Air-tight switching device for use in a pneumatic tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9957798-B2
Application number	US-201514666591-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2014
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A switching device for a pneumatic tool includes a valve member, a connecting member and an operating unit. The valve member is rotatable relative to the pneumatic tool between first and second positions. The connecting member is coupled to the valve member in a manner such that the connecting member drives the rotation of the valve member and that an assembly of the valve member and the connecting member is flexible, so as to establish an air-tight seal between the valve member and a pneumatic motor of the pneumatic tool. The operating unit is mounted on the pneumatic tool and coupled co-rotatably to the connecting member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switching device adapted for use in a pneumatic tool, the pneumatic tool including a tool body and a pneumatic motor, the tool body including a handle portion that extends along an X axis, and a head portion that is connected to an end of the handle portion, the handle portion having an inlet flow path that extends along the X axis and that is formed through an opposite end of the handle portion for permitting compressed air to flow thereinto, the pneumatic motor being disposed in the head portion, and including a cylinder that defines an air chamber, and first and second flow channels communicating fluidly with the air chamber, and a rotor that is disposed rotatably in the air chamber, said switching device comprising:
a valve member adapted to be disposed in the handle portion, being in contact with the cylinder, and defining an intermediate flow path therethrough, said valve member being rotatable relative to the tool body between a first position where said intermediate flow path communicates fluidly the inlet flow path and the first flow channel, and a second position where said intermediate flow path communicates fluidly the inlet flow path and the second flow channel, such that the rotor is rotatable in two opposite directions;
a connecting member adapted to be disposed in the handle portion, and coupled to an end of said valve member opposite to the pneumatic motor along the X axis in a manner such that said connecting member drives the rotation of said valve member between the first and second positions and that an assembly of said valve member and said connecting member is flexible, so as to establish an air-tight seal between said valve member and the pneumatic motor;
an operating unit adapted to be mounted operably on the handle portion and coupled co-rotatably to said connecting member; and
a resilient member having opposite ends abutting respectively against said valve member and said connecting member for biasing resiliently said valve member to contact the pneumatic motor.

2. The switching device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said valve member further has a transmission structure provided at said end thereof opposite to the pneumatic motor, said connecting member having a transmission structure that is coupled to said transmission structure of said valve member, such that rotation is transmitted from said connecting member to said valve member.

3. The switching device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said connecting member is adapted to be disposed rotatably in the inlet flow path, and is not movable along the X axis.

4. The switching device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said transmission structure of said valve member is configured as one of a protrusion and a recess, said transmission structure of said connecting member being configured as the other one of said protrusion and said recess, and engaging said transmission structure of said valve member, such that flexation of said valve member relative to said connecting member is allowed.

5. The switching device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said connecting member has a split coupling flange unit that is disposed at an end thereof distal from said valve member and that is adapted to be coupled to the handle portion such that said connecting member is prevented from moving along the X axis relative to the handle portion.

6. The switching device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said operating unit includes an annular operating member that is adapted to be sleeved rotatably on the handle portion, and a linking member that interconnects co-rotatably said operating member and said connecting member.

7. The switching device as claimed in claim 1 , the handle portion further having an outlet flow path, wherein said valve member further has an intermediate groove that is formed in an outer surface thereof, said intermediate groove being adapted to be in fluid communication with the second flow channel and the outlet flow path when said valve member is at the first position, and with the first flow channel and the outlet flow path when said valve member is at the second position, so as to guide expanded air in the air chamber to be expelled from the pneumatic tool.

8. A switching device adapted for use in a pneumatic tool, the pneumatic tool including a tool body and a pneumatic motor, the tool body including a handle portion that extends along an X axis, and a head portion that is connected to an end of the handle portion, the handle portion having an inlet flow path that extends along the X axis and that is formed through an opposite end of the handle portion for permitting compressed air to flow thereinto, the pneumatic motor being disposed in the head portion, and including a cylinder that defines an air chamber, and first and second flow channels communicating fluidly with the air chamber, and a rotor that is disposed rotatably in the air chamber, said switching device comprising:
a valve member adapted to be disposed in the handle portion, being in contact with the cylinder, and defining an intermediate flow path therethrough, said valve member being rotatable relative to the tool body between a first position where said intermediate flow path communicates fluidly the inlet flow path and the first flow channel, and a second position where said intermediate flow path communicates fluidly the inlet flow path and the second flow channel, such that the rotor is rotatable in two opposite directions;
a connecting member adapted to be disposed in the handle portion, and coupled to an end of said valve member opposite to the pneumatic motor along the X axis in a manner such that said connecting member drives the rotation of said valve member between the first and second positions and that an assembly of said valve member and said connecting member is flexible, so as to establish an air-tight seal between said valve member and the pneumatic motor;
an operating unit adapted to be mounted operably on the handle portion and coupled co-rotatably to said connecting member;
wherein said valve member further has a transmission structure provided at said end thereof opposite to the pneumatic motor, said connecting member having a transmission structure that is coupled to said transmission structure of said valve member, such that rotation is transmitted from said connecting member to said valve member; and

wherein said transmission structure of said valve member is configured to be tubular, said transmission structure of said connecting member being configured as a flexible sleeve that permits said transmission structure of said valve member to be press fitted thereinto for allowing rotation transmission between said valve member and said connecting member.

Assignees

• Basso Ind Corp

Inventors

• Su San-Yih
• Lin Da-Jay

Classifications

• F01C13/02 Primary

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

• B25B21/00 Primary

  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

• B25F5/001

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

• F01C20/14

  using rotating valves · CPC title

• B25B21/02

  with means for imparting impact to screwdriver blade or nut socket · CPC title