Patents by Inventor Daniel R. Ertl

Daniel R. Ertl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12157217
    Abstract: A potting boat adapted to receive a printed circuit board is described. The boning boat includes a base plate and a plurality of sidewalls projecting from the base plate, a plurality of cooling fins, a recessed portion, and an arm. The plurality of cooling fins are formed on one of the sidewalls. The cooling fins extend laterally outward from the one of the sidewalls. The recessed portion is in a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, and extends laterally inward. The arm has a first end fixed to the sidewall and an opposite, second end not connected with the first sidewall. The arm at least partially overlays the recessed portion to define a void within which electrical wires connected to the printed circuit board are retained proximate the first sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Mauricio Builes Zapata, Timothy J. Bartlett, Kevin A. McLachlan, Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Daniel R. Ertl, Nicholas C. Mantych
  • Publication number: 20240364120
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide power management systems including a battery pack powered tool, one or more battery packs coupled to the battery pack powered tool, a first plurality of sub circuits including a switch and one or more first peripheral outputs, and a second plurality of sub circuits including a voltage regulator and one or more second peripheral outputs. The systems also include one or more control lines for enabling or disabling the first plurality of sub circuits and the second plurality of sub circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Peter J. Wawer, Donald J. Truettner, Daniel R. Ertl
  • Publication number: 20240334869
    Abstract: A walk-behind lawnmower comprising one or more wheels, one or more cutting blades, a motor configured to rotate the one or more cutting blades, a sensor configured to sense an acceleration of the motor, and a controller coupled to the motor and the sensor. The controller is configured to receive, from the sensor, a signal indicative of the acceleration of the motor, determine, based on the signal, whether an amplitude of the acceleration of the motor is greater than or equal to an amplitude threshold, and increment, in response to the amplitude being greater than or equal to the amplitude threshold, a hopping counter. The controller is configured to determine whether the hopping counter is greater than or equal to a hopping threshold, and disable, in response to the hopping counter being greater than or equal to the hopping threshold, operation of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel R. Ertl
  • Publication number: 20240335934
    Abstract: A power tool device that includes a housing, a battery pack interface configured to receive at least one battery pack, a first battery pack terminal and a second battery pack terminal, a low quiescent current direct current (“DC”) link bus discharge circuit including a DC link bus capacitance, a first DC link bus switch, and a second DC link bus switch, and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor a voltage of the first battery pack terminal, monitor a voltage of the second battery pack terminal, turn ON the first DC link bus switch and the second DC link bus switch when the voltage of the first battery pack terminal is greater than a first threshold value and the voltage of the second battery pack terminal is zero volts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew C. Noel, Daniel R. Ertl
  • Publication number: 20240300039
    Abstract: A power tool including a handle configured to be grasped by a user, the handle including a base material and an additive configured to distribute static electricity away from the handle. The handle has a first volume resistivity and a first surface resistivity. The base material has a second volume resistivity and a second surface resistivity. The additive causes the first volume resistivity and the first surface resistivity of the handle to be less than the second volume resistivity and the second surface resistivity of the base material, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy R. OBERMANN, Patrick D. GALLAGHER, Jessie L. BERNITT, Mitchell CARLSON, Timothy J. BARTLETT, Alex HUBER, Travis J. DUBNICKA, Daniel R. ERTL, Troy C. THORSON, Kevin STASZAK, Austin JIN
  • Publication number: 20240269808
    Abstract: An impact tool includes a housing with a first and second housing portions and a first handle extending from the first housing portion, a motor supported in the housing, a battery receptacle is located at a bottom end of the first handle, and a battery pack removably coupled to the battery receptacle to provide power to the motor. The impact tool also includes a trigger located on the first handle to selectively energize the motor, a gear assembly, and a drive assembly for converting a continuous torque input from the motor to consecutive rotational impacts upon a workpiece such that the drive assembly is capable of developing at least 1,700 ft-lbs of fastening torque. A gear support is coupled to the first housing portion and the second housing portion and defines a gear case with the second housing portion to enclose the gear assembly and the drive assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Jacob P. Schneider, James A. Yaccarino, Daniel R. Ertl
  • Patent number: 12023748
