Rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection

• US 7,735,398 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Techway Industrial Co., Ltd. (InReal Internet Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Techway Industrial Co., Ltd. (InReal Internet Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Chih-Hua, Cheng, Chen-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III; Joseph J
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US11/705,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20080190246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 81/573.9, 81/571.1, 81/571.3, 81/571.4, 81/572.9, 814/67, 814/69
• US Class Current: 81/57.39
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/004 of the ratchet type
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers

Abstract

A rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection of the present invention includes a motor, a rechargeable battery and a power-off protection device. When the loaded current of the motor exceeds a set default value of a reference circuit, the power-off protection device disconnects the power supply of the rechargeable battery, so as to stop the motor operation. With the circuit design of the power-off protection device, the ratchet wrench can be ensured to provide usage safety and also usage lifespan of the ratchet wrench can be extended.

Claims

1. A rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection comprising:

a body made up by two half cases covering together;

a motor hold by the two half cases, wherein a shaft is configured at one end of the motor and a gear is configured on the shaft of the motor;

a rechargeable battery held by the two half cases and electrically connected to the motor;

an electrical socket configured between the motor and the rechargeable battery having two pings for coupling with two electrodes of the rechargeable battery;

a switch for electrically connecting between the electrical socket and the motor;

a planetary gear assembly driven by the motor and comprising a rotation base, a plurality of planetary gears, a toothed ring, a transmission gear and a connector, wherein the planetary gears are configured at one side of the rotation base and facing the motor and the transmission gear is formed at the other side of the rotation base opposite to the motor, wherein the planetary gears respectively engage with the gear of the shaft of the motor, and the rotation base and the planetary gears are configured inside the toothed ring, wherein an inner toothed part is formed on an inner side of the toothed ring that engages with the planetary gears, wherein the toothed ring is spirally coupled to the connector;

a locating ring configured inside the two half cases and also spirally coupled to the toothed ring;

a ratchet part configured at one end of the body, wherein a ratchet configuration is configured inside the ratchet part and configured with a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is stretching out of the ratchet part and also coupled to the transmission gear of the rotation base; and

a power-off protection device coupled between the switch and the electrical socket;

wherein the power-off protection device comprises;

a power transistor coupled between the motor and the rechargeable battery;

a current detection circuit detecting loaded current, which is passing through the motor, via the power transistor to be coupled to the motor;

a driver coupled to the rechargeable battery and a gate of the power transistor; and

a comparator having;

a first input terminal set to a default value;

a second input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the current detection circuit to determine whether the loaded current passing through the motor is larger than the default value; and

an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the driver.

2. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a current amplifier configured between the current detection circuit and the second input terminal of the comparator.

3. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a reference circuit is connected to the first input terminal of the comparator to set the default value.

4. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current detection circuit is made up by two parallel resistors.

5. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver is made up by a BJT transistor, wherein a drain is coupled to the rechargeable battery and the gate of the power transistor.

6. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 2, wherein the comparator and the current amplifier are respectively made up by an operational amplifier.

7. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reference circuit is made up by a voltage divider.

8. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two insulation parts of semicircle cross-sections respectively formed inside two opposite sides of the two half cases, wherein the motor, the switch, the power-off protection device and the electrical socket are hold by the two insulation parts.

9. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a button and a spring, wherein the button is formed between the two insulation parts and extending outside the body, wherein the spring is configured between the button and the switch inside of the two insulator parts.

10. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 9, wherein inside of the connector is formed an inner screw thread spirally coupled to an outer screw thread of the toothed ring.

11. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 10, wherein the locating ring is configured between the two half cases for the shaft of the motor to pass through, so as to support the shaft of the motor, wherein an inner side of the locating ring forms an inner screw thread, so as to be spirally coupled to the outer screw thread of the toothed ring.

12. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 11, wherein a pad is mounted between the planetary gears and the locating ring.

13. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 12, wherein one end of the ratchet part is configured with an outer screw thread to be spirally coupled to the corresponding inner screw thread of a connector.

14. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a button and a spring, wherein the button is formed between the two insulation parts and extending outside the body, wherein the spring is configured between the button and the switch.

15. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 1, wherein inside of the connector is formed an inner screw thread spirally coupled to an outer screw thread of the toothed ring.

16. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locating ring is configured between the two half cases for the shaft of the motor to pass through, so as to hold the shaft of the motor.

17. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 16, wherein a pad is mounted between the planetary gears and the locating ring.

18. The rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the ratchet part is configured with an outer screw thread to be spirally coupled to the corresponding inner screw thread of a connector.