SPINDLE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY POWER DEVICE

• US 3,872,951 A
• Filed: 11/06/1973
• Issued: 03/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles Russell Jr. Hastings
• Original Assignee: Charles Russell Jr. Hastings
• Inventors: Hastings, Charles Russell Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Halvosa, George E. A.
• Application Number:
  US05/413,335
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 188/31,60,69 192/71 74/527,528,813R 279/1K 70/182,183,184,185
• US Class Current: 188/69
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0092 actuating braking or stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/20 Adjusting or stopping working-spindles in a predetermined position
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/022 Spindle-locking devices, e.g. for mounting or removing the tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 408/71 Safety device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/20 with safety feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/3451 Nonseparable or built-in
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/65 Means to drive tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/309352 Cutter spindle or spindle support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5655 Housing-carried lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents

Abstract

A locking mechanism is provided for a rotary power device which permits a rotatable spindle to be temporarily locked against rotation to allow accessories to be safely connected to and removed from the spindle. The locking mechanism includes a safety feature which prevents inadvertent actuation of the mechanism during normal power operation of the device to avoid injury to the operator and damage to the device.

Claims

1. A manually operable locking mechanism for a rotary power tool including a housing which supports a rotatable spindle, comprising:

a sleeve rigidly mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith, said sleeve including a radially extending opening;

a lock pin slidably mounted on the housing for movement toward and away from said sleeve, said lock pin being normally biased away from said sleeve and manually movable toward said sleeve into said opening to prevent rotation of the spindle; and

resilient guard means secured to said sleeve for rotation in common therewith and normally extending across said opening to prevent movement of said lock pin into said opening, said lock pin being engageable with said resilient guard means upon movement of said lock pin toward said sleeve and rotation of the spindle in a predetermined direction to displace said resilient guard means away from said opening to permit movement of said lock pin into said opening.

2. A manually operable locking mechanism for a rotary power tool including a housing which supports a rotatable spindle, comprising:

a sleeve rigidly mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith, said sleeve including a radially extending opening;

a lock pin slidably mounted on the housing for movement toward and away from said sleeve, said lock pin being normally biased away from said sleeve and manually movable toward said sleeve into said opening to prevent rotation of the spindle; and

a spring element substantially surrounding said sleeve and including a first end secured to said sleeve and a second end normally extending across said opening to prevent movement of said lock pin into said opening, said lock pin being engageable with said second end of said spring element upon manual movement of said lock pin toward said sleeve and manual rotation of the spindle in a predetermined direction to displace said second end of said spring element away from said opening to permit movement of said lock pin into said opening.

3. A manually operable locking mechanism for a rotary power tool including a housing which supports a rotatable spindle, comprising:

a sleeve rigidly mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith, said sleeve including a radially extending opening, a peripheral groove intersecting said opening, and a depression formed in said sleeve adjacent to said opening;

a lock pin slidably mounted on the housing for movement toward and away from said sleeve, said lock pin being normally biased away from said sleeve and manually movable toward said sleeve and into said opening to prevent rotation of the spindle; and

a spring element received in said peripheral groove of said sleeve, said spring element including a first end secured to said sleeve and a second end extending partially across said opening to normally prevent movement of said lock pin into said opening, said lock pin being movable into said depression upon manual movement of said lock pin toward said sleeve and manual rotation of the spindle in a predetermined direction to displace said second end of said spring element away from said opening to permit movement of said lock pin into said opening.

4. A manually operable locking mechanism for a rotary power tool including a housing which supports a rotatable spindle, comprising:

a sleeve rigidly mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith, said sleeve including an opening extending radially therethrough, a peripheral groove extending completely around said sleeve and intersecting said opening, and a recess displaced peripherally from said opening along said groove, said sleeve being undercut from one side of said opening to provide a depression on said sleeve adjacent to said opening;

a lock pin slidably mounted on the housing for movement toward and away from said sleeve, said lock pin being normally biased away from said sleeve and manually movable toward said sleeve into said opening to prevent rotation of the spindle; and

a spring element received in said peripheral groove, said spring element including a first end located in said recess to anchor said spring element in said groove and a second end extending partially across said opening from the side thereof opposite to said depression to normally prevent movement of said lock pin into said opening, said lock pin bEing movable into said depression upon manual movement of said lock pin toward said sleeve and manual rotation of the spindle in a predetermined direction to laterally engage and displace said second end of said spring element relative to said opening to permit movement of said lock pin into said opening.

5. A manually operable locking mechanism for a rotary power tool including a housing which supports a motor and a rotatable spindle driven in a predetermined direction by the motor, comprising:

a gear member rigidly mounted on the spindle for coupling the spindle to the motor, said gear member including an integral sleeve surrounding the spindle to support said gear member for rotation therewith, said sleeve including an opening extending radially therethrough;

a lock pin slidably mounted on the housing adjacent to said sleeve for movement radially toward and away from said sleeve, said lock pin comprising a manually engageable portion extending radially outward through an opening provided in the housing and a shaft extending radially inward toward said sleeve, said shaft being movable into said opening to lock the spindle against rotation, said lock pin being normally biased radially outward away from said sleeve to permit rotation of the spindle by the motor; and

a spring element substantially surrounding said sleeve of said gear member and including a first end secured to said sleeve and a second end extending partially across said opening to normally prevent movement of said shaft into said opening, said shaft being laterally engageable with said second end of said spring element upon manual movement of said lock pin toward said sleeve and manual rotation of the spindle in a reverse direction to displace said second end of said spring element laterally relative to said opening to permit movement of said shaft into said opening.

6. A manually operable locking mechanism for a rotary power tool including a housing which supports a motor and a rotatable spindle driven in a predetermined direction by the motor, comprising:

a gear member rigidly mounted on the spindle for coupling the spindle to the motor, said gear member including an integral sleeve surrounding the spindle to support said gear member for rotation therewith, said sleeve including an opening extending radially therethrough, a peripheral groove extending completely around said sleeve and intersecting said opening, and a depression formed in said sleeve adjacent to said opening;

a lock pin slidably mounted on the housing adjacent to said sleeve for movement radially toward and away from said sleeve, said lock pin comprising a manually engageable portion extending radially outward through the housing and a shaft extending radially inward toward said sleeve, said shaft being movable into said opening to lock the spindle against rotation, said lock pin being normally biased radially outward away from said sleeve to permit rotation of the spindle by the motor; and

a spring element received in said peripheral groove of said sleeve, said spring element including a first end secured to said sleeve and a second end extending partially across said opening to normally prevent movement of said shaft into said opening said shaft being movable into said depression upon manual movement of said lock pin toward said sleeve and manual rotation of the spindle in a reverse direction to laterally engage and displace said second end of said spring element relative to said opening to prevent movement of said shaft into said opening.

7. A manually operable locking mechanism for a rotary power tool including a housing which supports a motor and a rotatable spindle driven in a predetermined direction by the motor, comprising:

a gear member rigidly mounted on the spindle for coupling the spindle the motor, said gear member including an integral, generally cylindrical sleeve surrounding the spindle to support said gear member for rotation therewith, said sleeve including an opening extending raDially therethrough, a peripheral groove extending completely around said sleeve and intersecting said opening, and a recess displaced peripherally from said opening said groove, said sleeve being undercut from one side of said opening to provide a depression in said sleeve adjacent to said opening;

a lock pin slidably mounted on the housing adjacent to said sleeve for movement radially toward and away from said sleeve, said lock pin comprising a manually engageable portion extending radially outward through the housing and a shaft extending radially inward toward said sleeve, said shaft being movable into said opening to lock the spindle against rotation, said lock pin being normally biased radially outward away from said sleeve to permit rotation of the spindle by the motor; and

a generally circular spring element received in said peripheral groove, said spring element including a first end located in said recess to anchor said spring element in said groove and a second end extending partially across said opening from the side thereof opposite to said depression to normally prevent movement of said shaft into said opening, said shaft being movable into said depression upon manual movement of said lock pin toward said sleeve and manual rotation of the spindle in a reverse direction to laterally engage and displace said second end of said spring element relative to said opening to permit movement of said shaft said opening.

8. A manually operable locking mechanism for a rotary power tool including a housing which supports a rotatable spindle, comprising:

a sleeve rigidly mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith, said sleeve including a radially extending opening;

a lock pin slidably mounted on the housing for movement toward and away from said sleeve, said lock pin being manually movable toward said sleeve into said opening to prevent rotation of the spindle; and

resilient guard means secured to said sleeve for rotation in common therewith and normally extending across said opening to prevent movement of said lock pin into said opening, said lock pin being engageable with said resilient guard means upon movement of said lock pin toward said sleeve and rotation of the spindle in a predetermined direction to displace said resilient guard means away from said opening to permit movement of said lock pin into said opening.

9. Locking means for a rotating member which normally rotates in one direction comprising a radial opening formed in said rotating member, a lock pin normally biased away from said rotating member and movable towards said rotating member and into said opening to lock said rotating member against rotation so long as said pin is in said opening, resilient guard means mounted on said rotating member having first and second end portions, said first end portion being secured to said rotating member, and said guard means being wrapped about said rotating member from said first end portion in a direction opposite to said normal one direction of rotation of said rotating member, and said second end portion comprising a free end portion located over part of said opening to normally block the passage of said pin into said opening, said rotating member comprising means to guide said lock pin into said opening, whereby said lock pin may be positioned into said radial opening only by rotation of said rotating member in a direction to its normal direction of motion while simultaneously holding said lock pin depressed against said rotating member to cause the side of said lock pin to move said resilient guard means free end portion away from its guarding position overlying said radial opening to permit said lock pin to enter said opening.

10. The combination of claim 9, said guide means comprising a cut-out portion communicating the outside surface of said rotating member with said radial opening, whereby said cut-out portion guides said lock pin to move said free end away from said overlying guarding position.

11. The combination oF claim 9, said resilient guard means comprising a spring wire of circular cross-sectional shape located in a peripheral groove shaped to receive said spring wire, and said groove surrounding said rotating member and intersecting said radial opening.

12. The combination of claim 11, said first secured end portion of said spring wire comprising a formed end thereof bent out of the plane defined by said groove and seated in a recess in the side of said rotating member, and said recess communicating with said groove.

13. The combination of claim 9, said resilient guard means comprising a flat spring element of rectilinear cross-sectional shape located in a peripheral groove shaped to receive said flat spring element, and said groove surrounding said rotating member and intersecting said radial opening.

14. The combination of claim 13, said first secured end portion of said spring element comprising a bent end thereof extending generally radially inwardly in the plane defined by said groove and seated in a slot formed in said member, and said slot communicating with said groove.