Tape measure with fluid-based retraction speed controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11680784-B2
Application number	US-202117244345-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2021
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Jun 20, 2023
Grant date	Jun 20, 2023

Abstract

A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The tape measure includes a fluid-based retraction speed controller. The speed controller may be formed from a rotor/stator arrangement. The rotor is coupled to the reel and the stator is coupled to the housing opposing the rotor. The rotor converts some rotational energy from tape reel into movement of a fluid (e.g., movement of air, movement of oil, etc. through friction) which acts to slow or limit the retraction/rotational speed of the reel as the retraction spring expands driving the reel during tape blade retraction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tape measure comprising:
a housing comprising:
a first housing piece;
a second housing piece coupled to the first housing piece, the second housing piece including an outer surface having a concave shape;

a tape reel rotatably mounted within the first housing piece defining an axis of rotation, the tape reel comprising a radially outward facing surface;
an elongate tape blade coiled around the tape reel;
a retraction system, the retraction system comprising:
a spring coupled to the tape reel, wherein the elongate tape blade is uncoiled from the tape reel to extend from the housing; and

a speed control device comprising:
a rotor, the rotor coupled to the tape reel such that the rotor spins along with the tape reel during retraction of the elongate tape blade; and
a stator, the stator located within the outer surface of the second housing piece opposing the rotor.

2. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the rotor is adjacent to the tape reel along the axis of rotation such that the rotor is positioned between the tape reel and an inner surface of the second housing piece, and the stator is coupled to the inner surface of the second housing piece.

3. The tape measure of claim 1 , further comprising an axle, wherein the axle is rotationally fixed relative to the housing.

4. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the rotor further comprises an outer wall defining a cylindrical outer surface, wherein the cylindrical outer surface is coaxial with the axis of rotation.

5. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes a plurality of vanes each extending in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation, wherein each of the plurality of vanes of the rotor comprises:
a first major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a counterclockwise direction; and
a second major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a clockwise direction.

6. The tape measure of claim 5 , wherein the rotor further comprises a plurality of concave surfaces located between each adjacent pair of vanes, wherein each concave surface faces outward away from the tape reel in a direction of the axis of rotation.

7. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the stator includes a plurality of vanes each extending in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation, wherein each of the plurality of vanes of the stator comprises:
a first major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a counterclockwise direction; and
a second major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a clockwise direction.

8. The tape measure of claim 7 , wherein the first major surface of the stator is a planar surface and the second major surface of the stator is a planar surface and wherein the first and second major surfaces of the stator are parallel to each other.

9. The tape measure of claim 7 , wherein the stator further comprises a plurality of concave surfaces located between each adjacent pair of vanes, wherein each concave surface faces inward toward the tape reel in a direction of the axis of rotation.

10. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing defining an axis of rotation;
an elongate tape blade coiled around the tape reel;
a spring-based retraction system comprising a spring coupled to the tape reel, wherein, when the elongate tape blade is uncoiled from the tape reel to extend from the housing, the spring stores energy, and the spring releases energy driving recoiling of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel; and
a speed control device directly coupled to an outer surface of the tape reel, wherein the speed control device converts rotational energy of the tape reel to movement of a fluid within the housing.

11. The tape measure of claim 10 , wherein the speed control device further comprises:
a rotor rigidly coupled to the tape reel such that the rotor spins along with the tape reel during extension and retraction of the elongate tape blade; and
a stator non-rotationally fixed within the housing and opposing the rotor.

12. The tape measure of claim 11 , wherein the rotor includes a plurality of vanes each extending in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation, wherein each of the plurality of vanes of the rotor comprises:
a first major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a counterclockwise direction; and
a second major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a clockwise direction.

13. The tape measure of claim 11 , wherein the stator includes a plurality of vanes each extending in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation, wherein each of the plurality of vanes of the stator comprises:
a first major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a counterclockwise direction; and
a second major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a clockwise direction.

14. The tape measure of claim 13 , wherein the stator further comprises a plurality of curved surfaces located between each adjacent pair of vanes, wherein each concave surface faces inward toward the tape reel in a direction of the axis of rotation.

15. The tape measure of claim 10 , wherein the speed control device is configured such that an amount of rotational energy of the tape reel that is converted to movement of the fluid increases as the rotational speed of the tape reel increases.

16. The tape measure of claim 10 , wherein the fluid moved within the speed control device is at least one of air and oil.

17. The tape measure of claim 10 , wherein the outer surface of the tape reel faces outward in a direction of the axis of rotation.

18. The tape measure of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the speed control device is positioned adjacent to the tape reel and along the axis of rotation.

19. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing defining an axis of rotation;
an elongate tape blade coiled around the tape reel;
a retraction system coupled to the tape reel, wherein, when the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing, the retraction system stores energy, and the retraction system releases energy driving rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel; and
a speed control device comprising:
a rotor rigidly coupled to the tape reel such that the rotor spins along with the tape reel during retraction of the elongate tape blade; and
a stator non-rotationally fixed within the housing facing the rotor.

20. The tape measure of claim 19 , wherein the retraction system includes a spring coupled between an axle and the tape reel such that the spring is wound to store energy when the elongate tape blade is extended from the housing and unwound to release energy when the elongate tape blade is retracted back into the housing.

21. The tape measure of claim 19 , wherein the rotor further comprises a vane rigidly coupled to the tape reel, the vane extending in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation.

22. The tape measure of claim 21 , wherein the rotor further comprises a second vane and a curved surface having a toroidal shape, the curved surface facing outward away from the tape reel in a direction of the axis of rotation.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Mckinster Scott Earl

Classifications

• G01B2003/1023

  Winding mechanisms · CPC title

• G01B3/1041

  characterised by casings · CPC title

• G01B3/1003

  characterised by structure or material; characterised by layout or indicia · CPC title

• G01B3/102

  Means for damping · CPC title

• G01B3/1005 Primary

  Means for controlling winding or unwinding of tapes · CPC title