Drill chuck
A drill is provided with a chuck that is capable of being tightened or loosened by operation of the drill. The chuck includes a shift mechanism that interacts with the multi-speed transmission of the drill to ensure that the transmission is shifted into a desired gear ratio whenever the chuck is shifted from a drill mode to a chuck mode.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/654,851, filed on Feb. 18, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a drill chuck for use with a power drill device, and more particularly, to a drill chuck capable of being tightened or loosened by operation of the drill.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDrill chucks are used in conjunction with power drills for releasably engaging a drill bit. Conventional drill chucks require a special tool for tightening and loosening the drill chuck onto the drill bit. Recently, drill chucks have been designed to be tightened by hand wherein a user can rotate a chuck sleeve of the drill chuck to cause the jaws of the drill chuck to engage and disengage a drill bit without the use of a tool. The user of the drill must rotate the adjustable chuck sleeve with one hand while holding a drill bit inside the jaw members until the drill bit is locked in place. More recently, drill chucks have been developed in which a drill bit can be inserted and with the chuck being disposed in a “chuck” mode, the operation of the drill will cause the chuck to be tightened or loosened, depending on the rotational direction of the drill. Many drills today have a multi-speed transmission that can be selectively switched by the operator. Currently, chuck devices that are capable of being tightened or loosened by operation of the drill may be tightened at high speeds, which makes the chucks very tight. If the user attempts to loosen the chuck on low speed, the chuck may not have sufficient torque to loosen the jaws from the drill bit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a connection between the chuck shifting mechanism that causes the drill transmission to be shifted into high speed whenever the chuck is shifted from drill mode to chuck mode. Thus, the chuck is provided with its maximum loosening torque capability when utilized in the chuck mode.
According to yet another alternative design, a chuck is provided with a lockout device which engages the chuck and a shift mechanism of the multi-speed transmission device, and is adapted to prevent the chuck from being switched to the chuck mode unless the multi-speed transmission is in a desired high gear ratio.
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
With reference to
A nut cover 68 is axially mounted around the forward section 42 of core body 40 and is in contact with the threaded nut 60. An impact ring 70 is ring shaped and embossed with a plurality of tooth-like impact members 73 with sloping sides around its periphery for mating with teeth 66 on threaded nut 60. A coil spring 74 engages the impact ring 70 to flexibly support the rear of the impact ring 70. A forward housing (chuck sleeve) 76 and rearward housing 78 encase the drill chuck 12. A locking ring 80 extends radially inward from the inside wall of the forward housing 76, as best shown in
The rearward section 44 of the core body 40 is received through the rearward opening of the rearward housing 78 with a locking ring 96 engaging a recessed groove 98 provided on the rear section 44 of the core body 40 for securing the axial position of the rearward housing 78 relative to the core body 40.
A nose sleeve 100 is provided with a rear positioning portion 102 and a forward nose portion 104, with the positioning portion 102 having a cylindrical center through hole and a plurality of positioning ridges 106 raised from the inner wall for engaging the forward section 42 of core body 40. A stop flange 108 is provided around the outer wall that forms a rest surface with the locking ring 80 on the forward housing 76 when the nose sleeve 100 is inserted onto forward section 42 of core body 40.
A pair of bearing rings 110A and washers 112A are provided to rotatably support the forward housing 76. Additional bearing ring 110B and washer 112B provide a rotational support between the nut member 60 and collar 50 of core body 40. A joint member 114, having a ring shape, is disposed between the coil spring 74 and rearward housing 78. The joint member 114 includes a plurality of joint arms 116 which can be inserted through fan shaped slots 118 and join with bolts 120, or otherwise attached to the tool housing 14 on drill housing 10, as best shown in
As shown in
The chuck 12 may be used in combination with a drill with a multi-speed transmission. In which case, the chuck, as described above, may be tightened at high speed, which makes the chuck very tight. If a user were to attempt to loosen the chuck on low speed, the chuck 12 might be incapable of overcoming the clamping forces to loosen the chuck 12. Accordingly, as illustrated in
In the illustrated example, the embodiment shows the high speed as the desired speed for operation in the chuck mode. However, it should be understood that any one of the selected speeds could be utilized for operation in the chuck mode. Thus, with the system of the present invention, the chuck 12, which is operable in a drilling mode and a chuck mode, is provided with an actuating device that is operable to switch the chuck 12 from the drilling mode to the chuck mode and simultaneously switch the multi-speed transmission device to a desired gear ratio. It is anticipated that it may also be desirable to switch the multi-speed transmission device to a lowest gear ratio during a tightening operation of a chuck. This could readily be accomplished using the principles of the present invention to move the shift lever to the desired position when the shift sleeve or forward housing of the chuck is moved to the chuck position.
It is also anticipated that the actuating device of the chuck 12 can be provided with separate independent positions for both a locking and unlocking mode of operating the chuck. In this scenario, the forward housing or shift sleeve 76 of the chuck 12 would further interact with the “forward/reverse” shifting mechanism of the motor 24 and would permit the switching of the shift mechanism to the highest gear ratio in a chuck-loosening mode while being switched to a lowest gear ratio in a chuck-tightening mode. In this way, it could be established that the lowest driving force would be used for tightening while the highest driving force could be utilized for loosening the drill bit.
