Air tool with integrated generator and light ring assembly

• US 5,525,842 A
• Filed: 12/02/1994
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volt-Aire Corporation
• Original Assignee: Volt-Aire Corporation
• Inventors: Leininger, Jon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuneo, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US08/353,244
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1 R, 290/43, 290/54, 310/47, 310/48, 310/50, 310/73, 604/67
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/18 Devices for illuminating the head of the screw or the nut
• 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 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/0092 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/06 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, hand-held tools or the like control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/2713 the magnetisation axis of the magnets being axial, e.g. claw-pole type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/2795 the rotor consisting of two or more circumferentially positioned magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/24 with magnets axially facing the armatures, e.g. hub-type cycle dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/12 specially adapted for operating in liquid or gas combined with cooling arrangements H02K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/145 Hand-held machine tool
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/18 Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/183 wherein the turbine is a wind turbine adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/223 Heat bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/227 Heat sinks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

An improved air tool includes an integrated air motor and electrical generator wherein the stator is positioned on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the tool to reduce vibrations transmitted to the stator. The stator is also positioned between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator to prevent overheating of the stator. The air tool includes an indicating circuit connected to the battery charging circuit for indicating a battery charge condition, a battery discharge condition, and a low lubrication condition of the air vanes. A light ring assembly is attached to the working end of the tool housing to provide light at the working end of the tool. Materials chosen for the magnets and the poles of the stator increase the power capability of the electrical generator. An illuminating apparatus for a conventional air tool includes a light ring with integral generator.

Claims

1. An air tool having a working end and comprising:

A. a tool housing;

B. a compressed air inlet; and

C. an integrated air motor and electrical generator, for powering the tool and positioned within the housing and including;

1. a shaft mounted on a bearing, for rotation within the housing;

2. a rotor body having a circumferential surface and two axial ends, said rotor body being attached to the shaft;

3. a plurality of vanes connected to the rotor body;

4. a plurality of magnetic elements disposed within one of the two axial ends of the rotor body in a pole-side arrangement; and

5. a stator positioned within the housing axially aligned with the rotor body, on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the air tool and between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator, wherein the stator interacts with the magnetic elements to generate electricity when the rotor body is rotated by the compressed air.

2. The air tool of claim 1, wherein the stator includes a plurality of poles and a plurality of coils mounted on respective poles wherein the poles are positioned equidistant from each other, a number of the poles is the same as a number of the magnetic elements and the poles are mounted in facing relationship to the magnetic elements so that axes of the poles are collinear with axes of respective magnetic elements.

3. The air tool of claim 1, wherein the bearing on which the shaft is mounted is positioned on a side of the rotor body adjacent the working end of the tool and the shaft does not extend beyond the opposite side of the rotor body.

4. The air tool of claim 1, wherein the rotor body is made of a nonmagnetic material.

5. The air tool of claim 4, wherein the material is stainless steel.

6. The air tool of claim 4, wherein the material is one of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic and glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic.

7. The air tool of claim 1, wherein the magnetic elements are made of a compound that includes neodymium, iron and boron.

8. The air tool of claim 3, further comprising a second bearing on which the shaft is mounted wherein the second bearing is positioned on the side of the rotor body adjacent the working end of the tool.

9. The air tool of claim 1, further comprising a second bearing on which the shaft is supported wherein the second bearing is disposed inside the stator.

10. The air tool of claim 2, wherein the poles are made of a magnetic material capable of conducting magnetic flux direction change frequencies of at least 1000 hertz.

11. The air tool of claim 10, wherein the magnetic material is one of a material comprising 49.4 percent cobalt, 1.94 percent vanadium, with the balance iron, and Alloy 4750.

12. The air tool of claim 2, wherein the coils include coil forms having inside wall thicknesses of about 0.010 inches.

13. The air tool of claim 2, wherein the stator includes a stator housing and thermal conductive potting material and wherein the poles and coils are potted in the thermal conductive potting material and enclosed by the stator housing.

14. The air tool of claim 13, wherein the stator housing is made of one of nonmagnetic metal, plastic and a ceramic material.

15. The air tool of claim 13, wherein the stator housing includes an air inlet channel formed on an exterior surface thereof.

16. The air tool of claim 1, wherein the stator includes a stator housing and further comprising a rotor collar disposed on the shaft on a side of the rotor body adjacent the working end of the tool, for maintaining a desired gap between the side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the tool and the stator housing.

17. The air tool of claim 16, wherein the desired gap is about 0.007 inches and a thickness of the stator housing opposite the magnetic elements is about 0.010 to 0.035 inches.

18. The air tool of claim 1, further comprising a battery and a battery charging circuit connected to the stator.

23. The air tool of claim 1, further comprising a light ring assembly attached to the tool housing to provide light at the working end of the tool.

41. The air tool of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of damping sleeves disposed between the rotor body and the plurality of magnetic elements.

19. An air tool having a working end and comprising:

A. a tool housing;

B. a compressed air inlet;

C. an integrated air motor and electrical generator, for powering the tool and positioned within the housing and including;

1. a shaft mounted on a bearing, for rotation within the housing;

2. a rotor body having a circumferential surface and two axial ends, the rotor body being attached to the shaft;

3. a plurality of vanes connected to the rotor body;

4. a plurality of magnetic elements disposed within one of the two axial ends of the rotor body;

5. an air cylinder made of a nonmagnetic material and surrounding the plurality of vanes; and

6. a stator positioned within the housing axially aligned with the rotor body, wherein the stator interacts with the magnetic elements to generate electricity when the rotor body is rotated by the compressed air;

D. a battery charging circuit and a battery connected to the stator; and

E. an indicating circuit connected to the battery charging circuit for indicating a battery charge condition, a battery discharge condition, and a low lubrication condition.

20. The air tool of claim 19, wherein the indicating circuit includes a resistance temperature detector bridge comprising a thermistor disposed in the vicinity of the air cylinder and responsive to a temperature of a cylinder wall and a thermistor responsive to a temperature of the compressed air.

21. The air tool of claim 20, wherein the indicating circuit includes a light emitting diode that emits a first color when the integrated air motor and electrical generator is producing electricity and the temperature of the cylinder wall is within a normal range, a second color when the temperature of the cylinder wall exceeds a normal range, and a third color when an electrical load is being drawn from the battery and the integrated air motor and electrical generator is not producing electricity.

22. An air tool having a working end and comprising:

A. a tool housing;

B. a compressed air inlet;

C. an integrated air motor and electrical generator, for powering the tool and positioned within the housing and including;

1. a shaft mounted on a bearing, for rotation within the housing;

2. a rotor body having a circumferential surface and two axial ends, the rotor body being attached to the shaft;

3. a plurality of vanes connected to the rotor body;

4. a plurality of magnetic elements disposed within one of said two axial ends of the rotor body;

5. an air cylinder made of a nonmagnetic material and surrounding the plurality of vanes; and

6. a stator positioned within the housing axially aligned with the rotor body, on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the air tool and between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator, wherein the stator interacts with the magnetic elements to generate electricity when the rotor body is rotated by the compressed air;

D. a battery charging circuit and a battery connected to the stator; and

E. an indicating circuit connected to the battery charging circuit for indicating a battery charge condition, a battery discharge condition, and a low lubrication condition.

24. An air tool, having a working end and comprising:

A. a tool housing;

B. a compressed air inlet;

C. an integrated air motor and electrical generator, for powering the tool and positioned within the housing and including;

1. a shaft mounted on a bearing, for rotation within the housing;

2. a rotor body attached to the shaft;

3. a plurality of vanes connected to the rotor body;

4. a plurality of magnetic elements disposed in the rotor body; and

5. a stator positioned within the housing axially aligned with the rotor body, on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the air tool and between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator, wherein the stator interacts with the magnetic elements to generate electricity when the rotor body is rotated by the compressed air; and

D. a light ring assembly attached to the tool housing to provide light at the working end of the tool;

wherein the light ring assembly includes;

a generally cylindrical retainer ring having open ends and connected to the tool housing;

an annular lens disposed in the retainer ring at an end furthest from the tool housing;

an annular reflector having a plurality of openings formed therein and disposed adjacent the lens; and

an annular ring having a plurality of lamps that are inserted in the openings of the annular reflector wherein the lamps are electrically connected to the stator.

25. The air tool of claim 24, wherein portions of the openings of the annular reflector are paraboloids.

26. An air tool having a working end and comprising:

A. a tool housing;

B. a compressed air inlet;

C. an integrated air motor and electrical generator, for powering the tool and positioned within the housing and including;

1. a shaft mounted on a bearing, for rotation within the housing;

2. a rotor body attached to the shaft;

3. a plurality of vanes connected to the rotor body;

4. a plurality of magnetic elements disposed in the rotor body; and

5. a stator positioned within the housing axially aligned with the rotor body, on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the air tool and between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator, wherein the stator interacts with the magnetic elements to generate electricity when the rotor body is rotated by the compressed air; and

D. a light ring assembly attached to the tool housing to provide light at the working end of the tool;

wherein the light ring assembly includes;

a lamp electrically connected to the stator; and

a plurality of optical fibers having first ends optically coupled to the lamp and second ends that terminate in a circular array at the working end of the tool.

27. The air tool of claim 26, wherein the tool housing includes at least one opening adjacent the lamp.

38. The air tool of claim 27, further comprising an elastomeric, opaque tool cover that covers at least a part of the tool housing wherein a portion of each optical fiber is encapsulated in the tool cover.

39. The air tool of claim 27, further comprising at least one mirror for optically coupling an optical fiber to the lamp.

40. The air tool of claim 26, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are encapsulated in the tool housing.

28. An air tool having a working end and comprising:

A. a tool housing;

B. a compressed air inlet;

C. an integrated air motor and electrical generator, for powering the tool and positioned within the housing and including;

1. a shaft mounted on a bearing, for rotation within the housing;

2. a rotor body attached to the shaft;

3. a plurality of vanes connected to the rotor body;

4. a plurality of magnetic elements disposed in the rotor body; and

5. a stator positioned within the housing axially aligned with the rotor body, on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the air tool and between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator, wherein the stator interacts with the magnetic elements to generate electricity when the rotor body is rotated by the compressed air; and

D. a light ring assembly attached to the tool housing to provide light at the working end of the tool;

wherein the light ring assembly includes;

a generally cylindrical retainer ring having open ends and connected to the tool housing;

a drill chuck having a transparent cover and connected to the shaft at the working end of the tool;

an annular reflector having a plurality of openings formed therein and disposed adjacent the drill chuck; and

an annular ring having a plurality of lamps that are inserted in the openings of the annular reflector wherein the lamps are electrically connected to the stator;

wherein the transparent cover of the drill chuck directs light from the lamps to a working surface.

29. An air tool having a working end and comprising:

A. a tool housing;

B. a compressed air inlet;

C. an integrated air motor and electrical generator, for powering the tool and positioned within the housing and including;

1. a shaft mounted on a bearing, for rotation within the housing;

2. a rotor body having a circumferential surface and two axial ends, the rotor body being attached to the shaft;

3. a plurality of vanes connected to the rotor body;

4. a plurality of magnetic elements disposed within one of the two axial ends of the rotor body;

5. an air cylinder made of a nonmagnetic material and surrounding the plurality of vanes; and

6. a stator positioned within the housing axially aligned with the rotor body, on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the air tool and between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator, wherein the stator interacts with the magnetic elements to generate electricity when the rotor body is rotated by the compressed air;

D. a battery charging circuit and a battery connected to the stator;

E. an indicating circuit connected to the battery charging circuit for indicating a battery charge condition, a battery discharge condition, and a low lubrication condition; and

F. a light ring assembly attached to the tool housing to provide light at the working end of the tool.

30. An air tool having a working end and comprising:

A. a tool housing;

B. a compressed air inlet;

C. an integrated air motor and electrical generator, for powering the tool and positioned within the housing and including;

1. a shaft mounted on a bearing, for rotation within the housing;

2. a rotor body having a circumferential surface and two axial ends, the rotor being attached to the shaft;

3. a plurality of vanes connected to the rotor body;

4. a plurality of magnetic elements disposed within one of the two axial ends of the rotor body wherein the magnetic elements are made of a compound that includes neodymium, iron and boron;

5. an air cylinder made of nonmagnetic material and surrounding the plurality of vanes; and

6. a stator positioned within the housing axially aligned with the rotor body, on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the air tool and between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator, wherein the stator interacts with the magnetic elements to generate electricity when the rotor body is rotated by the compressed air;

D. a battery charging circuit and a battery connected to the stator;

E. an indicating circuit connected to the battery charging circuit for indicating a battery charge condition, a battery discharge condition, and a low lubrication condition; and

F. a light ring assembly attached to the tool housing to provide light at the working end of the tool;

G. wherein the stator includes a plurality of poles and a plurality of coils mounted on respective poles wherein the poles are positioned equidistant from each other, a number of the is the same as a number of the magnetic elements and the poles are mounted in facing relationship to the magnetic elements so that axes of the poles are collinear with axes of respective magnetic elements; and

H. wherein the poles are made of one of a material comprising 49.4 percent cobalt, 1.94 percent vanadium, with the balance iron, and Alloy 4750.

31. An illuminating apparatus for a power tool having a spindle and a tool housing, comprising:

a housing having first and second ends;

a lens disposed at the first end of the housing;

a lamp disposed behind the lens;

a reflector surrounding the lamp and including a coil connected to the lamp; and

a rotor including a magnetic element wherein the rotor is attachable to the spindle and is disposed adjacent the coil whereby rotation of the rotor induces electromotive force in the coil;

wherein the second end of the housing includes a retaining ring for attachment to the tool housing.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of lamps disposed behind the lens wherein the reflector includes a plurality of coils connected to the lamps and the rotor includes a plurality of magnetic elements.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the rotor includes air moving fan blades and the housing includes at least one cooling port.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the rotor is attachable to the spindle by one of a set screw and a keyway.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the reflector is made of a magnetic material capable of conducting magnetic flux direction change frequencies of at least 1000 hertz.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the magnetic material is one of a material comprising 49.4 percent cobalt, 1.94 percent vanadium, with the balance iron, and Alloy 4750.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the coils include coil formers having inside wall thicknesses of about 0.010 inches.

42. A air tool having a working end and comprising:

A. a tool housing;

B. a compressed air inlet; and

C. an integrated air motor and electrical generator, for powering the tool and positioned within the housing and including;

1. a shaft mounted on a bearing, for rotation within the housing;

2. a rotor body attached to the shaft;

3. a plurality of vanes connected to the rotor body;

4. a plurality of magnetic elements disposed in the rotor body; and

5. a stator positioned within the housing axially aligned with the rotor body, on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the air tool and between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator, wherein the stator interacts with the magnetic elements to generate electricity when the rotor body is rotated by the compressed air; and

D. a light ring assembly attached to the tool housing to provide light at the working end of the tool;

wherein the light ring assembly includes;

a lamp located external to the tool housing; and

a plurality of optical fibers having first ends optically coupled to the lamp and second ends that terminate in a circular array at the working end of the tool.

43. The air tool of claim 42, further comprising an elastomeric, opaque tool cover that covers at least a part of the tool housing wherein a portion of each optical fiber is encapsulated in the tool cover.

44. The air tool of claim 42, wherein a portion of each of the plurality of optical fibers is encapsulated in the tool housing.