Abstract: An impact wrench is provided with a battery to power the motor. The impact wrench provides improved portability since the impact wrench does not need to be connected to an electrical extension cord or a pneumatic hose. The output drive, motor, batteries and main handle may be aligned along the axial direction of the tool. The batteries may be located between the motor and the main handle.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems an impact wrench having dynamically tuned drive components, such as an anvil/socket combination, and related methodology for dynamically tuning the drive components in view of inertia displacement, as well as stiffness between coupled components, and with regard to impact timing associated with clearance gaps between the component parts.

Abstract: An impact wrench is provided with a battery to power the motor. The impact wrench provides improved portability since the impact wrench does not need to be connected to an electrical extension cord or a pneumatic hose. The output drive, motor, batteries and main handle may be aligned along the axial direction of the tool. The batteries may be located between the motor and the main handle.

Abstract: An impact tool is provided which includes a drive source configured to rotate an output drive. A hammer is movable in a first direction to apply a rotational impact force on an anvil which rotates the output drive. A first hammer angle sensor set to a first signal channel and located proximate to a surface of the hammer. A plurality of regularly spaced targets are located on the surface of the hammer. Each of the plurality of regularly spaced targets are detectable by the first hammer sensor. And detection of one or more of the plurality of regularly spaced targets by the first hammer sensor indicates movement of the hammer.

Abstract: An impact tool is provided with vibration isolators to reduce vibrations felt by the operator gripping the handle of the tool. The impact tool has a hammer and an anvil that impact against each other during use. The impacts create undesirable vibrations in the tool housing and noise in the work area. The isolators are useful in minimizing such vibrations and noise.

Abstract: A rotary power tool assembly including a hammercase an axis extending between a forward end and a rearward end, a drive mechanism housed within the hammercase, and a hammer driven by the drive mechanism to apply a rotational impact force on an anvil. The anvil includes an output shaft rotatable about the axis, a plurality of anvil jaws extending from the axis, and a flange fixedly connected to an end of the output shaft and extending radially from the axis, wherein the flange supports the plurality of anvil jaws, the flange extending over the plurality of anvil jaws. The anvil includes a magnet attached to the flange opposite to the plurality of anvil jaws. An anvil angle sensor is configured to read and interpret magnetic flux changes of the magnet and determine the position of the anvil rotating about the axis.

Abstract: An impact tool is provided with vibration isolators to reduce vibrations felt by the operator gripping the handle of the tool. The impact tool has a hammer and an anvil that impact against each other during use. The impacts create undesirable vibrations in the tool housing and noise in the work area. The isolators are useful in minimizing such vibrations and noise.

Abstract: A hand-held power tool is provided that includes a housing, a motive source, a front endbell, an output shaft, a front housing, and a gear set assembly. The output shaft protrudes from an output end at the front endbell of the housing. The output shaft is also functionally coupled to the motive source such that the output shaft rotates in response to activation of the motive source when the motive source is supplied with power. The gear set assembly is located in an interior space of the front housing, and is configured to transfer rotation from the motive source to an output spindle. The gear set assembly also includes a ring gear that surrounds a portion of the output shaft and abuts the front endbell of the housing. A set of piloting features is provided that is configured to prevent movement of the ring gear relative to the motive source and the front housing, or the front housing relative to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for latching a hammer of an impact tool, the hammer being displaceable along a cam shaft between a latched or retracted position and an impact position at which the hammer impacts an anvil. The apparatus can include one or more latching bodies, a portion of the one or more latching bodies being positioned within the hammer groove when the hammer is at the latched position, and removed from the hammer groove when the hammer is to be released from the latched position. The apparatus can also include an actuator sleeve that is configured to retain at least the portion of the one or more latching bodies within the hammer groove when the actuator sleeve is at the first position, and accommodate removal of the portion of the latching bodies from the hammer groove when the actuator sleeve is at a second position.

Abstract: A power tool and method of determining torque is provided. The method of determining torque uses the energy output by the drive mechanism and the angle of rotation of the output shaft to estimate torque. The energy is determined by subtracting efficiency losses (or gains) from a nominal energy of the drive mechanism in order to improve the torque estimation.

Abstract: An impact tool is provided which includes a drive source configured to rotate an output drive. A hammer is movable in a first direction to apply a rotational impact force on an anvil which rotates the output drive. A first hammer angle sensor set to a first signal channel and located proximate to a surface of the hammer. A plurality of regularly spaced targets are located on the surface of the hammer. Each of the plurality of regularly spaced targets are detectable by the first hammer sensor. And detection of one or more of the plurality of regularly spaced targets by the first hammer sensor indicates movement of the hammer.

