Patent Grant
8505798
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power tools such as fastener driving devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Fastening tools are designed to deliver energy stored in an energy source to drive fasteners very quickly in a single blow. Typically fastener driving devices use energy sources such as compressed air, flywheels, and chemicals (fuel combustion & gun powder detonation) and for some low energy tools, steel springs are used. In addition to mechanical springs, gas springs have also been taught for use in fastening devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,260 discloses a small cordless brad tool. U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,367 discloses a hand held nailing tool for firing small nails. U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,423 and U.S. patent application 2006/0180631 disclose gas spring fastening devices.
It is desirable for the tool to be of low weight so that it may be used with one hand, and not cause excessive fatigue. It is also desirable for fastener driving devices to provide sufficient energy to effectively drive the fastener, but with minimum recoil. Recoil negatively impacts a tool's ability to drive a fastener, and, it may also increase user fatigue.
Recoil is a function of, among other things, the tool weight/driver weight ratio, and driver velocity or drive time, which is affected by the energy required to drive the fastener. As a fastener is being driven, a reaction force is pushing the tool off of the work surface. The distance the tool moves off of the workpiece is proportional to the drive time and other parameters as noted herein below. A typical pneumatic tool has a tool/driver ratio of greater than 30. Drive time is typically less than 10 milliseconds (msec.) and should not be greater than 20 msec., and preferably, not be greater than 15 msec. Maximum pneumatic tool weight is found with the bigger tools—e.g., framing nailers. An estimated maximum limit to an acceptable tool weight is 10 lbs. Framing nailers in the 8 to 9.5 lb. range are typically used without excessive fatigue. Combining the limits on the tool/driver weight ratio of 30 and a 10 lb. maximum tool weight, the limit on the driver weight becomes about 0.33 lb. That is, the driver weight should preferably be less than 0.33 lb. if the tool weighs 10 lbs. In other words, if the driver (mechanism in the tool that drives the fastener) weighs more than 0.33 lb., the tool weight would have to be greater than 10 lb. to counteract the recoil sufficiently for comfortable operation and adequately drive the fastener into the workpiece in a single blow.
In the process of driving fasteners using impulse, recoil presents several problems. One being that during the drive cycle, the complex tool motion causes a deviation of the drive force vector from the intended penetration direction. That is, the drive force does not remain parallel to the axis of the fastener, and therefore, the driver may actually slide off the fastener before the drive is complete. This can result in bent fasteners, damage to the work piece due to the tool sliding off of the driver, fasteners driven off the edge of the work piece or not being driven in the intended direction and incomplete drives. Another problem is the amount the tool recoils has to be compensated by adding drive stroke and a subsequent addition of driver extension, which results in two additional concerns. First the extension of the drive stroke lengthens the tool by twice the amount that is added. Second, the addition of driver extension results in added complexity of the tool and in a reduction in the structural integrity to the driver.
The amount the tool recoils must be subtracted from the stroke of the tool when considering the energy output of the drive stroke. Also excessive recoil is perceived as undesirable by most operators. Although some recoil is usually desired as it aids in the movement of the tool from drive location to drive location, especially during rapid cycle operation, excessive recoil may result in damage to the tool, damage to the fastener or damage to the work surface. That is, during the drive cycle, the complex tool motion may cause a deviation of the drive force vector from the intended penetration direction. The drive force therefore may not remain parallel to the axis of the fastener and the driver may slide off the fastener before the drive is complete. As noted above, this can result in bent fasteners, damage to the work piece due to the tool sliding off of the driver, fasteners driven off the edge of the work piece or not being driven in the intended direction resulting in incomplete drives.
In most instances, recoil is controlled by having a mass moving in a direction opposite to the direction the fastener driver is moving. This mass is held by a spring and during the impulsive drive, accelerates opposite the drive motion and the force of the spring can usually be neglected due to the nature of the impulsive force.
However, when a spring is used to generate the impulse, concerns associated with recoil increase considerably. First, because the spring is a solid, the spring has about 3-orders of magnitude more mass than gasses used in a pneumatic or combustion impulse device. Accordingly, one third of this amount must be included as part of the moving mass. Secondly, the spring is compressed much slower than a gas would be introduced into an impulse chamber therefore holding the secondary mass with a spring would be ineffective because the mass would be fully biased prior to the drive strike. Also, it would be beneficial to partially compress the drive spring and hold it in position prior to the actual drive. A third problem arises due to the unfavorable geometry constraints in that the center of force of the spring is further away from the tool center of gravity, causing a greater degree of rotational motion. This in turn causes some of the drive energy to be misdirected from the direction of drive as noted hereinabove.
Another reason for the quick drive time requirement is the dual requirement of energy and force. The energy is stored in a moving mass and can be found from Energy=½ mass×velocity squared, i.e. E=½ mv2. An impulse force is developed from the change in momentum when the driver pushes the fastener into the work piece. Assuming an average force during the drive and the final velocity of the moving driver mass is zero, a simple equation may be set up where force×time=mass×velocity, or time=mass×velocity/force.
In general, the event of driving most fasteners in a single drive stroke occurs in fewer than 10 msec., which would allow for a rate of 100 cycles per second. Of course, this time does not take into consideration the reset time. Pneumatic tool cycle rates typically range from approximately 30 cycles per second for very small energy tools such as upholstery staplers, to approximately 10 cycles per second for larger energy tools, for example, tools that are used in framing. In most applications, the desired rate is no more than 10 cycles per second, which allows for 100 msec. per actuation.
The constraint of the drive time being less than 10 msec. is still desirable to minimize the recoil of the tool and to adequately drive the fastener, as previously described. Of course, these factors are inter-related in that if the tool does not adequately drive the fastener, recoil will typically be more severe. As stated above, recoil is a function of many things, but a primary physical consideration is the ratio between the tool weight and the weight of the driver. This is due to the energy requirement of driving a fastener being constant. Also, the law of conservation of momentum requires that the final velocity of the tool (assuming the tool velocity is zero at the start) will be equal to the ratio between the mass of the tool and the mass of the driver times the final velocity of the driver. The output energy of the tool (when no fastener is driven) is equal to ½ the mass of the driver times the square of the final velocity of the driver (½×m×v2). Combining these two principles and simplifying, the final velocity of the tool may be found from Equation 1:
Holding the mass of the tool and energy constant, the only practical way to decrease the tool velocity from Equation 1 is to decrease the mass of the driver. As the driver gets lighter, its final velocity has to increase to maintain the required energy. Given that time is equal to distance divided by velocity, and assuming that average velocity is about half peak velocity for most single stroke fastener drive events, the optimal and practical time to drive a fastener in a single drive stroke is between 3 and 10 msec.
One problem with a short drive time is the high power requirement it creates. Given that power is output energy divided by time, as the time decreases for a given energy, the power increases. Although most applications allow 100 msec. per actuation, an improved drive allows 10 msec. or less, and realizes at least a 10 fold increase in power. This creates the need for some sort of energy storage device that can release or transfer it's stored energy in 10 msec., or less.
Direct chemical energy can be released in less than 10 msec., but direct chemical energy in discrete actuations has other costs and complexities that make it limited at the present time (e.g. fuel cost, exhaust gases). However, chemical energy based tools typically cannot practically provide “bump fire” capability where the trigger is depressed, and the contact trip is depressed to start a drive sequence. Another form of energy storage that allows for the storage and rapid release of energy is the flywheel. Mechanical flywheel type cordless fastening tool proposed in U.S. patent application US20050218184(A1) maintains a constant flywheel speed, while the tool proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,715 does not maintain a constant flywheel speed. However, one recognized problem with a flywheel is long term energy storage, which creates a need to get the total required energy for a first actuation into the flywheel before the perceived actuation delay time which is approximately 70 msec. In particular, from a user's perspective, the maximum delay from when the contact trip is depressed, to when the nail is driven, is approximately 70 msec. Tools having larger actuation delay time will typically be deemed unacceptable for use in bump fire mode. In addition, when a tool is bumped against the work surface to drive a fastener, the tool naturally begins to bounce off the surface, and after approximately 70 msec. has lapsed, the tool may have moved far enough away from the workpiece to prevent complete driving of the fastener into the workpiece. Thus, flywheel based tools must maintain constant rotation of the flywheel while the trigger is depressed to have such bump fire capability, thus wasting energy to maintain the flywheel speed. Another problem with a flywheel is the energy transfer mechanism is complicated and inefficient.
Other devices peripherally related to the fastener driving devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,423 that provides a discussion as to why a traditional steel spring cannot be effectively used to drive a nail, U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,541 that discloses a cordless fastener driving device with a mode selector switch, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,023 that discloses a clutch mechanism. Moreover, various references related to coil springs in general, are known.
However, there still exists an unfulfilled need for a lightweight and efficient fastener driving device that provides sufficient energy to drive a fastener. There also exists an unfulfilled need for such a fastener driving device that allows bump fire actuation. Further, there is a need to ensure that the increase in power does not result in an increase in recoil and that the resultant recoil is suppressed to the extent possible.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a lightweight and efficient fastener driving device that provides sufficient energy to drive a fastener.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide such a fastener driving device that allows bump fire actuation.
Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fastener driving device that advantageously utilizes a drive spring made of a composite material.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a fastener driving device is provided with an efficient assembly for compressing a drive spring and releasing the energy from the drive spring to drive a fastener.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fastener driving device that enhances functionality while minimizing size by positioning components in the drive spring.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a fastener driving device that minimizes shock forces exerted on components of the device that is caused by driving a fastener into a workpiece.
Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for operating fastener so as to minimize the time required to initiate the driving operation by pre-compressing the drive spring.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a fastener driving device with a mode switch that includes a battery mode.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fastener driving device including a controller with a timer that can be used to monitor operation of the fastener driving device.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fastener driving device that includes a safety interlock mechanism.
Still another aspect of the invention is to provide a fastener driving device that minimizes the effect of recoil.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a fastener driving device is provided with an efficient assembly for compressing a drive spring and releasing the energy from the drive spring to drive a fastener while suppressing recoil.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fastener driving device that enhances functionality while minimizing size by positioning components in the drive spring.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a fastener driving device that minimizes shock forces exerted on components of the device that is caused by driving a fastener into a workpiece.
Still another aspect of the invention is to provide a fastener driving device that minimizes the effect of recoil by providing a recoil suppression device.
In view of the above, in accordance with the present invention, a fastener driving device is provided including a fastener driver displaceable to drive a fastener, a spring that moves the fastener driver through a drive stroke, and a motor for compressing the spring in a return stroke, where the counter mass for suppressing recoil is at least a portion of the tool itself. More particularly, the counter mass would include the power train, lead screw, a portion of the spring mass and cap portion of the driver.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a power tool is provided including a spring, a rotatably mounted threaded shaft, and a coupler mechanism for engaging the threaded shaft to allow compression of the spring. The power tool also includes a motor, and a gear train with a clutch connected to the motor, the threaded shaft being connected to the gear train and being rotatable by the motor. At least the motor, gear train and lead screw are mounted in a cap of the tool and are so mounted so as to permit them to be displaced in a direction opposite that of the drive stroke. The coupler mechanism may include a carrier that engages an end of the spring, and a nut that movably engages the threaded shaft, the coupler mechanism being operable to releasably engage the carrier to the nut to lift the carrier along the threaded shaft to compress the spring during the return stroke. In this regard, the coupler mechanism may be implemented with a movable element that is moved radially inwardly to engage the nut to lift the carrier along the threaded shaft to compress the spring during the return stroke, and is moved radially outwardly to disengage the nut to allow the spring to decompress during the drive stroke.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a fastener driving device is provided including a fastener driver displaceable to drive a fastener, a spring that moves the fastener driver through a drive stroke, and a coupler mechanism for compressing the spring through a return stroke, the coupler mechanism including radially movable components positioned inside the spring. The fastener driving device includes a threaded shaft positioned inside the spring, the coupler mechanism including a carrier that engages an end of the spring, and a nut that movably engages the threaded shaft, the coupler mechanism being operable to releasably engage the carrier to the nut to lift the carrier along the threaded shaft to compress the spring during the return stroke. With the present recoil suppression device, the coupler mechanism or carriage, ⅓ of the spring mass and the driver are considered to be the moving mass, the power train, lead screw and ⅔ of the spring mass are considered to be the cap or counter mass and the remaining portions of the tool, particularly the tool frame, door, nose and magazine are considered to be the tool mass. In the loaded condition, the force of the spring is balanced between the coupler mechanism or carriage and the cap and therefore has no effect on the frame.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a power tool is provided including a motor with a drive train, an output shaft, and a driver displaceable along an axial drive direction, wherein the motor is mounted with the output shaft substantially parallel to the axial drive direction. With such a construction, the motor and power train may be movably mounted such that the motor and power train can be displaced in the direction substantially parallel to the axial drive direction thereby creating a counter mass. In this regard, recoil may be suppressed with an axial displacement of the drive train.
