Multi-mode drill and transmission sub-assembly including a gear case cover supporting biasing

• US 7,854,274 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bush, Dennis A., Trautner, Paul K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash; Brian D
• Application Number:
  US11/986,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20090126958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 173/48, 173/47, 173/90, 173/92, 173/93.7, 173/117, 173/122
• US Class Current: 173/48
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 16/006 Mode changers; Mechanisms connected thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2211/064 Axial cams, e.g. two camming surfaces coaxial with drill spindle
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2216/0023 Tools having a percussion-and-rotation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2216/0038 Tools having a rotation-only mode
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2216/0084 Mode-changing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2250/045 Cams used in percussive tools
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2250/351 Use of pins

Abstract

A multi-mode drill can include a transmission to transfer torque from an output member of a motor to an output spindle. A transmission housing encloses the transmission in an interior cavity formed by a gear case shell and a cover plate. The cover plate can be coupled to the outer shell via screws. A static shift rod can be supported at one end by the cover plate. A shift bracket can be mounted on the shift rod and biased to a mode position by a biasing member exerting a force between the shift bracket and the cover plate. A shift pin can be supported adjacent one end by the cover plate and biased to a mode position by a biasing member exerting a force between the shift pin and the cover plate. A spindle biasing member can bias the output spindle against the cover plate. The shift pin can actuate an electronic switch. A motor housing can be coupled to the transmission housing with fasteners so that the cover fasteners are not accessible.

Claims

1. A transmission sub-assembly for a multi-mode drill comprising:

an output spindle;

a transmission being configured to transfer torque from an output member of a motor to the output spindle;

a transmission housing that encloses the transmission within an interior cavity, the interior cavity being formed by an gear case shell and a cover plate, the cover plate being substantially planar and coupled to the outer shell via at least one fastener;

a shift assembly supported adjacent one end by the cover plate, the shift assembly comprising a shift member that is moveable between a first mode position and a second mode position;

a biasing member positioned to exert a biasing force that acts on the cover plate from one end of the biasing member and that acts on the shift member tending to move the shift member toward the first mode position from an opposing end of the biasing member.

2. The transmission sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the output spindle is supported at an end by the cover plate, and further comprising a spindle biasing member that biases the output spindle against the cover plate.

3. The transmission sub-assembly according to claim 2, wherein the transmission is a parallel shaft transmission further comprising a secondary shaft operably coupled for torque transfer to the output spindle.

4. The transmission sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shift member is a shift pin supported adjacent one end by the cover plate, the shift pin being movable in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the output between the first mode position and the second mode position;

wherein the shift pin comprises a collar and the biasing member is disposed between the collar and the cover plate;

thereby exerting a biasing force on the cover plate.

5. The transmission sub-assembly according to claim 4, wherein the shift pin extends through the cover plate and is configured to actuate an electronic switch when the shift pin is in the second mode position.

6. The transmission sub-assembly according to claim 4, further comprising an additional shift assembly comprising a static shift rod supported at one end by the cover plate, and an additional shift member comprising a shift bracket mounted on the static shift rod, the shift bracket being movable in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the output between a first mode position and a second mode position;

wherein the biasing member is disposed between the shift bracket and the cover plate;

thereby exerting a biasing force on the cover plate.

7. The transmission sub-assembly according to claim 6, wherein the output spindle is supported at an end by the cover plate, and further comprising a spindle biasing member that biases the output spindle against the cover plate.

8. The transmission sub-assembly according to claim 7, wherein the transmission is a parallel shaft transmission further comprising a secondary shaft operably coupled for torque transfer to the output spindle.

9. The transmission sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shift assembly comprises a static shift rod supported at one end by the cover plate, and the shift member comprises a shift bracket mounted on the static shift rod, the shift bracket being movable in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the output between the first mode position and the second mode position;

wherein the biasing member is disposed between the shift bracket and the cover plate;

thereby exerting a biasing force on the cover plate.

10. A multi-mode drill comprising:

a motor with an output member;

an output spindle driven by the output member of the motor;

a transmission being configured to transfer torque from the output member of the motor to the output spindle;

a transmission housing that encloses the transmission in an interior cavity, the interior cavity being formed by a gear case shell and a cover plate, the cover plate coupled to the outer shell via at least one cover fastener;

a shift pin supported adjacent one end by the cover plate, the shift pin being moveable between a first mode position and a second mode position;

a biasing member contacting the cover plate and exerting a biasing force against the cover plate and which acts on the shift pin tending to move the shift member toward the first mode position.

11. The multi-mode drill according to claim 10, wherein the shift pin extends through the cover plate and is configured to actuate an electronic switch when the shift pin is in the second mode position, wherein the electronic switch is located outside the transmission housing.

12. The multi-mode drill according to claim 11, further comprising a controller in communication with the electronic switch, the controller operable to cause a change an output speed of the output spindle when the electronic switch is actuated.

13. The multi-mode drill according to claim 10, wherein the shift pin comprises a collar, and the biasing member is a spring mounted on the shift pin and biased against the collar.

