JP7516975B2 - Retrofit auxiliary switch device for air tools and air tools - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an auxiliary switch device for air tools and to air tools.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, pneumatic tools that are driven by air pressure are known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-233634).
Patent document 1 describes a power tool that is driven by air pressure or the like and includes a handle that is gripped by the operator, a tubular portion disposed in front of the handle in which a prime mover is housed, and a casing disposed on the lower end side of the handle and the tubular portion.

The handle of this power tool is provided with a first switch that can be operated with one hand of the operator. The casing is provided with a second switch that can be operated with the other hand of the operator and cooperates with the first switch. When both the first switch and the second switch are operated, the prime mover operates and the drive shaft rotates. This prevents the hand opposite the hand gripping the handle from becoming a playmate.

JP 2013-188854 A

However, with the above configuration, the worker must always use both hands to operate both the first and second switches of the power tool. Therefore, even if the worker wishes to work with one hand from the viewpoint of workability, etc., there is a problem that the worker cannot operate the power tool with one hand.

The object of the present invention is to provide an air tool and an auxiliary switch device that can be attached to an air tool and prevent the hand opposite the hand gripping the handle from becoming a playful hand, as necessary.

To achieve the above object, there is provided an auxiliary switch device for an air tool that is applicable to an air tool, the auxiliary switch device comprising: an air tool body including a main body having an output section and a drive section that drives the output section; and a handle section extending from the main body section and having a trigger switch and a connection port to which a coupler of a hose that supplies compressed air from a compressor is connected; and when the trigger switch is pressed, compressed air is supplied from the compressor to the drive section, thereby mechanically driving the drive section. The auxiliary switch device comprises a first coupler section that is detachably connected to the coupler of the hose; a second coupler section that is detachably connected to the connection port; a connection hose provided between the first coupler section and the second coupler section; an attachment section that is detachably provided to the main body section; and an auxiliary switch that is provided on the attachment section and switches the flow state of compressed air in the connection hose, and is configured such that when the auxiliary switch is pressed , the compressed air flows from the first coupler section through the connection hose to the second coupler section .

The air tool for achieving the above object includes an air tool body including a main body having an output section and a drive section for driving the output section, a handle section extending from the main body and having a trigger switch and a connection port to which a coupler of a hose supplying compressed air from a compressor is connected, and an auxiliary switch device for the air tool, and is configured such that when the trigger switch is pressed, compressed air is supplied from the compressor to the drive section, thereby mechanically driving the drive section.

According to the above configuration, by applying the retrofit auxiliary switch device for air tools to an air tool, an operator can press the auxiliary switch with one hand while holding the handle with the other hand. When the operator presses the auxiliary switch, compressed air is allowed to flow through the connecting hose. When the operator presses the trigger switch with one hand, compressed air is supplied to the drive unit and the output unit operates. In other words, the output unit does not operate when the operator only presses the trigger switch with one hand, but the output unit operates when the operator presses the trigger switch and auxiliary switch with both hands.

On the other hand, if an auxiliary switch device is not applied to an air tool, the operator presses the trigger switch while holding the handle with one hand. While the trigger switch is being pressed, compressed air is supplied to the drive unit, and the output unit operates.

As mentioned above, if the auxiliary switch device is not used, the operator can use the air tool with one hand by directly attaching the hose coupler connected to the compressor to the air tool body.

In addition, by connecting the auxiliary switch device between the air tool body and the compressor, it is necessary to use both hands to operate the air tool body, which prevents the hand opposite the hand holding the handle from being used to play.

Therefore, the hand opposite to the hand gripping the handle portion can be prevented from becoming a player as necessary.
In the above air tool, it is preferable that the main body portion has a cylindrical accommodating portion that extends along an axis and accommodates the driving portion, the handle portion extends in a direction intersecting the axis, the output portion is provided at a first end in the axial direction of the main body portion, the accommodating portion has an end portion located at a second end opposite the first end of the main body portion, and the mounting portion is attached to the end portion.

According to this configuration, the auxiliary switch is provided at a position away from the output unit. This means that the hand opposite to the dominant hand that operates the trigger switch is away from the output unit. This effectively prevents the hand operating the auxiliary switch from touching the output unit.