With the present invention, it is proposed to let the counter mass, be the cap which includes the power train, including the motor and gears, lead screw and ⅔rds the spring mass. The frame would include the nose, door, frame and magazine assembly forming the toll and considered the tool mass, and the carriage including the driver and ⅓rd the spring mass would be the moving mass or referred to as the carriage.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention and as noted above, the force of the spring during loading is balanced between the cap and carriage. Therefore the drive spring force is not seen by the frame. To achieve this aspect, the frame is coupled to the cap by way of a spring of much lower force and rate than the drive spring. The coupling spring is sized to prevent movement between the frame and cap which can be perceived by the user. The force is minimal so only a small impulse is transferred to the frame during the drive event.
With another aspect of the present invention, consideration for the sizing of the coupling spring is necessary such that during the wind up of the drive spring the coupling spring is able to fully extend to its initial length. As the wind up time of tool of the present invention is somewhat over 20 times the drive time, the coupling spring can be much lighter than the drive spring in force and rate. So during the drive most of the initial reaction caused by the high acceleration of the driver mass is taken by the counter mass or cap. Therefore the frame and nose remain only slightly affected by any force which can be transmitted thru the coupling spring, until the allowed stroke of the coupling spring is reached.
In view of the above, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a fastener driving device is provided including a fastener driver displaceable to drive a fastener, a spring that moves the fastener driver through a drive stroke, and a motor for compressing the spring in a return stroke, where the spring includes a composite material. In one implementation, the composite material includes glass, carbon, aramid, boron, basal, and/or synthetic spider silk fiber.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a power tool is provided including a spring, a rotatably mounted threaded shaft, and a coupler mechanism means for engaging the threaded shaft to allow compression of the spring. The power tool may also include a motor, and a gear train with a clutch connected to the motor, the threaded shaft being connected to the gear train and being rotatable by the motor. In one embodiment, the coupler mechanism means includes a carrier that engages an end of the spring, and a nut that movably engages the threaded shaft, the coupler mechanism means being operable to releasably engage the carrier to the nut to lift the carrier along the threaded shaft to compress the spring during the return stroke. In this regard, the coupler mechanism may be implemented with a movable element that is moved radially inwardly to engage the nut to lift the carrier along the threaded shaft to compress the spring during the return stroke, and is moved radially outwardly to disengage the nut to allow the spring to decompress during the drive stroke.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a fastener driving device is provided including a fastener driver displaceable to drive a fastener, a spring that moves the fastener driver through a drive stroke, and a coupler mechanism for compressing the spring through a return stroke, the coupler mechanism including radially movable components positioned inside the spring. In one embodiment, the fastener driving device includes a threaded shaft positioned inside the spring, the coupler mechanism including a carrier that engages an end of the spring, and a nut that movably engages the threaded shaft, the coupler mechanism being operable to releasably engage the carrier to the nut to lift the carrier along the threaded shaft to compress the spring during the return stroke. In one preferred implementation, the coupler mechanism includes at least one pin that is moved radially inwardly to engage the nut to lift the carrier along the threaded shaft to compress the spring during the return stroke, and moved radially outwardly to disengage the nut to allow the spring to decompress during the drive stroke.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a power tool is provided including a motor with an output shaft, and a driver displaceable along an axial drive direction, wherein the motor is mounted with the output shaft substantially parallel to the axial drive direction. In such an embodiment, the motor may be movably mounted by a shock mount that allows the motor to be displaced in the direction substantially parallel to the axial drive direction. In this regard, the shock mount may be implemented with an axially displaceable coupling.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a fastener driving device is provided, the fastener driving device including a fastener driver displaceable to drive a fastener, and a spring that moves the fastener driver through a drive stroke. In one embodiment, the method includes partially compressing the spring, receiving a user input, further compressing the spring, and releasing the spring to move the fastener driver through the drive stroke. In this regard, in one embodiment, the partial compressing of the spring compresses the spring at least 70% of compression attained by further compressing the spring. In an embodiment, the partial compressing of the spring compresses the spring between about 70% and about 90%.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a power tool is provided that includes a housing, a motor received in the housing, a battery removably secured to the housing for providing power to the motor, and a mode switch for controlling the operation of the fastener driving device, the mode switch including a battery mode which allows the battery to be at least one of inserted and removed from the housing. In one embodiment, the fastener driving device includes a latch interconnected to the mode switch, the latch allowing the battery to be partially engaged to the housing when the mode switch is moved to the battery mode. In this regard, the battery may be provided with a primary detent and a secondary detent, the latch engaging the primary detent when the battery is fully secured to the housing, and disengaging from the primary detent and engaging the secondary detent when mode switch is moved to the battery mode. In one preferred embodiment, the battery remains connected to provide power to the power tool when the battery is in the partially engaged position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a fastener driving device is provided that includes a fastener driver movable through a drive stroke to drive a fastener, and movable through a return stroke after completion of the drive stroke, and a controller with at least one timer that monitors the duration of time required to complete, or partially complete, the return stroke.
In one embodiment, the device further includes a spring and carrier where upon moving the fastener driver through the drive stroke, the spring is partially compressed to a pre-compressed position. The timer preferably monitors the duration of the time in which the spring is in the pre-compressed position, the controller operates the fastener driving tool to lower the carrier to a home position to substantially decompress the spring if the time duration exceeds a time limit. In another embodiment, the timer monitors the time duration for the carrier to move from a home position after a drive stroke to the pre-compression position, and indicates a malfunction if the time duration exceeds a time limit.
In other embodiments, the timer further monitors the time duration for completion of the drive stroke, and indicates a jam condition if the time duration exceeds a time limit. The controller may be further adapted to place the fastener driving device in a low power-consumption sleep mode if a drive stroke is not initiated within a predetermined time period. In still another embodiment, the timer monitors the time required to re-activated the fastener driving device from the sleep mode, and an error is indicated if the time required exceeds a time limit.
In still another embodiment, the fastener driving device includes a mode switch with a battery position, and a controller that monitors the position of the mode switch and operates the fastener driving tool to substantially decompress the spring when the mode switch is placed in the battery position.
In yet another embodiment the fastener driving device includes a trigger and a trip, the trigger being actuable to initiate the drive stroke subsequent to actuation of the trip in a sequential mode, and the trip being actuable to initiate the drive stroke subsequent to actuation of the trigger in a bump mode. The fastener driving device further includes a controller that monitors the time duration from actuation of either the trigger or the trip while not initiating the drive stroke by actuation of the other, and de-activates the fastener driving device if the monitored time duration exceeds a time limit.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, the controller monitors voltage and/or current drain on the battery, and does not operate the motor if the voltage is below a predetermined limit and/or the current drain exceeds a predetermined limit for a predetermined period.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a power tool is provided which includes a safety interlock mechanism. In one embodiment, the power tool includes a trigger that must be actuated to operate the power tool, a contact trip that must also be actuated to operate the power tool, and a safety interlock mechanism that prevents operation of the power tool when only one of the trigger and the contact trip is actuated, the safety interlock mechanism including a wire. The wire may be implemented with a compliant member.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a fastener driving device is provided that includes a nose/trip assembly. In one embodiment, the fastener driving device includes a nose including a drive channel, a fastener driver movable through a drive stroke to drive a fastener, and a contact trip actuable to initiate the drive stroke. The contact trip includes a land with a contact surface that extends into the drive channel. In another embodiment, the nose has a plurality of prongs, and the land is positioned between the plurality of prongs. Moreover, the contact surface of the land may be angled.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fastener driving device that includes a fastener driver, a magazine for carrying a supply of fasteners to the fastener driver, an energy storage source configured to store potential energy that moves the fastener driver through a drive stroke, and a reversible motor configured to move the fastener driver through a return stroke. The motor is operable upon completion of the drive stroke to move the fastener driver partially through the return stroke a predetermined amount to partially pre-energize the energy storage source. The motor is further operable to fully energize the energy storage source after receiving a signal for the drive stroke.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a fastener driving device is provided. The fastener driving device includes a fastener driver configured to drive a fastener into a workpiece during a drive stroke, an energy storage source configured to store potential energy and to release the potential energy to the fastener driver to initiate the drive stroke, a motor constructed and arranged to provide energy to the energy storage source, and a drive train operatively connected to the motor and to the energy storage source. The drive train is configured to transfer the energy from the motor to the energy storage source and to restrain the potential energy stored in the energy storage source when the motor is in an off condition.
In an embodiment, the drive train includes a clutch that includes a housing having an inner surface, a drive planet carrier rotationally coupled to the motor and positioned within the inner surface of the housing, the drive planet carrier having a plurality of drive members, an anvil rotatably coupled with the drive planet carrier and positioned within the inner surface of the housing, the anvil having a plurality of projections extending in a radial direction relative to a central axis of rotation, and a plurality of breaking pads. Each breaking pad is supported by the drive planet carrier and disposed between one of the projections of the anvil and one of the drive members of the drive planet carrier. The breaking pads are constructed and arranged to allow rotational movement of the anvil when the motor is providing energy to the energy storage source, and to substantially prevent rotation of the anvil when the motor is not providing energy to the energy storage source.
In an embodiment, the anvil member includes a plurality of cam surfaces located between the projections. Each breaking pad includes a first surface configured to engage one of the cam surfaces when the motor is providing energy to the energy storage source, and a second surface that is angled with respect to the first surface. The second surface is configured to engage a second cam surface when the motor is not providing energy to the energy storage source. When the second surface of the breaking pad engages the cam surface, the breaking pad causes the anvil to be locked relative to the inner surface of the housing.
In an embodiment, the fastener driving device also includes a rotatably mounted threaded shaft, a carrier connected to the fastener driver and configured to engage a part of the energy storage source, and a coupler mechanism configured to engage the threaded shaft and the carrier to allow transfer of the energy from the motor to the energy storage source. The coupler mechanism is operable to releasably couple the carrier to the threaded shaft to lift the carrier along the threaded shaft during a return stroke and to release the carrier to initiate the drive stroke.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a fastener driving device that includes a nose assembly carried by the housing. The nose assembly has a fastener drive track. The fastener driving device also includes a magazine assembly constructed and arranged to feed successively leading fasteners from a supply of fasteners contained therein along into the drive track, a fastener driver configured to enter the drive track during a drive stroke and drive a leading fastener into a workpiece, and an energy storage source configured to store potential energy. The energy storage source is constructed and arranged to move the fastener driver through the drive stroke. A contact trip is constructed and arranged to be moved from a normally biased inoperative position into an operative position when the contact trip is pressed against the workpiece. A fastener lockout operatively coupled to the contact trip and is constructed and arranged to prevent the leading fastener from being driven by the fastener driver when the contact trip is in the inoperative position.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts.
The nose assembly 14 is connected to the main body portion 20 of the housing assembly 12. The nose assembly 14 defines a drive track (not shown) that is configured to receive a fastener driver 26. The drive track is constructed and arranged to receive fasteners from the magazine 16 so that they may be driven, one by one, into the workpiece by the power operated system 18, as will be discussed in further detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the power operated system 18 includes a power source 28, a motor 30, a reduction gear box 32 connected to the motor 30, a cam 34 that is operatively connected to the motor 30 via the gear box 32, a coupler mechanism 36, a trigger 38, and a drive spring 40.
As shown in the Figures, the power source 28 is a battery, although the illustrated embodiment is not intended to be limited in any way. It is contemplated that other types of power sources may be used for powering the motor. For example, it is contemplated that the motor may be electrically operated with a power cord connected to an outlet, or be pneumatically operated. In addition, a fuel cell may be utilized to allow the fastener driving device to be portably implemented. Of course, these are examples only, and the power source may be implemented differently in other embodiments.
The motor 30 is powered by the power source 28, and is configured to provide rotational movement to the cam 34 via the gear box 32. The gear box 32 is configured to provide the proper gear ratio between the motor 30 and the cam 34 such that the cam 34 rotates the desired amount at the desired speed. For example, the gear box 32 may be a reduction gear box so that the rotational speed of the motor 30 may be reduced prior to rotating the cam 34. The cam 34 includes a cam surface 35 on an outer portion thereof. As shown in the Figures, the cam surface 35 is substantially helical in shape so that it may provide linear translation of a part that follows the cam surface 35, as the cam 34 rotates.
