Method for activating and deactivating a spindle lock in a power tool, and power tool

Abstract

Methods for activating and deactivating a spindle lock in a power tool, wherein the spindle lock can be activated, for example, by an intuitive movement by the user. In particular, the spindle lock can be activated by a rotary movement of the user on the tool fitting, which is recognized by the device electronics of the power tool. Exceeding a limit value for an angle of rotation or a rotational speed can be used by the device electronics as an activation signal for the spindle lock. The spindle lock can be deactivated if the device electronics detect a rotary movement of the tool fitting in the opposite direction. In further aspects, the invention relates to a power tool with which the methods for activating and deactivating a spindle lock can be carried out.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14: A method for activating a spindle lock in a power tool, the power tool having a tool fitting for receiving a tool, a motor and device electronics, the method comprising the following method steps: a) carrying out a first rotary movement with the tool fitting of the power tool in a first direction of rotation, the first rotary movement definable by an angle of rotation or a rotational speed, a limit value for the angle of rotation or the rotational speed being stored in the power tool; and b) activating the spindle lock via the device electronics of the power tool if at least one of the limit values for the angle of rotation or the rotational speed is exceeded.

15: A method for deactivating a spindle lock in a power tool, the power tool having a tool fitting for receiving a tool, a motor and device electronics, the method comprising the following method steps: a) applying a torque to the motor of the power tool in a second direction of rotation while the spindle lock is active; b) inducing rotary movement of the tool fitting in the second spatial direction due to the torque being applied to the motor in the second spatial direction, c) detecting the rotary movement in the second spatial direction by the device electronics; d) deactivating the spindle lock by the device electronics of the power tool when a rotary movement of the tool fitting in the second spatial direction is detected.

16: The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising deactivating the spindle lock by applying a torque to the motor of the power tool in a second direction of rotation while the spindle lock is active, the first and the second spatial directions being opposite to each other.

17: The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the rotary movement of the tool fitting in the first spatial direction is detected by the device electronics as a rotation of the motor of the power tool without active current supply.

18: The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the first rotary movement is defined by the angle of rotation and a magnitude of the limit value for the angle of rotation is in a range from 1 to 120 degrees.

19: The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the magnitude of the limit value for the angle of rotation is in a range from 1 to 90 degrees.

20: The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the magnitude of the limit value for the angle of rotation is in a range from 1 to 60 degrees.

21: The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the first rotary movement is defined by the rotation value and the limit value for the rotational speed is in a range from 0.05 degree/second to 60 degrees/second.

22: The method as recited in claim 21 wherein the range is from 0.2 degree/second to 45 degrees/second.

23: The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the range is from 0.5 degree/second to 30 degrees/second.

24: The method as recited in claim 15 wherein releasing the tool fitting by a user of the power tool leads to a torque being applied to the motor and to the rotary movement of the tool fitting in the second spatial direction.

25: A power tool for carrying out the method as recited in claim 14, the power tool comprising: the tool fitting for receiving the tool; the motor; and the device electronics, the tool fitting designed to be rotatable and the device electronics set up to detect an angle of rotation or a rotational speed of a rotary movement of the tool fitting, a spindle lock activatable with the device electronics if the limit value for the angle of rotation or the rotational speed is exceeded.

26: The power tool for carrying out the method as recited in claim 15, the power tool comprising: the tool fitting for receiving the tool; the motor; and the device electronics, a torque applyable to the motor of the power tool, the device electronics being set up to detect the rotary movement of the tool fitting and to deactivate the spindle lock when the rotary movement in the second spatial direction is detected.

27: The power tool as recited in claim 26 wherein the torque is applied to the motor while a spindle lock is active.

28: The power tool as recited in claim 26 wherein application of the torque to the motor leads to the rotary movement of the tool fitting.

29: The power tool as recited in claim 26 wherein the power tool is a core drilling device.

30: The power tool as recited in claim 25 wherein the power tool is a core drilling device.

31: The power tool as recited in claim 25 wherein the power tool does not require an additional switch for activating or deactivating the spindle lock.

32: The power tool as recited in claim 26 wherein the power tool does not require an additional switch for activating or deactivating the spindle lock.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0041] Identical and similar components are denoted by the same reference signs in the FIGURE, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a view of an exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a proposed power tool 1. The power tool 1 comprises a motor 4 and device electronics 5, which can be accommodated in a housing of the power tool 1. The locations indicated in FIG. 1 for the motor 4 and the device electronics 5 of the power tool 1 are to be understood as examples; of course, other positions within the proposed power tool 1 are also conceivable. The power tool 1 also has a tool fitting 2 for fastening a tool 3. The power tool 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a core drilling device whose tool is formed by a drill bit 3. A drill bit 3 is indicated schematically at the top left in the upper region of FIG. 1.

[0044] In addition, a hand of a user 6 of the power tool 1 is indicated in FIG. 1. The user 6 can grip the tool fitting 2 of the power tool 1 and rotate it. Within the meaning of the invention, said user thus preferably causes the first rotary movement of the tool fitting 2 of the power tool 1. This first rotary movement of the tool fitting 2 can take place in a spatial direction to the right or to the left, which is indicated in FIG. 1 by the curved double arrow. The direction of rotation of the first rotary movement of the tool fitting 2 is preferably also referred to as the first direction of rotation within the meaning of the invention. The power tool 1 is preferably set up to detect the first rotary movement of the tool fitting 2. The rotary movement of the tool fitting 2 can preferably be described by an angle of rotation and/or a rotational speed. Limit values for the angle of rotation and/or the rotational speed are stored in the power tool 1, with the power tool 1 preferably being set up to detect current angles of rotation and rotational speeds and to compare them with the stored limit values. If the result of such a comparison is that one of the stored limit values is exceeded, the spindle lock is preferably activated automatically.

[0045] When the spindle lock is active, a torque can be applied to the motor 4 of the power tool 1. This application of torque can be initiated by the device electronics 5 of the power tool 1. The torque is preferably directed in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the first rotary movement of the tool fitting 2. The torque causes a second rotary movement of the tool fitting 2, the second rotary movement of the tool fitting 2 being directed in the opposite direction to the first rotary movement of the tool fitting 2. This second rotary movement of the tool fitting 2 can be recognized by the power tool 1 and converted into a deactivation of the spindle lock. In other words, the detection of the second rotary movement of the tool fitting 2 can be used as a signal for deactivating the spindle lock of the power tool 1. The corresponding detection and control processes preferably take place in the device electronics 5 of the power tool 1. However, the power tool 1 can also comprise a control device (not shown), which can be part of the device electronics 5. In this embodiment of the invention, detection and control processes can preferably also take place in the control device. The control device can comprise a processor and/or a memory, in which case, for example, the limit values for the angle of rotation and the rotational speed can be stored in the memory of the control device. The position of the motor 4 and of the device electronics 5 is indicated in FIG. 1 only by way of example. The stated components of the power tool 1 can of course be arranged at various other locations within the power tool 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0046] 1 Power tool [0047] 2 Tool fitting of the power tool [0048] 3 Tool of the power tool [0049] 4 Motor of the power tool [0050] 5 Device electronics of the power tool [0051] 6 User