In the above air tool, the auxiliary switch is cylindrical and has a casing with a pair of ports on its outer periphery to which the connection hose is connected, and a support part that supports the casing so that it can rotate around the axis of the casing, and it is preferable that the attachment part has a storage recess that stores the auxiliary switch and an escape recess that allows the end of the connection hose connected to the auxiliary switch to escape.

With this configuration, the casing of the auxiliary switch can be rotated relative to the support part. This allows the connection hose connected to the casing to be displaced starting from the support part. This improves the ease of handling the connection hose.

This configuration prevents the attachment part from interfering with the end of the connection hose when the casing of the auxiliary switch is rotated relative to the support part, i.e., the attachment part. This further improves the ease of handling the connection hose.

In the above air tool, it is preferable that the attachment portion has a protruding portion that protrudes further than the main body portion in the axial direction, and that the accommodating recess and the relief recess are provided in the protruding portion.

According to this configuration, by providing a storage recess and an escape recess in the protruding portion that protrudes further than the main body in the axial direction, it is possible to prevent the air tool from becoming too large in the radial direction centered on the axis of the storage portion.

In the above air tool, it is preferable that the auxiliary switch has an operating portion that protrudes outward from an outer circumferential surface of the mounting portion.
According to this configuration, the operator can easily press and operate the operation part of the auxiliary switch with one hand while holding the handle part with the other hand so that the other hand intersects with the axial direction of the housing part, thereby preventing the operability of the air tool from being impaired by the addition of the auxiliary switch.

If necessary, the hand opposite the hand holding the handle can be prevented from becoming a player.

1 is a side view showing an air tool to which an auxiliary switch device according to an embodiment is applied; FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an air circuit through which compressed air flows in a pneumatic tool. FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the auxiliary switch when not being pressed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the auxiliary switch in a pressed state. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the auxiliary switch is being attached to the attachment portion. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the auxiliary switch is attached to the attachment portion. FIG. FIG. FIG. 11 is a side view showing a process of attaching the attachment part to the air tool body. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a coupler of an air hose connected to a compressor is connected to a connection port of an air tool body. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an operator is operating an air tool to which an auxiliary switch device is applied;

Hereinafter, an air tool 10 according to one embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1 , the pneumatic tool 10 of this embodiment includes a pneumatic tool body 20 that operates using air supplied from a compressor 11 (hereinafter, referred to as compressed air) as power.

The air tool 10 is configured by retrofitting an auxiliary switch device 30 for an air tool (hereinafter, referred to as the auxiliary switch device 30 ) between the air tool main body 20 and the compressor 11 .
A hose 12 through which compressed air flows is connected to a supply port of the compressor 11. A coupler 13 is attached to an outlet end of the hose 12. The coupler 13 is a socket that constitutes a one-touch fluid coupling, a so-called female coupler.

(Air tool body 20)
11 and 12 , the pneumatic tool body 20 includes a main body 21 having an output part 22 and a drive part 23 that drives the output part 22, and a handle part 26 that extends from the main body 21 and has a connection port 28 to which a trigger switch 27 and a coupler 13 of the hose 12 are connected. The pneumatic tool body 20 is a commercially available ready-made product.

The main body 21 has a cylindrical housing 25 that extends along the axis X1 and houses the drive unit 23. The output unit 22 is provided at a first end 21A (the right end in the figure) of the main body 21 in the direction of the axis X1.

The accommodation portion 25 is located at a second end 21B opposite to the first end 21A of the main body 21 in the direction of the axis X1, and has an end portion 25A that forms a bottom of the accommodation portion 25.
In the following description, the first end 21A side and the second end 21B side in the direction of the axis X1 may be referred to as the front side and the rear side, respectively. Also, the left and right sides when looking forward from the rear of the pneumatic tool body 20 with the tip of the handle portion 26 pointing downward may be simply referred to as the left and right sides.

The drive unit 23 is an air motor that is mechanically driven by being supplied with compressed air from the compressor 11. The output unit 22 is connected to an output shaft of the drive unit 23.
The output portion 22 is configured with, for example, a drill chuck and a drill bit (not shown) held by the drill chuck. The handle portion 26 extends in a direction intersecting with the axis X1.

