Patent ID: 7658239

Claim:
A drive assembly for a power tool, the power tool including a housing, a motor supported by the housing and having a motor shaft, and a spindle supported by the housing for rotation about an axis, the drive assembly being provided between the spindle and the motor shaft such that the spindle is drivingly connectable to the motor shaft to drive a tool element, the drive assembly comprising: a drive member supported in the housing; a clutch member supported in the housing and being selectively engageable with the drive member to transfer a drive force from the motor shaft to the spindle when a torque exerted on the spindle is less than or equal to a torque limit and being movable away from the drive member to prevent the transfer of the drive force from the motor shaft to the spindle when the torque exerted on the spindle exceeds the torque limit; a first clutch plate secured to the spindle for movement with the spindle relative to the housing; a second clutch plate supported in the housing and being engageable with the first clutch plate to transmit the drive force from the motor shaft to the spindle when the tool element engages a workpiece; and a brake supported in the housing for selectively inhibiting rotation of the first clutch plate, one of the clutch plate and the brake including a conical seat and an other of the clutch plate and the brake including a mating cone that is selectively engageable with the conical seat to inhibit rotation of the first clutch plate with respect to the second clutch plate about the axis.