Power tool with clutch

1. A power tool comprising:

a motor-driven drive shaft;

an output shaft for driving a tool receptacle;

a clutch arranged between said drive shaft and said output shaft, said clutch having an engaged position in which torque is transmitted from said drive shaft to said output shaft, and having a released position wherein torque transmission from said drive shaft to said output shaft is interrupted;

wherein said clutch comprises

a first clutch element;

a second clutch element cooperating with said first clutch element for transmitting a torque when being in said engaged position, said first and second clutch elements being seated for rotation one relative to the other; and

an actuating element comprising a nanotube actuator engaging at least one of said first and second clutch elements for moving said at least one clutch element between said engaged position and said released position;

wherein said first clutch element is connected to said output shaft for common rotation therewith, wherein said second clutch element is connected to said drive shaft for common rotation therewith, and wherein said nanotube actuator is configured for axially moving one of said first and second clutch elements from said engaged position into said released position against the action of a restoring force; and

wherein said nanotube actuator, together with an electrolyte, are sealingly received in a housing, said housing comprising an opening sealed by a diaphragm, said diaphragm engaging at least one piston for translating a volume expansion of said electrolyte into an axial movement of said least one piston, said nanotube actuator including at least one layer with nanotubes epitaxially grown between mutually parallel plates.

2. A power tool comprising:

a motor-driven drive shaft;

an output shaft for driving a tool receptacle;

a clutch arranged between said drive shaft and said output shaft, said clutch having an engaged position in which torque is transmitted from said drive shaft to said output shaft, and having a released position wherein torque transmission from said drive shaft to said output shaft is interrupted;

wherein said clutch comprises

a first clutch element;

a second clutch element cooperating with said first clutch element for transmitting a torque when being in said engaged position, said first and second clutch elements being seated for rotation one relative to the other; and

an actuating element comprising a nanotube actuator engaging at least one of said first and second clutch elements for moving said at least one clutch element between said engaged position and said released position, said nanotube actuator including at least one layer with nanotubes epitaxially grown between mutually parallel plates.

3. The power tool of claim 2 , further comprising means for translating a volume change of said nanotube actuator into an axial movement of said first and second clutch elements one relative to the other.

4. The power tool of claim 3 , further comprising means for generating a restoring force directed against said axial movement.

5. The power tool of claim 4 , wherein said first clutch element is connected to said output shaft for common rotation therewith, wherein said second clutch element is connected to said drive shaft for common rotation therewith, and wherein said nanotube actuator is configured for axially moving one of said first and second clutch elements from said engaged position into said released position against the action of said restoring force.

6. The power tool of claim 5 , wherein at least one of said first and second clutch elements further comprises a friction lining for effecting torque transmission between said drive shaft and said output shaft when being in said engaged position.

7. The power tool of claim 3 , wherein said nanotube actuator is configured for moving said first and second clutch elements from said engaged position into said released position when being activated.

8. The power tool of claim 3 , wherein said first and second clutch elements are urged by a spring element into said engaged position.

9. The power tool of claim 3 , wherein said nanotube actuator, together with an electrolyte, are sealingly received in a housing, said housing comprising an opening sealed by a diaphragm, said diaphragm engaging at least one piston for translating a volume expansion of said electrolyte into an axial movement of said least one piston.

10. The power tool of claim 9 , wherein said first clutch element is connected to said output shaft for common rotation therewith, wherein said second clutch element is connected to said drive shaft for common rotation therewith, and wherein said nanotube actuator is configured for axially moving one of said first and second clutch elements from said engaged position into said released position against the action of a restoring force.

11. The clutch of claim 2 , wherein said clutch is configured as a clutch selected from the group consisting of a disk clutch, a cone friction clutch, a jaw clutch, a gear clutch, a dog clutch and a switchable overrunning-spring clutch.

12. The power tool of claim 11 , wherein at least one of said first and second clutch elements further comprises a friction lining for effecting torque transmission between said drive shaft and said output shaft when being in said engaged position.

13. The power tool of claim 2 , wherein said actuating element comprises a carbon nanotube actuator.

14. The power tool of claim 2 , wherein said nanotube actuator comprises at least one layer in which nanotubes are arranged with a preferred orientation.

15. The power tool of claim 2 , wherein said nanotube actuator comprises at least one layer comprising nanotubes comprising inorganic components other than carbon.

16. The power tool of claim 15 , wherein said nanotube actuator comprises at least one layer comprising nanotubes comprising a material selected from the group consisting of BN, MoS 2 and V 2 O 5 .

17. The power tool of claim 15 , wherein said nanotube actuator comprises at least one layer comprising nanotubes selected from the group consisting of single-wall carbon nanotubes and multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

18. The power tool of claim 2 , wherein said nanotube actuator comprises at least one layer structured by a CVD process and being selected from the group consisting of nanotubes and nanotube fibers.

19. A clutch comprising:

a first clutch element;

a second clutch element cooperating with said first clutch element for transmitting a torque, said first and second clutch elements being seated for rotation one relative to the other;

an actuating element engaging at least one of said first and second clutch elements for moving said at least one clutch between a first position, wherein torque is transmitted between said first and second clutch elements, and a second position, wherein torque transmission between said first and second clutch elements is interrupted;

wherein said actuating element comprises a nanotube actuator including at least one layer with nanotubes epitaxially crown between mutually parallel plates.