Switching device for a portable power tool, in particular a hammer drill and/or chisel hammer

Abstract

A switching device for a portable power tool includes at least one operating mode selection unit, which has at least one movably mounted operating element for selecting an operating mode of the portable power tool. The switching device also has at least one locking unit for locking the operating element in at least one movement position of the operating element. The locking unit has at least one movably mounted locking element which, depending on a locking position of the locking element, triggers an electric and/or electronic signal for switching an operating mode of the portable power tool.

Claims

1. A switching device for a portable power tool, comprising: an operating element movable to a selected movement position of a plurality of movement positions, each movement position of the plurality of movement positions corresponding to an operating mode of the portable power tool; a locking element mounted directly on the operating element and movable relative to the operating element to a locking position, the locking element in the locking position configured (i) to lock the operating element in the selected movement position, and (ii) to trigger an electric signal to switch the operating mode of the portable power tool; an intermediate element translationally movable relative to the operating element; and a plurality of latching contours mounted to a housing of the portable power tool, the operating element configured for rotational movement relative to the plurality of latching contours, wherein the locking element is configured to move the intermediate element to trigger the electric signal, wherein the locking element is configured to move into a selected latching contour of the plurality of latching contours to lock the operating element in the selected movement position, and wherein the intermediate element is movable into a particular latching contour of the plurality of latching contours in at least one state of the intermediate element.

2. The switching device according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one spring element configured to bias the intermediate element toward the particular latching contour.

3. The switching device according to claim 2, wherein: the locking element has a contact surface configured to contact a corresponding contact surface of the intermediate element to move the intermediate element out of the particular latching contour.

4. The switching device according to claim 3, wherein: the intermediate element defines a movement axis, and an angle is defined between the corresponding contact surface of the intermediate element and the movement axis, and the angle is less than 90.

5. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate element is a push rod.

6. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein: the intermediate element has at least three limbs; and two limbs of the at least three limbs run at least substantially parallel to one another.

7. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein: the locking element has an actuating surface for a dynamic effect of an operator force; and the locking element has a locking surface arranged offset along a movement axis of the locking element relative to the actuating surface.

8. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the operating element is rotatably mounted.

9. The switching device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of movement positions of the operating element are rotational positions of the operating element.

10. A portable power tool, comprising: at least one switching device, including: an operating element movable to a selected movement position of a plurality of movement positions, each movement position of the plurality of movement positions corresponding to an operating mode of the portable power tool; a locking element mounted directly on the operating element and movable relative to the operating element to a locking position, the locking element in the locking position configured (i) to lock the operating element in the selected movement position, and (ii) to trigger an electric signal to switch the operating mode of the portable power tool; an intermediate element translationally movable relative to the operating element; and a plurality of latching contours mounted to a housing of the portable power tool, the operating element configured for rotational movement relative to the plurality of latching contours, wherein the locking element is configured to move the intermediate element to trigger the electric signal, wherein the locking element is configured to move into a selected latching contour of the plurality of latching contours to lock the operating element in the selected movement position, and wherein the intermediate element is movable into a particular latching contour of the plurality of latching contours in at least one state of the intermediate element.

11. The switching device according to claim 10, wherein the portable power tool is a hammer drill and/or chisel hammer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages will emerge from the description below of the drawing. The drawing illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The drawing and the description contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them to form meaningful further combinations.

