Large angle grinder

• US 20080090504A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sheddy, Gregg L., Miller, Philip T., Xie, Junyi, Melvin, Jason, Trautner, Paul K., Yang, Yaping, Agan, Kevin S., Ekstrom, Erik A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 451/359
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/00 Portable grinding machines, e.g. hand-guided; Accessories therefor B24B7/18 takes precedence; for grinding seat surfaces B24B15/00; having a flexible shaft B24B27/027; grinders for cutting-off B24B27/08; dust extraction equipment B24B55/10; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/022 Spindle-locking devices, e.g. for mounting or removing the tool
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/028 Angle tools
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/008 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/148 Slidably supported brushes
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/145 Hand-held machine tool
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/06 with fans or impellers driven by the machine shaft

Abstract

An angle grinder is provided including a radial fan assembly. The radial fan assembly is configured to direct exhaust radially outwardly and axially away from a user of the angle grinder. Brush card assemblies for an angle grinder are also provided. The brush card assemblies provide for the securing of brush cards to a field case of the angle grinder by the interface between the field case and brush cards. Additionally, a spindle lock mechanism and a safety mechanism for an angle grinder are provided.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. An angle grinder comprising:

a field case having a handle disposed at an end thereof;

a motor disposed within said field case, said motor having a spindle extending axially therefrom, said motor spindle having a pinion gear fixed to an end thereof for rotation with said motor spindle;

a gear case coupled to an end of said field case opposite said handle, said gear case including a wheel spindle extending therefrom, said wheel spindle being operably coupled to said pinion gear and being adapted to receive an attachment for the angle grinder for rotation therewith; and

a lock mechanism supported by said gear case, said lock mechanism being selectively operable to engage said pinion gear and inhibit rotation of said wheel spindle.

31. The angle grinder of claim 30, wherein said lock mechanism includes a pin coupled to said gear case, a button coupled to an end of said pin outside of said gear case, and a biasing member disposed between said pin and said gear case, and

wherein said pinion gear includes an aperture therein adapted to receive said pin.

32. The angle grinder of claim 31, wherein said biasing member locates said pin in a disengaged position relative to said pinion gear, and said button is selectively operable to locate said pin in said aperture and in engagement with said pinion gear to inhibit rotation of said wheel spindle.

33. The angle grinder of claim 32, wherein said biasing member is a spring.

34. The angle grinder of claim 31, wherein said pinion gear has an elliptical cross section.

35. A power tool comprising:

a field case having a handle portion disposed on an end thereof;

a motor disposed within said field case;

a switch mechanism attached to said handle portion, said switch mechanism being selectively operable to activate the power tool; and

a safety mechanism attached to said handle portion proximate said switch mechanism, said safety mechanism including a main component and a biasing member, said main component having a button portion, a finger portion extending from said button portion, and a protrusion extending from said finger portion,

wherein said biasing member locates said main component in a first position with a first surface of said protrusion engaging a portion of said switch mechanism to prevent operation of said switch mechanism, and

wherein said main component is selectively operable to slide relative to said handle portion to a second position disengaged from said switch mechanism to allow for operation of said switch mechanism and activation of the power tool.

36. The power tool of claim 35, wherein, during operation of said switch mechanism, said portion of said switch mechanism engages with a second surface of said protrusion to hold said main component in said second position.

37. The power tool of claim 35, wherein said switch mechanism includes a trigger disposed outside of said handle portion of said field case and said portion of said switch mechanism is a lever coupled to said trigger.

38. The power tool of claim 35, wherein said biasing member is a spring.

39. The power tool of claim 35, wherein the power tool is in the form of a large angle grinder.