With reference to
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 drill, comprising:
- a motor;
- a multi-speed transmission device drivingly connected to said motor, said multi-speed transmission device being operable in at least two gear ratios;
- a chuck drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck loosening mode, said chuck including an actuating device that is operable to switch said chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck loosening mode and simultaneously switching said multi-speed transmission device to a desired gear ratio.
2. The drill according to claim 1, wherein said actuating device includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi speed transmission.
3. The drill according to claim 1, wherein said actuating device includes a rotary sleeve that is operable by a user.
4. The drill according to claim 3, wherein said rotary sleeve includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi-speed transmission.
5. The drill according to claim 1, wherein said multi-speed transmission includes a shift mechanism engageable by said actuating device when said chuck is switched from said drilling mode to said chuck loosening mode.
6. The drill according to claim 5, wherein said actuating device is disengaged from said shift mechanism when said chuck is switched from said chuck loosening mode to said drilling mode.
7. The drill according to claim 1, wherein said desired gear ratio is a highest gear ratio of said plurality of gear ratios.
8. A drill, comprising:
- a motor;
- a multi-speed transmission device drivingly connected to said motor, said multi speed transmission device being operable in at least two gear ratios;
- a chuck drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck tightening mode, said chuck including an actuating device that is operable to switch said chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck tightening mode and simultaneously switching said multi-speed transmission device to a desired gear ratio.
9. The drill according to claim 8, wherein said actuating device includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi speed transmission.
10. The drill according to claim 8, wherein said actuating device includes a rotary sleeve that is operable by a user.
11. The drill according to claim 10, wherein said rotary sleeve includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi-speed transmission.
12. The drill according to claim 8, wherein said multi-speed transmission includes a shift mechanism engageable by said actuating device when said chuck is switched from said drilling mode to said chuck tightening mode.
13. The drill according to claim 12, wherein said actuating device is disengaged from said shift mechanism when said chuck is switched from said chuck tightening mode to said drilling mode.
14. The drill according to claim 8, wherein said desired gear ratio is a lowest gear ratio of said plurality of gear ratios.
15. A drill, comprising:
- a motor;
- a multi-speed transmission device drivingly connected to said motor, said multi speed transmission device being operable in at least two gear ratios;
- a chuck drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck mode, said chuck including an actuating device that is operable to switch said chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck mode; and
- a lock out device engaged with said chuck and a shift mechanism of said multi-speed transmission device and adapted to prevent said chuck from being switched to said chuck mode unless said multi-speed transmission is in a predetermined one of said at least two gear ratios.
16. The drill according to claim 15, wherein said lock out device includes a spring biased member that engages a cam surface on said shift mechanism and is pressed by said cam surface into engagement with said chuck to prevent said chuck from being switched to said chuck mode when said multi-speed transmission is not in said predetermined one of said at least two gear ratios.
17. The drill according to claim 15, wherein said lock out device includes a spring biased member that engages a recess on said shift mechanism when said multi-speed transmission is in said predetermined one of said at least two gear ratios so as to allow said chuck to be moved from said drilling mode to said chuck mode.
18. A drill, comprising:
- a motor;
- a multi-speed transmission device drivingly connected to said motor, said multi speed transmission device being operable in at least two gear ratios;
- a chuck drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck mode, said chuck including an actuating device that is operable to switch said chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck mode; and
- a lock out device engaged with said chuck and a shift mechanism of said multi-speed transmission device and adapted to prevent said multi-speed transmission from being switched from a predetermined one of said at least two gear ratios while said chuck is in said chuck mode.
19. The drill according to claim 18, wherein said lock out device includes a spring biased member that engages a cam surface on said shift mechanism and is pressed by said cam surface into engagement with said chuck, said chuck having a recess that is aligned with said member when said chuck is in said drilling mode to allow said member to move into said recess and thereby allow said shift mechanism to move between said at least two gear ratios.
20. The drill according to claim 18, wherein said lock out device includes a spring biased member that engages a cam surface on said shift mechanism and is pressed by said cam surface into engagement with said chuck, said chuck blocking movement of said member when said chuck is in said chuck mode to prevent said shift mechanism from moving out of said predetermined one of said at least two gear ratios.
21. A drill, comprising:
- a motor;
- a multi-speed transmission device drivingly connected to said motor, said multi-speed transmission device being operable in at least two gear ratios;
- a chuck drivingly connected to said multi-speed transmission device, said chuck being operable in a drilling mode and a chuck mode, said chuck including an actuating device that is operable to switch said chuck from said drilling mode to said chuck mode and simultaneously switching said multi-speed transmission device to a desired gear ratio.
22. The drill according to claim 21, wherein said actuating device includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi speed transmission.
23. The drill according to claim 21, wherein said actuating device includes a rotary sleeve that is operable by a user.
24. The drill according to claim 23, wherein said rotary sleeve includes an arm engaging a shift mechanism of said multi-speed transmission.
25. The drill according to claim 21, wherein said multi-speed transmission includes a shift mechanism engageable by said actuating device when said chuck is switched from said drilling mode to said chuck mode.
26. The drill according to claim 25, wherein said actuating device is disengaged from said shift mechanism when said chuck is switched from said chuck mode to said drilling mode.
27. The drill according to claim 21, wherein said desired gear ratio is a highest gear ratio of said plurality of gear ratios.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 13, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 24, 2006
Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC. (Newark, DE)
Inventors: Robert Gehret (Hampstead, MD), Richard Heavel (Hanover, PA)
Application Number: 11/352,625
International Classification: E21B 17/22 (20060101);