US3181280A

US3181280A - Hand-held combined rotary and reciprocable tool

Info

Publication number: US3181280A
Application number: US291472A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gediminas J Bubelis
Original assignee: Supreme Products Corp
Current assignee: Supreme Products Corp
Priority date: 1963-06-28
Filing date: 1963-06-28
Publication date: 1965-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-04

Description

G. J. BUBELIS 3,1313@ HAND-HELD COMBINED ROTARY AND RECIPROCABLE TOOL y.ely 4, 1965 Filed June 28, 1965 United States Patent O 3,181,280 HAND-HELD COMBINED ROTARY AND RECIPRCABLE TOOL Y Gediminas J. Buhelis, Chicago, lll., assignor to Supreme Products Corporation, Chicago, Ill. Filed June 28, 1963, Ser. No. 291,472 6 Claims. (Cl. 51-170) This invention relates to rotary tools designed to be held in the hand for performing light cutting, abrading or polishing operations as in model-making, and in the fabrication of tools, dies, molds or similar articles in connection with which so-called free-hand performance is frequently resorted to.

Tools of the foregoing class are well known but in those hitherto known only simple rotation of the cutting, grinding or polishing implement is available. Frequently is necessary to combine rotation of the tool with axiallyreciprocating movement thereof, as for example, Where a surface is to be free of scratch marks such as would result from simple rotation of the implement, or removal of material from the work piece is to be accelerated. i-leretofore, the operator seeking such results has been obliged to reciprocate the entire tool and, in so doing, has diiculty controlling the stroke to follow the predetermined contour and to confine the action to a relatively small area. Moreover, the mental and physical effort thus involved is exhausing and vexatious.

The present invention relates to improvements in handheld rotary tools wherein reciprocation of the spindle, and hence the implement secured thereto, may be accomplished through the medium of a digitallyactuated button completely under the control of the operator, in order that overrun of the stroke or failure to follow a contour, with consequent injury to the work, is precluded.

Another object is to provide a hand-held tool of the foregoing character in which the desired reciprocating action is achieved with minimum application of friction to the spindle.

A further object is to provide a hand-held tool of the character aforesaid in which the reciprocating feature is embodied in a simple, reliable manner at minimum cost.

An additional object is to provide a tool of the character stated in which the reciprocating stroke may be selected to be over any range within a maximum range for which the tool is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which, taken with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred mode of carrying the principles of the invention into practice.

ln this drawing:

FIG. 1 is a combined side elevation and longitudinal mid-section of a tool embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 22 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. l; and

FlG. 4 is a partial view taken in the direction of the arrows 4 4 of FIG. 1.

Broadly regarded, the invention comprises the incorporation, with the rotary output shaft of the power source, of a rotatable and reciprocable spindle on the outboard end of which is means, e.g., a chuck, for gripping the working implement such as a cutter, rotary file, grinding wheel, polishing wheel, etc. Means are provided for digitally shifting the spindle in one direction against the bias of a spring, this latter otherwise serving continuously to maintain the spindle non-reciprocatory. Thus, accurate control of shifting of the spindle is rendered possible as the operator is obliged to concentrate on only one direction of shift, and such direction is so selected ll@ Patented May 4, 1965 ICC as to require thrust of the operators thumb which is somewhat more easily controlled although, if desired, the parts may be rearranged in order that ilexion of the thumb, rather than extension thereof may be relied upon. The maximum stroke is predetermined but the operator may select any stroke which is shorter, depending upon the work in hand, simply by controlling his thumb movement accordingly.

Thus, reverting to the drawing, there is shown a tool according to the invention comprising a combined framework 1l) and

housing portions

12 and 13. These parts are desirably formed as

mating halves

10a, 10b, 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b secured by screws or bolts 14, all as is conventional, in order to render assembly and disassembly most convenient. The housing 12 contains a suitable source of power, e.g., an electric motorhaving an output shaft 15, although an air motor or flexible shaft to an exterior power source may be availed of.

The shaft 15 carries one member 16, e.g., the male member, of a splined coupling secured to the shaft 15, e.g., as by a pin 19. The female member 19 of the coupling is secured, as by a pin 22 to the spindle 21, this latter being carried in anti-friction bearings 24 supported in suitable mating recesses in the

housing halves

13a and 13b. At its outboard end the spindle carries a chuck or collet 26 of any known type to grip the implement 27, elg., a cutter, grinding wheel, rotary file or polishing wheel. In order to prevent rotation of the spindle while the chuck is being locked or unlocked, there is a recess 28 accessible through a bore 31 whereby a pin may be temporarily inscrted into the recess 28, as is well known.

