Pneumatic hand tool with improved control valve

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6655033
  • Patent Number
    6,655,033
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, October 16, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 2, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A pneumatic hand tool comprises a tool body communicable with an operating air source, a pneumatic motor supported by the tool body, and a control valve for controlling air flow to the motor. When the control valve is in an open condition the motor is operated to drive the tool. When the valve is in a closed condition it cuts off the supply of operating air to the motor. In the closed condition the control valve communicates with air at ambient atmospheric pressure so that source air leaking from the control valve is vented away from the motor to preclude unintended motor operation.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to pneumatic hand tools and more particularly to pneumatic hand tools having user operated control valves for governing the flow of operating air to the tool.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Pneumatic hand tools having an air powered motor with a user-operated control valve for governing the flow of operating air to the motor are known. Among the various tools that fall within this category are, for example, drills, grinders, meat trimming knives, and skiving, or skinning knives. The knives are used in the meat industry and feature rotating, or oscillating blades that are driven by air motors. Conventionally these tools are connected to a source of high pressure air via a flexible conduit. Their operation is controlled by a user-actuated valve that is opened and closed to start and stop the drive motor.




For safety purposes these tools are often designed so that the user must open the control valve and manually maintain it opened so long as the tool is operated. The valve automatically closes if the user no longer maintains it in its open condition. This minimizes the possibility of tool operation when undesired, which might otherwise result in injury to the user or others. Some tools have handles that house the drive motor and/or the control valve. The user grips the handle and in so doing depresses a valve operating plunger to open the control valve. When the plunger is released the valve closes.




Even though the prior art tools were equipped with control valves of the type referred to, undesired tool operation could sometimes occur. For example, where a tool and/or its source of operating air were improperly maintained, the control valve could be fouled or damaged so that it failed to completely close when the tool was not operating. Consequently, air from the source bled past the valve to the air motor inlet. If the leak has sufficient volume, the air motor will run continuously as long as the air volume remains sufficient. The unintended tool operation was a potential source of workplace injury.




The present invention provides a new and improved pneumatic hand tool that is so constructed and arranged that unintended tool operation is avoided even though the tool motor control valve fails to fully close when the tool is not operating and air from a pressure source bleeds past the valve.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




A pneumatic hand tool constructed according to the invention is connected to a source of pressurized operating air and comprises a tool body communicable with the source, a pneumatic motor supported by the tool body, and a control valve for controlling the flow of air from the source to the motor.




The motor has an inlet that is communicable with the source via the control valve so that when the control valve is in an open condition the motor is operated from the pressure source and drives the tool. When the control valve is in its closed condition the motor is not operated.




The control valve comprises a valve body defining a delivery port through which air is supplied to the motor, a seat surrounding the port, and a valving member movable relative to the seat to open and close the port. The valving member is biased toward engagement with the seat to block flow through the port. In its open condition the control valve is stationed relative to the tool body in a first position where the valve body port communicates directly with the motor inlet and the valving member is spaced from the seat so that air from the source is communicated to the motor. In the closed condition the valving member is in a second position where the valving member engages the seat for blocking flow from the pressure source through the control valve and the valve body delivery port communicates with air at ambient atmospheric pressure so that any source air leaking from the control valve delivery port is vented away from the motor inlet passage.




The disclosed control valve body comprises a tubular projecting end that surrounds the delivery port and the tool body comprises a seal member which seals the projecting end when the valve body is in the first position so that the port and the inlet passage are directly communicated. The valve member projecting end is spaced away from the seal member when the valve body is in the second position.




In the disclosed embodiment a spring biases the valving member toward engagement with the seat.




A valving member actuator is fixed with respect to the tool body for unseating the valving member when the control valve is in its open condition.




In an illustrated embodiment a hand grippable lever is provided for enabling a tool user to easily maintain the control valve in its first position. The lever is movable relative to the tool body between a gripped position where the lever maintains the control valve in the first position to a released position where the control valve shifts to its second position.