The coupler mechanism 36 is moved upwardly through a return stroke via the cam 34, and more particularly via the cam surface 35. The coupler mechanism 36 includes a carrier 42 and the fastener driver 26, which is attached to the carrier 42. The carrier 42 and the fastener driver 26 are movable between a drive stroke, during which the fastener driver 42 is displaced along an axial drive direction to drive the fastener into the workpiece, and a return stroke. The coupler mechanism 36 also includes a guide 46 for guiding the substantially linear movement of the carrier 42. In one embodiment the guide 46 is disposed such that it is substantially parallel to the drive track, so that the carrier 42, and, therefore, the fastener driver 26 move linearly.
The coupler mechanism 36 further includes a cam follower 48 that is operatively connected to the carrier 42 such that it moves with the carrier 42. The cam follower 48 may be a separate piece that is either directly connected, or connected with an intermediate piece, to the carrier 42. The cam follower 48 is shaped and sized to interact with the cam surface 35 of the cam 34 so that when the cam 34 rotates, the cam follower 48 follows the cam surface 35 and allows the carrier 42 to be pushed upward when the cam 34 is rotated by the motor 30, as shown in
The drive spring 40 is disposed between, and connected at each end to the carrier 42 and an end cap 50. A spring guide 52 that is connected to the end cap 50 may also be used to help guide the drive spring 40 as it compresses and expands. Thus, as the carrier 42 is pushed upward when the cam 34 is rotated by the motor 30, the spring, 40 is compressed. Once the carrier 42 reaches a predetermined height, the cam follower 48 falls off of the cam surface 35, thereby allowing the carrier 42 to move independently from the cam 34. Without resistance being provided by the cam 34, the energy now stored in the drive spring 40 is released, thereby moving the carrier 42 and the fastener driver 24 through the drive stroke. As the cam follower 48 falls off of the cam surface 35, it typically kicks the cam 34 back in the direction opposite to the direction that compresses the drive spring 40. In this regard, a cam return 49, which may be a torsion spring, ensures that the cam 34 is returned to its initial position so that the cam follower 48 may be reengaged with the cam surface 35, so the device 10 is ready for the return stroke, and the next drive stroke thereafter.
The device 10 also further includes a safety mechanism that includes a trigger 38 and a contact trip assembly (not shown). The contact trip assembly is commonly found on pneumatic fastener driving devices, and such an assembly is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,386, which is incorporated herein by reference. The device 10 may be used in both sequential and contact modes. The contact trip assembly described in the '386 is not intended to be limiting in any way, and is incorporated merely as an example.
The trigger 38 is also in communication with a controller (not shown), and the controller communicates with the motor 30. Upon receiving a signal from the trigger 38, and/or the contact trip assembly, the controller signals the motor 30 to energize for a predetermined amount of time, which causes the cam 34 to rotate, thereby initiating a drive stroke. After completion of the drive stroke, the controller signals the motor to energize for a shorter time so that the cam 34 may rotate a predetermined amount to partially compress the drive spring 40, which reduces the amount of time needed to fully compress the drive spring 40 during the next drive stroke. The controller is preferably programmed such that after a predetermined amount of time in which the device 10 has not been used, the carrier 42 is allowed to return to a position in which there is no load on the drive spring 40.
Because the energy that is used to drive the fastener during the drive stroke is temporarily stored in the drive spring 40, the power and drive time of the device 10 is a function of, among other things, the design of the drive spring 40. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a composite spring is used in order to derive enhanced efficiency and power in comparison with prior art tools that employ metal springs. In one embodiment, the device 10 produces more than 40 joules of driving energy. As will be discussed in further detail below, as the energy requirements of the tool increase, the size and weight of a prior art steel spring increase to the point of becoming undesirable. Also, because the stroke used to drive larger fasteners is longer than the stroke used to drive smaller fasteners, the spring release velocity may become a restriction, and the weight of the spring may become more of an issue. In addition, an acceptable useful life of a steel spring becomes harder to fulfill in a more powerful tool, because as the energy requirements increase, the size of the spring increases, and the stress distribution and, hence, integrity of the material, may become a larger factor. It should be noted that as wire size increases, the tensile strength decreases. Also, problems associated with vibrations tend to get larger due to the weight of the spring itself, as the size and energy storage increases.
It has been found that a composite spring, i.e., a spring that has been manufactured from a composite material, has a high stiffness to weight ratio, has good dynamic efficiency (able to release energy quickly), is able to withstand high dynamic loading, and is able to dampen out oscillations quickly. For example, comparing the values of steel and S-2 Glass (a common glass used in composite manufacture) the following results are obtained. If the values for steel were used in a commonly known energy/volume equation, an energy/volume value would be: E/V=1.5e7, and for S-2 Glass Fiber, E/V=3.4e8, or 22 times as efficient as steel. A further advantage is found in the energy/mass as the density of steel is 7850 kg/m3 and the density of a composite spring made as described is approximately 1915 kg/m3, or 4 times less.
In the area of response, a composite spring in accordance with one embodiment of the invention has a rate of greater than 600 kg/m, a mass of less than 1 lb., and a drive time of less than 20 msec., preferably less than 15, and more preferably less than 10 msec. A sample spring has been designed that has a rate of 1000 kg/m (which would equal 90 kg force or 883 N at 90 mm), with a mass of 0.104 kg. Its first mode natural frequency of the spring itself fixed at both ends may be estimated to be 0.5×[1000×9.8/0.104]½=154 Hz. This is close to twice to the idealized calculated value for a steel spring. Theoretically, to estimate the equivalent drive, one can assume a spring mass system, to yield a frequency response of 1/pi*0.5×[1000×9.8/0.104]½=49 Hz. The cycle time for one full oscillation would be 1/49, or 20.4 msec., so the drive time (half the full oscillation) would be one-half this, or 10.2 msec. for a spring made of fiber glass and epoxy.
Another advantage in the composite spring lies in its ability to release more of its stored energy during the initial drive. A load curve for a steel spring would show more fluctuations than a composite spring as the mass inertia of the individual coils would cause the spring to behave as a number of separate mass spring systems. In general, the release phenomena are closely related to the natural frequency of the spring. The higher the natural frequency, the better the spring will respond, and the lower the influence on life from dynamic loads. Yet another advantage of the weight density of the composite spring is in operator comfort. As the energy requirements get higher, the relative weight advantage increases to a point where the steel spring is no longer practical, but is not a major issue when a composite spring is used.
A strain energy storage source, such as the drive spring 40, should be mechanically coupled to the fastener driver 26 to drive the fastener. The act of coupling the spring 40 to the driver 26 imparts a portion of the mass of the drive spring 40 to the driver 26. A typical value is ⅓ of the spring mass. Based upon a driver weight limit of 0.33 lb. for a 10 lb. tool, the mass of the spring in accordance with one aspect of the invention is less than 1.0 lb. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the tool weighs 10 lbs. or less, and the mass of the spring is 1 lb. or less. In addition, the driver 26 that is attached to the spring has some mass so the actual spring/driver subassembly has a weight of 0.33 lbs. or less, so conservatively, the spring itself should weigh approximately less than 1.0 lb. The effectiveness of a spring material may be gauged by its energy storage density. If the spring is assumed to weigh 1.0 lb for simplicity, then a tool that utilizes 400 in-lbs of energy would use a spring material capable of storing 400 in-lb per pound of material and a 200 in-lb tool would use a spring capable storing 200 in-lb/lb, etc.
As discussed, a drive time of less than about 15 msec. can be achieved in accordance with the present invention. Natural frequency of the spring system is used to estimate drive time, because, as shown in the examples above, the drive time is approximately half of the inverse of the natural frequency. In this regard, a spring tool coefficient to compare spring materials has been created, using both energy density and drive time, by dividing the energy density (in-lb/lb) with the equivalent drive time (msec.) yielding a spring tool coefficient (STC) with in-lb/lb-sec. units, as represented by equation (2):
where E=spring energy (in-lb), ℑ=spring natural freq (hz.), and W=spring weight (lbs).
Table 1 below illustrates the difference in the specifications for springs made of different materials if designed to have similar energies of 400 in-lb. With this energy, the minimum tool coefficient was calculated to be at least 26,667 in-lb/lb-sec. in order to properly drive a fastener. In this regard, composite springs having similar energies of 400 in-lb were manufactured out of glass-epoxy and carbon-epoxy, and their spring tool coefficients were calculated. Springs made of conventional metals were then also designed, and the spring tool coefficient was calculated for comparison purposes. It is noted, that coil spring designs were selected for this example because a coil spring has proven to be the most efficient spring geometry, and also have form advantages. Similar tables can be created with other types of spring geometries, but the values will typically be lower. The natural frequencies calculated or measured were based on solutions to equivalent spring mass systems.
TABLE 1 shows that with spring tool coefficients well less than 26,667 in-lb/lb-sec, commonly used spring materials are inadequate for a 400 in-lb spring powered fastener driving device. In this regard, conventional metals can only be used to drive very small fasteners, such as brad nails. The Glass/Epoxy composite material, however, is shown to be more than adequate with a spring tool coefficient of 87,000 in-lb/lb-sec, which is more than 3 times the minimum spring tool coefficient requirement of 26,667 in-lb/lb-sec. As shown in the table, the spring made from composite material has a weight of less than 1 lb., an energy density of greater than 400 in-lb/lb, a natural frequency of greater than 33 Hz, an equivalent drive time of less than 15 msec., and a spring tool coefficient of greater than 26,667. Using this analysis, the maximum tool energy that the best common spring material (i.e. chrome vanadium wire from TABLE 1) would be able to support may be determined. For example, it is found that 200 in-lbs is the maximum energy a chrome vanadium wire spring powered tool could practically achieve.
TABLE 1 also illustrates the performance of a spring made of Carbon/Epoxy composite material which was found to perform even better than the Glass/Epoxy composite material. In particular, the Carbon/Epoxy composite material was shown to be more than adequate with a spring tool coefficient of nearly 160,000 in-lb/lb-sec, which is about 6 times the minimum spring tool coefficient requirement of 26,667 in-lb/lb-sec, and almost twice that of the Glass/Epoxy composite. As also shown, the Carbon/Epoxy spring was extremely light had the highest energy density, and had the quickest equivalent drive time. Correspondingly, of the materials considered for the drive spring, with the presently available fabrication methods, Carbon/Epoxy spring was found to be superior. It should be noted that based on mechanical properties of the fiber alone, S-2 glass should produce a better performing spring than one made of carbon fiber. Of course, it should also be noted that the present invention is not limited to the particular spring materials discussed above, and further optimization of the spring may be made. In stead, such materials are discussed and presented herein merely as examples.
A coil spring 140 made from a composite material has been designed to satisfy the target values in TABLE 1 is shown in
The spring 140 is preferably made of fiberglass and epoxy, and most preferably, the fibers are continuous through the spring. In particular, the fiberglass may be Owens Corning SE 1200 Type 30 and/or Owens Corning 346 Type 30, 600 or 1200 Tex (grams/kilometer line weight), 600 Tex being preferred. The epoxy may be Huntsman: Araldite LY3505 hardeners XB3403/XB3404/XB3405 or Huntsman: Araldite LY556 hardener 22962. Various common additives may also be used to improve wetout, preclude aeration, and improve processing. Fiberglass and epoxy is a very good material because of its blend of economics and performance, including modulus of elasticity and tensile strength characteristics. Of course, other fibers and resins may be utilized for the spring in other embodiments of the present invention. For instance, carbon, aramid, boron, basal, and synthetic spider silk, etc. may be used, or in still other embodiments, combinations of fiber materials and other resins may be used, such as polyester, vinyl ester, urethanes, as well as thermoplastic resins, ABS, nylon, polypropylene, peek, etc. Depending on the particular usage parameters, a spring made from such materials may achieve better performance than the fiberglass composite described. However, in view of the blend of economics and performance, the preferred implementation of the spring utilizes fiberglass composite as described above.
Such glass epoxy and carbon epoxy composite springs can be manufactured in any appropriate manner and may be available from composite spring manufacturers such as Liteflex, LLC. of Englewood, Ohio. In accordance with one preferred implementation, a fiberglass core is assembled with multiple fibers being either twisted, braided or bundled together in line and are wetted out individually before bundling or wetted as a bundled assembly. Of course, in other embodiments, composite springs that do not include a core may be used as well. The size of the core can be varied depending on the stiffness of the wire desired and/or the time desired to complete the layup of the wire. The glass epoxy composite spring of the above noted embodiment may be manufactured with core sizes in the range 0.080″ to 0.200″ in diameter. Wires with smaller cores have been found to yield better fatigue life results.