Reciprocation of the spindle is through the medium of a button 41 slidable with respect to the housing portion 13 over some predetermined range, say 1A. Desirably, the button 41 is maintained in a path longitudinally of the tool by means of a pair of walls 42-42 engaged by the flat sides of the button. Travel of the button is limited by the

ends

44 and 45 of a slot 46 in the housing portion 13, it being apparent that each

half

13a, 13b thereof contains one-half of the slot. The button has a boss 49 riding in the slot 46 and has an L-shaped actuator 51 pinned thereto (FIG. 2). The actuator is bifurcate, with arms 52-52 straddling the spindle 21, in order that assembly of the parts may be facilitated. lt will be noted that the effective points of application of force by the actuator arms are essentially in an axial plane. A thrust washer 55 surrounds the spindle 21 whereby force exerted through the button 41 is not evidenced as excessive friction on the spindle. The washer 55 is, in turn, maintained in operative position by an axially-fixed abutment, e.g., a backing ring 57, which may be a split ring seized in the groove in the spindle or a ilange forming an integral parlt lof the spindle. Bias means, e.g., a compression spring 61 is interposed between the ring 57 and an abutment portion 62 of the framework constituted as matching halves, one associated with each

housing portion

13a and 13b.

lf desired, a freely-rotatable ball may be mounted in a suitable recess in each arm of the actuator 51, or alternatively, the thrust washer 55 may be of the ball-bearing t pe.

yFrom the foregoing it will have become evident that the spindle may be manually reciprocated by alternate application of, and release of pressure by the thumb resting on the button 41, the spring 61 restoring the spindle as pressure is relieved. It will be understood that the button is so positioned that, when the housing portion 12 is gripped in the hand in the most comfortable position, the thumb may be extended and flexed without fatigue to provide the required reciprocation of the spindle; also, that when reciprocation is not desired, the force of the spring rJ 61 will be such as to exert suiiicient bias to maintain the tool 27 in its operative position notwithstanding drag of the implement 27 on the Work. The

spline coupling

16 and 19 is so arranged that, when fully engaged by reason of the spring 61, the chuck 26 is at the proper axial location, as shown.

If desired, the actuator 51, instead of being provided with furcations 52, may completely surround the spindle whereby thrust may be applied to the latter over a substantially larger area to reduce side loading of the spindle and easier control of reciprocation.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modiiications may be made and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A hand-held tool comprising a framework, powered means supported on said framework providing a rotary output, a spindle mounted on said framework for combined rotary and reciprocating movement over a predetermined stroke, means at one end of said spindle coupling the same to said output for said combined movement, means at the opposite end of the spindle to hold an irnplement to be applied to the work piece, an abutment axially xed on said spindle, a digitally-operable button movable between two positions mounted on said framework, an actuator providing an operative connection between said button and spindle abutment, bias means e intermediate said abutment and framework normally urging said spindle to one limit of its stroke, the actuation of said actuator shifting said spindle toward the other end of its stroke against said bias means to impart reciprocating movement to said implement during rotation thereof.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a bifurcated portion straddling said spindle and said abutment is an annulus encircling said spindle.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 further characterized in that a thrust washer is interposed between said actuator portion and annulus,

4. The combination in accordance with claim l wherein said abutment comprises a radially-extending flange on said spindle and said actuator comprises a portion providing pressure on said flange along a plane which passes essentially through the rotational axis of the spindle.

5 The combination in accordance with claim 4 further characterized by the provision of anti-friction means intermediate said flange and said actuator portion.

6. A hand-held power-driven tool comprising a framework, means on said framework to connect the tool to a source of power, a spindle mounted on said framework for combined rotary and reciprocating movement over a predetermined stroke, means at one end of said spindle coupling the same to said iirst means for said combined movement, means at the opposite end of the spindle to hold an implement to be applied to the work piece, an abutment axially fixed on said spindle, a digitally-operable button movable between two positions mounted on said framework, an actuator providing an operative connection between said button and spindle abutment, bias means intermediate said abutment and framework normally urging said spindle to one limit of its stroke, the actuation of Said actuator shifting said spindle toward the other end of its stroke against said bias means to impart reciprocating movement to said implement during rotation thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,673,012 6/28 Meunier 51-170 X 1,787,999 1/31 Schultz 81--57 1,802,078 4/31 Exley 51-170 2,108,029 2/38 Connor 5134.9 X 2,200,573 5/ 40 Connor 51-349 2,227,697 1/41 Blood 5 l-34.9 2,992,520 7/61 Kish 51-177 X FOREIGN PATENTS 926,752 4/ 47 France. 840,805 6/ 52 Germany.

LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

JOHN C. CHRISTIE, Examiner,

Claims

1. A HAND-HELD TOOL COMPRISING A FRAMEWORK, POWERED MEANS SUPPORTED ON SAID FRAMEWORK PROVIDING A ROTARY OUTPUT, A SPINDLE MOUNTED ON SAID FRAMEWORK FOR COMBINED ROTARY AND RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT OVER A PREDETERMINED STROKE, MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID SPINDLE COUPLING THE SAME TO SAID OUTPUT FOR SAID COMBINED MOVEMENT, MEANS AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPINDLE TO HOLD AN IMPLEMENT TO BE APPLIED TO THE WORK PIECE, AN ABUTMENT AXIALLY FIXED ON SAID SPINDLE, A DIGITALLY-OPERABLE BUTTON MOVABLE BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAMEWORK, AN ACTUATOR PROVIDING AN OPERATIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BUTTON AND SPINDLE ABUTMENT, BIAS MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID ABUTMENT AND FRAMEWORK NORMALLY URGING SAID SPINDLE TO ONE LIMIT OF ITS STROKE, THE ACTUATION OF SAID ACTUATOR SHIFTING SAID SPINDLE TOWARD THE OTHER END OF ITS STROKE AGAINST SAID BIAS MEANS TO IMPART RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT TO SAID IMPLEMENT DURING ROTATION THEREOF.