Patent Application
20120024556
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The present invention generally relates to a pneumatic tool with interchangeable tool heads. More specifically, this invention relates to a combination pneumatic tool wherein the functionality of multiple tools is duplicated using easily interchangeable tool heads that may be quickly exchanged as desired. No additional tools are required in order to perform the operation, the hand strength and dexterity possessed by the average adult is sufficient.
Compressed gasses, usually in the form of compressed air, have long been used to provide motive power for hand tools. At least as early as 1858, Burnell U.S. Pat. No. 21,318 disclosed a fluid-driven “rotary engine” that is usable, for example, as a “steam engine, a water-wheel or a meter.” While such fluid-driven devices continue to be common, ostensibly the most common “fluid” now used in such apparatuses is compressed air, or in some cases, compressed nitrogen. Typically, the compressed gas is injected into a chamber wherein it causes rotational movement of a rotor/impeller. Power produced at the axle of the rotor/impeller is then coupled to various rotating tools to perform, for example, cutting-, drilling-, or grinding-type operations. These pneumatically-powered tools can be used in essentially any role in which an electric motor may be used, with the advantage that they are often simpler and less expensive to manufacture, more durable, and lighter/smaller compared to their electrically powered counterparts. Nonetheless, pneumatic tools are expensive and their manufacture is labor intensive. Moreover, since the tools must be attached by a hose to their compressed air supply, utilizing multiple tools for a task typically entails an unnecessarily laborious process wherein the user must remove the hose from the tool he/she no longer needs and thereafter attach it to the now-required tool. Furthermore, the cost of acquiring specific tools for specific jobs is expensive and the acquisition of such tools requires significant storage space.
What is needed therefore is a cost-effective method to quickly switch heads as they are needed using the basic air supply and coupling. Such a device presents cost and space economies and its costs of manufacturing and ownership would be lower compared to traditional tools.
The present invention is a three-in-one pneumatic tool uniquely combining interchangeable tool heads with a standard pneumatic rotary drive assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes drill, die grinder, and ratchet tool heads that may be attached/detached as desired from a pneumatic drive assembly. A quick-release coupling mounted at a mating end of the pneumatic drive assembly allows the user to easily insert the corresponding mating end of the desired tool head into the pneumatic drive so that they may then be used in the same manner as their more traditional versions. The system not only saves time when multiple tools are needed to complete a particular task, the system also reduces the costs of both manufacturing the tools and their price to the consumer, with the additional benefit that because the incremental costs of additional tool heads will be lower compared to buying a traditional pneumatic tool, the consumer may be able to afford a wider array of tools than otherwise possible. Furthermore, when breakage occurs only one tool head need be replaced or repaired. Moreover, the tool heads can be upgraded as technological improvements are made, thereby ensuring that the system will never become obsolete.
While in its preferred embodiment, this invention includes drill, die grinder, and ratchet tool heads, this apparatus contemplates use of any tool head utilizing rotational motion, for example, a cut-off tool, circular saw, circular sander, or impact wrench. Additionally, this invention encompasses tools wherein rotational motion may be converted into linear movement, for example, a reciprocating sander or impact hammer/drill/wrench.
It is an object of the invention to provide a pneumatic tool with interchangeable tool heads;
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an interchangeable tool head pneumatic tool wherein no tools are required in order to exchange tool heads;
It is still another object of this invention to provide an interchangeable tool head pneumatic tool wherein typical human hand strength and dexterity are sufficient to exchange tool heads;
It is an object of this invention to provide a pneumatic tool with easily interchangeable tool heads wherein tool heads incorporating new technologies can be accommodated; and,
It is another object of this invention to provide a wide array of pneumatic tools to the consumer at a lower cost.
The preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention are shown in
This invention may be constructed from any sufficiently durable material including carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc, other metals, various polymers, ceramics, and combinations thereof.
Turning now to
Turning to
The proximal end 41 of any of the tool heads 12, 13, or 14 is also shown in
In use, the user simply retracts the locking ring 22 of the pneumatic drive mating end 20 proximally so that the locking bearings 25 are free to move. Insertion of the tool head mating end 40 causes the bearings 25 to retract into the unlocking channel 53. Once seated, the locking ring 22 is released and pressure from the coil spring 52 causes it to return to its original position, simultaneously moving the unlocking channel 53 away from alignment with the locking bearings 25 and thus forcing the aforementioned bearings 25 back into their locked position. When a tool head 12, 13, or 14 is seated, the locking channel 50 of the tool head mating end 40 is locked in place such that the male end 43 of the tool head shank 42 is accommodated within female end 24 of the pneumatic drive mating end 20 and the pneumatic drive assembly 11 and tool heads 12, 13, or 14 are locked together and cannot rotate relative to one another. Similarly, the drive shaft male end 31 of the pneumatic drive assembly drive shaft 23 is accommodated within the tool head drive shaft female end 44 such that they are locked together and cannot rotate relative to one another. The apparatus 10 is now locked together and ready for use. One need only ensure that a supply of air is provided and the various cutting, polishing, drilling, grinding, etc. operations may be commenced. In operation, compressed gas enters the proximal end of the pneumatic drive assembly 11, thereby causing rotation of the rotor/impeller therein. The impeller is in communication with the drive shaft 23 of the pneumatic drive assembly, which is now interlocked with the corresponding tool head drive shaft female end 44 of the selected tool head 12, 13, or 14, such that, in order, rotation of the impeller causes rotational motion of the drive shaft 23, which in turn causes rotation of the tool head drive shaft female end 44. The tool head drive shaft female end 44 is in communication with the operational elements of the tool, for example, its drill head, die grinder head, or ratchet head such that work may now be performed.
The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments which have been described above. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims:
