1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positioning device for a hand-held setting tool having an actuation switch for actuating the setting tool, with the positioning device including a holder defining a longitudinal axis, a support for the setting tool arranged at an end of the holder, and operating means for actuating the actuation switch of the setting tool and which is actuated by the holder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Positioning devices of the type described above are used, e.g., at overhead works with hand-held setting tools in case of high ceilings when working is possible only using working platforms or ladders. Setting tools, which can be used with such devices, can be driven with solid, gaseous, or liquid fuels or with compressed air or electricity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,599 discloses a positioning and actuation device for a combustion-operated setting tool and including a support for the setting tool, which is arranged at an end of an elongated holder in form of a rod or a bar. The rod or bar is axially displaceable relative to the support for actuating the actuation switch of the setting tool, which is received in the support, via coupling means. For actuating the setting tool, the tool should be placed with its muzzle piece against a ceiling and then be displaced in the direction of the ceiling with the holder or rod by the user.
The drawback of this positioning device consists in that the setting tool, which is arranged in the support, can also be actuated when the positioning and actuating device is supported with the rod or bar on a bottom (floor), and the user manually presses the rod against the muzzle piece of the setting tool.
An object of the present invention is a positioning device with actuating switching means in which the drawback of a known positioning and actuating device is eliminated.
This and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing a positioning device for a hand-held setting tool having an actuation switch for actuating the setting tool of the type discussed above and in which the holder has an elongate support element extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and connected, directly or indirectly, with the support.
The actuating switching means for actuating the actuation switch of setting tool includes operating means for actuating the actuation switch, and an actuation element arranged radially outwardly of the support element and displaceable axially thereto and connectable with the operating means. The support element has, at its end remote from the support, a base part extending beyond an axial end for the actuation element remote from the support.
With the positioning device according to the present invention, an inadvertent actuation of the setting tool, which is arranged in the support, is reliably prevented when the positioning device is supported with the base part on the bottom, and the device is manually pressed against the muzzle piece of the setting tool. This is because the actuation element remains unactuated.
Advantageously, the base part is formed as a pot-shaped part that receives and overlaps the remote axial end of the actuation element. Thereby, penetration of dirt in the space between the base part and the actuation element is prevented, and inadvertent actuation of the actuation element, upon pressing of the positioning device with the base part against the bottom, is prevented, independent from its nature.
According to a technically advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the operating means has a first switching member axially displaceable in the holder and connectable with the actuation element. As a result, the connection point is not accessible from outside and is protected.
It is advantageous when the holder has a connection element fixedly secured to the support element, and a counter-connection element connectable with the connection element, and the first switching member is displaceable in the connection member, and the operating means further has a second switching member associated with the counter-connection element and cooperating with the first switching member. The foregoing features permit to form the positioning device of two or more connectable parts or modules and which enables to transmit the actuation movement of the actuation element to the support and to the setting tool supported therein.
If the counter-connection element is connected with the support, the second switching member can cooperate with a switching link and a driver provided on the support for actuating the actuation switch of the setting tool and connectable with the switching link. Thereby in a technically simple way, the positioning device can be formed of two parts or modules.
A robust and cost-effectively manufactured positioning device is obtained when the support element is formed as a bar, and the actuation element has formed an actuation sleeve arranged coaxially with the bar-shaped support element.
The novel features of the present invention, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The drawings show:
A setting tool 10, which is shown in
As shown in
The support element 23 is fixedly connected with a connection element 28 having, at its end remote from the support element 23, a receptacle 30 for the counter-connecting element 29. At an end of the connecting element 28 adjacent to the base part 26, a support point 41 for a spring 42 is formed. At its other end, the spring 42 is supported against the actuation element 24 via an intermediate element 43 that is formed as an inner sleeve. The spring 42 biases the actuation element 24 in a direction of its initial position shown in
The actuation element 24 cooperates with a first switching member 34 of the operating means and which is formed as a pin displaceable in a guide 44 formed as a blind bore in the connection element 28. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the actuation element 24 is connected with a sleeve-shaped end piece 45 that at least partially surrounds a region 46 of the connection element 28 adjacent to the support element 23. The end piece 45 is connected with the first switching member 34 by a connecting element 47 which is formed as a pin and extends transverse to the longitudinal axis A of the positioning device 20. The connecting element 47 extends through slot-shaped openings 48 provided in the region 46 of the connection element 28. The slot-shaped openings 48 enable displacement of the connecting element 27 relative to the connection element 28 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A.
The second part of the holder 21, together with the support 22 arranged thereon, which forms part of the positioning device 20, is shown in
The operating means includes a second switching member 35 that cooperates with a first switching member 34 when the connection element 28 and the counter-connection element 29 are connected with each other. The second switching member 35 is formed as a rod-shaped part displaceable in an inner bore of the second part of the holder 21. In the transitional region from the holder 21 to the support 22, the second switching member 35 is displaceably connected by a switching link 36 with the support 22 for displacement relative to the support 22 at least in one direction. The switching link 36 also forms part of the operating means. At the free end of the switching link 36, there is provided a driver 37 that cooperates with the actuation switch 13 of the setting tool 10 which is supported in the support 22. A spring 49 biases the switching link 36, together with the driver 37 in a non-actuated position shown in
In the initial position of the positioning device 20 shown in
In
Though the present invention was shown and described with references to the preferred embodiments, such are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construed as a limitation thereof and various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, not intended that the present invention be limited to the disclosed embodiments or details thereof, and the present invention includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2006 000 497 | Oct 2006 | DE | national |
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