Clutch assembly and clamp mechanism for rotary tool disc

Abstract

As system for clamping an rotary tool accessory disc or blade to an output shaft of a rotary tool comprising a cam clamping mechanism and a clutch assembly wherein the cam clamping mechanism comprises: a head element threadably engageable with the output shaft at a location axially outward of the accessory disc; a cam rotatably connected to the head element and rotatable between a clamped and unclamped position, wherein the clamped position the cam exerts a compression force axially inward against the accessory disc or blade; and wherein the clutch assembly comprises: at least one first type of disc located coaxially on and keyed to the output shaft; at least one second type of disc located coaxially on the output shaft and in planar parallel contact with the first type disc; and an inner washer having an internal bore, the inner washer located coaxially on the output shaft, axially outward of and surrounding the first type disc and the second type disc, the inner washer keyed at the internal bore to the second type of disc such that rotation of the second type of disc imparts rotation to the inner washer.

1 . As system for clamping an accessory disc to an output shaft of a rotary tool comprising a cam clamping mechanism and a clutch assembly wherein the cam clamping mechanism comprises: 
 a head element threadably engageable with the output shaft at a location axially outward of the accessory disc;    a cam rotatably connected to the head element and rotatable between a clamped and unclamped position, wherein the clamped position the cam exerts a compression force axially inward against the accessory disc; and    wherein the clutch assembly comprises:    at least one first type of disc located coaxially on and keyed to the output shaft:    at least one second type of disc located coaxially on the output shaft and in planar parallel contact with the first type disc; and    an inner washer having an internal bore, the inner washer located coaxially on the output shaft, axially outward of and surrounding the first type disc and the second type disc, the inner washer keyed at the internal bore to the second type of disc such that rotation of the second type of disc imparts rotation to the inner washer.    
   
   
       2 . A cam clamping mechanism for clamping a rotary tool accessory to an output shaft of a rotary tool, wherein the output shaft has an axis and the cam clamping mechanism comprises: 
 a head element threadably engageable with the output shaft;    a cam rotatably connected to the head element and rotatable between a clamped position and an unclamped position, wherein in the clamped position the cam exerts a compression force upon the rotary tool accessory.    
   
   
       3 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 2  further comprising a clamp washer and wherein in the clamped position the cam exerts a compression force against the clamp washer.  
   
   
       4 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 3  further comprising a spring washer and wherein the clamped position the cam exerts a compression force against the spring washer through the clamp washer.  
   
   
       5 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 4  wherein the spring washer is a Belleville washer.  
   
   
       6 . A clamping mechanism according to  claim 3  wherein the clamp washer is a spring washer.  
   
   
       7 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 3  wherein the tool output shaft defines an axial bore and the head element threads into the axial bore in the output shaft.  
   
   
       8 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 3  wherein the head element is a nut that threads over a portion of the output shaft of the rotary tool.  
   
   
       9 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 3  further comprising a pivot pin rotatably connected to the head element.  
   
   
       10 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 3  wherein the cam includes a cam lever whereby the cam can be rotated from the unclamped position to the clamped position.  
   
   
       11 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 3  further comprising a cam release lever whereby the cam can be rotated from the clamped position to the unclamped position.  
   
   
       12 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 11  wherein the cam release lever is pivotably connected to the head element.  
   
   
       13 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 11  wherein the cam release lever includes a first end and a second end and said first end cooperates with the cam lever to rotate the cam from the clamped position to the unclamped position.  
   
   
       14 . A cam clamping mechanism according to  claim 3  wherein the head element includes a first side and a second side and the cam includes a first cam part pivotably mounted adjacent to the first side of the head element and a second cam part pivotably mounted adjacent to the second side of the head element.  
   
   
       15 . A clutch assembly for rotating a tool accessory on an output shaft of a rotary tool, wherein the output shaft has an axis and the clutch assembly comprises: 
 a washer defining an internal bore, the washer located coaxially on the output shaft and in engagement with the tool accessory;    at least one first type of disc located coaxially on and keyed to the output shaft; and    at least one second type of disc located coaxially on the output shaft and in planar parallel contact with the first type of disc and the second type of disc is inside the bore of the washer and keyed to the washer.    
   
   
       16 . The clutch assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first type of disc defines a central opening keyed to the output shaft.  
   
   
       17 . The clutch assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the second type of disc includes an outer periphery keyed to the washer.  
   
   
       18 . The clutch assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the outer periphery of the second type of disc includes radially outward projecting splines.  
   
   
       19 . The clutch assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the washer includes radially inward projecting splines which are keyed to the radially outward projecting splines of the second type of disc.  
   
   
       20 . The clutch assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the washer includes an axially outward face for frictionally engaging the tool accessory.  
   
   
       21 . The clutch assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the axially outward face of the washer includes a raised shape keyed to the tool accessory.  
   
   
       22 . A clutch assembly for rotating a tool accessory on an output shaft of a rotary tool, wherein the output shaft has an axis and the clutch assembly comprises: 
 a washer located coaxially on the output shaft and in engagement with the tool accessory;    at least one disc located coaxially on the output shaft and keyed to one of the output shaft and the washer and in frictional engagement with one of the output shaft and the washer.    
   
   
       23 . As system for holding an accessory disc to an output shaft of a rotary tool comprising a cam clamping mechanism and a clutch assembly wherein the cam clamping mechanism comprises: 
 a head element threadably engageable with the output shaft;    a cam rotatably connected to the head element and rotatable between a clamped position and an unclamped position, wherein the clamped position the cam exerts a compression force axially inward; and    wherein the clutch assembly comprises:    a washer defining an internal bore and located coaxially on the output shaft;    at least one first type of disc located coaxially on and keyed to the output shaft; and    at least one second type of disc located coaxially on the output shaft and in planar parallel contact with the first type of disc and the second type of disc is inside the bore of the washer and keyed to the washer.    
   
   
       24 . A rotary tool, comprising: 
 a motor;    an output spindle rotatably driven by the motor;    a rotary tool accessory, and    cam clamping mechanism for connecting a rotary tool accessory to the output    spindle, the cam clamping mechanism further comprising: 
 a head element threadably engageable with the output spindle;  
 a cam rotatably connected to the head element and rotatable between a clamped position and an unclamped position, wherein in the clamped position the cam exerts a compression force upon the rotary tool accessory.  
   
   
   
       25 . A rotary tool, comprising: 
 a motor;    an output spindle rotatably driven by the motor;    a rotary tool accessory, and    a clutch assembly for rotating the tool accessory on the output spindle, wherein the output shaft has an axis and the clutch assembly further comprises: 
 a washer defining an internal bore, the washer located coaxially on the output shaft and in engagement with the accessory disc;  
 at least one first type of disc located coaxially on and keyed to the output shaft; and  
 at least one second type of disc located coaxially on the output shaft and in planar parallel contact with the first type of disc and the second type of disc is inside the bore of the washer and keyed to the washer.