As shown in FIG. 12, the axis Y1 of the handle portion 26 is inclined with respect to the axis X1 so that the tip side of the handle portion 26 becomes more distant from the first end 21A in the direction of the axis X1.
The tip of the handle portion 26 is provided with a connection port 28 to which the coupler 13 of the hose 12 is connected, and a discharge port 29 through which compressed air from the drive portion 23 is discharged to the outside. Inside the handle portion 26, a supply flow path 28A that connects the connection port 28 to the drive portion 23 and supplies compressed air from the compressor 11 to the drive portion 23, and a discharge flow path 29A that connects the drive portion 23 to the discharge port 29 and discharges the compressed air from the drive portion 23 are provided.

The connection port 28 is a plug, a so-called male coupler, that pairs with the coupler 13 to form a one-touch fluid coupling. The discharge port 29 is provided on the front side of the connection port 28. The trigger switch 27 is located on the front surface of the base end of the handle portion 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, the trigger switch 27 is a normally closed switch that normally cuts off communication between the connection port 28 and the drive unit 23 in the supply flow path 28A.
When the trigger switch 27 is pressed, the trigger switch 27 maintains the supply flow passage 28A in a communicated state.

(Auxiliary Switch Device 30)
1 and 3, the auxiliary switch device 30 includes a first coupler portion 31, a second coupler portion 32, a connection hose 40 provided between the first coupler portion 31 and the second coupler portion 32, an attachment portion 60, and an auxiliary switch 50. In this embodiment, the auxiliary switch device 30 for right-handed people will be illustrated.

The first coupler part 31 is detachably connected to the coupler 13. The first coupler part 31 is a plug, a so-called male coupler, that pairs with the coupler 13 to form a one-touch fluid coupling.

The second coupler portion 32 is detachably connected to the connection port 28. The second coupler portion 32 is a socket, a so-called female coupler, that forms a pair with the connection port 28 to configure a one-touch fluid coupling.
The connection hose 40 includes a first connection hose 41 having an end connected to the first coupler portion 31 and a second connection hose 42 having an end connected to the second coupler portion 32 .

(Auxiliary switch 50)
As shown in FIG. 2 , the auxiliary switch 50 switches the flow state of compressed air within the connection hose 40 .

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the auxiliary switch 50 is provided between the end of the first connecting hose 41 and the end of the second connecting hose 42.
The auxiliary switch 50 is a spool valve, and includes a cylindrical casing 51 , a valve body 56 provided inside the casing 51 , and an operating portion 58 connected to the valve body 56 .

A first port 53 and a second port 54 are provided protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the casing 51 and are connected to the end of the first connection hose 41 and the end of the second connection hose 42, respectively. The first port 53 and the second port 54 are provided side by side in the direction of the axis Z2 of the casing 51.

The valve body 56 is movable in the direction of the axis Z2 between a blocking position (see FIG. 4) in which the compressed air flow path 55 in the casing 51 is blocked and a communication position (see FIG. 5) in which the flow path 55 is open.

A biasing member 62 is provided inside the casing 51 to bias the valve body 56 outward from the casing 51 .
As shown in FIG. 4, the valve body 56 is normally biased by a biasing member 62 to be in the shutoff position.

As shown in FIG. 5 , when the valve body 56 moves to the communication position by pressing the operating portion 58 against the biasing force of the biasing member 62 , the first port 53 and the second port 54 are communicated with each other.
4 to 7, a pair of annular support parts 52A, 52B that support the casing 51 rotatably about the axis line Z2 are provided at both ends of the casing 51. The outer shape of the support parts 52A, 52B in this embodiment is a regular hexagon.

(Mounting portion 60)
8 to 11, the attachment portion 60 is detachable from the main body 21 of the air tool body 20. The attachment portion 60 in this embodiment is integrally molded from a synthetic resin material.

