The present invention relates to a power tool. In particular, the present invention relates to a reciprocating saw. Reciprocating saws are used to cut a variety of objects made from a variety of materials, such as metal pipes, wood and dry wall. A cordless, compact reciprocating saw allows for cutting operations in tight spaces or awkward angles for plumbing, electrical, remodeling and HVAC applications.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a power tool including a housing having a handle configured to be grasped by a user, a motor supported by the housing, a driving gear rotated by the motor and having a substantially cylindrical body, and a driven gear engaging the driving gear to be rotated by the driving gear about a rotation axis. The power tool also includes a pin extending from the driven gear and offset from the rotation axis, a spindle having a yoke coupled to the pin to translate rotation of the driven gear into reciprocating motion of the spindle, and a tool element coupled to the spindle for reciprocating motion with the spindle.
In another embodiment the invention provides a power tool including a housing having a handle configured to be grasped by a user, a motor supported by the housing, a driving gear rotated by the motor, and a driven gear engaging the driving gear to be rotated by the driving gear about a rotation axis. The driving gear has a first end and a second end, and a dimension of the first end is substantially the same as a dimension of the second end. The power tool also includes a pin extending from the driven gear and offset from the rotation axis, a spindle having a yoke coupled to the pin to translate rotation of the driven gear into reciprocating motion of the spindle, and a tool element coupled to the spindle for reciprocating motion with the spindle.
In another embodiment the invention provides a drive system for a power tool. The drive system includes a driving gear configured to be rotated by a motor and a driven gear engaging the driven gear to be rotated by the driving gear about a rotational axis. The driving gear has a substantially cylindrical body, and the driven gear is configured to actuate a tool element. The driving gear, the driven gear, or both the driving gear and the driven gear is molded of powered metal.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
A portable power tool 10 is shown in
The saw 10 includes a housing 40. As shown in
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The illustrated driven gear 108 is also configured as a counterweight. In particular, the body 144 of the driven gear 108 includes two sections of halves 168A, 168B. The first section or half 168A is a relatively thick section, while the second section or half 168B is a relatively thin section. In other words, the first section 168A has a greater mass than the second section 168B. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 144 also has one or more apertures 170 formed through the second section 168B. The apertures 170 further reduce the overall mass of the second section 168B relative to the first section 168A. Furthermore, the pin 116 is supported (e.g., fixed) within a corresponding opening 172 in the second section 168B between the two illustrated apertures 170.
In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, the driving gear 104, the driven gear 108, or both are molded components. For example, the gears 104, 108 may be molded of powdered metal. In other embodiments, the gears 104, 108 may be made of other suitable materials and/or may be made by other processes. Molding the gears 104, 108 from powered metal facilitates creating the intricate geometries of the gears 104, 108, such as the different thickness sections 168A, 168B and the apertures 170 of the driven gear 108.
Referring back to
The spindle 180 and the saw blade 192 are positioned along a longitudinal spindle axis 196 defined along a length of the spindle 180. During operation of the saw 10, the spindle 180 translates back and forth (e.g., reciprocates) along the longitudinal axis 196.
In operation, the driving gear 104, or pinion, is rotated by the output shaft of the motor 68. As the output shaft rotates, the pinion 104 rotates and engages the teeth 148 of the driven gear 108 to rotate the gear 108. Since the pin 116 is offset from an axis of rotation of the gear 108, the pin 116 moves around the axis of rotation as the driven gear 108 rotates. The yoke 124 translates back and forth due to the pin 116 pushing against the yoke 124 as the pin 116 moves about the axis of rotation. The yoke 124 in turn translates the spindle 180 in the desired reciprocating motion. As the driven gear 108 rotates, the relatively thick, first section 168A of the driven gear 108 moves in generally the opposite direction of the spindle 180 to counterbalance forces generated by the spindle 180 during reciprocation.
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Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. For example, in another embodiment, the driven gear 108 may be used in a power tool other than the reciprocating saw. Other tools that may include the driven gear 108 include an angle drill, a band saw, or any other type of power tool. Accordingly, the driven gear 108 is usable in place of a spiral bevel gear in an angle drill, a band saw, or any other type of power tool.
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/473,719, filed Mar. 20, 2017, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62473719 | Mar 2017 | US |