The illustrated hand tool is connected to the source by a conduit and the control valve is connected to the conduit and extends into a receptacle formed by the tool body.




Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings that form part of the specification.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an elevational view of a hand tool, constructed according to the invention, connected to a source of high pressure operating air;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the hand tool of

FIG. 1

with a valve illustrated in a closed, non-operating position;





FIG. 3

is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the hand tool of

FIG. 1

with the valve illustrated in an open, operating position;





FIG. 4

is a view similar to

FIG. 3

with the hand tool and air supply conduit separated;





FIG. 5

is an elevational view of part of the hand tool illustrated in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a cross sectional view seen approximately from the plane indicated by the line


6





6


of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 7

is a cross sectional view seen approximately from the plane indicated by the line


7





7


of

FIG. 2

, with parts removed; and,





FIG. 8

is a cross sectional view seen approximately from the plane indicated by the line


8





8


of FIG.


7


.











DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE CONTEMPLATED FOR PRACTICING THE INVENTION




A pneumatically operated hand tool


10


constructed according to the invention is illustrated in

FIG. 1

of the drawings connected to a high pressure source of operating pressure, not illustrated. The hand tool


10


is illustrated as comprising a tool body


14


, a pneumatic motor assembly


16


supported by the tool body


14


, and a control valve


18


for controlling the flow of air from the source to the motor assembly


16


and a drive transmission assembly


19


for transmitting drive from the motor to a tool element.




The hand tool


10


is illustrated and described as connected to the source via a flexible conduit


20


that permits the tool user to move about and manipulate the tool freely. The conduit


20


may be of any conventional or suitable construction and is illustrated as an assembly of flexible rubber-like hoses


22


,


24


that are respectively connected, at one end, to the source and a vent path to atmosphere by a suitable coupling, not illustrated, and detachably connected, at the opposite end, to the tool body


14


. In the illustrated embodiment, the hoses


22


,


24


are coextensive, with the hose


22


illustrated as disposed loosely within the hose


24


. The hose


22


communicates the source pressure to the motor assembly


16


. The hose


24


vents air from within the tool body


14


(e.g. air exhausted from the motor assembly


16


) to an exhaust manifold and sound attenuating muffler (not illustrated) and to atmosphere remote from the tool body adjacent the connection to the pressure source.




The motor assembly


16


comprises a stator


16




a


fixed in the tool body and a rotor


16




b


disposed within the stator. The rotor


16




b


has a drive shaft


16




c


projecting from one end and a support shaft


16




d


projecting from the opposite end. Bearing assemblies


16




e


,


16




f


support the shafts


16




c


,


16




d


, respectively. The rotor and stator may be of any suitable or conventional construction and therefore are not described in further detail.




For purposes of illustration and description the hand tool


10


is disclosed as an industrial meat trimming knife. The tool element is illustrated as an annular blade


30


that is supported for rotation about its central axis by a blade housing


32


. The blade and blade housing are supported by a head assembly


36


attached to the tool body


14


by means of a connector which in the disclosed embodiment is a screw. The tool body


14


is illustrated as a tubular handle assembly that the tool user grips while using the knife. The blade


30


is driven about its axis by the motor assembly


16


via the drive transmission


19


.




The drive transmission


19


provides a gear reduction between the motor assembly and the knife blade. The transmission is illustrated as an epicyclic gear train disposed within the tool body


14


. As shown, the output shaft


16




c


has gear teeth formed on its periphery and forms a sun gear


19




a


that rotates within a ring gear


19




b


fixed in the tool body


14


. Planet gears


19




c


surround the sun gear and run in mesh with the sun and ring gears to rotatably drive the planet carrier


19




d


at speeds that are greatly reduced from the rotational speed of the rotor


16




b


. The planet carrier


19




d


is supported by bearing assemblies


19




f


,


19




g


. The planet carrier


19




d


drives an output pinion gear


19




h


that is mounted in the head assembly via a drive shaft


19




i


. In the illustrated knife, the blade


30


is formed with gear teeth around its perimeter at its axial end opposite the blade edge. The blade gear runs in mesh with the pinion driving gear


19




h.






