The invention relates generally to grease slingers and, more particularly, to a grease slinger for a power tool.
A mechanical device, such as a power tool, includes a housing, a motor supported by the housing and connectable to a power source to operate the motor, the motor including a motor shaft, a gear case connected to the housing and a drive mechanism supported by the gear case and driven by the motor. A flange separates the gear case and the housing and defines an opening which communicates between the housing and the gear case. The motor shaft extends through the opening and drivingly engages the drive mechanism. Grease is provided in the gear case to lubricate the engagement area of the motor shaft and the drive mechanism and to lubricate the components of the drive mechanism.
One independent problem with the above-described arrangement is that grease is drawn along the motor shaft towards the housing and towards the components in the housing, such as the motor and bearings. To prevent grease from leaking through the opening in the flange, a grease slinger may be mounted on the motor shaft to deflect grease away from the opening during operation of the motor and rotation of the motor shaft.
Another independent problem with the above-identified arrangement is that, even with a grease slinger, grease may be move into the area between the grease slinger and the flange and flow through the flange opening into the housing, thereby damaging components, such as the motor or bearings. It is difficult to provide a sealed interface between the rotating grease slinger and the stationary flange.
The present invention provides a grease slinger and a power tool which substantially alleviates one or more of the above-identified and other independent problems with existing grease slingers and power tools. Generally, the grease slinger provides a grease-slinging surface and a seal surface which cooperates with the flange to provide a labyrinth seal.
More particularly, the invention provides a grease slinger for preventing flow of grease relative to a flange, the flange having a first side and a second side and defining an opening extending between the first side and the second side, a rotatable shaft extending through the opening and being rotatable about an axis relative to the flange. The grease slinger is defined as including a body supportable on the rotatable shaft for rotation with the shaft relative to the flange. The body has a first face providing a grease-slinging surface and a second face facing the first side of the flange. The second face includes an annular side wall defining an annular channel. The side wall and the channel provide a portion of a labyrinth seal and cooperate with the flange to prevent flow of grease from the first side of the flange to the second side of the flange.
In some constructions, the second face may have an annular second wall defining an annular second channel, and the second channel may be substantially concentric with the first channel. The flange may includes an annular first rib and an annular second rib. The first channel may be configured to receive the first rib and the second channel may be configured to receive the second rib to provide a labyrinth seal between the grease slinger and the flange.
In some constructions, the first face may be convex. The rotatable shaft may be a bevel gear having gear teeth that extend helically along the rotatable shaft, and the body may define an aperture extending between the first face and the second face. In some constructions, the body may include a plurality of fingers extending radially into the aperture, the fingers being adapted to engage between adjacent gear teeth.
In some construction, the body may include a radially inner lip protruding axially from the second face and extending circumferentially around the second face. The radially-inner lip may at least partially surrounds an axial portion of the rotatable shaft.
Also, the present invention provides a grease slinger for a power tool, the power tool including a housing, a motor supported in the housing and including a rotatable shaft, a gear case, a gear mechanism supported in the gear case and mating with the shaft, and a flange between the housing and the gear case having a first side facing the gear case and a second side facing the housing and defining an opening extending between the first side and the second side, the shaft extending through the opening from the housing into the gear case. The grease slinger is defined as including a body supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft relative to the flange. The body has a first face providing a grease-slinging surface and a second face facing the first side of the flange. The second face includes an annular side wall defining an annular channel. The side wall and the channel provide a portion of a labyrinth seal and cooperate with the flange to prevent flow of grease from the gear case to the housing.
In addition, the present invention provides a power tool including a housing, a motor supported in the housing and including a motor shaft extending along an axis, a gear case connected to the housing, a flange between the housing and the gear case, the flange having a first side and a second side and defining an opening extending between the first side and the second side and communicating between the housing and the gear case, a drive mechanism supported by the gear case and drivingly engaging the motor shaft, and a grease slinger. The grease slinger is defined as including a body supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft relative to the flange. The body has a first face providing a grease-slinging surface and a second face facing the first side of the flange. The second face includes an annular side wall defining an annular channel. The side wall and the channel cooperate with the flange to provide a labyrinth seal and to prevent grease from flowing from the gear case into the housing.
Further, the present invention provides a method of assembling a power tool. The method is defined as including the acts of providing the power tool including a housing, a motor supported in the housing and including a rotatable shaft, a gear case, a drive mechanism supported in the gear case and mating with the shaft, a flange between the housing and the gear case having a first side facing the gear case and a second side facing the housing and defining an opening extending between the first side and the second side, the shaft extending through the opening from the housing into the gear case, providing a grease slinger having a first face providing a grease-slinging surface and a second face including an annular side wall defining an annular channel, supporting the grease slinger on the shaft for rotation with the shaft relative to the flange, positioning the grease slinger adjacent to the opening so that the second face is adjacent to the flange, and engaging the second face and the flange to form a labyrinth seal and to prevent flow of grease from the gear case to the housing.
One independent advantage of the present advantage is the grease slinger deflects grease away from the flange opening during operation of the motor and rotation of the motor shaft.
Another independent advantage of the present invention is that the grease slinger provides a portion of a labyrinth seal and cooperates with the flange to prevent flow of grease from the gear case and into the housing.
Other independent features and independent advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings.
Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As shown in
As shown in
The power tool 10 also includes a gear case 44 connected to the opposite side 28 of the flange 24. A drive mechanism 46 is supported by the gear case 44, and the shaft 20 extends through the flange 24 to drivingly engage the drive mechanism 46. In the illustrated construction, the drive mechanism 46 is a reciprocating drive mechanism operable to reciprocate a tool element, such as a saw blade B. Grease is provided in the gear case to lubricate the engagement area between the shaft 20 and the drive mechanism 46 and to lubricate the components of the drive mechanism 46. The gear case 44 and the flange 24 cooperate to house the drive mechanism 46 and the grease.
It should be understood that, in other constructions (not shown), the drive mechanism 46 may be another reciprocating drive mechanism or another type of drive mechanism such as, for example, a rotary drive mechanism. It should also be understood that, in other constructions (not shown), the tool element may be another type of tool element, such as a circular saw blade, a drill bit, a grinding wheel, etc.
As shown in more detail in
As shown in
A central aperture 70 extends through the body 54 between the faces 56 and 58, and a radially-inner lip 72 protrudes axially from the second face 58 and extends circumferentially around the aperture 70. As best shown in
To assemble the power tool 10, the motor M is supported so that the shaft 20 extends through the opening 35 in the flange 24. The grease slinger 12 is positioned on the end of the shaft 20 with the fingers 74 engaging between adjacent teeth 22 and is pushed onto the shaft 20. As the grease slinger 12 is moved onto the shaft 20, the fingers 74 move between the teeth 22 and may slightly deform to provide a tight engagement between the grease slinger 12 and the shaft 20, preventing grease from moving along the shaft 20 on and between the teeth 22.
The grease slinger 12 is positioned adjacent to the side 28 of the flange 24. The ribs 32 and 34 are configured to mate with the first and second annular channels 64 and 68, and the side walls 62 and 66 are configured to be positioned in flange channels defined by the ribs 32 and 34. Also, the lip 72 extends into the opening 35. The drive mechanism 46 and the gear case 44 are then assembled onto the flange 24 to complete assembly of the power tool 10.
As the motor M is operated, the shaft 20 and the grease slinger 12 rotate, and grease engaging the grease-slinging surface of the first face 56 and is slung radially outwardly and axially away from the flange 24. The engagement between the second face 58 of the grease slinger 12 and the flange 24 provides a labyrinth seal, substantially preventing grease from moving from the gear case 44 to the housing 14 while allowing rotation of the grease slinger 12 and shaft 20 relative to the flange 24. In order for grease to pass through the opening 35 and into the housing 14, the grease must move through the tortuous path of the labyrinth seal between the grease slinger 12 and the flange 24. Any small amount of grease which does move into the housing 14 drains back into the gear case 44 through the drain hole 36 and is thrown radially outwardly by the grease slinger 12.
The grease slinger 12 and the flange 24 thus cooperate to substantially prevent flow of grease from the gear case 44 and into the housing 14, preventing any damage which may occur to components (i.e., the motor M) supported in the housing 14.
Various independent features of the present invention are set forth in the following claims:
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1032724 | Adams | Jul 1912 | A |
1613027 | Fekete et al. | Jan 1927 | A |
1732725 | Kohl et al. | Oct 1929 | A |
2210836 | Joy | Aug 1940 | A |
2452709 | Aiman | Nov 1948 | A |
2910142 | Almen | Oct 1959 | A |
2912065 | Moller | Nov 1959 | A |
3123109 | Bork | Mar 1964 | A |
3220277 | Dixon | Nov 1965 | A |
3541875 | Demorest | Nov 1970 | A |
3647024 | Wick et al. | Mar 1972 | A |
3672586 | Morton | Jun 1972 | A |
3719254 | Snider | Mar 1973 | A |
3848691 | Dolan | Nov 1974 | A |
3886658 | Wikoff | Jun 1975 | A |
3903992 | Chivukula et al. | Sep 1975 | A |
4027546 | Alessio | Jun 1977 | A |
4031780 | Dolan et al. | Jun 1977 | A |
4090588 | Willover | May 1978 | A |
4108018 | John et al. | Aug 1978 | A |
4209086 | Friedrich | Jun 1980 | A |
4560056 | Stockton | Dec 1985 | A |
4677871 | Taniyama et al. | Jul 1987 | A |
4741303 | Kronich | May 1988 | A |
4766859 | Miyaki et al. | Aug 1988 | A |
4905535 | Ludwig et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
4945620 | Dassler | Aug 1990 | A |
5064025 | Richards | Nov 1991 | A |
5184967 | Onoue et al. | Feb 1993 | A |
5232291 | Kuan | Aug 1993 | A |
5251406 | Kirn | Oct 1993 | A |
5363723 | Hoffman | Nov 1994 | A |
5487631 | Child | Jan 1996 | A |
5636848 | Hager et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
5699877 | Dreier | Dec 1997 | A |
6000140 | Nickels, Jr. et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6008557 | Dornhoefer et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6109366 | Jansson et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6145205 | Nickels et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6170159 | Kramer et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6226877 | Ono | May 2001 | B1 |
6273429 | Dudinetz et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6471215 | Drago et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6722449 | Lebisch et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1801917 | May 1970 | DE |
610254 | Sep 1926 | FR |
807832 | Jan 1959 | GB |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20030201110 A1 | Oct 2003 | US |