Reversing Mechanism for a Power Tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016258291-A1
Application number	US-201514640612-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A reversing mechanism for a pneumatically or hydraulically powered tool having a rotor adapted to rotate in either of first and second rotational directions. The reversing mechanism allows a user to actuate a button and rotate a valve to direct air flow through the tool. By pressing the button, the button will move a base laterally, and in doing so, rotates the valve. Rotating the valve then aligns a barrier of the valve in a direction tangential to the selected rotational direction of the tool, better directing forced air or fluid and more efficiently distributing the air or fluid in the selected rotational direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A pneumatically or hydraulically powered tool comprising:
a motor having a rotor that rotates in either of first and second rotational directions; first and second buttons opposingly disposed on respective first and second sides of the tool and operatively coupled to a base disposed in the tool; and a valve rotatably coupled to the base, wherein axial movement of either of the first and second buttons causes the valve to rotate, which causes the rotor to respectively rotate in the first and second rotational directions.

2 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a slot and the base includes a pin, wherein the valve is rotatably coupled to the slot at the pin.

3 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the base includes first and second openings, and the first and second buttons include respective first and second button arms that respectively extend through the first and second openings.

4 . The tool of claim 3 , wherein the first and second button arms respectively include first and second grooves, and first and second retention members respectively coupled around the first and second grooves.

5 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a barrier adapted to direct air from the air source in a direction substantially tangential to the first or second rotational direction.

6 . The tool of claim 5 , wherein the rotor includes a circumferential channel that receives the air or fluid in a rotational direction, and wherein the barrier directs the air or fluid into the circumferential channel in a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction depending on whether the first button has been actuated or the second button has been actuated, respectively.

7 . The tool of claim 6 , wherein the valve has a radial dimension and an axial dimension, and the base is coupled to the valve at a substantially outermost radial portion of the radial dimension such that linear movement of the valve perpendicular to the axial direction causes rotational movement of the valve about an axis of the valve.

8 . The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a ball elastically biased away from the base, and a motor plate disposed to receive the ball and provide a tactile indication when either of the first and second rotational directions is selected.

9 . The tool of claim 8 , wherein the motor plate includes a ramp, and wherein the ball is disposed on a first side of the ramp when the first button is actuated, and the ball is disposed on a second side of the ramp when the second button is actuated.

10 . A reversing mechanism for a pneumatically or hydraulically powered tool having a rotor operable in either of first and second rotational directions, comprising:
a base having first and second openings; first and second buttons respectively movably coupled to the base in the first and second openings; and a valve rotatably coupled to the base, wherein selection of either of the first or second buttons by a user causes the valve to rotate and direct air or fluid to respectively cause the first or second rotational directions.

11 . The reversing mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the valve includes a slot and the base includes a pin, wherein the valve is rotatably coupled to the slot at the pin.

12 . The reversing mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the first and second buttons respectively include first and second button arms that respectively extend through the first and second openings.

13 . The reversing mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the first and second button arms respectively include first and second grooves, and first and second retention members respectively circumferentially coupled around the first and second grooves.

14 . The reversing mechanism of claim 13 , wherein a diameter of the first and second retention members is respectively greater than a diameter of the first and second openings, thereby retaining ends of the first and second button arms in the base.

15 . The reversing mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the first and second retention members are respectively circumferentially coupled around the first and second grooves inside the base.

16 . The reversing mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the valve includes a barrier adapted to direct air from the air source in a direction tangential to either of the first and second rotational directions.

17 . The reversing mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the valve has a radial dimension and an axial dimension, and the base is coupled to the valve at a substantially outermost radial portion of the valve such that linear movement of the valve perpendicular to the axial direction causes rotational movement of the valve about an axis of the valve.

18 . A method of operating a pneumatically or hydraulically powered tool having a rotor operable in either of first and second rotational directions comprising:
providing a valve rotatable between first and second positions, wherein the valve is adapted to cause the first rotational direction when in the first position and the second rotational direction when in the second position; and actuating one of first and second buttons in a linear direction, thereby causing the valve to rotate from the first position to the second position.

19 . An assembly comprising:
a housing having an inlet pocket portion and an outlet pocket portion; a cylinder housed by the housing and adapted to receive and exhaust air; a valve having a barrier adapted to direct the air in a selected direction, and further having a passage adapted to exhaust the air, wherein the valve is adapted to direct the air toward the inlet pocket portion, and allow the air to exhaust through the passage after the air passes the outlet pocket portion.

20 . The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the inlet pocket portion and the outlet pocket portion are a unitary pocket.

Assignees

• Snap On Incorporated

Inventors

• Griffin Paul W
• Nowak Dennis A
• Williams John R

Classifications

• F01C13/02

  for driving hand-held tools or the like · CPC title

• B25F5/00 Primary

  Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B25F5/001

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

• F01C20/04 Primary

  specially adapted for reversible machines or engines · 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