Abstract: A battery charger having an integrated battery charge indicator that is readily visible when a battery pack is connected for charging. The battery charge indicator is on a visible outer surface of the housing of the battery charger to indicate a state of charge of the battery pack. The indicator may include a series of light emitting diodes with one LED that is illuminated when the battery pack is charging and will flash if something is wrong with the battery pack. The housing can preferably accommodate more than one configuration of battery packs with the indicator being visible when various battery packs are attached for recharging.

Abstract: A battery charger having an integrated battery charge indicator that is readily visible when a battery pack is connected for charging. The battery charge indicator is on a visible outer surface of the housing of the battery charger to indicate a state of charge of the battery pack. The indicator may include a series of light emitting diodes with one LED that is illuminated when the battery pack is charging and will flash if something is wrong with the battery pack. The housing can preferably accommodate more than one configuration of battery packs with the indicator being visible when various battery packs are attached for recharging.

Abstract: An impact mechanism, such as an impact wrench is provided and includes a motor, a shaft rotatable about an axis and coupled to the motor and having a first shaft groove with first and second axial ends and a hammer disposed about the shaft and having a first hammer groove. A ball is disposed in the first hammer groove and in the first shaft groove and couples the hammer to the shaft for relative axial and rotatable movement, with the ball moveable along the grooves. The wrench also includes a rotatable anvil for coupling to a load, a bias member resiliently biasing the hammer axially into engagement with the anvil and stop structure disposed along the shaft for engagement with the hammer to limit axial movement of the hammer away from the anvil so as to prevent the ball from contacting the second axial end of the first shaft groove.

Abstract: An impact mechanism, such as an impact wrench is provided and includes a motor, a shaft rotatable about an axis and coupled to the motor and having a first shaft groove with first and second axial ends and a hammer disposed about the shaft and having a first hammer groove. A ball is disposed in the first hammer groove and in the first shaft groove and couples the hammer to the shaft for relative axial and rotatable movement, with the ball moveable along the grooves. The wrench also includes a rotatable anvil for coupling to a load, a bias member resiliently biasing the hammer axially into engagement with the anvil and stop structure disposed along the shaft for engagement with the hammer to limit axial movement of the hammer away from the anvil so as to prevent the ball from contacting the second axial end of the first shaft groove.

Abstract: A power tool is provided and includes a tool housing having interior and exterior surfaces and inlet and outlet air vents and a motor disposed in the tool housing and having a motor housing with an external surface and inlet air ports for the passage of cooling air into the motor and outlet air ports for passage of warmed exhaust air from the motor. The inlet and outlet air ports open at the external surface and the outlet air ports are spaced from the inlet air ports. The tool also includes an air deflector resiliently coupled to the external surface. The air deflector includes wall structures bracketing the outlet air ports. The structures have portions extending to and contacting the interior surface of the tool housing and bracketing the outlet air vents to form a barrier around the outlet air ports and vents to channel exhaust air to the outlet vents and substantially inhibit exhaust air from the outlet air ports from entering the inlet air ports or other portions of the tool.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for treating coolant for an internal combustion engine. A pump circulates the coolant from an internal combustion engine through a filter and returns the coolant to the internal combustion engine. After circulation, the coolant is delivered to a holding reservoir. Additives and other materials are delivered to an addition reservoir. A vacuum pump is connected to the internal combustion engine to reduce the vacuum air pressure within the cooling system to between 15 and 27 inches of mercury below atmospheric. The addition reservoir and holding reservoir are connected to the cooling system so that the material from the addition reservoir and from the holding reservoir are pulled into the cooling system because of the reduced pressure.

Abstract: An evacuation unit for testing the fluid tightness of a closed fluid system, filling the system with system fluid, and/or purging the system fluid of entrained gas. The evacuation unit includes a source of system fluid, an air operated venturi vacuum pump, a hose for releasable and sealable connection to an access port of the closed fluid system, and a three way valve for selected positioning between a first position communicating the vacuum pump with the flexible hose system to produce a vacuum in the system, a second position isolating the flexible hose and system to test for fluid tightness, and a third position communicating the system fluid source with the flexible hose and system for filling the system through the access port with system fluid. Multiple reservoirs may be employed for filling the system with multiple fluids through the use of a reservoir sequence valve. The sequence valve permits filling the system by drawing liquid from multiple sources in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: An evacuation unit for testing the fluid tightness of a closed fluid system, filling the system with system fluid, and/or purging the system fluid of entrained gas. The evacuation unit includes a source of system fluid, an air operated venturi vacuum pump, a hose for releasable and sealable connection to an access port of the closed fluid system, and a three way valve for selected positioning between a first position communicating the vacuum pump with the flexible hose system to produce a vacuum in the system, a second position isolating the flexible hose and system to test for fluid tightness, and a third position communicating the system fluid source with the flexible hose and system for filling the system through the access port with system fluid. A method of purging entrained gas from a closed fluid system as well as a method of testing the fluid tightness of the system and filling the system with system fluid without disconnecting the evacuation unit is also disclosed.