Power Tool

• US 20130068492A1
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Ai, Tachibana, Toshihiko, Etou, Yasuo, Onose, Miyoji, Yamaguchi, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,381,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/184
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/025 Electric hybrid systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a power tool that can be used at a position away from the external power source. The power tool includes a housing, a motor, an end tool, a battery pack, and an inverter. The housing has an upper side portion and a lower side portion. The motor is supported by the housing and driven by alternate-current power. The end tool is supported by the housing and rotatably driven by the motor. The battery pack outputs direct-current voltage. The inverter is disposed on the upper side portion and at a position higher than the motor and configured to convert the direct-current voltage outputted from the battery pack into alternate-current voltage and to supply the motor with alternate-current power.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a housing having an upper side portion and a lower side portion;

a motor supported by the housing and driven by alternate-current power;

an end tool supported by the housing and rotatably driven by the motor;

a battery pack that outputs direct-current voltage; and

an inverter disposed on the upper side portion and at a position higher than the motor and configured to convert the direct-current voltage outputted from the battery pack into alternate-current voltage and to supply the motor with alternate-current power.

2. The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a front wall section and a rear wall section;

wherein the inverter is located between the motor and the end tool in a direction from the rear wall section to the front wall section.

3. The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the inverter is located directly above the end tool.

4. The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a front wall section and a rear wall section in a traveling direction of the power tool;

wherein the inverter is disposed forward of the rear wall section in the travelling direction.

5. The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a front part and a rear part in a traveling direction of the power tool;

and

the power tool further comprising;

at least one front wheel rotatably supported by the front part and rotatable about a front rotational axis; and

at least one rear wheel rotatably supported by the rear part and rotatable around a rear rotational axis, the inverter being disposed forward of the rear rotational axis.

6. The power tool according to claim 5, wherein the inverter is located between the rear rotational axis and the front rotational axis in the traveling direction.

7. The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the upper side portion of housing has an uppermost surface on which the inverter is mounted.

8. The power tool according to claim 1, further comprising:

a holding section configured to be held by a user; and

a pair of arm sections each having a base end pivotally connected to the housing and another end connected to the holding section so that the pair of arm sections are pivotally movable relative to the housing, pivotal movement of the pair of arm section defining loci, and a pair of imaginary planes including the loci being defined; and

wherein the inverter is disposed between the pair of imaginary planes.

9. The power tool according to claim 1, wherein the inverter is detachably provided to the housing.

10. The power tool according to claim 8, wherein the base end contains a pivotal axis of the pivotal movement of the pair of arm sections,

wherein the upper side portion of the housing is provided with an engaging section;

wherein the inverter is provided with an engaged section engageable with the engaging section to fix the inverter to the upper side portion; and

wherein the pair of arm sections extends rearward and diagonally upward from the housing, the engaged portion being positioned at the upper side surface and forward of each base end of each arm section.