Portable rescue tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10974082-B2
Application number	US-201916387860-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2019
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

A portable rescue tool that is powered by an electric motor. The electric motor has a drive output shaft that transfers rotational power to an angle rotary gearbox. The angle rotary gearbox has an output shaft that is oriented about 90 degrees from the rotational axis of the motor output shaft and is geared so as to increase the torque and reduce the speed of the rotational power. The angle rotary gearbox provides a reduced speed, high torque output at an output shaft that is delivered by a single chain drive to a main rotary actuator where two actuator arms are controlled to move away from each other and toward each other in the operation of the rescue tool. The portable rescue tool is designed to be of a low weight and enhanced cooling properties as present rescue tools.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power subassembly for use with a portable tool, the subassembly comprising:
an electric motor having a motor output shaft with a first axis of rotation;
an angle rotary gearbox operably coupled to the electric motor and adapted to receive rotary motion from the electric motor and provide a low speed, high torque rotary output with a gearbox output shaft having a second axis of rotation oriented about 90 degrees from the first axis of rotation; and
an electrically powered brake selectively movable between a locked position, wherein rotation of the motor output shaft is restricted, and an unlocked position, wherein the motor output shaft is rotatable.

2. The power subassembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrically powered brake acts directly on the motor output shaft.

3. The power subassembly of claim 2 , wherein when the electrically powered brake is in the unlocked position, the motor output shaft rotates when the electric motor is electrically energized.

4. The power subassembly of claim 3 , wherein the electric motor and electrically powered brake are disposed within a motor housing.

5. The power subassembly of claim 4 , wherein the electric motor has a pin extending outwardly therefrom and the pin engages a slot formed in the motor housing.

6. The power subassembly of claim 3 , wherein the electrically powered brake is biased to be disposed in its locked position.

7. The power subassembly of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox output shaft has a device adapted to limit an amount of torque transmitted by the gearbox output shaft.

8. A clutch mechanism for controlling rotation of a drive mechanism that is rotatably disposed between upper and lower plates, the clutch mechanism comprising:
a clutch plate adapted to rotate with the drive mechanism and including a tab adapted to engage the drive mechanism;
a clutch housing coupled to the upper plate and adapted to cover the clutch plate, and the clutch housing including a friction material that faces the clutch plate;
a shaft passing through the clutch plate and the clutch housing and extending outwardly from the clutch housing; and
a knob coupled to the shaft, and wherein actuation of the knob is adapted to move the clutch plate with respect to the clutch housing and cause the clutch plate to move into contact and out of contact with the friction material to control rotation of the drive mechanism.

9. The clutch mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the clutch plate has a second friction material facing the friction material of the clutch housing.

10. The clutch mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the shaft includes threads, and the knob is compatibly threaded.

Assignees

• Snap On Tools Corp

Inventors

• Hickerson William

Classifications

• F16D2121/26

  for releasing a normally applied brake · CPC title

• A62B3/005 Primary

  Rescue tools with forcing action · CPC title