Mud mixer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11084006-B2
Application number	US-201815919368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2018
Priority date	Mar 23, 2017
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A mud mixer comprises a housing defining a battery mounting portion, an electric motor supported by the housing, a mixing element that selectively receives torque from the motor, causing the mixing element to rotate about a rotation axis, and a battery pack removably coupled to the battery mounting portion for providing power to the electric motor when coupled to the battery mounting portion. When the battery pack is coupled to the battery mounting portion, the rotation axis intersects the battery pack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mud mixer comprising:
a tool body defining a battery mounting portion;
an electric motor supported by the tool body;
a mixing element that selectively receives torque from the motor, causing the mixing element to rotate about a rotation axis;
a first handle integrally coupled to the tool body and defining a handle axis;
a second handle moveably coupled to the tool body and moveable between a first position, in which the second handle is arranged along the handle axis, and a second position, in which second handle is not arranged along the handle axis; and
a battery pack removably coupled to the battery mounting portion for providing power to the electric motor when coupled to the battery mounting portion,
wherein when the battery pack is coupled to the battery mounting portion, the rotation axis intersects the battery pack.

2. The mud mixer of claim 1 , wherein the second handle is moveable about the tool body between the first and second positions within a plane that is an extension of the handle axis in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, and wherein the second handle has a 180 degree range of movement about the tool body with respect to the first handle.

3. The mud mixer of claim 1 , wherein when the second handle is in the second position, the first handle, the second handle, and the battery pack all contact a support surface, and the mixing element is elevated above the support surface.

4. The mud mixer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a chuck that selectively receives torque from the motor, causing the chuck to rotate, the chuck configured to hold the mixing element; and
a chuck key for tightening and loosening the chuck,
wherein the second handle includes a retention mechanism configured to selectively retain the chuck key.

5. The mud mixer of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is symmetrically arranged about the rotational axis when the battery pack is coupled to the mounting portion.

6. A mud mixer comprising:
a tool body;
an electric motor supported by the tool body;
a mixing element that selectively receives torque from the motor, causing the mixing element to rotate about a rotation axis;
a first handle integrally coupled to the tool body and defining a handle axis; and
a second handle moveably coupled to the tool body and moveable between a first position, in which the second handle is arranged along the handle axis, and a second position, in which second handle is not arranged along the handle axis, and
wherein the second handle has a 180 degree range of movement about the tool body with respect to the first handle.

7. The mud mixer of claim 6 , further comprising a collar coupled for movement about the tool body with the second handle.

8. The mud mixer of claim 7 , further comprising a lock member moveable between a locked position, in which the lock member engages a surface of the tool body, such that the collar is locked to the tool body and the second handle is not moveable with respect to the tool body, and an unlocked position, in which the collar and the second handle are moveable with respect to the tool body.

9. The mud mixer of claim 7 ,
wherein the collar includes a cylindrical portion arranged about the tool body and an arm extending from the cylindrical portion, and wherein the second handle is coupled to the arm.

10. The mud mixer of claim 9 , wherein the arm includes a hub, and wherein the second handle includes a hub recess in which the hub is arranged.

11. The mud mixer of claim 10 , wherein the hub includes a recess, and wherein an elongate hub fastener is fixed along an interior length of the second handle and engages the recess so as to secure the second handle to the collar.

12. The mud mixer of claim 9 , wherein the collar defines a lock bore that extends through the arm, and wherein the second handle includes a lock lever moveable between a locked position, in which the second handle and the collar are not movable with respect to the tool body, and an unlocked position, in which the second handle and the collar are movable with respect to the tool body, and wherein the second handle includes a fastener extending through the lock bore toward the tool body, the fastener being coupled for movement with the lock lever, such that when the lock lever is in the unlocked position, the fastener is farther away from the tool body than when the lock lever is in the locked position.

13. The mud mixer of claim 12 , wherein an engagement plate is coupled to the fastener, and wherein when the lock lever is in the locked position, the engagement plate is engaged against the tool body, and wherein when the lock lever is in the unlocked position, the engagement plate is spaced from the tool body.

14. The mud mixer of claim 13 , wherein the tool body includes a toothed portion that is engaged by the engagement plate when the lock lever is in the locked position.

15. The mud mixer of claim 14 , wherein the toothed portion includes a plurality of valleys, and wherein the engagement plate includes a plurality of protrusions configured to engage in the valleys when the lock lever is in the locked position.

16. A mud mixer comprising:
a tool body;
an electric motor supported by the tool body;
a chuck that selectively receives torque from the motor, causing the chuck to rotate, the chuck configured to hold a mixing element;
a first handle integrally coupled to the tool body and defining a handle axis;
a second handle moveably coupled to the tool body and moveable between a first position, in which the second handle is arranged along the handle axis, and a second position, in which second handle is not arranged along the handle axis, the second handle including an elongate bore extending parallel to or coaxial with the handle axis when the second handle is in the first position;
and
a chuck key for tightening and loosening the chuck, the chuck key including a toothed portion and a rod portion that extends perpendicular to the toothed portion,
wherein the the rod portion of the chuck key is selectively received in the elongate bore of the second handle.

17. The mud mixer of claim 16 , wherein the second handle includes a key recess configured to receive the toothed portion of the chuck key when the rod portion is received in the elongate bore.

18. The mud mixer of claim 16 , further comprising an o-ring arranged about the elongate bore, such that when the rod portion of the chuck key is received in the elongate bore, the rod portion extends through and is secured in the elongate bore by the o-ring.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Carlson Mitchell
• Vara Gabriel M
• Timmons Terry L

Classifications

• B25F5/02 Primary

  Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B01F33/50115 Primary

  Stirring devices adapted to be connected to a standard boring machine or other kind of domestic tool · CPC title

• B01F35/32025

  Battery driven · CPC title

• B01F27/13

  Openwork frame or cage stirrers not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B23B2260/024

  Batteries · CPC title