EP-4737644-A2 - A COMPACTING POWER TOOL

EP4737644A2EP 4737644 A2EP4737644 A2EP 4737644A2EP-4737644-A2

Abstract

A compacting power tool comprising: a housing; a motor electrically connected to a battery pack; a reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to the motor; and a compacting foot coupled to the reciprocating drive mechanism and configured to engage a surface to be compacted; and a controller configured to: receive at least one signal relating to one or more parameters and/or variables of the compacting power tool; determine a status of the compacting power tool based on the received at least one signal; and determine a change in the status of the compacting power tool corresponding to an operational change in the compacting power tool.

Inventors

SCHMIDTFRERICK, Dieter
KUGLER, MARCO
THIEME, Rene
HEIMRICH, Tim

Assignees

Black & Decker, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20220301

Claims (15)

A compacting power tool comprising: a housing; a motor electrically connected to a battery pack; a reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to the motor; and a compacting foot coupled to the reciprocating drive mechanism and configured to engage a surface to be compacted; and a controller configured to: receive at least one signal relating to one or more parameters and/or variables of the compacting power tool; determine a status of the compacting power tool based on the received at least one signal; and determine a change in the status of the compacting power tool corresponding to an operational change in the compacting power tool.
A compacting power tool according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to receive the at least one signal from one or more sensors connected to the controller.
A compacting power tool according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the controller is configured to determine an operational status function based on the at least one signal; and/or calculate a threshold value indicating the operational change of the compacting power tool, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the threshold value from a threshold function based on the at least one signal.
A compacting power tool according to claim 3 wherein the controller is configured to determine a change in the operational status function when the operational status function exceeds or drops below the calculated threshold value.
A compacting power tool according to any of the preceding claims wherein the change in the status of the compacting power tool corresponds to when the compacting foot is not engaging the surface to be compacted.
A compacting power tool according to any of the preceding claims wherein the at least one signal is a signal relating to one or more operational parameters and/or variables of the motor and the controller is configured to determine that the at least one signal exceeds or drops below a predetermined threshold.
A compacting power tool according to any preceding claim wherein the controller is configured, in response to determining the operational change in the compacting power tool, to do at least one of: issue a control signal to modify one or more operational parameters and/or variables of the compacting power tool; put the compacting power tool into a safe mode; send a control signal to stop the operation of the motor; and/or send a control signal to slow the speed of the motor.
A compacting power tool according to any of the preceding claims wherein the at least one signal is a tilt signal from a tilt sensor.
A compacting power tool according to claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to issue a stop signal to the motor in dependence on the received tilt signal exceeding a predetermined tilt angle threshold.
A compacting power tool according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the tilt sensor is an accelerometer or an inclinometer and/or a dual axis tilt sensor.
A compacting power tool according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one signal comprises a tilt signal and at least one further signal relating to one or more operational parameters and/or variables of the motor.
A compacting power tool according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one signal comprises a signal from a user operated switch, a or the tilt signal and at least one further signal relating to one or more operational parameters and/or variables of the motor.
A compacting power tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the battery pack is coupled to a vibration compensation mechanism; optionally wherein the vibration compensation mechanism is one or more of: moveably mounted on a side of the housing; moveable between a first position and a second position during operation; comprises at least one pivotable coupling; and comprises a vibration dampening mechanism.
A compacting power tool according to claim 13, further comprising a battery carrier coupled to the vibration compensation mechanism; optionally wherein: the battery carrier comprises at least one electrical connection configured to electrically couple the battery pack with the motor; the battery pack is removably coupled to the battery carrier; the battery carrier is arranged to mechanically and electrically couple to at least one battery pack; and/or the controller is mounted in the battery carrier.
A compacting power tool according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one handle connected to the housing; optionally wherein: the handle is moveable with respect to the housing; and/or the handle is pivotally mounted on the housing at a pivotal mounting.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a compacting power tool. In particular the present disclosure relates to a battery powered rammer. Background Some power tools are designed for robust tasks such as compacting soil, asphalt or hardcore. One such known power tool is a rammer which comprises a reciprocating foot which impacts and flattens the surface to be compacted. A rammer may also be known as a tamper, a soil compactor, a jumping jack compactor, or a jumping jack tamper. Some known rammers comprise an engine for driving the reciprocating plate whilst other rammers comprises a motor connected to a battery for driving the reciprocating plate. A problem with the rammer and other similar soil compacting power tools is that the rammer is top-heavy and prone to toppling over if mishandled or left unattended. Accordingly, the rammer poses a significant risk if still operating having toppled over. A known solution as described in DE102012019855 is to provide a tilt sensor to determine the angle of the rammer and switch off the rammer if the rammer is determined to fall over. Similarly US10393519 discloses an accelerometer and a low pass filter to detect a fall. Again the rammer is switched off if a fall is detected. A problem with the tilt sensors is that some users may need to use the rammer on slopes. Accordingly, the tilt sensor or fall detection may detect operation on a slope as a false detection of a fall. Furthermore, the solid state sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopic sensors are sensitive and prone to failure from prolonged exposure to vibrations. Another known solution is shown in EP2725144 whereby an abnormal engine speed is associated with a fall and the rammer is switched off. A problem with this solution is that the rammer must have fallen over in order for the abnormal engine speed to be detected and the rammer to be switched off. Another problem with the rammer and other similar soil compacting power tools is that the rammer may be accidently turned on when it is being lifted from one position to another. This can damage the lifting equipment (e.g., a crane) or can pose a risk to the person(s) lifting the rammer due the vibrations generated when the rammer is on. Summary Examples of the present disclosure aim to address the aforementioned problems and other problems. According to an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a compacting power tool comprising: a housing; a motor; a reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to the motor; and a compacting foot coupled to the reciprocating drive mechanism and configured to engage a surface to be compacted; and a controller configured to receive at least one motor signal and to determine a change in the operational load of the motor based on the received at least one motor signal when the compacting foot is not engaging the surface to be compacted. Optionally, the controller is configured to send a control signal to modify the operation of the motor based on a determined change in the operational load of the motor. Optionally, the controller is configured to send a stop signal to stop the operation of the motor or a slow signal to slow the speed of the motor. Optionally, the at least one motor signal is a current signal, a voltage signal, a speed signal, motor parameter or a control variable. Optionally, the controller is configured to determine that at least one motor signal exceeds or drops below a predetermined threshold. Optionally, the predetermined threshold corresponds to when the motor has no operational load. Optionally, at least one handle connected to the housing and the handle comprises an ON/ OFF switch. Optionally, at least one handle connected to the housing and the handle comprises at least one user operated switch. Optionally, the at least one user operated switch is a hold to use switch. Optionally, the controller is configured to receive a switch signal from the at least one user operated switch. Optionally, the controller is configured to issue a stop signal to the motor in dependence of the received switch signal from the at least one user operated switch. Optionally, the at least one user operated switch is configured to send a signal to the controller if the user releases the at least one user operated switch. Optionally, the controller issues the stop signal to the motor if controller does not detect actuation of the at least one user operated switch within a predetermined timer period. Optionally, at least one handle comprises both the at least one user operated switch and the ON/OFF switch. Optionally, wherein the power tool comprises a tilt sensor configured to send a tilt signal to the controller. Optionally, the controller is configured to issue a stop signal to the motor in dependence of the received tilt signal exceeding a predetermined tilt angle threshold. Optionally, the power tool is a rammer, a tamper, a soil compactor, a compactor, a jumping jack compactor, a jumping jack tamper, a pla