Speed control for dental handpieces

Claim 2

In combination with an electrically or pneumatically driven dental handpiece and regulating means for regulating the speed of the handpiece, means for controlling the operation of said regulator means, comprising: a. said handpiece having a slot formed on the outer surface thereof; b. air supply means including a line having the discharge thereof opening into said slot for exhausting air into said slot and then to atmosphere; c. a manually movable slide member on said handpiece disposed for a movement over said slot to open and close the same, the movement of said slide member over said slot acting to vary the back pressure in said line; and d. pressure responsive means operatively connected to said regulator means and communicating with said line, said pressure responsive means acting responsive to pressure variations in said line created by moving said slide member across said slot to operate said regulator means.

Claim 3

A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said regulator means is a foot controller and said pressure responsive means is incorporated into said foot controller.

Claim 4

Apparatus for controlling the speed of electrically or pneumatically driven handpieces comprising in combination: a. an exhaust nozzle on said handpiece; b. air supply means including an air line connected to said exhaust nozzle for supplying air thereto; c. a manually movable member on said handpiece for adjusting the opening of said nozzle to vary the amount of air exhausting therethrough and therefore the pressure in said air line; d. a foot controller including a foot operated means said controller being operatively connected to said handpiece fOr controlling the speed thereof; and e. an air motor having a driven member connected to said foot controller, said air motor being in communication with said air line and acting responsive to pressure in said air line to operate said foot controller, whereby the speed of said handpiece may be controlled either by operation of said foot operated means on said foot controller or by operation of said manually movable member on said handpiece.

Claim 5

Apparatus for controlling the speed of electrically or pneumatically driven handpieces comprising in combination: a. an exhaust nozzle on said handpiece; b. air supply means including an air line connected to said exhaust nozzle for supplying air thereto; c. a manually movable member on said handpiece for adjusting the opening of said nozzle to vary the amount of air exhausting therethrough and therefore the pressure in said air line; d. a foot controller including a foot operated means said controller being operatively connected to said handpiece fOr controlling the speed thereof; and e. an air motor having a driven member connected to said foot controller, said air motor being in communication with said air line and acting responsive to pressure in said air line to operate said foot controller, whereby the speed of said handpiece may be controlled either by operation of said foot operated means on said foot controller or by operation of said manually movable member on said handpiece.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said exhaust nozzle comprises a groove formed in said handpiece.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said movable member comprises a sliding sleeve on said handpiece movable across said groove to close the same.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said air motor is mounted within said foot controller.