U.S. patent application number 11/352625 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-24 for drill chuck.
This patent application is currently assigned to BLACK & DECKER INC.. Invention is credited to Robert S. Gehret, Richard J. Heavel.
Application Number | 20060185870 11/352625 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36911440 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060185870 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gehret; Robert S. ; et
al. |
August 24, 2006 |
Drill chuck
Abstract
A drill is provided with a chuck that is capable of being
tightened or loosened by operation of the drill. The chuck includes
a shift mechanism that interacts with the multi-speed transmission
of the drill to ensure that the transmission is shifted into a
desired gear ratio whenever the chuck is shifted from a drill mode
to a chuck mode.
Inventors: |
Gehret; Robert S.;
(Hampstead, MD) ; Heavel; Richard J.; (Hanover,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Assignee: |
BLACK & DECKER INC.
Newark
DE
|
Family ID: |
36911440 |
Appl. No.: |
11/352625 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60654851 |
Feb 18, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
173/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23B 2260/044 20130101;
B23B 2231/06 20130101; B23B 31/1238 20130101; B23B 2231/38
20130101; B23B 31/123 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
173/217 |
International
Class: |
E21B 17/22 20060101
E21B017/22 |
Claims
1. A drill, comprising: a motor; a multi-speed transmission device
drivingly connected to said motor, said multi-speed transmission
device being operable in at least two gear ratios; a chuck
drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said
chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck loosening mode,
said chuck including an actuating device that is operable to switch
said chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck loosening mode and
simultaneously switching said multi-speed transmission device to a
desired gear ratio.
2. The drill according to claim 1, wherein said actuating device
includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi speed
transmission.
3. The drill according to claim 1, wherein said actuating device
includes a rotary sleeve that is operable by a user.
4. The drill according to claim 3, wherein said rotary sleeve
includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi-speed
transmission.
5. The drill according to claim 1, wherein said multi-speed
transmission includes a shift mechanism engageable by said
actuating device when said chuck is switched from said drilling
mode to said chuck loosening mode.
6. The drill according to claim 5, wherein said actuating device is
disengaged from said shift mechanism when said chuck is switched
from said chuck loosening mode to said drilling mode.
7. The drill according to claim 1, wherein said desired gear ratio
is a highest gear ratio of said plurality of gear ratios.
8. A drill, comprising: a motor; a multi-speed transmission device
drivingly connected to said motor, said multi speed transmission
device being operable in at least two gear ratios; a chuck
drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said
chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck tightening
mode, said chuck including an actuating device that is operable to
switch said chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck tightening
mode and simultaneously switching said multi-speed transmission
device to a desired gear ratio.
9. The drill according to claim 8, wherein said actuating device
includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi speed
transmission.
10. The drill according to claim 8, wherein said actuating device
includes a rotary sleeve that is operable by a user.
11. The drill according to claim 10, wherein said rotary sleeve
includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi-speed
transmission.
12. The drill according to claim 8, wherein said multi-speed
transmission includes a shift mechanism engageable by said
actuating device when said chuck is switched from said drilling
mode to said chuck tightening mode.
13. The drill according to claim 12, wherein said actuating device
is disengaged from said shift mechanism when said chuck is switched
from said chuck tightening mode to said drilling mode.
14. The drill according to claim 8, wherein said desired gear ratio
is a lowest gear ratio of said plurality of gear ratios.
15. A drill, comprising: a motor; a multi-speed transmission device
drivingly connected to said motor, said multi speed transmission
device being operable in at least two gear ratios; a chuck
drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said
chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck mode, said
chuck including an actuating device that is operable to switch said
chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck mode; and a lock out
device engaged with said chuck and a shift mechanism of said
multi-speed transmission device and adapted to prevent said chuck
from being switched to said chuck mode unless said multi-speed
transmission is in a predetermined one of said at least two gear
ratios.
16. The drill according to claim 15, wherein said lock out device
includes a spring biased member that engages a cam surface on said
shift mechanism and is pressed by said cam surface into engagement
with said chuck to prevent said chuck from being switched to said
chuck mode when said multi-speed transmission is not in said
predetermined one of said at least two gear ratios.
17. The drill according to claim 15, wherein said lock out device
includes a spring biased member that engages a recess on said shift
mechanism when said multi-speed transmission is in said
predetermined one of said at least two gear ratios so as to allow
said chuck to be moved from said drilling mode to said chuck
mode.
