POWER TOOL HAVING A SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH

• US 20130292147A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mergener, Matthew J., Hyma, Steven W., Lichtensteiger, Toby, Check, William E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/20
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/00 Driving or feeding mechanisms; Control arrangements therefor automatic control B23Q15/00; copying B23Q33/00, B23Q35/00; specially adapted for boring or drilling machines B23B39/10, B23B47/00; numerical programme-control of machine tools G05B19/18
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/001 Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: B27F 5/02 Slotting or mortising machines tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/21 with signal, indicator, illuminator or optical means

Abstract

A power tool includes a tool housing defining a cavity and a pocket formed in a wall of the tool housing. A motor is positioned within the cavity, and a trigger mechanism is moveably coupled to the tool housing. A speed selector switch is positioned within the pocket, the speed selector switch including a push-button operable to receive a speed selection and a plurality of speed indicators. The speed selector switch is operable to output a speed signal based on the speed selection, and the speed indicators indicate the speed selection. The power tool further includes a controller operable to receive the speed signal from the speed selector switch, the speed signal indicative of a selected speed, receive an activation signal from the trigger switch, and operate the motor at the selected speed upon receiving the activation signal.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A power tool comprising:

a tool housing defining a cavity, and including a pocket formed in a wall of the tool housing and positioned proximate to the cavity;

a motor positioned within the cavity;

a trigger mechanism moveably coupled to the tool housing;

a speed selector switch positioned within the pocket, the speed selector switch including a push-button and a plurality of speed indicators,

wherein the push-button is operable to receive a speed selection,

wherein the speed selector switch is operable to output a speed signal based on the speed selection,

wherein the speed indicators indicate the speed selection; and

a controller operable to

receive the speed signal from the speed selector switch, the speed signal indicative of a selected speed,

receive an activation signal from the trigger switch, and

operate the motor at the selected speed upon receiving the activation signal.

16. The tool housing of claim 15, wherein the pocket is positioned between an exterior surface and an interior surface of the tool housing wall.

17. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the speed selector switch is positioned proximate to the motor.

18. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the speed selector switch is accessible from one of a top surface of the power tool, a side surface of the power tool, and a rear surface of the power tool.

19. The speed selector switch of claim 15, further comprising a printed circuit board and a plurality of light-emitting diodes, wherein the each of the light-emitting diodes illuminates one of the speed indicators.

20. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the selected speed is one of a first speed and a second speed.

21. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the power tool is one of an impact driver, a power drill, an angle driver, and a power saw.

22. The power tool of claim 15, further comprising a working element drivingly coupled to the motor.

23. The power tool of claim 22, wherein the working element is a drill chuck.

24. The power tool of claim 15, further including a printed circuit board positioned within the cavity, and the speed selector switch electrically coupled to the printed circuit board.

25. A power tool comprising:

a tool housing including a body portion and a handle portion, the body portion defining a cavity and including a pocket formed in a wall of the body portion;

a motor positioned within the cavity;

a trigger mechanism moveably coupled to the tool housing;

a speed selector switch positioned within the pocket, the speed selector switch including a push-button and a plurality of speed indicators,

wherein the push-button is operable to receive a speed selection,

wherein the speed selector switch is operable to output a speed signal based on the speed selection,

wherein the speed indicators indicate the speed selection; and

a controller operable to

receive the speed signal from the speed selector switch, the speed signal indicative of a selected speed,

receive an activation signal from the trigger switch, and operate the motor at the selected speed upon receiving the activation signal.

26. The tool housing of claim 25, wherein the pocket is positioned between an exterior surface and an interior surface of the body portion wall.

27. The power tool of claim 25, wherein the speed selector switch is positioned proximate to the motor.

28. The power tool of claim 25, wherein the speed selector switch is accessible from one of a top surface of the power tool, a side surface of the power tool, and a rear surface of the power tool.

29. The speed selector switch of claim 25, further comprising a printed circuit board and a plurality of light-emitting diodes, wherein the each of the light-emitting diodes illuminates one of the speed indicators.

30. The power tool of claim 25, wherein the selected speed is one of a first speed and a second speed.

31. The power tool of claim 25, wherein the power tool is one of an impact driver, a power drill, an angle driver, and a power saw.

32. The power tool of claim 25, further comprising a working element drivingly coupled to the motor.

33. The power tool of claim 32, wherein the working element is a drill chuck.

34. The power tool of claim 25, further including a printed circuit board positioned within the cavity, the speed selector switch electrically coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the pocket is located proximate to the cavity.