Power tool with torque clutch

A power tool comprising:

• a housing that defines a handle;
• a motor coupled to the housing;
• a trigger coupled to the housing and configured to control operation of the motor;
• a multi-speed transmission having a planetary stage with a ring gear and a plurality of planet gears, the ring gear having an annular inner structure and an annular outer structure, the annular inner structure having a plurality of teeth that are in meshing engagement with the plurality of planet gears, the annular outer structure being axially fixed to but rotatably mounted on the annular inner structure, wherein the ring gear is axially movable between a first position and a second position when the multi-speed transmission is shifted between a first speed ratio and a second speed ratio.

A power tool comprising:

• a housing;
• a motor coupled to the housing;
• a trigger that is coupled to the housing and configured to control operation of the motor;
• an output spindle;
• and
• a multi-speed transmission configured to transmit rotary power between the motor and the output spindle, the multi-speed transmission having a plurality of planetary stages, a first one of the planetary stages having a planet carrier, a second one of the planetary stages having a plurality of planet gears and a ring gear that is meshingly engaged with the planet gears, the ring gear of the second one of the planetary stages being movable along a longitudinal axis of the multi-speed transmission between a first position, a second position, and a third position;
• wherein the ring gear of the second one of the planetary stages is non-rotatably engaged to the housing when the ring gear of the second one of the planetary stages is in the first position;
• wherein the ring gear of the second one of the planetary stages is disengaged from the housing and non-rotatably engaged to the planet carrier when the ring gear of the second one of the planetary stages is in the third position;
• and
• wherein the ring gear of the second one of the planetary stages is disengaged from the housing and the planet carrier and engaged to an outer annular structure of a ring gear of another of the planetary stages when the ring gear of the second one of the planetary stages is in the second position.

A power tool comprising:

• a housing that defines a handle;
• a motor coupled to the housing;
• a trigger coupled to the housing and configured to control operation of the motor;
• a multi-speed transmission configured to transmit rotary power between the motor and the output spindle, the multi-speed transmission comprising a plurality of planetary stages arranged about a rotational axis, the plurality of planetary stages including a first stage and a second stage that receives rotary power from the first stage, the first stage having a first internally toothed gear element, the second stage having a second internally toothed gear element;
• and
• a speed selector having a coupler, the coupler being non-rotatably but slidably coupled to the housing for movement along the rotational axis between a first position, a second position and a third position, the second internally toothed gear element being axially fixed but rotatable relative to the coupler, wherein positioning the coupler in the first position non-rotatably couples the first and second internally toothed gear elements to the housing, wherein positioning the coupler in the second position non-rotatably couples the first internally toothed gear element to the housing and positions the second internally toothed gear element such that it is rotatable relative to the housing, and wherein positioning the coupler in the third position decouples the coupler from the first internally toothed gear element and positions the second internally toothed gear element such that it is non-rotatably coupled to the housing.