Power tools

• US 8,217,610 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Watanabe, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): COLON SANTANA, EDUARDO
• Application Number:
  US12/216,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20090015183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 318/432, 318/434, 318/441, 173/2, 173/18, 173/20, 173/217, 307/126, 307/140, 310/47, 310/50, 814/67, 814/69
• US Class Current: 318/441
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for preventing the switching-on in case an undesired electric working condition might result
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0833 for electric motors with control arrangements

Abstract

A power tool includes a motor, a first device and a second device. The motor receives a supply of an electric power from a power source externally of the power tool. The first device determines if the electric power supplied from the power source is an AC power or a DC power. The second device permits or interrupts the supply of the electric power to the motor depending on the determination of the first device.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a motor;

a power source cord connected to the motor and having a plug constructed to be electrically connected to an electrical outlet;

a phase control device constructed to perform a phase control of an AC power that is supplied to the motor via the power source cord, so that a rotational speed of the motor can be controlled;

a power supply device constructed to supply a power to the phase control device for the operation of the phase control device; and

a power source determining device constructed to determine if a power source supplied from the electrical outlet is an AC power source or a DC power source;

wherein;

when the power source determining device determines the power source to be a DC power source, the power source determining device outputs an OFF signal to the power supply device, so that no power is supplied from the power supply device to the phase control device; and

when the power source determining device determines the power source to be an AC power source, the power source determining device outputs an ON signal to the power supply device, so that the power is supplied from the power supply device to the phase control device;

the power source determining device is further configured to determine if the plug is connected to the electrical outlet; and

the determination as to whether the power source supplied from the electrical outlet is an AC power source or a DC power source is made when the connection of the plug to the electrical outlet is determined.

2. The power tool as in claim 1, wherein the power source determining device determines the power source to be a DC power source or an AC power source based on a voltage waveform of the power supplied from the power source.

3. The power tool as in claim 1, wherein the power source determining device comprises;

a signal producing device constructed to produce an output signal representing a voltage of the power from the power source; and

a control device configured to receive the output signal from the signal producing device and to determine if the power is an AC power or a DC power based on the output signal.

4. A power tool comprising:

a motor constructed to receive a supply of an electric power from a power source externally of the power tool;

a first device constructed to determine if the electric power supplied from the power source to the motor is an AC power or a DC power; and

a second device constructed to interrupt the supply of the electric power to the motor depending on the determination of the first device;

wherein the first device is further configured to determine if the power tool is connected to the power source.

5. The power tool as in claim 4, further comprising:

a third device electrically connected to the second device and configured to perform a phase control of the power to be supplied to the motor for controlling the rotational speed of the motor.

6. The power tool as in claim 4, wherein the second device comprises;

a signal producing device constructed to produce an output signal representing a change of voltage of the power from the power source; and

a control device configured to receive the output signal from the signal producing device and to determine if the power is an AC power or a DC power based on the output signal.

7. The power tool as in claim 6, wherein the output signal represents a waveform of a voltage of the power.

8. The power tool as in claim 7, wherein the signal producing device comprises a resistor, so that the resistor converts the power from the power source into the output signal that is suited to be supplied to the control device.

9. The power tool as in claim 6, wherein the control device comprises a microcomputer.

10. A power tool comprising:

a motor;

a power supply device constructed to supply a power to a phase control device for the operation of the phase control device; and

a power source determining device constructed to determine if a power source supplied from the electrical outlet is an AC power source or a DC power source wherein, when the power source determining device determines the power source to be a DC power source, the power source determining device outputs an OFF signal to the power supply device, so that no power is supplied from the power supply device to the phase control device; and

wherein the power source determining device is further configured to determine if the power is supplied from the electrical outlet; and

wherein the determination if the power source supplied from the electrical outlet is an AC power source or a DC power source is made when the supply of power from the electrical outlet is determined.

11. The power tool as in claim 10, wherein the power source determining device determines the power source to be the DC power source based on a voltage waveform of the power supplied from the power source.

12. The power tool as in claim 10, wherein the power source determining device comprises;

a signal producing device constructed to produce an output signal representing a voltage of the power from the power source; and

a control device configured to receive the output signal from the signal producing device and to determine if the power is the DC power based on the output signal.

13. The power tool as in claim 10, wherein the phase control device is capable of performing a phase control of power that is supplied to the motor, so that a rotational speed of the motor can be controlled.