Power tool dual-trigger operation

• Main Authors: Nace, Daniel F, Stiles, III, James H, Rohrer, Eric S, Bowers, Levi G, King, Christopher T
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.03.2024
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORSOR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOTPARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; ELECTRIC SWITCHES; ELECTRICITY; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS; GENERATION; GRINDING; HAND TOOLS; MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; MANIPULATORS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POLISHING; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; RELAYS; SELECTORS; TRANSPORTING

A power tool is provided including a housing; an electric motor disposed within the housing; a main trigger switch mounted on the housing; a side handle mounted on the housing, the side handle having an auxiliary trigger; and a controller disposed within the housing operable to control a flow of electric current from a power source to the electric motor. The controller activates the motor only if the main trigger and the auxiliary trigger are both actuated. If the one of the triggers is released while the other trigger is still engaged, the controller is configured to continue operating the motor only if the released trigger is reengaged within a time threshold, but otherwise discontinue operating the motor until both the main trigger and the auxiliary triggers are released and reengaged.