Power tools

• US 7,036,605 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Watanabe, Masahiro, Suzuki, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Louis K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weeks, Gloria R.
• Application Number:
  US10/418,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20040144552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 173/1, 173/171, 173/2, 173/20, 173/176, 702/33, 702/41, 702/185
• US Class Current: 173/20
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/02 with means for imparting impact to screwdriver blade or nut socket
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1405 for impact wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1475 for impact wrenches or screwdrivers
• 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

Abstract

A detector is disclosed that detects impact sounds, e.g., a hammer striking an anvil or oil pulses from an oil unit. The detector may comprise a receiver that selectively converts sound within a narrow frequency range into electric signals. Preferably, the impact sounds fall within the narrow frequency range of the receiver. A processor may be utilized to control the motor in order to stop the rotation of the hammer when a pre-determined number of impact sounds has been detected by the detector. In addition, the operating conditions can be set by a number of methods, including dials, sound sensors, keypads and remote control devices. Further, means for performing maintenance condition status checks are taught.

Claims

1. A power tool, comprising:

a tool,

a motor drivingly coupled to the tool,

means for generating an elevated torque coupled to the motor and the tool, wherein the generating means emits impact sounds when the elevated torque is generated, wherein the impact sounds fall within a narrow frequency range and

a piezoelectric buzzer that detects the impact sounds within the narrow frequency range and for attenuating frequencies outside the narrow range, the piezoelectric buzzer having a peak frequency range that is approximately equal to the narrow frequency range of the impact sounds, wherein the piezoelectric buzzer comprises a piezoelectric material.

2. A power tool as in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric material is a piezoelectric ceramic material.

3. A power tool as in claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic material is adhered to a metal plate to thereby form a diaphragm.

4. A power tool as in claim 3, wherein the diaphragm is node mounted within a resonant cavity.

5. A power tool as in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric buzzer has a peak frequency of 4 kHz.

6. A power tool as in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric buzzer attenuates, by at least 50%, frequencies that more than 10% lower or 10% higher than a peak frequency representative of the impact sounds.

7. A power tool as in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric buzzer generates electric signals based upon detected impact sounds and the power tool further comprises:

means for comparing the level of the electric signals with a reference level, and

a processor programmed to count the number of impact sounds based upon the number of times that the electrical signals exceed the reference level and to control the motor in accordance with the counted number of impacts.

8. A power tool as in claim 1, wherein the means for generating an elevated torque comprises an anvil and a hammer for impacting the anvil so that the anvil rotates, wherein the piezoelectric buzzer attenuates, by at least 50%, frequencies that more than 10% lower or 10% higher than a peak frequency representative of the impact sounds and the detecting means generates electric signals representative of the impact sounds, and the power tool further comprising:

means for comparing the level of the electric signals with a reference level, and

a processor programmed to count the number of impact sounds based upon the number of times that the electrical signals exceed the reference level and to control the motor in accordance with the counted number of impacts.

9. An apparatus comprising;

an anvil,

a hammer adapted to strike the anvil in order to generate a relatively large torque and

a piezoelectric buzzer proximally disposed to the hammer and anvil, wherein the piezoelectric buzzer selectively detects impact sounds generated within a narrow frequency range by the hammer striking the anvil, the piezoelectric buzzer having a peak frequency range that is approximately equal to the narrow frequency range of the impact sounds, wherein the piezoelectric buzzer comprises piezoelectric material.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the piezoelectric material is a piezoelectric ceramic material.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic material is adhered to a metal plate to thereby form a diaphragm.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the diaphragm is node mounted within a resonant cavity.

13. An apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising a processor, wherein the processor is programmed to count a number of impact sounds based upon signals generated by the piezoelectric buzzer.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the processor is further programmed to stop the hammer from impacting the anvil when a pre-selected number of impact sounds have been detected.

15. An apparatus as in claim 14, further comprising a comparator, wherein the comparator receives electric signals generated by the piezoelectric buzzer and generates output signals representative of hammer impacts, wherein the output signals from the comparator are supplied to the processor.