Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1170~66
:DRILL, DRILL CHUCK, AND
METIIODS OF CHUCYING AND UNCHUCKING
DESCRIPTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to drills and, especially, power
operated drills and to keyless sliding jaw drill chucks and
~ methods of chucking and unchucking thereof.
:~:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rowe U.S. Patent No. 2,716,555 discloses a locking
arrangement for a drill chuck wherein a locking lug is slid-
able laterally into and out of engagement with the drill
chuck nut to enable motor torque to be utilized to open and
10 close the chuck jaws. Haviland U.S. Patent No. 3,545,776
and McCarthy et al, U.S. Patent No. 3,325,166 disclose the
use of a sliding collar carried by a drill chuck spindle,
spring biased towards the front of the chuck away from the
drill, and provided with lugs on their rear surfaces for
engaging mating lugs on the drill housing. In these latter
two patents, howPver, the sliding collar is keyed to and
utilized to lock the spindle against rotation so that the
locking collar may be easily manually rotated to actuate
qe~
1~7~366
the sliding chuek jaws. Other keyless chucks for powered
drills, especially for portable electrie drills, have been
previously suggested but have not found widespread accept-
ance. Rather, keyed chucks have been more popular, even
though the need for a key has been found disadvantageous.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
.
Bearing in mind the foregoing, it is a primary object
of the present invention to provide new and improved keyless
ehueks, powered drills incorporating the same, and methods
of ehueking and unehueking the same.
Another primary object of the present invention, in
addition to the foregoing object, is the provision of novel
and improved keyless ehueks, drills ineorporating sueh ehueks,
and methods of ehueking and unchucking thereof utilizing the
powered torque of sueh drills for the automatic chucking and
unehueking of drill bits and other accessories therefore.
Another primary object of the present invention, in
addition to eaeh of the foregoing objeets, is the provision
of novel and improved keyless chueks, powered drills ineor-
porating the same, and methods of ehueking and unchuekingutilizing the powered torque of the drill for operating -the
ehueking meehanism to slide a plurality of jaws toward and
away from each other together with means for automatically
releasing such torquing power therefrom at a torque level
proteeting the drill, ehuek and drill bit inserted -therein
from damage due to excessing torquing.
Yet another primary objeet of the present invention, in
addition to each of the foregoing objects, is the provision
of sueh drills and drill ehueks powered thereby for chucking
and unchueking drill bits and other aeeessories which are
eompaet, safe, reliable and eonvenient in use, durable, and
eeonomieal to manufaeture.
~17~866
Still another primary object of the present invention,
in addition to each of the foregoing objects, is the pro-
vision of such drills, drill chucks, and methods of chuck-
ing and unchucking of keyless slidable jaw chucks having
a slidable shell mounted for rotation with a traverse nut
for advancing and retracting a plurality of sliding exter-
nally toothed jaws and having means selectively engagable
with the drill housing for locking thereby against rotation
relative thereto so that powered operation of the drill when
the slidable shell is engaged therewith rotates the chuck
body and jaws relative said locked slidable shell for chuck-
ing and unchucking operation thereof.
Yet another primary object of the present invention,
in addition to each of the foregoing objects, is the pro-
vision of such drills, drill chucks, and methods of chuck-
ing and unchucking thereof wherein said sliding shell com-
prises at least one and preferably a plurality of lugs or
teeth extending around an annular end thereof adjacent the
drill housing and wherein at least one and preferably a
plurality of mating lugs or teeth are provided on the drill
housing adjacent thereto.
Still another primary object of the present invention,
in addition to each of the foregoing objec-ts, is the pro-
vision of such drills, drill chucks, and methods of chuck-
ing and unchucking thereof wherein said lugs or teeth are
angulated to provide a vector force durlng torquing which
acts in a direction forwardly of the chuck tending to re-
lease said lugs or teeth of said sliding shell from the
toothed engagement.
~nother and yet still further primary object of the
present invention, in addition to each of the foregoing ob-
jects, is the provision of such drills, drill chucks, and
methods of chucking and unchucking drill bits and other ac-
cessories including spring means for retaining such sliding
shell in its forward, released or unlocked position to
~17(~866
enable normal operative rotation of said chuck while requir-
ing positive operator applied rearward pressure thereon for
engaging said locking means.