The mounting portion 60 has a covering portion 61 that covers the outer peripheral surface and end portion 25A of the rear portion of the accommodating portion 25, and a protruding portion 64 that protrudes rearward beyond the main body portion 21 in the direction of the axis X1.
The covering portion 61 is generally in the shape of a semi-split cylinder. The covering portion 61 is open on the first end 21A side, i.e., the front side, in the direction of the axis X1. The covering portion 61 has a partition wall 63 that covers the end portion 25A on the second end 21B side, i.e., the rear side, in the direction of the axis X1. The inner surface of the covering portion 61 is shaped to fit the outer surface of the storage portion 25.

As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the protrusion 64 has a storage recess 64A that stores the auxiliary switch 50 and an escape recess 64B that allows the end of the connection hose 40 connected to the auxiliary switch 50 to escape.

The protruding portion 64 has a bottom wall 65 and a pair of side walls 66, 67 standing on both the left and right sides of the bottom wall 65. An insertion opening 68 is formed on the inner surface of the left side wall 66, into which the support portion 52B of the auxiliary switch 50 is non-rotatably inserted.

At a position facing the insertion opening 68 on the right side wall 67, an insertion recess 69 is provided into which the support portion 52A of the auxiliary switch 50 is inserted so as not to rotate. The insertion recess 69 opens toward the upper side. The insertion recess 69 penetrates the side wall 67 from left to right.

The accommodating recess 64A is defined by a portion surrounded by left and right side walls 66, 67 and the partition wall 63, an insertion opening 68, and an insertion recess 69, and is open upward.
The relief recess 64B is adjacent to the rear of the accommodation recess 64A, and is defined by a bottom wall 65 and left and right side walls 66, 67, and is open upward and backward.

As shown in FIG. 6, when attaching the auxiliary switch 50 to the attachment portion 60, the support portion 52B of the auxiliary switch 50 is inserted into the insertion opening 68 with the connection hose 40 extending upward relative to the auxiliary switch 50. Next, the support portion 52A of the auxiliary switch 50 is inserted from above into the insertion recess 69.

In this state, the operating portion 58 of the auxiliary switch 50 protrudes outward, i.e., to the right, from the outer circumferential surface of the mounting portion 60 .
7, the casing 51 is rotated relative to the support portions 52A and 52B to allow the connection hose 40 to be disposed in the relief recess 64B.

As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, a predetermined area of the connection hose 40 on the auxiliary switch device 30 side is wrapped with insulating tape 43 to bundle the first connection hose 41 and the second connection hose 42.

Next, a method of using the air tool will be described.
(When working with air tools using one hand)
12, the coupler 13 of the hose 12 connected to the compressor 11 is attached to the connection port 28 of the air tool body 20. For example, the operator W holds the handle portion 26 with the right hand H1 and presses the trigger switch 27 with the index finger F1 of the right hand. This opens the supply flow path 28A, supplying compressed air to the drive portion 23 and rotating the output portion 22.

(When using air tools with both hands)
1, the second coupler portion 32 is attached to the connection port 28 of the pneumatic tool body 20. In addition, the mounting portion 60 with the auxiliary switch 50 attached thereto is attached to the housing portion 25 from the rear of the pneumatic tool body 20.

The first coupler part 31 is also attached to the coupler 13 of the hose 12 connected to the compressor 11. In this state, the auxiliary switch 50 closes the connection hose 40, so even if the operator W presses only the trigger switch 27, compressed air is not supplied to the air tool 10, and the air tool 10 does not operate.

As shown in FIG. 13, the operator W grasps the handle portion 26 with his/her right hand H1 and places his/her left hand H2 on the mounting portion 60. Then, while the operator W presses the operation portion 58 of the auxiliary switch 50 with the index finger F2 of his/her left hand, he/she presses the trigger switch 27 with the index finger F1 of his/her right hand. As a result, the connection hose 40 and the supply flow path 28A are both connected, and compressed air is supplied to the drive portion 23, causing the output portion 22 to rotate.

The effects of the auxiliary switch device 30 and the air tool 10 of this embodiment will be described.
(1) By applying the auxiliary switch device 30 to the air tool 10, the operator W can press the auxiliary switch 50 with one hand H2 while holding the handle portion 26 with the other hand H1. When the operator W presses the auxiliary switch 50, compressed air is allowed to flow through the connection hose 40. When the operator W presses the trigger switch 27 with one hand H1, compressed air is supplied to the drive unit 23, and the output unit is operated. In other words, the output unit 22 does not operate when the operator W only presses the trigger switch 27 with one hand, but the output unit 22 is operated when the operator W presses the trigger switch 27 and the auxiliary switch 50 with both hands.

