Clutch for power tool

A clutch assembly for a power tool having a housing, a transmission and an output spindle, the clutch assembly comprising:

• a clutch adjustment ring configured to move axially relative to the housing while being rotated relative to the housing;
• a spring retainer disposed axially rearward of the clutch adjustment ring, the spring retainer coupled for rotation together with the clutch adjustment ring and configured to remain substantially axially stationary relative to the housing when rotated;
• a spring disposed between the clutch adjustment ring and the spring retainer;
• a clutch face coupled to a portion of the transmission;
• a locking member disposed between the spring retainer and the clutch face, the locking member configured to transfer a holding force exerted by the spring to the clutch face,
• wherein rotation and axial movement of the clutch adjustment ring alters the holding force exerted by the spring to select a clutch setting among a plurality of different clutch settings such that, for each clutch setting, when an amount of output torque exceeds the holding force, torque transmission from the transmission to the output shaft is effectively interrupted.

A power tool comprising:

• a housing;
• a motor disposed in the housing;
• an output spindle received at least partially in the housing;
• a planetary gear transmission disposed in the housing and configured to selectively transmit torque from the motor to the output spindle, the planetary gear transmission having;
• an input sun gear,
• a planet gear meshed with the input sun gear,
• an output carrier carrying the planet gear and configured to transmit output torque to the output spindle when the output carrier rotates, and
• a ring gear meshed with the planet gear, and
• a clutch assembly disposed between the planetary gear transmission and the output spindle, the clutch assembly including:
• a clutch housing having a rearward base portion, and a nose portion having an externally threaded portion,
• an internally threaded clutch adjustment ring received over the externally threaded portion of the clutch housing and configured to move axially relative to the clutch housing when being rotated relative to the clutch housing,
• a non-internally threaded spring retainer disposed axially rearward of the clutch adjustment ring over the nose portion, the spring retainer configured to rotate relative to the clutch housing while remaining substantially axially stationary,
• an external clutch adjustment sleeve received over and non-rotatable coupled to the clutch adjustment ring and the spring retainer such that rotation of the clutch adjustment sleeve causes rotation of the clutch adjustment ring and the spring retainer,
• a spring disposed between the clutch adjustment ring and the spring retainer,
• a clutch face fixedly coupled to a portion of the ring gear;
• a locking member disposed between the spring retainer and the clutch face, the locking member configured to transfer a holding three exerted by the spring to the clutch face,
• wherein:
• rotation and axial movement of the clutch adjustment ring alters the holding force exerted by the spring to select a clutch setting among a plurality of different clutch settings such that, for each clutch setting,
• when an output torque does not exceed the holding force, the locking member retains the ring gear from rotating relative to the housing, which causes the sun gear to cause the planet gears to orbit the sun gear, which causes the output carrier to rotate and transmit torque to the output spindle, and
• when the output torque exceeds the holding force, the locking members allow the ring gear to rotate relative to the housing, which causes the sun gear to allow the planet gears to rotate without orbiting the sun gear, which causes the output carrier to remain substantially stationary and effectively interrupts torque transmission to the output spindle.

A power tool comprising:

• a housing;
• a motor disposed in the housing;
• a transmission disposed in the housing and configured to transmit torque from the motor to an output spindle;
• a clutch assembly coupled to the transmission, the clutch assembly including
• a clutch housing having a rearward base portion, and a nose portion having an externally threaded portion,
• an internally threaded clutch adjustment ring received over the externally threaded portion of the nose portion in order to move axially relative to the nose portion while being rotated,
• a spring retainer disposed axially rearward of the clutch adjustment ring, the spring retainer coupled for rotation together with the clutch adjustment ring;
• a spring disposed between the clutch adjustment ring and the spring retainer;
• a clutch face coupled to a portion of the transmission;
• a locking member disposed between the spring retainer and the clutch face, the locking member configured to transfer a holding force exerted by the spring against the spring retainer to the clutch face,
• wherein rotation of the clutch adjustment ring alters the holding force of the spring to select a clutch setting among a plurality of different clutch, settings such that, for each clutch setting, when an output torque exceeds the holding force, torque transmission from the transmission to the output spindle is effectively interrupted.