Variable speed switch and electric power tool with the variable speed switch mounted thereto

Abstract

A variable speed switch includes a switch main body portion which is accommodated in a housing of an electric power tool and mounted to the housing so as to be capable of relative movement, and a load sensor which is provided in the switch main body portion and capable of outputting an electric signal in proportion to the amount of distortion caused by a pressing force. The switch operating portion is mounted on the surface of the housing so as to be capable of relative displacement with respect to the housing and transmits a pressing force applied to the switch operating portion to the load sensor, with the maximum displacement amount of the switch operating portion being set to equal to or less than 5 mm.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to Japanese patent application serial numbers 2010-209130 and 2010-226365, the contents of which are incorporated herein by references.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a variable speed switch which is mounted to an electric power tool etc. and capable of outputting an electric signal for increasing and decreasing the amount of an electric power supplied to a motor of the electric power tool in proportion to the displacement amount of a switch operating portion. The present invention further relates to an electric power tool provided with the above variable speed switch and further provided with a wake-up switch configured to apply voltage to a control circuit of the motor to work the control circuit.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-260675 discloses a variable speed switch in the prior art.[0006]As shown in FIG. 12, a variab...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]According to this construction, the switch operating portion is capable of transmitting the pressing force applied to the switch operating portion to the load sensor, and the load sensor is capable of converting the amount of the distortion caused by the pressing force into an electric signal. In other words, the variable speed switch can output an electric signal in accordance with the pressing force applied to the switch operating portion, and eventually the amount of electric power supplied to the motor of the electric power tool can be increased or decreased by use of the electric signal.

[0032]According to this construction, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in mounting the variable speed switch to the electric power tool, and to simplify the waterproof structure for the electric power tool.

Problems solved by technology

Further, since the stroke of the trigger 102 with respect to the switch main body 105 is relatively large, the waterproof structure for the electric power tool with the variable speed switch 100 attached thereto may be rather complicated.