Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first member that supports a magnetic flux carrying member and a second member that supports a magnetic flux generating member disposed for movement relative to the first member. An air gap control system is coupled to at least one of the first member or the second member and includes an air gap control device that is separate from a primary magnetic flux circuit formed between the first member and the second member. The air gap control device is configured to exert a force on one of the first and second members in response to movement of the other of the first and second members in a direction that reduces a distance between the first and second members to maintain a minimum distance between the first and second members and/or substantially center the one of the first and second members within the other.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved generators are described. One embodiment includes an assembly for an axial flux generator, the assembly comprising an arc-shaped rotor section that includes a rotor support configured to rotate around an axis of a generator, and an at least one rotor element for power generation that is connected to the rotor support; an arc-shaped stator section comprising a stator support and an at least one stator element for power generation connected to the stator support; wherein the rotor section and the stator section are configured to provide an axial air gap between the at least one rotor element and the at least one stator element, and wherein the at least one rotor element and the at least one stator element are positioned to be at substantially the same radial distance from the axis of the generator.

Abstract: An axial rotary energy device including a segmented stator assembly having a plurality of segments arranged in an annular array. Each stator segment is constructed by stacking a plurality of PCB power conductor layers and a plurality of PCB series layers. Each layer having radial conductors extending from an inner via to an outer via. The vias electrically connect selected radial conductors of the series conductor layer and power conductor layer. Each power conductor layer includes a pair of positive and negative terminal vias for one phase of the electric current connected to selected outer vias. A daughter PCB layer electrically connects two adjacent segments together by having a first portion electrically connected to a negative terminal via located in one segment and a second portion electrically connected to a positive terminal via located in an adjacent segment together with a current conductor electrically connecting the two terminal vias together.

Abstract: The present invention provides an axial rotary energy device which is arranged in a multi-phase electric current configuration. The device includes a rotor having a plurality of permanent magnet poles secured thereto and further includes a stator formed by stacking a plurality of printed circuit board working conductor layers together with a plurality of printed circuit board connecting layers. The stator having at least one working conductor layer for each phase of the electric current and at least one connecting conductor layer associated with one working conducting layer. The working conductor layer and the connecting conductor layer each having radial conductors extending from an inner diameter through-hole to an outer diameter through-hole. A plurality of via conductors are provided for electrically connecting selected ones of the radial connectors of the connecting conductor layer to selected ones of the radial connectors of the working conductor layers through the through-holes.

Abstract: A two-way quick connector for connecting a power drill to a working tool having a working end and a shank end having a circumferential groove. The connector having a drive shaft with a polygonal-shaped chuck end to be received by the chuck of a power drill, and a cylindrically-shaped opposite end having an axial bore for receiving the shank end of the working tool. The connector further having a ball detent and a two-piece slidable sleeve mounted on the drive shaft, which sleeve may be manipulated in either of two directions to manipulate the ball detent into the circumferential groove of the working tool.

Abstract: A power tool (20) is provided. The power tool includes a housing (22), a base plate (28) coupled to the housing and having a base plate width. The power tool also includes a motor assembly (24) attached to the housing and coupled to a tool connector adapted to releasably receive a tool (74). The motor assembly and housing having a width W that is at most substantially equal to the base plate width. Further, the motor assembly having a length (86) and diameter (84) ratio that is at least 1:1.5.

Abstract: An improved two-ended reversible drill/driver tool for use with power drills. The tool having a hollow cylindrical socket that at one end has a drive shank for insertion into a chuck of a powered drill, and, at the opposite end, has a polygonally shaped opening therein for receiving a correspondingly shaped, two-ended, reversible tool assembly. This tool assembly is sized to slide within the hollow socket, and has a combined drill bit and countersink at one end, and, at the other end, a polygonally shaped opening for accepting a screw driver bit having a shank with a polygonal cross section.

Abstract: An improved two-ended reversible drill/driver tool for use with Power drills. The tool having a hollow cylindrical socket that at one end has a drive shank for insertion into a chuck of a powered drill, and, at the opposite end, has a polygonally shaped opening therein for receiving a correspondingly shaped, two-ended, reversible tool assembly. This tool assembly is sized to slide within the hollow socket, and has a combined drill bit and countersink at one end, and, at the other end, a polygonally shaped opening for accepting a screw driver bit having a shank with a Polygonal cross section.

Abstract: The present invention includes repelling magnetic fixtures implanted within opposing bones in an articulating joint to hold the bones apart during relative articulating movement of the bones in the joint.

