Single-switch snow thrower and power tools including methods of operation
AssigneeTechtronic Cordless GP
InventorsThomas Kolangayil James, Michael Scott Bailey, Shuai Shao, Christian Rudolph Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A snow thrower, power tool, or method of operation may include detecting switch engagement at a single tool activation switch. A method may also include directing element rotation for a rotatable work element in response to detecting switch engagement. The method may further include directing wheel rotation for one or more drive wheels in response to detecting switch engagement.
Claims20
A method of operating a snow thrower comprising a frame, a rotatable auger mounted to the frame, one or more drive wheels mounted to the frame apart from the rotatable auger, and a single user-activated tool activation switch held above the drive wheels, the method comprising:
- detecting switch engagement by a user at the single user-activated tool activation switch based on a signal received from an activation sensor in operative communication with the single user-activated tool activation switch;
- directing, by a controller, auger rotation for the rotatable auger in response to detecting switch engagement;
- and
- directing, by the controller, wheel rotation for the drive wheels in response to detecting switch engagement.
A method of operating a power tool comprising a frame, a rotatable work element mounted to the frame, and one or more drive wheels mounted to the frame apart from the rotatable work element, the method comprising:
- detecting switch engagement by a user at a single user-activated tool activation switch based on a signal received from an activation sensor in operative communication with the single user-activated tool activation switch;
- directing, from a controller, element rotation for the rotatable work element in response to detecting switch engagement;
- and
- directing, from the controller, wheel rotation for the drive wheels in response to detecting switch engagement.
A power tool comprising:
- a frame;
- a rotatable work element mounted to the frame;
- one or more drive wheels mounted to the frame apart from the rotatable work element;
- an element speed input attached to the frame above the drive wheels;
- a wheel speed input attached to the frame above the drive wheels;
- a single user-activated tool activation switch spaced apart from the element and wheel speed inputs;
- and
- a controller in operative communication with the element speed input, the wheel speed input, and the single user-activated tool activation switch, the controller being configured to direct an operation routine comprising:
- detecting switch engagement by a user at the single user-activated tool activation switch based on a signal received from an activation sensor in operative communication with the single user-activated tool activation switch,
- directing, by the controller, element rotation for the rotatable work element based on the element speed input in response to detecting switch engagement, and
- directing, by the controller, wheel rotation for the drive wheels based on the wheel speed input in response to detecting switch engagement based on the wheel speed input.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.