阅读说明：本技术 用于动力工具的壳体夹紧件 (Housing clamp for power tool ) 是由 威廉·贝瑞·丹斯 于 2021-05-28 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于动力工具壳体的壳体夹紧件,动力工具诸如是钻、刨槽机、研磨机、冲击扳手、棘轮扳手、螺丝刀或其它动力工具。壳体夹紧件包括圆周凸缘和凹部,凸缘和凹部以一定角度延伸。当安装壳体夹紧件时,壳体夹紧件将动力工具壳体的两个部分联接在一起。当壳体夹紧件被紧固到壳体部分上时,凸缘以围绕其圆周的均匀压力来加载壳体,从而提供夹紧载荷。壳体夹紧件在工具的工作端处围绕大区域提供均匀的压力,从而允许工具在尺寸至关重要的区域更薄。(The present invention relates to a housing clamp for a housing of a power tool, such as a drill, router, grinder, impact wrench, ratchet wrench, screwdriver or other power tool. The housing clamp includes a circumferential flange and a recess extending at an angle. The housing clamp couples the two portions of the power tool housing together when the housing clamp is installed. When the housing clamp is secured to the housing portion, the flange loads the housing with uniform pressure around its circumference, providing a clamping load. The housing clamp provides uniform pressure around a large area at the working end of the tool, allowing the tool to be thinner in areas where size is critical.)

1. A clamp for a tool housing having a first housing section and a second housing section, the clamp comprising:

an angled flange forming a recess, wherein the recess is adapted to engage respective ends of the first and second housing portions to couple the first and second housing portions together.

2. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein said angled flanges are adapted to apply a uniform force circumferentially around said first and second housing portions of said clamp.

3. The clamp of claim 1, further comprising a base adapted to receive a fastener to couple the housing clamp to the motor.

4. A clamp according to claim 3, further comprising a sidewall extending from said base to said angled flange.

5. A clamp according to claim 4, wherein said side wall includes a threaded portion.

6. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp is made of a metallic material and the first and second housing portions are made of a plastic material.

7. A tool having first and second housing portions forming a housing, and a motor disposed in the housing, the tool comprising:

a housing clamp having an angled flange forming a recess, wherein the recess is adapted to engage ends of the first and second housing portions to couple the first and second housing portions together.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the housing clamp is adapted to apply a uniform force to the first and second housing portions circumferentially around the housing clamp.

9. The tool of claim 7, wherein the housing clamp includes a base adapted to receive a fastener to couple the housing clamp to the motor.

10. The tool of claim 9, further comprising an insulator adapted to be disposed between the base and the motor.

11. The tool of claim 9, wherein the housing clamp includes a sidewall extending from the base to the angled flange.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein the sidewall includes a threaded portion adapted to couple to an output mechanism of the tool.

13. The tool of claim 7, wherein the housing clamp is made of a metallic material and the first and second housing portions are made of a plastic material.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a clamp for coupling together portions of a housing for a power tool to form an integral housing.

Background

Many tools are powered by electricity via an external power source (e.g., a wall outlet) or a battery. Such as drill and impact wrenches, apply torque to a workpiece to loosen or tighten the workpiece. However, existing tools can be bulky. Such dimensions can cause problems when attempting to access workpieces located in narrow or difficult to reach places.

For example, current tools have a housing formed of at least two housing portions coupled together by a plurality of screws, including a plurality of screws at a forward or working end of the tool. The screws and the screw bosses corresponding to these screws (particularly toward the front or working end of the tool) are typically oriented perpendicular to the housing and, since the screws must be positioned outside of the drivetrain, result in a bulky tool at the front end of the tool. This large size can cause problems when attempting to access workpieces located in narrow or difficult to reach places.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention broadly relates to a housing clamp for a housing of a power tool, such as a drill, router, grinder, impact wrench, ratchet wrench, screwdriver, or other power tool. The housing clamp allows the size of the front or working end to be reduced by removing the screws and screw bosses near the front end of the tool. The housing clamp includes a circumferential flange and a recess extending at an angle. The housing clamp is adapted to couple at least two portions of a power tool housing together to form a unitary housing. When the housing clamp is axially secured to the housing portion, the flange and recess load the housing portion with a uniform pressure or force about its circumference to provide a clamping force. The housing clamp provides uniform pressure around a large area at the working end of the tool, allowing the tool to be thinner in areas where size is critical. For example, when a screw coupling the housing clamp is tightened, it causes the housing clamp to move axially onto the housing portions, with the flange and recess applying a lateral force around the circumference of the ends of the housing portions to clamp the housing portions together. The tighter the screw for the housing clamp is axially tightened onto the tool housing, the greater the lateral force clamping the housing sections together.