Abstract: An improved two-ended reversible drill/driver tool for use with power drills. The tool having a hollow cylindrical socket that at one end has a drive shank for insertion into a chuck of a powered drill, and, at the opposite end, has a polygonally shaped opening therein for receiving a correspondingly shaped, two-ended, reversible tool assembly. This tool assembly is sized to slide within the hollow socket, and has a combined drill bit and countersink at one end, and, at the other end, a polygonally shaped opening for accepting a screw driver bit having a shank with a polygonal cross section.

Abstract: A clutch driver device for releasing torque between a power drill and a screwdriver when the screw being driven reaches a predetermined depth. The clutch mechanism including a hollow release cylinder slideably fitted on a drive shaft integrally formed in coaxial relation with a chuck shank to be inserted into the chuck of a power drill. The release cylinder is movable from a first position where the release cylinder holds several clutch balls against planar faces of a hexagonal end of a drive shank used to drive the screw into the work piece to a second position where the release cylinder releases the clutch balls held against the planar faces of the drive shank so that the screw driving end of the driver is disengaged from the power drill. The release cylinder being moved from the first position to the second position by an actuator sleeve positioned between the work piece and the release cylinder.

Abstract: A first embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic weight bearing prosthetic socket system for coupling a prosthesis to an amputated limb. A pair of magnetic fixtures are used to hold the prosthesis in spaced apart relation with the amputated limb. One of the magnetic fixtures is implanted in the remnant bone and the other magnetic fixture is embedded in the prosthetic socket. The magnetic fixtures are magnetically oriented to oppose one another and are used to transfer loads associated with typical weight-bearing surfaces through the soft tissue covering the remnant bone without having the magnetic structures physically touch one another.A second embodiment of the present invention includes repelling magnetic fixtures implanted within opposing bones in an articulating joint to hold the bones apart during relative articulating movement of the bones in the joint.

Abstract: An improved two-ended reversible drill/driver tool for use with power drills. The tool having a hollow cylindrical socket that at one end has a drive shank for insertion into a chuck of a powered drill, and, at the opposite end, has a polygonally shaped opening therein for receiving a correspondingly shaped, two-ended, reversible tool assembly. This tool assembly is sized to slide within the hollow socket, and has a combined drill bit and countersink at one end, and, at the other end, a polygonally shaped opening for accepting a screw driver bit having a shank with a polygonal cross section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable medical syringe which has a hollow plunger to receive a used inoculation needle. The syringe has a hollow syringe barrel, open on one end and closed on the other. A hollow plunger assembly, which extends out the open end of the syringe barrel, has a hollow tube with a fixed seal attached at one end. At the other end of the plunger assembly, a needle holder is sized to slide within the hollow tube. The sliding seal and needle holder are biased toward each other by a stretched, resilient tube that has a fluid passageway passing through the sliding seal, resilient tube, and needle holder. The needle holder is normally locked at one end of the plunger assembly by a locking means. As the syringe is collapsed, the syringe barrel trips the locking means to permit the needle holder, and attached inoculation needle, to be retracted into the hollow tube.

Abstract: A screw holding and driving device for use with powered drills including a slidable transparent sleeve mounted in concentric relation with a screw drive shaft of the device. The sleeve is provided with an internal surface that is fluted with the fluted surfaces extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrically shaped sleeve. The inner surfaces with larger radii remain clear of the shaft and thus will not be scratched as the shaft moves relative to the sleeve. Further, a split ring of oval construction is provided for holding the sleeve on the shaft. The ends of the split oval retaining ring are sized to fit in a groove on the shaft and thus do not extend outside the groove to scratch the transparent sleeve.

Abstract: An improved plier tool having a pair of crossed handle members each having a jaw at one end. The first of said handle members having a circular bore therethrough with the bore having an inner surface providing a first cam surface. A first disc-shaped cam positioned within this bore for rotation. The first cam further having an axle pin eccentrically mounted to the first cam and fixedly mounted to the second of said handle members. Further, a guide cam pin carried by the first handle member is positioned in spaced apart relation to the bore carrying the disc-shaped cam. A slot formed in the second member is spaced apart from the axle pin and is positioned to receive the guide cam pin. The slot having a second and third cam surface for bearing against the pivot pin.

Abstract: An improved screw holding and driving device having a sleeve positioned on a shank of a screwdriver in surrounding relation. The interior diameter of the sleeve being sized to permit slidable rotation of the sleeve with respect to the shank. The sleeve having a ball detent device for cooperating with a groove located on the screwdriver shank to hold the sleeve in a position on the shank where the sleeve does not extend beyond the screwdriver bit. The ball detent device when engaging the groove enables the sleeve to be held in the position where the sleeve will not be used to hold a screw and at the same time permit the sleeve to be freely rotatable on the shank of the screwdriver.