Hand-held power tool and thereto related control system and use and method of controlling

Abstract

A hand-held power tool comprising an internal combustion engine (4), a working tool (6), a centrifugal clutch (8), and a control system (10) is disclosed. The engine (4) has a clutch-in speed, above which the engine (4) drives the working tool (6). The control system (10) comprises a rotation speed sensor (12), and a speed limitation controller (14), which is configured to limit an engine speed at a limitation speed below the clutch-in speed. It is active or activated during a starting procedure of the internal combustion engine (4). The control system (10) is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller (14) upon sensing at least one acceleration at a level above the limitation speed and sensing at least one deceleration at a level above the limitation speed, such that the engine (4) is rotatable above the limitation speed to drive the working tool (6).

Claims

1. A hand-held power tool comprising an internal combustion engine, a working tool, a centrifugal clutch, and a control system, wherein the working tool is driven by the internal combustion engine via the centrifugal clutch, wherein the internal combustion engine has a clutch-in speed above which the internal combustion engine drives the working tool, wherein the internal combustion engine is controlled by the control system, the control system comprising a rotation speed sensor, and a speed limitation controller, wherein the speed limitation controller is configured to limit an engine speed at a limitation speed, which limitation speed is below the clutch-in speed, and wherein the speed limitation controller is active or activated during a starting procedure of the internal combustion engine, characterized in that the control system is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing at least one acceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed and sensing at least one deceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed, such that the internal combustion engine is rotatable above the limitation speed to drive the working tool via the centrifugal clutch, wherein an offset speed above the limitation speed and below the clutch-in speed is set in the control system, wherein the sensing the at least one acceleration comprises sensing a passing of the offset speed from a level below the offset speed to a level above the offset speed, and wherein the sensing the at least one deceleration comprises sensing a passing of the offset speed from a level above the offset speed to a level below the offset speed.

2. The hand-held power tool according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing the at least one acceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed and sensing the at least one deceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed within a predetermined timespan.

3. The hand-held power tool according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing at least two accelerations when the engine speed is above the limitation speed and sensing at least two decelerations when the engine speed is above the limitation speed.

4. The hand-held power tool according to claim 1, wherein the hand-held power tool comprises a throttle valve positionable in a starting position, and wherein the starting position will result in the internal combustion engine reaching the limitation speed.

5. The hand-held power tool according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to implement a time delay between a starting of the internal combustion engine and the deactivating of the speed limitation controller.

6. A control system for controlling an internal combustion engine of a hand-held power tool, the hand-held power tool comprising a working tool, and a centrifugal clutch, wherein the internal combustion engine has a clutch-in speed above which the internal combustion engine drives the working tool, wherein the control system comprises a rotation speed sensor, and a speed limitation controller, wherein the speed limitation controller is configured to limit an engine speed at a limitation speed, which limitation speed is below the clutch-in speed, and wherein the speed limitation controller is active or activated during a starting procedure of the internal combustion engine, characterized in that the control system is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing at least one acceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed and sensing at least one deceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed, wherein an offset speed above the limitation speed and below the clutch-in speed is set in the control system, wherein the sensing the at least one acceleration comprises sensing a passing of the offset speed from a level below the offset speed to a level above the offset speed, and wherein the sensing the at least one deceleration comprises sensing a passing of the offset speed from a level above the offset speed to a level below the offset speed.

7. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the control system is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing the at least one acceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed and sensing the at least one deceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed within a predetermined timespan.

8. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the control system is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing at least two accelerations when the engine speed is above the limitation speed and sensing at least two decelerations when the engine speed is above the limitation speed.

9. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the control system is configured to implement a time delay between a starting of the internal combustion engine and the deactivating of the speed limitation controller.

10. Use of the control system according to claim 6 in the hand-held power tool, wherein the working tool is driven by the internal combustion engine via the centrifugal clutch.

11. A method of controlling a hand-held power tool, the hand-held power tool comprising an internal combustion engine, a working tool, a centrifugal clutch, and a control system, wherein the working tool is driven by the internal combustion engine via the centrifugal clutch, wherein the internal combustion engine has a clutch-in speed above which the internal combustion engine drives the working tool, wherein the internal combustion engine is controlled by the control system, the control system comprising a rotation speed sensor, and a speed limitation controller, wherein the speed limitation controller is configured to limit an engine speed at a limitation speed, which limitation speed is below the clutch-in speed, wherein an offset speed above the limitation speed and below the clutch-in speed is set in the control system, wherein the method comprises steps of: activating the speed limitation controller prior to, or during, a starting procedure of the internal combustion engine, sensing at least one acceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed, sensing at least one deceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed, and deactivating the speed limitation controller, wherein the step of sensing the at least one acceleration comprises sensing a passing of the offset speed from a level below the offset speed to a level above the offset speed, and wherein the step of sensing the at least one deceleration comprises sensing a passing of the offset speed from a level above the offset speed to a level below the offset speed.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising a step of: determining whether the steps of sensing at least one acceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed and sensing at least one deceleration when the engine speed is above the limitation speed are performed within a predetermined timespan, and only then performing the step of deactivating the speed limitation controller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the example embodiments discussed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a illustrates a hand-held power tool according to embodiments,