In particular, the invention broadly comprises a housing clamp for a tool housing having first and second housing portions forming an integral housing and a motor disposed in the housing. The housing clamp includes an angled flange forming a recess, wherein the recess is adapted to engage respective ends of the first and second housing portions to couple the first and second housing portions together.

In another embodiment, the invention broadly comprises a tool. The tool includes a housing formed of at least a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and a motor disposed within the housing. The housing clamp has an angled flange forming a recess, and the recess is adapted to engage ends of the first and second housing portions to couple the first and second housing portions together.

Drawings

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are shown in the drawings embodiments thereof, from a standpoint that the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated when considered in connection with the following description.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tool of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a first perspective view of a housing clamp of the tool of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a second perspective view of the housing clamp of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the housing clamp of fig. 3.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a housing clamp and housing of a tool according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a housing clamp installed on a tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the housing of the tool and the front of the housing clamp.

Figure 9 is a side view of a router mechanism that can replace the drill and chuck mechanism of the tool.

Fig. 10 is a side view of an impact mechanism of the drill and chuck mechanism of the alternative tool.

Detailed Description

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated herein. As used herein, the term "present invention" is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is used merely for illustrative purposes to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention.

The present invention broadly relates to a housing clamp for a housing of a power tool, such as a drill, router, grinder, impact wrench, ratchet wrench, screwdriver, or other power tool. The housing clamp includes a circumferential flange and a recess extending at an angle. When the housing clamp is installed, the housing clamp couples at least two portions of a housing of the power tool together to form a unitary housing. When the housing clamp is secured to the housing portion, the flange loads the housing with uniform pressure around its circumference, providing a reliable clamping load. The housing clamp provides uniform pressure around a large area at the working end of the tool, allowing the tool to be thinner in the critical area of dimensions. Although the housing clamping member is smaller in cross section as a total solution, the clamping load may also be greater than the load provided by the cross-plane screws.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the tool 100 includes: a housing 102 having at least a first housing portion 104 and a second housing portion 106, a housing clamp 108 adapted to couple the first housing portion 104 and the second housing portion 106 together, a motor 110 and a switch mechanism 112 disposed in the housing 102, an output nose mechanism 114 coupled to the housing clamp 108 at a working end of the tool 100, an actuatable trigger 116, and a direction selector mechanism 118 having a direction selector (also referred to as an actuator or switch) 120. The housing clamp 108 loads the housing 102 with a uniform force around its circumference to provide a clamping load. The housing clamp 108 provides uniform pressure around a large area at the working end of the tool 100, allowing the tool 100 to be thinner in areas where size is critical.

In an embodiment, the housing 102 is a clamshell-type housing having a first housing portion 104 and a second housing portion 106, the first housing portion 104 and the second housing portion 106 coupled together via a housing clamp 108 at a front or working end of the housing 102 and one or more fasteners 122 in a handle region of the housing 102. The housing clamp 108 allows the size of the front or working end to be reduced by removing the screws and screw bosses near the front end as compared to prior designs.

Referring to fig. 3-5, the housing clamp 108 includes a base 124, the base 124 including an aperture 126 adapted to allow a shaft 128 of the motor 110 to extend therethrough, and one or more fastener apertures 130. The sidewall 132 extends circumferentially around the base 124 outwardly away from the base 124. The sidewall 132 may include a threaded portion 134 adapted to couple to the output nose mechanism 114. The side wall 132 extends from the base 124 to the end of the housing clamp 108, and an angled flange 136 extends circumferentially around the side wall 132 and in a direction toward the base 124. The flange 136 forms an angled recess 138 between the inner side of the flange 136 and the outer side of the sidewall 132. The recess 138 may form an angle a of about 15 degrees to about 25 degrees, and more particularly about 20 degrees. The angled recess 138 may also be in the form of a curved or other type of shape.

