Non-contact speed selector switch in rotary power tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208501-B2
Application number	US-202318460967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2023
Priority date	Nov 7, 2017
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

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 that is separate from the trigger switch and configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor. The non-contact speed selector switch is positioned in a foot of the handle portion opposite the motor housing portion.

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;
a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor; and
a non-contact speed selector switch separate from the trigger switch and configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor,
wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is positioned in a foot of the handle portion opposite the motor housing portion.

2. The rotary power tool of claim 1 , wherein the foot includes a bottom surface configured to be selectively coupled to a battery pack, wherein the foot includes a top surface opposite the bottom surface, and wherein the top surface includes an aperture through which a portion of the non-contact speed selector switch extends.

3. The rotary power tool of claim 2 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is movable within the aperture in a direction transverse to a rotational axis of the electric motor.

4. The rotary power tool of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a proximity sensor and a shuttle movable relative to the proximity sensor.

5. The rotary power tool of claim 4 , wherein the proximity sensor is a Hall-effect sensor.

6. The rotary power tool of claim 5 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a circuit board disposed within the foot of the handle portion, and wherein the Hall-effect sensor is disposed on the circuit board.

7. The rotary power tool of claim 6 , wherein the shuttle includes a magnet, and wherein the Hall-effect sensor is configured to adjust a rotational speed of the electric motor based on a position of the magnet.

8. The rotary power tool of claim 7 , wherein the magnet is disposed on a lower surface of the shuttle that is oriented parallel to a surface of the circuit board on which the Hall-effect sensor is disposed.

9. The rotary power tool of claim 8 , wherein the shuttle is movable along an axis oriented parallel to the lower surface of the shuttle.

10. The rotary power tool of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a circuit board disposed within the foot of the handle portion, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a plurality of recesses disposed on an underside of a movable portion of the non-contact speed selector switch such that the plurality of recesses are positioned within the foot, and wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a detent spring is positioned beneath the movable portion of the non-contact speed selector switch and disposed adjacent to the circuit board.

11. The rotary power tool of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the motor housing portion defines a forward/rearward direction of the rotary power tool with the forward direction being adjacent to an output shaft of the rotary power tool, wherein at least a portion of the foot extends forward of the handle, and wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is positioned in the foot forward of the handle.

12. 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;
a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor; and
a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in a foot of the handle portion, the non-contact speed selector switch configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor.

13. The rotary power tool of claim 12 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a Hall-effect sensor and a magnet, and wherein the magnet is positioned on an adjustable mechanical switch portion of the non-contact speed selector switch that is graspable by a user.

14. The rotary power tool of claim 13 , further comprising a circuit board positioned within the foot and in facing relationship with the mechanical switch portion, wherein the Hall-effect sensor is positioned on the circuit board.

15. The rotary power tool of claim 14 , wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a detent mechanism configured to secure the non-contact speed selector switch in one of a plurality of positions corresponding to one of a plurality of rotational speeds of the motor.

16. The rotary power tool of claim 15 , wherein the detent mechanism includes a plurality of recesses disposed on a movable portion of the non-contact speed selector switch and a detent spring operable to engage one of the plurality of recesses to secure the non-contact speed selector switch, wherein the plurality of recesses are disposed on an underside of the movable portion of the non-contact speed selector switch, the underside being opposite a portion of the non-contact speed selector switch configured to be grasped by a user, and wherein the detent spring is positioned beneath the movable portion of the non-contact speed selector switch, and wherein the detent spring is positioned adjacent to the circuit board.

17. The rotary power tool of claim 13 , wherein the adjustable mechanical switch portion extends through an aperture in an upper surface of the foot of the handle portion.

18. The rotary power tool of claim 12 , wherein the foot extends from the handle portion opposite the motor housing portion.

19. The rotary power tool of claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the motor housing portion defines a forward/rearward direction of the rotary power tool with the forward direction being adjacent to an output shaft of the rotary power tool, wherein at least a portion of the foot extends forward of the handle, and wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is positioned in the foot forward of the handle.

20. A rotary power tool comprising:
a housing including a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the handle portion including a foot extending therefrom opposite the motor housing portion;
an electric motor positioned within the motor housing portion;
a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor; and
a speed selector switch positioned in the foot of the handle portion, the speed selector switch configured to adjust a rotational speed of the electric motor.

21. The rotary power tool of claim 20 , wherein the speed selector switch includes a movable actuator and a stationary sensor, and wherein the actuator is not in physical contact with the sensor.

22. The rotary power tool of claim 21 , wherein the speed selector switch includes a circuit board configured to support the sensor.

23. The rotary power tool of claim 21 , wherein the sensor is a Hall-effect sensor, wherein the actuator includes a magnet, and wherein the speed selector switch is configured to adjust the rotational speed of the electric motor based on a position of the magnet relative to the Hall-effect sensor.

24. The rotary power tool of claim 20 , wherein the speed selector switch includes a circuit board disposed within the foot of the handle portion, wherein the speed selector switch includes a plurality of recesses disposed on an underside of a movable portion of the speed selector switch such that the plurality of recesses are positioned within the foot, and wherein the speed selector switch includes a detent spring positioned beneath the movable portion of the speed selector switch and disposed adjacent to the circuit board.

25. The rotary power tool of claim 20

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• 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

• B25D2250/255

  Switches · CPC title

• B25F5/026

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

• B25D2250/095

  Electric motors · CPC title