Another and still further primary object of the present
invention, in addition to each of the foregoing objects, is
the provision of such drills, drill chucks, and methods of
chucking and unchucking wherein said chuck is provided with
a spring detent for selectively holding said shell in either
a forward position wherein said teeth are disengaged for
drilling, or the like, and in a rearward position wherein
said teeth are engaged for chucking and unchucking so that
thç inclination of said teeth pops said detent from said
rear position to said forward position at a predetermined
torque.
Yet still another and yet further primary object of the
present invention, in addition to each of the foregoing ob-
jects, is the provision of such drill, drill chucks, and
methods of chucking and unchucking wherein said shell is
spring biased towards the forward configuration wherein
said teeth are disengaged.
A yet further primary object of the present invention,
in addition to each of the foregoing objects, is the pro-
vision of such drills, drill chucks, and methods of chuck-
ing and unchucking wherein there is provided a collar be-
tween said shell and said traverse nut for re-taining said
treverse nut in a circular configuration, said traverse nut
being split for assembly therewith.
A yet still further primary object of the present inven-
tion, in addition to each of the foregoing objects, is the
provision of such drills, drill chucks, and methods of chuck-
ing and unchucking wherein said shell, said collar and said
traverse nut are provided with mating flatted surfaces to
prevent relative rotation therebetween.
1~7~866
Yet still another primary object of the present inven-
tion, in addition to each of the foregoing objects, is the
provision of such drills and drill chucks wherein said
sleeve is of sheet steel formed with a plurality of longi-
tudinal protuberances extending outwardly to mate with lon-
gitudinal grooves on the inside of said shell.
The invention resides in the combination, construction,
arrangement and disposition for the various component parts
and elements incorporated in new and improved drills, drill
chucks, and methods of chucking and unchucking in accordance
with the principles of this invention. The present invention
will be better understood and objects and important features
other than those specifically enumerated above, will become
apparent when consideration is given to the following details
and description which, when taken in conjunction with the
annexed drawing describes, discloses, illustrates and shows
certain preferred embodiments or modifications of the pres-
ent invention and what is presently considered and believed
to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof.
Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to those
having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such other
e~bodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved,
especially as they fall within the scope and spirit of the
subjoined claims.
B~IEF SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
_
In accordance with the present invention, a power oper-
ated drill, such as a portable electric drill, is provided
with a keyless slidable jaw chuck, for example, a chuck hav-
ing three slidable jaws provided with externally extending
t~eth mounted within a chuck body having three slideways for
the chuck jaws and further comprising a traverse nut rotat-
able on the chuck body having internal threads engaged with
the chuck jaws, and a locking shell slidable relative to the
traverse nut. The nut and the shell are provided with means
il7~866
restraining them so as to rotate together relative the chuck
body. Teeth, lugs or other projections are provided on the
rearward annular face of the shell for selective mating co-
operation with teeth, lugs or similar projections provided
on the drill housing so that, when the shell is slid rear-
wardly towards the drill housing so that the teeth, lugs or
other projections engage, the shell and traverse nut are
held against rotation relative the drill housing. In this
configuration, upon actuation of the drill to rotate the
chuck body, the chuck jaws will be automatically extended
or retracted, depending upon the drill rotation direction,
to chuck or unchuck a drill bit or other accessory inserted
therebetween. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a
plurality of mating teeth are provided on the rear of the
shell and the adjacent portion of the drill housing and the
teeth are inclined so as to automatically disengage upon the
torque reaching a predefined level to prèvent damage to the
drill, chuck, or drill bit. In combination with a revers-
ible drill, automatic chucking and unchucking is achieved.
The chuck shell is also preferably provided with spring
means Eor normally holding it with the teeth disengaged such
as a spring biasing it towards disengagement of the teeth
or other projections or a two position detent arrangement
can be provided which will automatically pop from the chuck-
ing and unchucking or locked, rearward position to a foward,disengaged or operating position with the teeth or other
projections disengaged.
BRIEF 3ESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
. _ .
Although the specification concludes with claims partic-
ularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject mat-
ter regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed
that the invention will be better understood and objects and
important features other than those specifically enumerated
above will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth
l~t~ 6
detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction
with the annexed drawing, and wherein like reference numer-
als are utilized for similar parts -throughout the various
views, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective illustration of a
drill provided with a drill chuck in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration of
the front portion of the drill and drill chuck of FIG. 1
showing the drill chuck in an unlocked position for normal
operation of a drill bit or other attachment;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective illustration similar
to FIG. 1 illustrating another embodiment of a drill and
drill chuck in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an elevational cross-sectional view similar
to FIG. 2 of the nose portion and drill chuck of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective illustration of yet
another embodiment of drill and drill chuck in accordance
with the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration of
the nose portion of the drill and drill chuck of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference now to the drawing, and particularly
to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown and illustrated a
portable electric drill designated generally by the refer-
ence character 10 having a threaded spindle 12 projectin~outwar~ly from the nose portion of a housing 14 together
with a keyless sliding jaw chuck designated generally by
the reference character 16 associated with the drill 10 for
powere1 actuation thereby for chucking and unchucking drill
bits and other accessories in accordance with the present
invention.