    Abstract: A cut-off saw configured to remove material from a workpiece, the cut-off saw includes a motor, a blade, a drive assembly, a handle, and a coating. The blade is capable of removing material from the workpiece upon contact between the blade and the workpiece. The drive assembly is coupled to the motor and the blade and is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the blade. The handle is configured to be grasped by a user, and includes a surface and a first material having a first surface resistivity. The coating covers at least a portion of the handle. The coating is configured to distribute static electricity away from the surface. The coating is made of a second material having a second surface resistivity less than the first surface resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy R. Obermann, Patrick D. Gallagher, Jessie L Bernitt, Mitchell Carlson, Timothy J. Bartlett, Alex Huber, Travis J. Dubnicka, Daniel R. Ertl, Troy C. Thorson, Kevin Staszak, Austin Jin
  • Patent number: 11964368
    Abstract: An impact tool includes a housing that includes a motor housing portion, a front housing portion coupled to the motor housing portion, and a D-shaped handle portion extending from the motor housing portion in a direction opposite the front housing portion. The impact tool includes an electric motor supported in the motor housing portion, a battery pack supported by the housing for providing power to the motor, and a drive assembly for converting a continuous torque input from the motor to consecutive rotational impacts upon a workpiece capable of developing at least 1,700 ft-lbs of fastening torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jacob P. Schneider, James A. Yaccarino, Daniel R. Ertl
  • Publication number: 20240109175
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a drive mechanism supported within the housing, a spindle operatively coupled to an output of the drive mechanism such that torque from the drive mechanism rotates the spindle about an axis, and an accessory removably coupled to the housing. The drive mechanism is configured to supply up to a first maximum torque to the spindle when the accessory is removed from the housing. The drive mechanism is configured to supply up to a second maximum torque to the spindle greater than the first maximum torque when the accessory is coupled to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Paul F. Daily, Benjamin J. Farley, Levi D. Speckman, Daniel R. Ertl, Mitchell G. Menard
  • Patent number: 11695312
    Abstract: An electric tool, a blower and a method of discharging electrostatic charge in an electric tool. The tool may include a housing, a motor supported by the housing and powered by a power source, the motor including a rotor, a fan supported by the housing and driven by the motor to cause an air flow, and a wire electrically connected between the rotor and a terminal of the power source and operable to dissipate electrostatic discharge in the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Brueck, Daniel R. Ertl
  • Publication number: 20230049667
    Abstract: A battery powered lawnmower having a blade motor coupled to at least one blade, a user input device configured to receive a blade motor control signal and a bail control bar. The bail control bar is coupled to a position sensor configured to determine a position of the bail control bar. The battery powered lawnmower further includes a controller coupled to the position sensor and configured to control an operation of the blade motor. The controller is configured to receive a blade motor control command and determine a position of the bail control bar based on data provided by the position sensor. The controller is further configured to, in response to determining that the bail control bar is in a closed position, control the blade motor based on the received blade motor control command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ertl, Caleb N. Hille, Tyler L. Graham, Christopher S. Bullington
  • Publication number: 20230049230
    Abstract: A walk-behind lawnmower includes a mower deck, a plurality of wheels coupled to the mower deck, a drive motor configured to operate at a drive speed to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels, and a handle coupled to the mower deck. The handle includes a user interface having a variable speed control configured to be actuated an actuation percentage, and a maximum speed control including a setting corresponding to a maximum mower speed. The drive speed of the drive motor is determined using the actuation percentage of the variable speed control scaled by the setting of the maximum speed control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Tyler L. Graham, Joshua D. Widder, Daniel R. Ertl, Benjamin F. Shaske, Christopher Shawn Bullington, Anthony J. Buxton, John L. Whealon
  • Publication number: 20230051663
    Abstract: A walk-behind lawnmower includes a housing including a metal chassis, a handle coupled to the housing by support beams, a battery pack interface configured to receive a battery pack, a motor housed within the housing, a plurality of wheels attached to the housing, one or more cutting blades configured to be driven by the motor, and a skirt coupled to the metal chassis of the housing. The skirt is configured to provide a conductive path to discharge an electrostatic charge accumulated on the metal chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Maxwell A. Casper, Shane McCue, Daniel R. Ertl, Caleb N. Hille, Adam A. Ostrowski, Benjamin F. Shaske, Tyler L. Graham, Christopher S. Bullington
  • Publication number: 20230048445
