Articulating jig saw

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10160048-B2
Application number	US-201715675971-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2011
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

A power tool includes a motor housing having a motor configured to rotate an output shaft about a drive axis and a gear housing defining a gear compartment. A pinion gear is supported by the gear housing that is coupled to the output shaft for rotation about the drive axis. A bevel gear is supported by the gear housing for rotation about a bevel axis and includes a geared portion that is meshingly engaged with the pinion gear. A crank pin extends from the same side of the bevel gear as the geared portion at a position offset from the bevel axis. An articulating housing is pivotably supported by the gear housing for pivotal movement about the bevel axis. A plunger member is supported by the articulating housing for reciprocating movement along a reciprocating axis. The plunger member includes a yoke end portion coupled to the crank pin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power tool comprising:
a motor housing including a motor having an output shaft, the motor being configured to rotate the output shaft about a drive axis,
a gear housing including a gear support portion and a gear cover portion, the gear cover portion being non-movably attached to the gear support portion, the gear support portion and the gear cover portion cooperating to substantially enclose a gear compartment and defining a slot therebetween;
a pinion gear rotatably supported by the gear housing, the pinion gear being coupled to the output shaft for rotation about the drive axis;
a bevel gear rotatably supported by the gear support portion of the gear housing in the gear compartment for rotation about a bevel axis that is perpendicular to the drive axis, the bevel gear including a geared portion that is meshingly engaged with the pinion gear;
a crank pin arranged on a same side of the bevel gear as the geared portion at a position offset from the bevel axis, the crank pin defining a circular path centered on the bevel axis when the bevel gear is rotated;
an articulating housing including a first housing shell and a second housing shell attached to each other to form a shroud portion and a nose portion, the shroud portion enclosing the gear housing and being pivotably supported by the gear housing for pivotal movement about the bevel axis, the nose portion being pivoted about the bevel axis along with the shroud portion; and
a plunger member supported by the nose portion of the articulating housing for reciprocating movement along a reciprocating axis, the plunger member extending from the nose portion through the slot defined in the gear housing and into the gear compartment, the plunger member including i) a yoke end portion located in the gear compartment and coupled to the crank pin in the gear compartment and ii) a blade holder end portion located exterior to the articulating housing,
wherein the reciprocating axis and the drive axis reside in the same plane throughout the pivotal movement of the articulating housing with respect to the gear housing, and
wherein the articulating housing supports the plunger member so that the plunger pivots with respect to the gear housing along with the articulating housing.

2. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating axis intersects the bevel axis throughout the pivotal movement of the articulating housing with respect to the gear housing.

3. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the yoke end portion is configured to allow the crank pin to translate with respect to the yoke end portion in directions perpendicular to the reciprocating axis when the crank pin is moved along the circular path so that the plunger member is supported with the reciprocating axis intersecting the bevel axis throughout the reciprocating movement of the plunger member.

4. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the first housing shell and the second housing shell are attached to each other in a clamshell configuration around the gear housing.

5. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein:
the articulating housing is pivotable between a first position and a second position in relation to the gear housing;
in the first position, the plunger member is oriented perpendicular to the drive axis; and
in the second position, the reciprocating axis of the plunger member is coaxially aligned with the drive axis.

6. The power tool of claim 5 , wherein the articulating housing is configured to be releasably secured to the gear housing portion at any one of plurality of positions between and including the first position and the second position.

7. The power tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a foot plate secured to the nose portion of the articulating housing, the foot plate defining an opening through which the blade extends.

8. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein:
the yoke end portion includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion;
the first wall portion and the second wall portion are oriented perpendicular to the reciprocating axis; and
the crank pin is received between the first wall portion and the second wall portion.

9. The power tool of claim 8 , wherein:
the yoke end portion further includes a wall connector portion that extends over the crank pin to position the first wall portion and the second wall portion with respect to each other.

10. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the gear housing is removably attached to the motor housing.

11. An articulating drive assembly for a power tool, comprising:
a gear housing configured to be removably attached to a motor housing of the power tool, the gear housing including a gear support portion and a gear cover portion, the gear cover portion being non-movably attached to the gear support portion, the gear support portion and the gear cover portion cooperating to substantially enclose a gear compartment and defining a slot therebetween;
a pinion gear rotatably supported by the gear housing, the pinion gear being coupled to an output shaft extending from the motor housing of the power tool for rotation about the drive axis;
a bevel gear rotatably supported by the gear support portion of the gear housing in the gear compartment for rotation about a bevel axis that is perpendicular to the drive axis, the bevel gear including a geared portion that is meshingly engaged with the pinion gear;
a crank pin arranged on a same side of the bevel gear as the geared portion at a position offset from the bevel axis, the crank pin defining a circular path centered on the bevel axis when the bevel gear is rotated;
an articulating housing including a first housing shell and a second housing shell attached to each other to form a shroud portion and a nose portion, the shroud portion enclosing the gear housing and being pivotably supported by the gear housing for pivotal movement about the bevel axis, the nose portion being pivoted about the bevel axis along with the shroud portion; and
a plunger member supported by the nose portion of the articulating housing for reciprocating movement along a reciprocating axis, the plunger member extending from the nose portion through the slot defined in the gear housing and into the gear compartment, the plunger member including i) a yoke end portion located in the gear compartment and coupled to the crank pin in the gear compartment and ii) a blade holder end portion located exterior to the articulating housing,
wherein the reciprocating axis and the drive axis reside in the same plane throughout the pivotal movement of the articulating housing with respect to the gear housing, and
wherein the articulating housing supports the plunger member so that the plunger pivots with respect to the gear housing along with the articulating housing.

12. The power tool of claim 11 , wherein the reciprocating axis intersects the bevel axis throughout the pivotal movement of the articulating housing with respect to the gear housing.

13. The power tool of claim 11 , wherein the yoke end portion is configured to allow the crank pin to translate with respect to the yoke end portion in directions perpendicular to the reciprocating axis when the crank pin is moved along the circular path so that the plunger member is supported with the reciprocating axis intersecting the bevel axis throughout the reciprocating movement of the plunger member.

Assignees

• Bosch Tool Corp
• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Weir J Alan
• Williams Dan
• Llanes Ron
• Oshgan Steve
• Wierzchon Peter J

Classifications

• B23D49/16

  actuated by electric or magnetic power or prime movers (B23D49/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B27B19/04

  characterised by power drive, e.g. by electromagnetic drive · CPC title

• B23D51/16 Primary

  of drives or feed mechanisms for straight tools, e.g. saw blades, or bows · CPC title