A safety switching apparatus for switching on or off a technical installation has a failsafe control/evaluation unit with an input for receiving an input signal. The failsafe control/evaluation unit is designed to process the input signal in order to produce an output signal for switching on or off the technical installation at a defined output signal time. The failsafe control/evaluation unit has a first output for transmitting the output signal to an electromechanical switch. The electromechanical switch has an operating contact for switching a load circuit of the technical installation and has a positively guided auxiliary contact in an auxiliary contact current path. The auxiliary contact can be used to carry a current for checking the switching position of the operating contact. A switching element is arranged in the auxiliary contact current path. The failsafe control/evaluation unit is designed to produce a switching signal at a defined switching signal time which has a time gap relative to the output signal time. The failsafe control/evaluation unit has a second output for transmitting the switching signal to the switching element in order to selectively allow or disallow the current through the auxiliary contact current path.

A push-button starter for use with an outdoor power equipment unit. In one embodiment, the starter includes a housing defining an opening to receive a removable button, and a peripheral edge surrounding the opening. The peripheral edge may define two scalloped areas such that two opposite sides of a head portion of the button are exposed and accessible when the button is in a neutral position within the housing while remaining sides of the head portion are enclosed within the housing. Moreover, the opening and the head portion may be configured to control an orientation of the button relative to the housing, and further prevent rotation of the button relative to the housing.

A switch assembly and method for use with power equipment, the switch assembly comprises a housing assembly for having an actuator opening, the opening defining spaced first and second internal housing positions and a removably located actuator for selectively positioning within the opening of the housing assembly for altering the operation of power equipment. The switch assembly further includes a first switch corresponding to the first housing position to selectively provide power to one or more components of the power equipment and a second switch corresponding to the second housing position such that the second switch is spaced away from the first housing position, the second switch for detecting the presence and position of the actuator such to further alter the operation of power equipment.

Disclosed are a control device for a power tool and a power tool provided with the control device. The control device includes an operation control interface which is provided with a manually operated controller; an impedance-measuring safety interface, wherein the impedance-measuring interface includes a first manual contact electrode and a second manual contact electrode which are electrically isolated from each other, and wherein the manual contact electrodes are provided on the controller and extend over a manual bearing surface of the controller. The device is suitable for controlling and ensuring the safe use of power tools, especially electrical tools, such as pruning shears.

Disclosed are a control device for a power tool and a power tool provided with the control device. The control device includes an operation control interface which is provided with a manually operated controller; an impedance-measuring safety interface, wherein the impedance-measuring interface includes a first manual contact electrode and a second manual contact electrode which are electrically isolated from each other, and wherein the manual contact electrodes are provided on the controller and extend over a manual bearing surface of the controller. The device is suitable for controlling and ensuring the safe use of power tools, especially electrical tools, such as pruning shears.

A ship includes a controller that performs wireless communications with a portable machine possessed by a passenger and a lanyard stop switch. When a lanyard code coupled to the passenger is pulled out, the lanyard stop switch operates to stop an engine of an outboard motor and stop the ship. When the controller detects that the lanyard stop switch operates, that is, detects a possibility that the passenger has fallen overboard, the controller starts wireless communications with the portable machine. The controller determines whether or not a rescue signal needs to be transmitted in accordance with conditions regarding a power density and a frequency of a radio wave of the wireless communications as predetermined conditions for estimating a situation of the passenger.

A ship includes a controller that performs wireless communications with a portable machine possessed by a passenger and a lanyard stop switch. When a lanyard code coupled to the passenger is pulled out, the lanyard stop switch operates to stop an engine of an outboard motor and stop the ship. When the controller detects that the lanyard stop switch operates, that is, detects a possibility that the passenger has fallen overboard, the controller starts wireless communications with the portable machine. The controller determines whether or not a rescue signal needs to be transmitted in accordance with conditions regarding a power density and a frequency of a radio wave of the wireless communications as predetermined conditions for estimating a situation of the passenger.

A relay apparatus comprises input ports, output ports, and first and second relays. The first relay comprises: a first contact group comprising n?2 first contacts arranged in parallel and moveable between open and closed positions by a first common armature; and a second contact group comprising n second contacts arranged in parallel and movable between open and closed positions by a second common armature, wherein the first and second contacts are arranged in series in pairs. The second relay includes m<n contacts arranged in parallel and moveable between open and closed positions by a third common armature. The first and second relays are arranged in series between the input and output ports such that the relay apparatus has plural parallel switching paths. A contact of the second relay is arranged in series with a first contact of the first contact group in m switching paths.

A flock of vehicles can include a leader vehicle and at least one follower vehicle coupled to the leader vehicle. In some embodiments, the leader vehicle is a lawnmower. In some embodiments, the leader vehicle can include at least one sensor. In some embodiments, the flock of vehicles operate in an inverted V-shape configuration. In some embodiments, the leader vehicle and the follower vehicle are connected via a retractable cable. In some embodiments, a sensor of the leader vehicle can detect a unique feature on a follower vehicle. In some embodiments, a drone can be coupled to a leader vehicle. In some embodiments, an autonomous vehicle can utilize a safety wire.

A laser machining apparatus comprises a workbench for positioning an object to be machined by laser; a laser emitter configured to emit a laser beam transversely to the workbench; a movement mechanism configured to three-dimensionally move the workbench or the laser emitter reciprocally to each other; a control unit connected to the movement mechanism and/or the laser emitter and configured to generate and send an enabling signal according to operator manipulations on a manipulation element connected to the same control unit. In particular, the control unit comprises a box-like body having a supporting base, a cover panel and elastic return means interposed between the supporting base and the cover panel which are movable reciprocally towards and away from each other between an active condition and an inactive condition.