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US 7,191,677 B2Granted
Adjustable angle drive for a rotary power tool
AssigneeNomis LLC
InventorPatrick J. Barkdoll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an adjustable angle drive for a rotary power tool such as a drill. The adjustable angle drive includes input and output shafts journalled for rotation in input and output housings. The input and output shafts are rotatably coupled through gearing and are adjustable among different angular positions.
Claims34
An adjustable angle drive attachment releasably connectable to and usable with a rotary tool, the adjustable angle drive attachment comprising:
- an input housing;
- an output housing;
- an input shaft having a chuckable free end not part of the rotary tool and journalled to the input housing for rotation about an input axis;
- an output shaft journalled to the output housing for rotation about an output axis;
- a circular interface between the input housing and the output housing concentric about an adjustment axis that is oblique relative to the input and output axes, the input housing and the output housing rotating relative to each other about the adjustment axis to adjust the angle between the input shaft and the output shaft;
- gearing rotatably coupling the input and output shafts such that the input and output shafts rotate in unison;
- an input gear on the input shaft;
- an output gear on the output shaft;
- an intermediate transmission gear including a first gear face meshing with the input gear and a second gear face meshing with the output gear, the transmission gear mounted for rotation about the adjustment axis between the input and output axes to transmit rotation between the input and output shafts;
- a transmission shaft having a first and second ends earned by the input and output housings, respectively, the transmission shaft supporting the intermediate transmission gear between the first and second ends;
- and
- wherein the first and second ends of the transmission shaft are journalled to the input and output housings, respectively.
9 more elements
An adjustable angle drive attachment releasably connectable to and usable with a rotary tool, the adjustable angle drive attachment comprising:
- an input housing;
- an output housing;
- an input shaft having a chuckable free end not part of the rotary tool and journalled to the input housing for rotation about an input axis;
- an output shaft journalled to the output housing for rotation about an output axis;
- a circular interface between the input housing and the output housing concentric about an adjustment axis that is oblique relative to the input and output axes, the input housing and the output housing rotating relative to each other about the adjustment axis to adjust the angle between the input shaft and the output shaft;
- gearing rotatably coupling the input and output shafts such that the input and output shafts rotate in unison;
- and
- a clamp releasably securing the input and output housings together.
5 more elements
An adjustable angle drive attachment releasably connectable to and usable with a rotary tool, the adjustable angle drive attachment comprising:
- an input housing;
- an output housing movable relative to the input housing;
- an input shaft having a chuckable free end not part of the rotary tool and journalled to the input housing for rotation about an input axis;
- an output shaft journalled to the output housing for rotation about an output axis;
- an expandable ring clamp releasably securing the input and output housings together and thereby fixing the input and output shafts at an angular position relative to each other, wherein the input and output shafts are adjustable among a plurality of positions between two angular positions relative to each other when the clamp is released allowing movement between the input and output housings;
- gearing rotatably coupling the input and output shafts such that the input and output shafts rotate in unison;
- and
- a circular interface between the input housing and the output housing concentric about an adjustment axis that is oblique relative to the input and output axes, the input housing and the output housing rotating relative to each other about the adjustment axis to adjust the angle between the input shaft and the output shaft.
5 more elements
An adjustable angle drive comprising:
- an input housing;
- an output housing movable relative to the input housing;
- an input shaft journalled to the input housing for rotation about an input axis;
- an output shaft journalled to the output housing for rotation about an output axis;
- a clamp releasably securing the input and output housings together and thereby fixing the input and output shafts at an angular position relative to each other, wherein the input and output shafts are adjustable among a plurality of positions between two angular positions relative to each other when the clamp is released allowing movement between the input and output housings;
- gearing rotatably coupling the input and output shafts such that the input and output shafts rotate in unison;
- an input gear on the input shaft;
- an output gear on the output shaft;
- an intermediate transmission gear including a first gear face meshing with the input gear and a second gear face meshing with the output gear, the transmission gear mounted for rotation about the adjustment axis between the input and output axes to transmit rotation between the input and output shafts;
- and
- a transmission shaft having a first and second ends carried by the input and output housings, respectively, the transmission shaft supporting the intermediate transmission gear between the first and second ends.
8 more elements
An adjustable angle drive attachment releasably connectable to and usable with a rotary tool, the adjustable angle drive attachment comprising:
- an input housing;
- an output housing movable relative to the input housing;
- an input shaft having a chuckable free end not part of the rotary tool and journalled to the input housing for rotation about an input axis;
- an output shaft journalled to the output housing for rotation about an output axis, the output shaft movable relative to the input shaft between two angular boundary positions and intermediate angular positions between said boundary positions;
- a handle projecting radially outward from at least one of the input housing and the output housing, the handle being movable among a plurality of positions and more than two positions relative to the input and output housings;
- gearing rotatably coupling the input and output shafts such that the input and output shafts rotate in unison;
- and
- a circular interface between the input housing and the output housing concentric about an adjustment axis that is oblique relative to the input and output axes, the input housing and the output housing rotating relative to each other about the adjustment axis to adjust the angle between the input shaft and the output shaft.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.