Collet system for rotary tools

• US 20060110229A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wall, Daniel Paxton, Schnell, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 409/182
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2231/2081 Keys, spanners or wrenches to operate the collet chuck
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/078 Hand tools used to operate chucks or to assemble, adjust or disassemble tools or equipment used for turning, boring or drilling
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/2072 Axially moving cam, fixed jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 1/20 Portable devices or machines details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; Hand-driven devices or machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/3451 Nonseparable or built-in
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/99 Adjustable stop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/306608 End mill [e.g., router, etc.]

Abstract

A collet system for a rotary tool includes a collet for receiving a bit; a wrench assembly for engaging the collet, the wrench assembly moving along an axis extending axially through the collet between a first position where the wrench assembly is disengaged from the collet and a second position where the wrench assembly is engaged with the collet; and an adjusting collar coupled to the wrench assembly for moving the wrench assembly between the first position and the second position, wherein upon moving the wrench assembly to the second position, the adjusting collar is rotatable for rotating the wrench assembly to tighten and loosen the collet.

Claims

1. A collet system for a rotary tool, comprising:

a collet for receiving a bit;

a wrench assembly for engaging the collet, the wrench assembly moving along an axis extending axially through the collet between a first position where the wrench assembly is disengaged from the collet and a second position where the wrench assembly is engaged with the collet; and

an adjusting collar coupled to the wrench assembly for moving the wrench assembly between the first position and the second position,

wherein upon moving the wrench assembly to the second position, the adjusting collar is rotatable for rotating the wrench assembly to tighten and loosen the collet.

2. A collet system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spring assembly for biasing the adjusting collar toward the first position.

3. A collet system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a retaining ring coupled with the adjusting collar for retaining the spring assembly.

4. A collet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collet has a shaped head and the wrench assembly has an aperture correspondingly shaped to engage with the shaped head.

5. A collet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collet has a hexagonal-shaped head and the wrench assembly has an aperture correspondingly shaped to engage with the hexagonal-shaped head.

6. A collet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting collar includes detents for locking the adjusting collar when the adjusting collar is in a first position.

7. A collet system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a depth shoe for setting an entry depth for the bit.

8. A collet system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the depth shoe is rotatable by rotating the adjusting collar when the adjusting collar is positioned between the first and second positions.

9. A collet system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the depth shoe includes a shoe clamp for adjustably setting an entry depth for the bit.

10. A rotary tool, comprising:

a housing;

a drive shaft for rotating a bit; and

a collet system including a collet for receiving a bit, a wrench assembly for engaging the collet, the wrench assembly moving along an axis extending axially through the collet between a first position where the wrench assembly is disengaged from the collet and a second position where the wrench assembly is engaged with the collet; and

an adjusting collar coupled to the wrench assembly for moving the wrench assembly between the first position and the second position,

wherein upon moving the wrench assembly to the second position, the adjusting collar is rotatable for rotating the wrench assembly to tighten and loosen the collet.

11. A rotary tool as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a spring assembly coupled with the adjusting collar for biasing the adjusting collar toward the first position.

12. A rotary tool as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a retaining ring coupled with the adjusting collar for retaining the spring assembly.

13. A rotary tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein the collet has a shaped head and the wrench assembly has an aperture correspondingly shaped to engage with the shaped head.

14. A rotary tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein the collet has a hexagonal-shaped head and the wrench assembly has an aperture correspondingly shaped to engage with the hexagonal-shaped head.

15. A rotary tool as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a spindle lock for locking the drive shaft.

16. A rotary tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein the adjusting collar is configured to mechanically engage with the housing in the first position to prevent rotation of the adjusting collar when the adjusting collar is in the first position.

17. A rotary tool as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a depth shoe for setting an entry depth for the bit.

18. A rotary tool as claimed in claim 17, wherein the depth shoe is rotatable by rotating the adjusting collar when the adjusting collar is positioned between the first and second positions.

19. A rotary tool as claimed in claim 18, wherein the depth shoe includes a shoe clamp for adjustably setting an entry depth for the bit.

20. A collet system for a rotary tool, comprising:

a means for receiving a bit;

a means for engaging the bit receiving means, the engaging means moving along an axis extending axially through the bit receiving means between a first position where the engaging means is disengaged from the bit receiving means and a second position where the engaging means is engaged with the bit receiving means; and

,

a means for positioning coupled to the engaging means for positioning the engaging means between the first position and second position,

wherein upon moving the engaging means to the second position, the positioning means is rotatable for rotating the engaging means to tighten and loosen the bit receiving means.