Articulating Oscillating Power Tool

• US 20150135541A1
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch Tool Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch Tool Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Wierzchon, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,576,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/276
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/006 Vibration damping means
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 19/006 with oscillating saw blades; Hand saws with oscillating saw blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/3412 Drive conversion

Abstract

An oscillating power tool includes a drive motor producing rotary motion and an actuator for converting the motor rotary motion to an oscillatory side-to-side movement. The power tool includes a tool mount operably driven by the actuator and configured to support the tool so that the working end is substantially collinear and/or coplanar with the axis of the motor drive shaft.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor located in the housing and having a drive shaft configured for rotation about a longitudinal axis;

an actuator operatively coupled to the drive shaft and configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft to an oscillatory displacement in a plane;

a tool holder coupled to the actuator and configured to move in response to movement of the actuator; and

a tool supported by the tool holder, the tool having a working surface,

wherein the tool holder and tool are configured so that the tool is supported by said tool holder with the tool working surface substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis of the motor drive shaft.

2. The articulating power tool of claim 1, wherein:

the tool working surface defines a plane; and

the tool and actuator are configured so that the tool is supported so that the plane of the tool working surface is at substantially parallel to and substantially coplanar with the oscillatory displacement plane.

3. The articulating power tool of claim 2, wherein the tool is a cantilevered blade for performing plunge cuts.

4. The articulating power tool of claim 1, further comprising an articulator operatively coupled to said housing and said tool holder, said articulator configured to permit adjustment of the tool holder through a range of angles relative to said longitudinal axis.

5. The articulating power tool of claim 1, wherein:

said actuator includes;

an eccentric mechanism coupled to the drive shaft to convert drive shaft rotation to oscillatory displacement; and

a link extending from said eccentric mechanism away from said tool housing and below said longitudinal axis; and

said tool holder is connected to said link.

6. The articulating power tool of claim 5, wherein:

said link defines a bore therethrough; and

said tool holder is engaged within said bore with said working surface above said bore relative to said longitudinal axis.

7. The articulating power tool of claim 6, wherein said tool is engaged to said tool holder by a locking plate disposed between a mounting portion of said tool and said link and a bolt passing through said locking plate and said mounting portion of said tool and in threaded engagement with said tool holder.

8. The articulating power tool of claim 1, wherein said tool includes a mounting portion offset from said working surface, said mounting surface supported on said tool holder.

9. A power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor located in the housing and having a drive shaft configured for rotation about a longitudinal axis;

an actuator operatively coupled to the drive shaft and configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft to an oscillatory displacement in a plane;

a tool holder coupled to the actuator and configured to move in response to movement of the actuator; and

a tool supported by the tool holder, the tool having a working surface,

wherein the power tool defines a center of gravity and the tool holder and tool are configured so that the tool is supported by said tool holder with the tool working surface substantially coplanar or co-linear with said center of gravity.

10. The power tool of claim 9, further comprising an articulator operatively coupled to said housing and said tool holder, said articulator configured to permit adjustment of the tool holder through a range of angles relative to said longitudinal axis.

11. The power tool of claim 9, wherein:

said actuator includes;

an eccentric mechanism coupled to the drive shaft to convert drive shaft rotation to oscillatory displacement; and

a link extending from said eccentric mechanism away from said tool housing and below said longitudinal axis; and

said tool holder is connected to said link.

12. The power tool of claim 11, wherein:

said link defines a bore therethrough; and

said tool holder is engaged within said bore with said working surface above said bore relative to said longitudinal axis.

13. The power tool of claim 12, wherein said tool is engaged to said tool holder by a locking plate disposed between a mounting portion of said tool and said link and a bolt passing through said locking plate and said mounting portion of said tool and in threaded engagement with said tool holder.

14. The power tool of claim 9, wherein said tool includes a mounting portion offset from said working surface, said mounting surface supported on said tool holder.