US 5,893,685 A · Multiple bit power tool

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable electric drill having a rotatable magazine containing multiple tool bits from which a single bit may be selected for use. The magazine is in the form of an approximate 120-degree segment of a cylinder with a plurality of open grooves for holding the various bits. The drill includes a Jacobs-type chuck assembly with a bore into which the selected bit is inserted for use. The magazine may be rotated to position any one of the magazine grooves into axial alignment with the bore of the chuck, so that the user may index the magazine to position a selected bit for expulsion from a particular magazine groove into the chuck. The chuck may then be tightened around the selected bit and the electric motor actuated to drive the bit. A cable assembly within the drill housing is operable with an exterior button to be movable between a stored position and a forward position to push a selected bit from a groove on the magazine into the chuck assembly. A magnet on an end of the cable assembly is attracted to the shank of a selected bit, permitting the cable assembly also to be used to retract the selected bit from the chuck assembly. The magnet may remain against the shank of the selected bit while the bit is in use, both as a bearing surface and to assist in holding the bit within the chuck, particularly when the chuck is disengaged from the bit. An aperture is provided in the wall the drill housing, and the magazine may be rotated to align any one of the grooves with the aperture to expose in the aperture the groove and any bit it contains, permitting ready identification and cleaning of the bit.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A power drill apparatus for driving any selected one of multiple tool bits, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having an inner surface;
a chuck possessing an axial bore for securing the selected tool bit, said chuck including means for selectively releasably holding the selected tool bit in said axial bore;
an elongate magazine rotatable about an axis within said housing and including thereon a plurality of longitudinal grooves for holding one of the multiple tool bits, each of said grooves having an open side facing outward away from said axis and cooperating with said inner surface of said housing to prevent accidental dislodgement of a multiple tool bit contained therein, said magazine rotatable about said axis for selectively aligning said groves with said bore;
and
means for selectively expelling a selected tool bit from one of said grooves into said bore.

2 more elements

A power drill apparatus for use in combination with any selected one of multiple tool bits, said apparatus comprising:

a housing;
a chuck possessing an axial bore for securing said selected tool bit, said chuck including means for selectively releasably holding said selected tool bit in said axial bore;
an elongate magazine rotatable about an axis within said housing and including thereon a plurality of longitudinal grooves, each of said grooves adapted to hold a respective one of said multiple tool bits, said magazine rotatable whereby any one of said grooves may be selectively axially aligned with said bore;
a motor for rotating said chuck means;
variable switching means for actuating, adjusting, reversing and deactuating said motor;
an adjustable potentiometer operatively connected to said switch whereby said motor is deactuated when a voltage drop across said motor exceeds a predetermined limit;
and
means for selectively expelling, from one of said grooves into said bore, said selected tool bit.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple bit power tool

Life of this patent

Multiple bit power tool

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30