Snap-on Inc.

Snap-on Tools Company

Snap-on Technologies, Inc.

Daniel S Pusateri

James R Brehm

Joshua M Beer

Kenneth C Happ

John A Pierman

Gordon A Putney

Raymond E Kinsley

Thomas J Zikowski

Dean J Iwinski

Daniel D Lionberg

Dennis A Nowak

Michael R Mowry

Susan C Melvin

James Brehm

A device that automatically actuates the reversing lever of a ratchet mechanism when the radial direction of the motor is changed. The auto-shift mechanism includes a worm gear that rotates with the motor, and a disc coupled to the worm gear that moves laterally as the worm gear rotates. Axial movement of the disc actuates a reversing lever of a ratchet mechanism by either pulling or pushing the reversing lever. A lost-motion mechanism can absorb an initial amount of torque so that the auto-shift mechanism can run its course prior to applying the torque to a fastener.

Auto-shift reversing mechanism

A variable speed trigger mechanism that allows a user to reverse a direction of a motor and supply variable amounts of power to the motor using a single trigger mechanism. In a first motion, the user can actuate the reversing module to change the direction of the motor coupled to the trigger mechanism. In a second motion, the user can actuate the same trigger and apply variable amounts of power to the motor.

Variable speed trigger mechanism

A variable speed toggle switch that allows a user to reverse a rotational direction of a motor and supply variable amounts of power to a motor, such as in a power tool, for example, a power drill. A trigger can include a gear segment that meshingly engages a gear on a potentiometer to electrically communicate the actuation direction and actuation amount of the trigger to a microprocessor. The microprocessor can then signal to an H-bridge, or to a series of transistors, the actuation direction and actuation amount of the trigger. A motor or other device can be powered by a power source in an amount corresponding to the actuation amount, and in a direction corresponding to the actuation direction of the trigger.

Variable speed toggle trigger

A planetary gear set centering ring for use is a planetary gear train. The planetary gear centering ring is adapted to be positioned within a gear train to center a planetary gear carrier and a set of planetary gears within a ring gear of the gear train.

Planetary gear set centering ring

An axial pawl ratcheting mechanism is provided that may be used for a wrench and comprises a first disc including axial gear teeth on a first side providing for ratcheting in a first direction. A second disc is provided having axial gear teeth and peripheral gear teeth. The second disc is mounted to the first side of the first disc so that the first disc axial gear teeth engage the second disc axial gear teeth and provide an axial pawl ratchet assembly. A ratchet head is provided having an internally toothed opening for receiving the axial pawl ratchet assembly therein so that the peripheral gear teeth of the second disc engage the internal diameter teeth of the ratchet head in order to transfer torque between the ratchet head and the axial pawl ratchet assembly. An actuator is provided for adjusting the positioning of the axial pawl ratchet assembly between a first engagement position and a second engagement position. In the first engagement position the first disc and the second disc will ratchet in a first direction and transmit torque in a second direction and in the second engagement position the first and second discs will ratchet in the second direction and transmit torque in the first direction.

Axial pawl ratchet mechanism

A tip valve assembly for a pneumatic tool with an integrated wear surface. The tool has a portion with an air channel bore housing. The tip valve assembly includes a first valve member having a bore and defining a valve seat about the bore and a second valve member capable of forming a seal with the valve seat. The second valve member can be tilted from the valve seat to permit air flow through the bore of the first valve member. The wear surface projects over only a portion of the cylindrical wall in the bore housing in conjunction with an edge of the second valve member that can be tilted farthest, so the second valve member does not contact the cylindrical wall of the bore housing. As an anti-rotation feature, the second valve member may have an outer periphery with a shaped recess between lobes. The first valve member may have a complementary shaped integrated wear surface disposed in the recess so the second valve member moves without internally rotating as well as not contacting the cylindrical wall of the air channel bore housing.

Trigger-actuated tip-type air valve with integrated wear surface

A lubrication apparatus, system and method for a tool is disclosed. The tool includes a rotating impact assembly and the lubrication apparatus, system and method directs lubricant from a radially outward position to a radially inward position in the impact assembly.

Lubrication system for impact wrenches

A rotary tool includes a housing structure with a plurality of apertures therein, drive mechanism disposed within the housing structure, a detachable drive end mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism, and a retaining structure received by the apertures. The drive mechanism is coupled to the detachable drive end mechanism by a splined sleeve. The detachable drive end mechanism includes a detachable drive end and a collar which engages the retaining structure. Several embodiments of collars and retaining structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, the retaining structure includes a generally U-shaped flexible and resilient spring clip which is flexed when installed to frictionally hold itself and the drive end and collar in place.

Power tool with detachable drive end

Impact wrench

An automatic shutoff mechanism is designed for a pneumatic tool having an air motor, a pressurized airflow path to the motor and a torquing mechanism driven by the motor. The shutoff mechanism includes a valve member moveable between open and closed positions relative to the airflow path and biased to the open position. A trip apparatus is responsive to application of a predetermined torque for moving the valve member to a trip position disposed in the airflow path sufficiently to expose the valve member to the pressurized airflow for driving the valve member from the trip position to the closed position. Mechanical and electromechanical embodiments are disclosed.

Air auto shut-off

A power hand tool body has a barrel with a depending skirt portion from which depends an elongated handle. Elongated grooves are formed in opposite sides of the skirt portion and extend between forward and rearward ends thereof, the grooves being part-cylindrical in transverse cross-section and having rectangular cross-section neck portions opening at the sides of the skirt. A hollow tubular grip formed of flexible and resiliently stretchable material has an end portion with part-cylindrical attachment members extending laterally and inwardly from opposite sides thereof so that, when the grip is slipped over the handle, the end portion may be stretched to insert the attachment members respectively into ends of the grooves for retaining the grip in place.

Power hand tool and removable grip therefor

The pneumatic tool includes a housing which encloses a majority of the pneumatic tool. The housing is comprised of a body and a handle depending from the body and defining an input air passageway. A reversing valve lies partially disposed within the housing, intermediate the body and the handle. The body defines a preferably cylindrical motor cavity communicationg at its bottom with the input air passageway and at its top with an exhaust passageway located above the motor cavity. A pneumatic motor is disposed within the motor cavity. The pneumatic motor can include front and rear plates, a rotor rotatively suspended between the plates, and a cylinder disposed between the plates and in sealed engagement thereto. The cylinder has an upper portion with an exhaust port communicating with the exhaust vent and a lower portion with an air inlet communicating with the input air passageway to provide a substantially diametral airflow path through the motor.

Growing community of inventors

Grayslake, IL, United States of America

Daniel S Pusateri