Smart accessories for power tools

• US 7,431,682 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zeiler, Jeffrey M., James, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant; David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GATES, ERIC ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US11/313,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20060159533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 483/9, 483/7, 483/8, 483 10- 12, 30392-394, 833/562, 83/72, 83/761
• US Class Current: 483/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1626 Control means; Display units
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/128 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2270/36 Identification of tooling or other equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 45/00 Hand-held or like portable drilling machines, e.g. drill guns; Equipment therefor details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 49/006 Attached to drilling machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/00 Tools for drilling machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/02 Twist drills
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/04 Drills for trepanning
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 61/025 Details of saw blade body
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 61/123 Details of saw blade body
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/0985 by measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/00 Portable grinding machines, e.g. hand-guided; Accessories therefor B24B7/18 takes precedence; for grinding seat surfaces B24B15/00; having a flexible shaft B24B27/027; grinders for cutting-off B24B27/08; dust extraction equipment B24B55/10; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 17/00 Details of, or accessories for, portable power-driven percussive tools details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 17/02 Percussive tool bits drill bits for earth drilling E21B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2250/221 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/165 to control Tool rotation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/907 including detailed shank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/95 with tool-retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/134 Identifying information on tool or tool holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 : With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]

Abstract

Accessories for power tools and combinations are provided. An accessory for a power tool may include a body including a connecting portion for connecting the accessory to the power tool and a communication member positioned on the body for communicating with the power tool. The accessory may be capable of communicating with a power tool and an inventory system via the communication member. A combination may include a power tool including a housing and a motor supported by the housing, and a power tool accessory connectable to the power tool and driveable by the motor, the power tool accessory may communicate with the power tool for affecting operation of the power tool. A combination may include an indication device operable to indicate operation characteristics of the power tool to a user. The communication member may be operable to communicate with the indication device.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a saw;

a saw blade including a body having a plurality of teeth defined in an edge of the body, the body also having a connecting portion for connecting the saw blade to the saw; and

a communication member carried by the body indicative of a design or operational characteristic of the body;

wherein the communication member communicates with the saw to set an operational speed of the body, based upon the characteristic of the body.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member communicates with the saw by directly contacting the reciprocating saw.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member communicates with the saw in a manner that does not require direct contact.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member communicates with the saw electronically.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member is one of a dimple and a spline, and wherein the one of the dimple and the spline communicates with the saw by directly contacting the saw.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member is one of a hole and a notch defined in the body of the saw blade, and wherein the one of the hole and the notch communicates with the saw by the saw sensing the one of the hole and the notch.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member is an electronic component, and wherein the communication member is one of an RFID component and a WI-FI component.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member is indicative of a number of teeth on the body.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the body is substantially elongated, and wherein the edge of the body in which the plurality of teeth is defined is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the body.

10. The combination of claim 1, wherein the body is substantially circular, and wherein the edge of the body in which the plurality of teeth is defined is oriented along an outer circumference of the body.

11. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member is positioned on the body.

12. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member is a temperature sensor.

13. A combination comprising:

a saw;

a first saw blade for use with the saw, the first saw blade including a first plurality of teeth;

a first communication member carried by the first saw blade for relaying the number of teeth on the first saw blade to the saw to operate the saw at a first speed;

a second saw blade for use with the saw, the second saw blade including a second plurality of teeth; and

a second communication member carried by the second saw blade for relaying the number of teeth on the second saw blade to the saw to operate the saw at a second speed different than the first speed.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second communication members communicates with the saw by directly contacting the saw.

15. The combination of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second communication members communicate with the saw in a manner that does not require direct contact.

16. The combination of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second communication members communicate with the saw electronically.

17. The combination of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second communication members is one of a hole and a notch in the respective first and second saw blades, and wherein the one of the hole or the notch in each of the first and second saw blades communicates with the saw by the saw sensing the one of the hole or the notch.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the first communication member includes a first plurality of holes in the first saw blade, and wherein the second communication member includes a second plurality of holes, of a different number than the first plurality of holes, in the second saw blade.

19. The combination of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second communication members is an electronic component, and wherein each of the first and second communication members is one of an RFTD component and a WI-FI component.

20. The combination of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second saw blades is a reciprocating saw blade.

21. The combination of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second saw blades is a circular

22. The combination of claim 13, wherein the first communication member is positioned on the first saw blade, and wherein the second communication member is positioned on the second saw blade.

23. The combination of claim 13, further comprising a third communication member carried by the first saw blade for relaying the temperature of the first saw blade to the saw to operate the saw at a third speed;

and a fourth communication member carried by the second saw blade for relaying the temperature of the second saw blade to the saw to operate the saw at a fourth speed different than the third speed.