On the other hand, when the auxiliary switch device 30 is not applied to the air tool 10, the operator W presses the trigger switch 27 while holding the handle portion 26 with one hand H1. While the operator W is pressing the trigger switch 27, compressed air is supplied to the drive portion 23, and the output portion 22 operates.

As described above, when the auxiliary switch device 30 is not used, the coupler 13 of the hose 12 connected to the compressor 11 is directly attached to the air tool body 20, allowing the worker W to use the air tool body 20 with one hand. Also, by connecting the auxiliary switch device 30 between the air tool body 20 and the compressor 11, both hands must be used to operate the air tool body 20, which prevents the hand H2 opposite the hand H1 gripping the handle portion 26 from becoming a playful hand.

Therefore, the hand H2 opposite the hand H1 gripping the handle portion 26 can be prevented from becoming a player as necessary.
(2) The main body 21 has a cylindrical housing 25 that extends along the axis X1 and houses the drive unit 23, and the handle 26 extends in a direction intersecting the axis X1. The output unit 22 is provided at a first end 21A of the main body 21 in the axis X1 direction, and the housing 25 has an end 25A located at a second end 21B opposite to the first end 21A of the main body 21, and the attachment unit 60 is attached to the end 25A.

According to this configuration, the auxiliary switch 50 is provided at a position away from the output unit 22. This causes the hand opposite to the dominant hand that operates the trigger switch 27 to be away from the output unit 22. This effectively prevents the hand operating the auxiliary switch 50 from touching the output unit 22.

(3) The auxiliary switch 50 is cylindrical and has a casing 51 having a pair of ports 53, 54 on its outer circumferential surface to which the connection hose 40 is connected, and support portions 52A, 52B that support the casing 51 so that it can rotate about the axis X1 of the casing 51. The mounting portion 60 has a storage recess 64A that stores the auxiliary switch 50, and an escape recess 64B that allows the end of the connection hose 40 connected to the auxiliary switch 50 to escape.

With this configuration, the casing 51 of the auxiliary switch 50 can be rotated relative to the support parts 52A and 52B. This allows the connection hose 40 connected to the casing 51 to be displaced starting from the support parts 52A and 52B. This improves the ease of handling the connection hose 40.

In addition, when the casing 51 of the auxiliary switch 50 is rotated relative to the support parts 52A and 52B, i.e., the mounting part 60, the mounting part 60 can be prevented from interfering with the end of the connection hose 40. This further improves the ease of handling the connection hose 40.

(4) The attachment portion 60 has the protruding portion 64 that protrudes further than the main body portion 21 in the direction of the axis X1. The accommodating recess 64A and the relief recess 64B are provided in the protruding portion 64.
According to this configuration, by providing an accommodating recess 64A and an escape recess 64B in the protruding portion 64 that protrudes further than the main body 21 in the direction of the axis X1, it is possible to prevent the air tool 10 from becoming larger in the radial direction centered on the axis X1 of the accommodating portion 25.

(5) The auxiliary switch 50 has the operating portion 58 that protrudes outward from the outer circumferential surface of the mounting portion 60 .
According to this configuration, the operator can easily press and operate the operating portion 58 of the auxiliary switch 50 with one hand H2 while holding the handle portion 26 with one hand H1 and holding the housing portion 25 with the other hand H2 so that the other hand H2 intersects with the axis X1 direction of the housing portion 25. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operability of the air tool 10 from being impaired by the addition of the auxiliary switch 50.

<Example of change>
The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The present embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that there is no technical contradiction.

- The operating portion 58 of the auxiliary switch 50 is configured to protrude outward from the outer circumferential surface of the mounting portion 60, but is not limited to this. For example, the entire auxiliary switch 50 may be disposed on the inner circumferential side of the outer circumferential surface of the mounting portion 60.

