Angle grinder

• US 7,722,444 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malloy, Tanika, Gallagher, William F., Krout, Daniel L., Doyle, Michael C., Hatfield, Eric E., Tomayko, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III; Joseph J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant; Alvin J
• Application Number:
  US12/070,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 451/359, 451/344, 451/353, 451/355
• US Class Current: 451/359
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/022 Spindle-locking devices, e.g. for mounting or removing the tool
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/028 Angle tools
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 45/006 Quick mount and release means for disc-like wheels, e.g. on power tools
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 55/102 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/141 Mechanical overload release couplings
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/001 Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/008 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/145 Hand-held machine tool

Abstract

An angle grinder is provided including a trigger assembly for selectively actuating the angle grinder. A particle separation assembly is provided for the removal of any dust, particle, or artifacts that may have entered into the housing of the angle grinder. A brush biasing system is also provided to ensure proper and efficient operation of the motor of the angle grinder. An overload monitoring system is included to monitor the loading on the motor. A clutch mechanism is also included to prevent overloading on the motor of the angle grinder. A gear wheel lock mechanism is also provided to prevent the wheel spindle from rotating during installation or removal of a grinding wheel on the wheel spindle. An anti-locking flange system is also included to prevent the over-tightening of the flanges and the grinder wheel during the operation of the angle grinder. A gear case labyrinth feature is also provided.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a rotatable wheel spindle having a diametrically truncated portion and a threaded end;

a first flange having a central aperture that receives the truncated portion of the wheel spindle, the first flange including a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface having at least one collar and at least one protrusion having two ends extending from the collar toward the central aperture, the ends including two surfaces facing the central aperture and formed at an angle relative to each other so that there is an angle therebetween;

a power tool component having an aperture that receives the threaded end of the wheel spindle, the power tool component disposed against the bottom surface of the first flange; and

a second flange threaded on the threaded end of the spindle wheel for pressing the power tool component against the first flange,

wherein the first flange can partially rotate with respect to the wheel spindle until a portion of an end of the truncated portion of the wheel spindle abuts a portion of one of the two ends of the protrusion of the first flange.

2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the angle between the ends of the protrusion is generally between 140 degrees to 170 degrees.

3. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the lower face of the upper flange includes an elastomeric layer.

4. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the lower face of the upper flange includes a lubricious layer.

5. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the power tool component is a grinder wheel.

6. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the lower flange has an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer surface, and wherein the outer surface is textured.

7. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the lower flange has at least one aperture for receiving a tool used to assist in the removal of the lower flange from the wheel spindle.

8. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the lower flange has a generally toroidal shape.

9. The power tool of claim 8, wherein the medial diameter of the lower flange is larger than the diameters of the lower flange proximate the upper surface and the lower surface of the lower flange.

10. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the lower flange comprises:

a cover portion;

a cup portion;

a lever having a pivot portion and moveable between a first position and a second position; and

a biasing member, wherein the lever is flush with a lower surface of the lower flange in the first position and the lever is generally perpendicular to the lower surface of the flange in the second position and wherein the biasing member biases the lever towards the first position or the second position.

11. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the power tool further comprises:

a power tool component interface member having an aperture that receives the threaded end of the wheel spindle and having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the interface member is flat for increased bearing contact with the power tool component that is threadably attachable to the wheel spindle and wherein the second surface of the interface member has a piloting flange for contact with an power tool component that is slideably attachable to the wheel spindle via a pilot hole.