Black Decker Inc.

Christopher T King

Christian V Elder

Aris C Cleanthous

Daniel F Nace

Gregg L Sheddy

James H Stiles, Iii

Levi G Bowers

Robert R Morin

Eric S Rohrer

James C Gabriel

Jason D McKillican

Sona R Mathew

A method of operating a power tool having a motor and a controller is provided. The method includes: setting a protection time limit associated with a condition of the motor; taking protective action to shut down the motor if the condition of the motor persists for a duration of the protection time limit; and in response to occurrence of the condition during a start-up period of operation of the motor, extending the protection time limit for a duration of a constant-clutch time period to allow an output speed of the motor to reach or exceed a speed threshold, and taking protective action to shut down the motor if the output speed of the motor remains below the speed threshold for the duration of the constant-clutch time period.

Constant-clutch operation at power tool start-up

A power tool is provided including a housing, an electric motor, a main trigger switch, a side handle having an auxiliary trigger, and a controller operable to control a flow of electric current from a power source to the electric motor. In an embodiment, the controller the motor at start-up only if the main trigger is actuated within a time threshold after the auxiliary trigger is actuated, and otherwise prevent motor operation until both the main trigger and the auxiliary triggers are released and reengaged. In an embodiment, the controller applies a regenerative brake to stop an operation of the electric motor if one of the main trigger or the auxiliary trigger is released while the electric motor is in operation.

Power tool dual-trigger operation

A power tool is provided including a housing; an electric motor disposed within the housing; a main trigger switch mounted on the housing; a side handle mounted on the housing, the side handle having an auxiliary trigger; and a controller disposed within the housing operable to control a flow of electric current from a power source to the electric motor. The controller activates the motor only if the main trigger and the auxiliary trigger are both actuated. If the one of the triggers is released while the other trigger is still engaged, the controller is configured to continue operating the motor only if the released trigger is reengaged within a time threshold, but otherwise discontinue operating the motor until both the main trigger and the auxiliary triggers are released and reengaged.

A side handle for a power tool is provided including a main gripping body; a rod extending through the main gripping body and having a threaded end extending through a frontal end of the main gripping body; and a knob mounted on an end of the rod opposite the threaded end and being rotatable relative to the main gripping body. The frontal end of the main gripping body includes a keying feature operable to engage a portion of the power tool to prevent rotation of the main gripping body relative to the power tool while the knob is rotated to fasten the threaded end of the rod to a threaded opening of the power tool.

Side handle for power tool

A miter saw has a base assembly and a rotatable table disposed on the base assembly. The rotatable table is rotatable about a substantially vertical miter axis and has a substantially horizontal workpiece-supporting plane. A saw assembly is connected to the table and includes a blade. The blade is movable downwardly from a first position where the blade is above the workpiece-supporting plane to a second position where a portion of the blade is below the workpiece-supporting plane. The base assembly has a top surface and a first handle disposed on the top surface, with a first hole on the top surface extending through the base assembly, the first hole being configured to allow a user to extend the user's hand therethrough and grip the first handle.

Growing community of inventors

Catonsville, MD, United States of America

Christopher T King