Tape measure with fluid-based retraction speed controller
A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The tape measure includes a fluid-based retraction speed controller. The speed controller may be formed from a rotor/stator arrangement. The rotor is coupled to the reel and the stator is coupled to the housing opposing the rotor. The rotor converts some rotational energy from tape reel into movement of a fluid (e.g., movement of air, movement of oil, etc. through friction) which acts to slow or limit the retraction/rotational speed of the reel as the retraction spring expands driving the reel during tape blade retraction.
1. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing defining an axis of rotation, the tape reel comprising a radially outward facing surface;
an elongate tape blade wound around the radially outward facing surface of the tape reel;
a spring-based retraction system comprising a spring coupled to the tape reel, wherein, when the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing, the spring stores energy and the spring releases energy driving rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel; and
a rotor comprising a vane rigidly coupled to the tape reel such that the rotor spins along with the tape reel during retraction of the elongate tape blade.
2. The tape measure of claim 1 , further comprising an axle coupled to the housing, wherein the tape reel is rotatably mounted within the housing around the axle and the axle defines the axis of rotation.
3. The tape measure of claim 2 , wherein the vane is a radially extending wall extending away from the axis of rotation, the vane comprising:
a first major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a counterclockwise direction; and
a second major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a clockwise direction.
4. The tape measure of claim 1 , further comprising a stator non-rotationally fixed within the housing and facing the rotor.
5. The tape measure of claim 4 , wherein the stator includes a radially extending wall extending away from the axis of rotation.
6. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the vane includes a maximum radial length, and the elongate tape blade has a width, wherein the maximum radial length of the vane is between 50% and 150% of the width of the elongate tape blade.
7. The tape measure of claim 6 , wherein the maximum radial length of the vane is between 0.5 inches and 2 inches.
8. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the rotor further comprises a second vane and a concave curved surface located between the vane and the second vane, the concave surface faces outward away from the reel in a direction of the axis of rotation.
9. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the elongate tape blade has a maximum extended length of between 10 ft. and 50 ft.
10. The tape measure of claim 1 , further comprising a hook assembly coupled to an outer end of the elongate tape blade.
11. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the rotor is adjacent to the tape reel along the axis of rotation such that rotor is positioned between the tape reel and an inner surface of the housing.
12. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the rotor further comprises an outer wall defining a cylindrical outer surface, wherein the cylindrical outer surface is coaxial with the rotational axis and the vane is rigidly coupled to the outer wall.
13. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing defining an axis of rotation, the tape reel comprising a radially outward facing surface;
an elongate tape blade wound around the radially outward facing surface of the tape reel;
a spring-based retraction system comprising a spring coupled to the tape reel, wherein, when the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing, the spring stores energy, and the spring releases energy driving rotation of the tape reel and rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel; and
a speed control device coupled to the tape reel, wherein an outer diameter of the speed control device is within 5% of an outer diameter of the tape reel, wherein the speed control device converts rotational energy of the reel to movement of a fluid within the housing.
14. The tape measure of claim 13 , wherein the speed control device is configured such that an amount of rotational energy of the reel that is converted to movement of the fluid increases as the rotational speed of the reel increases.
15. The tape measure of claim 14 , wherein the speed control device comprises:
a rotor rigidly coupled to the tape reel such that the rotor spins along with the tape reel during extension and retraction of the elongate blade; and
a stator non-rotationally fixed within the housing and opposing the rotor.
16. The tape measure of claim 15 , wherein the rotor includes a plurality of vanes each extending in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation.
17. The tape measure of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of vanes of the rotor comprises:
a first major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a counterclockwise direction; and
a second major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a clockwise direction.
18. The tape measure of claim 17 , wherein the stator includes a plurality of vanes each extending in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation.
19. The tape measure of claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of vanes of the stator comprises:
a first major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in the counterclockwise direction; and
a second major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in the clockwise direction.
20. The tape measure of claim 13 , further comprising a hook assembly coupled to an outer end of the elongate tape blade, wherein the elongate tape blade has a maximum length that may be extended from the housing of between 10 ft. and 50 ft., wherein the fluid moved within the speed control device is at least one of air and oil.
21. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing defining an axis of rotation, the tape reel comprising a radially outward facing surface;
an elongate tape blade wound around the radially outward facing surface of the tape reel;
a spring-based retraction system comprising a spring coupled to the tape reel, wherein, when the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing, the spring stores energy, and the spring releases energy driving rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel; and
a speed control device comprising:
a rotor rigidly coupled to the tape reel such that the rotor spins along with the tape reel during extension and retraction of the elongate blade; and
a stator non-rotationally fixed within the housing and opposing the rotor.
22. The tape measure of claim 21 , wherein the rotor includes a plurality of vanes each extending in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation, wherein each of the plurality of vanes of the rotor comprises:
a first major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a counterclockwise direction; and
a second major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in a clockwise direction; and
further wherein the stator includes a plurality of vanes each extending in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation, wherein each of the plurality of vanes of the stator comprises:
a first major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in the counterclockwise direction; and
a second major surface having a width parallel to the axis of rotation and facing in the clockwise direction.