Gear shifting power tool
US5573074A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H61/0295
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A gear shifting power tool (10) includes a rotatably-driven, torque-responsive, gear shift device (30). Rotatably-driven, torque-responsive, gear shift device (30) may include drive spindle (38), plunger (54) positioned within drive spindle (38). Drive spindle (38) has first hole pair (44) and second hole pair (46) in which first ball pair (48) and second ball pair (50) contact plunger (54). Drive clutch member (32) is drivably engaged to drive spindle (38) through ball screw arrangement (64). Drive clutch member (32) disengages from driven clutch member (34) in response to a resistive torque overcoming torque spring (40). Inertial device (62) forces first ball pair (48) into one end of plunger (54) which forces plunger (54) towards reset spring (60). Plunger (54) forces second ball pair (46) into inner axial groove (36) of drive clutch member (32) and prevents drive clutch member (32) from engaging driven clutch member (34) until all rotation ceases.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.