Abstract: A clutch for a power tool includes an adjustment ring configured to move axially relative to the housing while being rotated relative to the housing. A spring retainer is disposed axially rearward of the adjustment ring. The spring retainer is coupled for rotation together with the adjustment ring and configured to remain substantially axially stationary relative to the housing when rotated. A spring is disposed between the adjustment ring and the spring retainer. A clutch face is coupled to a portion of the transmission. A locking member is disposed between the spring retainer and the clutch face. The locking member is configured to transfer a holding force exerted by the spring to the clutch face. Rotation and axial movement of the adjustment ring alters the holding force exerted by the spring. When an amount of output torque exceeds the holding force, torque transmission to the output spindle is effectively interrupted.

Abstract: An angle grinder is provided including a trigger assembly for selectively actuating the angle grinder. A particle separation assembly is provided for the removal of any dust, particle, or artifacts that may have entered into the housing of the angle grinder. A brush biasing system is also provided to ensure proper and efficient operation of the motor of the angle grinder. An overload monitoring system is included to monitor the loading on the motor. A clutch mechanism is also included to prevent overloading on the motor of the angle grinder. A gear wheel lock mechanism is also provided to prevent the wheel spindle from rotating during installation or removal of a grinding wheel on the wheel spindle. An anti-locking flange system is also included to prevent the over-tightening of the flanges and the grinder wheel during the operation of the angle grinder. A gear case labyrinth feature is also provided.

Abstract: A power tool that includes a housing, a motor, a pair of motor bearings, a transmission, an output spindle and front and rear spindle bearings. The motor is received in the housing and includes a stator and an output shaft that extends through the stator. The motor bearings support the output shaft for rotation relative to the housing and are disposed on opposite ends of the stator. The transmission is driven by the motor and includes an input pinion that is mounted to the output shaft for rotation therewith. The output spindle is driven by the transmission. The front spindle bearing is mounted to a front end of the output shaft radially between the housing and the output shaft. The rear spindle bearing is mounted to a rear end of the output spindle and a portion of the rear spindle bearing rotates with the output shaft.

Abstract: A power tool with a motor, a housing, a transmission, an output spindle, a front bearing and a rear bearing. The motor has an output shaft. The transmission is disposed in the housing and receives a rotary input from the output shaft. The transmission includes an input planetary stage, which has an input planet carrier, and an output planetary stage. The output spindle is driven by the transmission and has a first end, which extends at least partly through the input planetary stage, and a second end opposite the first end. The front bearing is disposed between the output spindle and the housing to support the second end of the output spindle for rotation about the spindle axis. The rear bearing indirectly supports the first end of the output spindle in the housing for rotation about the spindle axis.

Abstract: A tool having a housing assembly, which defines a handle, a motor assembly, a trigger assembly, a spindle and a transmission assembly. The motor assembly is received in the housing assembly and has an output shaft. The trigger assembly is coupled to the housing assembly and is configured for use in actuating the motor assembly. The transmission assembly transmits rotary power between the output shaft of the motor assembly and the spindle. The transmission assembly includes a planetary stage with an input sun gear, an output planet carrier and a compound planet gear having a first planet gear and a second planet gear coupled together for common rotation on the output planet carrier. The planetary stage is selectively operable in a first gear reduction and a second, relatively lower gear reduction in which the compound planet gear cooperates to produce at least one intermediate gear reduction within the planetary stage.

Abstract: A power tool having a drive component and a housing. In one form, the drive component can be a transmission having a planetary stage with planet gears rotatably mounted on pins of a planet carrier. The pins are spaced circumferentially around the planet carrier such that each pair of adjacent pins is spaced apart by a spacing angle. At least two different spacing angles are employed. In another form, the drive component is selected from at least one of a motor, a transmission and a clutch and the housing is configured with first and second housing components and at least one set of mating conically-shaped features that can cooperate to align the housing components to an axis.

Abstract: A power tool having a drive component and a housing. In one form, the drive component can be a transmission having a planetary stage with planet gears rotatably mounted on pins of a planet carrier. The pins are spaced circumferentially around the planet carrier such that each pair of adjacent pins is spaced apart by a spacing angle. At least two different spacing angles are employed. In another form, the drive component is selected from at least one of a motor, a transmission and a clutch and the housing is configured with first and second housing components and at least one set of mating conically-shaped features that can cooperate to align the housing components to an axis.

Abstract: An angle grinder is provided including a trigger assembly for selectively actuating the angle grinder. A particle separation assembly is provided for the removal of any dust, particle, or artifacts that may have entered into the housing of the angle grinder. A brush biasing system is also provided to ensure proper and efficient operation of the motor of the angle grinder. An overload monitoring system is included to monitor the loading on the motor. A clutch mechanism is also included to prevent overloading on the motor of the angle grinder. A gear wheel lock mechanism is also provided to prevent the wheel spindle from rotating during installation or removal of a grinding wheel on the wheel spindle. An anti-locking flange system is also included to prevent the over-tightening of the flanges and the grinder wheel during the operation of the angle grinder. A gear case labyrinth feature is also provided.

Abstract: A power tool with a housing, a transmission and a switch mechanism. The switch mechanism has an actuator, a rail, a switch and first and second springs. The actuator is non-rotatably but slidably coupled to the housing for movement along a longitudinal axis of the transmission between a plurality of positions to selectively engage one or more members of the transmission at each of the positions such that the transmission operates in one of a plurality of different overall speed ratios. The rail is fixedly coupled to the actuator and is received through the switch such that the switch is slidably mounted on the rail. The first and second springs are configured to bias the switch relative to the actuator in different directions.

