SQL & PL/SQL

I am trying to select available time slots (hours) between two date columns.

I'm using CONNECT BY LEVEL with a non-equal operator:

SELECT

      (dates.start_date_time + (level - 1) /24) start_date_time,

      dates.examiner_id

      ,dates.schedule_id   

FROM (SELECT -- bmv.schedule.common.data.AutoExaminerSchView 

       schedule_id

       ,start_date_time

       ,end_date_time

       ,examiner_id

       ,exam_status

      FROM schedule_test

      WHERE start_date_time >= TO_DATE('1/6/2014 7','MM/DD/YYYY HH24')  -- during the

    AND end_date_time <= TO_DATE('1/10/2014 15','MM/DD/YYYY HH24')  -- scheduling week

    AND exam_status = 'AVAILABLE'                               -- with available schedule

    AND ROWNUM < 2) dates

WHERE EXTRACT(HOUR FROM NUMTODSINTERVAL(   -- before the end hour (4 pm)

  (dates.start_date_time + (level - 1) /24) - TRUNC(

  (dates.start_date_time + (level - 1) /24)), 'DAY')) < TO_NUMBER(TO_CHAR(dates.end_date_time, 'HH24'))

CONNECT BY dates.start_date_time + (level - 1) /24 <= dates.end_date_time -- each hour between dates

ORDER BY (dates.start_date_time + (level - 1) /24),dates.examiner_id,dates.schedule_id;

The docs say:

Operators other than the equal sign (=) are theoretically possible in CONNECT BY clauses. However, this can result in an infinite loop through the possible combinations.

My strategy works well for one record, but when there are more than one record the results become exponentially large.

The attached SQL+ script sets up some test data and runs two sample queries.

Could someone demonstrate the correct way to select these data?

Any pointers and help are appreciated.