Non-contact speed selector switch in rotary power tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11897110-B2
Application number	US-201816177612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2018
Priority date	Nov 7, 2017
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A rotary power tool includes a housing having a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom. An electric motor is positioned within the motor housing portion. The rotary power tool further includes a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor. The rotary power tool further includes a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the housing. The non-contact speed selector switch is configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor. The non-contact speed selector switch is separate from the trigger switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary power tool comprising:
a housing including a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom;
an electric motor positioned within the motor housing portion, the electric motor defining a longitudinal axis extending through the motor housing portion;
a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor;
a bit retainer operatively coupled to the electric motor;
a circuit board positioned in the motor housing portion, the circuit board positioned axially between the electric motor and the bit retainer relative to the longitudinal axis, the circuit board includes an axially-facing surface relative to the longitudinal axis; and
a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the housing, the non-contact speed selector switch movable between a first position corresponding to high speed operation of the motor and a second position corresponding to low speed operation of the motor, the non-contact speed selector switch configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is separate from the trigger switch, and wherein the circuit board includes a portion of the non-contact speed selector switch, the portion of the non-contact speed selector switch positioned on the axially-facing surface of the circuit board, and wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes two detent recesses selectively engageable by a detent spring, the detent recesses configured to hold the non-contact speed selector switch in one of the first position or the second position.

2. The rotary power tool of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a Hall-effect sensor and a magnet adjustably positioned proximate the Hall-effect sensor, and wherein the rotational speed is adjusted based on a position of the magnet relative to the Hall-effect sensor.

3. The rotary power tool of claim 2 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes an adjustable mechanical switch portion graspable by a user, the magnet positioned on the mechanical switch portion.

4. The rotary power tool of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical switch portion includes a shuttle body movable to a plurality of discrete positions, the shuttle body including a surface spaced from and in facing relationship with the Hall-effect sensor, and wherein the magnet is positioned on the surface.

5. The rotary power tool of claim 4 , wherein the mechanical switch portion is held in one of the discrete positions by a biasing member.

6. The rotary power tool of claim 2 , wherein the circuit board is in facing relationship with the magnet, wherein the circuit board includes an axially-facing surface relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the Hall-effect sensor is positioned on the axially-facing surface of the circuit board.

7. The rotary power tool of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to output a variable voltage signal to a controller indicating the rotational speed at which to operate the motor.

8. The rotary power tool of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is positioned in the motor housing portion.

9. The rotary power tool of claim 1 , further comprising a multi-stage planetary transmission coupled to the motor, and wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to an electronic controller a speed setting of the transmission.

10. The rotary power tool of claim 9 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes an adjustable mechanical switch portion for adjusting the transmission.

11. The rotary power tool of claim 9 , further comprising an electronic clutch, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to the electronic controller a current draw limit of the electronic clutch based on the speed setting.

12. The rotary power tool of claim 1 , further comprising a transmission operatively coupled between the electric motor and the bit retainer, wherein the circuit board is positioned axially between one of the electric motor and the transmission, or the transmission and a tool chuck of the bit retainer relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. A rotary power tool comprising:
a housing including a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom;
an electric motor positioned within the motor housing portion, the electric motor defining a longitudinal axis extending through the motor housing portion;
a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor;
a bit retainer operatively coupled to the electric motor;
a circuit board positioned in the motor housing portion, the circuit board positioned axially between the electric motor and the bit retainer relative to the longitudinal axis, the circuit board oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the motor housing portion, the non-contact speed selector switch configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor, and wherein the circuit board includes a portion of the non-contact speed selector switch,
wherein the circuit board includes an axially-facing surface relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the portion of the non-contact speed selector switch is positioned on the axially-facing surface of the circuit board.

14. The rotary power tool of claim 13 , further comprising a multi-stage planetary transmission coupled to the motor, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes an adjustable mechanical switch portion for adjusting the transmission, and wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to an electronic controller a speed setting of the transmission.

15. The rotary power tool of claim 14 , further comprising an electronic clutch, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to the electronic controller a current draw limit of the electronic clutch based on the speed setting.

16. The rotary power tool of claim 14 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a Hall-effect sensor and a magnet, and wherein the magnet is positioned on the mechanical switch portion.

17. The rotary power tool of claim 16 , wherein the circuit board is spaced from the magnet, and wherein the Hall-effect sensor is positioned on the axially-facing surface of the circuit board.

18. A rotary power tool comprising:
a housing including a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom;
an electric motor positioned within the motor housing portion, the electric motor defining a longitudinal axis extending through the motor housing portion;
a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor;
a bit retainer operatively coupled to the electric motor;
a circuit board positioned in the motor housing portion, the circuit board positioned axially between the electric motor and the bit retainer relative to the longitudinal axis, the circuit board oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the motor housing portion, the non-contact speed selector switch configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor, and wherein the circuit board includes a portion of the non-contact speed selector switch; and
a multi-stage planetary transmission coupled to the motor, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes an adjustable mechanical switch portion for adjusting the transmission,
wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to an electronic controller a speed setting of the tr

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Merget Maxwell L
• Liang Jingyuan
• Sande Michael R
• Halverson Michael
• Duncan Ian
• Mantych Nicholas C
• Huber Alex

Classifications

• B25F5/001 Primary

  Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools · CPC title

• B25B21/00

  Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; (details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; {for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006}); Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose (machines B23P19/06) · CPC title

• B25D17/00

  Details of, or accessories for, portable power-driven percussive tools {(details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00)} · CPC title

• B25F5/026

  in the form of an auxiliary handle (B25F5/024 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02P29/40

  Regulating or controlling the amount of current drawn or delivered by the motor for controlling the mechanical load · CPC title