- The recess 64B that allows the end of the connection hose 40 to escape may be omitted. For example, by not providing the recess 64B, the range in which the auxiliary switch 50 can be rotated may be made smaller than in the above embodiment.

- The storage recess 64A is configured to be provided in the protruding portion 64, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the protruding portion 64 may be omitted, and the portion that holds the auxiliary switch 50 may be provided to protrude from the outer surface of the covering portion 61.

- The mounting portion 60 is configured to be attached to the end portion 25A of the storage portion 25 in the direction of the axis X1, but is not limited to this. The mounting portion 60 may also be attached to the middle portion of the storage portion 25 in the direction of the axis X1.

- The air tool 10 is an air drill that rotates a drill bit, but is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to other air tools that use compressed air as their power source, such as an impact driver that applies striking force in addition to rotational force, or an electric hammer.

- Although the auxiliary switch 50 is configured to be assembled to the mounting portion 60, this is not limited to the above. For example, the auxiliary switch 50 may be integrally provided to the mounting portion 60 by insert molding, in which the auxiliary switch 50 is placed in a mold and resin is injected into the mold.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 10...Air tool 11...Compressor 12...Hose 13...Coupler 20...Air tool main body 21...Main body portion 21A...First end 21B...Second end 22...Output portion 23...Drive portion 25...Storage portion 26...Handle portion 27...Trigger switch 28...Connection port 28A...Supply flow path 29A...Discharge flow path 30...Post-installation auxiliary switch device for air tool 31...First coupler portion 32...Second coupler portion 40...Connection hose 50...Auxiliary switch 51...Casing 52A, 52B...Support portion 58...Operation portion 60...Mounting portion 62...Elastic member 64...Protrusion portion 64A...Storage recess 64B...Relief recess X1...Axis Y1...Axis

Claims (6)

An air tool retrofit auxiliary switch device for an air tool, comprising: an air tool body including a main body having an output part and a drive part for driving the output part; and a handle part extending from the main body and having a trigger switch and a connection port to which a coupler of a hose for supplying compressed air from a compressor is connected; and when the trigger switch is pressed, compressed air is supplied from the compressor to the drive part, thereby mechanically driving the drive part,
A first coupler portion that is detachably connected to a coupler of the hose;
A second coupler portion that is detachably connected to the connection port;
A connection hose provided between the first coupler portion and the second coupler portion;
An attachment portion that is detachably provided to the main body portion;
an auxiliary switch provided at the mounting portion for switching a flow state of compressed air in the connection hose;
When the auxiliary switch is pressed , the compressed air flows from the first coupler part through the connecting hose to the second coupler part , whereas when the auxiliary switch is not pressed, the compressed air does not flow from the first coupler part through the connecting hose to the second coupler part .
Retrofit auxiliary switch device for air tools. an air tool body including a main body having an output part and a drive part for driving the output part, and a handle part extending from the main body and having a trigger switch and a connection port to which a coupler of a hose for supplying compressed air from a compressor is connected;
The auxiliary switch device for an air tool according to claim 1,
When the trigger switch is pressed, compressed air is supplied from the compressor to the drive unit to mechanically drive the drive unit.
Air tools. The main body portion has a cylindrical housing portion that extends along an axis and houses the drive portion,
The handle portion extends in a direction intersecting the axis,
The output portion is provided at a first end of the main body in the axial direction,
the housing portion has an end portion located at a second end opposite the first end of the body portion,
The attachment portion is attached to the end portion.
The air tool according to claim 2. the auxiliary switch includes a casing having a pair of ports on an outer circumferential surface thereof to which the connection hose is connected, and a support portion that supports the casing rotatably about an axis of the casing,
The mounting portion has an accommodating recess for accommodating the auxiliary switch, and an escape recess for accommodating an end of the connection hose connected to the auxiliary switch.
The air tool according to claim 3. The attachment portion has a protruding portion that protrudes further than the main body portion in the axial direction,
The accommodating recess and the relief recess are provided in the protruding portion.
The air tool according to claim 4. The auxiliary switch has an operating portion that protrudes outward from an outer circumferential surface of the mounting portion.
The air tool according to any one of claims 2 to 5.