18. A drill, comprising: a motor; a multi-speed transmission device
drivingly connected to said motor, said multi speed transmission
device being operable in at least two gear ratios; a chuck
drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said
chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck mode, said
chuck including an actuating device that is operable to switch said
chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck mode; and a lock out
device engaged with said chuck and a shift mechanism of said
multi-speed transmission device and adapted to prevent said
multi-speed transmission from being switched from a predetermined
one of said at least two gear ratios while said chuck is in said
chuck mode.
19. The drill according to claim 18, wherein said lock out device
includes a spring biased member that engages a cam surface on said
shift mechanism and is pressed by said cam surface into engagement
with said chuck, said chuck having a recess that is aligned with
said member when said chuck is in said drilling mode to allow said
member to move into said recess and thereby allow said shift
mechanism to move between said at least two gear ratios.
20. The drill according to claim 18, wherein said lock out device
includes a spring biased member that engages a cam surface on said
shift mechanism and is pressed by said cam surface into engagement
with said chuck, said chuck blocking movement of said member when
said chuck is in said chuck mode to prevent said shift mechanism
from moving out of said predetermined one of said at least two gear
ratios.
21. A drill, comprising: a motor; a multi-speed transmission device
drivingly connected to said motor, said multi-speed transmission
device being operable in at least two gear ratios; a chuck
drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said
chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck mode, said
chuck including an actuating device that is operable to switch said
chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck mode and simultaneously
switching said multi-speed transmission device to a desired gear
ratio.
22. The drill according to claim 21, wherein said actuating device
includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi speed
transmission.
23. The drill according to claim 21, wherein said actuating device
includes a rotary sleeve that is operable by a user.
24. The drill according to claim 23, wherein said rotary sleeve
includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi-speed
transmission.
25. The drill according to claim 21, wherein said multi-speed
transmission includes a shift mechanism engageable by said
actuating device when said chuck is switched from said drilling
mode to said chuck mode.
26. The drill according to claim 25, wherein said actuating device
is disengaged from said shift mechanism when said chuck is switched
from said chuck mode to said drilling mode.
27. The drill according to claim 21, wherein said desired gear
ratio is a highest gear ratio of said plurality of gear ratios.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/654,851, filed on Feb. 18, 2005, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a drill chuck for use with
a power drill device, and more particularly, to a drill chuck
capable of being tightened or loosened by operation of the
drill.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Drill chucks are used in conjunction with power drills for
releasably engaging a drill bit. Conventional drill chucks require
a special tool for tightening and loosening the drill chuck onto
the drill bit. Recently, drill chucks have been designed to be
tightened by hand wherein a user can rotate a chuck sleeve of the
drill chuck to cause the jaws of the drill chuck to engage and
disengage a drill bit without the use of a tool. The user of the
drill must rotate the adjustable chuck sleeve with one hand while
holding a drill bit inside the jaw members until the drill bit is
locked in place. More recently, drill chucks have been developed in
which a drill bit can be inserted and with the chuck being disposed
in a "chuck" mode, the operation of the drill will cause the chuck
to be tightened or loosened, depending on the rotational direction
of the drill. Many drills today have a multi-speed transmission
that can be selectively switched by the operator. Currently, chuck
devices that are capable of being tightened or loosened by
operation of the drill may be tightened at high speeds, which makes
the chucks very tight. If the user attempts to loosen the chuck on
low speed, the chuck may not have sufficient torque to loosen the
jaws from the drill bit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a connection between the
chuck shifting mechanism that causes the drill transmission to be
shifted into high speed whenever the chuck is shifted from drill
mode to chuck mode. Thus, the chuck is provided with its maximum
loosening torque capability when utilized in the chuck mode.
[0005] According to yet another alternative design, a chuck is
provided with a lockout device which engages the chuck and a shift
mechanism of the multi-speed transmission device, and is adapted to
prevent the chuck from being switched to the chuck mode unless the
multi-speed transmission is in a desired high gear ratio.
[0006] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drill incorporated with a
drill chuck according to the principles of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drill chuck according to
a first embodiment of the present invention, shown in the drilling
mode;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the drill having the drill
chuck according to the principles of the present invention with the
chuck in the chuck mode;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a drill chuck incorporating a
lock-out device according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the drill chuck having a
lockout device as illustrated in FIG. 4, with the chuck sleeve
being shown in the chuck mode;
[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary prior
art drill chuck according to the principles of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a partially sectioned view of the prior art chuck
according to the principles of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a partially sectioned view of the prior art chuck
in its normal drilling mode according to the principles of the
present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a partially sectioned view of the prior art chuck
in its chuck mode according to the principles of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is
merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, its application, or uses.