(3) FIG. 1b illustrates schematically components of a hand-held power tool,

(4) FIG. 1c illustrates schematically a control system of a hand-held power tool,

(5) FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram depicting an operation of a control system for controlling an internal combustion engine of a hand-held power tool according to embodiments, and

(6) FIG. 3 illustrates a method of controlling a hand-held power tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Aspects of the present invention will now be described more fully. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

(8) FIG. 1a illustrates a hand-held power tool 2 according to embodiments. In these embodiments the hand-held power tool is a chainsaw 2. FIG. 1b illustrates schematically components of the hand-held power tool 2. In the following reference is made to FIGS. 1a-1b. The hand-held power tool 2 comprises an internal combustion engine 4, a working tool 6 in the form of a saw chain, a centrifugal clutch 8, and a control system 10. The working tool 6 is driven by the internal combustion engine 4 via the centrifugal clutch 8. The internal combustion engine 4 is controlled by the control system 10. The internal combustion engine 4 has a clutch-in speed above which the internal combustion engine 4 drives the working tool 6. That is, at the clutch-in speed, the internal combustion engine 4 has a rotational speed sufficient for rotating the centrifugal clutch 8 at a speed such that it engages thus, driving the working tool 6. Below the clutch-in speed the internal combustion engine 4 has a rotational speed which is too low for rotating the centrifugal clutch 8 at a speed such that it engages, i.e. below the clutch-in speed the working tool 6 is not driven by the centrifugal clutch 8.

(9) FIG. 1c illustrates schematically a control system 10 of a hand-held power tool. The control system 10 comprising a rotation speed sensor 12, and a speed limitation controller 14. The rotation speed sensor 12 is configured to sense a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine 4, and may be arrange on the internal combustion engine 4 to sense a rotation of a crankshaft of the engine 4. The speed limitation controller 12 is configured to limit an engine speed as a start safety function during start-up of the hand-held power tool, in particular during starting of the engine 4. The speed limitation controller 12, when activated, limits the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine 4 at a limitation speed, which limitation speed is below the clutch-in speed thus, preventing the engine 4 from reaching the clutch-in speed. The intention is that the speed limitation controller 12 will, when the operator starts the engine 4, stop the internal combustion engine 4 from revving up such that the centrifugal clutch 8 is prevented from driving the working tool 6. An uncontrolled driving of the working tool 6 may be dangerous for the operator. The speed limitation controller 12 is active or activated during a starting procedure of the internal combustion engine 4. The speed limitation controller 12 may only dependent on the starting of the internal combustion engine 4. This may entail that the activation of the speed limitation controller 12 may not relate to any requirement except the fact that the internal combustion engine 4 is being started. Thus, failure of the start safety function may be avoided.

(10) The control system 10 further comprises a control unit 16, such as a central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor or similar unit, with associated memory function for storing a computer program for controlling the speed limitation controller 14, and optionally for controlling further functions of the internal combustion engine 4 and/or the hand-held power tool. The speed limitation controller 14 may be implemented as a function in the control unit 16, or may form a separate unit communicating with the control unit 16. The rotation speed sensor 12 is connected to the control unit 16. The rotation speed sensor 12 communicates data of the engine 4 to the control unit 16. Such data may be actual rotational speed data, or more or less raw data, which is used by the control unit 16 for calculating one or more different rotational speed data. Rotational speed data may be e.g. revolutions per minute (rpm), revolutions per second (rps), rad/s, average rotational speed over a specific period of time, average rotational speed over as specific number of revolutions of the engine, or any other type of filter algorithm. Within the scope of the invention every type of speed sensor is considered, including both direct and indirect sensing of the speed of the internal combustion engine 4. Examples of direct detection or sensing would be the utilization of magnetics or hall-effect sensors for detecting the rotation of the shaft or an electric sensor for detecting the current generated by a primary firing pulse generator of the combustion engine. An example of an indirect detection of the rotational speed of the engine would be the detection and counting of ignitions of a fuel/air mixture in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine 4.

