With Indicating Or Signaling Means Patents (Class 173/20)
  • Patent number: 11602833
    Abstract: A direction selector mechanism for a hand-held power tool that includes internal linkages that move an actuation point of a direction selection from above the trigger (as in previous tools) to a top of the tool. For example, the control for the direction selector mechanism includes a direction toggle positioned on a top of the tool, and that is movable by a user to select either of first and second rotational directions (e.g. clockwise and counter-clockwise). This position/location allows the user to select or change between the first and second rotational directions with a user's thumb for both direction changes, in either hand ambidextrously, and places the trigger actuation higher up in the tool, closer to the axis of output of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: William Berry Dance, Matthew D. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11266405
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a surgical stapling anvil is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of manufacturing a first anvil member and a second anvil member. The first anvil member comprises a tissue-facing surface comprising a plurality of staple forming pockets defined therein and a longitudinal cavity comprising anvil ledges configured to be engaged by anvil-camming portions of a firing member of a surgical stapling instrument. The method further comprises the steps of polishing the ledges of the first anvil member and welding the first anvil member and the second anvil member together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Jason L. Harris, Gregory J. Bakos, Anil K. Nalagatla
  • Patent number: 11091892
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for compacting a soil, wherein: a) a ramming cycle is carried out several times on an impact area of the soil during which: a mass (16) is dropped on the impact area from a predetermined height (A); and after the impact of the mass (16) on the impact area, a point cloud is acquired using a laser scanner in order to obtain a radar image of at least the footprint (E) of the mass in the soil; b) at least one characteristic data of the soil compaction is determined from at least one of the radar images obtained at the end of the ramming cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Benoit Quandalle, Simon Bunieski
  • Patent number: 11075531
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe methods and systems for controlling the power state of a tool. A tool is placed into an active mode upon initial power up, as typically indicated by one or more indicators. The tool is automatically placed into an inactive mode upon the expiration of a timer, if the tool motor was not activated. If the tool is activated, such as by pressing the tool switch, prior to expiration of the timer, the timer resets. A display is provided to signal the user as to the current active status and/or current mode of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Oregon Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar A. Dallas, Jonathan Ziring, Noah Erickson
  • Patent number: 11075567
    Abstract: A reciprocating tool includes a motor, a reciprocating member, and a crank mechanism. The motor is disposed in a housing. The reciprocating member projects from the housing. The crank mechanism converts rotation of a rotation shaft of the motor into reciprocation of the reciprocating member. The crank mechanism rotates around an axis in a lateral direction by rotation transmission from the rotation shaft, and the crank mechanism includes a crank member having an eccentric pin, a connecting rod coupling the eccentric pin to the reciprocating member, and a balancer coupled to the eccentric pin, and the balancer is supported by the eccentric pin alone in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Hara, Tomohiro Ukai
  • Patent number: 10619418
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a drilling rig condition, the system comprising: a travelling block suspended via a drilling line from a crown block at the top of a mast of the drilling rig; a frame to which the drilling tools and/or a pipe string is mounted; at least one tie rod that connects the frame to the travelling block, wherein the at least one tie rod comprises a tensile sensor; and a control system that receives a signal corresponding to tension sensed by the tensile sensor, wherein the control system determines a drilling rig condition based at least in part on the signal received from the tensile sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brynjulv Aas, Øyvind Olimstad, Magnus Berg
  • Patent number: 10537326
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, a firing assembly, and a lockout assembly. The cartridge assembly is configured to house a plurality of sets of surgical fasteners. The firing assembly is configured for repeated actuation wherein, upon each actuation, the firing assembly is moved from a first position to a second position to at least partially eject a set of surgical fasteners. The firing assembly further configured to translate from the second position back to the first position to reset the firing assembly for subsequent actuation. The lockout assembly is configured to permit a predetermined number of actuations and is configured to transition from a first condition, wherein subsequent actuation is permitted, to a second condition, wherein subsequent actuation is inhibited, when a number of previous actuations of the firing assembly is equal to the predetermined number of actuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 10441288
