Drive system having an inertial valve

A drive system having a housing, the drive system comprising:

• a frame supported in the housing and defining an axis, the frame being rotatable about the axis, the frame defining an interior space;
• a piston supported by the frame and being moveable axially in the interior space and rotatable about the axis, the piston dividing the interior space and defining a first chamber, a second chamber, and a plurality of channels communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber;
• and
• an inertial valve coupled to the piston, the inertial valve including a valve stop and a spring, the inertial valve being moveable between a first orientation, in which the valve stop is spaced a distance from at least one of the plurality of channels to permit lubricant flow through the at least one of the plurality of channels, and a second orientation, in which the valve stop sealingly engages the at least one of the plurality of channels to block lubricant flow through the at least one of the plurality of channels, the spring biasing the valve toward the first orientation.

A drive system having a housing, the drive system comprising:

• a frame supported in the housing and defining an axis, the frame being rotatable about the axis, the frame defining an interior space and housing lubricant;
• a piston supported by the frame and being moveable axially in the interior space between a forward position and a rearward position, the piston dividing the interior space and defining a first chamber, a second chamber, and a plurality of channels communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber;
• and
• an inertial valve coupled to the piston, the inertial valve being moveable between a first orientation, in which at least a portion of the valve is spaced a distance from at least one of the plurality of channels to permit lubricant flow along the at least one of the plurality of channels, and a second orientation, in which the inertial valve sealingly engages the at least one of the plurality of channels, the inertial valve being moveable between the first orientation and the second orientation in response to movement of the piston between the forward position and the rearward position.

A method of operating a drive system of a rotary tool, the drive system including a frame defining an axis and enclosing an interior space, the interior space housing lubricant, a piston supported by the frame and being moveable axially in the interior space and rotatable about the axis, the piston dividing the interior space and defining a first chamber, a second chamber, and a plurality of channels communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber, and an inertial valve coupled to the piston, the inertial valve being moveable between a first orientation, in which at least a portion of the inertial valve is spaced a distance away from the plurality of channels to permit lubricant flow along the channel, and a second orientation, in which the inertial valve sealingly engages the piston, the method comprising:

• rotating the piston with the frame about the axis;
• moving the piston along the axis between a rearward position and a forward position;
• and
• moving the inertial valve between the first orientation and the second orientation in response to rotation of the piston about the axis.