US-20260124731-A1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A POWER TOOL WITH A DUAL-FUNCTION RELIEF VALVE

Abstract

A power tool includes a cylinder, a piston movable within the cylinder to define a fluid chamber within the cylinder, a reservoir to retain fluid, and a motor that is operable to drive a pump to supply fluid from the reservoir to the fluid chamber to extend the piston. The power tool further includes a relief valve that opens based on a pressure in the fluid chamber to allow fluid to drain from the fluid chamber to the reservoir. The relief valve is configured to open when a pressure in the fluid chamber reaches at predefined cracking pressure. A user interface is manually actuatable to open the relief valve independent of the pressure in the fluid chamber being at the predefined cracking pressure.

Inventors

• Harrison T. Snyder

Assignees

• MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251106

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A power tool comprising: a cylinder; a piston movable within the cylinder to define a fluid chamber within the cylinder; a reservoir to store a fluid; a motor that is operable to drive a pump to supply the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid chamber to extend the piston; a relief valve that opens based on a pressure in the fluid chamber to allow fluid to drain from the fluid chamber to the reservoir, the relief valve configured to open when a pressure in the fluid chamber reaches at predefined cracking pressure; and a first user interface that is manually actuatable to open the relief valve independent of the pressure in the fluid chamber being at the predefined cracking pressure.
2. 2 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the relief valve is positioned along a passageway that extends between the fluid chamber and the reservoir.
3. 3 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the relief valve includes a poppet that moves between a closed position where the poppet is engaged with a seat defined in a valve body and an open position where the poppet is disengaged from the seat.
4. 4 . The power tool of claim 3 , wherein the poppet is biased to the closed position by a spring, the spring having a pre-load corresponding to the predefined cracking pressure.
5. 5 . The power tool of claim 3 , wherein actuation of the first user interface causes the poppet to move from the closed position to an open position.
6. 6 . The power tool of claim 3 , wherein the first user interface is one of a switch, a slider, or a lever that applies an external force to the poppet.
7. 7 . The power tool of claim 1 further comprising: a pump coupled between the reservoir and the cylinder; and a second user interface that is manually actuatable to cause the pump to supply fluid from the reservoir to fluid chamber in the cylinder to move the piston.
8. 8 . The power tool of claim 7 , wherein the first user interface and the second user interface are arranged for single-handed operation of the power tool.
9. 9 . The power tool of claim 7 , wherein the poppet is positioned in the pump.
10. 10 . The power tool of claim 9 , wherein the poppet is disposed in a valve body that is positioned in the pump.
11. 11 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the second user interface is a head of the poppet.
12. 12 . The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the popper includes a head and the second user interface engages the head.
13. 13 . A dual-actuated relief valve, the relief valve comprising: a valve body defining a port; a valve element movable within the valve body between an open position where the valve element blocks the port and a closed position where the valve element opens the port; a biasing element biasing the valve element to the closed position and configured to allow the valve element to move to the open position based on a fluid pressure acting on the valve element; and a user interface coupled to the valve element to allow a user to manually move the valve element from the closed position to the open position.
14. 14 . The relief valve of claim 13 , wherein the valve element is a poppet that engage with a seat in the valve body in the closed position and disengages from the seat in the open position.
15. 15 . The relief valve of claim 13 , wherein the user interface is a mechanical actuator that is moved by the user.
16. 16 . The relief valve of claim 13 , wherein the user interface is an electronic actuator.
17. 17 . A method of operating a relief valve in a power tool, the method comprising: providing a relief valve having a valve element movable between a closed position and an open position within a valve body; biasing the valve element toward the closed position with a biasing element; moving the valve element from the closed position to the open position when fluid pressure acting on the valve element reaches a predefined cracking pressure; and actuating a first user interface to move the valve element from the closed position to the open position independent of the fluid pressure reaching the predefined cracking pressure.
18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein actuating the first user interface includes applying an external force to a plunger connected to the valve element.
19. 19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising actuating a second user interface to operate a pump to supply fluid from a reservoir to a cylinder when the relief valve is in the closed position.
20. 20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising discharging fluid through the relief valve when the valve element is in the open position to reduce pressure in a fluid chamber of the power tool.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/717,045, filed November 6, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Crimpers and cutters often include a crimping head with opposed jaws that include certain crimping and cutting features, depending on the particular configuration of the tool. Some crimpers and cutters are hydraulic power tools that include a piston that can exert force on the crimping or cutting head, which may be used for closing the jaws to perform crimp, compression, or cutting work at a targeted location. A valve can be used to relieve hydraulic pressure within a cylinder of the power tool. SUMMARY In some aspects, a power tool can include a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder to define a fluid chamber within the cylinder. The power tool can include a reservoir to store a fluid. A motor can be operable to drive a pump to supply the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid chamber to extend the piston. A relief valve can open based on a pressure in the fluid chamber to allow fluid to drain from the fluid chamber to the reservoir. The relief valve can be configured to open when a pressure in the fluid chamber reaches at predefined cracking pressure. A first user interface can be manually actuatable to open the relief valve independent of the pressure in the fluid chamber being at the predefined cracking pressure. In some examples, the relief valve can be positioned along a passageway that extends between the fluid chamber and the reservoir. In some examples, the relief valve can include a poppet that moves between a closed position where the poppet is engaged with a seat defined in a valve body and an open position where the poppet is disengaged from the seat. In some examples, the poppet can be biased to the closed position by a spring. The spring can have a pre-load corresponding to the predefined cracking pressure. In some examples, actuation of the first user interface can cause the poppet to move from the closed position to an open position. In some examples, the first user interface can be one of a switch, a slider, or a lever that applies an external force to the poppet. In some examples, the power tool can include a pump coupled between the reservoir and the cylinder. A second user interface can be manually actuatable to cause the pump to supply fluid from the reservoir to fluid chamber in the cylinder to move the piston. In some examples, the first user interface and the second user interface can be arranged for single-handed operation of the power tool. In some examples, the poppet can be positioned in the pump. In some examples, the poppet can be disposed in a valve body that is positioned in the pump. In some examples, the second user interface can be a head of the poppet. In some examples, the poppet can include a head and the second user interface can engage the head. In some aspects, a dual-actuated relief valve can include a valve body defining a port. A valve element can be movable within the valve body between an open position where the valve element blocks the port and a closed position where the valve element opens the port. A biasing element can bias the valve element to the closed position and can be configured to allow the valve element to move to the open position based on a fluid pressure acting on the valve element. A user interface can be coupled to the valve element to allow a user to manually move the valve element from the closed position to the open position. In some examples, the valve element can be a poppet that engage with a seat in the valve body in the closed position and disengages from the seat in the open position. In some examples, the user interface can be a mechanical actuator that is moved by the user. In some examples, the user interface can be an electronic actuator. In some aspects, a method of operating a relief valve in a power tool can include providing a relief valve having a valve element movable between a closed position and an open position within a valve body. The method can include biasing the valve element toward the closed position with a biasing element. The method can include moving the valve element from the closed position to the open position when fluid pressure acting on the valve element reaches a predefined cracking pressure. The method can include actuating a first user interface to move the valve element from the closed position to the open position independent of the fluid pressure reaching the predefined cracking pressure. In some examples, actuating the first user interface can include applying an external force to a plunger connected to the valve element. In some examples, the method can include actuating a second user interface to operate a pump to supply fluid from a reservoir to a cylinder when the relief valve is in the closed position. In some examples, the method can include disch