    Abstract: Illustrated and described is an anastomotic device for forming anastomoses, in particular of intestine anastomoses, with an introducer sheath for insertion into a body lumen, wherein a thrust bearing part is provided for the head section and within the head section an extendable and retractable knife and a retaining pin are arranged. According to the invention at least the actuating part and the head section of inter-connected fluid supply channel and at the head section at least one fluid outlet connected with the fluid supply channel are provided for producing a fluidic connection between the actuating part and the head section while inserting the head section into the body lumen and/or when pushing the introducer sheath into the body lumen, in which the fluidic connection is configured for discharging an inflation liquid into the body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Coviden LP
    Inventor: Boris Vestweber
  • Patent number: 10012026
    Abstract: A drilling device is brought into an idling state by maintaining the engine speed at a first speed while waiting for a drilling operation. The engine speed is increased to a second speed that is higher than the first speed when any one of a rotation operation, a feeding operation, a rod exchange operation, or a boom operation is performed for a rock drill. The engine speed is increased to a third speed that is higher than the second speed when a striking operation or a flushing operation is performed, and the engine speed is decreased from the third speed to the first speed after the striking operation and the flushing operation finish. For example, the first speed is a low speed, the second speed is a medium speed, and the third speed is a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Furukawa Rock Drill Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Homma, Hiroki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9594106
    Abstract: A test arrangement for use in determining the location of a fault in an installation 10 comprising at least first and second conductors 22, 24 providing electrical connections between a surface located device 12 and a subsea located device 20, the test arrangement comprising a first module 26 operable to apply a common test signal between ground and the first and second conductors 22, 24, and a second module 28 operable to monitor the total current flowing through the first and second conductors 22, 24 at a subsea location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Viper Subsea Technology Limited
    Inventor: Paul Robert Overton
  • Patent number: 9554796
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, a firing assembly, and a lockout assembly. The cartridge assembly is configured to house a plurality of sets of surgical fasteners. The firing assembly is configured for repeated actuation wherein, upon each actuation, the firing assembly is moved from a first position to a second position to at least partially eject a set of surgical fasteners. The firing assembly further configured to translate from the second position back to the first position to reset the firing assembly for subsequent actuation. The lockout assembly is configured to permit a predetermined number of actuations and is configured to transition from a first condition, wherein subsequent actuation is permitted, to a second condition, wherein subsequent actuation is inhibited, when a number of previous actuations of the firing assembly is equal to the predetermined number of actuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 9030145
    Abstract: A device for regulating an increase in the output torque over time of an electric drive motor, including a monitoring unit for monitoring an operating variable of the electric drive motor, a regulating unit for regulating the operating variable for regulating the increase in output torque over time, a control unit for activating the regulating unit as a function of a time derivation of the monitored operating variable, the regulating unit being designed to be deactivated after a predetermined period of time. A method for regulating an increase in the output torque over time of an electric drive motor is also described. A corresponding tool and a computer program having program code for carrying out the method are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Brennenstuhl, Heiko Roehm, Dietmar Saur, Tobias Herr, Ralf Windsheimer, Stefan Mock
  • Publication number: 20150122524
    Abstract: A portable power tool includes a drive motor configured to generate torque, a transmission including a plurality of transmission gears positioned in a housing and configured to transmit torque generated by the drive motor to a drive shaft, a first adjusting element positioned on the housing, and a first sensor configured to detect a position of the first adjusting element. The first adjusting element is configured to set at least one of the torque and a transmission gear of the plurality of transmission gears. The first sensor is configured to transmit a first signal corresponding to the position of the first adjusting element to an electronic control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Gabor Papp
  • Publication number: 20150027742
    Abstract: A battery-powered tool includes: a housing, a driven element supported by the housing, an electric motor coupled to the driven element so as to drive the driven element, a battery electrically coupled to the motor so as to supply electric current to the motor and a control circuit arranged to control the supply of electric current to the motor from the battery. The control circuit includes a main switch operable by a user and an auxiliary switch also operable by a user. The control circuit has an active state in which operation of the main switch by the user allows electric current to flow to the motor to cause the driven element to be driven; and an inactive state in which operation of the main switch does not allow electric current to flow to the motor and so the motor does not drive the driven element. Operation of the auxiliary switch causes the control circuit to change between the active and inactive states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Johan Svennung, Pär Martinsson, Johan Björnlinger