The wetout core is then wound with wetout fibers at an angle oblique to the core axis. Successive layers of fiber are wrapped around the core at varying angles until the final wire diameter is achieved. The wire is then wrapped in a silicone seal. The seal can be shaped to act to distort the circular shape of the wire to more of an elliptical shape, or other shape, if desired. The sealed wire is then wrapped around a mandrel and pressed into a helical groove having the desired shape of the spring. The groove may also be shaped to distort the wire into the desired form. The wrapped mandrel is then covered with a tight fitting sleeve. The sleeve and the grooved mandrel maintains the cross sectional shape of the wire and the form of the coils during the curing process. The mandrel assembly is heated at a specified rate to properly cure the resin. Near the end of the curing process the heat applied is sufficient to melt the mandrel allowing for easy un-molding of the spring.
The glass content of the glass epoxy composite spring may vary depending on the desired mechanical and durability properties. It was found after significant experimentation that fiber content of 68% to 71% by weight yield the best results. Fiber angle and lay up play an important role in determining the mechanical characteristics of the glass epoxy composite spring 140. Naturally isotropic materials (e.g. metals), when formed into coil springs, function equally well in compression and tension. In general, fiber-reinforced composites are not naturally isotropic. Designers vary the fiber direction (layup) from ply to ply to create essentially isotropic properties or non-isotropic properties depending how the part will be loaded. A composite spring meant only for a compression or a tension application can be wound with fibers all in the same direction, in the direction that resists the torsional shear stress. The actual stress state is more complex with components of direct shear and bending stress but these are small compared with the torsional component. The direction of torsional stress in a round straight bar is 45 deg to its axis. The combined stress state in a coil spring acts to reduce this 45 angle slightly in a round cross section.
Each layer is wrapped with fiber. Wrapping does not produce a weave/braid or any interlocking or overlapping of fibers on a particular layer. The fiber angle alternates from layer to layer and essentially 90 degrees to one another. Doing so, creates a spring that can perform equally well in compression and tension. It is also noted that if the successive layers were wrapped in the same direction, some interlacing of the fibers into the previous ply would occur creating undesirable distortion of the fibers.
When the wetout wire is coiled, fiber layers slip relative to each other as well as the individual fibers in each layer so the fibers and layers follow the natural geometric strain effects of the coiling process. It is the goal to have all the fibers aligned in the direction of stress after the spring has been coiled and cured. Referring to
TABLE 2 below shows how the fiber angle changes layer by layer in a continuous fiber composite coil spring with a core diameter of 0.1875 inches and Rna=0.97 inches, and layer thickness=0.010 inches.
In TABLE 2 set forth above, the start fiber angles were selected such that the angle after coiling on the inner diameter is 45 deg. As previously mentioned, 45 degrees is the optimal angle for a round torsion bar. Although 45 degrees is not the optimal angle for the ID of a coil spring due to other stress factors such as shear and bending stresses, it is used as a reference for approximation. In addition, in a coiled wire, the highest strains exist on the ID of the coil so it follows that the wire geometry is optimized to support the highest strains on the ID.
A coil composite spring for a fastener driving device such as the glass epoxy composite spring is primarily loaded in compression. However, the fast release of the stored energy creates stress waves that result in tensile loads in the coils. Increasing the spring preload can help reduce the magnitude of the tensile stress but it does not eliminate it. Therefore, the glass epoxy composite spring is preferably implemented so that whereas the majority of the fibers resist compression loads, there are enough opposite angle fiber layers provided to adequately support the layers resisting compression and also to resist the tensile loads.
Extensive experimentation was performed on this plus/minus fiber layering scheme. Through such experimentation, it has been found that the final 4 layers may advantageously be oriented to resist compression, and all other layers successively alternating by approximately 90 degrees as described above.
Another important factor that impacts the mechanical characteristics of the glass epoxy composite spring is the wire cross section. The most weight efficient cross section for a coil spring is a circular cross section with a round hollow core. In practice, it is difficult to produce a spring with a round hollow core, so cross sections are typically solid. Non circular cross-sectional springs may be manufactured as proposed in the art. Deviation from circular section can be advantageous depending on the intended application, design and manufacture of the composite spring. The maximum stress location can also be moved and controlled in the cross section of the wire. For example, depending on the method of manufacture, discontinuities or stress risers may not be eliminated in the cross section. By providing control over the location of maximum stress, the cross section could be designed such that the maximum stress does not coincide with a stress riser.
Bending the wire into a coil form also acts to create a glass content gradient in the cross section. Positive strain tends to squeeze resin out where negative strain tends to draw resin in. The result is a higher local glass content on the inner diameter (ID) of the spring and a lower local glass content on the outer diameter (OD) of the spring. This change in glass content can be computed and the cross sectional wire shape designed such that the glass content is optimum at the peak stress location.
The coil end geometry also contributes to the performance characteristics of the glass epoxy composite spring. Steel compression springs ends are typically closed and ground, or closed and not ground, such that the line of action (direction of the force) is close to the center of the spring. It's advantageous to have the line of action as close to the center of the spring as possible to minimize buckling effects. Buckling effects are a concern since the preferred coil spring geometries for spring driven fastener driving devices have long strokes and small diameters, leading to increased buckling risk.
To center the line of action, it's helpful to maximize the end coils contact patch. The traditional methods of closing coils and grinding coils to achieve large contact areas are not recommended for a composite coil spring. The composite wire gets its strength from the continuity of the fibers. Grinding breaks this continuity and significantly weakens the wire. Grinding is only recommended in areas where the applied torque is very low, i.e. very close to the end of the wire at either end. Closing the coil in the traditional manner also creates a fulcrum contact point under maximum deflection. Coil to coil contact with a composite spring may decrease its fatigue life.
In light of the above problems, a coil end geometry that maximizes the contact area with limited grinding and no coil to coil contact points under maximum deflection is preferably implemented for the glass and carbon epoxy composite spring as proposed. Alternatively or in addition thereto, an open ended composite coil spring may be used with a spring seat that substantially evenly distributes the stress on the composite coil spring, thereby enhancing manufacturability while improving durability thereof.
Various requirements have been found by the present inventors that preferably should be met by a coil spring to be used for a hand held fastener driving tool such as a nailer. TABLE 3 below lists the requirements that are believed to be very important for effectively implementing a spring driven fastener driving device suitable for driving a 15 g finish nail.
Most of the materials that are commonly used today for producing coil springs do not meet the design criteria for a fastener driving device application above an energy storage capacity of 200 in-lbs. However, a multitude of materials and/or combinations of materials are currently available that when transformed into a coil spring shape (without substantial degradation of their mechanical properties), would meet the design criteria for a fastener driving device. Example of such materials include composites using glass, carbon or aramid fibers with thermosetting (e.g. epoxy, polyester, polyurethane, vinyl ester) or thermoplastic (e.g. polypropylene, ABS, nylon, peek) resins, and the like. Spring patents previously noted above teach the design and manufacture a composite coil springs. It has been found by the present inventors that alternate spring shapes, sulcated, c-shape, stacked belleville, wave or leave springs, etc. do not exhibit an energy release response as well as composite coil springs to allow use in a fastener driving device.
The above discussion set forth spring fastener driving device with a composite spring in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. Of course, the fastener driving device is not limited thereto, and the fastener driving device may be implemented using springs made of different materials, although less preferred than composite materials for the reasons set forth above. Moreover, various different composite materials may be used as described above, including glass epoxy and carbon epoxy. In addition, the spring need not be a coil spring as shown and described, but can be any appropriate type of structural spring that is made of any appropriate materials. Correspondingly, the term “spring” as used herein and throughout, should be broadly understood to encompass any device that allows storage and release of strain energy, for example, any structural spring, such as a coil, Belleville type, leaf, torsion, or sulcated spring. Moreover, the term “spring” as used herein, should be broadly understood to encompass any device that allows storage and release of energy from a volume under pressure that expands to do work, such as a gas spring. However, use of coil springs, and especially such coil springs made of a composite material, allows realization of various advantages to the fastener driving device as discussed hereinabove.
The tool discussed in detail above uses a barrel cam arrangement in combination with a motor and other mechanical and electrical components to compress, and freely release, the spring to drive a fastener dictated by the inputs controlled by an operator. The barrel cam mechanism disclosed, although functional, presents some difficulties for a hand held tool. In particular, the size and arrangement of the particular cam embodiment as shown in
Correspondingly,
As most clearly shown in
As also shown in
The gear train 207 may be implemented with spur, helical, bevel and/or planetary gears to optimize arrangements and the final gear ratio. The clutch 206 is similar in functionality to the clutch taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,023. The important functionality of the clutch 206 is that the input shaft of the gear train 207 is free to drive the output shaft (which ultimately rotates the threaded shaft 201) in both directions, but when the input shaft is stationary, the output shaft is restrained from back driving the input shaft. Thus, the clutch 206 precludes back driving of the motor 205, and the drive spring 203 can be maintained in the compressed configuration. By allowing the drive spring 203 to be maintained compressed, the clutch 206 further allows clearing of any jams that may occur in the fastener driving device 150.
It should be noted that in the assembly view of
The fastener driving device 150 further includes a contact trip 225, and a trigger 226, which are used as inputs by the user for operating the fastener driving device 150, and a controller 229 that is adapted to electronically control the operation of the fastener driving device 150 in response to the inputs of the user. Of course, it can be appreciated that the controller 229 is merely schematically shown. In the preferred embodiment, the controller 229 may be implemented with an electronic processor, relays, and/or power MOSFETs and switches on a circuit board, the processor receiving electrical signals from the contract trip 225, a trigger 226, position sensors 222, 223 and 24, and optionally, the mode switch 228, to appropriately control the operation of the fastener driving device 150, including the compression and release of the drive spring 203. In this regard, the mode switch 228 allows the user to select the manner in which the fastener driving device 150 is to be used, for instance, in a sequential mode, bump fire mode, and for installation or release of the battery 221, these modes being also explained in further detail below.
Referring to
In particular, in the illustrated implementation, the coupler mechanism 160 is implemented with a latch 214 that serves as a movable element that engages the carrier 204 to the nut 212 so that the carrier 204 and the driver 210 are lifted through the return stroke when the threaded shaft 201 is rotated in a return direction. As used herein, the “return direction” refers to the direction in which the threaded shaft 201 must be rotated in order for the nut 212 move on the threaded shaft 201 so as to move the carrier 204 through the return stroke in which the drive spring 203 is compressed. Of course, the actual rotation direction (such as clockwise or counter-clockwise) is dependent on the direction of the screw helix provided on the threaded shaft 201, and thus, can differ depending on the threaded shaft 201.
The carrier 204 houses the latch 214 as most clearly shown in the assembly view of
The frictional loads on the nut 212 and biasing force of the return spring 202 are such that nut 212 spins on the threaded shaft 201 toward the carrier 204 if the carrier 204 is not engaged to the nut holder 211, even when the threaded shaft 201 is rotated in an opposite direction, i.e. in the return direction that would otherwise cause the nut to move through a return stroke if the nut 212 did not spin. In other words, the fit of the nut 212 on the threaded shaft 201 is preferably implemented such that the nut 212 is free to back drive itself. That is, the nut 212 will spin and translate down the threaded shaft 201 according to the helix angle of the threaded shaft 201, i.e. in the direction of the drive stroke. Of course, gravity may contribute to the movement of the nut 212 down the threaded shaft 201 towards the carrier 204. However, gravity is not relied upon to move the nut 212. Instead, the return spring 202 is implemented to sufficiently bias the nut assembly toward the carrier 204 and the home position.
The carrier 204 acts as a down stop for the nut assembly. To raise the carrier 204 and compress the spring 215, the latch 214 is positioned such that the hook 214A of the latch 214 engages the edge of the nut holder 211. If the threaded shaft 201 is rotated in the return direction, and there is sufficient rotational friction on the nut 212 (such as when the nut holder 211 is engaged by the carrier 204), the nut 212 linearly translates upwardly along the threaded shaft 201 sufficiently to allow the hook 214A to engage the latch dog 211A of the nut holder 211, stopping its rotation. The rotational torque of the threaded shaft 201 on the nut 212 also acts to torque the carrier 204 through the latch 214. Thus, a guide 204A on the carrier 204 engages with corresponding guide slots 218A provided on the housing 218 to resist the applied torque and prevent rotation of the cater 204, in effect, limiting the movement of the carrier 204 to the drive stroke and return stroke directions.
As explained, when the nut 212 is precluded from rotating on the threaded shaft 201 and the threaded shaft 201 is rotated in the return direction, the nut 212 linearly translates upwardly along the screw axis of the threaded shaft 201. Since the latch hook 214A is positioned over the edge of the nut holder 211, the latch 214 engages with the nut 212 as it translates upwardly toward the gear train 207. The latch 214 is engaged with the carrier 204 so the carrier 204 also moves upwardly with the nut 212 in the return stroke. The lifting of the carrier 204 compresses the drive spring 203 to store the required energy therein to drive a fastener, and also compresses the return spring 202 that back drives the nut 212 and the nut holder 211 toward engagement with the carrier 204. The torque required to lift the carrier 204 and compress the springs 202 and 203 is a function of various parameters including the spring rates, threaded shaft 201, and nut 212 efficiency, and other mechanical and frictional losses.
