Power tool

Abstract

This invention relates to a power tool, comprising a housing and a drive mechanism, a controller, and an operating switch housed within the housing. The operating switch is configured to activate / deactivate the drive mechanism via the controller. The power tool has a disabled state and a non-disabled state. In the disabled state, the drive mechanism is deactivated; in the non-disabled state, the operating switch activates the drive mechanism. The power tool also includes an air supply mechanism mounted on the housing and providing cooling airflow. The air supply mechanism is electrically connected to the controller. When the air supply mechanism is activated, the power tool switches from the disabled state to the non-disabled state. This invention, by providing a dual-function air supply mechanism on the power tool, prevents accidental triggering of the operating switch and effectively dissipates heat from the power tool's heat-generating components. The sensing element of the air supply mechanism acts as a safety lock; the power tool can only be started when the controller determines that the connection pipe has been actively connected by the operator.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a power tool, and more particularly to a power tool used in decoration, construction and other similar applications. [Background Technology]

[0002] Power tools are a type of tool that uses a motor to drive an accessory mounted on the output end to perform operations on a workpiece. During the machining process of power tools, the control components and motor components generate a large amount of heat. This heat can be carried away by the cooling airflow generated by the rotating drive fan and discharged from the machine. However, the cooling airflow will also bring in dust generated by the tool operation when it enters the machine. Furthermore, in grinding tools with permanent magnet rotors, when the dust-laden cooling air flows through the motor, the dust will be attracted by the rotor, affecting the motor efficiency and even causing the motor to fail. In addition, the dust can also impact the stator coil, posing a risk of puncturing the coil and further leading to short circuits and / or damage to the coil.

[0003] Currently, the method to prevent dust from entering the motor of power tools is to add a dust filter at the air inlet. The dust filter has a certain blocking effect on larger dust particles. However, the dust filter is less effective at blocking dust particles smaller than the mesh size. These smaller dust particles can still enter the motor and cause damage to the motor.

[0004] For improvements to the above structure, please refer to Chinese Utility Model Patent No. CN218947377U, published on May 2, 2023. It discloses a dust cover that is installed at the main ventilation port of a power tool. When the power tool is in operation, it has a parabolic direction in which mud and dust are thrown. The dust cover has a side ventilation port that is covered by the main body in the parabolic direction. The side ventilation port and the main ventilation port are connected to each other, which greatly reduces the possibility of mud and dust blocking the main ventilation port and entering the power tool. However, it is difficult to remove impurities from the gas entering the power tool through the side ventilation port, so it cannot achieve true dust prevention.

[0005] Furthermore, in power tools, such as angle grinders, pressing an operating component such as a trigger mechanism mounted on the housing activates a switch housed within the housing, thereby driving the motor. Typically, a locking release component is also provided on the trigger mechanism. By abutting this locking release component against the housing, the trigger mechanism is prevented from being pressed, thus maintaining the switch in the off state and preventing accidental activation of the switch. When using this power tool, the operator must first move the locking release component to a position where it does not interfere with the housing before pressing the trigger mechanism to activate the switch and start the motor.

[0006] However, due to the long length of the trigger mechanism, it occupies a significant amount of space. Furthermore, the trigger mechanism may bend after repeated pressing, allowing it to be pressed and put the switch in the "on" state without requiring a locking release mechanism to unlock it. Therefore, the false triggering function needs improvement to enhance safety protection.

[0007] Therefore, it is indeed necessary to provide an improved power tool to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology. [Summary of the Invention]

[0008] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide an electric tool with good heat dissipation and high safety.

[0009] The present invention addresses the problems of the prior art by adopting the following technical solution: A power tool includes a housing and a drive mechanism, a controller, and an operating switch housed within the housing. The operating switch is configured to activate / deactivate the drive mechanism via the controller. The power tool further includes an air supply mechanism mounted on the housing, located at the rear end of the housing. The air supply mechanism has an inlet pipe movably connected to the housing and a sensing element housed within the housing and electrically connected to the controller. The sensing element is configured as a safety lock for the power tool. If the sensing element is not triggered by the inlet pipe / cooling airflow flowing in from the inlet pipe, the power tool is in a disabled state.