While a particular construction is illustrated and described, the blade, blade housing, head assembly, and gear drives may be of any suitable or conventional constructions. It should be noted that although an industrial knife exemplifies the hand tool


10


in this disclosure, other kinds of pneumatically operated hand tools may be constructed according to the invention.




Referring to

FIGS. 1-4

, the illustrated tool body comprises a tubular housing


42


, an ergonomic handle sleeve


44


surrounding the housing


42


, and end pieces


46


,


48


that are fixed in the housing


42


and secure the motor assembly and drive transmission between them. The housing


42


is generally cylindrical while the sleeve


44


is irregularly shaped to conform with the shape of the tool users hand. The end piece


46


is fixed in the head end of the housing


42


and is formed by a generally cylindrical, tubular body that abuts the bearing assembly


19




f


at one of its ends and abuts the head assembly


36


at its opposite end. The end piece


46


has internal threads that receive the head assembly mounting screw. The end piece


48


is illustrated as fixed in the housing


42


, fixed with respect to the stator


16




a


and abutting the rotor supporting bearing assembly


16




f


. The illustrated end piece


48


is formed by a generally circular port plate


50


that defines an air inlet port, or passage,


52


and an exhaust port, or passage,


54


each communicating with the motor assembly (see FIGS.


7


and


8


).




The control valve


18


communicates the rotor


16




b


with the conduit


22


via the inlet port


52


. When the control valve


18


is in an open condition (

FIG. 3

) the motor assembly


16


is operated from the pressure source and drives the tool. The outlet port


54


delivers exhaust air from the motor assembly


16


to the vent hose


24


. When the control valve


18


is in its closed condition (

FIG. 2

) the motor


16


is not operated.




The illustrated control valve


18


comprises a tubular valve body


60


defining a delivery port


62


through which air is supplied to the motor


16


from the air source, a seat


64


surrounding the port


62


, and a valving member


66


movable relative to the seat to open and close the port


62


. The valving member


66


is biased toward engagement with the seat


64


to block flow through the port


62


. In its open condition the control valve


18


is stationed relative to the tool body


14


in a first position where the valve body port


62


communicates directly with the motor inlet port


52


and the valving member


66


is spaced from the seat


64


so that air from the source is communicated to the motor for driving the rotor


16




b


. In the closed condition the valving member


66


is in a second position where the valving member engages the seat


64


for blocking flow from the pressure source through the control valve


18


and the valve body delivery port


62


communicates with air at ambient atmospheric pressure so that any source air leaking from the control valve delivery port is vented away from the motor inlet passage and into the exhaust hose


24


.




In the illustrated hand tool the control valve


18


is axially shiftable relative to the tool body between a first position (see

FIG. 3

) where the valve is in its open condition and a second position (

FIG. 2

) where the valve is in its second, closed condition. In its first position the valve body sealingly engages the tool body in such a way that the delivery port


62


and the motor inlet port


52


are in direct communication so that source air is delivered to the rotor


16




b


for operating the motor. The disclosed control valve body


60


comprises a tubular projecting end


70


that surrounds the delivery port


62


. When the valve


18


is in its first position, the projecting end


70


is in sealing engagement with the motor inlet port so that air delivered from the delivery port


62


is channeled directly to the motor. Air that is exhausted from the motor assembly flows from the rotor through the exhaust port


54


and into the space surrounding the valve body


60


and from there to the atmosphere via the vent hose


24


.




In the illustrated tool the end piece


48


comprises a tubular projection


72


extending from the port plate


50


to form a receptacle with a central opening


73


into which the projecting valve body end


70


telescopes. The motor inlet port


52


opens through the port plate


50


into the opening


73


while the exhaust port


54


opens through the port plate radially outwardly of the projection


72


(see FIGS.