The controller 229 that controls the motor 205, and thus, controls the position of the carrier 204, operates the motor 205 so that the carrier 204 is lifted to a pre-compressed position shown in
Further moving the carrier 204 in the return stroke direction by operation of the motor 205 causes the driver 210 to be sufficiently displaced so that the head 156 of the fastener 154 is received underneath the driver 210 so that it can be driven into a workpiece. Completion of the return stroke by the carrier 204 causes the latch 214 to contact a release ramp 208A of the top seat 208, which in the illustrated implementation, is mounted to the housing 218. This results in the latch hook 214A being pushed off the edge of the nut holder 211 as shown in the release position of
Because the drive spring 203 stores substantial amount of energy, the carrier 204 is instantly displaced through the drive stroke, much faster than the nut 212 and the nut holder 211. Thus, the nut 212 and the nut holder 211 become separated from the carrier 204, and the nut 212 and the nut holder 211 which are threadingly engaged to the threaded shaft 201 are left behind. Simultaneously, once the nut holder 211 (and thus, the nut 212) is disengaged from the latch 214 (and thus, the carrier 204), the nut 212 is again free to rotate down the threaded shaft 201. The free rotation of the nut 212 allows the energy stored in the return spring 202 to back drive the nut 212 and the nut holder 211 toward the carrier 204 to the home position shown in
When the carrier 204 engages the bumper 209 after a drive stroke, large accelerations are imparted to the latch 214. It has been found to be preferable to have the center of gravity of the latch 214 located near, or at, its pivot point to preclude violent pivoting motion of the latch 214. Ideally it is preferred that the biasing force of the latch spring(s) 215 is sufficient so that the latch 214 is always biased towards engaging the nut holder 211 to thereby minimize the time required for the re-engagement of the carrier 204 to the nut 212. In addition, the clearance between the bottom of the latch hook 214A and the edge of the nut holder 211 when the nut 212 is stopped against the carrier 204 is important in order to correctly account for the relative motions of the parts after a drive stroke.
It should be noted that the threaded shaft 201 of the illustrated implementation would likely still be rotating to lift the nut 212 at the release position when the carrier 204 is released for the drive stroke. Thus, in such an implementation, the nut 212 has to spin in the opposite direction, and rotate at a much faster rate of speed than the threaded shaft 201, in order to back drive toward the carrier 204. In this regard, using a high pitch threaded shaft 201 and nut 212 allows the nut 212 to be moved easily along the axis of the threaded shaft 201 by applying a force parallel to the axis of the threaded shaft 201, for example, via the return spring 202. Thus, when such a force is applied, the nut 212 self rotates due to the high slope of the threaded shaft 201. The high rise/run ratio greatly reduces friction along, the axis of the threaded shaft 201, thereby facilitating self rotation of the nut 212. Correspondingly, by applying an axial force on the nut 212 via the return spring 202, the nut 212 can be moved toward the carrier virtually independent of the threaded shaft 201 rotation.
In the above regard, threaded shaft 201 of the illustrated embodiment may be implemented with a multiple start, hi-helix lead screw, for example, having a 7/16″ diameter with a 1.0″ lead. The multiple starts allow for higher load capacity with smaller diameter shafts. The hi-helix allows the nut 212 to be back driven very quickly as described. The threaded shaft 201 is preferably made from steel but can be formed from aluminum or other lightweight materials to reduce weight. The material combinations of the nut 212 and threaded shaft 201 can also be selected to achieve the best combination of efficiency, wear and load carrying capacity based on tool requirements, although use of a durable plastic nut has been found to be especially cost effective while providing adequate performance. Such threaded shafts and nuts are available from various manufacturers including Roton Products of Kirkwood, Mo., U.S.A. Of course, as previously noted, other rotary-to-linear motion converting mechanisms may be used instead in other embodiments.
The threaded shaft 201 and the coupler mechanism 160 implementation shown is advantageous with respect to the tool weight and mechanical arrangements, thus, allowing for a more desirable handheld tool. As mentioned above and most clearly shown in
Unlike other fastener driving devices (chemical or mechanical flywheel type), the spring driven tool in accordance with the present invention always has stored energy in the drive mechanism by the virtue of the spring preload compression of the drive spring 203 when the fastener driving device 150 is in the home position shown in
In particular, an important performance feature of a fastener driving device is being able to initiate the drive stroke very quickly in a sequential mode of operating the fastener driving device. The inputs a user has to control the nailing operation are through the contact trip 225 and the trigger 226. Typically, in the sequential mode, the contact trip 225 is placed on the workpiece at the location where the fastener is to be driven, and the user squeezes the trigger 226 to initiate driving of the fasteners. By providing the pre-compression position, such rapid initiation of the drive stroke can be attained by the fastener driving device 150. Furthermore, another challenge for fastener driving devices is in providing the capability to bump actuate the tool where users hold the trigger 226 on, and then depress the contact trip 225 on the workpiece to initiate a nail drive, which is referred to as “bump actuation” or bump fire. Bump actuation requires the mechanism of the tool to initiate the drive sequence in less than approximately 70 msec. as previously explained.
Pneumatic tools have no trouble meeting this requirement and have initiation times of around 20 or 30 msec. However, chemically actuated (combustion) tool designs such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,280, No. 6,886,730 and the like, have not yet practically proven the ability to inject fuel into the drive chamber, mix it with air, and ignite it in less than 70 msec. Mechanical flywheel type fastener driving devices can meet the 70 msec. threshold by maintaining a constant flywheel rotational speed (revolutions per minute). For example, U.S. patent application US20050218184(A1) maintains a constant flywheel speed. However, continuously driving the flywheel is inefficient and requires higher capacity batteries or lower number of cycles per battery charge in cordless implementations. The flywheel type fastener driving devices could also achieve a 70 msec. drive initiation time by employing a large enough motor and battery to achieve a maximum 70 msec. flywheel spin up time. Unfortunately, present technology and economy of motors and batteries do not support a commercially viable handheld, flywheel based, cordless fastener driving device design that can spin up the flywheel from rest to the required rpm in 70 msec. or less.
Thus, in order to meet this 70 msec. requirement with acceptable motor and battery sizes for a commercially viable cordless handheld fastener driving device, the fastener driving device 150 in accordance with the preferred embodiment is implemented to provide a pre-compressed position (i.e. pre-drive position) where the return stroke is nearly completed as described above, i.e. the drive spring 203 is pre-compressed to at least 70% of compression required for a full drive stroke. In an embodiment, the drive spring 203 may be pre-compressed to between about 70% and about 90% of compression required for a full drive stroke.
As noted above with respect to
The threaded shaft 201, the nut 212 and the return spring 202 can be implemented to return the nut 212 toward the carrier 204 with sufficient speed that the latch 214 can potentially “catch” the carrier 204 if it bounces off the bumper 209 after completion of the drive stroke. Typical return times of 20 to 40 msec. have been attained for the nut 212 to return the home position along the threaded shaft 201 with the threaded shaft 201 being driven in the return direction. In other words, in certain implementations, the carrier 204 may rebound off of the bumper 209 after the drive stroke so as to slightly re-compress the drive spring 203. The coupler mechanism 160 can be implemented to re-engage the carrier 204 during this rebound. This re-captures a portion of the energy released by the drive spring 203 in driving the nail which was unused, thereby increasing overall efficiency of the fastener driving device 150. This energy recapture advantage is not possible with fastener driving devices that utilize compressed air, a flywheel or combustion for drive energy.
Of course, the above described embodiments and implementations of the coupler mechanism 160 for compressing the drive spring 203 is provided merely as an example. In this regard, the engagement and disengagement of the carrier 204 from the nut 212 is not limited to the embodiment shown, and other alternative implementations may be utilized. For instance, the above described embodiment of
Furthermore, still other implementations of the fastener driving device, various mechanisms may be used for the threaded shaft. For example, a lead screw could be used for the threaded shaft, or a ball screw used for a threaded shaft, together with a nut. The practical efficiency of a ball screw is approximately 90% whereas the theoretical efficiency of a steel hi-lead screw and plastic nut combination is 69%. However, ball screws are much more costly compared with the lead screw and nut combination described, and also have practical lead limitation of approximately 0.5″ lead for a 0.50″ diameter screw, which would increase the return the time of the nut by more than twice the required time when the added mass of the nut is considered. Correspondingly, lead screws have been found to be preferred for use as the threaded shaft. Of course, still other implementations of the fastener driving device may use other mechanisms, such as cables, to move the driver through the return stroke.
In addition to the packaging advantages that is realized by using a threaded shaft 201 that is positioned within the drive spring 203, other advantages can be realized for the fastener driving device 150 by the virtue of using the threaded shaft 201 itself. In particular, because the threaded shaft 201 is made of metal such as steel, it is rigid and strong. Correspondingly, the threaded shaft 201 itself can be used as the primary structural element of the fastener driving device 150, and be used to resist the load of the drive spring 203 under compression as well as to withstand the impact forces after completion of the drive stroke. The threaded shaft 201 can serve as the structural element on which the housing 218 of the fastener driving device 150 is supported. The threaded shaft 201 can be mounted with thrust and journal bearings at both ends, and may further be preloaded in other embodiments, for example, using springs. In the described implementation where the threaded shaft 201 functions as the primary load bearing member, the housing 218 need not be structurally robust to carry all of the force of the drive spring 203 and impact loads, but may be implemented as substantially a floating shell that carries only a small portion of the impact loads. This implementation further allows enhanced attenuation of the impact loads as well by serving as a shock absorbing mount for various components including the motor 204, the gear train 207, the controller 229, and the battery 221.
As can also be seen in
Of course, in other less preferred embodiments, the motor may be mounted perpendicular to the driver and parallel to the handle. However, this may require the motor to be mounted in the handle which has been found to limit the size of the handle and/or motor. In addition, in such an arrangement, the center of gravity of the tool may be impacted if the motor is mounted below the handle, the center of gravity very close to the trigger being optimal. Moreover, if the motor is mounted perpendicular to the driver and the handle, the motor's armature inertial forces would be in the nail drive direction which influences the fastener driving tool's motion during recoil, and thus, negatively impact drive quality. Such an arrangement has also been found to increase the width of the fastener driving tool, thereby degrading the line of sight from behind the tool to the nail exit point.
The primary disadvantage of mounting the motor 205 of the fastener driving device 150 to be parallel to the drive axis in which the carrier 204 and the driver 210 move through the drive stroke is that the motor 205 and its components such as an armature may be subjected to the shock loads parallel to its axis. In this regard, in the preferred implementation of the present invention, the motor 205 is shock mounted as explained in detail below relative to the embodiment shown in
Of course, the above described embodiments of the fastener driving device 150 in accordance with the present invention are merely provided as illustrative examples. Additional features may also be provided in such embodiments. For example, LED lights or a laser that points to where the fastener will exit the nose may be provided to facilitate use of the fastener driving device. A belt book or other features may be provided to facilitate handling of the fastener driving device. In addition, a fastener jam release mechanism and/or a fastener penetration depth adjustment mechanism may also be provided.
An exemplary function and operation of the cordless implementation of the fastener driving device 150 as shown and described above relative to
As previously noted, the controller 229 is preferably implemented with an electronic processor that receives electrical signals from the contract trip 225, trigger 226, position sensors 222, 223 and 224, and optionally, the mode switch 228, to control the operation of the fastener driving device 150, including in a sequential mode, bump fire mode, and battery release mode. The controller 229 is also preferably implemented with timers that measure the time duration of certain sequence of actions to occur, and places time limits on certain actions so that if one or more time limits are exceeded, a fault is triggered or other appropriate action is taken by the controller 229.
In the above regard,
As can be seen in the flow diagram 251, the initial step of the operational logic includes confirming that a battery is connected in step 253 for powering the fastener driving device. The controller 229 then checks to see if the driver is at the home position in step 254. This is attained by checking to see if the carrier to which the driver is affixed is at the appropriate position using the sensor 222 as previously described. If the driver is not at the home position, the motor is pulsed in the reverse direction in step 255 (opposite to the return direction in which the drive spring is compressed) so that the driver returns to the home position. The controller 229 monitors the time duration of the pulsing of the motor in the reverse direction in step 256 to ensure that it does not exceed 2 seconds. If the driver does not return to the home position within two seconds of reversing the motor, the motor is turned off and an error LED is flashed in step 257 to indicate that there may be a jam that needs to be cleared, or other operation fault that needs to be addressed.
