Variable speed drill
A variable speed drill includes a housing and a motor within the housing. The motor has (a) a motor field lamination diameter greater than 65 mm, (b) a motor current rating greater than 8 amps, (c) a motor power level greater than 600 Watts, (d) a maximum torque level at the chuck greater than 580 in-lbs, (e) a weight greater than 5.5 pounds or (f) a maximum speed less than 550 rpm. A mixing implement is rotationally coupled to the motor. A variable speed switch is mounted to the housing and is operable to vary a rotational speed of the motor and therefore of the mixing implement.
The present invention relates to power tools and more particularly to a variable speed drill.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn many workplaces or construction site environments, it is necessary to use various substances to perform a given task. Many of these substances, for example paints, coatings, mortars, cements, powders, etc., may require a certain amount of mixing before use. As the quantity of these substances can be relatively high in any given application, a need arose for an easy and efficient way to mix these substances.
To meet this need, various mixing implements or “paddles” have been introduced into the market. These paddles are designed to be coupled to traditional drills commonly found in many workplaces and construction sites. In this regard, operation of the drill in turn rotates the paddle which may then mix a given substance.
However, there are limitations in the art. For example, to successfully mix a thick substance such as cement or mortar, a power drill having a high torque must be employed. These drills do not have variable speed switches to regulate the rotational speed of the paddle, and therefore the drills must be turned on and off in order to reduce the rotational speed and hence splashing or over-mixing. This can be tiring to the user and is inefficient. Accordingly, the present invention seeks to improve the art with a variable speed drill for use in mixing applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA variable speed drill includes a housing and a motor within the housing. The motor has a lamination length of at least 30 millimeters and a lamination diameter of at least 73 millimeters. A mixing implement is rotationally coupled to the motor. A variable speed switch is mounted to the housing and is operable to vary a rotational speed of the motor and therefore of the mixing implement.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
With reference to
The chuck 18 is adapted to receive an implement (e.g., a tool such as a drill bit, screwdriver head, etc.) therein. In the particular example provided, the chuck 18 receives a mixing implement or “paddle” 20. Rotation of the chuck 18 upon activation of the motor (
Returning to
With reference to
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During operation of the variable speed drill 10, power received from the cord 19 is communicated through the variable power module 102. By moving the switch 24 into various positions, the switch 24 in turn sets the variable power module 102 to provide variable power flow into the motor 16 to achieve variable speeds. Accordingly, the rotational output of the motor 16 and hence the rotational speed of the paddle 20 may then be governed by simply setting the position of the variable speed switch 24. The graph of
By allowing a user to set the rotational speed of the paddle 20 via the variable speed switch 24, the variable speed drill 10 is ideal for mixing various substances. By providing various rotational speeds for the paddle 20, the mixing can be tailored to the substance to be mixed, thereby reducing the chance of splatter, over-mixing, or under-mixing. Variable speed drills having a smaller motor than the present invention have been known. However, these known variable speed drills have insufficient power to use for typical heavy-duty mixing applications. Previous heavy-duty drills that are used for heavy-duty mixing applications have to be repeatedly started and stopped until the material being mixed reaches a consistency that allows constant running of the motor. Thus, the use of a heavy-duty motor on a variable speed drill for heavy-duty mixing applications is believed to be a novel and non-obvious improvement in the art. Heretofore, variable speed drills having: (a) a motor field lamination diameter greater than 65 mm, (b) a motor current rating greater than 8 amps, (c) a motor power level greater than 600 Watts, (d) a maximum torque level at the chuck greater than 580 in-lbs, (e) a weight greater than 5.5 pounds or (f) a maximum speed less than 550 rpm, have not existed.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A variable speed drill comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing having a lamination length of at least 30 millimeters and a lamination diameter of at least 65 millimeters;
- a variable speed switch mounted to the housing and operable to vary a power output of the motor.
2. The variable speed drill of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a handle, and the variable speed switch is mounted to the handle.
3. The variable speed drill of claim 1, wherein the variable speed switch is operable in a first position and a second position.
4. The variable speed drill of claim 3, wherein movement of the variable speed switch from the first position to the second position increases the power output of the motor.
5. The variable speed drill of claim 1, further comprising a mixing implement rotationally coupled to the motor.
7. A variable speed drill comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing having a motor current rating greater than 8 amps;
- a variable speed switch mounted to the housing and operable to vary a power output of the motor.
8. The variable speed drill of claim 7, wherein the housing defines a handle, and the variable speed switch is mounted to the handle.
9. The variable speed drill of claim 7, wherein the variable speed switch is operable in a first position and a second position.
10. The variable speed drill of claim 9, wherein movement of the variable speed switch from the first position to the second position increases the power output of the motor.
11. The variable speed drill of claim 7, further comprising a mixing implement rotationally coupled to the motor.
12. A variable speed drill comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing having a motor power level greater than 600 Watts;
- a variable speed switch mounted to the housing and operable to vary a power output of the motor.
13. The variable speed drill of claim 12, wherein the housing defines a handle, and the variable speed switch is mounted to the handle.
14. The variable speed drill of claim 12, wherein the variable speed switch is operable in a first position and a second position.
15. The variable speed drill of claim 14, wherein movement of the variable speed switch from the first position to the second position increases the power output of the motor.
16. The variable speed drill of claim 12, further comprising a mixing implement rotationally coupled to the motor.
17. A variable speed drill comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing having a maximum speed less than 550 rpm;
- a variable speed switch mounted to the housing and operable to vary a power output of the motor.
18. The variable speed drill of claim 17, wherein the housing defines a handle, and the variable speed switch is mounted to the handle.
19. The variable speed drill of claim 17, wherein the variable speed switch is operable in a first position and a second position.
20. The variable speed drill of claim 19, wherein movement of the variable speed switch from the first position to the second position increases the power output of the motor.
21. The variable speed drill of claim 17, further comprising a mixing implement rotationally coupled to the motor.
22. A variable speed drill comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing;
- a gear reduction mechanism drivingly connected to said motor;
- a chuck drivingly connected to said gear reduction mechanism, wherein said drill has a maximum torque level at the chuck greater than 580 in-lbs; and
- a variable speed switch mounted to the housing and operable to vary a power output of the motor.
23. The variable speed drill of claim 22, wherein the housing defines a handle, and the variable speed switch is mounted to the handle.
24. The variable speed drill of claim 22, wherein the variable speed switch is operable in a first position and a second position.
25. The variable speed drill of claim 24, wherein movement of the variable speed switch from the first position to the second position increases the power output of the motor.
26. The variable speed drill of claim 22, further comprising a mixing implement rotationally coupled to the motor.
27. A variable speed drill comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor within the housing having a lamination length of at least 30 millimeters and a lamination diameter of at least 65 millimeters and having a motor current rating greater than 8 amps and having a motor power level greater than 600 Watts;
- a gear reduction mechanism drivingly connected to said motor;
- a chuck drivingly connected to said gear reduction mechanism, wherein said drill has a maximum torque level at the chuck greater than 580 in-lbs
- a variable speed switch mounted to the housing and operable to vary a power output of the motor; and
- a mixing implement rotationally coupled to the chuck.
28. The variable speed drill of claim 27, wherein said drill has a weight greater than 5.5 pounds.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 17, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 23, 2006
Inventors: Thomas Bodine (Glenwood, MD), Michael Justis (Monument, CO)
Application Number: 10/943,795
International Classification: E21B 17/22 (20060101);