EP0048124A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speed control switch device
Assignee: Skil Nederland BV
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Filing: 1981-09-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A speed control switch device includes a retractable trigger and a swingable reversing lever to control the power to, the speed of, and the direction of rotation of a motor in a hand-held electric tool, such as a drill. A single printed circuit board mounts the elements of the solid state speed control circuit and also mounts a first set of contacts, a second set of contacts, and a resistance strip which comprise integral parts of a reversing switch, an on/off switch, and a rheostat, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Alex F. Gawron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/02; H01H9/06; H01H9/061; H01H9/063; H01H9/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
In a speed control switch device for a power tool of the type including a housing enclosing a reversible electric motor, the switch device including a casing enclosing the components of a solid state speed control circuit and mounting a trigger for actuating an on/off switch and for controlling such circuit in response to the amount of trigger movement thereby to vary the speed of the associated motor, the casing also containing a reversing switch and mounting a manually operated member movable between two positions to control the direction of rotation of the associated electrical motor, the improvement comprising: (a) a printed circuit board in the casing and mounting, (i) the components of said speed control circuit including a resistance strip, (ii) a first set of contacts, and (iii) a second set of contacts; (b) first contact means mounted within said casing adjacent said first set of contacts for movement back and forth for alternately bridging certain ones of the contacts of said first set of contacts so as to establish forward and reverse circuit paths, said manually operated member being connected with said first contact means for moving the same between two positions corresponding with said two positions of said member, said first set of contacts along with said first contact means defining said reversing switch; (c) wiper contact means within said casing and connected to said trigger for movement therewith, the wiper contact means sliding along said resistance strip during movement of the trigger thereby defining a rheostat for controlling said solid state circuit; and (d) second contact means in said casing and connected to said trigger for movement therewith, which second contact means engage said second set of contacts during movement of the trigger thereby defining said on/off switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
In a speed control switch device for a power tool of the type including a housing enclosing a reversible electric motor, the switch device including a casing enclosing the components of a solid state speed control circuit and mounting a trigger for actuating an on/off switch and for controlling such circuit in response to the amount of trigger movement thereby to vary the speed of the associated motor, the casing also containing a reversing switch and mounting a manually operated member movable between two positions to control the direction of rotation of the associated electrical motor, the improvement comprising: (a) a printed circuit board in the casing and mounting, (i) the components of said speed control circuit including a resistance strip, (ii) a first set of contacts, and (iii) a second set of contacts; (b) first contact means mounted within said casing adjacent said first set of contacts for movement back and forth for alternately bridging certain ones of the contacts of said first set of contacts so as to establish forward and reverse circuit paths, said manually operated member being connected with said first contact means for moving the same between two positions corresponding with said two positions of said member, said first set of contacts along with said first contact means defining said reversing switch; (c) wiper contact means within said casing and connected to said trigger for movement therewith, the wiper contact means sliding along said resistance strip during movement of the trigger thereby defining a rheostat for controlling said solid state circuit; and (d) second contact means in said casing and connected to said trigger for movement therewith, which second contact means engage said second set of contacts during movement of the trigger thereby defining said on/off switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to Claim 1 wherein said first contact means comprise a pair of reversing contacts carried by a block of non-conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement according to Claim 1 wherein all components comprising said speed control circuit are in engagement with said printed circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement according to Claim 1 wherein said resistance strip and the first set of contacts are printed on the printed circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement according to Claim 1 wherein said resistance strip, the first set of contacts and the second set of contacts are all integrally mounted on the same face of the printed circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to Claim 1 wherein said wiper contact means and said second contact means are mounted on a common movable contactor support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement according to Claim 6 wherein said contactor support is electrically conductive thereby establishing continuity between said wiper contact means and said second contact means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The improvement according to Claim 1 wherein the casing has at least two compartments defined therein including a first compartment containing said first contact means aligned so as to engage said first set of contacts, and a second compartment having the wiper contact means and the second contact means disposed therein for engagement with the resistance strip and the second set of contacts, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement according to Claim 1 or Claim 8 wherein said casing is comprised of two sections which snap together to captivate the printed circuit board therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement according to Claim 6 wherein said contactor support includes a flange by which the reciprocal movement of the trigger is transmitted to the contactor support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement according to Claim 6 wherein the contactor support is pivotally carried by the trigger and wherein a portion of said-contactor support is pivoted away from the printed circuit board when the trigger is in its fully extended position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement according to Claim 11 wherein said portion of the contactor support which pivots away from the printed circuit board carries at least one contact of said second contact means thereby disengaging same from the second set of contacts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein said portion of the contactor support which pivots away from the printed circuit board carries said wiper contact means thereby disengaging the shorting contact from the resistance strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement according to Claim 1 further including a detent means for maintaining said manually operated member in one of two positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement according to Claim 8 wherein said second compartment further comprises a means for guidig the trigger during reciprocal movement within said second compartment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement according to Claim 8 wherein said casing is comprised of three compartments including a third compartment which receives said electronic circuit mounted to the printed circuit board.