Abstract: An angle grinder is provided including a trigger assembly for selectively actuating the angle grinder. A particle separation assembly is provided for the removal of any dust, particle, or artifacts that may have entered into the housing of the angle grinder. A brush biasing system is also provided to ensure proper and efficient operation of the motor of the angle grinder. An overload monitoring system is included to monitor the loading on the motor. A clutch mechanism is also included to prevent overloading on the motor of the angle grinder. A gear wheel lock mechanism is also provided to prevent the wheel spindle from rotating during installation or removal of a grinding wheel on the wheel spindle. An anti-locking flange system is also included to prevent the over-tightening of the flanges and the grinder wheel during the operation of the angle grinder. A gear case labyrinth feature is also provided.

Abstract: An angle grinder is provided including a trigger assembly for selectively actuating the angle grinder. A particle separation assembly is provided for the removal of any dust, particle, or artifacts that may have entered into the housing of the angle grinder. A brush biasing system is also provided to ensure proper and efficient operation of the motor of the angle grinder. An overload monitoring system is included to monitor the loading on the motor. A clutch mechanism is also included to prevent overloading on the motor of the angle grinder. A gear wheel lock mechanism is also provided to prevent the wheel spindle from rotating during installation or removal of a grinding wheel on the wheel spindle. An anti-locking flange system is also included to prevent the over-tightening of the flanges and the grinder wheel during the operation of the angle grinder. A gear case labyrinth feature is also provided.

Abstract: An angle grinder is provided including a trigger assembly for selectively actuating the angle grinder. A particle separation assembly is provided for the removal of any dust, particle, or artifacts that may have entered into the housing of the angle grinder. A brush biasing system is also provided to ensure proper and efficient operation of the motor of the angle grinder. An overload monitoring system is included to monitor the loading on the motor. A clutch mechanism is also included to prevent overloading on the motor of the angle grinder. A gear wheel lock mechanism is also provided to prevent the wheel spindle from rotating during installation or removal of a grinding wheel on the wheel spindle. An anti-locking flange system is also included to prevent the over-tightening of the flanges and the grinder wheel during the operation of the angle grinder. A gear case labyrinth feature is also provided.

Abstract: A flexible sensor is disposed in a power tool. The flexible sensor has an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor. A trigger partially disposed in the power tool, operates to apply a bending force at an engagement point on the flexible sensor to bend the flexible sensor and alter the radius of curvature. A controller outputs an electrical signal to the power tool based on the electrical resistance to control a function of the power tool.

Abstract: A power tool with a motor, a housing, a transmission, an output spindle, a front bearing and a rear bearing. The motor has an output shaft. The transmission is disposed in the housing and receives a rotary input from the output shaft. The transmission includes an input planetary stage, which has an input planet carrier, and an output planetary stage. The output spindle is driven by the transmission and has a first end, which extends at least partly through the input planetary stage, and a second end opposite the first end. The front bearing is disposed between the output spindle and the housing to support the second end of the output spindle for rotation about the spindle axis. The rear bearing indirectly supports the first end of the output spindle in the housing for rotation about the spindle axis.

Abstract: A contact trip assembly for a power nailer, wherein a contact member includes a curved portion that loops rearwardly towards a handle of the nailer. Also provided is an adjustment assembly including an adjustment plate and a pinion gear, a trigger that is slidably engageable within a housing of the tool, a trigger lock including a ring element, an anti-discharge mechanism including a stop member, and a contact trip lock.

Abstract: A flexible sensor is disposed in a power tool. The flexible sensor has an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor. A trigger partially disposed in the power tool, operates to apply a bending force at an engagement point on the flexible sensor to bend the flexible sensor and alter the radius of curvature. A controller outputs an electrical signal to the power tool based on the electrical resistance to control a function of the power tool.

Abstract: A power tool with a housing, a multi-speed transmission and a switch mechanism. The switch mechanism has an actuator, a rail, a switch and first and second springs. The actuator is movable along a longitudinal axis of the transmission between a plurality of positions and is engaged to one or more members of the transmission at each of the plurality of actuator positions such that the transmission operates in a corresponding one of a plurality of different overall speed reduction ratios. The actuator is non-rotatably but axially slidably engaged to the housing. The rail is fixedly coupled to the actuator and is received through the switch such that the switch is mounted on the rail for sliding movement thereon. The first spring is disposed between the actuator and the switch and biases the switch away from the actuator. The second spring is disposed between the switch and an end of the rail opposite the actuator and biases biasing the switch away from the end of the rail.

Abstract: An angle grinder is provided including a trigger assembly for selectively actuating the angle grinder. A particle separation assembly is provided for the removal of any dust, particle, or artifacts that may have entered into the housing of the angle grinder. A brush biasing system is also provided to ensure proper and efficient operation of the motor of the angle grinder. An overload monitoring system is included to monitor the loading on the motor. A clutch mechanism is also included to prevent overloading on the motor of the angle grinder. A gear wheel lock mechanism is also provided to prevent the wheel spindle from rotating during installation or removal of a grinding wheel on the wheel spindle. An anti-locking flange system is also included to prevent the over-tightening of the flanges and the grinder wheel during the operation of the angle grinder. A gear case labyrinth feature is also provided.

Abstract: A contact trip assembly for a power nailer, wherein a contact member includes a curved portion that loops rearwardly towards a handle of the nailer. Also provided is an adjustment assembly including an adjustment plate and a pinion gear, a trigger that is slidably engageable within a housing of the tool, a trigger lock including a ring element, an anti-discharge mechanism including a stop member, and a contact trip lock.

Abstract: A contact trip assembly for a power nailer, wherein a contact member includes a curved portion that loops rearwardly towards a handle of the nailer. Also provided is an adjustment assembly including an adjustment plate and a pinion gear, a trigger that is slidably engageable within a housing of the tool, a trigger lock including a ring element, an anti-discharge mechanism including a stop member, and a contact trip lock.