Abstract:
A hand tool impacting device may include, a drive shaft with an aperture, an impaler disk, and a floating pin positioned within the aperture of the drive shaft. A set of circular ramps on the outer edge of the impaler disk may interact with a stationary pin insert to translate the drive shaft and create an impacting motion. A pair of springs placed against either side of the floating pin may allow a specialized tool bit to engage or disengage the impaler disk, thereby allowing selective use of translational impacting motion, or rotational torque. An impact bit for engaging the impaler disk may include, a tool head configured to engage a work piece and a tool shaft configured to be inserted into a hollow drive shaft to engage a floating pin. According to one embodiment, the impact bit includes a number of sleeves to guide the tool head during operation.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/459,872 entitled “Hammer Drill in One” and filed on 20 Dec. 2010 for Christopher Mattson, Jake Allred, Jeremy Alsup, Travis Anderson, David Christensen, Jacob Morrise, and Jon Ward. The aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to hand power tools and more particularly relates to an apparatus for creating an impacting motion in a powered hand tool. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Hand drills are rotary tools that impose a rotational force onto a screw bit to drive a screw into a medium. Similarly, hand impact devices use a repeated translational impacting motion to drive a nail into a medium. Often times a project requires the use of both devices, which would require different tools. Delivering both an translational impact force and a rotational force in a single tool would therefore provide advantages that are lacking in currently available hand tools. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available impact devices. Accordingly, the present specification has been developed to provide an apparatus that allows a user the functionality of a rotary drill and an impact hammer in a single impacting device that overcomes many of the shortcomings in the art. 
         [0007]    As described below, a hand tool impacting device may include, a rotating hollow drive shaft that has an aperture extending through a portion of its diameter, an impaler disk coupled to translate with the drive shaft, and a floating pin positioned within the aperture of the drive shaft that is configured to rotate the impaler disk along with the drive shaft. While engaged to the drive shaft, a set of circular ramps on the outer edge of the impaler disk may interact with a stationary pin insert to create a repeating impact motion. In one embodiment a pair of springs placed against either side of the floating pin may allow a specialized tool bit to engage or disengage the impaler disk, thereby allowing selective use of an impacting motion. 
         [0008]    Additionally, as described below an impact bit for engaging the impaler disk may include, a tool head configured to engage a work piece and a tool shaft configured to be inserted into a tool chuck, and a tool shank that extends into a hollow drive shaft to engage a floating pin. According to one embodiment, the impact bit includes a plurality of sleeves to guide the tool head during operation. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides a variety of advantages. It should be noted that references to features, advantages, or similar language within this specification does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
         [0011]    The aforementioned features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    To enable the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustration of one embodiment of an impact device of the present specification suitable for a powered hand tool; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are perspective view illustrations of one embodiment of an assembled impact device of the present specification suitable for a powered hand tool; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are detailed sectional side view illustrations of one embodiment of an impact device of the present specification suitable for a powered hand tool; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view illustration of one embodiment of an impact bit of the present specification suitable for a powered hand tool; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustration of one illustration of one embodiment of an assembled impact bit of the present specification suitable for a powered hand tool; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart diagram of one embodiment of an impacting method of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of an impacting device  100  of the present specification. As depicted, the impact device  100  may include a tool chuck  160 , a housing  150 , a pin insert  140  with raised pins  142 , a hollow drive shaft  110 , a floating pin  130  with a distal spring  132  and a proximal spring  134 , an impaler disk  120 , a coupling plate  170 , and a backing plate  180 . 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the impact device  100  may include a hollow drive shaft  110  which is configured to rotate. The hollow drive shaft  110  may include an aperture in which a floating pin  130  is positioned. The impact device  100  may also include an impaler disk  120  that is coaxial to the hollow drive shaft  110  and coupled to translate longitudinally with the drive shaft  110 . According to one embodiment, a snap ring  126  and a circular protrusion  112  of the hollow drive shaft  110  ensure the impaler disk is coupled to translate with the drive shaft. The impaler disk  120  may be selectively coupled to the drive shaft  110  using the floating pin  130  such that when coupled, the impaler disk rotates with the drive shaft. Bearings  124  may be placed between the impaler disk  120  and the hollow drive shaft  110  to maintain the impaler disk stationary when not coupled to the drive shaft. 
         [0022]    The impact device may also include a pin insert  140  with a plurality of raised pins  142 . The pin insert  140  and raised pins  142  may remain stationary during the operation of the impact device  100 . With the impaler disk  120  engaged, the plurality of raised pins  142  create a impacting motion. 
         [0023]    One embodiment of the impacting device  100  includes a distal spring  132  and a proximal spring  134  that are configured to position the floating pin  130  within the aperture of the hollow drive shaft  110 . In one example the springs  132 ,  134  align the floating pin  130  such that it does not engage the impaler disk  120 . In another example the springs  132 ,  134  align the floating pin to engage the impaler disk  120 . In this example the floating pin  130  is coupled to the impaler disk  120  which causes it to rotate with the drive shaft  110 . 
         [0024]    The impact device  100  may also include a coupling plate  170  that connects the hollow drive shaft  110  to an external power supply (not shown). In one embodiment an external power supply causes the coupling plate  170  to rotate. The coupling plate  170  may include a connecting shaft  172  that is configured to be inserted into the hollow drive shaft  11 . This connecting shaft  172  transmits the rotational motion from the power supply to the drive shaft.  110 . The connecting shaft  172  also allows the hollow drive shaft  110  to translate along its length. 