  • Publication number: 20150014004
    Abstract: One embodiment includes display device configured to wirelessly receive a first position status from a positioning device; display a first work-tool working-axis leveling status based on the first position status; receive cut parameters; receive a cut-start indication; determine a first work-tool position status difference based on cut parameters and a second position status; present a position status correction indicator; determine that a third position status is within cut parameters; send a cut-start signal to the positioning device operable to actuate the first work-tool; determine a work-tool cut completion; and send a cut-end signal to the positioning device operable to de-actuate the first work-tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: OTL DYNAMICS LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Schubert, Robert P. Donker
  • Publication number: 20150000944
    Abstract: A hand-held power tool device comprises an impact tool unit configured to generate a pulse on an insertion tool, and a sensor unit configured to detect at least one of at least one operating parameter, and at least one ambient parameter. The sensor unit includes at least one sensor element configured to detect a spatial position of the impact tool unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Achim Duesselberg, Carsten Diem, Matthias Tauber
  • Publication number: 20140332242
    Abstract: A method for controlling a torque output of a DC electric tool, includes presetting torque levels and voltage ranges corresponding to the torque levels, detecting the current output voltage of a battery and determining the voltage range in which the current output voltage is located, determining whether or not the current voltage range matches the preset torque level or not, and if the current voltage range does not match the preset torque level providing a warning that the torque output cannot reach the preset torque level and calculating and displaying a maximum torque level corresponding to the actual torque output value and, if the current voltage range does match the preset torque level, calculating the current actual torque output value and keeping a PWM modulation value constant if the torque output value conforms to the preset torque level or increasing the PWM modulation value for compensation if the torque output value does not conform to the preset torque level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: CHERVON (HK) LIMITED
    Inventors: Wu Chen, Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 8857532
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided for locking the operation of a power wrench to the location of an unacceptably tightened screw joint or object with a sensor for at least one tightening parameter. A position sensing system is provided for indicating continuously the position of the power wrench during tightening operations, and a control unit includes a unit for comparing obtained tightening parameter values with predetermined limit values and to provide an OK or a NOK signal in response to those limit values being passed or not for each screw joint. A locking device is provided to lock the power wrench operation to the very position of the screw joint or the object for which a NOK signal has been issued until the unacceptably tightened screw joint has been attended to and the NOK signal is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Industrial Technique Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Carl Johan Erik Wallgren
  • Publication number: 20140262392
    Abstract: A method of detecting machine tool vibration is provided. The method includes receiving, from a sensor arranged in a machine tool, motion data measured along an axis. The method also includes comparing the motion data against a first threshold. The method also includes adjusting a counter if the motion data has a magnitude greater than the first threshold. The method also includes generating an alarm if the counter is greater than a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Haas Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Razmik G. PETROSSIANS, Joseph V . Soliman, Puneet Gupta, German M. Chistokhodov, Barry D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140262391
    Abstract: In one illustrative embodiment, an adapter for transferring electrical signals to a pneumatic tool may comprise a housing having a tool interface and a charger interface, the tool interface shaped to receive a portion of the pneumatic tool, the charger interface shaped to be received by a charger unit that is configured for charging a battery of an electric tool, a tool connector disposed at the tool interface and configured to be removably coupled to electronics of the pneumatic tool, a charger connector disposed at the charger interface and configured to be removably coupled to electronics of the charger unit, and an adapter circuit disposed within the housing and coupled to both the tool connector and the charger connector, wherein the adapter circuit is configured to receive a first power signal via the charger connector and to supply a second power signal via the tool connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY
    Inventor: Edward Charles Eardley
  • Patent number: 8833485
