Electric rotational tool driving switch system

• US 6,923,268 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Katsuyuki Totsu
• Original Assignee: Katsuyuki Totsu
• Inventors: Totsu, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US10/469,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20040089528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 173/2, 173/4, 173/11, 173/104, 173/217, 173/48, 173/170, 173/171
• US Class Current: 173/2
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/14 Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers

Abstract

An electric or power rotational tool including a driving switch of a push operating system that switches the electric motor ON when the rotational tool contacts a work object such as a screw, etc. and is displaced by being pressed, and a driving switch of a lever operating system that switches the electric motor ON when a switch lever installed in the grip portion of the electric rotational tool is displaced by being pressed. Each of the driving switches is constructed by a combination of a magnet and a magnetic sensor, and the magnetic sensor is connected to the power circuit of the electric motor, so that either one of operating systems is selected; and the driving of the electric motor is initiated by switching the power circuit ON through a magnetism sensing action of the magnetic sensor of the selected operating system.

Claims

1. An electric rotational tool driving switch system characterized in that said electric rotational tool is comprised of an electric motor, a rotational tool, such as a driver bit, etc., which is connected to an output shaft of said electric motor and which performs work, such as tightening of screws, etc., a driving switch which initiates said work performed by said rotational tool by driving said electric motor, a torque detection means which detects a load torque generated in said rotational tool when said work is completed, and a torque-set automatic stopping means which stops driving of said rotational tool when said load torque reaches a preset torque value, wherein

a driving switch of a push operating system, which switches said electric motor ON when said rotational tool is caused to contact a work object such as a screw, etc. and displaced by being pressed, and a driving switch of a lever operating system, which switches said electric motor ON when a switch lever installed in a grip portion of said electric rotational tool is displaced by being pressed, are respectively constructed by combining magnets and magnetic sensors;

and

said magnetic sensors are respectively connected to a power circuit of said electric motor so that either one of said operating systems is selected, and driving of said electric motor is initiated by switching said power circuit ON through magnetism sensing action of said magnetic sensor of a selected operating system.

2. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 1, characterized in that:

said driving switch of said push operating system is comprised of

a supporting shaft that supports said rotational tool and is coupled by a shaft coupling so that said supporting shaft is allowed to make elastic displacement in an axial direction thereof,

a magnet installed in a displacement portion of said supporting shaft, and

a magnetic sensor disposed in an outer circumferential portion of said supporting shaft so that said magnetic sensor faces said magnet; and

said driving switch of said lever operating system is comprised of

a magnet which is installed in a displacement portion of said switch lever installed in a portion of a grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and

a magnetic sensor which is disposed in said grip portion casing so that said magnetic sensor faces said magnet;

wherein driving of said electric motor is initiated by switching said power circuit ON through said magnetism sensing action of said magnetic sensor of whichever driving switch is selected.

3. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 2, characterized in that a forward-reverse conversion switch that is operable from outside is disposed on a portion of said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, wherein in cases where said electric motor is converted from a forward rotation to a reverse rotation when work such as removing of screws, etc. is performed, said power circuit deactivates driving of said electric motor by said push operating system and allows driving of said electric motor to be initiated only by said lever operating system.

4. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 3, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

5. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 2, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

6. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a brushless motor is used as said electric motor, and said driving control circuit and power circuit of said brushless motor are both accommodated inside said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool.

7. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 6, characterized in that:

said power circuit of said electric motor is formed as a circuit that powers said electric motor by means of a magnetic sensor that performs a magnetism sensing action using a push operating system and as a circuit that powers said electric motor by means of a magnetic sensor that performs a magnetism sensing action using a lever operating system;

wherein a selection switch is provided so that a formation of a power circuit that initiates driving of said electric motor by either one of said operating systems can be selected.

8. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 7, characterized in that:

said selection switch is constructed so that a magnet is disposed on a portion of said switch lever in an area where a connection between said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool and said switch lever is made, and a magnetic sensor is disposed on said grip portion casing side so that said sensor faces said magnet,

wherein automatic selection and switching is performed in said power circuit so that driving of said electric motor is initiated by said push operating system when said switch lever is removed and driving of said electric motor is initiated by said lever operating system when said switch lever is attached.

9. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 8, characterized in that a forward-reverse conversion switch that is operable from outside is disposed on a portion of said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, wherein in cases where said electric motor is converted from a forward rotation to a reverse rotation when work such as removing of screws, etc. is performed, said power circuit deactivates driving of said electric motor by said push operating system and allows driving of said electric motor to be initiated only by said lever operating system.

10. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 9, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

11. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 8, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

12. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 7, characterized in that a forward-reverse conversion switch that is operable from outside is disposed on a portion of said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, wherein in cases where said electric motor is converted from a forward rotation to a reverse rotation when work such as removing of screws, etc. is performed, said power circuit deactivates driving of said electric motor by said push operating system and allows driving of said electric motor to be initiated only by said lever operating system.

13. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 12, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

14. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 7, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

15. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 6, characterized in that a forward-reverse conversion switch that is operable from outside is disposed on a portion of said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, wherein in cases where said electric motor is converted from a forward rotation to a reverse rotation when work such as removing of screws, etc. is performed, said power circuit deactivates driving of said electric motor by said push operating system and allows driving of said electric motor to be initiated only by said lever operating system.

16. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 15, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

17. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 6, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

18. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

said power circuit of said electric motor is formed as a circuit that powers said electric motor by means of a magnetic sensor that performs a magnetism sensing action using a push operating system and as a circuit that powers said electric motor by means of a magnetic sensor that performs a magnetism sensing action using a lever operating system;

wherein a selection switch is provided so that a formation of a power circuit that initiates driving of said electric motor by either one of said operating systems can be selected.

19. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 18, characterized in that:

said selection switch is constructed so that a magnet is disposed on a portion of said switch lever in an area where a connection between said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool and said switch lever is made, and a magnetic sensor is disposed on said grip portion casing side so that said sensor faces said magnet,

wherein automatic selection and switching is performed in said power circuit so that driving of said electric motor is initiated by said push operating system when said switch lever is removed and driving of said electric motor is initiated by said lever operating system when said switch lever is attached.

20. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 19, characterized in that a forward-reverse conversion switch that is operable from outside is disposed on a portion of said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, wherein in cases where said electric motor is converted from a forward rotation to a reverse rotation when work such as removing of screws, etc. is performed, said power circuit deactivates driving of said electric motor by said push operating system and allows driving of said electric motor to be initiated only by said lever operating system.

21. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 20, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

22. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 19, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

23. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 18, characterized in that a forward-reverse conversion switch that is operable from outside is disposed on a portion of said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, wherein in cases where said electric motor is converted from a forward rotation to a reverse rotation when work such as removing of screws, etc. is performed, said power circuit deactivates driving of said electric motor by said push operating system and allows driving of said electric motor to be initiated only by said lever operating system.

24. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 23, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

25. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 18, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

26. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 1, characterized in that a forward-reverse conversion switch that is operable from outside is disposed on a portion of said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, wherein in cases where said electric motor is converted from a forward rotation to a reverse rotation when work such as removing of screws, etc. is performed, said power circuit deactivates driving of said electric motor by said push operating system and allows driving of said electric motor to be initiated only by said lever operating system.

27. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 26, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.

28. The electric rotational tool driving switch system according to claim 1, characterized in that a clutch mechanism is provided as a torque detection means installed in said grip portion casing of said electric rotational tool, and a torque adjustment mechanism that acts on said clutch mechanism is disposed so as to protrude at a slight inclination with respect to said supporting shaft of said rotational tool that protrudes vertically downward from said grip portion casing.