[0010] A further improvement is that the sensing element is configured as a signal switch, and when the access tube directly or indirectly presses against the sensing element, the power tool is in a non-disabled state.

[0011] A further improvement is that the sensing element is configured as a sensor, and the power tool is in a non-disabled state when the cooling airflow flows through the sensing element from the access pipe.

[0012] A further improvement is as follows: the access pipe is connected to an external air supply device, and the cooling airflow enters the housing from the access pipe, flows through the operating switch, the controller, and the drive mechanism in sequence, and then exits.

[0013] The present invention can also solve the problems of the prior art by adopting the following technical solution: an electric tool, including a housing, a drive mechanism housed in the housing, a controller and an operating switch, and an AC power cord for providing power to the electric tool, wherein the operating switch is configured to activate / deactivate the drive mechanism via the controller; the electric tool further includes an air supply mechanism mounted in the housing and electrically connected to the controller, wherein the air supply mechanism and the AC power cord both extend rearward from the rear end of the housing, and the operating switch can only activate the drive mechanism when the air supply mechanism is activated, while a cooling airflow flows in from the air supply mechanism and flows within the housing.

[0014] A further improvement is as follows: the gas supply mechanism has an access pipe movably installed on the housing and a wire clamp connected to the outer periphery of the access pipe. One end of the wire clamp is clamped to the AC power cord, and the other end is clamped to the access pipe.

[0015] A further improvement is as follows: the air supply mechanism has an access pipe movably connected to the housing and a sensing element electrically connected to the controller. When the sensing element is triggered, the power tool is in a non-disabled state.

[0016] The present invention can also solve the problems of the prior art by adopting the following technical solution: a power tool, including a housing and a drive mechanism, a controller, and an operating switch housed in the housing, wherein the operating switch is configured to activate / deactivate the drive mechanism via the controller; the power tool has a disabled state and a non-disabled state, wherein the drive mechanism is deactivated when in the disabled state; and the drive mechanism is activated when in the non-disabled state by the operating switch; the power tool further includes an air supply mechanism mounted in the housing and providing cooling airflow, wherein the air supply mechanism is electrically connected to the controller, and the power tool switches from the disabled state to the non-disabled state when the air supply mechanism is activated.

[0017] A further improvement is as follows: the gas supply mechanism has an access pipe movably connected to the housing and a sensing element housed in the housing. The sensing element is connected to the controller via a signal line. When the sensing element is triggered, the gas supply mechanism is activated.

[0018] A further improvement is as follows: the housing has a motor housing for mounting the drive mechanism, a head shell and a handle housing connected to the motor housing, an air outlet through the head shell and a communication port through the handle housing along the axial direction of the drive mechanism, and the access pipe is installed in the communication port.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: by setting a dual-function air supply mechanism on the power tool, it can prevent accidental triggering of the operating switch on the one hand, and effectively dissipate heat from the heat-generating components of the power tool on the other hand; wherein, the sensing element of the air supply mechanism acts as a safety lock, and the power tool can only be started when the controller determines that the connection pipe has been actively connected by the operator. [Attached Image Description]

[0020] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a power tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the power tool shown;

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the first type of air supply mechanism in the power tool shown;

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Disassembly diagram of some parts of the power tool shown;

[0025] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the second type of air supply mechanism in the power tool shown;

[0026] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the third type of air supply mechanism in the power tool.

[0027] Figure 7 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of the power tool shown.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0028] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0029] The terminology used in this invention is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. For example, terms such as "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," and "right" that indicate orientation or positional relationship are based solely on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device / element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention.

[0030] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, an embodiment of the present invention relates to a power tool, preferably an AC brushless angle grinder 100, adapted to a 220V power supply, which is widely used in decoration, construction and other work scenarios. The angle grinder 100 mainly includes a housing 1 extending generally in the longitudinal direction, a drive structure 2 installed in the housing 1, a transmission mechanism 3, a controller 4 and an operation switch 5, an AC power cord 7 located at the end of the housing 1 and providing power to the angle grinder 100, and a top mechanism 8 fixed to the front end of the housing 1. The controller 4, housed in the housing 1, drives the drive mechanism 2 to drive the transmission mechanism 3, thereby causing the top mechanism 8 to work on the workpiece to be processed. During the operation of the angle grinder 100, the grinding operation of the top mechanism 8 will bring a large amount of dust and other contaminants. These contaminants will enter the drive mechanism 2 and damage it. In addition, the operation of the controller 4 and the drive mechanism 2 will generate a lot of heat. If this heat is not dissipated in time, it will burn out the angle grinder 100. Therefore, the purpose of connecting the angle grinder 100 to the air supply device 200 via the air supply mechanism 6 is to dissipate heat and prevent dust. In this embodiment, the air supply device 200 can be a gas transmission device such as an air compressor.