(2) In the drawing:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a portable power tool according to the disclosure,

(4) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a detailed view of a switching device according to the disclosure of the portable power tool according to the disclosure in an operating position of the switching device assigned to a hammer drill mode,

(5) FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a detailed view of the switching device according to the disclosure of the portable power tool according to the disclosure in an operating position of the switching device assigned to a chisel mode,

(6) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a sectional view of an operating element of an operating mode selection unit of the switching device according to the disclosure and of a locking element, which is arranged thereon, of a locking unit of the switching device according to the disclosure,

(7) FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a detailed view of the locking element in a locking position assigned to the hammer drill mode and of an intermediate element of the operating mode selection unit in a state unactuated by the locking element, and

(8) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a detailed view of the locking element in a locking position assigned to the chisel mode and of the intermediate element of the operating mode selection unit in a state actuated by the locking element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a portable power tool 12 which is designed as a hammer drill and/or chisel hammer. However, it is also conceivable for the portable power tool 12 to have a different configuration appearing expedient to a person skilled in the art, such as, for example, as a drilling machine, as a planing machine, as a garden machine or the like. The portable power tool 12 comprises at least one percussion unit 50, in particular in the preferred configuration as a hammer drill and/or chisel hammer. Furthermore, the portable power tool 12 comprises a housing 52. The housing 52 preferably comprises at least one transmission housing and at least one motor housing. The housing 52, in particular the transmission housing, has in particular a cup-shaped configuration. However, it is also conceivable for the housing 52, in particular the transmission housing, to have a shell-shaped configuration or a combination of cup-shaped and a shell-shaped configuration.

(10) On a front region of the housing 52, which front region in particular faces away from a main handle 54 of the portable power tool 12, the portable power tool 12 comprises at least one tool holding fixture 56 for receiving an insertable tool 58. The tool holding fixture 56 can have any configuration appearing expedient to a person skilled in the art, such as, for example, a configuration in the form of a clamping jaw chuck, in the form of an SDS tool holding fixture, SDS Plus tool holding fixture, in the form of an SDS Max tool holding fixture or the like. The portable power tool 12 is furthermore designed with a releasable additional handle 60. The additional handle 60 can be fastened releasably to the housing 52, in particular to the transmission housing, via a latching connection or other connections appearing expedient to a person skilled in the art.

(11) In order to generate a driving torque and in order to generate a percussion pulse by means of the percussion unit 50, the portable power tool 12 has a drive unit 62. Via an output unit 64 of the portable power tool 12, a driving torque of the drive unit 62 is transmitted to the percussion unit 50 in manner already known to a person skilled in the art in order to generate a percussion pulse. However, it is also conceivable for the portable power tool 12 to be designed decoupled from the output unit 64 and for the drive unit 62 to substantially act directly on the percussion unit 50 in order to generate a percussion pulse. A percussion pulse of the percussion unit 50 is generated in a manner known to a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, the output unit 64 is used to transmit the driving torque in a manner already known to a person skilled in the art to the tool holding fixture 56 in order to generate a rotational movement of the insertable tool 58 via a guide element (not illustrated specifically here), which is configured as a hammer tube, of the percussion unit 50 and/or via a rotational carry-along element arranged on the tool holding fixture 56. In order, in particular in a drilling mode or in a hammer drill mode of the portable power tool 12, to prevent what are referred to as rotation accidents due to blocking of the insertable tool 58 by a reaction torque acting on the portable power tool 12, the portable power tool 12 preferably has a unit 66, which is already known to a person skilled in the art, for determining a relative angle of rotation of the housing 52 of the portable power tool 12.

(12) Furthermore, the portable power tool 12, in particular the hammer drill and/or chisel hammer, comprises at least one switching device 10. The switching device 10 for the portable power tool 12, in particular for the hammer drill and/or chisel hammer, comprises at least one operating mode selection unit 14 which has at least one movably, in particular rotatably, mounted operating element 16 for selecting an operating mode of the portable power tool 12. The operating element 16 is mounted movably, in particular rotatably, on the housing 52. The operating element 16 is preferably designed as a rotary toggle. A movement axis 68, in particular an axis of rotation, of the operating element 16 runs transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to a main axis of extent 70 of the portable power tool 12 and/or with respect to a percussion axis 72 of the percussion unit 50. The main axis of extent 70 preferably extends from the main handle 54 in the direction of the tool holding fixture 56. The percussion axis 72 of the percussion unit 50 preferably extends at least substantially parallel, in particular coaxially, to an axis of rotation of the tool holding fixture 56. In an alternative configuration of the switching device 10 that is not illustrated specifically here, it is conceivable for the operating element 16 to be mounted in a translationally movably manner and for a movement axis 68, in particular a linear axis, of the operating element 16 to run at least substantially parallel to the main axis of extent 70 of the portable power tool 12 and/or to the percussion axis 72 of the percussion unit 50.