7


and


8


). The region that surrounds the projection


72


is always at atmospheric pressure due to its communication with the vent hose


24


. The opening


73


has a cross sectional shape that conforms to and closely surrounds the projecting valve body end


70


when the valve body is in its open condition. A seal member


74


is disposed within the projection


72


and extends between the receptacle opening


73


and the projecting valve body end


70


to prevent the escape of source air from the projection


72


to the surrounding region when the valve


18


is open. In the illustrated tool the projecting valve body end


70


and the receptacle opening are cylindrical and the seal member


74


is a resilient O-ring that is seated in a circumferential receptacle wall groove, but other forms of seals could be employed if desired.




As the valve body


60


moves axially into the housing


42


to its first position (FIG.


3


), the projecting valve body end


70


and the receptacle wall are sealed together as the valve


18


opens. The illustrated end piece


48


includes a valve actuator pin


76


that is anchored in the port plate and extends through the opening


73


in alignment with the valve port


62


. The actuator pin


76


engages the valving member


66


and shifts it off of the seat


64


to open the delivery port


62


when the valve


18


is in its open position. In the illustrated control valve the valving member is formed by a ball and is biased toward engagement with the seat by a helical spring


78


. The valving member, spring, and actuator could be constructed in other ways. For example, the valving member might have a different shape and/or carry the actuator pin so that as the valve body advances, the actuator pin engages the receptacle and unseats the valving member.




As the valve body


60


moves to its second position (

FIG. 2

) it is shifted generally away from the housing


42


and the projecting valve body end


70


is withdrawn from the receptacle opening


73


as the valving member


66


returns to its seat


64


. In its second condition the valve body end


70


is withdrawn from the seal member


74


. The receptacle wall at the distal end of the projection


72


is internally fluted so that any air leaking from the port


62


is vented out of the receptacle opening to the region radially outward of the projection


72


and to the vent hose


24


. If the valve


18


should leak when in its closed condition for any reason, the air leaking from the valve is vented to atmosphere rather than being directed into the motor inlet port. Consequently, it is not possible for undesired tool operation as a result of air flow from the control valve leakage.




In the illustrated tool


10


, the valve


18


is carried by a coupling assembly


80


that functions to detachably couple the tool


10


to the conduit


20


as well as to enable the tool user to shift the valve


18


between its open and closed conditions. The illustrated coupling assembly (see

FIG. 4

) comprises a central body member


82


that carries the valve


18


, a coupling collar


84


carried by the body member


82


for attaching the assembly to the tool


10


, and a tool user grippable lever


88


for maintaining the valve


18


in its open condition.




In the illustrated coupling assembly


80


, the body member


82


surrounds and supports the valve body


60


. As shown in

FIG. 3

, the valve body


60


is a two part structure formed by generally cylindrical, tubular elements


60




a


,


60




b


that are sealed and screwed together at their juncture (the disclosed valve body


60


is so constructed to enable assembly of the valving member and biasing spring


78


inside the valve body). The element


60


b has a projecting, barbed nipple-like end


89


(

FIG. 4

) that extends into the pressure hose


22


to fix and seal the valve body and pressure hose together. A hose clamp


90


surrounding the hose


22


and projecting element end assures a sealed connection.




The illustrated coupling body member


82


is a two part member formed by elements


82




a


,


82




b


that are hermetically secured together as a unit. A first member element


82




a


supports the valve body element


60




a


and is constructed to telescope into the tool body when the conduit


20


is attached to the tool. As shown, the element


82




a


has a cylindrical skirt-like projecting end


91


that fits closely within the end of the tool body housing


42


. The second member element


82




b


supports the projecting end of the element


60




b


and is hermetically fixed to the exhaust hose


24


. As shown, the element


82




a


has a projecting end that extends within the exhaust hose


24


. A hose clamp


93


surrounds the hose end and the element projecting end to secure them together.




The coupling member


82


is generally cylindrical and has two elements


82




a


,


82




b


. These elements have cylindrical outer sections and a plurality of radially inwardly projecting spokes


96


that support the valve body


60


along the axes of the member


82


(see FIG.