If the driver is determined to be at the home position within the 2 seconds at step 258, or the driver was initially determined to be at the home position in step 254, the controller 229 checks the position of the mode switch in step 259. If the mode switch is in the battery position, then the operational logic reverts back to checking the position of the driver in step 254 as shown. If the mode switch is determined to be in the bump or sequential operation positions, the controller 229 is implemented to wait for the contact trip or the trigger switch inputs in step 260. If no such inputs are received, the controller 229 reverts again to checking the mode switch in step 259 to determine if the mode switch has moved and an alternate mode has been selected.
If inputs from the contact trip or the trigger switch are received in step 260, the motor is turned into forward direction (return stroke direction) and time is monitored in step 261. In step 262, the controller 229 determines whether the driver has moved through its return stroke within the 500 millisecond time limitation, at least to the pre-compressed position. If this time limit was not satisfied, the operational logic reverts to check if the driver is at the home position in step 254 as shown. If the driver did not exceed the 500 millisecond limit, the motor is stopped, and a load timer is reset and again started in step 263.
The load timer is then monitored in step 264 to determine whether a maximum 60 second limit for the load timer is exceeded. If the 60 second limit is exceeded, the operational sequence is reset to determine if the driver is at the home position in step 254 as shown. If the maximum load timer limit of 60 seconds was not exceeded, the controller 229 determines whether the mode switch is in the battery release mode, sequential mode, or the bump mode in step 265. If the mode switch is in the battery release mode, the operational sequence is again reset to check if the driver is at the home position in step 254.
If the mode switch is in the sequential firing mode, the controller 229 monitors for input from the contract trip in step 266. If no input signal is provided by the contact trip, then the operational sequence is looped again to check the load timer in step 264. If input signal from the contact trip is determined to be present in step 266, then the controller 229 checks for input from the trigger switch in step 267. If no such input is detected, then the operational sequence is looped to check the load timer in step 264. If the input signal from the trigger switch is detected, then the motor is operated in the forward direction (direction of the return stroke), and the forward run timer is reset and started in step 268.
Then, the controller 229 checks to determine whether the driver is in the home position and whether it reached the home position in more than 500 milliseconds in step 269. If the maximum time of 500 milliseconds was exceeded, then the operational sequence is reset to check if the driver is at the home position in step 254. If the driver did reach the home position in less than the maximum 500 millisecond time, then the operational sequence is looped to check the forward run timer to determine whether the driver returned to the pre-compressed position in step 262.
If the mode switch was determined to be in the bump mode in step 265, the controller 229 monitors for input from the trigger and the trip switch in step 270. If these inputs are not provided, the operational sequence is looped to check whether the load timer reached the maximum 60 second limit in step 264. If the trigger and trip switch inputs are detected in step 270, the motor is turned forward, and the forward run timer is reset and started in step 271. In addition, the time duration for the driver to reach home position is monitored in step 272 to determine whether the driver reaches the home position by the 500 millisecond limit. If this time limitation is exceed, then the operational sequence is reset to check if the driver is at the home position in step 254. If the time limitation is satisfied, then the controller 229 monitors the forward run timer to determine whether the driver completes the return stroke by 500 milliseconds in step 262. Again, the above described operational sequence is merely provided as one example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The controller 229 may be implemented differently to utilize different operational logic in other embodiments.
Thus, in the present embodiment of the coupler mechanism 300, the drive spring 308 is held in a carrier 310 that is movable along the axis of the drive spring 308, the threaded shaft 307 and nut 302 being arranged parallel to the axis of the drive spring 308. The threaded shaft 307 passes through a screw bore 312 in the carrier 310 as shown in FIG. 14. A radial nut pocket 314 is arranged around the threaded shaft bore 312 to stop the rotation of the nut 302. In this regard, the nut 302 is provided with radially positioned lugs 302A that mate with the nut pocket 314 as shown in
As shown in
The fastener driving device 400 is also provided with a coupler mechanism 440 including a carrier 442 that can be moved through a return stroke by the rotation of the threaded shaft 401 in order to compress the drive spring 403 to store energy therein. In addition, the coupler mechanism 440 further allows the carrier 442 to move through a drive stroke to release the energy stored in the compressed drive spring 403. The details and operation of the coupler mechanism 440 is described in further detail below.
The fastener driving device 400 is further provided with a controller 429, and position sensors 422 and 424 for sensing the position of the carrier 442. The controller 429 functions to receive input signals from the contact trip 495, the trigger 426, and the mode selector switch (not shown) to operate the fastener driving device 400 in the manner desired by the user. For clarity purposes,
As shown in
Correspondingly, as shown in
The upper spring seat 430 and the lower spring seat 432 may be implemented using various materials. However, the upper and lower spring seats 430 and 432 are preferably implemented so that under compression, the seats match the load being applied thru the drive spring 403, and resiliently deform therewith along the line of action of the drive spring 403. Correspondingly, the elastic deformation characteristics of the spring seats are important. In this regard, Microcelluar Urethane (MCU) which is manufactured by, and available from, BASF of Florham Park, N.J., U.S.A., has been found to be a desirable material for manufacturing of the spring seats. MCU is lightweight, sufficiently stiff, durable and highly compressible, but does not exhibit excessive outward “bulge” when compressed. Of course, different materials may be utilized in other embodiments.
Referring again to
Thus, the bumper 409 is implemented to be sufficiently compressible so that upon compression by the carrier 442, the driver 410 extends out of the nose 419, the amount of extension being based on the degree to which the bumper 409 is compressed by the carrier 442. Thus, described implementation of the bumper 409 provides a dynamic driver extension which does not impact the tool height. Whereas the bumper 409 may be made of any appropriate material including conventional rubber and urethane, such materials are limited in the amount of the compression they can provide while still being durable enough to provide adequate tool life. Correspondingly, the MCU material previously described for use in the spring seats can be also advantageously be used for the bumper 409. The MCU material can be dynamically compressed a large amount without effecting durability, and without causing other issues such as excessive bulging that other materials may exhibit.
The gear train 404 of the illustrated embodiment is implemented with three reduction stages. As shown in
The gear train 404 includes retaining shim 452 with springs 453 that bias the clutch 406 (and the motor 405) in the direction away from the end cap 414 in the manner further described below. The gear train 404 further includes a first set of planetary gears 456 that engage a sun gear 458 mounted on a carrier 460, the first set of planetary gears 456 engaged with a ring gear 464 and the sun gear 458 defining the second reduction stage. The carrier 460 includes a second set of planetary gears 462 mounted opposite the sun gear 458, the second set of planetary gears 462 engaging the internal gear 464 provided on the interior of the housing 466. The second set of planetary gears 462 and the ring gear 464 define the first reduction stage. As can also be seen in
As can be appreciated, the clutch 406 is disposed between the second and third gear reduction stages. Placing the clutch 406 in this position reduces the torque applied to the clutch 406 by the final gear reduction amount, thereby allowing a lighter and less expensive clutch 406 to be used. In addition, such positioning further reduces the backlash resulting from the first two gear reduction stages, thereby allowing more accurate control in the positioning of the carrier 442, such control being especially important for attaining the pre-compressed position. The clutch 406 and the first and second reduction stages are implemented together so as to prevent relative movement thereby enhancing shock suppression. The first and second reduction stages are mounted to the motor 405 by virtue of the housing 466 being mounted to the motor 405 by motor mount 470. Fixing the first and second gear reduction stages to the motor 405 eliminates any potential accelerated gear wear between the motor pinion and the various planetary gears.
Of course, during operation of the fastener driving tool 400, there are impact forces exerted in the fastener driving device 400, and corresponding shock is transmitted there through, especially in the axial direction parallel to the drive stroke direction of the carrier 442. These impact forces can cause undue stress on the motor 405, the clutch 406, and the gear train 404. Thus, in accordance with the illustrated implementation, the motor 405, the clutch 406, and most of the components of the gear train 404, are shock mounted in this axial direction so that these components are essentially de-coupled and floating in the axial direction.
In particular, as can be appreciated by close examination of
The clutch 1406 further includes a drive planet carrier member 1412. The anvil member 1406 is rotatably mounted to the drive planet carrier member 1412. The drive arm planet carrier member 1412 includes a set of planetary gears 1414. In the embodiment depicted in
The clutch 1406 further includes a plurality of breaking pads 1420. Each of the plurality of breaking pads 1420 is disposed in a recess space between a tooth 1410 of the anvil member 1408 and a drive arm 1416 of drive planet carrier member 1412. The plurality of breaking pads 1420 are sandwiched between an internal surface of the housing 1407 and a cam surface 1411 of the anvil member 1408. In this embodiment, three breaking pads are provided. However, any suitable number of breaking pads 1420 can be provided. For example, the number of breaking pads 1420 can be equal to the number of drive arms 1416.
Each of the plurality of breaking pads 1420 has a plurality of lateral surfaces (which are normal to the cross-sectional views shown in
In operation, when the clutch 1406 is transmitting torque in the forward direction, as depicted in
When the motor reverses direction, the drive arm 1416 of the planet carrier member 1412 has to travel a distance before reaching or hitting the breaking pad 1420. The drive arm 1416 of the drive planet carrier 1412 pushes directly on the break pad 1420. The face of the drive arm 1416 in contact with the breaking pad 1420 is angled such that the drive arm 1416 forces the breaking pad 1420 to tilt in the opposite direction so that the surface 1420C2 comes in contact with the cam surface 1411 of the anvil member 1408, thereby unlocking it.
When the motor reverses direction, if the anvil member 1408 is back driven faster than the planet carrier member 1412 and contacts the break pad 1420, the interaction of the lateral surface 1420C2 with the cam surface 1411 of the anvil member 1408 is such that no binding will occur, as depicted in
This configuration of the breaking pads 1420 described above can prevent the breaking pads from rotating out of plane and the multiple surfaces on the break pad 1420 allows the clutch 1406 to be optimized for locking in one direction only when compared to clutch designs that are similar to what is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,023. As a result issues relating to binding, slipping as well as potential bearing failure can be greatly reduced. The bearing area of the breaking pad 1420 on the housing 1407, between the surface of 1420H of the pad 1420 and the interior surface 1407S of the housing 1407, is greatly increased. Consequently, the material of the housing 1407 can be selected from a material with less durable characteristics as compared to the material of the anvil member 1408. This may provide cost savings as the housing 1407 is a large part of the whole drive system.
The use of breaking pads 1420 does not provide the rolling feature as in conventional rollers. As a result, there may be some friction between the lateral surface 1420H and the surface 1407S of the housing 1407 and some friction between the lateral surfaces 1420C1 and 1420C2 and the cam surface 1411. However, the impact of friction can be reduced or minimized by locating the clutch 1406 in the power train where the speed of the clutch 1406 is lower than the rotation speed of the motor. Also, a small amount of friction is desirable between the break pad 1420 and the housing 1407 to preclude the surface 1420A from moving with the tooth face of the anvil 1408 when the anvil 1408 is back driven.
The coupler mechanism 440 for engaging (i.e. coupling) and disengaging (i.e. decoupling) the carrier 442 to the nut 480 in the illustrated embodiment includes a release collar 500, a retaining ring 505, a collar spring 510, an element housing 516, a lockout sleeve 522, a drum cam 530, a lockout sleeve spring 540, and at least one movable element which in the present embodiment, is implemented as a plurality of pins 506. In essence, the coupler mechanism is implemented with the plurality of pins 506 which move radially inwardly to engage the nut 480, thereby connecting the carrier 442 to the nut 480 so that the carrier 442 can be moved through the return stroke upon rotation of the threaded shaft 401 in the return direction. Upon completion of the return stroke, the plurality of pins 506 are retracted radially outwardly in the release position to thereby disengage from the nut 480, and releasing the carrier 442 so that it is moved through the drive stroke. As can be appreciated from examination of
As shown, the carrier 442 of the illustrated embodiment is also provided with a guide 444 that slides within a guide channel (not shown) of the housing 418 to prevent rotation thereof as described relative to the previous embodiment. In addition, the carrier 442 is also provided with an attachment block 445 which can be used to attach a flag 447 (or other device) to allow the sensors 422 and 424 to detect positioning of the carrier 442. A safety block 446 may also be provided which can be engaged by optional safety interlock mechanism that may be connected to the contact trip 425 or the trigger 426 to prevent unintentional displacement of the carrier 442.