V~tif~;
The drill chuck 16 comprises a generally cylindrical
chuck body 18 having at its rearward end (i.e., to the left
in FIG. 1) a threaded recess 20 adapted to receive the drill
spindle 12. At its forward end (i.e., to the right in FIG.
1), the chuck body 18 has an axial bore 22 adapted for the
reception of a working implement such as a drill bit, or
other attachment. Extending rearwardly and outwardly from
the axial bore 22 are three inclined bores 26, each bore
being adapted for the reception of a jaw 28 slidably mounted
for reciprocation therein. Surrounding the chuck body 18 is
a sleeve or collar 30. Fixed within the sleeve or collar 30
is a traverse nut 32, the inner surface of which is provided
with threads 34 for engaging complimentary thread segments
36 on each of the jaws 28. The traverse nut 32 may, in
accordance with well known practice, be machined, and then
split into two complementary halves 32a and 32b and assem-
bled on the chuck body 18 to be held in position thereon by
the sleeve or collar 30 and to be rotatable relative the
chuck body 18 within a circumferential groove defined by
spaced apart general]y parallel annular walls 38 and 40.
The sleeve or collar 30 may be a press fit on the split
halves of the traverse nut 32 so as to be fixed for rotation
therewith. The outer surface of the traverse nut 32 and the
inner surface of the sleeve of collar 30 may further be pro-
vided with complimentary flatted surfaces 31 and 33, respec-
tively so as to yet further preclude any relative rotational
motion therebetween. Hence, the sleeve or collar 30 and
traverse nut 32 are rotatable as a unit on the body 18 but
are held against relative axial movement by the walls 38 and
40 with the result that when the sleeve or collar 30 and
traverse nut 32 assembly is turned the jaws 28 move in
unison lengthwise of the inclined bore 26 to engage or dis-
engage the drill bit or other attachment inserted there-
between.
V8~6
A shell 42 is also rotatably carried surrounding the
chuck body 18 and slidable on the sleeve or collar 30 being
keyed thereto against relative rotation by mating flatted
surfaces 35 and 37 on the interior of the shell 42 and
5 exterior of the sleeve or collar 30, respectively. Spring
means, such as a split detent ring 44 is carried in a
channel 46 on the interior of the shell 42 adjacent the
rearward end, that is, the end opposite the collar or sleeve
30 and the chuck body 18 is provided with mating detent
grooves 48 and 50 separated by a raised crest 52. Accord-
ingly, a forward or normal operating position and a rearward
position are defined for the shell 42 and in normal opera-
tion of the drill the spring means or detent ring 44 is
effective to retain the shell 42 in its forward position
while permittiny an operator to manually move it to its
rearward position.
The rearward end portion of the shell 42 is provided
with latching means such as a plurality of rearwardly extend-
ing teeth or lugs 54 for engaging mating means on the drill
10, such as a ring 56 mounted with the housing 14 annularly
surrounding the spindle 12 and provided with such mating
means such as teeth or lugs 58 which, when engaged with the
teeth or lugs 54 when the shell 42 is manually moved to the
rearward position prevent rotation of the shell 42 relative
the drill 14. As heretofore pointed out, the mating flatted
surfaces on the shell 42, sleeve or collar 30 and traverse
nut 32 prevent relative rotation therehetween so that the
traverse nut 32 is thereby held stationary relative the
drill 10. If the drill 10 is then energized, the spindle
12 will tend to rotate relative the traverse nut 32 and if
the jaws 28 are not restrained by either chucking engagement
with a drill bit or other accessory or in full outward ex-
pansion against an annular stop wall 60 on the chuck body
18, the jaws 28 will be thereby moved within the slideways
26. The drill 10 is preferably reversible. ~ence, when the
~ v~
drill is operated in a forward direction, the jaws 28 will
be moved forwardly and inwardly on the slideways 26 for auto-
matically chucking a drill or other accessory therebetween.
