AU2017100172A4

AU2017100172A4 - Power tool

Info

Publication number: AU2017100172A4
Application number: AU2017100172A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Zhen Wang; Toshinari Yamaoka
Original assignee: Chevron HK Ltd
Current assignee: Chevron HK Ltd
Priority date: 2016-03-23
Filing date: 2017-02-15
Publication date: 2017-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-15
Also published as: DE202017100776U1; CN205546535U

Abstract

A power tool includes a deck for fixing a motor, a first connecting element rotatably connected with the deck, a second connecting element rotatably connected with the deck around the same axis as the first connecting element, an operating handle for a user to operate and/or push the power tool, the operating handle having two opposite ends connected with the first and second connecting elements respectively, an adjusting handle rotatably connected with the first connecting element, a first locking element being provided with a first engaging portion, a first fixing element being provided with a first fixing portion for engaging with the first engaging portion, a connecting rod rotatably connected with the second connecting element, a second locking element being provided with a second engaging portion, a second fixing element being provided with a second fixing portion for engaging with the second engaging portion, and a linkage element for connecting the adjusting handle and the connecting rod.

Description

POWER TOOL 2017100172 15 Feb 2017

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. CN 201620227066.9, filed on March 23, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to power tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0003] Lawn mowers and snowthrowers are commonly used power tools. A user can operate an operating handle so as to control the lawn mowers and snowthrowers. In order to satisfy the requirements of different heights of the operating handle, generally, the operating handle of the lawn mowers and snowthrowers is designed to be adjusted.

[0004] When the operating handle of currently known lawn mowers and snowthrowers is adjusted, it is needed to move the operating handle to a preset position, and then a locating pin is inserted into the operating handle and a nut is tightened, so that the operating handle is locked. This manual locking method is inconvenient to operate.

[0005] The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

SUMMARY

[0006] In one aspect of the disclosure, a power tool includes a deck for fixing a motor, a first connecting element rotatably connected with the deck, a second connecting element rotatably connected with the deck around the same axis as the first connecting element, an operating handle for a user to operate and/or push the power tool, the operating handle having two opposite ends connected with the first and second connecting elements respectively, an adjusting handle 1 rotatably connected with the first connecting element, a first locking element being provided with a first engaging portion, a first fixing element being provided with a first fixing portion for engaging with the first engaging portion, a connecting rod rotatably connected with the second connecting element, a second locking element being provided with a second engaging portion, a second fixing element being provided with a second fixing portion for engaging with the second engaging portion, and a linkage element for connecting the adjusting handle and the connecting rod. The first and second fixing elements are fixed to the deck. The first locking element is connected with the adjusting handle, and the second locking element is connected with the connecting rod. The first and second locking elements can be driven to slide by the adjusting handle when the adjusting handle is rotated. 2017100172 15 Feb 2017 [0007] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary lawn mower.

[0009] FIG 2 a schematic view of the lawn mower in FIG 1, wherein a first fixing element and a second fixing element are fixed to a deck.

[0010] FIG 3 is a schematic view of a handle assembly of the lawn mower in FIG 1.

[0011] FIG 4 is a schematic view showing a part of the handle assembly in FIG 3.

[0012] FIG 5 is an exploded view of the handle assembly in FIG 3.

[0013] FIG 6 is a schematic view of the first fixing element of the lawn mower in FIG 1.

[0014] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several 2 views of the drawings. 2017100172 15 Feb 2017

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a lawn mower 100 as an embodiment of a power tool includes a handle assembly 10, a deck 20, a wheel assembly 30, a working attachment 40 and a motor 50.