Referring to fig. 6-8, the housing clamp 108 is mounted to the tool housing 102 by positioning the base 124 near the front end of the motor 110, with the shaft 128 of the motor 110 extending through the aperture 126. The fastener holes 130 are aligned with corresponding axial fastener holes 140 in the front end of the motor 110, and fasteners 142 are threaded into the fastener holes 130 and 140, respectively, to couple the housing clamp 108 to the tool housing 102. In an embodiment, each of the fasteners 142 is threaded or tightened by a substantially equal amount (such as an equal amount of torque) to help the housing clamp 108 provide an equal force around the circumference of the housing 102.

Prior to tightening the fastener 142, the output ends of the first and second housing portions 104, 106 are disposed in the recess 138. As shown in fig. 8, the ends of the first housing portion 104 and the second housing portion 106 are also angled and received in the recesses 138. When the fasteners 142 are tightened, the housing clamp 108 moves axially along the axis of the housing 102 and the flange 136 of the housing clamp 108 applies a uniform pressure or force to the first and second housing portions 104 and 106 around the circumference. The angled nature of the recesses 138 and flanges 136, as well as the angled ends of the first and second housing portions 104, 106, allow the housing clamp 108 to apply a lateral force or clamp load that clamps the first and second housing portions 104, 106 together when the fasteners 142 are tightened. The angled recess 138 and the angled ends of the first and second housing portions 104, 106 may also be in the form of a curved or other type of shape that provides a clamping load. The tighter the fastener 142 is tightened, the deeper the ends of the first and second housing portions 104, 106 are disposed in the recess 138, and the greater the force or clamping load applied by the housing clamp 108 (due to the narrowing of the recess 138). The housing clamp 108 provides uniform pressure around a large area at the working end of the tool 100, allowing the tool 100 to be thinner in areas where size is critical, such as near the output nose mechanism 114 of the tool 100.

In one embodiment, the housing clamp is made of a metallic material, while the first housing section 104 and the second housing section 106 are made of a plastic type material. In this example, the housing clamp 108 may be coupled directly to the motor 110 and abut an end of the motor 110. Alternatively, an insulator may be provided between the housing clamp 108 and the motor 110. The insulator may serve to reduce the amount of heat transferred from the motor 110 to the housing clamp 108. Further, in other embodiments, the housing clamp 108 may be made of materials other than metal, such as plastic-type materials or other polymer-based materials.

Although the housing clamp 108 is described as being mounted using the fasteners 142, the clamp may be mounted by pressing or applying force to position the housing clamp 108 on the first and second housing sections 104, 106 and hold the housing clamp 108 in place via a retaining ring or cross pin. In other embodiments, the axial force (e.g., generated by the fastener 142) may be generated by a biasing member (such as a spring) that presses or pulls the housing clamp 108 on the first and second housing portions 104 and 106.

Referring again to fig. 1 and 2, when assembled, the housing 102 includes a motor housing portion 144 and a handle housing portion 146 formed from the assembled first and second housing portions 104 and 106. The motor housing portion 144 and the handle housing portion 146 are disposed at an angle with respect to each other. For example, the longitudinal axis of the motor housing portion 144 and the longitudinal axis of the handle housing portion 146 are disposed at an angle of about 100 degrees to about 120 degrees, and more specifically at about 110 degrees, with respect to each other.

The motor 110 is disposed in the motor housing portion 144 and includes a motor shaft 128 extending from a working end of the motor 110. The switch mechanism 112 is disposed in the handle housing portion 146 and is operatively coupled to the motor 110. The actuatable trigger 116 is generally disposed at the intersection of the handle housing portion 146 and the motor housing portion 144 and is operatively coupled to the switch mechanism 112. Actuation of the trigger 116 (e.g., depression of the trigger 116) causes the motor 110 to operate and rotate the motor shaft 128 in either of a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction in a known manner. The trigger 116 may also be biased such that the trigger 116 may be depressed inwardly relative to the tool 100 to cause the tool 100 to operate, and release of the trigger 116 causes the trigger 116 to move outwardly relative to the tool 100 to stop operation of the tool 100 via the biasing feature of the trigger 116.