    Abstract: A battery-powered portable tool, such as a chainsaw, hedge trimmer or handheld drill, comprising: a housing (1), a driven element (2) supported by the housing (1), an electric motor (6) coupled to the driven element (2) so as to drive the driven element (2), a battery (5) electrically coupled to the motor (6) so as to supply electric current to the motor (6) and a control circuit (8) arranged to control the supply of electric current to the motor (6) from the battery (5), in which the control circuit (8) comprises a main switch (8) operable by a user and an auxiliary switch (10, 11) also operable by a user; in which the control circuit (8) has: an active state in which operation of the main switch (8) by the user allows electric current to flow to the motor (6) so as to cause the driven element (2) to be driven; and an inactive state in which operation of the main switch (8) does not allow electric current to flow to the motor (6) and so the motor (6) does not drive the driven element (2); in which operation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Johan Svennung, Pär Martinsson, Johan Björnlinger
  • Publication number: 20140231114
    Abstract: A power drill shiftable between at least two operational modes has a drill housing, a brushless dc motor in the housing, a drive spindle rotatable about an axis, and a chuck body adjacent the housing. Two elements interconnected by a screwthread are relatively axially shiftable on relative rotation about the axis, and gripping jaws between the chuck body and one of the elements are relatively shiftable radially of the axis on relative axial shifting of the elements. A drive sleeve rotatable by the motor about the axis is connected to the other of the elements. A member is shiftable between positions corresponding to the operational modes of the power drill. A sensor detects which mode the power drill is in, and motor-control means connected between the sensor and the motor adjusts a parameter of the motor as a function of the mode detected by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Peter SCHENK
  • Publication number: 20140190713
    Abstract: A guide and control assembly of a battery driven portable handheld power tool (1) is provided, which guide and control assembly (10) comprises a main handle (20) of the tool, arranged to be gripped by a hand of an operator, in an operating position, so as to permit the operator to carry and guide the power tool (1) with the hand during operational use thereof, a recessed user interaction panel (30) comprising a plurality of user input devices (31, 31?, 31?) and a first status indicating device (32), the user interaction panel (30) being formed in a panel receiving portion (41) of a housing (40) of the power tool (1), wherein the user interaction panel is positioned such that the user input devices (31) are reachable by a thumb of the operator when the hand is in the operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Pär Martinsson, Oskar Bergquist, Mikael Racov, Johan Svennung, Johan Björnlinger
  • Patent number: 8763721
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical machine tool, particularly a hand machine tool, having a contrast detection device, an analysis unit, and at least one sensor provided for capturing a surface of a work piece. According to the invention, the analysis unit is provided for detecting a differentiation of the surface from an at least partially automatic guide using data captured by a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thilo Koeder, Joachim Platzer
  • Patent number: 8763720
    Abstract: Interactive tools and methods are provided. A particular interactive tool set includes a portable handheld tool and an alignment tool. The portable handheld tool includes a selective drive system. When the selective drive system is engaged, the portable handheld tool is operable perform a function and, when the selective drive system is not engaged, the portable handheld tool is not operable to perform the function. The alignment tool is physically separate and distinct from the portable handheld tool. The selective drive system engages in response to an indication of an aligned state of the alignment tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventor: Jason Lee Moore
  • Publication number: 20140174773
    Abstract: An electronic torque tool includes a main body; at least one display unit disposed on the main body for displaying torque values, and several pushbuttons disposed on the main body for a user to set values to the torque tool. The electronic torque tool has resettable torque warning values, which are discontinuous values with an interval therebetween. Thanks to the interval between the discontinuous resettable torque warning values, the torque warning value of the torque tool is lower than the required tightening force. In this case, it can be avoided that a threaded member is over-tightened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: KABO TOOL COMPANY
    Inventor: Chih-Ching HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20140174774
    Abstract: A machine tool has a cover body with a window, the window including two spaced window plates defining an airtight space therebetween. The space is brought to a pressure other than atmospheric. An indicator is coupled to the cover body and has an indicator portion that is displaced in response to pressure in the space. The indicating portion is visually observable from outside the machine tool, so that the airtightness of the window may be determined by visually observing the position of the indicating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: DMG MORI SEIKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Okamoto, Eiichiro Gomi, Hiroki Nakao
  • Publication number: 20140166324
    Abstract: A power tool has a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, a tool holder driven by the motor, a control circuit for controlling the motor, a rotary input rotatable relative to the housing, and a rotational sensor for sensing the rotational position of the rotary input relative to the housing. The rotary input can be a thumbwheel or a handle that rotates relative to the housing. The control circuit receives input from the rotational sensor for controlling motor speed, rotational direction, etc. Other user interface mechanisms are disclosed as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Black & Decker Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140116737