[0018] With reference to FIG. 1, a drill 10 is shown incorporating
a drill chuck 12 capable of tightening or loosening by operation of
the drill according to the principles of the present invention. The
drill 10 includes a housing 14 including a handle portion 16 and
body portion 18. A battery pack 20 is releasably attached to the
handle portion 16. A trigger 22 is provided on the handle 16 for
selectively providing electric current from the battery pack 20 to
a motor 24 provided within the body portion 18 of the housing 14. A
multi-speed transmission device 26 is drivingly connected to the
motor 24. The multi-speed transmission device is provided with a
shift mechanism 28 including a shift lever 30 that is movable by an
operator to change the gear ratio of the multi-speed transmission
device. The multi-speed transmission device 26 includes a drive
spindle 32 which is connected to the drill chuck 12. It should be
understood that other devices, such as a torque adjustable clutch
and/or hammer drill mechanism, can also be utilized in combination
with the drill 10 without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention.
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 6-9, an exemplary prior art drill
chuck 12 that is capable of being tightened or loosened by
operation of the drill will now be described. The drill chuck 12,
as illustrated, is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,706.
Although the present invention will be described in combination
with the exemplary drill chuck, it should be understood that the
present invention is applicable to other drill chuck designs. The
drill chuck 12 includes a core body 40 having a forward section 42
and rearward section 44. The forward section 42 includes a through
hole 46 that receives a drill bit therein. The rearward section 44
includes threads 48 in the through hole 46 that are adapted to be
threadedly engaged with the drive spindle 32 (FIG. 1). The core
body 40 includes a collar 50 provided with a plurality of guide
channels 52 which intersect the through hole 46 at an angle. A
plurality of jaw members 54 are received in the guide channels 52
with each jaw member provided with a threaded surface 56 on the
outer side and a gripping surface 58 on its forward inner surface.
A threaded nut 60 surrounds the core body 40 and includes a tapered
threaded surface 62 in threaded engagement with threaded surfaces
56 of jaw members 54. The threaded nut 60 includes a plurality of
recesses 64 formed on its forward surface and a number of teeth 66
formed on a rearward surface.
[0020] A nut cover 68 is axially mounted around the forward section
42 of core body 40 and is in contact with the threaded nut 60. An
impact ring 70 is ring shaped and embossed with a plurality of
tooth-like impact members 73 with sloping sides around its
periphery for mating with teeth 66 on threaded nut 60. A coil
spring 74 engages the impact ring 70 to flexibly support the rear
of the impact ring 70. A forward housing (chuck sleeve) 76 and
rearward housing 78 encase the drill chuck 12. A locking ring 80
extends radially inward from the inside wall of the forward housing
76, as best shown in FIG. 7. The forward housing 76 also includes a
plurality of alternating deep and shallow locking recesses 82, 84
disposed on a rear end thereof. A wear ring 86 is provided with
corresponding deep and shallow recesses 88, 90 and is disposed
against the rear end of forward housing 76. The deep and shallow
recesses 88, 90 of the wear ring 86 receive tooth-like members 72
on impact ring 70. The rearward housing 78 covers the rearward end
of the forward housing section (chuck sleeve) 76 and engages a
wedge shaped stop 92 provided on the outer surface of the forward
housing 76 to maintain the axial position of the rearward housing
78 relative to the forward housing 76. The tooth-like members 72 of
the impact ring 70 slidably engage axially extending recess
channels 94 provided on the inner surface of the rearward housing
78.
[0021] The rearward section 44 of the core body 40 is received
through the rearward opening of the rearward housing 78 with a
locking ring 96 engaging a recessed groove 98 provided on the rear
section 44 of the core body 40 for securing the axial position of
the rearward housing 78 relative to the core body 40.
[0022] A nose sleeve 100 is provided with a rear positioning
portion 102 and a forward nose portion 104, with the positioning
portion 102 having a cylindrical center through hole and a
plurality of positioning ridges 106 raised from the inner wall for
engaging the forward section 42 of core body 40. A stop flange 108
is provided around the outer wall that forms a rest surface with
the locking ring 80 on the forward housing 76 when the nose sleeve
100 is inserted onto forward section 42 of core body 40.