         [0025]    The impact device  100  may also include a backing plate  180  that is configured to attach the impact device  100  to a hand power tool. One embodiment of the impact device  100  includes a tool chuck  160  configured to receive a tool bit. Tool bits that may be used include, but are not limited to a screw driver, a drill bit, a chisel, a punch, and a flat surface for pounding a nail into a medium. The impact device  100  may also include a housing  150  that encloses the impact device. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view illustration of one embodiment of an assembled impact device  100 . As depicted the assembled impact device  100  may include the tool chuck  160 , the hollow drive shaft  110 , pin insert  140  with raised pins  142 , the impaler disk  120 , the impaler spring  122 , the impaler plate  128 , the coupling plate  170 , and the backing plate  180 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view illustration of one embodiment of an assembled impact device  100 . As depicted the assembled impact device includes the tool chuck  160 , the hollow drive shaft  110 , the floating pin  130 , and the impaler disk  120 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment the impaler disk  120  may include a first plurality of circular ramps  222  which are positioned on the inner edge of a surface of the impaler disk  120 . In this embodiment, a portion of the floating pin  130  may extend beyond the diameter of the hollow drive shaft  110 . A shaft inserted into the hollow drive shaft  110  may position the extended portion of the floating pin  130  against the flat surface of the first plurality of circular ramps  222 . In this fashion, as the hollow drive shaft  110  rotates in a counter clockwise direction, the floating pin  130  exerts a force against the flat surface of the first plurality of circular ramps  222  causing the impaler disk  120  to rotate with the drive shaft. In another mode of operation, as the drive shaft  110  rotates in a clockwise direction, the floating pin  130 , slides along the incline of the first plurality of circular ramps  222 . In this mode of operation the impaler disk  120  does not rotate with the drive shaft  110 . 
         [0029]    The impaler disk  120  may also include a second plurality of circular ramps  224  which are positioned on the outer edge of a surface of the impaler disk  120 . With the impaler disk  120  rotationally coupled to the drive shaft, the second plurality of circular ramps  224  may interact with the stationary raised pins (not shown). The stationary raised pins cause the impaler disk  120  and drive shaft  110  to translate backwards compressing the impaler spring (not shown) against the impaler plate (not shown). As the raised pins slide off the flat surface of the second plurality of circular ramps  224 , the impaler spring forces the impaler disk  120  and drive shaft  110  forward, thus creating a translational impacting motion. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are detailed sectional side view illustrations of one embodiment of an impact device of the present specification  100 . As depicted in  FIG. 3   b , in one example the distal spring  132  and the proximal spring  134  are positioned such that the floating pin  130  is not coupled to the impaler disk  120  and the impaler disk is not rotating with the drive shaft  110 . In another example, a tool shank inserted into the hollow drive shaft  110  positions the floating pin  130  such that it is coupled to the impaler disk  120  which causes the impaler disk to rotate with the drive shaft  110 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view illustration of one embodiment of an impact bit of the present specification  400 . As depicted the impact bit may include a tool shaft  460 , a tool shank  420 , an outer sleeve  430 , a sleeve spring  450 , an inner sleeve  440 , and a tool head  410 . 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, the impact bit  400  may be configured to be inserted into a tool chuck (not shown). In this embodiment, the tool shank  420  may be configured to extend down a hollow drive shaft (not shown) and position the floating pin (not shown) against an impaler disk (not shown). 
         [0033]    The impact bit  400  may also include a tool head  410  to interact with a fastener. In one example the tool head  410  is a flat surface that is configured to pound a nail into a medium. Other examples of tool heads  410  that may be used include but are not limited to, a screwdriver, a drill bit, and a chisel. The impact bit  400  may also include an outer sleeve  430  that extends beyond the tool head  410  to align the tool head with the fastener. The impact bit may also include a retractable inner sleeve  440  that extends beyond the outer sleeve  430 . A sleeve spring  450  allows the inner spring  440  to retract into the outer spring  430 . For example, the inner sleeve  440  may retract into the outer sleeve  430  as it is pressed against the medium into which the fastener is being driven. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustration of one illustration of one embodiment of an assembled impact bit of the present specification  400 . As depicted the assembled impact bit may include the tool shank  420 , the tool shaft  460 , the outer sleeve  430 , and the inner sleeve  440 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart diagram of one embodiment of an impacting method  600  of the present invention. As depicted, the impacting method  600  includes obtaining  610  an impacting device, obtaining  620  an impact bit, engaging  630  the floating pin with the impact bit, and supplying  640  rotational motion to the drive shaft. The depicted method may be conducted in conjunction with the impacting device  100  and impact bit  400  or the like. 
         [0036]    Obtaining  610  a impacting device may include obtaining a device comprising a hollow drive shaft with an aperture, an impaler disk coupled to translate longitudinally with the drive shaft, and a floating pin positioned within the aperture. The impaler disk may include a first plurality of circular ramps used to rotationally couple the impaler disk to the drive shaft. The impaler disk may also include a second plurality of circular ramps that create an impacting motion. In one embodiment, the obtained impacting device is the impacting device  100 . 
         [0037]    Obtaining  620  an impact bit may include obtaining a device comprising a tool head configured to engage a work piece, a tool shaft configured to be inserted into a tool chuck, and a tool shank configured to extend into a hollow drive shaft to engage an impacting device. In one embodiment, the obtained impact bit may be the impact bit  400 . 
         [0038]    The method may continue by engaging  630  the floating pin with the impact bit. This is done as the impact bit is inserted into the impacting device. In one embodiment the impact bit is configured to extend into the impacting device to engage the floating pin of the impacting device to create a translational impacting motion. 
         [0039]    With the impact bit inserted into the impacting device, the method may continue by supplying  640  rotational motion to the drive shaft of the impacting device. In one example this rotational motion is supplied by an electric motor positioned within a powered hand tool. 
         [0040]    The present invention provides an improved impacting device hand power tool and drive train. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.