Active cooling for power tool gripping surfaces
First Claim
1. A power tool comprising:
- a housing having a front portion and a handle portion, the front portion defining a cavity that encloses a motor and including a gripping portion surrounding the cavity, the handle portion including a switch configured to control power to the motor;
a drive assembly coupled to the motor and including a tool holder located externally with respect to the housing, the drive assembly being configured to impart a drive motion to the tool holder in response to being driven by the motor, the tool holder being configured to retain a working tool for performing work when the tool holder is driven to move by the drive assembly;
an insulating cover provided on the gripping portion of the housing, the insulating cover including a gripping surface; and
a thermoelectric cooling unit located between the gripping portion of the housing and the insulating cover, the thermoelectric cooling unit comprising a pair of thermally conductive plates having two dissimilar semi-conductors arranged therebetween and a first one of the pair of thermally conductive plates defining a cold side positioned in thermal contact with an inner surface of the insulating cover and a second one of the pair of thermally conductive plates defining a hot side positioned in thermal contact with the gripping portion of the housing,wherein the thermoelectric cooling unit is configured to absorb thermal energy from the insulating cover via the cold side of the thermoelectric cooling unit and to release the absorbed thermal energy via the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power tool includes a housing having a front portion and a handle portion. The front portion defines a cavity that encloses a motor and includes a gripping portion surrounding the cavity. An insulating cover is provided on the gripping portion of the housing and includes a gripping surface. A thermoelectric cooling unit is located between the gripping portion of the housing and the insulating cover. The thermoelectric cooling unit has a cold side positioned in thermal contact with an inner surface of the insulating cover and a hot side positioned in contact with an outer surface of the gripping portion of the housing. The thermoelectric cooling unit is configured to absorb thermal energy from the insulating cover via the cold side of the thermoelectric cooling unit and to release the absorbed heat via the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling unit.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A power tool comprising:
-
a housing having a front portion and a handle portion, the front portion defining a cavity that encloses a motor and including a gripping portion surrounding the cavity, the handle portion including a switch configured to control power to the motor; a drive assembly coupled to the motor and including a tool holder located externally with respect to the housing, the drive assembly being configured to impart a drive motion to the tool holder in response to being driven by the motor, the tool holder being configured to retain a working tool for performing work when the tool holder is driven to move by the drive assembly; an insulating cover provided on the gripping portion of the housing, the insulating cover including a gripping surface; and a thermoelectric cooling unit located between the gripping portion of the housing and the insulating cover, the thermoelectric cooling unit comprising a pair of thermally conductive plates having two dissimilar semi-conductors arranged therebetween and a first one of the pair of thermally conductive plates defining a cold side positioned in thermal contact with an inner surface of the insulating cover and a second one of the pair of thermally conductive plates defining a hot side positioned in thermal contact with the gripping portion of the housing, wherein the thermoelectric cooling unit is configured to absorb thermal energy from the insulating cover via the cold side of the thermoelectric cooling unit and to release the absorbed thermal energy via the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A reciprocating saw comprising:
-
a housing having a front portion and a handle portion, the front portion defining a cavity that encloses a motor and including a gripping portion surrounding the cavity, the handle portion including a switch configured to control power to the motor; a reciprocating drive assembly coupled to the motor and including a tool holder located externally with respect to the housing, the drive assembly being configured to impart a reciprocating drive motion to the tool holder in response to being driven by the motor, the tool holder being configured to retain a working tool for performing work when the tool holder is driven to move by the reciprocating drive assembly; an insulating cover provided on the gripping portion of the housing, the insulating cover including a gripping surface; and a thermoelectric cooling unit located between the gripping portion of the housing and the insulating cover, the thermoelectric cooling unit comprising a pair of thermally conductive plates having two dissimilar semi-conductors arranged therebetween and a first one of the pair of thermally conductive plates defining a cold side positioned in thermal contact with an inner surface of the insulating cover and a second one of the pair of thermally conductive plates defining a hot side positioned in contact with an outer surface of the gripping portion of the housing, wherein the thermoelectric cooling unit is configured to absorb thermal energy from the insulating cover via the cold side of the thermoelectric cooling unit and to release the absorbed thermal energy via the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification