Cordless power tool system with improved power output

• US 7,273,159 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brotto, Daniele C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash; Brian D.
• Application Number:
  US11/266,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20060096771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 173/217, 173/50, 173/171, 227/156
• US Class Current: 227/1
• 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: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for

Abstract

An ergonomically efficient cordless power tool system having desired power-to-weight ratios may be configured by reducing weight in one or more constituent weight groups of a given cordless power tool system, while maintaining or improving the total power output of the tool system. An example cordless power tool system may be configured to output a maximum power of at least 475 watts, and have a maximum power output to weight ratio of at least 70 watts per pound (W/lb).

Claims

1. A hand-held cordless power tool system, comprising:

a tool housing,

a motor assembly,

a transmission/gear assembly, and

a removable battery pack attached to the tool housing, the system configured to output 475 watts or greater and having a power output to weight ratio of 70 watts per pound (W/lb) or greater.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the combined weight of the housing, motor assembly, transmission/gear assembly and battery pack is 4 pounds or greater.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein cordless power tools of the system include one or more of a primarily single-hand operated power tool, a primarily two hand operated power tool, and a supported-use power tool which primarily requires a support structure for use.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the single-hand operated power tool has a power output to weight ratio of 75 W/lb or greater, and has a combined weight of at least 5.5 pounds.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the single-hand operated power tool has a power output of at least 600 Watts.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the single-hand operated power tool has a power output to weight ratio in a range between 104 to 112 W/lb.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the combined weight of the two-hand operated power tool with removable power source is 6.7 pounds or greater, and has a power output of at least 575 Watts.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the two-hand operated power tool has a power output to weight ratio in a range between 90 to 101 W/lb.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the supported-use power tool has a power output of at least 600 Watts.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the supported-use power tool has a power output to weight ratio in a range between 76 to 89 W/lb.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein

the battery pack comprises a plurality of lithium ion (Li-ion) battery cells providing a nominal output voltage of 36 volts.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the primarily single-hand operated power tool of the system is embodied as one of a drill driver and an impact wrench.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein the primarily two-hand operated power tool of the system is embodied as one of a reciprocating saw and a hammerdrill.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein the supported-use power tool which primarily requires a support structure for use is embodied as one of a circular saw and a jigsaw.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the battery pack comprises a plurality of lithium ion (Li-ion) cells providing a nominal output voltage of at least 18 volts.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the nominal output voltage of the Li-ion battery pack is approximately 25 volts and total battery pack weight is in a range between 2.0 to 2.4 pounds.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the nominal output voltage of the Li-ion battery pack is approximately 36V and total battery pack weight is in a range between 2.4 to 2.9 pounds.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the battery pack has a current limit set therein.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the system has a power output to weight ratio in a range between 76 to 112 W/lb.

20. A cordless power tool system, comprising:

a plurality of hand-held cordless power tools, each tool having a tool housing, motor assembly, transmission/gear assembly, and removable battery pack, the battery pack containing a plurality of lithium ion cells configured to provide a nominal output voltage of 18 volts or greater to a DC motor of the motor assembly,

wherein each tool of the system is configured to output 475 watts or greater and has a power output to weight ratio of 70 watts per pound (W/lb) or greater.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein a combined system weight of the tool housing, motor assembly, transmission/gear assembly and battery pack for a given power tool of the system is 5.5 pounds or greater, and the power output to weight ratio for a given tool of the system is in a range between 76 to 112 W/lb.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein a given tool of the system has a power output in a range between 600 to 880 Watts.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the battery pack has a current limit set therein.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein

the cordless power tools include one or more of a primarily single-hand operated power tool, a primarily two-handed operated power tool, and a supported-use power tool which primarily requires a support structure for use, and

the nominal output voltage of the battery pack is 36 volts.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the nominal output voltage of the battery pack is approximately 25 volts and total battery pack weight is in a range between 2.0 to 2.4 pounds.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the nominal output voltage of the battery pack is approximately 36 volts and total battery pack weight is in a range between 2.4 to 2.9 pounds.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of cordless tools include at least one of a drill driver, impact wrench, reciprocating saw, hammerdrill, circular saw and jigsaw.