Power unit, in particular for dental instruments, and tool unit for use in connection with such power unit

Abstract

A power unit, in particular for dental instruments, comprises a housing (2) which, at one end, has means for supplying electric current and at least one fluid, and, at the other end, has a connector branch or stub for removably mounting a tool unit thereon. The connector stub includes an interior partition wall (18) which defines flow passages for transfer of fluid through the connector stub. This partition wall is in electrically conducting connection (28) with the current supply means, and the partition wall (18) is electrically insulated or separated from the remaining walls of the connector stub. The partition wall (18) has a contact face (19) which is accessible from the exterior of the stub. A tool unit includes a coupling socket with an interior wall (30) for insertion on the connector stub. A contact (38) is mounted in the interior wall (30) and is adapted to provide connection with the contact face (19), when the tool unit is in place on the connector stub. Thereby it is possible to transfer fluids as well as electric current to a tool, without the removability of the tool unit giving rise to complications.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.