(11) In accordance with the present invention the control system 10 is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller 12 upon sensing at least one acceleration at a level above the limitation speed and sensing at least one deceleration at a level above the limitation speed. Thus, by accelerating and decelerating the internal combustion engine 4 at a level above the limitation speed, the operator may indicate to the control system 10 that he, or she, is ready to operate the hand-held power tool 2. After the speed limitation controller 12 has been deactivated, the hand-held power tool 2 is fully operational with the working tool 6 operable, i.e. the start safety function has been deactivated.

(12) The internal combustion engine 4 comprises according to some embodiments a throttle valve 18. A throttle lever 20 is controlled by the operator of the hand-held power tool 2 in order to control an opening degree of the throttle valve 18 and thus, the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine 4. The hand-held power tool 2 may comprise a throttle valve 18 positionable in a starting position, the starting position resulting in the internal combustion engine 4 reaching the limitation speed. More specifically, prior to starting the internal combustion engine 4, the throttle valve 18 may be positioned such that when the engine 4 starts, it reaches the limitation speed.

(13) It may be mentioned that the internal combustion engine 4 may be operated at speeds lower than the limitation speed, e.g. at an idle speed when the throttle lever 20 is released by the operator.

(14) Alternative means of controlling the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine 4 may be a controller of a fuel injection system, in case the internal combustion engine 4 comprises such a system.

(15) FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram depicting an operation of a control system for controlling an internal combustion engine of a hand-held power tool according to embodiments. Moreover,

(16) FIG. 2 illustrates a method of controlling a hand-held power tool according to embodiments. The control system may be a control system 10 as discussed above in connection with FIG. 1c.

(17) In the diagram, time, t, is represented on the X-axis and rotations per time unit, , of the internal combustion engine are represented on the Y-axis. As discussed above, the hand-held power tool has a clutch-in speed, C, and a limitation speed, L. At t=0 the internal combustion engine is started and the speed limitation controller is active. The control system is configured to implement a time delay between a starting of the internal combustion engine and allowing deactivation of the speed limitation controller. During the time delay, i.e. in the diagram from t=0 to t=t1, the speed limitation controller is not deactivated. That is, during the time delay the speed limitation controller remains activated. It remains activated, irrespective of how the internal combustion engine itself behaves immediately after it has started, or of how the operator attempts to control the internal combustion engine or the hand-held power tool. The internal combustion engine may thus, start reliably before an operator is permitted to control the internal combustion engine.

(18) As discussed above, the control system is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing at least one acceleration at a level above the limitation speed, L, and sensing at least one deceleration at a level above the limitation speed, L. In the diagram, accelerations at a level above the limitation speed, L, take place around t2 and t4. Similarly, decelerations at a level above the limitation speed, L, take place around t3 and t5.

(19) In these embodiments, an offset speed, O, above the limitation speed, L, and below the clutch-in speed, C, is set in the control system. The sensing the at least one acceleration comprises sensing a passing of the offset speed, O, from a level below the offset speed, O, to a level above the offset speed, O. This takes place at t2 and t4. The sensing the at least one deceleration comprises sensing a passing of the offset speed, O, from a level above the offset speed, O, to a level below the offset speed, O. This takes place at t3 and t5.

(20) Accelerations and decelerations of the internal combustion engine may be identified in a number of alternative ways. Besides the above discussed passing of an offset speed, e.g. a derivative of the graph/function representing the rotational speed of internal combustion engine may be used to identify accelerations and decelerations. A positive derivative indicates an acceleration and a negative derivative indicates a deceleration.

(21) According to some embodiments, the control system is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing one acceleration at a level above the limitation speed, L, and sensing one deceleration at a level above the limitation speed, L. In the diagram of FIG. 2 the speed limitation controller would be deactivated after t=t3 since the criterion would be fulfilled at that point in time.

(22) According to the embodiments of FIG. 2, the control system is configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing at least two accelerations at a level above the limitation speed, L, and sensing at least two decelerations at a level above the limitation speed, L. In this manner the likelihood of the operator is actually controlling the internal combustion engine to accelerate and decelerate is higher than if only one acceleration and one deceleration is required to deactivate the speed limitation controller. In the diagram these criteria are fulfilled. As discussed above, at t2 and t3 first accelerations and decelerations take place, and at t4 and t5 second accelerations and the decelerations take place. Thereafter, the operator may rev up the internal combustion engine as indicated at the far right of the diagram. Suitably, a first acceleration is followed by a first deceleration, and a second acceleration is followed by a second deceleration, and so on.

(23) According to some embodiments the control system may be configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller only after the engine speed goes below the limitation speed, L, after the one or more accelerations and decelerations above at the limitation speed, L. This is indicated at t6 in the diagram of FIG. 2. In alternative embodiments the control system may be configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller only after the engine speed goes below a deactivation speed, after the one or more accelerations and decelerations above at the limitation speed, L. The deactivation speed may be a rotational speed below the offset speed, O. The deactivation speed may be a rotational speed below the limitation speed, L.