[0017] The working attachment 40 realizes the function of a tool. Specifically, the working attachment 40 is a blade for cutting grass. The motor 50 is used to drive the working attachment 40 to rotate. Generally, the motor 50 can be an internal combustion engine that creates its energy by burning fuel or an electric motor powered by electrical energy. Specifically, the motor 50 is an electric motor. The lawn mower 100 further includes a battery pack for supplying power to the motor. The deck 20 acts as a main part of the lawn mower 100, through which all the parts are assembled as a whole. The motor 50 is fixed to the deck 20. The motor 50 can be fixed to the deck 20 directly or indirectly. The wheel assembly 30 can rotate relative to the deck 20, so that the lawn mower 100 can move relative to the ground. The handle assembly 10 is connected with the deck 20 for a user to control the lawn mower 100.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 2-3, the handle assembly 10 is capable of rotating relative to the deck 20 so as to adjust the height of the handle assembly 10 to satisfy different requirements of different users. Furthermore, the handle assembly 10 can rotate to a position making the lawn mower 100 have a small volume so as to facilitate storage.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the handle assembly 10 includes an operating handle 11, a first connecting element 12 and a second connecting element 13. The operating handle 11 is used for the user to operate and/or push the lawn mower 100. The user can control the walking direction of the lawn mower 100 through the operating handle 11. The first connecting element 12 is rotatably connected with the deck 20 and, the second connecting element 13 is rotatably connected with the deck 20 around the same axis as the first connecting element 12. When the first connecting element 3 12 is rotated relative to the deck 20, the second connecting element 13 is rotated synchronously. The operating handle 11 includes two opposite ends which are connected with the first and second connecting elements 12, 13 respectively. The first connecting element 12 can be constituted by a single rod or connecting multiple rods. Similarly, the second connecting element 13 can be constituted by a single rod or connecting multiple rods. As an embodiment, the first and second connecting elements 12, 13 can be integrated as a whole. The lawn mower 100 further includes a control trigger 111 for controlling the motor 50. 2017100172 15 Feb 2017 [0020] An adjusting handle 121 is used to control the lock between the handle assembly 10 and the deck 20. The handle assembly 10 and the deck 20 can be locked or released by controlling the adjusting handle 121. Specifically, the adjusting handle 121 is rotatably connected with the first connecting elements 12 through a fixing seat 125. The fixing seat 125 is fixed to the first connecting elements 12.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 4-5, a first locking element 122 is connected with the adjusting handle 121. When the adjusting handle 121 is rotated, it drives the first locking element 122 to slide. The adjusting handle 121 is provided with an operating portion 1211 for the user to operate. The user can control the operating portion 1211 so as to operate the adjusting handle 121. Specifically, the adjusting handle 121 has a rotation axis located between the first locking element 122 and the operating portion 1211.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, a first fixing element 123 is fixed to the deck 20. The first locking element 122 is provided with a first engaging portion and, the first fixing element 123 is provided with a first fixing portion for engaging with the first engaging portion. When it is needed to release the lock, the adjusting handle 121 is rotated to drive the first locking element 122 to slide, so that the first engaging portion is disengaged from the first fixing portion. Specifically, the sliding direction of the first locking element 122 is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the adjusting handle 121 and substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the first connecting element 12. The rotation axis of the first connecting element 12 is an axis around which the first connecting 4 element 12 is rotated relative to the deck 20. Specifically, the first locking element 122 is a pin. The lawn mower 100 further includes a first pin bush 124 fixed to the first connecting element 12. More specifically, the first pin bush 124 passes through the first connecting element 12. The first pin bush 124 is formed with a first channel for the first locking element 122 to slide, and the first locking element 122 can slide in the first channel. 2017100172 15 Feb 2017 [0023] As shown in FIG. 6, the first fixing element 123 is formed with multiple holes 1231,1232, 1233, and 1234 allowing the pin to pass through. The multiple holes 1231,1232,1233,1234 act as the first engaging portion. The pin has a portion for engaging with the holes 1231, 1232, 1233, 1234 which acts as the first fixing portion.