[0031] Specifically, the housing 1 includes a motor housing 12, a handle housing 13, a head housing 11 and a head housing cover 16, an air outlet 14 penetrating the head housing 11 and a communication port 15 penetrating the handle housing 13 along the axial direction of the drive mechanism 2; the head housing 11 and the handle housing 13 are respectively connected to the two ends of the motor housing 12, and the head housing cover 16 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the head housing 11.

[0032] In this embodiment, the motor housing 12 has two parts: a first cylindrical part 121 and a second cylindrical part 122. The inner diameter of the first cylindrical part 121 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the second cylindrical part 122. The drive mechanism 2 is installed inside the second cylindrical part 122. When the user operates the angle grinder 100, he can grasp the outer surface of the second cylindrical part 122 with his palm and the back of his hand against the first cylindrical part 121, which can prevent the angle grinder 100 from being thrown off.

[0033] In addition, the handle housing 13 is a place to house the controller 4, which is installed on the right end of the motor housing 12. A switch hole 131 is opened on the lower end face, and a power hole 132 is opened on the right end face. The switch hole 131 is used to install the operating switch 5, and the power hole 132 is used to lead out the AC power line 7. The switch hole 131 is located in front of and below the power hole 132.

[0034] The head shell 11 is used to install the transmission mechanism 3 and is divided into three spaces: a first cavity 111, an intermediate cavity 112, and a second cavity 113. The first cavity 111 is located at the right end of the head shell 11 and is connected to the chamber of the motor housing 12. An air outlet 14 is passed through the left end face of the first cavity 111. The second cavity 113 is located at the lower left end of the first cavity 111. The intermediate cavity 112 connects the first cavity 111 and the second cavity 113.

[0035] Furthermore, a transmission mechanism 3 is installed inside the head shell 11. The transmission mechanism 3 includes a first bevel gear installed in the intermediate cavity 112, a second bevel gear installed in the second cavity 113, and an output shaft passing through the second bevel gear. A head shell cover 16 is installed at the lower end of the head shell 11, and a top end mechanism 8 is installed at the lower end of the head shell cover 16. The top end mechanism 8 includes a working disc fixed to the output shaft 53 and a pressure plate for clamping the working disc. A protective cover is installed on the outside of the head shell cover 16, and the protective cover at least covers part of the circumference of the working disc. When the user operates the angle grinder 100 by hand, the protective cover can effectively protect the user's hand safety.

[0036] Combination Figure 7 As shown, the drive mechanism 2 will now be described in detail. The drive mechanism 2 includes a stator 21 and a rotor 22. The stator 21 is mainly composed of a stator core and a coil. The stator core is held in place by a mounting wall and has multiple storage holes through it. Each storage hole contains an insulating bracket. The coil is made by winding enameled wire between the multiple insulating brackets. The rotor 22 is fixed inside the stator 21 and mainly includes a rotor shaft 221 and a rotor core 222 mounted on the outside of the rotor shaft 221. The left end of the rotor shaft 221 is mounted in the intermediate cavity 112 inside the head housing 11 via a first bearing 223, and the right end of the rotor shaft 221 is mounted in the motor housing 12 via a second bearing 224. An air gap 24 is formed between the rotor core 222 and the stator core 211. A centrifugal fan 23 is mounted on the rotor shaft 221.

