Lighted power tool

• US 9,028,088 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vanko, John C., Gottesman, Tal, Puzio, Daniel, Forster, Michael K., Cox, John D., Kelleher, Joseph P., Garber, Stuart, Zellerhoff, Joerg, Norona, Joao, Gehret, Robert S., Eshleman, Scott, Osborne, Stephen P., Friedman, Brian E., Usselman, Robert A., Nosov, Anatoliy, Doyle, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Y M
• Application Number:
  US13/553,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20130021783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 362/119, 362/120
• US Class Current: 362/119
• 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: B25B 23/18 Devices for illuminating the head of the screw or the nut
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0084 Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/18 annular; polygonal other than square or rectangular, e.g. for spotlights or for generating an axially symmetrical light beam
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A power tool includes a tool body having an output member that drives an accessory. An end effector is coupled for rotation with the output member. A light source is disposed on the end effector. A primary coil assembly is configured on the tool body and mounted concentric to the output member. The primary coil assembly includes a primary coil that is electrically connected to a power source of the power tool. A secondary coil assembly is configured on the end effector and mounted concentric to the output member. The secondary coil assembly includes a secondary coil that is electrically connected to the light source. Current flowing through the primary coil creates a magnetic field that causes current to flow through the secondary winding and power the light source.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a tool body including a motor having an output member that drives an accessory, the output member defining an output member axis;

an end effector coupled for rotation with the output member relative to the tool body, the end effector configured to retain the accessory;

a light source disposed on the end effector;

a primary coil assembly configured on the tool body, the primary coil assembly including a primary coil that is electrically connected to a power source of the power tool;

a secondary coil assembly configured on the end effector and mounted concentric to the output member axis, the secondary coil assembly including a secondary coil that is electrically connected to the light source; and

wherein current flowing through the primary coil creates a magnetic field that causes current to flow through the secondary coil and power the light source.

2. The power tool of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED).

3. The power tool of claim 2 wherein the end effector comprises a chuck.

4. The power tool of claim 3 wherein the primary coil assembly comprises:

a primary coil bobbin, wherein the primary coil is wound around the primary coil bobbin; and

a primary coil housing that receives the primary coil bobbin.

5. The power tool of claim 4 wherein the secondary coil assembly comprises:

a secondary coil bobbin, wherein the secondary coil is wound around the secondary coil bobbin; and

a secondary coil housing that receives the secondary coil bobbin.

6. The power tool of claim 3 wherein the LED is formed as part of a light ring assembly comprising:

a printed circuit board; and

a plurality of LEDs arranged on the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board electrically connects the secondary coil to each of the plurality of LEDs.

7. The power tool of claim 6, further comprising:

a protective cover mounted around the light ring assembly configured to protect the plurality of LEDs.

8. The power tool of claim 1 wherein the end effector comprises a clamp washer assembly and wherein the clamp washer assembly comprises:

an inner clamp washer; and

an outer clamp washer;

wherein the primary coil is incorporated on the tool body and the secondary coil is disposed on one of the inner or outer clamp washer.

9. The power tool of claim 8 wherein the inner clamp washer includes one of electrical tracks or electrical conductors and the outer clamp washer includes the other of the electrical tracks or electrical conductors, wherein the conductors and tracks electrically connect upon assembly of the inner and outer clamp washers.

10. The power tool of claim 2, further comprising a modulation circuit electrically connected with a secondary coil and the LEDs, the modulation circuit configured to flash at least one of the LEDs and control the intensity of the LEDs over time and wherein the modulation circuit is configured to flash the LEDs at a rate to create a stroboscopic effect on the driven accessory.

11. The power tool of claim 2, further comprising a multiple-way rectifier having at least four diodes, and wherein at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs are electrically bridge connected to the multiple-way rectifier.

12. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising:

one of an encoder or decoder fixed to the tool body;

the other of the encoder and decoder fixed to the end effector, the encoder and decoder cooperating to communicate a signal.

13. The power tool of claim 12 wherein the encoder is coupled to the end effector and the decoder is coupled to the tool body, the power tool further comprising:

a controller that communicates with the motor; and

a sensor fixed to the end effector that communicates data that is encoded by the encoder and transferred through the respective secondary and primary coils to the decoder, wherein the decoder decodes the data and communicates the data to the controller.

14. The power tool of claim 12 wherein the encoder is coupled to the tool body and the decoder is coupled to the end effector, the power tool further comprising:

a controller that communicates with the motor and that sends data that is encoded by the encoder and transferred through the respective primary and secondary coils to the decoder, wherein the decoder decodes the data and communicates a signal to the light source.

15. The power tool of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises an on-board battery that provides a direct current (DC), the power tool further comprising:

a DC to alternating current (AC) converter.

16. The power tool of claim 1 wherein the power source is AC.

17. A power tool comprising:

a tool body including a motor having an output member that drives an accessory;

a chuck coupled for rotation with the output member relative to the tool body, the chuck having a ring, an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, and jaw assembly configured to retain the accessory;

a light source disposed on the ring and comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED);

a primary coil configured on the tool body and mounted concentric to the output member axis, the primary coil being electrically connected to a power source of the power tool;

a secondary coil configured on the inner sleeve and mounted concentric to the output member axis, the secondary coil being electrically connected to the light source; and

wherein current flowing through the primary coil creates a magnetic field that causes current to flow through the secondary winding and power the light source.

18. The power tool of claim 17 wherein at least one of the inner sleeve, outer sleeve and jaw assembly provide a flux path.

19. A power tool comprising:

a tool body including a motor configured to drive an output member in motion relative to the tool body;

an end effector configured to be driven by the output member in motion relative to the tool body, the end effector configured to retain an accessory;

a light source coupled to the end effector;

a primary coil assembly coupled to the tool body, the primary coil assembly including a primary coil that is electrically connected to a power source of the power tool; and

a secondary coil assembly coupled to the end effector, the secondary coil assembly including a secondary coil that is electrically connected to the light source,

wherein current flowing through the primary coil creates a magnetic field that causes current to flow through the secondary coil and power the light source.

20. The power tool of claim 19 wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED).

21. The power tool of claim 19 wherein the end effector comprises a chuck.

22. The power tool of claim 19 wherein the output member is configured to be driven by the motor to rotate about an output member axis.

23. The power tool of claim 22 wherein the end effector is configured to be driven by the output member to rotate about an end effector axis.