Abstract

A chuck brake is secured to a hand-held reversibly rotatable drill of the variable speed type having a chuck. The chuck brake permits selective tightening or loosening of the chuck by operation of the drill. Brake shoes surround and are adapted to engage at least a portion of the peripheral surface of a housing of the chuck, being secured to the front of a drill on opposite sides of the chuck. The brake shoes are manually engageable by pinching action of the user for movement between a first position permitting free rotation of the chuck housing and a second position providing friction between the brake shoes and a first area of the chuck housing. In the second position, rotation of the chuck housing in one direction is impeded, as for tightening. The brake shoes are shiftable also toward the drill to a third position in which increased friction with the chuck housing is provided to impede rotation of the chuck housing in an opposite direction, as for loosening of the chuck. Movement of the brake shoes to the third position also is preferably operative of an electrical switch within the drill for enabling operation within the reversed rotation without further effort by user.