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a speed control switch device for a power tool including an electric motor, electronic circuit means for controlling the speed of the motor, and a spring-loaded trigger for reciprocal movement, wherein said switch device includes a resistance strip and a wiper contact for engagement with said resistance strip for sliding movement therealong defining a rheostat, and on/off means in series with the electric motor for applying power to the motor during retraction of the trigger and for removing power to the motor with the trigger fully extended, said on/off means having at least one sliding contact for engagement with at least one fixed contact, the improvement comprising: (a) an integral support mounting said wiper contact and said sliding contact, said support providing electrical continuity between said wiper contact and said sliding contact, and . (b) means responsive to movement of the trigger for sliding said support so that said sliding contact engages said fixed contact during retraction of the trigger.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a speed control switch device for a power tool including an electric motor, electronic circuit means for controlling the speed of the motor, and a spring-loaded trigger for reciprocal movement, wherein said switch device includes a resistance strip and a wiper contact for engagement with said resistance strip for sliding movement therealong defining a rheostat, and on/off means in series with the electric motor for applying power to the motor during retraction of the trigger and for removing power to the motor with the trigger fully extended, said on/off means having at least one sliding contact for engagement with at least one fixed contact, the improvement comprising: (a) an integral support mounting said wiper contact and said sliding contact, said support providing electrical continuity between said wiper contact and said sliding contact, and . (b) means responsive to movement of the trigger for sliding said support so that said sliding contact engages said fixed contact during retraction of the trigger.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement according to Claim 17 wherein said support is made of metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement according to Claim 18 wherein said wiper contact and said sliding contact comprise bosses formed on the metal support.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improverent according to Claim 17 further comprising a means for pivoting said support so that said sliding contact does not engage said fixed contact while the trigger is fully extended.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a speed control switch device for a power tool of the type including a housing enclosing a reversible electric motor, the switch device including a casing enclosing the components of a solid state speed control circuit and mounting a trigger for actuating an on/off switch and for controlling such circuit in response to the amount of trigger movement thereby to vary the speed of the associated motor, the casing also containing a reversing switch and mounting a manually operated member movable between two positions to control the direction of rotation of the associated electrical motor, the improvement comprising: (a) a unitary printed circuit board within said casing; (b) a first and second contact means connected with said manually operated member and said trigger, respectively, for independent movement thereby, said first and second contact means engaging said circuit board and cooperating with the latter to define the speed control circuit, the on/off switch and the reversing switch; and (c) contact elements on said circuit board and arranged to be engaged by conductors to establish electrical communication externally of the casing with the associated electric motor and a source of line current.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a speed control switch device for a power tool of the type including a housing enclosing a reversible electric motor, the switch device including a casing enclosing the components of a solid state speed control circuit and mounting a trigger for actuating an on/off switch and for controlling such circuit in response to the amount of trigger movement thereby to vary the speed of the associated motor, the casing also containing a reversing switch and mounting a manually operated member movable between two positions to control the direction of rotation of the associated electrical motor, the improvement comprising: (a) a unitary printed circuit board within said casing; (b) a first and second contact means connected with said manually operated member and said trigger, respectively, for independent movement thereby, said first and second contact means engaging said circuit board and cooperating with the latter to define the speed control circuit, the on/off switch and the reversing switch; and (c) contact elements on said circuit board and arranged to be engaged by conductors to establish electrical communication externally of the casing with the associated electric motor and a source of line current.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement according to Claim 21 wherein said casing includes an aperture adjacent each of said contact elements for receiving an external conductor and allowing the same to make electrical contact with the associated contact element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement according to Claim 22 wherein said casing includes a retention means adjacent each of said contact elements, such retention means and such contact elements cooperating to define plug-in receptacles for said conductors.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
219 words
In a speed control switch device for a power tool of the type including a housing enclosing a reversible electric motor, the switch device including a casing enclosing the components of a solid state speed control circuit and mounting a trigger for actuating an on/off switch and for controlling such circuit in response to the amount of trigger movement thereby to vary the speed of the associated motor, the improvement comprising: (a) a contactor support member in said casing and connected to said trigger for movement thereby; (b) said contactor support mounting at least first and second contact elements associated respectively with said on/off switch and said speed control circuit, the mass of said contactor support being substantially in excess of the aggregate masses of said first and second contact elements; (c) third and fourth fixed contacts mounted in said casing for respective-engagement with said first and second contact elements, said third and fourth fixed contacts being associated with said on/off switch and said speed control circuit, respectively; and (d) resilient means in the casing engaged with said contactor support for urging said first and second contact elements into respective engagement with said third and fourth fixed contacts, the mass of said contactor support cooperating with said resilient means to minimize bounce of said first and second contact elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
219 words
In a speed control switch device for a power tool of the type including a housing enclosing a reversible electric motor, the switch device including a casing enclosing the components of a solid state speed control circuit and mounting a trigger for actuating an on/off switch and for controlling such circuit in response to the amount of trigger movement thereby to vary the speed of the associated motor, the improvement comprising: (a) a contactor support member in said casing and connected to said trigger for movement thereby; (b) said contactor support mounting at least first and second contact elements associated respectively with said on/off switch and said speed control circuit, the mass of said contactor support being substantially in excess of the aggregate masses of said first and second contact elements; (c) third and fourth fixed contacts mounted in said casing for respective-engagement with said first and second contact elements, said third and fourth fixed contacts being associated with said on/off switch and said speed control circuit, respectively; and (d) resilient means in the casing engaged with said contactor support for urging said first and second contact elements into respective engagement with said third and fourth fixed contacts, the mass of said contactor support cooperating with said resilient means to minimize bounce of said first and second contact elements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement according to Claim 24 wherein said first and second contact elements are integral with said contactor support.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement according to Claim 24 wherein said resilient means is defined by a spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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