[0024] The engagement between the pin and the holes 1231, 1232, 1233, 1234 makes the positions of the first fixing element 123 and the first locking element 122 fixed. Thus, the handle assembly 10 is locked relative to the deck 20. The holes 1231, 1232, 1233, 1234 correspond different gears respectively. The holes 1231, 1232, 1233 correspond different heights of the handle assembly 10. The pin can extend into the holes 1231,1232, 1233 so as to lock the handle assembly 10 at different height. The hole 1234 corresponds storage function. The pin can extend into the hole 1234, and the lawn mower 100 is locked at the storage position.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the adjusting handle 121 and a connecting rod 131 are connected by a linkage element 14. The linkage element 14 can be a rigid shaft, a flexible shaft or a pulling rope. Specifically, the linkage element 14 is a rigid shaft. The adjusting handle 121 and the connecting rod 131 are connected with two ends of the linkage element 14 respectively. Specifically, the first locking element 122 is located between the rotation axis of the adjusting handle 121 and the linkage element 14. The connecting rod 131 is rotatably connected with the second connecting element 13. More specifically, the connecting rod 131 is rotatably connected with the second connecting element 13 through a supporting seat 135. The supporting seat 135 is fixed to the second connecting element 13. The connecting rod 131 is rotatably connected with the supporting seat 135. A second locking element 132 is connected with the connecting rod 131. The 5 second locking element 132 and the linkage element 14 are connected with two ends of the connecting rod 131 respectively. The connecting rod 131 has a rotation axis located between the second locking element 132 and the linkage element 14. 2017100172 15 Feb 2017 [0026] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, a second fixing element 133 is fixed to the deck 20. Specifically, the first and second fixing elements 123, 133 are arranged on two sides of the deck 20. The second locking element 132 is provided with a second engaging portion and, the second fixing element 133 is provided with a second fixing portion for engaging with the second engaging portion. When it is needed to release the lock, the second locking element 132 slides along the rotation axis of the first connecting element 12. Specifically, the sliding direction of the first locking element 122 is substantially parallel to the sliding direction of the second locking element 132. The first and second locking elements 122,132 can slide toward the same direction or opposite directions. More specifically, the sliding direction of the first locking element 122 is opposite to the sliding direction of the second locking element 132. The second locking element 132 is a pin. The structure of the second fixing element 133 for fixing the second locking element 132 is the same as the structure of the first fixing element 123 for fixing the first locking element 122. The second engaging portion has the same structure as the first engaging portion. Similarly, the second fixing portion has the same structure as the first fixing portion. The lawn mower 100 further includes a second pin bush 134 fixed to the second connecting element 13. Specifically, the second pin bush 134 passes through the second connecting element 13. The second pin bush 134 is formed with a second channel for the second locking element 132 to slide, and the second locking element 132 can slide in the second channel.

[0027] During the releasing process, the user operates the adjusting handle 121 to make the adjusting handle 121 rotate relative to the first connecting element 12 so as to drive the linkage element 14 to move. Then the linkage element 14 drives the connecting rod 131 to rotate relative to the second connecting element 13 so as to drive the second locking element 132 to slide. Thus, the first and second locking elements 122, 132 slide at the same time and disengage from the first and second fixing elements 123, 133, so that the release is realized. After the lock is released, the 6 handle assembly 10 can be rotated relative to the deck 20. Whereas, when the first and second locking elements 122,132 slide reversely, the handle assembly 10 and the deck 20 are locked. The user is only needed to operate the adjusting handle 121 to lock or release the first and second connecting elements 12, 13 on the two sides of the handle assembly 10. Thus, the operation is convenient; the lock on the two sides is operated at the same time and reliable, and the biasing deformation on one side isn’t easy to occur. 2017100172 15 Feb 2017 [0028] The lawn mower 100 further includes a spring 15 for connecting the adjusting handle 121 and the first connecting element 12. The spring 15 can produce force acting between the adjusting handle 121 and the first connecting element 12 so as to retain or restore the adjusting handle 121 to the initial locking state. When it is needed to lock the handle assembly 10 and the deck 20, the adjusting handle 121 is released, and the force of the spring 15 makes the adjusting handle 121 restore to the initial position and drives the first and second locking elements 122,132 to restore to the initial positions at the same time. Specifically, the spring 15 is a compression spring located between the operating portion 1211 and the rotation axis of the adjusting handle 121. The spring 15 is closer to the rotation axis of the adjusting handle 121 than the operating portion 1211. Furthermore, the spring 15 is close to the fixing seat 125. A distance from the operating portion 1211 to the rotation axis of the adjusting handle 121 is greater than a distance from the spring 15 to the rotation axis of the adjusting handle 121. As a labor-saving structure, the user is only needed to use a small force to control the adjusting handle 121. The distance from the spring 15 to the rotation axis of the adjusting handle 121 is smaller than the distance from the operating portion 1211 to the rotation axis of the adjusting handle 121. So, a small displacement of the spring 15 can make the first locking element 122 have a large displacement.

