Compacting power tool

Abstract

A compacting power tool comprising: a housing; a motor; a reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to the motor; and a compacting foot coupled to the reciprocating drive mechanism and configured to engage a surface to be compacted; and a controller configured to receive at least one motor signal and to determine a change in the operational load of the motor based on the received at least one motor signal when the compacting foot is not engaging the surface to be compacted.

1 . A compacting power tool comprising:
 a housing;   a motor;   a reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to the motor; and   a compacting foot coupled to the reciprocating drive mechanism and configured to engage a surface to be compacted; and   a controller configured to receive at least one motor signal and to determine a change in the operational load of the motor based on the received at least one motor signal when the compacting foot is not engaging the surface to be compacted.   
     
     
         2 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to send a control signal to modify the operation of the motor based on a determined change in the operational load of the motor. 
     
     
         3 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 2  wherein the controller is configured to send a stop signal to stop the operation of the motor or a slow signal to slow the speed of the motor. 
     
     
         4 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one motor signal is one of a current signal, a voltage signal, a speed signal, motor parameter and a control variable. 
     
     
         5 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 4  wherein the controller is configured to determine that at least one motor signal exceeds or drops below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         6 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 5  wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds to when the motor has no operational load. 
     
     
         7 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 1  wherein at least one handle connected to the housing and the handle comprises an ON/OFF switch. 
     
     
         8 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 7  wherein at least one handle connected to the housing and the handle comprises at least one user operated switch. 
     
     
         9 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 8  wherein the at least one user operated switch is a hold to use switch. 
     
     
         10 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 8  wherein the controller is configured to receive a switch signal from the at least one user operated switch. 
     
     
         11 . A compacting power tool according  claim 10  wherein the controller is configured to issue a stop signal to the motor in dependence of the received switch signal from the at least one user operated switch. 
     
     
         12 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 11  wherein the at least one user operated switch is configured to send a signal to the controller if the user releases the at least one user operated switch. 
     
     
         13 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 12  wherein the controller issues the stop signal to the motor if controller does not detect actuation of the at least one user operated switch within a predetermined timer period. 
     
     
         14 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 1  wherein the power tool comprises a tilt sensor configured to send a tilt signal to the controller. 
     
     
         15 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 14  wherein the controller is configured to issue a stop signal to the motor in dependence of the received tilt signal exceeding a predetermined tilt angle threshold. 
     
     
         16 . A compacting power tool comprising:
 a housing;   a motor;   a reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to the motor; and   a compacting foot coupled to the reciprocating drive mechanism and configured to engage a surface to be compacted; and   a controller configured to:
 receive at least one signal relating to one or more parameters and/or variables of the compacting power tool; 
 determine an operational status function based on the received at least one signal; and 
 determine a change in the operational status function corresponding to an operational change in the compacting power tool. 
   
     
     
         17 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 16  wherein the controller is configured to calculate a threshold value indicating the operational change of the compacting power tool, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the threshold value from a threshold function is based on the at least one signal. 
     
     
         18 . A compacting power tool according to  claim 17  wherein the controller is configured to determine the change in the operational status function when the operational status function exceeds or drops below the calculated threshold value. 
     
     
         19 . A compacting power tool according to  claims 16  wherein the change in the operational status function corresponds to when the compacting foot is not engaging the surface to be compacted.