What is claimed is:
1. A power tool comprising:
a spindle for supporting a tool element;
a body defining a first axis and housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism selectively driving the spindle, the body having a forward end supporting the spindle and a rearward end, the rearward end defining a plane orientated at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the first axis; and
a grip pivotably connected to the rearward end of the body for pivotable movement about a second axis relative to the housing, the second axis extending through the rearward end and being substantially perpendicular to the plane, the grip having a first end and a second end, the first end being engageable by a hand of an operator, the second end being adjacent the rearward end of the body and being oriented in the plane.
2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the power tool is a reciprocating saw.
3. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the non-perpendicular angle is between about 10 degrees and about 45 degrees relative to the first axis.
4. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a battery supported by the grip, the battery being electrically connectable to the motor to supply power to the motor.
5. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the grip is a D-shaped handle.
6. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising:
a switch assembly operable to electrically connect the motor to a power source, at least a portion of the switch assembly being supported on the grip for pivoting movement with the grip; and
a wiring arrangement electrically connecting the switch assembly to the motor and accommodating pivoting movement of the switch assembly with the grip and relative to the motor.
7. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a compressible member positioned between the rearward end of the body and the second end of the grip to accommodate relative axial movement of the grip and body.
8. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a locking assembly for locking the grip in a pivoted position relative to the body.
9. The power tool of claim 8, wherein the locking assembly includes a recess defined by one of the body and the grip and a projection provided by an other of the body and the grip, the projection being engageable in the recess to lock the grip in a pivoted position relative to the body.
10. The power tool of claim 8, further comprising a switch assembly operable to electrically connect the motor to a power source, at least a portion of the switch assembly being supported on the grip for pivoting movement with the grip, and wherein the switch assembly is inoperable during pivoting movement of the grip.
11. A power tool comprising:
a spindle for supporting a tool element;
a body defining an axis and housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism selectively driving the spindle, the body having a forward end supporting the spindle and a rearward end;
a grip pivotably connected to the rearward end of the body for pivotable movement about the axis, the grip having a first end and a second end, the first end being engageable by a hand of an operator, the second end being adjacent the rearward end of the body;
a switch assembly operable to electrically connect the motor to a power source, at least a portion of the switch assembly being supported on the grip for pivoting movement with the grip; and
a wiring arrangement electrically connecting the switch assembly to the motor and accommodating pivoting movement of the switch assembly with the grip and relative to the motor.
12. The power tool of claim 11, further comprising:
a fixed conductor on one of the body and the grip; and
a moveable conductor positioned on the other of the body and the grip and moveable with the other of the body and the grip relative to one of the body and the grip, the moveable conductor electrically engaging the fixed conductor to electrically connect the switch assembly to the motor.
13. The power tool of claim 12, wherein the fixed conductor is positioned on the body and electrically connected to the motor, and wherein the moveable conductor is positioned on the grip and is electrically connected to the switch assembly.
14. The power tool of claim 12, wherein the fixed conductor is concentric with the pivot axis, and wherein the moveable conductor is moveable along the fixed conductor.
15. The power tool of claim 11, wherein the switch assembly is inoperable during pivoting movement of the grip about the axis.
16. A power tool comprising:
a spindle for supporting a tool element;
a body housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism selectively driving the spindle, the body having a forward end supporting the spindle and a rearward end;
a grip connected to the rearward end of the body, the grip having a first end engageable by a hand of an operator and a second end adjacent the rearward end of the body; and
a compressible member positioned between the rearward end of the body and the second end of the grip to accommodate relative axial movement between the grip and the body.
17. The power tool of claim 16, wherein the compressible member is an o-ring.
18. The power tool of claim 16, wherein one of the second end of the grip and the rearward end of the body defines a groove extending around at least a portion of the circumference of the one of the second end of the grip and the rearward end of the body, and wherein the compressible member is positioned in the groove.
19. The power tool of claim 16, wherein the grip is pivotable about the axis and relative to the body
20. The power tool of claim 19, wherein the body defines a first axis and the rearward end defines a plane oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the first axis, and wherein the grip is pivotable about a second axis extending through the rearward end of the body and being substantially perpendicular to the plane.
21. The power tool of claim 20, wherein the second end is oriented in the plane.
22. A power tool comprising:
a spindle for supporting a tool element;
a body housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism selectively driving the spindle, the body having a forward end supporting the spindle and a rearward end;
a grip connected to the rearward end of the body for pivoting movement relative to the body, the grip having a first end engageable by a hand of an operator and a second end adjacent the rearward end of the body;
a ring extending around at least a portion of the circumference of one of the rearward end of the body and the second end of the grip; and
a sleeve extending around at least a portion of the circumference of the ring and being between the ring and the other of the rearward end of the body and the second end of the grip.
23. The power tool of claim 22, further comprising a compressible member positioned between the rearward end of the body and the second end of the grip to accommodate relative axial movement between the grip and the body.
24. The power tool of claim 23, wherein one of the second end of the grip and the rearward end of the body define a groove extending around at least a portion of the circumference of the one of the second end of the grip and the rearward end of the body, and wherein the compressible member is positioned in the groove.
25. The power tool of claim 22, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the ring includes a low-friction engaging surface to accommodate pivoting movement of the grip relative to the rearward end of the body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Brush holder for an electrical motor having a commutator, comprising:
an electrically insulating support structure having a opening for receiving the commutator, around which retaining and guiding cages are fixed, each cage having, translatably mounted therein, a respective positive or negative brush, one end of which is intended to bear during operation against the commutator;
the support structure comprising a molded-plastic body incorporating at least one first and one second conducting element intended to be connected to the positive and negative terminals, respectively, of an external supply-voltage source and connected to the positive and negative brush or brushes, respectively, via a first and a second connection path so as to allow the brushes to be coupled to said voltage source;
a discontinuity being provided in one of said connection paths; and
a resiliently deformable and electrically conducting strip being connected mechanically and electrically across said discontinuity with a substantially permanent connection at one end and with a heat-meltable connection at the other end and with a resilient pre-load tending to break the connection at said other end;
wherein the brush holder further comprises a voltage drop resistor for operation of the motor at a reduced speed, having one terminal connected to said first conducting element via a thermally and electrically conducting connection.
2. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein the other terminal of the aforementioned voltage drop resistor is accessible from the outside via a second electrically and thermally conducting connection.
3. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein the first thermally and electrically conducting connection is formed by an enameled or tin-plated copper wire.
4. The brush holder of claim 2, wherein the first conducting element and the second conducting element are connected to the power source by a first cable and a second cable respectively, the first cable and the second cable forming a single multipolar cable with the second connection of the voltage drop resistor.
5. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein the heat-meltable connection is fanned by means of soldering with a high-temperature tin alloy.
6. The brush holder of claim 5, wherein the tin alloy has a melting point ranging from 240\xb0 C. to 290\xb0 C.
7. The brush holder of claim 5, wherein at least one through-hole is formed in the other end of the strip for gripping the tin alloy.
8. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein a first induction coil and a second induction coil are connected in series to the first connection path and the second connection path respectively.
9. The brush holder of claim 8, wherein the first induction coil is connected between a third conducting element and an adjacent fourth conducting element along the first connection path.
10. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein the first connection path and the second connection path is shorted by a capacitor, one terminal of the capacitor being connected to the first conducting element of the first connection path.
11. The brush holder of claim 1, wherein said discontinuity is formed between said first conducting element and an adjacent third conducting element along said first connection path, so that the strip is connected between said first conducting element and said third conducting element.