14. The multi-mode drill according to claim 10, wherein the output spindle is supported at an end by the cover plate, and further comprising a spindle biasing member that biases the output spindle against the cover plate.

15. The multi-mode drill according to claim 10, further comprising a motor housing, and wherein the transmission housing and the motor housing are coupled such that the motor housing and the transmission housing cooperate to enclose the at least one cover fastener.

16. The multi-mode drill according to claim 15, further comprising at least one housing fastener for coupling the transmission housing and the motor housing, the at least one housing fastener being disposed further outboard than the at least one cover fastener.

17. A multi-mode drill comprising:

a motor with an output member;

an output spindle driven by the output member of the motor;

a transmission being configured to transfer torque from the output member of the motor to the output spindle;

a transmission housing that encloses the transmission in an interior cavity, the interior cavity being formed by a gear case shell and a cover plate, the cover plate having an attached position which closes an opening of the gear case shell wherein the cover plate is coupled to the gear case shell via at least one cover fastener;

a static shift rod supported at one end by the cover plate;

a shift bracket mounted on the static shift rod, the shift bracket being movable between a first mode position and a second mode position;

a biasing member retained in a compressed state by the cover plate when the cover plate is in the attached position, and in the compressed state the biasing member generates a biasing force acting on the cover plate which tends to move the shift bracket toward the first mode position.

18. The multi-mode drill according to claim 17, wherein the output spindle is supported at an end by the cover plate, and the transmission further comprising a spindle biasing member that biases the output spindle against the cover plate.

19. The multi-mode drill according to claim 17, wherein the transmission is a parallel shaft transmission further comprising a low speed gear mounted on the output spindle, a high speed gear mounted on the output spindle, and a secondary shaft supported at one end by the cover plate, the secondary shaft being operably coupled for torque transfer to the high speed gear when the shift bracket is in the first mode position, and when the shift bracket is in the second mode position, the secondary shaft being operably coupled for torque transfer to the low speed gear.

20. The multi-mode drill according to claim 17, further comprising a motor housing, and wherein the transmission housing and the motor housing are coupled such that the motor housing and the transmission housing cooperate to enclose the at least one cover fastener.

21. The multi-mode drill according to claim 20, further comprising at least one housing fastener for coupling the transmission housing and the motor housing, the at least one housing fastener being disposed further outboard than the at least one cover fastener.

22. A multi-mode drill comprising:

a motor with an output member;

an output spindle driven by the output member of the motor;

a transmission being configured to transfer torque from the output member of the motor to the output spindle;

a transmission housing that encloses the transmission in an interior cavity, the interior cavity being formed by a gear case shell and a cover plate, the cover plate coupled to the outer shell via at least one cover fastener;

a static shift rod supported at one end by the cover plate;

a shift bracket mounted on the static shift rod, the shift bracket being movable between a first shift bracket mode position and a second shift bracket mode position;

a shift bracket biasing member configured to exert a biasing force between the cover plate and the shift bracket which tends to move the shift bracket toward the first mode position and thereby exerting a biasing force on the cover plate;

a shift pin supported adjacent one end by the cover plate, the shift pin being moveable between a first shift pin mode position and a second shift pin mode position;

a shift pin biasing member configured to exert a biasing force between the cover plate and the shift pin which tends to move the shift member toward the first mode position and thereby exerting a biasing force on the cover plate.

23. The multi-mode drill according to claim 22, wherein the shift pin extends through the cover plate and is configured to actuate an electronic switch when the shift pin is in the second shift pin mode position, wherein the electronic switch is located outside the transmission housing.

24. The multi-mode drill according to claim 23, further comprising a controller in communication with the electronic switch, the controller operable to cause a change an output speed of the output spindle when the electronic switch is actuated.

25. The multi-mode drill according to claim 23, wherein the shift pin comprises a collar, and the biasing member is a spring mounted on the shift pin and biased against the collar.

26. The multi-mode drill according to claim 23, wherein the transmission is a parallel shaft transmission further comprising a low speed gear mounted on the output spindle, a high speed gear mounted on the output spindle, and a secondary shaft supported at one end by the cover plate, the secondary shaft being operably coupled for torque transfer to the high speed gear when the shift bracket is in the first shift bracket mode position, and when the shift bracket is in the second shift bracket mode position, the secondary shaft being operably coupled for torque transfer to the low speed gear.

27. The multi-mode drill according to claim 26, further comprising a motor housing, and wherein the transmission housing and the motor housing are coupled such that the motor housing and the transmission housing cooperate to enclose the at least one cover fastener.

28. The multi-mode drill according to claim 27, further comprising at least one housing fastener for coupling the transmission housing and the motor housing, the at least one housing fastener being disposed further outboard than the at least one cover fastener.

29. The multi-mode drill according to claim 28, wherein the output spindle is supported at an end by the cover plate, and the transmission further comprising a spindle biasing member that biases the output spindle against the cover plate.