(13) The switching device 10 furthermore comprises at least one locking unit 18 for locking the operating element 16 in at least one movement position of the operating element 16, in particular in at least one rotational position of the operating element 16 assigned to an operating mode of the portable power tool 12 (cf. FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6). The locking unit 18 has at least one movably mounted locking element 20 which, depending on a locking position of the locking element 20, triggers an electric and/or electronic signal for switching an operating mode of the portable power tool 12 (cf. FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6). The locking element 20 is mounted movably on the operating element 16. In particular, the locking element 20 is mounted in a translationally movable manner on, in particular in, the operating element 16 (cf. FIGS. 1 to 4). The operating element 16 has a bearing recess 74 in which the locking element 20 is movably mounted. A movement axis 48 of the locking element 20 runs transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, with respect to the movement axis 68 of the operating element 16. The locking unit 18 comprises at least one spring element 76 which acts upon the locking element 20 with a spring force acting in a direction directed away from the operating element 16 (cf. FIG. 4). The spring element 76 is designed in particular as a compression spring. However, it is also conceivable for the spring element 76 to have a different configuration appearing expedient to a person skilled in the art, such as, for example, a configuration as a tension spring, as a torsion spring or the like. The spring element 76 is supported at one end on the operating element 16 and the spring element 76 is supported at a further end on the locking element 20. The locking element 20 has a securing extension 78 which is provided to secure the locking element 20 on the operating element 16 against unintentional release from the operating element 16 (cf. FIG. 4). The securing extension 78 is designed as a latching extension which interacts with a latching projection 80 of the operating element 16. In order to permit removal of the locking element 20 from the operating element 16, the securing extension 78 is designed to be elastically deflectable (cf. FIG. 4).

(14) The operating mode selection unit 14 comprises at least one movably, in particular translationally movably, mounted intermediate element 22 which, in order to trigger an electric and/or electronic signal for switching an operating mode of the portable power tool 12, is movable by the locking element 20 into at least one locking position of the locking element 20 depending on a movement of the locking element 20 (cf. FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6). Depending on a movement of the locking element 20, the intermediate element 22 is preferably movable by the locking element 20 into at least one locking position of the locking element 20 assigned to a chisel mode of the portable power tool 12. The intermediate element 22 is mounted movably, in particular translationally movable, on the housing 52, in particular on the transmission housing. However, it is also conceivable, as an alternative or in addition to the translationally movable mounting, for the intermediate element 22 to be mounted rotatably on the housing 52, in particular on the transmission housing. A movement axis 34 of the intermediate element 22 runs at least substantially parallel to the main axis of extent 70 of the portable power tool 12 and/or to the percussion axis 72 of the percussion unit 50. The movement axis 34 of the intermediate element 22 runs transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, with respect to the movement axis 68 of the operating element 16. The intermediate element 22 has at least three limbs 38, 40, 42 which are angled relative to one another, wherein at least two of the three limbs 38, 40, 42 run at least substantially parallel to one another. The intermediate element 22 is preferably designed as a push rod, in particular as an angled push rod. The operating mode selection unit 14 has at least one spring element 26 which acts upon the intermediate element 22 with a spring force in the direction of the locking element 20. The spring element 26 of the operating mode selection unit 14 is preferably supported at at least one end on the intermediate element 22 and the intermediate element 22 is supported at a further end on the housing 52 or on an intermediate flange (not illustrated specifically here) of the portable power tool 12.

(15) The locking unit 18 has at least one latching contour 24 which, for locking the operating element 16 in at least one movement position of the operating element 16, interacts with the locking element 20, wherein at least the intermediate element 22 in at least one state at least partially engages in the latching contour 24, in particular in at least one latching recess 82 of the latching contour 24, said latching recess being assigned to a chisel mode of the portable power tool 12. The latching contour 24 is arranged on the housing 52, in particular on the transmission housing. The latching contour 24 comprises at least three latching recesses 82, 84, 86. One latching recess 82 of the three latching recesses 82, 84, 86 is assigned to a chisel mode of the portable power tool 12. One latching recess 84 of the three latching recesses 82, 84, 86 is assigned to a hammer drill mode of the portable power tool 12. One latching recess 86 of the three latching recesses 82, 84, 86 is assigned to a drilling mode of the portable power tool 12.

(16) The locking element 20 has at least one actuating surface 44 for a dynamic effect of an operator force, and at least one locking surface 46 which is arranged offset along the movement axis 48 of the locking element 20 relative to the actuating surface 44. At least in an unactuated state of the locking element 20, the actuating surface 44 of the locking element 20 extends beyond an outer circumference of the operating element 16. Convenient actuation of the locking element 20 for releasing locking of the operating element 16 in order to select an operating mode of the portable power tool 12 can advantageously be permitted by means of a movement, in particular a rotational movement, of the operating element 16. The locking surface 46 of the locking element 20 is provided to engage, in particular latch, in one of the latching recesses 82, 84, 86, depending on a movement position of the operating element 16, in particular in order to lock the operating element 16 in at least one movement position, in particular in at least one movement position of the operating element 16 assigned to an operating mode. In at least one state, the intermediate element 22 at least partially engages in the latching recess 82 of the latching contour 24, said latching recess being assigned to a chisel mode of the portable power tool 12.

(17) During engagement, in particular latching, of the locking surface 46 of the locking element 20, the intermediate element 22 is at least partially movable out of the latching recess 82 of the latching contour 24, said latching recess being assigned to a chisel mode of the portable power tool 12 (cf. FIG. 6). The locking surface 46 of the locking element 20 preferably forms a contact surface 32 of the locking element 20 for movement of the intermediate element 22. The intermediate element 22 has at least one contact surface 28, 30, in particular two contact surfaces 28, 30 which are angled with respect to each other and, for a movement of the intermediate element 22, interact with the corresponding contact surface 32 of the locking element 20 depending on a movement of the locking element 20 into at least one locking position of the locking element 20. The contact surface 28, 30 of the intermediate element 22 encloses an angle 36 differing from 90 with the movement axis 34 of the intermediate element 22. An abrupt movement of the intermediate element 22 can advantageously be very substantially avoided. A gentle transition from one position of the intermediate element 22 to a further position in which a switching element 88 of the switching device 10 is actuable by means of the intermediate element 22 can advantageously be achieved (FIGS. 2 and 3).

(18) In particular, the intermediate element 22 is provided to interact directly with the switching element 88 of the switching device 10, in particular with an end of the intermediate element 22 which faces away from the locking element 20. The switching element 88 is preferably designed as a Hall sensor. A magnet element 90, in particular a permanent magnet, is preferably arranged on the intermediate element 22 and is provided to interact with the Hall sensor in a manner already known to a person skilled in the art in order to trigger an electric and/or electronic signal. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the switching element 88 to be designed as an electric switch, in particular as a microswitch, as an inductive proximity sensor, as a light barrier or as another switching element which appears expedient to a person skilled in the art and is actuable by means of a movement of the intermediate element 22. By means of the configuration according to the disclosure of the switching device 10, it can advantageously be ensured that, as a result of securely latching the locking element 20 in the latching contour 24, reliable triggering of an electric and/or electronic signal for switching an operating mode of the portable power tool 12 is realized.