[0037] In this embodiment, an operation switch 5 is provided on the right side of the controller 4. The operation switch 5 has an electric switch 51 electrically connected to the controller 4 and a trigger 52 for pressing the electric switch 51. The trigger 52 is exposed through a switch hole 131 on the handle housing 13. Furthermore, the power cord can pass through the power hole 132 on the handle housing 13 and be electrically connected to the controller 4. Moreover, in order to ensure the stable and efficient operation of the drive mechanism 2, the controller 4 and the drive mechanism 2 should have excellent electrical connectivity. In this embodiment, the connection between the controller 4 and the drive mechanism 2 is ensured by connecting wires between the three phases of the stator 21 and the controller 4. In order to receive the current from the power supply, inductors, capacitors and IGBTs are arranged sequentially from right to left on the lower surface of the controller 4. When the current passes through these electronic components, a large amount of heat is generated. In order to remove this heat, a metal heat sink can be arranged between the field effect transistors.

[0038] Combination Figure 3As shown, the air supply mechanism 6 is installed at the location of the handle housing 13. Both the air supply mechanism 6 and the AC power cord 7 extend from the rear end of the housing 1. The air supply mechanism has a dual function: on the one hand, it controls the activation of the drive mechanism 2, and on the other hand, it promotes the cooling airflow to dissipate heat from the angle grinder 100. It cleverly integrates the two functions of safety protection and rapid cooling, filling the market gap in this area.

[0039] Specifically, the angle grinder 100 has a disabled state and a non-disabled state. When the angle grinder 100 is in the disabled state, the drive mechanism 2 is deactivated. When the angle grinder 100 is in the non-disabled state, the operation switch 5 can activate the drive mechanism 2. The air supply mechanism 6 serves as a medium to switch the state of the angle grinder. That is, when the air supply mechanism 6 is activated, the angle grinder 100 can switch from the disabled state to the non-disabled state.

[0040] In other words, the operating switch 5 can only activate the drive mechanism 2 when the air supply mechanism 6 is activated, and at the same time, cooling airflow flows in from the air supply mechanism 6 and flows within the housing 1. If the air supply mechanism 6 is not activated, the drive mechanism 2 will not be activated if the operator presses the operating switch 5 in the normal manner. This design feature prevents accidental activation by the operator and also prevents unauthorized use by non-professionals.

[0041] Combination Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the air supply mechanism 6 has an inlet pipe 61 movably mounted on the housing 1 with a communication port 15, a sensing element 62 housed in the handle housing 13 and electrically connected to the controller 4, a wire clip 63 connected to the outer periphery of the inlet pipe 61, and a quick interface 64 fixed to the communication port 15 and used to hold the inlet pipe 61. The quick interface 64 is fixed to the end of the handle housing through the left and right cover-type handle housing 13. One end of the inlet pipe 61 is installed in the quick interface 64, and the other end is connected to the air supply device 200 to transmit the cooling airflow provided by the air supply device 200 to the housing 1 of the angle grinder 100. The cooling airflow will flow in the front-back direction, sequentially through the air gap 24 of the operation switch 5, the controller 4, and the transmission drive mechanism 2, and then be discharged from the air outlet 14. The cooling airflow does not contain any dust or other impurities, effectively dissipates heat and has a dustproof effect.

[0042] Preferably, one end of the line clip 63 is clipped to the AC power cord 7, and the other end is clipped to the access pipe 61, which reasonably restricts the arrangement of the access pipe 61 so that the access pipe 61 will not hinder the operator's normal operation.

[0043] Specifically, the access tube 61 is roughly cylindrical and features good airtightness and high replaceability. The sensing element 62 can be an electronic component such as a signal switch or sensor, which is mainly used to transmit a signal to the controller 4 indicating whether the access tube 61 is installed. The sensing element 62 can be connected to the controller 4 via a signal line.

[0044] The sensing element 62 is configured as a safety lock to determine whether the angle grinder 100 can be turned on via the operation switch 5. When the sensing element 62 is triggered, the air supply mechanism 6 is activated. If the sensing element 62 is not triggered directly or indirectly by the access pipe 61, the angle grinder 100 remains in a disabled state.

[0045] Furthermore, if signal switch 62a is used as sensing element 62, the access tube 61 can directly or indirectly press against the sensing element 62 to switch the angle grinder 100 to a non-disabled state. In this case, the access tube 61 passes through the quick interface 64 and presses directly against the signal switch 62a, or the signal switch is turned on by the pressing switch spring of the signal switch 62a. The controller 4 determines that the access tube 61 has been connected and can start the angle grinder 100 to avoid accidental triggering by the operator.

[0046] Furthermore, the cooling airflow can be used to blow the switch spring, and the spring presses against the signal switch to trigger the sensing element 62.