6


). The openings between the spokes


96


provide exhaust air flow passages between the is exhaust port


54


in the port plate


50


and the exhaust conduit


24


.




In the illustrated tool the valve body


60


clamps the coupling member elements


82




a


,


82




b


together. The valve body element


60




b


has radially outwardly extending flange


100


that abuts the coupling member element


82




b


and defines a series of wrench flats along its periphery. A radially outwardly extending shoulder


102


on the valve body element


60




a


engages the coupling member element


82




a


. The coupling member elements


82


are assembled to the valve body


60


and the flange


100


is turned to screw the valve body elements together. The flange


100


and the shoulder


102


trap the elements


82




a


,


82




b


between them and firmly clamp the elements together as the valve body elements are screwed together. A flange


104


on the coupling member element


82




b


is moved into overlying relationship with the outer periphery of the coupling element


82




a


when the elements


82




a


,


82




b


are clamped together. An O-ring seal element


106


retained within the flange


104


and sealingly engages both elements


82




a


,


82




b


when they are clamped together.




The coupling collar


84


functions to detachably secure the tool body to the conduit. The collar


84


has an annular body


110


that surrounds the element


82




a


and the end of the tool body housing


42


and an axially projecting, semi-cylindrical section


112


that closely surrounds the outer periphery of the element


82




a


. The inner periphery of the annular body


110


carries diametrically opposed pins


114


(

FIG. 4

) that project radially inwardly. The end of the tool body housing


42


forms radially outwardly opening cam slots


116


(see

FIG. 5

) that receive the pins


114


. The collar


84


is slid onto the tool body housing


42


so that the pins


114


enter the cam slots


116


. The collar is turned so that the pins follow, and are captured in, the cam slots. This action secures the conduit


20


to the tool


10


with the valve


18


in its closed position (

FIG. 2

) so that the tool is not supplied with motor operating air from the pressure source.




When the tool user wishes to operate the motor the user pushes the coupling member


82


axially into the tool body


14


(FIGS.


1


and


3


). The member


82


slides axially into the tool body housing carrying the valve


18


along with it. A seal ring


118


stationed in the tool body housing inner periphery sealingly engages the projecting end


91


of the coupling member element


82




a


as the valve


18


moves to its open position. At the same time the valve body


60


enters the receptacle opening


73


and the valving member


66


is unseated by the actuator pin


76


resulting in high pressure air being supplied to the motor.




In the illustrated tool


10


the user manually maintains the operating airflow to the motor by gripping the lever


88


and holding it in juxtaposition with the handle. The illustrated lever


88


is connected to the coupling body element


82




a


by a clamp


120


and associated pivot pin, or pintle,


122


that are secured to the element


82




a


. The lever


88


is illustrated as a stamped sheet metal member comprising a pivot bearing section


130


, a grip section


132


and a camming bight section


134


. When the valve


18


is in its open position (FIGS.


1


and


3


), the tool user grips the grip section of the lever


88


so that it is moved adjacent the tool handle. The camming bight section


134


of the lever engages the annular collar body


110


to maintain the valve open. Because of the length of the grip section


132


, minimal tool user gripping force is required to maintain the lever in its

FIGS. 1 and 3

position. User hand fatigue is thus avoided. If the lever is released by the tool user, the force of the valve spring


78


and the air pressure acting on the valving member


66


urge the coupling assembly


80


axially away from the tool. The collar body


110


reacts against the lever bight section


134


shifting the lever aside and allowing the valve


18


to close (FIG.


2


).




While a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, the invention is not to be considered limited to the precise construction disclosed. Various adaptations, modifications and uses of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. The intention is to cover all such adaptations, modifications, and uses that fall within the scope or spirit of the claims.



