Patents by Inventor Zachary J. Evans

Zachary J. Evans 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: 20240072690
    Abstract: Systems and methods for power tools having touch sensors. One power tool includes a housing, a motor, a first handle, a second handle, and a controller. The first handle includes a user input configured to be actuated by a first hand of a user. The second handle includes a touch sensor configured to detect a second hand of the user on the second handle. The controller is configured to determine whether the user input is actuated, determine whether the second hand of the user is on the second handle, control, in response to both the user input being actuated and the second hand of the user being on the second handle, the motor to drive the motor, and prohibit, in response to the user input being actuated and the second hand of the user not being on the second handle, operation of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Dominick S. Ropella, Zachary J. Evans, William Booth Howarth
  • Patent number: 11858100
    Abstract: An impact power tool including a housing, a motor supported by the housing, a spindle coupled to the motor for receiving torque from the motor to cause the spindle to rotate, and a reciprocating impact mechanism operable to create a variable pressure air spring within the spindle. The impact mechanism includes a striker received within the spindle that reciprocates along a reciprocation axis in response to the variable pressure air spring, a piston that reciprocates along the reciprocation axis to induce the variable pressure air spring, and a crankshaft configured to convert continuous rotational motion from the motor to reciprocating linear movement of the piston. The crankshaft defines a crank axis perpendicular to the reciprocation axis, and the motor defines a motor axis that is parallel with the reciprocation axis. A center of gravity of the impact power tool is positioned between the motor axis and the reciprocation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bryan C. Kendall, Taylor Crabb, Nicholas E. Holstine, Zachary J. Evans, Jacob R. Schaddel
  • Publication number: 20230158658
    Abstract: A grinder including a housing, a motor within the housing, and a first handle attached to the housing and including a first sensor configured to detect the presence of a user. The grinder includes a second handle attached to a pivot arm, the pivot arm attached to the housing and configured to be pivoted around the circumference of the housing, the second handle including a second sensor configured to detect the presence of the user. The grinder includes a controller configured to control the motor based upon the detection of the presence of the user by the first sensor and second sensor, and wherein the controller prevents the motor from operating when second sensor does not detect the presence of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander C. Ghouse, Zachary J. Evans, Ihor Sahan, Wesley S. Bassindale
  • Publication number: 20230147317
    Abstract: Braking a power tool motor based on a phase voltage of the motor. The power tool includes a motor and a power source providing operating power to the motor. A power switching network is between the power source and the motor to drive the motor. An actuator is operable to provide an input. An electronic controller is connected to the actuator and the power switching network. The electronic controller is configured to receive an indication related to initiating braking of the motor, control the power switching network to allow the motor to coast, monitor a phase voltage of the motor, determine whether the phase voltage of the motor is equal to or less than a phase voltage threshold, and control, in response to the phase voltage of the motor being equal to or less than the phase voltage threshold, the power switching network to brake the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy J. Bartlett, Zachary J. Evans, Jacob R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 11557989
    Abstract: Braking a power tool motor based on a phase voltage of the motor. The power tool includes a motor and a power source providing operating power to the motor. A power switching network is between the power source and the motor to drive the motor. An actuator is operable to provide an input. An electronic controller is connected to the actuator and the power switching network. The electronic controller is configured to receive an indication related to initiating braking of the motor, control the power switching network to allow the motor to coast, monitor a phase voltage of the motor, determine whether the phase voltage of the motor is equal to or less than a phase voltage threshold, and control, in response to the phase voltage of the motor being equal to or less than the phase voltage threshold, the power switching network to brake the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Bartlett, Zachary J. Evans, Jacob R. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20220324090
    Abstract: An impact power tool including a housing, a motor supported by the housing, a spindle coupled to the motor for receiving torque from the motor to cause the spindle to rotate, and a reciprocating impact mechanism operable to create a variable pressure air spring within the spindle. The impact mechanism includes a striker received within the spindle that reciprocates along a reciprocation axis in response to the variable pressure air spring, a piston that reciprocates along the reciprocation axis to induce the variable pressure air spring, and a crankshaft configured to convert continuous rotational motion from the motor to reciprocating linear movement of the piston. The crankshaft defines a crank axis perpendicular to the reciprocation axis, and the motor defines a motor axis that is parallel with the reciprocation axis. A center of gravity of the impact power tool is positioned between the motor axis and the reciprocation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Bryan C. Kendall, Taylor Crabb, Nicholas E. Holstine, Zachary J. Evans, Jacob R. Schaddel
  • Publication number: 20210391811
    Abstract: Braking a power tool motor based on a phase voltage of the motor. The power tool includes a motor and a power source providing operating power to the motor. A power switching network is between the power source and the motor to drive the motor. An actuator is operable to provide an input. An electronic controller is connected to the actuator and the power switching network. The electronic controller is configured to receive an indication related to initiating braking of the motor, control the power switching network to allow the motor to coast, monitor a phase voltage of the motor, determine whether the phase voltage of the motor is equal to or less than a phase voltage threshold, and control, in response to the phase voltage of the motor being equal to or less than the phase voltage threshold, the power switching network to brake the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy J. Bartlett, Zachary J. Evans, Jacob R. McDonald