Multi-speed drill and transmission with low gear only clutch

A multi-speed drill comprising:

• at least one pinion;
• an output spindle;
• a high speed gear mounted on the output spindle and operable to selectively transfer torque between the at least one pinion and the output spindle;
• a low speed gear mounted on the output spindle and operable to selectively transfer torque between the at least one pinion and the output spindle;
• a clutch member operably coupled to the low speed gear to transfer torque between the at least one pinion and the output spindle up to a predetermined torque level at the output spindle, when a torque between the clutch member and the low speed gear exceeds the predetermined torque level, the clutch member becomes uncoupled from the low speed gear;
• a retaining member and a biasing member to bias the low speed gear toward the clutch member, wherein the clutch member is fixed to the output spindle, wherein the low speed gear is supported for rotation and axial movement on the clutch member, wherein the retaining member is fixed in an axial position on the clutch member, and wherein the biasing member is supported on the clutch member so as to bias against the retaining member and the low speed gear;
• and
• a shift assembly for selectively changing between a plurality of modes comprising:
• a low speed mode for torque transfer between the at least one pinion and the output spindle via the low speed gear and the clutch member;
• and
• a high speed mode for torque transfer between the at least one pinion and the output spindle via the high speed gear so as to bypass the clutch member.

A multi-speed drill comprising:

• a motor;
• a first input pinion mounted on a secondary shaft that is driven for rotation by the motor;
• a second input pinion mounted on the secondary shaft;
• an output spindle;
• a high speed gear mounted on the output spindle and in constant meshing engagement with the second input pinion and operable to selectively transfer torque between the second input pinion and the output spindle;
• a low speed gear mounted on the output spindle and in constant meshing engagement with the first input pinion, the low speed gear comprising at least one gear cam surface;
• a clutch member fixed to the output spindle, the clutch member comprising at least one clutch cam surface configured to cooperate with the at least one gear cam surface;
• a biasing member that biases the low speed gear axially toward the clutch member along the output spindle such that the at least one gear cam surface and the at least one clutch cam surface cooperate with each other to transfer torque between the first input pinion and the output spindle, and wherein the at least one gear cam surface and the at least one clutch cam surface cam against each other to thereby move the low speed gear away from the clutch member against a biasing force of the biasing member when torque between the clutch member and the low speed gear exceeds a predetermined torque level;
• and
• a shift assembly for selectively changing between a plurality of modes comprising:
• a low speed mode for torque transfer between the first input pinion and the output spindle via the low speed gear and the clutch member;
• and
• a high speed mode for torque transfer between the second input pinion and the output spindle via the high speed gear so as to bypass the clutch member.