Patents by Inventor Kevin A. McLachlan

Kevin A. McLachlan 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).

  • Publication number: 20240033871
    Abstract: A rotary hammer includes a motor and a spindle coupled to the motor for receiving torque from the motor. The spindle has an adjustable rotation speed. A reciprocation mechanism is operable to create a variable pressure air spring within the spindle and includes a piston configured to reciprocate within the spindle in response to receiving torque from the motor. The piston has an adjustable reciprocation frequency. A striker is selectively reciprocable within the spindle in response to reciprocation of the piston. A first transmission is transfers torque from the motor to the spindle and a second transmission is transfers torque from the motor to the reciprocation mechanism. The reciprocation frequency of the piston is adjustable independent of the rotation speed of the spindle. The rotation speed of the spindle is adjustable independent of the reciprocation frequency of the piston. At least one of the transmissions is a multi-speed transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle Greunke, Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Kevin A. McLachlan, Julia C. Marsh, Mauricio Builes Zapata, Daryl S. Richards, Beth E. Cholst, Jeffery D. Spraggon
  • Patent number: 11819968
    Abstract: A rotary hammer includes a housing, a first motor supported by the housing and defining a first motor axis, a second motor supported by the housing and defining a second motor axis that is coaxial with the first motor axis, and a spindle coupled to the first motor for receiving torque from the first motor, causing the spindle to rotate. The rotary hammer further includes a reciprocation mechanism operable to create a variable pressure air spring within the spindle. The reciprocation mechanism includes a piston configured to reciprocate within the spindle in response to receiving torque from the second motor, a striker that is selectively reciprocable within the spindle in response to reciprocation of the piston, and an anvil that is impacted by the striker when the striker reciprocates towards the tool bit. The anvil imparts axial impacts to the tool bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyle Greunke, Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Kevin A. McLachlan, Julia C. Marsh, Mauricio Builes Zapata, Daryl S. Richards, Beth E. Cholst, Jeffery D. Spraggon
  • Publication number: 20230321806
    Abstract: A rotary hammer operable in a first mode in which only a hammering operation to reciprocate a tool bit along a drive axis is performed and a second mode in which the tool bit is rotationally driven about the drive axis. The rotary hammer includes a motor, a controller to control operation of the motor, a trigger moveable between an off position and an on position, a mode selection dial operable to select the first or second mode, a lock mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position, a linkage moveable between a third position and a fourth position, and a switch in communication with the controller. The switch communicates with the controller to operate the motor at full power or communicates with the controller to operate the motor at a variable speed based on the position of the trigger between the on position and the off position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin A. McLachlan, Jonathan J. Christian, Spencer D. Stingl, Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Julia C. Marsh, Jeffery D. Spraggon, Alan J. Rehfeldt
  • 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: 20220226951
    Abstract: A rotary hammer includes a housing, a first motor supported by the housing and defining a first motor axis, a second motor supported by the housing and defining a second motor axis that is coaxial with the first motor axis, and a spindle coupled to the first motor for receiving torque from the first motor, causing the spindle to rotate. The rotary hammer further includes a reciprocation mechanism operable to create a variable pressure air spring within the spindle. The reciprocation mechanism includes a piston configured to reciprocate within the spindle in response to receiving torque from the second motor, a striker that is selectively reciprocable within the spindle in response to reciprocation of the piston, and an anvil that is impacted by the striker when the striker reciprocates towards the tool bit. The anvil imparts axial impacts to the tool bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Kyle Greunke, Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Kevin A. McLachlan, Julia C. Marsh, Mauricio Builes Zapata, Daryl S. Richards, Beth E. Cholst, Jeffery D. Spraggon
  • Publication number: 20220032437
    Abstract: An impact mechanism for use in a power tool having a motor and adapted to impart axial impacts to a tool bit. The impact mechanism includes a piston configured to reciprocate in response to receiving torque from the motor, a striker that is selectively reciprocable within the spindle in response to reciprocation of the piston, and an anvil that is impacted by the striker when the striker reciprocates towards the tool bit. The anvil imparts axial impacts to the tool bit. The striker includes a body portion formed of a first material and an insert portion within the body portion. The insert portion is formed of a second material that is more dense than the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Will Didier, Tyler Young, Kevin A. McLachlan
  • Publication number: 20210291338
    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, a striker received within the spindle for reciprocation in response to reciprocation of the piston, and an anvil received within the spindle and positioned between the striker and the tool bit. The anvil is configured to impart axial impacts to the tool bit in response to reciprocation of the striker. The rotary hammer also includes a retainer received within the spindle for selectively securing the striker in an idle position in which it is inhibited from reciprocating within the spindle. The retainer includes a detent member configured to engage the striker to secure the striker in the idle position, and a tensing element configured to bias the detent member radially inward toward engagement with the striker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Julia C. Marsh, Kyle Greunke, Kevin A. McLachlan