    Abstract: A casing of a hedge clipper which is a portable tool is provided with a power source housing in which an electric motor is housed and a main handle held by a worker, and blades serving as a tip tool are provided to the casing. An operation display panel is provided on the main handle, and a driving information display unit which displays a battery remaining capacity and a rotation speed of an electric motor as a plurality of pieces of driving information is provided on the operation display panel. The selection of the information to be displayed is switched by the operation of an operation switch unit provided in the operation display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka IWATA, Yasutaka SHIMIZU, Shogo SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 8701793
    Abstract: A power tool including a power tool body, a rotatable driven member operable for releasably gripping a working element and having a front end and a rear end, the driven member extending from the rear end, located proximally and connected to the power tool body, and terminating at the front end. The power tool has a drive mode in which rotation of the driven member drives the working element and an adjustment mode in which rotation of the driven member causes the driven member to either grip the working element or release the working element or both. The power tool also includes a guard extending over the driven member from the power tool body and terminating adjacent to the front end of the driven member, wherein at least in the power tool drive mode the front end of driven member does not extend beyond the guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Demain Technology Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin Luke Van der Linde, Paul Francis Connor, David Leigh Scrimshaw
  • Patent number: 8698430
    Abstract: A variable speed switch includes a switch main body portion which is accommodated in a housing of an electric power tool and mounted to the housing so as to be capable of relative movement, and a load sensor which is provided in the switch main body portion and capable of outputting an electric signal in proportion to the amount of distortion caused by a pressing force. The switch operating portion is mounted on the surface of the housing so as to be capable of relative displacement with respect to the housing and transmits a pressing force applied to the switch operating portion to the load sensor, with the maximum displacement amount of the switch operating portion being set to equal to or less than 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Watanabe, Takuya Kusakawa, Hidenori Nagasaka
  • Publication number: 20140096988
    Abstract: A brush cutter as a power tool includes a combustion engine, an electric motor, a gear head which drives a blade, a battery pack which provides electric current to the electric motor and a controller which controls a driving of the blade. An output shaft of the combustion engine and an output shaft of the electric motor are arranged coaxially to each other. Further, the combustion engine drives the gear head and thereby the blade is driven. The controller has a first control mode in which the blade is driven and a second control mode in which the battery pack is charged. In the second control mode, the controller controls the combustion engine so that the combustion engine drives the electric motor as a generator without driving the blade, and the battery pack is charged by the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Shinji HIRABAYASHI, Yoshitaka ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8668025
    Abstract: A hand-guided work apparatus includes a combustion engine to drive a work tool. The combustion engine includes a crankcase (14) in which a crankshaft (16) is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis (44). A pressure sensor (27) and a temperature sensor (26) are arranged on the crankcase (14). The pressure sensor (27) and the temperature sensor (26) are arranged in a common sensor housing (31). In the typical put-down position (8) of the work apparatus, the pressure sensor (27) and the temperature sensor (26) are arranged below a plane (45) which is parallel to the horizontal storage surface (7) and contains the rotational axis (44) of the crankshaft (16). A connecting channel (25) is formed in the sensor housing (31). The connecting channel (25) connects the pressure sensor (27) to the crankcase interior (20) and the base (35) of the connecting channel (25) slopes down toward the crankcase interior (20) in the typical put-down position (8) of the work apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Arno Kinnen, Felix Mayer, Wolfgang Layher
  • Patent number: 8659244
    Abstract: A variable speed switch includes a switch main body portion which is accommodated in a housing of an electric power tool and mounted to the housing so as to be capable of relative movement, and a load sensor which is provided in the switch main body portion and capable of outputting an electric signal in proportion to the amount of distortion caused by a pressing force. The switch operating portion is mounted on the surface of the housing so as to be capable of relative displacement with respect to the housing and transmits a pressing force applied to the switch operating portion to the load sensor, with the maximum displacement amount of the switch operating portion being set to equal to or less than 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Watanabe, Takuya Kusakawa, Hidenori Nagasaka
  • Publication number: 20140008088
