Three position selector for automated chuck

• US 20060188350A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Puzio, Daniel, Gehret, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,491,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 408/240
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2231/06 Chucks for handtools having means for opening and closing the jaws using the driving motor of the handtool
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2231/38 Keyless chucks for hand tools
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/02 Cams
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/044 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/123 with locking arrangements locking arrangements for chucks with simultaneously-acting jaws moving radially actuated by one or more spiral grooves B23B31/16041
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/1238 Jaws movement actuated by a nut with conical screw-thread
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 279/902 Keyless type socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17632 Conical sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/27 Separate chuck-actuating power source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/32 Means to prevent jaw loosening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/65 Means to drive tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/953 Clamping jaws

Abstract

A automated chuck is provided with at least three user selectable operating modes, thereby enabling different functions to be performed during tightening and loosening of the chuck. In one exemplary implementation, the different user selectable operating modes of the chuck may be used to actuate a motor direction switch of the drill.

Claims

1. A chuck assembly for a rotatable spindle, comprising:

a cylindrical body having a forward section, a collar and a rearward section, the forward section having a center hole formed therethrough, the collar having a plurality of angularly disposed guide channels, and the rearward section being mountable to the spindle;

a plurality of jaws members slidably disposed in the guide channels, each jaw member having a threaded surface formed on an outer side thereof;

a nut disposed about the collar of the body in threaded engagement with the threaded surfaces of the jaw members;

an impactor ring selectably engageable with the nut for adjusting position of the jaw members; and

a mode selection mechanism operable to engage the impactor ring with the nut, the mode selection mechanism having at least two selectable positions in which the impactor ring engages the nut, where one of the two selectable positions enables an operation associated with loosening the chuck assembly which is disabled during tightening of the chuck assembly.

2. The chuck assembly of claim 1 wherein the mode selection mechanism is further defined as a rotatable forward sleeve encasing a forward portion of the chuck assembly, wherein rotation of the forward sleeve changes axial position of the impactor ring in relation to the nut.

3. The chuck assembly of claim 1 further comprises a rearward sleeve encasing a rearward portion of the chuck assembly, where the impactor ring is disposed in the rearward sleeve;

and a spring biasing the impactor ring into engagement with the forward sleeve.

4. The chuck assembly of claim 1 wherein the mode selection mechanism provides a chuck tightening position and a chuck loosening position where the impactor ring engages the nut.

5. The chuck assembly of claim 1 wherein the mode selection mechanism provides a drill position where the impactor ring is disengaged from the nut.

6. The chuck assembly of claim 4 further comprises a motor drivably coupled to the spindle, wherein the mode selection mechanism interconnects with a switch operable to control rotational direction of the motor.

7. The chuck assembly of claim 6 wherein the mode selection mechanism actuates the switch to obtain a forward motor direction when the mode selection mechanism is in a tightening position and actuates the switch to obtain a reverse motor direction when the mode selection mechanism is in a loosening position.

8. The chuck assembly of claim 1 further comprises a motor drivably coupled via a transmission to the spindle, wherein the mode selection mechanism interfaces with the transmission to ensure a high motor speed when in a chuck loosening mode.

9. The chuck assembly of claim 1 is incorporated into an electric powered drill.

10. A chuck assembly for a rotatable spindle, comprising:

a cylindrical body having a forward section, a collar and a rearward section, the forward section having a center hole formed therethrough, the collar having a plurality of angularly disposed guide channels, and the rearward section being mountable to the spindle;

a plurality of jaw members slidably disposed in the guide channels, each jaw member having a threaded surface formed on an outer side thereof;

a nut disposed about the collar of the body in threaded engagement with the threaded surfaces of the jaw members;

a rotatable forward sleeve encasing a forward portion of the chuck assembly;

a rearward sleeve encasing a rearward portion of the chuck assembly;

an impactor ring disposed in the rearward sleeve and selectably engageable with the nut for adjusting position of the jaw members; and

a spring biasing the impactor ring into engagement with the forward sleeve, the forward sleeve being rotatable amongst at least three positions, wherein each position enables an operation which is not available in the other two positions.

11. The chuck assembly of claim 10 wherein rotation of the forward sleeve changes axial position of the impactor ring in relation to the nut.

12. The chuck assembly of claim 10 wherein the impactor is axially slidable but rotationally fixed within the rearward sleeve.

13. The chuck assembly of claim 10 wherein the impactor ring includes a plurality of protruding members defined along a circumference of the ring and configured to engage a plurality of recesses formed in a bottom surface of the forward sleeve, wherein the plurality of recesses defines two sets of recesses having varying depths and arranged to receive the plurality of protruding members, thereby defining at least two axial positions for the impactor ring.

14. The chuck assembly of claim 13 further comprises a plurality of teeth protruding from a bottom surface of the nut and a plurality of impacting surfaces for engaging the teeth of the nut.

15. The chuck assembly of claim 10 wherein forward sleeve is rotatable to a chuck tightening position and a chuck loosening position, wherein the impactor ring engages the nut.

16. The chuck assembly of claim 10 wherein the forward sleeve is rotatable to a drill position, wherein the impactor ring is disengaged from the nut.