The various components of the coupler mechanism including the release collar 500, a collar spring 510, a element housing 516, a lockout sleeve 522, a drum cam 530, and a lockout sleeve spring 540 function together to enable the radial inward and radial outward movement of the plurality of pins 506 at various operational positions of the carrier 442 and the nut 480. The details and operations of these components are described in further detail below in reference to
The release collar 500 is positioned within the carrier 449, and functions to move the plurality of pins 506 radially inwardly to its locked position and allows movement outwardly to its release position. The element housing 516 is coaxially nested in the release collar 500, and the plurality of pins 506 are slidably received in holes 518 of the element housing 516. In this regard, the pins 506 and the holes 518 are implemented and dimensioned so that the pins 506 naturally retract out of the holes 518 in a radially outward direction. In this regard, the pins 506 are pushed radially outwardly by a small force that acts in the radial direction so that the pins quickly retract when the release collar 500 is in the release position. In the embodiment shown, the pins 506 are provided with tapered ends, the angle of which is selected to ensure that the force to release the collar 500 is sufficiently low, but to prevent unintentional release of the collar 500. The pins 506 are also made to be light weight so that a small radial loading will cause the pins 506 to retract radially outwardly, and also to minimize the weight of the coupler mechanism 440 to thereby maximize the driver mass/tool mass ratio as previously explained. It is further noted that use of pins is preferred over an embodiment in which balls are used as explained herein below relative to
As shown most clearly in
The release collar 500 is further provided with axially extending flanges 501 that contact the upper spring seat 430 when the carrier 442 has been moved substantially through its return stroke so that the coupler mechanism 440 is in the release position. In the release position, the carrier 442 is disengaged from the nut 480, and is immediately moved through the drive stroke. This operational aspect of the coupler mechanism 440 is described in further detail below relative to
As also shown in
The features of the nut 480, the lockout sleeve 522, and the drum cam 530, and the interconnection between these components, are more clearly shown in the various views of
Thus, the fastener driving device 400 of the illustrated embodiment allows the drive spring 403 to be expanded and the carrier 442 to contact the bumper 409 so that the drive spring 403 can do no work, this feature being important for enhancing safety and durability of the fastener driving device 400. In particular, the controller 429 can be implemented to monitor duration of the time in which the fastener driving device 400 is in the pre-compressed state, and if this time duration exceeds a predetermined amount which suggests that the user is no longer actively using the device, the motor 405 can be driven in the reverse direction so as to position the carrier 442 and the driver 410 in the home position thereby reducing the likelihood that a fastener would be driven unintentionally when the user resumes use of the fastener driving device 400. In addition, by releasing the stored energy of the drive spring 403, the durability of the drive spring 403 can be improved since the drive spring 403 would not be subjected to the stress and strain of the pre-compressed position for extended duration.
As shown in
As can be seen in
It should also be noted that in contrast to the prior embodiment in which three sensors were used to detect the position of the carrier, including the release position, the fastener driving device 400 is implemented with only sensors for detection of the carrier 442 at the home, and pre-compressed positions, the release position being presumed to be reached upon further rotation of the threaded shaft 401 in the return direction even after carrier 442 is detected to be at the pre-compressed position.
As can be seen most clearly in
As most clearly shown in
When the carrier 604 is in the release position, the axially extending flanges 613 of the release collar 605 contacts an upper spring seat (not shown) thereby displacing the release collar 605 downward relative to the element housing 616. This causes the pocket 614 of the release collar 605 to be aligned with the balls 606 so that the balls 606 retract radially outwardly into the pocket 614. In this regard, the holes 618 may be provided with a chamfer as shown, to facilitate radial outward movement of the balls 606. This allows the nut retainer 603 and the nut 602 to be disengaged from the carrier 604. Of course, as described relative to the previous embodiments, the carrier 604 is rapidly moved through a drive stroke while the nut retainer 603 and the nut 602 are back driven down the threaded shaft at a slower rate by the return spring 630.
To prevent the balls 606 from protruding radially inwardly beyond the holes 618 upon separation of the nut retainer 603 and the nut 602, the lockout sleeve 622 moves upwardly relative to the element housing 616, thereby blocking the holes 618. As the nut retainer 603 and the nut 602 are back driven into the carrier 604, the lockout sleeve 622 is displaced downwardly by the nut retainer 603 against the bias of the lockout sleeve spring 640, thereby causing the balls 606 to be moved radially inwardly to re-engage the carrier 604 to the flange 603A of the nut retainer 603, stopping the rotation of the nut 602, and allowing the carrier 604 to be moved through the return stroke. Upon re-engagement of the carrier 604 to the nut retainer 603, the carrier 604 can be moved through the return stroke, and the above described operation can be repeated. In addition, as can also be seen in
Of course, the above described implementation of the coupler mechanism that utilizes balls for engaging the carrier to the nut is merely one example. The coupler mechanism may be further modified to enhance performance thereof in other implementations. In this regard,
As can be seen, the lockout sleeve 651 is provided with a plurality of sleeve latches 652 that engage a groove 664 provided in the interior of the element housing 661. Each sleeve latch 652 is pivotably mounted by a pin 654, and biased to the engaged position shown by a resilient ring 656. In the position shown, the lockout sleeve 651 blocks the holes 662 so as to prevent the balls (not shown) from unintentionally moving radially inward when the nut is separated from the carrier during the drive stroke. By implementing such sleeve latches 652, relative axial movement between the lockout sleeve 651 and the element housing 661 is prevented, even when the carrier is subjected to very high impact forces. Thus, the proper positioning of the lockout sleeve 651 can be ensured at the completion of the drive stroke when the carrier impacts against the bumper of the fastener driving tool.
The sleeve latches 652 are retracted when the nut 670 contacts the sleeve latches 652 as the nut 670 is back driven and received in the lockout sleeve 651. This contact causes sleeve latches 652 to pivot about the pins 654, thereby disengaging the sleeve latches 652 from the groove 664 of the element housing 661, and allowing relative axial movement between the lockout sleeve 651 and the element housing 661. The lockout sleeve 651 is moved further down into the element housing 661 as the nut 670 is further back driven, uncovering the holes 662 and allowing the balls to move radially inwardly to thereby engage the flange 672 of the nut 670 when the flange 672 moves past the holes 662. Thus, the carrier can then be moved in a return stroke and the operation repeated.
In this regard,
As the nut 670 is back driven and contacts the sleeve latches 682, the sleeve latches 682 are retracted to the configuration shown in
During re-engagement of the embodiments of the coupler mechanism described above, the threaded shaft 401 may rotate at speeds greater than 600 rpm. Engaging the threaded shaft nut with any fixed mechanism may be difficult due to the fact that any drag/torque applied to the threaded shaft nut may result in the nut being pulled away from the coupled mechanism it is engaging with.
During primary engagement, the free nut 2014 is biased towards the retaining cap 2012, as shown in
When the nut assembly 3010 is fully inserted into the pin housing 3024, the rotational motion of the fixed nut 3016 may be constrained in the following manner. First, the free cap 3012 is prevented from being rotated by the steep rise of the cam surface 3025 on the pin housing 3024, and the fixed cap 3013 is constrained from rotating by ratchet teeth 3028 between the caps 3012, 3013. The fixed cap 3013 is held fixed to the fixed nut 3016 by the small magnets 3020 that are used to bias the free nut 3014 towards the fixed cap 3013.
Once the rotation of the fixed nut 3016 is constrained, and while the threaded shaft 401 is rotating, the fixed nut 3016 will move axially against the return spring 416, thereby causing the ratchet teeth 3022 (see
The fixed circumferential design may be used for better control of the engagement of the ratchet teeth 3022 between the fixed nut 3016 and the free nut 3014, as the teeth 3022A, 3022B bear the full load of compressing the drive spring 403, so that there is not a partial meshing of the teeth 3022A, 3022B. This may allow for lower contact stresses which may allow for and lower strength materials to be used for teeth 3022A, 3022B. The design may also allow for lighter parts, because the magnetic engagement may be removed. Lighter parts may allow the fastener driving device to be more efficient, because the return spring energy, which is not used to drive the fastener, may be lower for a fixed engagement time. By creating a nut assembly, as described above, that allows for free rotation of the features/parts that engage with the fixed part of the coupler mechanism, the rotating nut assembly may engage the fixed part without having to counter the lifting force of the threaded shaft. After the nut assembly is coupled to the fixed part, the nut assembly may then transfer load to the threaded shaft and allow the carrier to lift.
It should be apparent from the above discussions relative to
In addition, in the preferred implementation, the coupler mechanism can be operated to re-engage the carrier to the threaded shaft any point of the drive stroke, for example, to restrain stored energy to facilitate clearing a jam or to recapture drive energy, as previously explained. Of course, upon engagement, the coupler mechanism should be sufficiently rigid to minimize energy loss, and to restrain the stored energy. Furthermore, it should be evident that the coupler mechanism is operable to controllably decrease the stored energy or increase the stored energy to a maximum value for driving as also discussed. The above described operations should be performed reliably and robustly so that it does not unintentionally disengage due to vibration or other external influences. As also discussed, the engagement and disengagement of the coupler mechanism of the present invention is preferably attainable regardless of the rotation or speed of the threaded shaft or the motor so that they do not have to stop rotation, or reverse direction, in order to engage or disengage. In this regard, it should be evident how the present invention also allows disengagement of the coupler mechanism with minimal additional motor torque input, and minimal lost energy by, for example, minimizing moving mass, friction, and displacement of the movable members.
Referring again to
In the illustrated embodiment, the mode switch 700 is also implemented to allow partial release (i.e. partial engagement), and removal, of the battery 421 from the fastener driving device 400. As explained herein below, partial release of the battery 421 is distinguished from the removal of the battery 421 in the illustrated embodiment in that the battery 421 is partially engaged to the fastener driving device 400, and requires further movement of the battery 421 by the user to overcome the partially engaged latch in order to fully remove the battery from the fastener driving device 400. In particular, upon moving the mode switch 700 to the battery position shown in
As explained in detail below, the fastener driving device 400 is also preferably implemented so that the battery 421 is electrically connected to the fastener driving device 400 to provide electrical power to the controller 429 and the motor 405 when the battery 421 is in the partially engaged position shown in
From the partially engaged position shown in
Referring to
When the mode switch 700 is moved to the battery position shown in
As previously noted, in the partially engaged position shown in
In this regard, the controller 429 can be implemented to not only monitor the duration of the time in which the fastener driving device 400 is in the pre-compressed state as previously described, but can also monitor the position of the mode switch 700 so that if it is moved to the battery position which suggests the fastener driving device 400 may not be used for a while, the controller 429 drives the motor 405 in the reverse direction so as to position the carrier 442 and the driver 410 in the home position. As previously explained, such releasing of the energy in the drive spring 403 enhances the safety and durability of the fastener driving device 400 of the present invention.
In this regard, the latch 730 and a member 754 that is connected to the mode switch 750 interlock together when the mode switch 750 is moved to the battery position shown in
Of course, any interlocking arrangement may be used in other implementations, and the present invention is not limited thereto the specific implementation shown and described above. The primary advantage of providing an interlocking feature is that it prevents quick removal of the battery 421 upon moving the mode switch 750 to the battery position, thereby ensuring that the battery 421 is still providing power to the fastener driving device 400 so that the carrier can be moved to the home position, and the spring energy can be substantially released as previously described to enhance safety and durability of the fastener driving device 400.
Referring again to
In addition, the controller 429 in the preferred embodiment may be implemented with timers that enable the various functions of the fastener driving device 400 described above, and enhance safety of the fastener driving device 400. In this regard, a pre-compression inactivity timer may be implemented to measures how long the carrier 442 is in the pre-compression position, and has not been activated. Upon reaching a time limit, the controller 429 can reverse the motor 405 to lower the carrier 442 to the home position as previously described, and further monitor bow long it takes for the carrier 442 to reach the home position. If a predetermined time limit is exceeded, a fault condition can be indicated. The controller 429 can also be implemented to place the fastener driving device 400 in a low power-consumption sleep mode where the sensors and/or other components may be de-energized if the allowed inactivity time is exceeded. This sleep mode can also be initiated by the controller if there is low battery charge. In addition, the controller 429 may be implemented with timers to monitor the time required to recover from a sleep mode or upon insertion of the battery 421 so that an error is indicated if coupler mechanism 440 is not initially engaged within a predetermined amount of time.
Furthermore, a nail drive timer may be provided to detect a jam condition. In particular, if the carrier 442 has left the pre-compression position to drive a fastener as detected by sensor 424, but has not reached the home position in a predetermined amount of time as detected by sensor 422, a jam is presumed to have occurred by the controller 429, and optional LEDs or other display device indicating a fault can be activated to inform the user. Of course, other LEDs may be provided an used for various purposes, such as providing light to the work area around the nose 419, well as to give the user feedback on the tool condition including the noted jam, internal fault, low battery, etc.