    Abstract: A handheld power tool includes a housing, a display device mounted on the housing, at least one light source mounted in the housing, and an integral, light transmissive lens member. The lens member includes a cover portion covering the display device to protect the display device from the environment, and a light pipe portion positioned and configured to transmit light emitted from the at least one light source to a location on the handheld power tool visible exteriorly of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Justin Terrance Chellew
  • Publication number: 20130341057
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool is provided including a housing, a cylinder enclosed by the housing and at least one sensor associated with the cylinder. A piston is configured to reciprocate within the cylinder and has a driver blade depending therefrom. At least one signal generator is associated with the piston, where movement of the piston relative to the at least one sensor generates a signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Moore
  • Publication number: 20130319704
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive unit for a power operated tool for the generation of a screw pretensioning force, with a pump unit (2), a valve unit (3) arranged on the pump unit with a pressure-restricting pressure valve (4) and a control unit (2) for activating the pump unit. In order to provide a drive unit that eliminates the risk of an incorrect setting of the setting parameter, it is provided that a processing unit (5) with an output unit and a data capturing unit (6) connected and/or integrated with the processing unit are provided, wherein the processing unit is designed for the output of the value to be set on the pressure valve based on the screw connection process parameters determined with the data capturing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicants: Hydrower Hydraulik GMBH, Hytorc Division Unex Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Junkers, Stefan Werner
  • Publication number: 20130319705
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool including a housing, a cylinder enclosed by the housing, at least one sensor associated with the cylinder and a piston configured to reciprocate within the cylinder and having a driver blade depending therefrom. The tool includes at least one signal generator associated with the piston, where movement of the piston relative to the at least one sensor generates a signal. A controller is configured to receive the signal and indicate a fastening result based on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Moore, Daniel J. Birk
  • Publication number: 20130292147
    Abstract: A power tool includes a tool housing defining a cavity and a pocket formed in a wall of the tool housing. A motor is positioned within the cavity, and a trigger mechanism is moveably coupled to the tool housing. A speed selector switch is positioned within the pocket, the speed selector switch including a push-button operable to receive a speed selection and a plurality of speed indicators. The speed selector switch is operable to output a speed signal based on the speed selection, and the speed indicators indicate the speed selection. The power tool further includes a controller operable to receive the speed signal from the speed selector switch, the speed signal indicative of a selected speed, receive an activation signal from the trigger switch, and operate the motor at the selected speed upon receiving the activation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew J. Mergener, Steven W. Hyma, Toby Lichtensteiger, William E. Check
  • Publication number: 20130269962
    Abstract: A forming device comprising a machine bed, a tool carrier supported on the machine bed in a manner capable of relative movement for mounting a tool, a drive device coupled to the tool carrier, a machine control unit and a monitoring device designed for monitoring movements of the tool carrier and for providing a shutdown signal to a disconnecting device located upstream of the drive device on the occurrence of a pre-settable monitoring case. It is provided that the machine control unit is designed in accordance with a first safety category of a safety standard, and that the monitoring device and the disconnecting device form a safe operating system designed in accordance with a second safety category of the safety standard, the second safety category being at a higher level than the first safety category within the safety standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: FIESSLER ELEKTRONIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Lutz Fiessler
  • Publication number: 20130255981
    Abstract: In addition to improvement of operability, a small size with a light weight and a long life are achieved. A switch housing unit and a control-part housing unit are provided in a housing, a switch unit provided with a pressure switch which generates an electric signal by performing a pressing operation by a worker is housed in the switch housing unit, a switch cover which covers the pressure switch and which is elastically deformed by the pressing operation by the worker is provided, and the control-part houses a control circuit board which controls a rotation state of a motor in accordance with a magnitude of the electric signal outputted from the pressure switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiko Noto, Katsuhiro Oomori
  • Patent number: 8544559
    Abstract: A portable power tool having a housing with a rotation motor for powering a working implement, wherein sensors are provided to indicate the motor speed and the power supply, and a programmable evaluation unit is arranged to compare indicated speed and pressure values with stored limit values, and to accumulate the total operation time of the power tool and compare that with preset time limits for tool service intervals, and an optical information unit is provided on the housing to indicate whether those stored limit values have been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Industrial Technique Aktiebolag
