POWER TOOL

• US 20160039019A1
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Bublitz, Scott D., Plowman, Andrew M., Steele, Michael S., Eisenhardt, Scott D., Hui, Hongping, Yang, Guojian
• Granted Patent: US 9,764,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 29/005 for cutting sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 15/00 Hand-held shears with motor-driven blades

Abstract

A power tool includes a housing, a motor positioned within the housing, a drive mechanism coupled to the motor and positioned within the housing, and a shear head rotatably mounted to the housing and coupled to the drive mechanism. The power tool also includes a manually-operable actuator supported by the housing. The actuator is movable between a first position, in which the shear head is held stationary relative to the housing, and a second position, in which the shear head is rotatable relative to the housing.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor positioned within the housing;

a drive mechanism coupled to the motor and positioned within the housing;

a shear head rotatably mounted to the housing and coupled to the drive mechanism; and

a manually-operable actuator supported by the housing, the actuator being movable between a first position, in which the shear head is held stationary relative to the housing, and a second position, in which the shear head is rotatable relative to the housing.

2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the manually-operable actuator is slidable relative to the housing between the first position and the second position.

3. The power tool of claim 1, wherein a portion of the actuator extends outwardly from the housing.

4. The power tool of claim 1, wherein one of the actuator and the shear head includes a projection and the other of the actuator and the shear head defines a recess, wherein the projection fits within the recess when the actuator is in the first position, and wherein the projection is spaced apart from the recess when the actuator is in the second position.

5. The power tool of claim 4, wherein the actuator includes the projection and the shear head defines a plurality of recesses, and wherein each recess defines a discrete position of the shear head relative to the housing.

6. The power tool of claim 5, wherein the shear head includes a support collar that defines the plurality of recesses, and wherein a portion of the support collar is received in the shear head.

7. The power tool of claim 6, wherein the drive mechanism extends through the support collar so that the support collar surrounds a portion of the drive mechanism.

8. The power tool of claim 6, wherein the support collar is generally cylindrical, and wherein the plurality of recesses is formed in and equally spaced around the support collar.

9. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member positioned between the housing and the actuator, wherein the biasing member biases the actuator toward the first position.

10. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism includes an output shaft coupled to the shear head, wherein the output shaft has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the shear head is rotatable relative to the housing about the longitudinal axis.

11. The power tool of claim 10, wherein the actuator is movable relative to the housing between the first position and the second position in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.

12. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the shear head is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the housing.

13. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the shear head includes a fixed blade and a movable blade, and wherein the movable blade is coupled to and driven by the drive mechanism.

14. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a battery pack supported by the housing, wherein the battery pack is electrically coupled to the motor.

15. A power tool comprising:

a housing including a first portion defining a forward end of the housing, a second portion defining a rearward end of the housing, an upper surface extending rearwardly from the forward end, and a lower surface extending forwardly from the rearward end;

a motor positioned within the housing;

a drive mechanism coupled to the motor and positioned within the housing;

an output element coupled to the drive mechanism at the forward end of the housing;

a battery pack supported at the rearward end of the housing and electrically coupled to the motor; and

an actuator operable to selectively power the motor to drive the drive mechanism and the output element, the actuator supported by the housing forward of and above the battery pack.

16. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the actuator is supported by the housing rearward of and beneath the output element.

17. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the housing further includes a grip portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the actuator is supported on the grip portion.

18. The power tool of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the housing has a first longitudinal axis, wherein the grip portion of the housing has a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the second longitudinal axis is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first longitudinal axis.

19. The power tool of claim 18, wherein the second longitudinal axis extends through the motor and through the battery pack.

20. The power tool of claim 18, wherein the oblique angle is between 45 degrees and 70 degrees.

21. The power tool of claim 15, wherein at least one of the motor and the drive mechanism is positioned within the first portion of the housing.

22. The power tool of claim 21, wherein the actuator is supported by the housing rearward of and beneath the drive mechanism.

23. The power tool of claim 21, wherein the actuator is supported by the housing beneath the motor.

24. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the motor and the drive mechanism are positioned forward of and above the battery pack.

25. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the battery pack is connectable to the second portion of the housing along an insertion axis, and wherein the actuator located above the insertion axis.

26. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the power tool has a center of gravity, and wherein the center of gravity is located at the actuator.

27. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the output element includes a shear head having a fixed blade and a movable blade, and wherein the movable blade is coupled to and driven by the drive mechanism.

28. The power tool of claim 15, wherein the battery pack is an 18-volt Li-ion power tool battery pack.