    Abstract: A lawnmower may include an inertial measurement device configured to capture data indicative of an orientation of a housing of the lawnmower. The lawnmower may also include a controller coupled (i) to a motor configured to rotate one or more cutting blades and (ii) to the inertial measurement device. The controller may be configured to receive, from the inertial measurement device, the data indicative of the orientation of the housing. The controller may be further configured to determine a three-dimensional position of the housing based on the data. The three-dimensional position of the housing may indicate whether the orientation of the housing is desirable for operation of the lawnmower. The controller may be further configured to control the motor based on the three-dimensional position of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ertl, Tyler L. Graham
  • Publication number: 20220295657
    Abstract: A potting boat adapted to receive a printed circuit board is described. The boning boat includes a base plate and a plurality of sidewalls projecting from the base plate, a plurality of cooling fins, a recessed portion, and an arm. The plurality of cooling fins are formed on one of the sidewalls. The cooling fins extend laterally outward from the one of the sidewalls. The recessed portion is in a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, and extends laterally inward. The arm has a first end fixed to the sidewall and an opposite, second end not connected with the first sidewall. The arm at least partially overlays the recessed portion to define a void within which electrical wires connected to the printed circuit board are retained proximate the first sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Mauricio Builes Zapata, Timothy J. Bartlett, Kevin A. McLachlan, Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Daniel R. Ertl, Nicholas C. Mantych
  • Publication number: 20220250216
    Abstract: An impact tool includes a housing that includes a motor housing portion, a front housing portion coupled to the motor housing portion, and a D-shaped handle portion extending from the motor housing portion in a direction opposite the front housing portion. The impact tool includes an electric motor supported in the motor housing portion, a battery pack supported by the housing for providing power to the motor, and a drive assembly for converting a continuous torque input from the motor to consecutive rotational impacts upon a workpiece capable of developing at least 1,700 ft-lbs of fastening torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Jacob P. Schneider, James A. Yaccarino, Daniel R. Ertl
  • Patent number: 11318589
    Abstract: An impact tool includes a housing, an electric motor supported in the housing, and a drive assembly for converting a continuous torque input from the motor to consecutive rotational impacts upon a workpiece capable of developing at least 1,700 ft-lbs of fastening torque. The drive assembly includes an anvil rotatable about an axis and having a head adjacent a distal end of the anvil. The head has a minimum cross-sectional width of at least 1 inch in a plane oriented transverse to the axis. The drive assembly also includes a hammer that is both rotationally and axially movable relative to the anvil for imparting the consecutive rotational impacts upon the anvil, and a spring for biasing the hammer in an axial direction toward the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jacob P. Schneider, James A. Yaccarino, Daniel R. Ertl
  • Publication number: 20210252617
    Abstract: A power tool is provided with a coating to distribute static electricity away from the surface of the handle of the tool. The tool includes a handle configured to be grasped by a user. The handle includes a surface and a first material having a first surface resistivity. The tool includes a coating covering at least a portion of the handle. The coating is configured to distribute static electricity away from the surface. The coating is made of a second material having a second surface resistivity less than the first surface resistivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy R. OBERMANN, Patrick D. GALLAGHER, Jessie L. BERNITT, Mitchell CARLSON, Timothy J. BARTLETT, Alex HUBER, Travis J. DUBNICKA, Daniel R. ERTL, Troy C. THORSON, Kevin STASZAK, Austin JIN
  • Patent number: 10498195
    Abstract: A power tool and a printed circuit board assembly (“PCBA”) for the power tool. The PCBA includes, for example, a printed circuit board (“PCB”), a heat sink, a spacer between the PCB and the heat sink, and a gap pad. The PCB and the heat sink are fastened to one another via fasteners so the spacer absorbs excess forces torsional forces from torques applied to the fasteners. The gap pad is placed within an opening or recess of the spacer to contact one or more FETs on the PCB. In some embodiments, the PCBA includes a second heat sink or rigid member on the opposite side of the PCB than the spacer to further distribute excess torsional forces from torques applied to the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew J. Mergener, Daniel R. Ertl
  • Publication number: 20190255687
    Abstract: An impact tool includes a housing, an electric motor supported in the housing, and a drive assembly for converting a continuous torque input from the motor to consecutive rotational impacts upon a workpiece capable of developing at least 1,700 ft-lbs of fastening torque. The drive assembly includes an anvil rotatable about an axis and having a head adjacent a distal end of the anvil. The head has a minimum cross-sectional width of at least 1 inch in a plane oriented transverse to the axis. The drive assembly also includes a hammer that is both rotationally and axially movable relative to the anvil for imparting the consecutive rotational impacts upon the anvil, and a spring for biasing the hammer in an axial direction toward the anvil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Jacob P. Schneider, James A. Yaccarino, Daniel R. Ertl