[0023] A pair of bearing rings 110A and washers 112A are provided
to rotatably support the forward housing 76. Additional bearing
ring 110B and washer 112B provide a rotational support between the
nut member 60 and collar 50 of core body 40. A joint member 114,
having a ring shape, is disposed between the coil spring 74 and
rearward housing 78. The joint member 114 includes a plurality of
joint arms 116 which can be inserted through fan shaped slots 118
and join with bolts 120, or otherwise attached to the tool housing
14 on drill housing 10, as best shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the rearward
housing 78, spring 74, and impact ring 70 are joined together as
one unit since joint member 114 is engaged to the bolts 120 on the
housing 14 and thus, will not rotate along with spindle 32. The
joint member 114 is subject to the force from spring 74.
[0024] FIGS. 7 and 9, illustrate the chuck in the "chuck mode". By
"chuck mode," it is meant that the chuck is operable to either
tighten the jaws to firmly grasp the accessory or to loosen the
jaws to allow removal of the accessory by operation of the drill.
In the "chuck mode", the chuck sleeve 76 and the wear-resistant
ring 86 are rotated so that teeth 72 of impact ring 70 engage the
deep recesses 88 in wear resistant ring 86. At this time, the
impact ring 70 will move upwards due to the flex action of the
spring 74 and while the tooth-like members 72 engage with deep
recesses 88, impact teeth 73 will simultaneously align with teeth
66 on nut member 60. The rotationally positioned impact ring 70
moves forward in recessed channels 94 provided in the rearward
housing 78 and is also capable of moving rearward against the
biasing force of the spring 74.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, a drill bit 150 is inserted in
the center hole 46 provided in the forward section 42 of the core
body 40, with each of the jaw members 54 being retracted
sufficiently to allow clearance for the drill bit 150 to be
inserted. As the drive spindle 32 rotates in its operational
direction, the core body 40 and jaw members 54 rotate therewith.
Initially, the nut member 60 does not rotate since it is coupled to
impact ring 70 via engagement of teeth 66 with impact teeth 73. The
impact ring 70 is held stationary by rear housing 78. Through the
action of the tapered threaded surface 62 of the stationary nut
member 60 with the threaded surface 56 of rotating jaw members 54,
the jaw members 54 instantly incline forward causing the gripping
surface 58 of the jaw members 54 to move toward the axis of
rotation and clamp down on the drill bit 150. Jaw members 54 are
prohibited from moving further forward due to the presence of the
drill bit 150. When the tightening of the jaw members 54 is
complete, the threaded surface 56 and the tapered threaded surface
62 of the nut member 60 join in threaded engagement causing the nut
member 60 to then rotate simultaneously with the core body 40. As
the nut member 60 begins to rotate, the impact ring is able to
reciprocate axially against the biasing force of spring 74 so that
the impact teeth 73 ride up the sloped sides of the teeth 66 as the
torque increases. When the nut member 60 is fully tightened, the
impact ring 70 will continue to axially reciprocate as the impact
teeth 73 ride upon successive ones of the teeth 66. The sound of
the parts impacting thereby is an indication that the chuck 12 is
tightened. Loosening of the jaw members 54 is obtained by reversing
a rotational direction of the motor, thus initially causing the nut
member 60 to be driven in a reverse direction with the impact teeth
73 of the impact ring 70 providing a resistance to the rotation of
the nut member 60, thus causing the jaws 54 to retract. In other
words, the rotary impact of teeth 66 of nut member 60 with
rotationally stationary impact teeth 73 of impact ring 70 tends to
cause the nut 70 to tighten or loosen depending upon the direction
of rotation of the spindle 32.
[0026] FIG. 8 shows a partial cut-away view of the chuck 12 in a
"drilling mode". In the drilling mode, the rotational position of
the forward housing (chuck sleeve) 76 is selected such that the
shallow recesses 90 on wear resistant ring 86 engage tooth-like
members 72. At this time, the impact ring 70 will be supported by
the wear resistant ring 86 and move rearward causing impact teeth
73 to disengage from teeth 66 on the nut member 60 causing the nut
member 60 to be free of any contact while the nut member 60 is
being rotated along with the core body 40 and jaw members 54. Thus,
in the drill mode, the jaw members 54 which have been tightened
onto the tool implement will tend to stay tightened since the
impact ring 70 is held disengaged from the nut member 60.
