TECHNICAL FIELD

Example embodiments generally relate to chucks for use with power drivers including drills, and more particularly, relate to chucks having a control clutch.

BACKGROUND

Power drivers with rotating drive spindles are often operably coupled to a chuck that is adjustable in size to be able to attach various working bits, such as drill bits or other tools that rotated by the drive spindle. Chucks typically employ moveable jaws that are operable to adjust the diameter of an opening in the chuck for receiving a working bit. The jaws of conventional chucks may be adjusted by rotating an external sleeve relative to the jaws. As such, rotation of the sleeve may operate to change the size of the opening in the chuck for receiving a working bit. However, because the sleeve operates as a jaw opening size control for conventional chucks, the sleeve often rotates with the jaws when the power driver is in use. The high speed rotation of the sleeve can often cause issues such as safety concerns and damage to surfaces by marring nearby surfaces when the power driver is being used. Further, some chucks may permit the sleeve to be held stationary by a user while the power driver turns the drive spindle to change the size of the jaw opening. However, when performing this operation, many conventional chucks are designed such that the jaws still rotate with the drive spindle making it difficult to install, for example, a working bit in the jaw opening due to the rotation of the jaws.

SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

According to some example embodiments, a chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive spindle is provided. The chuck may comprise a plurality of jaws, with each jaw including jaw teeth. The chuck may further comprise a front body. In this regard, the plurality of jaws may be configured to rotate with the front body about a center axis of the chuck. Further, the plurality of jaws may also be configured to move relative to the front body in an opening or closing direction. The chuck may further comprise a nut operably coupled with at least some of the jaw teeth of the jaws such that rotation of the nut relative to the front body moves the jaws relative to the front body. The chuck may also comprise a rear body including rear body teeth. In this regard, the rear body may be configured to rotate with a drive spindle of the power driver. Further, the chuck may further comprise a clutch including clutch teeth. The clutch may be operably coupled to the front body such that the clutch rotates with the front body. The clutch may be configured to move between a working position and a jaw actuating position. In the working position, the clutch teeth may be engaged with the rear body teeth such that rotation of the rear body by the drive spindle rotates the clutch, the front body, and the jaws. In the jaw actuating position, the clutch teeth may not or need not be engaged with the rear body teeth and the rear body may be configured to rotate the nut relative to the front body to move the jaws relative to the front body.

According to some example embodiments, another chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive spindle is provided. The chuck may comprise a plurality of jaws with each jaw including jaw teeth. The chuck may further comprise a front body. The plurality of jaws may be configured to rotate with the front body about a center axis of the chuck. The plurality of jaws may also be configured to move relative to the front body in an opening or closing direction. The chuck may further comprise a sleeve operably coupled to the front body to permit rotational movement relative to the front body but not axial movement relative to the front body. The chuck may further comprise a nut operably coupled with at least some of the jaw teeth of the jaws such that rotation of the nut relative to the front body moves the jaws relative to the front body. The chuck may further comprise a rear body including rear body teeth. The rear body may be configured to rotate with a drive spindle of the power driver. The chuck may further comprise a clutch including clutch teeth. The clutch may be operably coupled to the front body such that the clutch rotates with the front body. The clutch may be configured to move between a working position and a jaw actuating position. In the working position, the clutch teeth may be engaged with the rear body teeth such that rotation of the rear body by the drive spindle rotates the clutch, the rear sleeve, the front body, and the jaws. In the jaw actuating position, the clutch teeth are not engaged with the rear body teeth and the rear body is configured to rotate the nut relative to the front body, the rear sleeve, and the clutch to move the jaws relative to the front body.

