between the entrance and the exit ends thereof so that contaminants are filtered from the fluid as it is pumped through the flow conduit. The flow conduit and the pump are adapted to be positioned in a submerged condition within the fluid of the apparatus, and a tension member is used to suspend the flow conduit in a substantially vertical orientation within the fluid so that the entrance end of the conduit is disposed adjacent the bottom of the apparatus casing. By filtering the fluid with the filtration system, the service life of the fluid is extended and the need for frequent servicing of the fluid is obviated.

Abstract: A system for use with an electric power transmission device having oil filtration apparatus including an oil filtration unit arranged external to the electric power transmission device, a motor-driven circulation pump and at least one conduit extending between the oil filtration unit and the electric power transmission device utilizes a secondary containment enclosure for enclosing the oil filtration unit, pump and conduits. The secondary containment enclosure includes a sump reservoir to which oil gravitates upon leakage of oil from the oil filtration apparatus enclosed by the secondary containment volume, and there is associated with the sump reservoir a signal-transmitting device for transmitting a signal in response to the accumulation of oil in the sump reservoir for actuating an alarm, isolating the source of insulating oil from the circulation system and disconnecting power to the circulating pump.

Abstract: A pelletized composition and method of using this composition for removing pollutants from storm water runoff. A bed of the pellets has a useful initial permeability to storm water runoff, and retains a significant proportion of this permeability for a period of several years. Preferably, the pellets are dried to a moisture content of less than 25 wt. % so that they are able to withstand a crush force of at least 7 lb., without structural failure. Optionally, the pellets may contain gravel that forms a core of the compost pellet and that assists in causing the compost to agglomerate into a rounded pellet. When immersed in water, the pellets retain the original dry shape and maintain a significant proportion of the crush strength while providing interstitial spaces through which storm water can flow thereby reducing the problem of sedimentation that is encountered in unpelletized beds of compost used in this service.

Abstract: An aligning mechanism for a hand-held circular saw has a base adapted to be attached to the circular saw. The base has an upper surface and a lower surface. At least two paddles are pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis and movable in unison between a deployed position and an undeployed position. Each paddle when in its deployed position extends below the lower surface of the base and is capable of contacting an edge of the workpiece so that the saw blade is aligned in a predetermined position with respect to the edge. The paddles move in unison toward their undeployed positions as the saw blade engages the workpiece while maintaining the predetermined alignment between the saw blade and the edge.

Abstract: A convolving element which processes sixteen 4-bit samples but may be expanded to convolve both a larger number of samples and a larger number of bits per sample. The expansion occurs through interconnections of identical convolving elements. A selective inversion element inverts particular ones of the convolved samples under the control of a previously loaded binary code. The selective inversion element additionally minimizes interconnections and therefore input/output terminals of the convolving element, by permitting carries for each sample convolved to be accumulated rather than to propagate to more significant elements.

Abstract: An electrical appliance remote control system comprises a transmitter supplying digital control messages onto a power main and a receiver for receiving those messages to activate an appliances accordingly. Each message comprises words each of which is transmitted twice. A repeater is coupled to the main to receive the first occurrence of the word and to retransmit that word onto the main, or onto another main, in the period containing the second occurrence of the word.

Abstract: An applicance control system comprises a data transmitter and plurality of slave units plugged into outlet sockets of a power main of a building, appliances being coupled to the slave units. The transmitter housing includes a data input arrangement by which slave unit addresses and operation signal can be input and means for producing therefrom digital address and operation signals injected onto the main for receipt by the slave units. Each slave unit is enabled by a digital signal complying its address to effect an appliance operation as defined by a received digital operation signal.