This invention relates generally to driving tools and, more particularly, to a magnetically operated driving tool that does not require electric energy.
Driving fasteners such as nails, rivets, or staples is one of the most important tasks a tool can accomplish. The nail-gun, more than any other tool, is responsible for the accelerating pace and profitability of house building. Recently, many “in home” and cordless versions of tools have appeared. These devices are smaller and lighter than their industrial counterparts, yet they perform the same functions.
Various devices utilizing magnetic force as a method for propulsion have been proposed in the art. Solenoids use this force directly, as do all electric motors. In both of these cases, however, at least one of the magnets is an electric magnet. Examples of devices that use electricity with magnets for propulsion can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,703 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,689.
Similarly, using magnetic force to power a nail-gun is known in the art, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,453, U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,742, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,193. However, these devices all require an electric power source. This means that they must be corded, making them cumbersome to use and reducing their mobility, or battery operated. Batteries only provide power for a limited time, are expensive, and can leak, which causes safety concerns and can potentially ruin the tools.
Other devices are known that use magnetic force for propulsion without electricity, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,609,425 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,433,452, but these devices are ill suited for driving tools. U.S. Pat. No. 3,609,425 requires driven magnets that selectively intercept the established magnetic fields and drive a reciprocating magnet to its alternate position; these driven magnets would make a hand-held driving tool bulky and cumbersome to use, and it is unclear that this device would supply sufficient instantaneous force to drive a fastener. U.S. Pat. No. 6,433,452 does not deliver a single burst of propulsion as is needed for a driving tool; instead, a rotatable balance wheel rotates continuously to maintain rotation of an output shaft.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a magnetically operated driving tool that provides sufficient instantaneous force to drive a fastener, does not require electric energy, is light, compact, and easy to use, and can be easily manufactured.
A magnetically operated driving tool for use in inserting fasteners according to the present invention includes a body member having a generally tubular configuration, first and second stationary (stator) magnets mounted in a spaced apart relationship at opposed ends of the body member with like poles facing one another, a movable magnet freely positioned in the body member for magnetically induced movement between the stator magnets, a coupling positioned adjacent each respective stator magnet for engaging the movable magnet when the movable magnet is magnetically coupled to the respective stator magnet, a user-operable linkage coupled to the couplings for selectively rotating the movable magnet until the polarity of the movable magnet is the same as the polarity of the respective stator magnet, a hammer slidably mounted in the body member, and a spring positioned in the body member.
In use, the movable magnet is initially magnetically coupled to the first stator magnet and engaged with the first coupling, and a fastener is held by the hammer. A user then operates the linkage, causing the movable magnet to rotate until its polarity is the same as the polarity of the first stator magnet. The movable magnet is then magnetically repulsed from the first stator magnet and moves to the second stator magnet. Before reaching the second stator magnet, the movable magnet propels the hammer from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration, thus inserting the fastener. When the movable magnet reaches the second stator magnet, it is magnetically coupled to the second stator magnet and engaged with the second coupling. The user again operates the linkage, causing the movable magnet to rotate until its polarity is the same as the polarity of the second stator magnet. The movable magnet is then magnetically repulsed from the second stator magnet and moves to the first stator magnet. Before reaching the first stator magnet, the movable magnet engages the spring, which stores the energy of the moving magnet and dampens the blow of the moving magnet. When the movable magnet reaches the first stator magnet, it is magnetically coupled to the first stator magnet and engaged with the first coupling, returning the magnetically operated driving tool to its initial configuration.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a magnetically operated driving tool that provides sufficient instantaneous force to drive a fastener.
Another object of this invention is to provide a magnetically operated driving tool, as aforesaid, that does not require electricity.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a magnetically operated driving tool, as aforesaid, that is light and compact.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a magnetically operated driving tool, as aforesaid, that is easy to use.
A further object of this invention is to provide a magnetically operated driving tool, as aforesaid, that is easily and cost-effectively manufactured.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
a and 3b are top and side views, respectively, of the magnetically operated driving tool as in
a and 4b are top and side views, respectively, of the magnetically operated driving tool as in
a and 5b are partial side views of the magnetically operated driving tool as in
a is an isolated perspective view showing the rotation of a movable magnet;
b is an isolated perspective view further showing the rotation of a movable magnet; and
c is an isolated perspective view still further showing the rotation of a movable magnet.
A magnetically operated driving tool according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
The body member 110 preferably includes a channel 112 extending longitudinally between the first and second stator magnets 120, 130, and the first and second couplings 124, 134 are preferably first and second slotted nuts 124a, 134a rotatably mounted in the channel 112. Other couplings can be used, however. The movable magnet 140 preferably includes a flange 142 configured for sliding along the channel 112 and nesting in the respective slotted nuts 124a, 134a. The slotted nuts 124a, 134a can be best seen in
The user-operable linkage 150 preferably includes a first ratchet 152 operatively connected to the first coupling 124, a second ratchet 153 operatively connected to the second coupling 134, and a handle 155 made of a resilient material operatively connecting the two ratchets 152, 153 (
A hammer 160 is slidably mounted in the body member 110 proximate the second stator magnet 130 such that the movable magnet 140 propels the hammer 160 from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration when the movable magnet 140 travels from the first stator magnet 120 (
A spring 170 is positioned in the body member 110 proximate the first stator magnet 120 such that the movable magnet 140 engages the spring 170 when the movable magnet 140 travels from the second stator magnet 130 to the first stator magnet 120. This construction is illustrated in
In use, the magnetically operated driving tool 100 begins in an initial configuration with the movable magnet 140 magnetically coupled to the first stator magnet 120 and the hammer 160 in the retracted configuration. A user then introduces a fastener 190, which is held by the hammer 160 (
A magnetically operated driving tool (not shown) according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a construction substantially similar to the construction previously described except as specifically noted below. More particularly, the magnetically operated driving tool according to this embodiment includes conventional methods for rotating the couplings 124, 134 individually instead of employing the user-operable linkage 150.
It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof. It is also specifically understood that the principles of this invention have been specifically applied to nail guns, they may also be applied to many other driving tools or assemblies.
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