US 11,945,080 B2
Power tool with adaptive speed during tightening cycle
William Carlos Cain, Irmo, SC (US)
Assigned to APEX BRANDS, INC., Apex, NC (US)
Appl. No. 17/431,864
Filed by APEX BRANDS, INC., Apex, NC (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 19, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/018732
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 18, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/172211, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 27, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/807,439, filed on Feb. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0111501 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. B25B 23/14 (2006.01); B25B 21/00 (2006.01); B25B 23/147 (2006.01)
CPC B25B 23/147 (2013.01) [B25B 21/00 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power tool comprising:
an end effector configured to enable a fastener to be a applied to a workpiece by the power tool via a fastening cycle, the fastening cycle being a duration of time from a starting of rotation of the fastener to completing application of the fastener to the workpiece with a target torque;
a power unit;
a drive assembly configured to apply drive power to the end effector responsive to application of input power thereto; and
a motor configured to supply the input power to the drive assembly selectively based on operation of a power control assembly that controls coupling of the motor to the power unit,
wherein the drive assembly comprises a clutch configured to interrupt application of the drive power at the target torque,
wherein the power control assembly is configured to adaptively change speed of the motor in response to the power tool reaching a predefined torque value that is less than the target torque during the fastening cycle;
wherein the power control assembly is configured to enable an operator to alter a length of the fastening cycle by adjusting a set point of the predefined torque value.