Hand held drilling and/or hammering tool with dust collection unit

• US 7,017,680 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stanke, Thomas, Staas, Ernst, Arich, Klaus-Dieter, Bernhart, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US10/804,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20040231871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 173/29, 173/198, 173/217, 173/171, 173/197, 173/213, 173/75, 173/97, 175/209, 175/211, 408/58, 408/67
• US Class Current: 173/198
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0009 Energy-transferring means or control lines for movable machine parts; Control panels or boxes; Control parts control handles for driving or feeding mechanisms B23Q5/54
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0046 by sucking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/453 and means to move gaseous fluid by application of vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/50 with product handling or receiving means

Abstract

An electrically powered tool having a dust collection unit powered by a motor, which unit can be releasably fitted to the tool includes a plug arrangement and a cooperating socket arrangement, one of which is formed on the tool and the other of which is formed on the unit. A first mechanical fixing arrangement is provided comprising a first projection and a first cooperating recess, one of which is formed on the tool and the other of which is formed on the unit. A second mechanical fixing arrangement is provided and comprises a manually actuable releasable latch arrangement and a second cooperating recess, one of which is formed on the tool and the other of which is formed on the unit. The first and second mechanical fixing arrangements cooperate to secure the dust collection unit to the tool in such a way that the plug and socket arrangements form an electrical connection.

Claims

1. An electrically powered hand held drilling and/or hammering tool having a dust collection unit powered by a motor (51) housed in the dust collection unit, which dust collection unit can be releasably fitted to the tool, comprising:

a power supply circuit located in the tool;

a plug arrangement (12) and a cooperating socket arrangement (28), one of which is formed on the tool and the other of which is formed on the dust collection unit, for electrically connecting the power supply circuit in the tool to the motor (51) of the dust collection unit;

a first mechanical fixing arrangement comprising a first projection (8) and a first cooperating recess (54), one of which is formed on the tool and the other of which is formed on the dust collection unit, and

a second mechanical fixing arrangement, located remotely from the first mechanical fixing arrangement and comprising a manually actuable releasable fixing arrangement (72,66) and a second cooperating recess (60), one of which is formed on the tool and the other of which is formed on the dust collection unit,

wherein the first and second mechanical fixing arrangements cooperate to secure the dust collection unit to the tool in such a way that the plug and socket arrangements form an electrical connection.

2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein, the first recess (54) extends at an oblique angle to the second recess (60).

3. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the releasable fixing arrangement comprises a latching peg (66) which extends at an oblique angle to the first projection (8).

4. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the plug arrangement (12) comprises a plurality of electrical connection pins (6) and the first projection (8) is adjacent to the plug arrangement (12) and extends alongside the pins.

5. A tool according claim 1 wherein the plug arrangement (12) and the first projection (8) are located adjacent each other on one of the tool and the dust collection unit.

6. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the socket arrangement (28) and the first recess (54) are located adjacent each other on one of the tool and the dust collection unit.

7. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the plug arrangement (12) is located on the dust collection unit and the socket arrangement (28) is located on the tool.

8. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the socket arrangement (28) is adjacent to the first recess (54) on one of the tool and the dust collection unit and the plug arrangement is adjacent to the first projection (8) on the other of the tool and the dust collection unit and the socket arrangement additionally comprises a socket cover (30), for covering an entrance (22) to the sockets arrangement when the unit is not fitted to the tool, which socket cover is engageable by the first projection (8) to open the entrance (22) when the dust collection unit is fitted to the tool.

9. A tool according to claim 8 wherein the socket cover is slideable and an arm (30b) of the socket cover extends into the first recess (54) and is engaged by the projection (8) to open the entrances (22) when the projection (8) passes into the first recess (54).

10. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the dust collection unit (40) includes a fan (49) powered by the motor (51) of the unit so as to generate a dust collecting airflow.

11. A tool according to claim 10 wherein the dust collection unit comprises a shroud (32) for collecting dust from the region of an accessory of the tool, which shroud communicates with a filter housing, incorporating a filter, such that an airflow generated by the fan passes into the shroud, into the filter housing and then into the fan.

12. A tool according to claim 1 additionally including a guide projection (62) and a corresponding guide bore (58), one of which is formed on the tool and the other of which is formed on the dust collection unit.

13. A tool according to claim 12 wherein the guide projection (62) and guide bore (58) extend at an oblique angle to a latching peg of the releasable fixing arrangement (72, 66).

14. A tool according to claim 12 wherein the guide projection and guide bore extend substantially perpendicular to a latching peg of the releasable fixing arrangement.

15. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the releasable fixing arrangement is a releasable latch arrangement (72, 66).

16. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the first recess is substantially perpendicular to the second recess.

17. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the releasable fixing arrangement comprises a latching peg which extends substantially perpendicular to the first projection.

18. A dust collection unit powered by a motor (51) housed in the dust collection unit, which dust collection unit is suitable for fitting to an electrically powered hand held drilling and/or hammering tool having a power supply circuit, the dust collection unit comprising:

one of a plug arrangement (12) and a cooperating socket arrangement (28), for electrically connecting the power supply circuit for the tool to the motor (51) of the unit;

a first mechanical fixing arrangement comprising one of a first projection (8) and a first cooperating recess (54), which first mechanical fixing arrangement is located adjacent the one of the plug arrangement and socket arrangement on the unit; and

a second mechanical fixing arrangement, located remotely from the first mechanical fixing arrangement and comprising one of a manually actuable releasable fixing arrangement (72,66) and a second cooperating recess (60),

wherein the first mechanical fixing arrangement and the second mechanical fixing arrangement are engageable with the tool to secure the dust collection unit to the tool in such a way that the one of the plug arrangement and socket arrangement on the dust collection unit forms an electrical connection to the tool.

19. A dust collection unit according to claim 18 wherein, the first mechanical fixing arrangement extends in a direction at an oblique angle to the direction in which the second mechanical arrangement fixing extends.

20. A dust collection unit according to claim 18 wherein the plug arrangement (12) is located on the dust collection unit and comprises a plurality of electrical connection pins (6) and the first projection (8) is located on the unit adjacent to the plug arrangement (12) and extends alongside the pins.

21. A dust collection unit according to claim 18 wherein the plug arrangement (12) and the first projection (8) are located adjacent each other on the dust collection unit.

22. A dust collection unit according to claim 18 which includes a fan (49) powered by the motor (51) of the dust collection unit so as to generate a dust collecting airflow.

23. A dust collection unit according to claim 22 which includes a shroud (32) for collecting dust from the region of a tool accessory, which shroud communicates with a filter housing, incorporating a filter, such that an airflow generated by the fan passes into the shroud, into the filter housing and then into the fan.

24. A unit according to claim 18 wherein the first mechanical fixing extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the second mechanical fixing extends.