A trigger/trip timer may also be implemented in the controller 429 to determine if the user is holding the trigger 426 or the trip 425 on while not driving a nail, or determine if either of these components are stuck in the on position which is a hazard if the fastener driving device 400 is in the bump mode. Thus, upon exceeding a predetermined time period, the controller 429 can be implemented to de-activate the fastener driving device 400, such de-activation requiring the user to reset the device by toggling the trigger 426 on and off, or other action. Moreover, the controller 429 may be implemented with timers to perform diagnostics on the operation of the fastener driving device 400. For instance, a pre-compression timer may be provided to monitor the time required for the carrier 442 to move from the home position to the pre-compression position. If this time exceeds a predetermined limit, this can indicate some malfunction in the fastener driving device 400 including slippage or non-engagement of the coupler mechanism 440, indicate problems with the battery 421, or other problems with the motor 405 and/or gear train 404.
Of course, the controller 429 may also be implemented to monitor the voltage of the battery 421, and place the fastener driving device 400 in a sleep mode if the voltage is below a predetermined limit. Moreover, the current draw of the motor 405 can be monitored to ensure that a stall condition does not exist. If the current spikes and remains at an elevated level, the operation of the motor 405 can be terminated to avoid damaging the motor 405.
As also explained, the mode switch 700 shown in
As shown in
As noted above in discussion related to
In the illustrated implementation, the interlock mechanism 840 uses the safety block 446 that is provided on the carrier 442 to prevent the carrier 442 from unintentionally completing its return stroke to initiate its drive stroke. In this regard, the interlock mechanism 840 includes a movable locking bar 850 that is biased to prevent the movement of the carrier 442 by blocking the return travel path of the safety block 446 as shown in
The length of the connecting wire 854 is such that both the trigger 426 and the trip must be actuated in order for the locking bar to be retracted sufficiently in the direction of arrow “S” against the biasing force so that return travel path of the safety block 446 is no longer impeded by the locking bar 850, and the carrier 442 can complete its return stroke to initiate its drive stroke. In this regard,
In addition, actuation of the trigger 426 causes the cam surface 856 to engage the trigger interface 852, thereby moving the trigger interface 852 in the direction of arrow “S”. The locking bar 850 is also correspondingly moved in the direction of arrow “S” since it is connected to the trigger interface 852 by the connecting wire 854. The combination of effective shortening of the length of the connecting wire 854 in the direction of arrow “S” by the trip member 860, and the lateral displacement of the trigger interface 852 (and thus, the locking bar 850), moves the locking bar 850 sufficiently in the direction “S” so that it clears the return travel path of the safety block 446 as shown in
The connecting wire 854 is dimensioned such that individual actuation of either the trigger 426 or the trip alone, is insufficient to displace the locking bar 850 to clear the return path of the safety block 446. Correspondingly, the interlock mechanism 840 can be used to prevent unintentional displacement of the carrier 442, and to require actuation of both the trigger 426 and the trip in order for the carrier 442 to complete its return stroke. As can be appreciated, the interlock mechanism 840 enhances the safety of the fastener driving device to prevent driving of a fastener if, for example, the controller malfunctions and undesirably moves the carrier 442 through the full return stroke. Moreover, this functionality can be attained using a single, light weight, and compact interlock mechanism rather than having separate mechanisms for the trigger and the trip which adds to tool weight and cost. Of course, the interlock mechanism 840 may be implemented differently in other embodiments. For instance, the carrier may be provided with a pocket that is engaged by a pivoting member that swings into the pocket to prevent movement of the carrier.
Referring to the cross sectional view of
In particular, the cross sectional view of
In addition, as can also be seen by careful examination of
It should be evident from the above that the trip 930 of the illustrated embodiment serves to guide the fastener as well since a portion of the drive channel 914 is defined by the contact surface 934 of the trip 930. However, as clearly shown in
In an embodiment, the extremity 4001A of the elongated member 4001 can be mounted to the segment 4002 while the opposite extremity 4001B is free to move. The elongated member 4001 may be spring loaded and biased to pivot around an axis R (perpendicular to the page). In an embodiment, the extremity 4001A may be rotatably mounted to the segment 4002. In this embodiment, a resilient member (not shown) can be used to apply a force on the elongated member 4001, for example, to apply a force on the extremity 4001B, to pivot the elongated member 4001 around the axis R so as to bring the opposite extremity 4001B in a recess 4004 formed in a guiding member 4005 configured to guide a lead fastener 4006L, of a plurality of fasteners 4006, within the drive track 4007. The drive track 4007 is constructed and arranged to receive the plurality of fasteners 4006 one-by-one from a magazine (not shown) so they may be driven one-by-one into a workpiece (not shown) by a driver 4008.
In an embodiment, the elongated member 4001 may include a spring portion. In this case, the extremity 4001A of the elongated member 4001 can be fixedly attached to the segment 4002 while the opposite extremity 4001B of the elongated member 4001 is allowed to pivot under a torque force exerted from the torsion of the spring portion of the elongated member 4001. In an embodiment, the elongated member 4001 may be made from a resilient material enabling the elongated member 4001 to bend when a force is applied on its extremity 4001B and to return to its initial extended configuration where no force is exerted on its extremity 4001B.
During normal operation, when the trip mechanism 4003 is depressed in contact with a workpiece (not shown), the segment 4002 of the contact trip assembly 4003 moves in the direction U as indicated in
When the contact trip assembly 4003 is not depressed, the segment 4002 of the trip assembly 4003 does not move, as depicted in
In other words, if the driver 4008 is brought to a position in which a distal end of the driver 4008 is above the head of the lead fastener 4006L, as shown in
By using the fastener lockout device 4000 according to embodiments of the invention, the head of the lead fastener 4006L will only be presented to the driver 4008 when the contact trip 4003 is depressed. Otherwise, the fastener lockout device 4000 (specifically the elongated member 4001), will keep the driver 4008 from contacting the head of the lead fastener 4006.
The fastener lockout device 4000 described above can be used in any type of fastener driving device including fastener driving devices using compressed air or gas-type, flywheel-type, chemical-type, or any other stored energy fastener driving device.
As illustrated in
The nose assembly 5014 is connected to the main body portion 5020 of the housing assembly 5012. The nose assembly 5014 defines a drive track (not shown) that is configured to receive a fastener driver. The drive track is constructed and arranged to receive fasteners from the magazine 5016 so that they may be driven, one by one, into the workpiece by the power operated system 5018, as will be discussed in further detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the power operated system 5018 includes a power source 5028, a motor, a reduction gear box connected to the motor, a lead screw or threaded shaft 5030 that is operatively connected to the motor via the gear box, a coupler mechanism, a trigger 5038, and a drive spring 5040. Details of the power operated system are set forth hereinbelow.
As shown in
With reference to
Therefore, during the drive most of the initial reaction caused by the high acceleration of the driver mass which includes the carriage 5110 and a portion of the drive spring 5100 is taken by the counter mass which includes the cap 5105 and a portion of the drive spring 5100. Therefore the frame and nose remain only slightly affected (by whatever can be transmitted thru the coupling spring 5120) until the allowed stroke of the coupling spring 5120 is reached. The end of stroke for the coupling spring 5100 is timed to occur just prior to the piston driver contacting the impact absorber or bumper 5125 (which is explained in greater detail herein below). In doing so, the lead screw 5130 is in tension when the high impact forces are transmitted to it. Because the drive is under 10 milliseconds the delay between the end of stroke of the recoil absorber and the impact of the driver into the bumper is of very short duration, on the order of 3 milliseconds. This time period is so short that the operator cannot perceive a change in motion. If a fastener were not driven the frame motion would be close to balanced because the momentum of the driver and counter mass are close to equal.
Preferably, the mass of the counter weight should be of a sufficient amount, such that the loss of energy due the energy being disbursed into the counter weight is only a small percentage of the energy released by the drive spring. This provides for an efficient use of the energy for driving the fastener. That is, during the drive stroke, energy loss occurs because the spring is accelerating two masses, namely the counter mass and the moving mass, consequently, there is movement in opposite directions, one in the direction of the drive and the other in a direction opposite the drive. The mass being moved away is using up energy according to the well known formula E=½ m v2. The lost energy may be approximated by E2=E1×M1/(M1+M2), where E2 is the energy lost to the counter weight, E1 is the available energy of the drive spring (had one end of the spring been fixed), M1 is the mass of the driver and M2 is the mass of the counter weight. Stated otherwise, the lost energy decreases as the counter weight increases with respect to the driver weight as is readily exemplified by
As can be readily appreciated from
With reference to
As most clearly shown in
Position sensors may also be provided to indicate the position of the carrier 5204. The position sensors would preferably be non-contact sensors (for example, Hall Effect sensors) triggered with a magnet in the carrier 5204. Of course, the sensors can be any appropriate type of sensors, and could also be contact type sensors in other embodiments which are mechanically toggled by the motion of the carrier 5204, optical sensors, or other sensors.
The gear train 5207 may be implemented with spur, helical, bevel and/or planetary gears to optimize arrangements and the final gear ratio. The clutch 5206 may be similar in functionality to the clutch taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,023, or any of the clutches described herein. The important functionality of the clutch 5206 is that the input shaft of the gear train 5207 is free to drive the output shaft (which ultimately rotates the threaded shaft 5201) in both directions, but when the input shaft is stationary, the output shaft is restrained from back driving the input shaft. Thus, the clutch 5206 precludes back driving of the motor 5205, and the drive spring 5203 can be maintained in the compressed configuration. By allowing the drive spring 5203 to be maintained compressed, the clutch 5206 further allows clearing of any jams that may occur in the fastener driving device 5150.
It should be noted that the threaded shaft 5201 and various components of the coupler mechanism 5160 are positioned in the drive spring 5503. In this regard, the drive spring 5203 is implemented as a coil spring, and includes a plurality of loops that encircle the longitudinal axis of the drive spring 5203, the loops defining an interior of the spring. It should be noted that the terms “axis”, “axial” and derivatives thereof are used herein in the conventional sense, cylindrical components such as the described drive spring 5203 being understood as having a central axis about which the component is centered. The positioning of the threaded shaft 5201 and various components of the coupler mechanism 5160 in the interior of the drive spring 5203 keeps the overall size of the fastener driving device 5150 small, and allows the fastener driving device 5150 to substantially resemble traditional fastening tools in shape and form. In addition, this positioning of the threaded shaft 5201 in the interior of the spring also advantageously aids in centering the compression load of the drive spring 5203 during compression of the drive spring 5203, thereby reducing overturning moments.
Not shown in
Referring further to
The threaded shaft 5201 and the coupler mechanism 5160 implementation shown is advantageous with respect to the tool weight and mechanical arrangements, thus, allowing for a more desirable handheld tool. As mentioned above and most clearly shown in
As noted hereinabove, the frame 5218 is coupled to the cap 5230 of
The coupling spring 5232, best illustrated in
As can be appreciated from a comparison of
Similar to the schematic illustration set forth in
During the drive event, most of the initial reaction caused by the high acceleration of the driver mass which includes the carriage 5204 and a portion of the drive spring 5203 is taken by the counter mass, in his case the cap 5230 which includes the gear train 5207, clutch 5206 and motor 5205 and a portion of the drive spring 5203, referred to in their totality as the counter mass. Therefore the frame 5218 and nose remain only slightly affected (by whatever can be transmitted thru the coupling spring 5232) until the allowed stroke of the coupling spring 5232 is reached. The end of stroke for the coupling spring 5232 is timed to occur just prior to the piston driver contacting the impact absorber or bumper 5209. In doing so, the treaded shaft 201 is in tension when the high impact forces are transmitted to it.
Given this construction and because the drive stroke is somewhat under 10 milliseconds, the delay between the end of drive stroke and the impact of the carrier 5204 into the bumper is of a very short duration, on the order of 3 milliseconds. This time period is so short that the operator cannot perceive a change in motion. If a fastener were not driven the frame motion would be close to balanced because the momentum of the driver and counter mass are close to equal.
While embodiments of the present invention with respect to recoil suppression are disclosed with reference to a spring driven tool, it may be possible to suppress recoil in other types of tools in a similar manner.
While various embodiments in accordance with the present invention have been shown and described, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may be changed, modified and further applied by those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the detail shown and described previously, but also includes all such changes and modifications.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/432,669, filed May 12, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,494,037, which claimed priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/680,021, filed May 12, 2005, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/806,471, Now U.S. Pat. No. 7,938,305 Ser. No. 11/806,483, and 11/806,484, all of which were filed on May 31, 2007 and claimed priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/809,345 filed May 31, 2006, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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