[0047] If a sensor is used as the sensing element 62, such as a pressure-sensitive element, the pressure-sensitive element 62b is located in front of the quick-connect interface 64, and the access pipe 61 is installed inside the quick-connect interface 64 without passing through it. When the access pipe 61 connects to the cooling airflow, the pressure-sensitive element is pressurized and transmits a signal to the controller 4. At this time, triggering the operation switch 5 can start the angle grinder 100.

[0048] The present invention provides a dual-function air supply mechanism 6 on the angle grinder 100. On the one hand, it prevents the operation switch 5 from being accidentally triggered, and on the other hand, it effectively dissipates heat from the heat-generating components of the angle grinder 100. The sensing element 62 of the air supply mechanism 6 acts as a safety lock. The angle grinder 100 can only be started when the controller 4 determines that the access pipe 61 has been actively connected by the operator.

[0049] This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that many other alternatives to the power tools of this invention can be developed without departing from the principles and scope of the invention. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A power tool, comprising a housing and a drive mechanism, a controller, and an operating switch housed within the housing, the operating switch being configured to activate / deactivate the drive mechanism via the controller; characterized in that: The power tool also includes an air supply mechanism mounted on the housing, the air supply mechanism being located at the rear end of the housing, the air supply mechanism having an inlet pipe movably connected to the housing and a sensing element housed in the housing and electrically connected to the controller, the sensing element being configured as a safety lock for the power tool, the power tool being in a disabled state if the sensing element is not triggered by the inlet pipe / cooling airflow flowing in from the inlet pipe.

2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein: The sensing element is configured as a signal switch, and the power tool is in a non-disabled state when the access tube directly or indirectly presses against the sensing element.

3. The power tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensing element is configured as a sensor that enables the power tool to be in a non-disabled state when cooling airflow flows through the sensing element from the inlet pipe.

4. The power tool of claim 1, wherein: The inlet pipe is connected to an external air supply device. The cooling airflow enters the housing through the inlet pipe, flows through the operating switch, the controller, and the drive mechanism in sequence, and then exits.

5. A power tool, comprising a housing, a drive mechanism housed within the housing, a controller, an operating switch, and an AC power cord for supplying power to the power tool, wherein the operating switch is configured to activate / deactivate the drive mechanism via the controller; characterized in that: The power tool also includes an air supply mechanism mounted on the housing and electrically connected to the controller. Both the air supply mechanism and the AC power cord extend rearward from the rear end of the housing. The operating switch can only activate the drive mechanism when the air supply mechanism is activated, and at the same time, cooling airflow flows in from the air supply mechanism and flows within the housing.

6. The power tool according to claim 5, characterized in that: The gas supply mechanism has an inlet pipe movably installed on the housing and a wire clamp connected to the outer periphery of the inlet pipe. One end of the wire clamp is connected to the AC power cord, and the other end is connected to the inlet pipe.

7. The power tool according to claim 5, characterized in that: The gas supply mechanism has an access pipe movably connected to the housing and a sensing element electrically connected to the controller. When the sensing element is triggered, the power tool is in a non-disabled state.

8. A power tool, comprising a housing and a drive mechanism, a controller, and an operating switch housed within the housing, the operating switch being configured to activate / deactivate the drive mechanism via the controller; characterized in that: The power tool has a disabled state and a non-disabled state. When it is in the disabled state, the drive mechanism is deactivated. When it is in the non-disabled state, the operation switch activates the drive mechanism. The power tool also includes an air supply mechanism installed in the housing and providing cooling airflow. The air supply mechanism is electrically connected to the controller. When the air supply mechanism is activated, the power tool switches from the disabled state to the non-disabled state.

9. The power tool of claim 8, wherein: The gas supply mechanism has an inlet pipe movably connected to the housing and a sensing element housed in the housing. The sensing element is connected to the controller via a signal line. When the sensing element is triggered, the gas supply mechanism is activated.

10. The power tool according to claim 9, characterized in that: The housing has a motor housing for mounting the drive mechanism, a head shell and a handle housing connected to the motor housing, an air outlet through the head shell, and a communication port through the handle housing along the axial direction of the drive mechanism, with the access pipe installed in the communication port.

Images