Claims
  • 1. A rotary knife operable from a source of high pressure air comprising:a tubular handle assembly; an annular blade supported for rotation about a central axis; a blade housing supporting said blade; a head assembly connected to said handle assembly; a pneumatic motor assembly supported by said handle assembly for driving said blade; a control valve for controlling the flow of air from the source to the motor assembly, said control valve having an open condition wherein source air is supplied to said motor assembly for operating the motor and a closed condition wherein source air is blocked from reaching the motor assembly, said control valve shiftable into said handle assembly when operated to said open condition and shiftable in a direction away from said handle assembly when operated from its open condition to its closed condition; said control valve having an air delivery port defined by a valve seat through which air is directed into said motor assembly when said control valve is in said open condition, said delivery port communicating with atmospheric air when said control valve is in said closed condition so that control valve leakage does not result in unintended knife operation.
  • 2. The knife claimed in claim 1 wherein said control valve comprises a control valve body having a tubular projecting end that surrounds said delivery port and said handle assembly comprises a seal member for sealingly engaging said projecting valve body end when said control valve is in said open condition so that said delivery port communicates source air pressure directly to said motor assembly.
  • 3. The knife claimed in claim 2 wherein said valve body projecting end is spaced away from said seal member when said valve body is in said second condition.
  • 4. The rotary knife claimed in claim 1 wherein said knife is connected to a pressure source by a flexible conduit and further comprising a coupling assembly for detachably connecting said handle assembly to said conduit, said coupling assembly carrying said control valve and enabling the tool user to shift said control valve between said open and closed conditions.
  • 5. A pneumatic hand tool operated from a pressurized air source comprising:a tool body; a pneumatic motor supported by said tool body for actuating a tool, said motor having an inlet port for receiving air from the source; a control valve for controlling the flow of air from the source to the motor, said control valve having an open condition wherein source air is supplied to said motor for operating the tool and a second condition wherein the motor is not operated, said control valve comprising a valve body defining a delivery port through which air is supplied to said motor, a seat surrounding said port, and a valving member movable relative to said seat to open and close said port, said valving member biased toward engagement with said seat to block flow through said port; in the open condition of said control valve said control valve body is stationed relative to said tool body in a first position wherein said delivery port communicates directly with said motor inlet port and said valving member is spaced from said seat so that air from said source is communicated to said motor, and in said second condition of said control valve said control valve body is in a second position relative to said tool body where said valving member engages said seat for blocking flow from said source through said delivery port and said delivery port communicates with air at ambient atmospheric pressure so that any source air leaking from said delivery port is vented away from said inlet port.
  • 6. The hand tool claimed in claim 1 wherein said control valve is connected to a conduit that is connected to the source, said control valve extending into a receptacle formed by said tool body.
  • 7. The hand tool claimed in claim 5 wherein said control valve body comprises a tubular projecting end that surrounds said delivery port and said tool body comprises a seal member for sealingly engaging said projecting end when said valve body is in said first position so that said delivery port and said inlet port are directly communicated.
  • 8. The hand tool claimed in claim 7 wherein said valve body projecting end is spaced away from said seal member when said valve body is in said second position.
  • 9. The hand tool claimed in claim 5 wherein said control valve further comprises a spring for biasing said valving member toward engagement with said seat.
  • 10. The hand tool claimed in claim 5 further comprising an actuator member fixed with respect to said tool body for unseating said valving member when said control valve body is in said first position.
  • 11. The hand tool claimed in claim 5 further comprising a hand grippable lever that is movable relative to said tool body between a gripped position where the lever maintains the control valve in said first condition and a released position where the control valve is in said second condition.
  • 12. The hand tool claimed in claim 5 wherein said tool is connected to a pressure source by a flexible conduit and further comprising a coupling assembly for detachably connecting said tool body to said conduit, said coupling assembly carrying said control valve and enabling the tool user to shift said control valve between said open and second conditions.
  • 13. The hand tool claimed in claim 12 wherein said coupling assembly comprises a collar that is detachably connectable to said tool body, and a coupling member that is shiftable relative to said collar, said coupling member supporting said control valve.
  • 14. The hand tool claimed in claim 13 wherein said coupling assembly further comprises a manually grippable lever that maintains the control valve in its open condition, said coupling member supporting said lever for shifting movement therewith relative to said collar.
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