# US 11,897,110 B2 · Non-contact speed selector switch in rotary power tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,110 B2 - Document ID: US11897110B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/177,612 - Filed: 2018-11-01 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-07 - Assignees: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Applicants: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Inventors: Maxwell L. Merget; Jingyuan Liang; Michael R. Sande; Michael Halverson; Ian Duncan; Nicholas C. Mantych; Alex Huber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897110B2 ## CPC - B25F 5/001: {Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools} - B25B 21/00: Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; (details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; {for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006}); Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose (machines B23P19/06) - B25B 21/02: with means for imparting impact to screwdriver blade or nut socket - B25D 17/00: Details of, or accessories for, portable power-driven percussive tools {(details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00)} - B25F 5/026: {in the form of an auxiliary handle (B25F5/024 takes precedence)} - H02P 6/17: and for generating speed information - H02P 29/40: Regulating or controlling the amount of current drawn or delivered by the motor for controlling the mechanical load - B25B 21/026: {Impact clutches} - B25D 16/003: {Clutches specially adapted therefor} - B25D 16/006: {Mode changers; Mechanisms connected thereto} - B25D 2216/0084: Mode-changing mechanisms - B25D 2250/095: Electric motors - B25D 2250/201: for speed, e.g. drilling or percussion speed - B25D 2250/221: Sensors - B25D 2250/255: Switches - B25D 2250/265: Trigger mechanism in handle - B25F: COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR {(machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass B23P23/00 and subgroups)} - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - B25D: PERCUSSIVE TOOLS {(percussive machines for forging B21J; hand-held drilling machines, in general B23B45/00, for wood B27C3/08; drilling machines, used for mining or quarrying, with reciprocating tool which is turned intermittently when out of contact with the working face E21B1/00)} - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS ## Abstract A rotary power tool includes a housing having a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom. An electric motor is positioned within the motor housing portion. The rotary power tool further includes a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor. The rotary power tool further includes a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the housing. The non-contact speed selector switch is configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor. The non-contact speed selector switch is separate from the trigger switch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotary power tool comprising: a housing including a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom; an electric motor positioned within the motor housing portion, the electric motor defining a longitudinal axis extending through the motor housing portion; a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor; a bit retainer operatively coupled to the electric motor; a circuit board positioned in the motor housing portion, the circuit board positioned axially between the electric motor and the bit retainer relative to the longitudinal axis, the circuit board includes an axially-facing surface relative to the longitudinal axis; and a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the housing, the non-contact speed selector switch movable between a first position corresponding to high speed operation of the motor and a second position corresponding to low speed operation of the motor, the non-contact speed selector switch configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is separate from the trigger switch, and wherein the circuit board includes a portion of the non-contact speed selector switch, the portion of the non-contact speed selector switch positioned on the axially-facing surface of the circuit board, and wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes two detent recesses selectively engageable by a detent spring, the detent recesses configured to hold the non-contact speed selector switch in one of the first position or the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rotary power tool of claim 1, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a Hall-effect sensor and a magnet adjustably positioned proximate the Hall-effect sensor, and wherein the rotational speed is adjusted based on a position of the magnet relative to the Hall-effect sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rotary power tool of claim 2, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes an adjustable mechanical switch portion graspable by a user, the magnet positioned on the mechanical switch portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rotary power tool of claim 3, wherein the mechanical switch portion includes a shuttle body movable to a plurality of discrete positions, the shuttle body including a surface spaced from and in facing relationship with the Hall-effect sensor, and wherein the magnet is positioned on the surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rotary power tool of claim 4, wherein the mechanical switch portion is held in one of the discrete positions by a biasing member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The rotary power tool of claim 2, wherein the circuit board is in facing relationship with the magnet, wherein the circuit board includes an axially-facing surface relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the Hall-effect sensor is positioned on the axially-facing surface of the circuit board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rotary power tool of claim 1, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to output a variable voltage signal to a controller indicating the rotational speed at which to operate the motor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rotary power tool of claim 1, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is positioned in the motor housing portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The rotary power tool of claim 1, further comprising a multi-stage planetary transmission coupled to the motor, and wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to an electronic controller a speed setting of the transmission. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The rotary power tool of claim 9, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes an adjustable mechanical switch portion for adjusting the transmission. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The rotary power tool of claim 9, further comprising an electronic clutch, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to the electronic controller a current draw limit of the electronic clutch based on the speed setting. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The rotary power tool of claim 1, further comprising a transmission operatively coupled between the electric motor and the bit retainer, wherein the circuit board is positioned axially between one of the electric motor and the transmission, or the transmission and a tool chuck of the bit retainer relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 A rotary power tool comprising: a housing including a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom; an electric motor positioned within the motor housing portion, the electric motor defining a longitudinal axis extending through the motor housing portion; a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor; a bit retainer operatively coupled to the electric motor; a circuit board positioned in the motor housing portion, the circuit board positioned axially between the electric motor and the bit retainer relative to the longitudinal axis, the circuit board oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the motor housing portion, the non-contact speed selector switch configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor, and wherein the circuit board includes a portion of the non-contact speed selector switch, wherein the circuit board includes an axially-facing surface relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the portion of the non-contact speed selector switch is positioned on the axially-facing surface of the circuit board. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The rotary power tool of claim 13, further comprising a multi-stage planetary transmission coupled to the motor, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes an adjustable mechanical switch portion for adjusting the transmission, and wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to an electronic controller a speed setting of the transmission. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The rotary power tool of claim 14, further comprising an electronic clutch, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to the electronic controller a current draw limit of the electronic clutch based on the speed setting. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The rotary power tool of claim 14, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a Hall-effect sensor and a magnet, and wherein the magnet is positioned on the mechanical switch portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The rotary power tool of claim 16, wherein the circuit board is spaced from the magnet, and wherein the Hall-effect sensor is positioned on the axially-facing surface of the circuit board. ### Claim 18 A rotary power tool comprising: a housing including a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom; an electric motor positioned within the motor housing portion, the electric motor defining a longitudinal axis extending through the motor housing portion; a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor; a bit retainer operatively coupled to the electric motor; a circuit board positioned in the motor housing portion, the circuit board positioned axially between the electric motor and the bit retainer relative to the longitudinal axis, the circuit board oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the motor housing portion, the non-contact speed selector switch configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor, and wherein the circuit board includes a portion of the non-contact speed selector switch; and a multi-stage planetary transmission coupled to the motor, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes an adjustable mechanical switch portion for adjusting the transmission, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch is configured to indicate to an electronic controller a speed setting of the transmission, wherein the non-contact speed selector switch includes a Hall-effect sensor and a magnet, wherein the magnet is positioned on the mechanical switch portion, wherein the circuit board is spaced from the magnet, wherein the circuit board includes an axially-facing surface relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the Hall-effect sensor is positioned on the axially-facing surface of the circuit board.