Abstract: An impact tool is provided which includes a drive source configured to rotate an output drive. A hammer is movable in a first direction to apply a rotational impact force on an anvil which rotates the output drive. A first hammer angle sensor set to a first signal channel and located proximate to a surface of the hammer. A plurality of regularly spaced targets are located on the surface of the hammer. Each of the plurality of regularly spaced targets are detectable by the first hammer sensor. And detection of one or more of the plurality of regularly spaced targets by the first hammer sensor indicates movement of the hammer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for latching a hammer of an impact tool, the hammer being displaceable along a cam shaft between a latched or retracted position and an impact position at which the hammer impacts an anvil. The apparatus can include one or more latching bodies, a portion of the one or more latching bodies being positioned within the hammer groove when the hammer is at the latched position, and removed from the hammer groove when the hammer is to be released from the latched position. The apparatus can also include an actuator sleeve that is configured to retain at least the portion of the one or more latching bodies within the hammer groove when the actuator sleeve is at the first position, and accommodate removal of the portion of the latching bodies from the hammer groove when the actuator sleeve is at a second position.

Abstract: An impact wrench is provided with a battery to power the motor. The impact wrench provides improved portability since the impact wrench does not need to be connected to an electrical extension cord or a pneumatic hose. The output drive, motor, batteries and main handle may be aligned along the axial direction of the tool. The batteries may be located between the motor and the main handle.

Abstract: An impact tool is provided with vibration isolators to reduce vibrations felt by the operator gripping the handle of the tool. The impact tool has a hammer and an anvil that impact against each other during use. The impacts create undesirable vibrations in the tool housing and noise in the work area. The isolators are useful in minimizing such vibrations and noise.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of impact tools are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, an impact tool comprises a motor including an output shaft configured to rotate about a first axis and a drive train configured to be driven by the output shaft of the motor and to drive rotation of an output drive about a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis, wherein the drive train includes an impact mechanism comprising a hammer configured to rotate about a third axis to periodically deliver an impact load to an anvil, the third axis being parallel to and spaced apart from the second axis.

Abstract: A hand-held power tool is provided that includes a housing, a motive source, a front endbell, an output shaft, a front housing, and a gear set assembly. The output shaft protrudes from an output end at the front endbell of the housing. The output shaft is also functionally coupled to the motive source such that the output shaft rotates in response to activation of the motive source when the motive source is supplied with power. The gear set assembly is located in an interior space of the front housing, and is configured to transfer rotation from the motive source to an output spindle. The gear set assembly also includes a ring gear that surrounds a portion of the output shaft and abuts the front endbell of the housing. A set of piloting features is provided that is configured to prevent movement of the ring gear relative to the motive source and the front housing, or the front housing relative to the housing.

Abstract: A powered tool is depicted which includes a transmission that permits an input shaft to rotate in a single rotational direction during operation of the powered tool, but otherwise allowing the rotation of an output shaft to change direction depending on the arrangement of the transmission. In one form a first shaft is coupled with a planetary gearing arrangement which includes planetary gears and a ring gear. A second shaft is coupled with a moveable clutch. When the clutch is moved to a first position it is coupled to bypass the ring gear which provides rotation of the second shaft in the same direction as the first shaft. When the clutch is moved to a second position to engage the ring gear the direction of rotation of the second shaft is opposite the first shaft.

Abstract: A hand-held power tool is provided that includes a housing, a motive source, a front endbell, an output shaft, a front housing, and a gear set assembly. The output shaft protrudes from an output end at the front endbell of the housing. The output shaft is also functionally coupled to the motive source such that the output shaft rotates in response to activation of the motive source when the motive source is supplied with power. The gear set assembly is located in an interior space of the front housing, and is configured to transfer rotation from the motive source to an output spindle. The gear set assembly also includes a ring gear that surrounds a portion of the output shaft and abuts the front endbell of the housing. A set of piloting features is provided that is configured to prevent movement of the ring gear relative to the motive source and the front housing, or the front housing relative to the housing.

Abstract: An attachment retainer having a collar that, when at a collar locked position, has a first surface that is positioned above an open end of a passageway of a spindle to assist in retaining locking members in locking engagement with a driven tool. When in a collar release position, a second surface of the collar is positioned above the open end of the passageway to provide a space to receive a portion of the locking members so that the locking members can be disengaged from the driven tool. A plunger is displaceable to a position beneath another opening of the passageway to assist in retaining locking members in the passageway. A cam surface of a release ring can engage, and facilitate linear displacement of, release members as the release ring is rotated, which can facilitate axial displacement of the collar from the collar locked position to the collar release position.