The motor 110 may be a brushless or brushed type motor, or any other suitable motor. The trigger 116 and the switch mechanism 112 may also be a variable speed type mechanism. In this regard, actuation or depression of the trigger 116 causes the motor 110 to rotate the motor shaft 128 at a faster speed if the trigger 116 is further depressed. The switch mechanism 112 may also be coupled to a controller 148 (which may include a printed circuit board), the controller 148 including battery contacts coupled to corresponding electrical contacts on the removable battery. In this regard, the handle housing portion 146 may include a battery opening 150, the battery opening 150 being adapted to receive and couple to a removable battery. Although the tool 100 is described as being powered by a battery, the tool 100 may be powered by other power sources, such as an exterior wall socket or the like.

The output nose mechanism 114 is adapted to be coupled to the housing clamp 108 via a threaded portion 134 at the working end of the tool 100, and may include a chuck 152 adapted to receive various tool bits, including drive bits, drill bits, cutting bits, socket bits, grinding bits, and the like. The output nose mechanism 144 may be coupled to the housing clamp 108 and receive and engage the shaft 128 of the motor 110. For example, the output nose mechanism 114 may include a gear or transmission mechanism that is coupled to the shaft 128 of the motor 110 and that transmits rotation of the shaft 128 to the chuck 152. Thus, rotation of the shaft 128 of the motor 110 causes rotation of the chuck 152.

Referring to fig. 2, the direction selector mechanism 118 includes a direction selector 120 and an actuating mechanism. The actuation mechanism is adapted to be disposed in the motor housing portion 144. The direction selector 120 is adapted to be moved (e.g., by a user) between a first position and a second position to allow the user to select a desired rotational direction of the motor 110. For example, movement of direction selector 120 to a first position causes selection of a first rotational direction, and movement of direction selector 120 to a second position causes selection of a second rotational direction.

While the tool 100 described above has an output nose mechanism 114 with a drill chuck 152, the tool 100 may have a different type of output nose mechanism. For example, referring to fig. 9, the tool 100 may include an output nose mechanism 214, the output nose mechanism 214 including a plow type output 252. In this example, the output nose mechanism 214 may be coupled to the housing clamp 108 and may include a gear mechanism that is coupled to the shaft 128 of the motor 110 and that transmits rotation of the shaft 128 to the plow type output 252. Thus, rotation of the shaft 128 of the motor 110 causes rotation of the plow type output 252.

In another example, referring to fig. 10, the tool 100 may include an output nose mechanism 314, the output nose mechanism 314 including an impact-type output having a drive tab 352. In this example, the output nose mechanism 314 may be coupled to the housing clamp 108 and may include a gear mechanism that is coupled to the shaft 128 of the motor 110 and that transfers rotation of the shaft 128 to the drive tab 352. Thus, rotation of the shaft 128 of the motor 110 causes rotation of the drive projection 352. An impact type output may deliver a high torque output by storing energy in the rotating mass and then delivering it with an impact force to the output shaft of the drive lug 352. The drive tab 352 may be coupled to other devices, such as a socket or other adapter, to apply torque to a workpiece, such as a screw or bolt, in a known manner.

As discussed herein, the tool 100 is a drill, router, or impact wrench. However, the tool 100 may be any powered or hand-held tool, including but not limited to a drill, router or impact wrench, ratchet wrench, screwdriver or other power tool, powered by electricity via an external power source (such as a wall socket and/or generator socket) or battery.

As used herein, the term "coupled" and its functional equivalents are not intended to be necessarily limited to a direct, mechanical coupling of two or more components. Rather, the term "coupled" and its functional equivalents are intended to mean any direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, workpieces, and/or environmental substances. In some examples, "coupled" also means that one object is integral with another object. As used herein, the terms "a" or "an" may include one or more items, unless specifically stated otherwise.

The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined by the claims appended hereto when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.