System and methods for configuring a reciprocating saw

• US 10,562,116 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Dey, IV, John Stanley, Mergener, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alie, Ghassem
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Bharat C
• Application Number:
  US15/423,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20170216986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 83 63, 30392
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 51/16 of drives or feed mechanisms for straight tools, e.g. saw blades, or bows
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Systems and methods for configuring a power tool. One system includes a power tool communication system that includes an external device and a power tool. The external device includes a user interface configured to receive a first selection to enable a feature of a power tool, and receive a second selection of a threshold of a motor characteristic of the power tool. The power tool includes a motor within a housing. The power tool receives the selected feature and the selected threshold from the external device. The power tool includes a sensor configured to monitor the motor characteristic of the motor. The power tool further includes an electronic processor that controls the motor to operate according to the selected feature and adjusts an operating parameter of the motor when the motor characteristic is determined to cross the selected threshold.

Claims

1. A hand-held power tool configured to implement a cut-stop feature, the hand-held power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor within the housing, wherein the motor includes a rotor and a stator;

a transmission coupled between the motor and a reciprocating spindle, wherein the transmission converts rotational motion of the motor to reciprocating motion of the reciprocating spindle;

a blade holder coupled to the reciprocating spindle;

a sensor configured to monitor a motor current;

a wireless communication controller configured to receive an instruction from an external device prior to driving the motor, wherein the instruction instructs the hand-held power tool to enable the cut-stop feature;

an electronic processor located within the housing of the hand-held power tool and coupled to the sensor and to the wireless communication controller, wherein the electronic processor is configured to

receive the instruction from the wireless communication controller, and

enable the cut-stop feature of the hand-held power tool in response to receiving the instruction, wherein during implementation of the cut-stop feature the electronic processor is configured to

start driving the motor in response to determining that a trigger has been depressed,

determine that an item is being cut based on the motor current exceeding a cutting threshold,

determine that the item is no longer being cut based on the motor current decreasing below the cutting threshold, and

in response to determining that the item is no longer being cut based on the motor current decreasing below the cutting threshold, cease driving the motor for avoiding cutting of another object proximate the hand-held power tool.

2. The hand-held power tool of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to receive, via the wireless communication controller, the—

cutting threshold from the external device.

3. The hand-held power tool of claim 2, wherein the external device includes a user interface configured to receive a selection of a sensitivity parameter that sets the cutting threshold.

4. The hand-held power tool of claim 1, wherein the external device includes a user interface configured to receive a selection to enable the cut-stop feature of the hand-held power tool.

5. A hand-held power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor within the housing, wherein the motor includes a rotor and a stator;

a transmission coupled between the motor and a reciprocating spindle, wherein the transmission converts rotational motion of the motor to reciprocating motion of the reciprocating spindle;

a blade holder coupled to the reciprocating spindle;

a sensor configured to monitor a motor current;

a wireless communication controller configured to receive an instruction from an external device prior to driving the motor, wherein the instruction instructs the hand-held power tool to enable a blind-cut feature;

an electronic processor located within the housing of the hand-held power tool and coupled to the sensor and to the wireless communication controller, wherein the electronic processor is configured to

receive the instruction from the wireless communication controller, and

enable the blind-cut feature in response to receiving the instruction, wherein during implementation of the blind-cut feature the electronic processor is configured to

start driving the motor in response to determining that a trigger has been depressed,

determine that a first material is being cut based on the motor current by detecting a first increase in a motor current acceleration that exceeds a first threshold,

while the first material is being cut, monitor the motor current acceleration,

determine that a second material is being cut based on the motor current acceleration by detecting a second increase in the motor current acceleration that exceeds a second threshold, and

in response to determining that the second material is being cut by detecting the second increase in the motor current acceleration that exceeds the second threshold, cease driving the motor.

6. The hand-held power tool of claim 5, wherein the electronic processor is configured to wait a predetermined time period before beginning to monitor the motor current after starting to drive the motor in response to the trigger being depressed.

7. The hand-held power tool of claim 5, wherein the electronic processor is configured to receive, via the wireless communication controller, the second threshold from the external device, wherein the external device includes a user interface configured to receive a selection of a sensitivity parameter that sets the second threshold.

8. The hand-held power tool of claim 5, wherein the electronic processor is configured to implement an overcurrent protection feature in response to detecting a motor fault including at least one of the group consisting of a motor stall and the motor exceeding a rated current level of the motor;

wherein the electronic processor is configured to cease driving the motor in response to determining that the second material is being cut without detecting the motor fault.