Patent ID: 7101300

Claim:
A portable power tool, comprising: a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion defining a handle for carrying the portable power tool; a motor received in the second portion of the housing, the motor having a motor output member; a trigger coupled to the housing, the trigger being movable to activate the motor; a driven member; and a transmission coupled to the housing and configured to receive a rotary input from the motor output member and to produce a rotary output that is transmitted to the driven member, the transmission having a plurality of planetary transmission stages, each of the planetary transmission stages including a ring gear, a planet carrier and a plurality of planet gears supported by the planet carrier for meshing engagement with the ring gear; wherein the transmission further includes at least one member that may be configured in a first condition, which renders at least one of the planetary transmission stages operable in an active mode, and a second condition, which renders at least one of the planetary transmission stages operable in an inactive mode; wherein the transmission is operable in at least three overall speed reduction ratios, wherein at least three planetary transmission stages transmit torque in sequence between the motor output member and the driven member in each overall speed reduction ratio and wherein the ring gear associated with each of the at least three planetary transmission stages is not meshingly engaged to the planet gears of another of the at least three planetary transmission stages.