Power tool having a speed selector switch

• US 9,457,462 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mergener, Matthew J., Hyma, Steven W., Lichtensteiger, Toby, Check, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US13/802,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 173/20, 173/47, 173/48, 173/176, 173/216, 173/217, 173/169, 173/170, 173/181, 173/183, 814/67, 814/70, 814/73, 409/135, 409/137, 409/182, 408/9, 408/16, 408/21, 738/621.93, 738/622.2, 318/268, 318/484, 318/490
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/00 Driving or feeding mechanisms; Control arrangements therefor automatic control B23Q15/00; copying B23Q33/00, B23Q35/00; specially adapted for boring or drilling machines B23B39/10, B23B47/00; numerical programme-control of machine tools G05B19/18
• 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: B25F 5/001 Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: B27F 5/02 Slotting or mortising machines tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/21 with signal, indicator, illuminator or optical means

Abstract

A power tool includes a tool housing defining a cavity and a pocket formed in a wall of the tool housing. A motor is positioned within the cavity, and a trigger mechanism is moveably coupled to the tool housing. A speed selector switch is positioned within the pocket, the speed selector switch including a push-button operable to receive a speed selection and a plurality of speed indicators. The speed selector switch is operable to output a speed signal based on the speed selection, and the speed indicators indicate the speed selection. The power tool further includes a controller operable to receive the speed signal from the speed selector switch, the speed signal indicative of a selected speed, receive an activation signal from the trigger switch, and operate the motor at the selected speed upon receiving the activation signal.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a tool housing defining a cavity;

a motor positioned within the cavity;

a trigger mechanism moveably coupled to the tool housing;

a speed selector switch including a push-button, a first speed indicator located on a first side of the push-button, a second speed indicator located on an opposite, second side of the push-button, a printed circuit board layer positioned beneath the push-button, a first light emitting diode electrically coupled to the printed circuit board layer and positioned beneath the first speed indicator for illuminating the first speed indicator, and a second light-emitting diode electrically coupled to the printed circuit board layer and positioned beneath the second speed indicator for illuminating the second speed indicator;

wherein the push-button is operable to receive a speed selection,

wherein the speed selector switch is operable to output a speed signal based on the speed selection,

wherein the speed indicators indicate the speed selection; and

a controller operable to

receive the speed signal from the speed selector switch, the speed signal indicative of a selected speed,

receive an activation signal from the trigger mechanism, and

operate the motor at the selected speed upon receiving the activation signal.

2. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a motor mount coupled to an interior surface of the tool housing, wherein the motor is supported by the motor mount, and wherein the speed selector switch is positioned adjacent a circumferential periphery of the motor mount.

3. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the speed selector switch is accessible from one of a top surface of the power tool, a side surface of the power tool, and a rear surface of the power tool.

4. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the selected speed is one of a first speed and a second speed.

5. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the power tool is one of an impact driver, a power drill, an angle driver, and a power saw.

6. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a working element drivingly coupled to the motor.

7. The power tool of claim 6, wherein the working element is a drill chuck.

8. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board positioned within the cavity, wherein the speed selector switch is electrically coupled to the printed circuit board.

9. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the tool housing includes an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a pocket formed between the exterior surface and the interior surface, wherein the pocket is adjacent the cavity, and wherein at least a portion of the speed selector switch is positioned within the pocket.

10. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting diode is illuminated in response to the push-button being depressed a first instance, wherein the second light-emitting diode is illuminated in response to the push-button being depressed a second instance, and wherein the first light-emitting diode is deactivated in response to the push-button being depressed the second instance.

11. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the motor includes a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, and wherein the speed selector switch is positioned between the first axial end and the second axial end.

12. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the speed selector switch is positioned to longitudinally overlap with the motor.

13. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board layer is positioned adjacent and radially outward from a circumferential periphery of the motor.

14. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the first speed indicator and the second speed indicator are part of a label layer, and wherein the push-button is positioned between the label layer and the printed circuit board layer.