IP Library Granted Patent US 10,232,501
Granted Patent B2
US 10,232,501 · App. 14/384,247 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Power tool

Inventors: Fumiaki Sawano (Mie, JP); Hidenori Shimizu (Mie, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
B25F5/001B25B21/00B25B23/14B25B23/141B25B23/147B25F3/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,232,501
App. No.
14/384,247
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power tool that is capable of more reliably keeping a torque at a constant is provided. An adjustment member is provided with: an engagement hole that is detachably attached to the adjustment member, and serves as an engagement part that engages with a torque adjustment device that serves as a clutch handle for rotating the adjustment member; and a lid that is attached to an opening in such a manner as to cover the engagement hole.

Claims (35)

1. A power tool comprising:

a driving source;

a drive transmission mechanism that transmits driving power from the driving source;

a torque adjustment portion capable of adjusting a tightening torque for when the driving power is transmitted to an output portion of the power tool; and

a main body housing accommodating the driving source, the drive transmission mechanism, and the torque adjustment portion, wherein the main body housing includes an opening that exposes the output portion and a distal end surface of an adjustment member, the distal end surface is located in the opening,

wherein the torque adjustment portion includes:

a torque clutch including a clutch spring and a clutch plate, which abuts against a first end portion of the clutch spring, wherein the torque clutch is configured to interrupt power transmission to the output portion by pushing and lifting the clutch plate against the clutch spring as a load torque on the output portion increases, and

the adjustment member, which is arranged at a second end portion of the clutch spring in the torque clutch, wherein

the torque adjustment portion is configured to adjust a spring force of the clutch spring that pushes the clutch plate to change the degree of the tightening torque when interrupting power transmission of the torque clutch, and

the adjustment member includes an engagement portion disposed on the distal end surface, the engagement portion being engagable with a clutch handle, which is configured to be coupled in a removable manner to the adjustment member to rotate the adjustment member,

the power tool further comprising:

a cover configured to be removably attached to the opening to cover the engagement portion,

wherein the distal end surface is an outermost surface of the adjustment member taken along a longitudinal axis of the output portion, and

wherein the cover prevents the clutch handle from engaging the engagement portion of the adjustment member when the cover is attached to the opening of the main body housing.

2. The power tool according to claim 1 , wherein

the power tool includes the clutch handle, which rotates the adjustment member, and

the cover includes a cover side engagement portion, which is formed in a rotating direction of the cover and engaged with the clutch handle, wherein the cover is configured so that the cover is removable from the main body housing by engaging the cover side engagement portion with the clutch handle.

3. The power tool according to claim 2 , wherein

the engagement portion includes a plurality of primary engagement elements continuously formed in a rotating direction of the adjustment member,

the cover side engagement portion includes a plurality of secondary engagement elements continuously formed in the rotating direction of the cover, and

the primary engagement elements differ in shape from the secondary engagement elements.

4. The power tool according to claim 3 , wherein

the primary engagement elements have a curved shape, and

the secondary engagement elements have a cylindrical shape.

5. The power tool according to claim 3 , wherein

the primary engagement elements have a cylindrical shape, and

the secondary engagement elements have a curved shape.

6. The power tool according to claim 1 , wherein

the cover includes a cover side engagement portion, which is formed in a rotating direction of the cover and engaged with the clutch handle, and

the cover is configured to be removable from the main body housing by engaging the cover side engagement portion with the clutch handle.

7. The power tool according to claim 1 , wherein the distal end surface of the adjustment member defines a plane that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the output portion.

8. The power tool according to claim 1 , wherein the distal end surface of the adjustment member is positioned between a distal end of the output portion and the torque clutch.

9. The power tool according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement hole of the adjustment member is open to at least distal end side of the output portion.

10. The power tool according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of engagement holes of the adjustment member are continuously formed in a rotating direction of the adjustment member.

11. The power tool according to claim 1 , wherein the distal end surface of the adjustment member is fully recessed within the opening of the main body.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034537/0136 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2014
From: SAWANO, FUMIAKI; SHIMIZU, HIDENORI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034055/0801 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-055964 · Mar 13, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150047867A1 · Feb 19, 2015
Cited By (2)
US 12,304,037 US 12,447,591