Abstract: An air switch comprises a switch body having a recess thereon and a switching member having an output connection port. The recess is connected to vacuum and pressure outlets through passages in the switch body. The vacuum passage is connected to a port on the wall of the recess while the pressure passage is connected to a partially circularly extending channel on the recess wall. The switching member is rotatably received in the recess and includes a radially extending channel on its inner wall. Positioning of the switching member in the vacuum or pressure modes places the member channel in fluid communication with either the vacuum port or the channel on the recess wall. When in the vacuum mode, the pressure channel is vented to the atmosphere and when in the pressure mode, the vacuum is similarly vented. When in the minimum pressure mode, a portion of the pressure is vented to the atmosphere although this pressure venting is reduced to zero when the switching member is in the maximum pressure mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular power supply having a case made up of top, bottom and side plates. Each plate has either a male or female portion at the edge which is slidably interconnectable with the edge of an adjacent plate. In addition, male and/or female portions located on the top, bottom and side plates matingly engage with similar female and/or male portions on a handle, output device receptacle, etc. The internal portions of the power supply are divided into three modular components. The first modular component includes a transformer and a primary coil select switch and is connected to the rear portion of the case preventing the case sides from slipping apart from the top and bottom plates. A second modular component is a printed circuit board interconnectable with the first modular component and containing a temperature control circuit and an air pump and motor combination. The second modular component is slidably received into the case.

Abstract: An improved thermal barrier for rigidly connecting the heater assembly to a handle assembly in a desoldering device. In a preferred embodiment, the thermal barrier includes a slotted spacer portion which is connected to the heater assembly and serves to reduce heat transferred into the thermal barrier by means of radiation, convection and reduced conductivity. The thermal barrier also includes a portion connecting the slotted spacer portions to mounting sections which are connected to the handle assembly such that an indirect path for heat conduction is established between the heater assembly and the handle assembly. In some preferred embodiments, a fin is included to increase the surface area of the thermal barrier and further transfer heat from the thermal barrier to the atmosphere.