[0027] The chuck 12 may be used in combination with a drill with a
multi-speed transmission. In which case, the chuck, as described
above, may be tightened at high speed, which makes the chuck very
tight. If a user were to attempt to loosen the chuck on low speed,
the chuck 12 might be incapable of overcoming the clamping forces
to loosen the chuck 12. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and
3, the forward housing 76 which is rotatable between a drilling
mode position (FIG. 2) and chuck mode position (FIG. 3) is provided
with an additional connector arm 200 which extends into the drill
housing and interacts with the multi-speed transmission shift
mechanism 28. When the chuck 12 is in "drill" mode, the arm 200 is
in such a location that the drill shifter is permitted to be
positioned in all speeds, including low, medium, and high (as
designated by numerals 1, 2, 3). When the forward housing sleeve 76
is shifted to the "chuck mode," the forward housing 76 is rotated
as illustrated by arrow A in FIG. 3. The arm 200 also moves
rotatably while engaging the corresponding arm 202 extending from
shift lever 30 so that the shift lever on the drill is forced into
high speed mode (position "3"). Thus, when the chuck 12 is in the
chuck mode, the multi-speed transmission 26 of the drill 10 is
automatically set to the highest speed.
[0028] In the illustrated example, the embodiment shows the high
speed as the desired speed for operation in the chuck mode.
However, it should be understood that any one of the selected
speeds could be utilized for operation in the chuck mode. Thus,
with the system of the present invention, the chuck 12, which is
operable in a drilling mode and a chuck mode, is provided with an
actuating device that is operable to switch the chuck 12 from the
drilling mode to the chuck mode and simultaneously switch the
multi-speed transmission device to a desired gear ratio. It is
anticipated that it may also be desirable to switch the multi-speed
transmission device to a lowest gear ratio during a tightening
operation of a chuck. This could readily be accomplished using the
principles of the present invention to move the shift lever to the
desired position when the shift sleeve or forward housing of the
chuck is moved to the chuck position.
[0029] It is also anticipated that the actuating device of the
chuck 12 can be provided with separate independent positions for
both a locking and unlocking mode of operating the chuck. In this
scenario, the forward housing or shift sleeve 76 of the chuck 12
would further interact with the "forward/reverse" shifting
mechanism of the motor 24 and would permit the switching of the
shift mechanism to the highest gear ratio in a chuck-loosening mode
while being switched to a lowest gear ratio in a chuck-tightening
mode. In this way, it could be established that the lowest driving
force would be used for tightening while the highest driving force
could be utilized for loosening the drill bit.
[0030] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second embodiment of the
present invention will now be described in which a lockout device
300 is engaged with the chuck 12 and the shift mechanism 28 of the
multi-speed transmission device 26. The lockout device 300 is
adapted to prevent the chuck 12 from being switched to the chuck
mode unless the multi-speed transmission 26 is in a predetermined
one of the multiple gear ratios (preferably the highest gear
ratio). In particular, a pin 302, or other member, is supported by
the housing and is axially biased by a spring 304 against the speed
shifter lever 30. The shift lever 30 is provided with a cam surface
306 having a recess 308 (best shown in FIG. 5), such that the pin
302 engages the cam surface 306 which forces the pin 302 in an
axially forward direction into engagement with a recess 310
provided in the forward housing 76' of the chuck. The pin 302,
while engaged in recess 310, prevents the forward housing or chuck
sleeve 76' from being rotated from the drilling mode position (FIG.
4) to the chuck mode position. When the shift lever 30 is moved to
the highest gear position (position "3") as illustrated in FIG. 5,
the recess 308 in cam surface 306 is aligned with the pin 302 so
that the pin is able to retract from the recess 310 provided in the
chuck sleeve 76' so that the chuck sleeve 76' is then free to be
rotated to the "chuck mode" position (FIG. 5). Thus, the lockout
device 300 prevents the chuck 12 from being operated in the chuck
mode unless the speed shifter 300 is in the desired position (in
this case, the highest speed position). While the chuck sleeve 76'
is in the chuck mode position, the pin 302 is blocked from
retracting a sufficient distance from recess 308 in cam surface 306
to thereby prevent the speed shift lever 30 from being shifted from
the desired position. It is not until the chuck sleeve 76' is
rotated back to the drilling mode position (FIG. 4) that the recess
310 is aligned with the end of the pin 302 such that the pin 302
can be retracted sufficiently to allow the shift lever 30 to be
moved from the "desired" position to one of the other speed
positions. Thus, with the lockout device 300, it is ensured that
the multi-speed transmission 26 will be moved to the desired gear
ratio in order to allow the chuck to be operated in the chuck
mode.
[0031] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in
nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of
the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *