Patent US4573370A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4573370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gear reversing mechanism for power tools
Assignee: Cooper Technologies Co
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Filing: 1983-12-30
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Granted: 1986-03-04
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Expires: 2003-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A gear reversal mechanism for a hand held power tool is selectively operative to reverse the output of a unidirectional motor and provides a direct drive forward mode and an indirect drive reverse mode, with the selection therebetween being implemented by a manual shift collar operating a cam mechanism selectively to reorient the gear train and consequent direction of motor output. The shift collar is temporarily locked to the gear housing during tool operation by using the operative air pressure of the tool to expand a locking mechanism into locking engagement with such shift collar. With or without the locking mechanism, an exhaust shutoff shift interlock may be provided to permit exhaust air to exit the housing when the shift collar is in either its forward or reverse operating positions or alternatively to close the housing exhaust ports to block exhaust air flow to preclude motor operation when the shift collar is between its operating positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W. Clemens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:37
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25F; B25F5/00; B25F5/02; B25F5/025; B25B; B25B21/00; B25B23/00; B25B23/0078; B25F5/001; F; F16; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/44; F16H3/46; F16H3/60; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19219; Y10T74/19251; Y10T74/19279; Y10T74/19293; Y10T74/19298; Y10T74/19307; Y10T74/19312
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A gear reversal mechanism for a hand held power tool or the like, comprising a housing, a motor in said housing having a rotor pinion rotating in one direction upon motor actuation, idler gear means in mesh with and driven by said rotor pinion, transfer gear means in mesh with and driven by said idler gear means, a primary drive gear having a splined bore therein, an output drive shaft having output splines thereon, and cam means selectively to shift the primary drive gear between two alternate positions, said cam means including a shift body having ramp means thereon and the primary drive gear rotatably mounted therein for axial movement therewith, the first primary drive gear position coupling the rotor pinion to the output splines by the splined bore of the drive gear being in mesh with both to directly drive the output drive shaft in the forward rotation mode and the second alternative drive gear position coupling the rotor pinion to the output splines via the idler gear means, transfer gear means, primary drive gear and splined bore thereof to drive the output drive shaft in a reverse rotation mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A gear reversal mechanism for a hand held power tool or the like, comprising a housing, a motor in said housing having a rotor pinion rotating in one direction upon motor actuation, idler gear means in mesh with and driven by said rotor pinion, transfer gear means in mesh with and driven by said idler gear means, a primary drive gear having a splined bore therein, an output drive shaft having output splines thereon, and cam means selectively to shift the primary drive gear between two alternate positions, said cam means including a shift body having ramp means thereon and the primary drive gear rotatably mounted therein for axial movement therewith, the first primary drive gear position coupling the rotor pinion to the output splines by the splined bore of the drive gear being in mesh with both to directly drive the output drive shaft in the forward rotation mode and the second alternative drive gear position coupling the rotor pinion to the output splines via the idler gear means, transfer gear means, primary drive gear and splined bore thereof to drive the output drive shaft in a reverse rotation mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 1 wherein the shift body is rotationally fixed but selectively axially slidable to shift the primary drive gear mounted therein between its two alternate positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 2 wherein the cam means further includes a shift collar rotatably mounted on said housing, said shift collar having cams thereon extending into said housing into sliding camming engagement with said ramp means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 3 wherein the cam means further include spring means biasing said shift body to retain said ramp means in engagement with said cams.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 4 wherein rotation of said shift collar in one direction rotates said cams along said ramp means to positively cam said shift body from a first axial position to a second axial position respectively corresponding to the first and second axial positions of said primary drive gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 5 wherein rotation of said shift collar in the opposite direction rotates said cams in the opposite direction and the ramp means follow said cams under the bias of said spring means, whereby said shift body returns to its said first axial position under the bias of said spring means and under the control of said cams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 6 further comprising means to lock the shift collar to the housing during motor operation positively to retain the shift body and primary drive gear in the selected axial position during such motor operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 7 wherein the means to lock includes an extendible and retractable pin mounted to either said housing or said shift collar, and two spaced retention means selectively cooperating with said pin and being provided on the housing or shift collar opposed to said pin, said retention means being positioned to alternately be in alignment with said pin when the shift