(24) According to embodiments, the control system may be configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller upon sensing the at least one acceleration at a level above the limitation speed and sensing the at least one deceleration at a level above the limitation speed, within a predetermined timespan. As indicated in FIG. 2 the first acceleration and deceleration are performed with in a timespan indicated with dt1. In embodiments were only one acceleration and deceleration are required for deactivation of the speed limitation controller, the timespan dt1 has to be within the predetermined timespan, tlim, i.e. if the criterion dt1tlim is fulfilled, the speed limitation controller is deactivated. In embodiments were two accelerations and decelerations are required for deactivation of the speed limitation controller, the timespan dt2 has to be within the predetermined timespan, tlim, i.e. if the criterion dt2 tlim is fulfilled, the speed limitation controller is deactivated. The predetermined timespan, tlim, may suitably differ depending on the number of accelerations and decelerations required to be performed during the predetermined timespan, tlim.

(25) Mentioned purely as an example, the predetermined timespan, tlim, may have a length of one or a few seconds, or may be 10-20 seconds, all depending on the number of accelerations and decelerations required, the type and size of internal combustion engine, as well as the type of hand-held power tool. Also the limitation speed, L, the clutch-in speed, C, and the offset speed, O, may depend on the type and size of internal combustion engine, as well as the type of hand-held power tool. Mentioned purely as an example, for a chainsaw having a 2-stroke internal combustion engine of 50 cm3, the limitation speed, L, may be approximately 60 rps, the clutch-in speed, C, may be approximately 68 rps, and the offset speed, O, may be approximately 63 rps, the rotational speed being an average rotational speed calculated over the latest 10 revolutions of the engine.

(26) FIG. 3 illustrates a method 100 of controlling a hand-held power tool. The hand-held power tool is a hand-held power tool 2 as discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1a-1c. The hand-held power tool comprises a control system 10 as discussed in connection with FIGS. 1c-2. The diagram of FIG. 2 also relates to the method 100 of controlling the hand-held power tool.

(27) The method comprises steps of: activating 102 the speed limitation controller prior to, or during, a starting procedure of the internal combustion engine, sensing 104 at least one acceleration at a level above the limitation speed, sensing 106 at least one deceleration at a level above the limitation speed, and deactivating 108 the speed limitation controller.

(28) The step of sensing 104 the at least one acceleration may comprise a step of: sensing 110 a passing of an offset speed from a level below the offset speed to a level above the offset speed.

(29) The step of sensing 106 the at least one deceleration may comprise a step of: sensing 112 a passing of the offset speed from a level above the offset speed to a level below the offset speed.

(30) The step of sensing 104 the at least one acceleration may comprise a step of: sensing 114 at least two accelerations at a level above the limitation speed, and

(31) The step of sensing 106 the at least one deceleration may comprises a step of: sensing 116 at least two decelerations at a level above the limitation speed.

(32) The method may comprise a step of: implementing 118 a time delay between a starting of the internal combustion engine and the deactivating 108 of the speed limitation controller.

(33) The method may comprise a step of: setting 120 a predetermined timespan, within which the steps of sensing 104 the at least one acceleration and sensing 106 the at least one deceleration are to be performed in order to deactivate the speed limitation controller.

(34) If the method comprise the step of setting 120 the predetermined timespan, the method 100 comprises the step of: determining 122 whether the steps of sensing 104 at least one acceleration at a level above the limitation speed and sensing 106 at least one deceleration at a level above the limitation speed are performed within a predetermined timespan, and only then performing the step of deactivating 108 the speed limitation controller.

(35) The step of setting 120 the predetermined timespan may be performed at a beginning of the method 100 e.g. as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the step of setting 120 the determined timespan may be performed in the control system already when programming the control system. In practice the control system may comprise a timer function for measuring a timespan, dt. The timer function may be started at a first acceleration at the level above the limitation speed and stopped at the last deceleration above the limitation speed. If the timespan, dt, is within the predetermined timespan, tlim, i.e. if dttlim, the speed limitation controller is deactivated.

(36) It is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and that the invention is defined only by the appended claims. A person skilled in the art will realize that the example embodiments may be modified, and that different features of the example embodiments may be combined to create embodiments other than those described herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims. For instance, the appended claims encompass both the alternative where the sensing of the acceleration is performed before the sensing of the deceleration, as well as the alternative where the sensing of the deceleration is performed before the sensing of the acceleration. In the latter case the deceleration has been preceded by an acceleration which may have been ignored by the control system. It is further to be understood that the control system may be configured to deactivate the speed limitation controller 14 based on further criteria, such as e.g. the low speed state of an internal combustion engine as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,039.