    Inventors: John Robert Christian Friberg, Anders Urban Nelson
  • Publication number: 20130240228
    Abstract: A crimp tool includes a frame, a lead screw and a nut assembly connected to the lead screw. A spring member is connected to the frame and movable with rotation of the lead screw. A first transducer is connected to the nut assembly to measure a first force applied on the nut assembly. A second transducer is connected to the spring member to measure a second force applied thereon by the spring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John David Lefavour, Alan Douglas Beck, Robert Michael Poirier, Peter Matthew Wason, Lawrence N. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130240229
    Abstract: A power tool for operating on a workpiece, the power tool having a housing and a motor disposed within the housing. A controller is connected to the motor and receives user inputs for turning on the motor and a power tool battery pack is connected to the controller and the motor. At least one light is connected to the controller for illuminating the workpiece. The controller can turn on the light in a predetermined pattern to alert the user to a tool condition, such as the charge level being below a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Michael K. Forster, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Samuel G. Woods, Craig A. Schell, Nathan J. Cruise
  • Publication number: 20130240227
    Abstract: A method for operating a machine tool is disclosed wherein during operation of the machine tool at least one state of the machine tool is projected into a working area of the machine tool with a 3D projector at a predefined point in space in the working area. A projection device performing the method and a machine tool with such a projection device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sven Tauchmann, Andre Vieweg
  • Publication number: 20130233584
    Abstract: A power tool includes a bit mounting unit, a motor, and a control unit. The bit mounting unit is configured to mount thereon a bit. The motor is configured to rotatingly drive the bit. The control unit is configured to control a drive of the motor. The control unit includes a storing unit configured to store a plurality of prescribed values affecting the drive of the motor and a division number by which a range of the plurality of prescribed values is divided. At least one of the range and the division number is arbitrarily settable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironori Mashiko
  • Patent number: 8517558
    Abstract: A power tool includes a body housing a motor and a power transmission mechanism positioned ahead of the motor for transmitting a power of the motor, a handle grip having an upper end portion connected to an approximately intermediate portion of the body and a lower end portion to which a battery is connected, a light emitting element positioned below the power transmission mechanism and receiving electrical power from the battery for illuminating a portion ahead of the body, and a trigger positioned below the power transmission mechanism for controlling a supply of the electrical power from the battery to the motor and to the light emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Oomori, Chikai Yoshimizu, Hidekazu Harada, Nobuhiro Takano
  • Publication number: 20130206436
    Abstract: A rotary hammer includes a motor, a spindle coupled to the motor for receiving torque from the motor, a piston at least partially received within the spindle for reciprocation therein, and an anvil received within the spindle for reciprocation in response to reciprocation of the piston. The anvil imparts axial impacts to a tool bit in response to reciprocation of the piston. The rotary hammer also includes a bit retention assembly for securing the tool bit to the spindle. The bit retention assembly includes a collar with an indicator thereon. The indicator is at least partially visible to a user of the rotary hammer when the tool bit is improperly inserted within the spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130206435
    Abstract: An electric power tool, in particular a drill/screwdriver, has a drive motor which is coupled via a gearbox to an output drive element. The gearbox has a plurality of gears. In particular, the drive motor is coupled to a drive spindle in which the torque generated by the drive motor is adjustable. The torque can be adjusted by a first, manually operated, adjusting device, and by a second, manually operated, adjusting device. The second adjusting device is configured to adjust the torque by selecting the gear of the gearbox. Both adjusting devices are operated by a common actuating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Gabor Papp
  • Patent number: 8505647
    Abstract: An effective technique for detecting several load conditions different in presence or absence and magnitude of load applied to a tool bit is provided in a hand-held tool. A hand-held tool 101 performs a predetermined operation while pressing a tool bit 119 mounted in a front end region of a tool body 103 against a workpiece. A plurality of detecting sensors 161 of different kinds detect several load conditions different in presence or absence and magnitude of load applied to the tool bit 119. The hand-held tool 101 includes at least one of an indicating device 171 which indicates the load conditions based on a result detected by the detecting sensors 161, and a driving control device 135 which controls driving of the tool bit 119 based on the detected result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kasuya, Masanori Furusawa, Hajime Takeuchi, Masahiro Watanabe