Oscillation switch and a portable electrically driving machine with the oscillation switch

• US 5,747,762 A
• Filed: 11/21/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Inventors: Fukuda, Kenji, Asano, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/737,676
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45 R-61.45 M, 307/10.1, 340/566, 340/573, 340/686, 340/687, 340/689, 340/693, 73/514.01, 73/514.15, 73/514.29
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/006 Vibration damping means
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/0071 by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/00 Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body F16P5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/144 operated by vibration

Abstract

An oscillation switch consists of a pair of ring-shaped electrodes each having an inner surface coaxially provided with a projection and spaced apart at a predetermined distance, and balls arranged in a space formed between the electrodes so that the balls engage the projections to electrically connect the electrodes together when oscillation or lateral sliding occur. A portable electrically driven machine provided with the oscillation switch has the oscillation switch provided on a frame and has a structure which stops a tool rotating motor and a feed motor by interrupting the electric power supply to a control unit of the electric tool. The use of the oscillation switch allows the tool rotating motor or the feed motor to stop as soon as lateral sliding or oscillation starts to occur or when the portable electrically driven machine starts to fall down even if the portable electrically driven tool takes any posture.

Claims

1. An oscillation switch comprising an annular member electrically insulated at at least both end portions thereof, a pair of disc-shaped electrodes provided on said both end portions of said annular member and having opposed inner surfaces separated from each other at a distance and defining a space therebetween, each of said inner surfaces having a central portion, a projection formed on said central portion of said inner surface of at least one of said disc-shaped electrodes, said distance being a minimum substantially between said central portions of said inner surfaces of said electrodes, said inner surface of the other electrode being undepressed, and a plurality of balls made of an electrically conducting material and disposed in said space, each of said balls having a diameter larger than said minimum distance and smaller than a distance between opposed portions of said disc-shaped electrodes with which said projection is not provided.

2. The oscillation switch according to claim 1, wherein said projection is conical.

3. The oscillation switch according to claim 1, wherein said projection is segmental in cross section.

4. The oscillation switch according to claim 1, wherein said annular V-shaped member has inner peripheral surface in which an annular groove for receiving said balls is formed.

5. The oscillation switch according to claim 1, wherein an annular groove for receiving said balls is formed in an outer peripheral portion of each of said electrodes, said annular grooves being arranged to face each other.

6. A portable electrically driven machine including a frame, fixing means provided on said frame for fixing said frame to a workpiece, an electrically driven tool fixed to said frame and a control circuit for controlling operation of said electrically driven tool, said portable electrically driven machine further comprising at least one oscillation switch as defined by claim 1 and provided on said frame, an electric power supply stopping means for stopping electric power supply to said electrically driven tool during machining operation in response to actuation of said oscillation switch when at least one of said balls in said oscillation switch engages said projection formed in said oscillation switch.

7. The portable electrically driving machine according to claim 6, wherein said portable electrically driving machine is a drilling machine with an electromagnet base.