US 12,365,076 B2Granted

Electromagnetic actuator for power tool

AssigneeBlack & Decker Inc.

InventorsDaniel Puzio, Robert S. Gehret, John D. Cox, Robert J. Opsitos, Jr., Robert G. Kusmierski, Craig A. Schell, Michael T. Haupt, Joseph P. Kelleher

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Abstract

An actuator assembly for a power tool includes an actuator with a permanent magnet. The actuator is moveable between a first position for a first mode of operation, and a second position for a second mode of operation. A first positioning member is adjacent the first position composed of a ferromagnetic material to attract the permanent magnet. A second positioning member is adjacent the second position and composed of a ferromagnetic material to attract the permanent magnet. An electromagnet may be energized to move the actuator between the first position and the second position. When the electromagnet is not energized and the actuator is in the first position, the actuator is retained in the first position. When the electromagnet is not energized and the actuator is in the second position, the actuator is retained in the second position. When the electromagnet is energized, the actuator moves between the first and second positions.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An actuator assembly for a power tool, comprising:

a positioning member remaining axially stationary along an axis;
an actuator moveable along the axis between a first position closer to the positioning member that corresponds to a first mode of operation of the power tool, and a second position further from the positioning member that corresponds to a second mode of operation of the power tool;
a first permanent magnet assembly fixed to the actuator and a second permanent magnet assembly fixed to the positioning member, wherein the first permanent magnet assembly and the second permanent magnet assembly are configured to attract each other by an attractive force when the actuator is in the first position and to repel each other by a repulsive force when the actuator is in the second position;
and
an electromagnet axially stationary relative to the positioning member,
wherein when the actuator is in the first position, the electromagnet can be momentarily energized to generate a magnetic force sufficient to overcome the attractive force and move the actuator to the second position, where the actuator will be maintained in the second position after the electromagnet is deenergized due to the repulsive force, and
when the actuator is in the second position, the electromagnet can be momentarily energized to generate a magnetic force sufficient to overcome the repulsive force and move the actuator to the first position, where the actuator will be maintained in the first position after the electromagnet is deenergized due to the attractive force.

4 more elements

An actuator assembly for a power tool, comprising:

an actuator moveable between a first position in which an output member of the power tool is coupled to an input member of the power tool so that movement of the input member causes movement of the output member and a second position in which the output member is decoupled from the input member so that movement of the input member does not cause movement of the output member;
a first permanent magnet assembly fixed to the actuator and a second permanent magnet assembly fixed to one of the input member and the output member, wherein the first permanent magnet assembly and the second permanent magnet assembly are configured to attract each other by an attractive force when the actuator is in the first position and to repel each other by a repulsive force when the actuator is in the second position;
and
an electromagnet disposed adjacent the actuator,
wherein when the actuator is in the first position, the electromagnet can be momentarily energized to generate a magnetic force sufficient to overcome the attractive force and move the actuator to the second position, where the actuator will be maintained in the second position after the electromagnet is deenergized due to the repulsive force, and
when the actuator is in the second position, the electromagnet can be momentarily energized to generate a magnetic force sufficient to overcome the repulsive force and move the actuator to the first position, where the actuator will be maintained in the first position after the electromagnet is deenergized due to the attractive force.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/345,848Filed 11 Jun 2021 · continuation
Priority: 24 Jun 2011
Published: US 2021/0299842 A130 Sep 2021
Granted: 22 Jul 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B25F 5/001
Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for:…
B25B 21/00
Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools
B25B 21/02
Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; ; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose: with means for…
B25B 23/0035
Connections or joints between tool parts: connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool

Family

Application61/500,872Us provisional application · filed 24 Jun 2011
Application13/494,325Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Jun 2012
Application13/799,177Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Mar 2013
US 9,364,942 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Jun 2016
Application15/582,877Parent of this continuation · filed 1 May 2017
US 2021/0299842 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Sep 2021
US 11,059,159 B2Parent of this continuation
Application13/799,177Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2012/0325509 A1Published application
US 2013/0192860 A1Published application
US 2017/0232602 A1Published application
US 12,365,076 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.