r7hen the drill 10 is operated in a reverse direction, rotat-
ing the spindle 12 in a counterclockwise direction, the jaws28 will be slid rearwardly and outwardly in the slideways 26
for unchucking. The ring 56 may, as shown, be mounted with
the drill 10 within an annular recess 62 of sufficient depth
to shield the lugs or teeth 54 from accidental engaqement
by the operator's hands. The ring 56 may be mounted within
the recess 62 in any convenient manner such as by means of
roll pins 63, or the like, or the ring may be provided with
an irregular or knurled periphery, for example, and be
pressed or cast in place. To retain the chuck body 18 on
lS the spindle 12, a left-handed locking screw 64 may be pro-
vided.
In use, if it is desired to chuck or unchuck a drill
bit or other accessory, the operator need merely slide the
shell 42 to its rearward position, positioning the detent
ring 44 in the rearward groove 50, and then operate the
drill 10 in the forward or reverse direction, as desired
to chuck or unchuck, respectively, the drill bit or acces-
sory. When the jaws are tight, the drill will stall and
the shell 42 may then be slid forwardly, engaging the detent
ring 44 in the forward groove 48 to enable normal operation
of the drill. Movement of the shell 42 from the rearward
or locked position to the forward, unlocked or operating
position may be left to the manual selection of the opera-
tor. Preferably, however, means are provided for automat-
ically releasing the shell 42 from its locked position a-t
a preselected torque level sufficient to securely chuck a
drill bit or accessory yet below the stall torque of the
drill motor as to both protect the motor from excessive
operation in a stalled position and to make use o~ the
tool by an operator more convenient.
1~7~866
11
Such automatic operation may be readily achieved by
angulating the sides of the teeth or lugs 54 and/or the
teeth or lugs 58. Both may be so angulated and/or the
angulated surfaces which contact in the reverse or un-
chucking direction may be slightly steeper than the angu-
lated surfaces which contact in the forward or chucking
direction so that sufficient torque should always be
available to unchuck any drill bit or accessory that has
been chucked. In use, the angulation is sufficient to drive
the shell 42 forwardly when the preselected torque level has
been reached an efficient to raise the detent ring 44 over
the crest 52 so that it may snap into the groove 48 and pull
the lugs or teeth 54 well clear of the lugs or teeth 58 and
permit normal drilling operations, the detent ring being
effective to function as a spring to hold the shell 42 in
the forward or operative position and precluding inadvertant
rearward movement thereof.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown and
illustrated another embodiment or modification of a drill
and keyless sliding jaw drill chuck in accordance with the
present invention and wherein identical reference characters
are utilized for parts that are the same as like parts in
the previous embodiment or modification. Like reference
characters are also used for similar parts, serving similar
functions yet differing in specific detail, except that in
such instance the like reference numbers are primed. Hence,
the drill 10 is shown and illustrated with a modified key-
less sliding ~aw chuck 16'. In the drill chuck 16', the
primary substitutive difference is that the spring means for
holding the shell 42' in its forward, operative position
comprises a conically wound compression spring 44' position-
ed behind the shell 42' so that the shell 42' is biased
forwardly into the normal operating position thereof. In
this embodiment or modification, the operator would depress
i~7~ 6t;
the shell 42' against the compression spring 44' to engage
the lugs and hold the spring 44' compressed for chucking and
unchucking.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown and
5 illustrated yet another drill and keyless sliding jaw drill
chuck constructed in accordance with the principles of the
present invention wherein, as in the description of FIGS.
3 and 4, like reference characters are utilized for ident-
ical parts as well as for similar parts but wherein for
10 parts that are similar yet not identical, the reference
characters are double primed. In the chuck 16" of FIGS. 5
and 6, the keying means between the shell 42" and the sleeve
or collar 30" comprises slots 42a formed on the interior of
the shell 42" and mating longitudinally extending protuber-
15 ances 30a extending radially outwardly of the sleeve orcollar 30". Further, the sleeve or collar 30" may be of
pressed steel construction, with the protuberances 30a being
formed or pressed in the wall thereof.
While the invention has been described, disclosed,
2~ illustrated and shown in terms of certain embodiments or
modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope
of the invention should not be deemed to be limited by the
precise embodiments or modifications herein described, dis-
closed, illustrated or shown, such other embodiments or
25 modifications as may be suggested to those having the bene-
fit of the teachings herein being intended -to be reserved
especially as they fall within the scope and spirit of the
claims hereto appended.
