Drill presses having noise reducing components

Abstract

A drill press includes a spindle pulley having a first central opening extending along an axis, a sleeve disposed within the pulley central opening, the sleeve having a central opening aligned with the pulley central opening and the axis, and a locking nut connecting an upper end of the sleeve with the spindle pulley for supporting simultaneous rotation of the sleeve and the spindle pulley about the axis. The drill press includes a spindle disposed within the sleeve central opening and extending along the axis, the spindle being slidable along the axis relative to the sleeve and being rotatable with the sleeve. The drill press includes a spacer disposed between the spindle and the locking nut or between the spindle and the sleeve for aligning the spindle with the axis and preventing the spindle from contacting the upper end of the sleeve during rotation, which reduces noise during operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drill press comprising:
 a spindle pulley having a central opening extending along an axis, said spindle pulley being rotatable about said axis;   a sleeve disposed within said pulley central opening, said sleeve having a central opening aligned with said pulley central opening and said axis;   a locking nut connecting an upper end of said sleeve with said spindle pulley for supporting simultaneous rotation of said sleeve and said spindle pulley;   a spindle disposed within said sleeve central opening and extending along said axis, said spindle being slidable along said axis relative to said sleeve and being rotatable with said sleeve about said axis;   a spacer disposed between said spindle and said locking nut for aligning said spindle with said axis and for preventing said spindle from contacting said sleeve upper end during rotation of said spindle and said sleeve about said axis.   
     
     
         2 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has said upper end, a lower end, and said sleeve central opening extends between said upper and lower ends of said sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said sleeve central opening has a larger diameter section adjacent said sleeve upper end and a smaller diameter section adjacent said sleeve lower end. 
     
     
         4 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said spindle has an elongated spindle shaft with a length aligned with and extending along said axis. 
     
     
         5 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said spindle comprises splines extending along the length of said elongated spindle shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said splines are adapted to mesh with said sleeve smaller diameter section at said sleeve lower end for transmitting rotation forces from said sleeve to said spindle shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said sleeve smaller diameter section comprises a plurality of protrusions adapted to mesh with said spindle shaft splines for transmitting rotation forces from said sleeve to said spindle shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said splines define an outer diameter of said spindle shaft that is smaller than said larger diameter section. 
     
     
         9 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve upper end has external threads adapted to mesh with internal threads on said locking nut. 
     
     
         10 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said locking nut has a central aperture aligned with said axis, and wherein said spindle is slidable along said axis relative to said locking nut. 
     
     
         11 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said spacer is ring-shaped and is secureable within said locking nut central aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said spacer has a central aperture aligned with said axis, and wherein said spindle is adapted to slide along said axis relative to said spacer. 
     
     
         13 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said locking nut has an annular projection that extends into said locking nut central aperture and said ring-shaped spacer has an outer surface including an annular groove that is adapted to receive said locking nut annular projection. 
     
     
         14 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spacer comprises a non-metallic material selected from the group consisting of rubber, polymers and elastic materials. 
     
     
         15 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spacer has a central aperture adapted to receive said spindle. 
     
     
         16 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said central aperture of said spacer defines an annular surface or a surface having a plurality of elongated grooves adapted to mesh with splines on said spindle. 
     
     
         17 . A drill press comprising:
 a spindle pulley having an axis and a central opening extending along said axis;   a sleeve disposed within said pulley central opening, said sleeve having a central opening aligned with said axis;   an elongated spindle disposed within said sleeve central opening and being aligned with said axis, said elongated spindle being adapted to slide along said axis relative to said sleeve and said spindle pulley, and said elongated spindle being adapted to rotate simultaneously with said sleeve and said spindle pulley;   a locking nut for connecting an upper end of said sleeve with said spindle pulley, said locking nut having a central aperture aligned with said pulley central opening and said sleeve central opening, wherein said spindle extends through said locking nut central aperture;   a spacer disposed between an outer surface of said spindle and said locking nut central aperture for preventing said spindle from contacting said sleeve upper end during rotation of said sleeve and said spindle about said axis.   
     
     
         18 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said locking nut comprises metal and said spacer comprises a non-metal. 
     
     
         19 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said sleeve has an upper end, a lower end, and said sleeve central opening extends between said upper and lower ends, wherein said sleeve central opening has a larger diameter section adjacent said sleeve upper end adapted for enabling said spindle to slide along said axis relative to said sleeve, and a smaller diameter section adjacent said sleeve lower end adapted to mesh with said spindle for transmitting rotation forces between said sleeve and said spindle while enabling said spindle to slide along said axis relative to said sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said spindle comprises splines extending along a length of said spline, and wherein said splines are adapted to mesh with said smaller diameter section of said sleeve central opening for transmitting rotation forces from said sleeve to said spindle. 
     
     
         21 . The drill press as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said spacer is ring-shaped and is secureable within said locking nut central aperture.