Patents by Inventor Toby Lichtensteiger
Toby Lichtensteiger 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: 20220305631Abstract: A transducer assembly for use in a power tool including a housing, a motor, an output shaft that drives a workpiece about a central axis, and a transmission. The transducer assembly includes a transducer positioned between the motor and the transmission. The transducer including an inner hub being rotationally affixed to the housing, an outer rim affixed to a rotatable component of the transmission, a plurality of webs extending radially outward from the inner hub to the outer rim, and a sensor affixed to each of the webs for detecting strain of each of the webs in response to a reaction torque applied to the transmission from the output shaft. A width of each of the webs gradually tapers from at least one of the outer rim or the inner hub toward a midpoint of each of the webs in a direction perpendicular to the central axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Troy C. Thorson, Matthew J. Mergener, John S. Dey, IV, Toby Lichtensteiger, Jacob P. Schneider, Trent Sheffield
-
Patent number: 11400570Abstract: A rotary power tool comprises a motor, an output shaft that receives torque from the motor, a clutch positioned between the motor and the output shaft for selectively engaging the output shaft to the motor, and a transducer for detecting an amount of torque transferred through the clutch to the output shaft. The clutch is capable of being actuated from a first mode in which the output shaft is engaged to the motor, to a second mode in which the output shaft is disengaged from the motor, in response to feedback from the transducer of the detected amount of torque transferred through the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Troy C. Thorson, Matthew J. Mergener, John S. Dey, IV, Toby Lichtensteiger, Jacob P. Schneider, Trent Sheffield
-
Patent number: 11338405Abstract: A power tool includes a battery pack, one or more sensors, an indicator, and an electronic processor coupled to the battery pack, the one or more sensors, and the indicator. The electronic processor is configured to: detect, using the one or more sensors, one or more parameters of the power tool; determine a system performance based on the one or more parameters; determine a system performance level based on the system performance; and provide, using the indicator, an indication corresponding to the system performance.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Lance D. Lamont, Samantha L. Billetdeaux, Timothy R. Obermann, Joseph H. Ellice, Amanda M. Kachar, Kathleen M. Keegan, Brian Alves, Toby Lichtensteiger, Mitchell Carlson, Colin J. Harper
-
Publication number: 20190283222Abstract: A rotary power tool comprises a motor, an output shaft that receives torque from the motor, a clutch positioned between the motor and the output shaft for selectively engaging the output shaft to the motor, and a transducer for detecting an amount of torque transferred through the clutch to the output shaft. The clutch is capable of being actuated from a first mode in which the output shaft is engaged to the motor, to a second mode in which the output shaft is disengaged from the motor, in response to feedback from the transducer of the detected amount of torque transferred through the clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Troy C. Thorson, Matthew J. Mergener, John S. Dey, IV, Toby Lichtensteiger, Jacob P. Schneider, Trent Sheffield
-
Publication number: 20190262960Abstract: A power tool includes a battery pack, one or more sensors, an indicator, and an electronic processor coupled to the battery pack, the one or more sensors, and the indicator. The electronic processor is configured to: detect, using the one or more sensors, one or more parameters of the power tool; determine a system performance based on the one or more parameters; determine a system performance level based on the system performance; and provide, using the indicator, an indication corresponding to the system performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Lance D. Lamont, Samantha L. Billetdeaux, Timothy R. Obermann, Joseph H. Ellice, Amanda M. Kachar, Kathleen M. Keegan, Brian Alves, Toby Lichtensteiger, Mitchell Carlson, Colin J. Harper
-
Patent number: 10357871Abstract: A transducer assembly for use in a power tool includes a bracket affixed to a housing of the power tool and a protrusion having an arcuate outer periphery. The protrusion is offset from a central axis of the bracket and extends from the bracket in a direction parallel with the central axis. The transducer assembly also includes a transducer having an inner hub with an aperture through which a distal end of the protrusion is received. The arcuate outer periphery of the protrusion is in substantially line contact with a wall segment at least partially defining the aperture. The transducer also includes an outer rim affixed to a ring gear of the power tool, a flexible web interconnecting the inner hub to the rim, and a sensor affixed to the flexible web for detecting strain of the flexible web in response to a reaction torque applied to the ring gear.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Troy C. Thorson, Matthew J. Mergener, John S. Dey, IV, Toby Lichtensteiger, Jacob P. Schneider, Trent Sheffield
-
Publication number: 20160318165Abstract: A transducer assembly for use in a power tool includes a bracket affixed to a housing of the power tool and a protrusion having an arcuate outer periphery. The protrusion is offset from a central axis of the bracket and extends from the bracket in a direction parallel with the central axis. The transducer assembly also includes a transducer having an inner hub with an aperture through which a distal end of the protrusion is received. The arcuate outer periphery of the protrusion is in substantially line contact with a wall segment at least partially defining the aperture. The transducer also includes an outer rim affixed to a ring gear of the power tool, a flexible web interconnecting the inner hub to the rim, and a sensor affixed to the flexible web for detecting strain of the flexible web in response to a reaction torque applied to the ring gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Troy C. Thorson, Matthew J. Mergener, John S. Dey, IV, Toby Lichtensteiger, Jacob P. Schneider, Trent Sheffield, Jeffrey M. Wackwitz
-
Patent number: 9457462Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew J. Mergener, Steven W. Hyma, Toby Lichtensteiger, William E. Check
-
Publication number: 20130292147Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew J. Mergener, Steven W. Hyma, Toby Lichtensteiger, William E. Check
-
Publication number: 20060071542Abstract: A handle bar master cylinder assembly for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid through a brake line to actuate a brake in a vehicle. The assembly comprises a master cylinder having a master cylinder body defining a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a reciprocating master cylinder piston located within a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a handle bar attachment bracket connected to the master cylinder body and having a park pawl engagement section, a hand brake lever rotatably secured to the handle bar attachment bracket and in abutting contact with the reciprocating master cylinder piston, and a park pawl pivotably secured to the hand brake lever, the park pawl having an end engageable with the park pawl engagement section of the handle bar attachment bracket to maintain the brake lever in an applied position. When the pawl is set, a park pawl compensation flexure occurs due to a change in hydraulic fluid temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2004Publication date: April 6, 2006Inventors: Toby Lichtensteiger, John Schlintz
-
Patent number: 6648104Abstract: A brake caliper includes a cast metal housing having a bore extending perpendicularly to a disc located adjacent the housing, at least one piston slidably mounted in the bore, and a brake pad mounted on the piston. A coolant passage, formed through the housing in liquid isolation from the bore, coupled to a source of liquid coolant. The coolant passage is a single-pass passage having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The coolant passage is configured to minimize turbulence of coolant flowing therethrough while still promoting effective heat transfer to the flowing coolant from the piston and brake fluid. Preferably, the housing is an aluminum housing formed from a single casting.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Hayes Brake, LLCInventors: James A. Buckley, Toby Lichtensteiger