Motor-driven rotary tool with internal heating temperature detecting function

• US 7,063,171 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Katsuyuki Totsu
• Original Assignee: Katsuyuki Totsu
• Inventors: Totsu, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US10/432,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 173/6, 173/7, 173/180, 173/181, 173/182, 173/183, 310/50, 310/68.C, 318/611, 361/25
• US Class Current: 173/181
• 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: B25F 5/008 Cooling means

Abstract

An electric motor-driven rotary tool with an elevated temperature detection function, provided by a temperature sensor, connected to a power shut off device, for shutting off power to the tool, in order to prevent injury, such as low temperature burn, from occurring to an operator of the tool, due to heating of the electric motor, encased in a housing having a holding part for the motor-driven rotary tool, causing an increase of the temperature of the housing, especially the holding part of the tool thereon, to a temperature capable of causing such burn injury to the operator of the tool. The motor-driven rotary tool, includes the electric motor in the housing therefor, the electric motor being for driving workpieces, such as a screwdriver, attached to the motor, for performing operations such as screw tightening; a torque setting and automatic stopping device for detecting a load torque generated in the rotary tool after the specified operations are completed, and for stopping the driving of the rotary tool when the load torque reaches a preset torque value; a temperature sensor installed in the housing of the electric motor for measuring an increase in the temperature of the housing, especially the holding part; and a power shutdown device for detecting a heated state of the housing by the temperature sensor, and shutting off power to the motor when the temperature of the housing increases to at least 55° C. due to heat generated by the electric motor.

Claims

1. A hand held motor-driven rotary tool, comprising:

an electric motor;

a rotary tool driven by the motor;

a housing for housing the motor and for gripping by an operator of the tool;

a torque setting and automatic stopping device for detecting torque load applied to the rotary tool by engagement of the rotary tool with a workpiece and for stopping drive of the rotary tool when the torque load reaches a predetermined value; and

a means for preventing injury to said operator of the rotary tool from low-temperature burn;

said means comprising;

a temperature sensor on the housing for sensing predetermined temperature of the housing, said temperature being within a range of 45°

C. to 65°

C.; and

a power shutdown device operatively connected to the temperature sensor for shutting down power to said electric motor in response to sensing by the temperature sensor of a temperature of the housing within a predetermined range of 45°

C. to 65°

C.

2. The motor-driven rotary tool according to claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor for sensing temperature range of said housing of 45°

C. to 65°

C. senses a temperature of said casing of said electric motor which is in a range of 55°

C. to 75°

C.

3. The motor-driven rotary tool according to claim 2, further comprising a reset device for restarting of the electric motor after shutdown thereof by the power shutdown device, the reset device being operatively connected to the power shutdown device for enabling restarting of the motor when the temperature of the housing decreases to below the predetermined range of 45°

C. to 65°

C.

4. The motor-driven rotary tool according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein the power shutdown device comprises a switch circuit that is actuated when temperature of said housing sensed by the temperature sensor is at or above the predetermined range of 45°

C. to 65°

C.