[0029] The lawn mower 100 further includes a connecting tube 16. The first and second connecting elements 12,13 are connected with two ends of the connecting tube 16 respectively. So, the handle assembly 10 is constructed as a frame, and the stability of the handle assembly 10 is improved. Specifically, the linkage element 14 is located within the connecting tube 16. The connecting tube 16 can protect the linkage element 14. 7 [0030] As another embodiment, the power tool could be a snowthrower, and the working attachment is an auger. The snowthrower has the same structure as the lawn mower 100 except the working attachment. 2017100172 15 Feb 2017 [0031] The above illustrates and describes basic principles, main features and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the above embodiments do not limit the present invention in any form. Technical solutions obtained by equivalent substitution or equivalent variations all fall within the scope of the present invention. 8

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A power tool, comprising: a deck for fixing a motor; a first connecting element rotatably connected with the deck; a second connecting element rotatably connected with the deck around the same axis as the first connecting element; an operating handle for a user to operate and/or push the power tool, the operating handle having two opposite ends connected with the first and second connecting elements respectively; an adjusting handle rotatably connected with the first connecting element; a first locking element being provided with a first engaging portion; a first fixing element being provided with a first fixing portion for engaging with the first engaging portion; a connecting rod rotatably connected with the second connecting element; a second locking element being provided with a second engaging portion; a second fixing element being provided with a second fixing portion for engaging with the second engaging portion; and a linkage element for connecting the adjusting handle and the connecting rod, wherein the first and second fixing elements are fixed to the deck, the first locking element is connected with the adjusting handle, and the second locking element is connected with the connecting rod, wherein the first and second locking elements can be driven to slide by the adjusting handle when the adjusting handle is rotated.
2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the first locking element has a sliding direction which is substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the first connecting element.
3. The power tool of claim 2, wherein the first and second locking elements can be driven to slide toward the same direction or the opposite directions by the adjusting handle when the adjusting handle is rotated.
4. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the adjusting handle is formed with an operating portion for the user to operate, and the adjusting handle has a rotation axis located between the operating portion and the first locking element.
5. The power tool of claim 4, wherein the first locking element is located between the rotation axis of the adjusting handle and the linkage element.
6. The power tool of claim 5, further comprises a spring for connecting the adjusting handle and the first connecting element, the spring is located between the operating portion and the rotation axis of the adjusting handle.
7. The power tool of claim 1, further comprises a fixing seat fixed to the first connecting element and a supporting seat fixed to the second connecting element, the adjusting handle is rotatably connected with the fixing seat, and the connecting rod is rotatably connected with the supporting seat.
8. The power tool of claim 1, further comprises a connecting tube for connecting the first and second connecting elements.
9. The power tool of claim 8, wherein the linkage element is located within the connecting tube.
10. The power tool of claim 1, further comprises a wheel assembly being capable of rotating relative to the deck, and the power tool is a lawn mower or a snowthrower.