collar has been rotated to shift the primary gear to one of its two alternate positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 8 wherein the means to lock further includes a diaphragm mounted to the housing with said pin being carried by and projecting outwardly from said diaphragm, with said diaphragm being deflected outwardly by pressurized air during motor operation selectively to insert the pin in the retention means aligned therewith temporarily to lock the shift collar to the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 9 wherein the flow of pressurized air is discontinued when the motor operation is terminated allowing the diaphragm to return inwardly to withdraw the pin from the retention means aligned therewith, thereby to unlock the shift collar to free the same for selective rotation relative to the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 10 further comprising means to direct pressurized exhaust air from the motor past the various gear means and against the diaphragm, thereby to have a lubricating effect on the various gear means, to muffle motor noise by extending the pressurized air exhaust path and selectively to actuate the locking means diaphragm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 3 further comprising a shut-off interlock means adapted to permit tool operation only when the shift collar is in a forward operating position or a reverse operating position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 12 wherein said shut off interlock means includes a shut off collar coupled to said shift collar, whereby said shift collar and shut off collar may selectively be simultaneously rotated relative to said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 13 wherein the shut-off interlock means further includes circumferentially spaced ports in the rotatable shut-off collar and equally circumferentially spaced ports in the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 14 wherein the shut-off collar ports and housing ports are in alignment in either the forward or reverse position of the shift collar to permit tool operation in the selected mode with exhaust air passing through the aligned ports to exit the tool.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The gear reversal mechanism of claim 15 wherein the shut-off collar ports and exhaust ports are out of alignment when the shift collar is in transition between its forward and reverse positions and the shut off collar closes the housing ports, whereby motor exhaust air is blocked and cannot escape the tool to preclude its operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
137 words
A reversible air tool comprising a housing, a unidirectional air motor in said housing having a rotor pinion rotating in a single forward direction, drive means selectively actuated to directly couple the rotor pinion to an output drive shaft to directly drive said output drive shaft in said forward direction, gear means selectively actuated to indirectly couple the rotor pinion to the output drive shaft indirectly to drive said output drive shaft in a reverse direction, direction selection means alternately to engage either said drive means or said gear means selectively to change the rotation direction of the output drive shaft, and means to exhaust pressurized air from said motor past said drive means and gear means to have a lubricating effect on the same and to muffle motor noise by increasing the exhaust air flow path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
137 words
A reversible air tool comprising a housing, a unidirectional air motor in said housing having a rotor pinion rotating in a single forward direction, drive means selectively actuated to directly couple the rotor pinion to an output drive shaft to directly drive said output drive shaft in said forward direction, gear means selectively actuated to indirectly couple the rotor pinion to the output drive shaft indirectly to drive said output drive shaft in a reverse direction, direction selection means alternately to engage either said drive means or said gear means selectively to change the rotation direction of the output drive shaft, and means to exhaust pressurized air from said motor past said drive means and gear means to have a lubricating effect on the same and to muffle motor noise by increasing the exhaust air flow path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The reversible air tool of claim 17 further comprising shut off interlock means coupled to said direction selection means adapted to block motor exhaust air when the direction selection means are between forward and reverse operating modes to preclude tool operation between such modes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The reversible air tool of claim 17 further comprising means temporarily to lock said direction selection means when said motor is actuated to preclude reversal during tool operation, said means to lock utilizing said pressurized exhaust air to positively retain the lock during motor actuation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The reversible air tool of claim 19 wherein the drive means includes a primary drive gear having a splined bore therein selectively directly to couple the rotor pinion to the output drive shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The reversible air tool of claim 20 wherein the gear means includes idler gears driven by said rotor pinion and transfer gears driven by said idler gears.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
67 words
The reversible air tool of claim 21 further comprising cam means operated by said direction selection means axially to shift the primary drive gear selectively to remove the splined bore from engagement with the rotor pinion and to engage the drive gear with the transfer gear thereby to drive the output shaft in reverse direction through the idler gears, transfer gears, primary drive gear and splined bore.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-03 | 1989-09-02 | 1990-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-03 | 1993-09-02 | 1994-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-03 | 1997-09-02 | 1998-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |