CA1052951A - Electric impact tool - Google Patents
Electric impact toolInfo
- Publication number
- CA1052951A CA1052951A CA278,966A CA278966A CA1052951A CA 1052951 A CA1052951 A CA 1052951A CA 278966 A CA278966 A CA 278966A CA 1052951 A CA1052951 A CA 1052951A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ram
- flywheels
- flywheel
- tool
- nosepiece
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
"ELECTRIC IMPACT TOOL"
ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electric impact tool characterized by a pair of electric motor-driven counter-rotating flywheels, at least one of which is movable relative to the other from a retracted inoperative position into an extended operative one closely adjacent the other flywheel whereby a ram is squeezed therebetween and impelled forward at high speed against a workpiece. The nosepiece of the tool frame is retractable although normally extended due to the spring bias urging it and the movable flywheel to which is it mechani-cally linked into disengaged position. These elements co-operate with one another and with a manually-actuated trigger such that the latter must be depressed and the nosepiece re-tracted in order to engage the high energy friction clutch defined by the flywheels so as to operate the ram. A flywheel speed control is provided for matching the ram impact to the workload. The nosepiece also includes an energy absorbing cushion effective to dissipate the excess energy carried by the ram at the end of its work stroke so as to prevent damage to the structure against which the nosepiece is pressed.
ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electric impact tool characterized by a pair of electric motor-driven counter-rotating flywheels, at least one of which is movable relative to the other from a retracted inoperative position into an extended operative one closely adjacent the other flywheel whereby a ram is squeezed therebetween and impelled forward at high speed against a workpiece. The nosepiece of the tool frame is retractable although normally extended due to the spring bias urging it and the movable flywheel to which is it mechani-cally linked into disengaged position. These elements co-operate with one another and with a manually-actuated trigger such that the latter must be depressed and the nosepiece re-tracted in order to engage the high energy friction clutch defined by the flywheels so as to operate the ram. A flywheel speed control is provided for matching the ram impact to the workload. The nosepiece also includes an energy absorbing cushion effective to dissipate the excess energy carried by the ram at the end of its work stroke so as to prevent damage to the structure against which the nosepiece is pressed.
Description
` ~ 1052951 Low energy electrically-powered impact tools are quite commonplace and are used for such applications as driving small nails and staples, loosening and tightening nuts, and setting deformable fasteners like small brass and S copper rivets. Up to now, however, most all high energy im-pact tools, at least the hand held type, have been operated by compressed air. There are many obvious disadvantages to air-operated hand tools, not the least of which is the necessity for large hoses and a relatively stationary high volume air supply. The pressure regulators, lubricators, filters and the like ordinarily used with pneumatic equipment all serve to complicate the situation as well as make it more cumbersome and expensive.
While the concept of a high energy hand-held electrically-powered impact tool is, to say the least, an attractive one, it poses a number of problems which have hereto-fore remained unsolved. For instance, it can be demonstrated , rather simply through the use of an arbor press and a scale that a peak force of about 1000 lbs. is required to drive a 16 penny (3.25") nail into semihard wood up to the point where its head lies flush with the surface of the latter. Since the nail obviously exerts an equal and opposite force on the driver and the operator could not possibly oppose a 1000 lb. peak ~' force, a low velocity driver will not work regardless of the force developed thereby as it would merely be pushed back away from the workpiece rather than forcing the nail through it. Thus, both the time required to drive the nail and the mass of the driver become most important considerations, especially if the design parameters call for recoilless opera-tion which is highly desirable.
Other practical parameters can be chosen for the tool such as, for example, its mass and contact velocity
While the concept of a high energy hand-held electrically-powered impact tool is, to say the least, an attractive one, it poses a number of problems which have hereto-fore remained unsolved. For instance, it can be demonstrated , rather simply through the use of an arbor press and a scale that a peak force of about 1000 lbs. is required to drive a 16 penny (3.25") nail into semihard wood up to the point where its head lies flush with the surface of the latter. Since the nail obviously exerts an equal and opposite force on the driver and the operator could not possibly oppose a 1000 lb. peak ~' force, a low velocity driver will not work regardless of the force developed thereby as it would merely be pushed back away from the workpiece rather than forcing the nail through it. Thus, both the time required to drive the nail and the mass of the driver become most important considerations, especially if the design parameters call for recoilless opera-tion which is highly desirable.
Other practical parameters can be chosen for the tool such as, for example, its mass and contact velocity
- 2 - ~
lOSZ95~
for the purpose of calculating the amount of latent energy that must be stored in the system as well as the type of mechanism that is required to transfer such energy to the workpiece in the brief time allotted for essentially recoilless operation. When this is done, such calculations reveal the fact that a considerable energy storage capability coupled to a very fast and efficient power transfer mechanism becomes an absolute necessity. Furthermore, such calculations reveal the utter futulity of applying conventional approaches like solenoids to the solution of the problem because an electro-magnetic unit capable of generating the required average power over the allotted time span would be so large and heavy as to be utterly impractical to say nothing of its cost.
The flywheel comes to mind as a mechanism which s 15 is both compact and lightweight yet, at the same time, possesses
lOSZ95~
for the purpose of calculating the amount of latent energy that must be stored in the system as well as the type of mechanism that is required to transfer such energy to the workpiece in the brief time allotted for essentially recoilless operation. When this is done, such calculations reveal the fact that a considerable energy storage capability coupled to a very fast and efficient power transfer mechanism becomes an absolute necessity. Furthermore, such calculations reveal the utter futulity of applying conventional approaches like solenoids to the solution of the problem because an electro-magnetic unit capable of generating the required average power over the allotted time span would be so large and heavy as to be utterly impractical to say nothing of its cost.
The flywheel comes to mind as a mechanism which s 15 is both compact and lightweight yet, at the same time, possesses
3 high energy storage capabilities. Unfortunately, however, it also constitutes a high speed rotating system with large un- -desirable precession moments that become most difficult to cope with and, in fact, almost insurmountable in a hand-held tool ~ ~.
that must be positioned with considerable accuracy. The problems presented to the operator in coping with such forces as these make a single flywheel tool a very dangerous, if not in fact a lethal, instrument when loaded with nails or other fasteners that are ejected therefrom at high speeds because of the considerable difficulty associated with controlling same.
It has now been found in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention that a high energy, pre-ferably electrically-driven and hand-held impact tool can, in fact, be constructed that is capable of developing the 75 horsepower or so required to drive a 3-1/4 nail during a .. - . .~ i lOSZ951 brief interval lasting a few thousandths of a second. In fact~ a small fractional horsepower electric motor will be entirely adequate to answer the power requirements of a duty cycle calling for more than one actuation per second.
Not one, but a pair of preferably substantially identical counterrotating rotating bodies or flywheels store the necessary energy and, in addition, when properly matched and oriented relative to one another, co-operate to cancel out the bothersome precession moments inherent in high speed ` 10 rotating systems having flywheels. These same flywheels, .
; when one is moved relative to the other so as to engage a friction ram positioned therebetween, coact to define an efficient high speed power transfer mechanism capable of i~ imparting a considerable driving force to the ram in a matter of a few milliseconds. What's more, the clutch thus produced requires no synchronous engagement and, when properly designed, is free of slippage.
The preferred incorporation of mechanical inter-locks which require that the nose of the tool to be held firmly against the workpiece while the trigger is actuated to engage the clutch make the tool a safer one to operate while, at the same time, disabling it from discharging a fastener should it -~ be dropped accidently. The motor speed control, while not exactly a safety feature, does provide the operator with the means by which he can reduce the ram energy to an appropriate level commensurate with the job being performed thus preventing ~ damage to the workpiece.
t Ordinary household current is entirely adequate ' as a power source and, in fact, the power demands are such ~ 30 that they could easily be supplied by batteries or a small ; self-contained generator, especially in the case of a low de-
that must be positioned with considerable accuracy. The problems presented to the operator in coping with such forces as these make a single flywheel tool a very dangerous, if not in fact a lethal, instrument when loaded with nails or other fasteners that are ejected therefrom at high speeds because of the considerable difficulty associated with controlling same.
It has now been found in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention that a high energy, pre-ferably electrically-driven and hand-held impact tool can, in fact, be constructed that is capable of developing the 75 horsepower or so required to drive a 3-1/4 nail during a .. - . .~ i lOSZ951 brief interval lasting a few thousandths of a second. In fact~ a small fractional horsepower electric motor will be entirely adequate to answer the power requirements of a duty cycle calling for more than one actuation per second.
Not one, but a pair of preferably substantially identical counterrotating rotating bodies or flywheels store the necessary energy and, in addition, when properly matched and oriented relative to one another, co-operate to cancel out the bothersome precession moments inherent in high speed ` 10 rotating systems having flywheels. These same flywheels, .
; when one is moved relative to the other so as to engage a friction ram positioned therebetween, coact to define an efficient high speed power transfer mechanism capable of i~ imparting a considerable driving force to the ram in a matter of a few milliseconds. What's more, the clutch thus produced requires no synchronous engagement and, when properly designed, is free of slippage.
The preferred incorporation of mechanical inter-locks which require that the nose of the tool to be held firmly against the workpiece while the trigger is actuated to engage the clutch make the tool a safer one to operate while, at the same time, disabling it from discharging a fastener should it -~ be dropped accidently. The motor speed control, while not exactly a safety feature, does provide the operator with the means by which he can reduce the ram energy to an appropriate level commensurate with the job being performed thus preventing ~ damage to the workpiece.
t Ordinary household current is entirely adequate ' as a power source and, in fact, the power demands are such ~ 30 that they could easily be supplied by batteries or a small ; self-contained generator, especially in the case of a low de-
- 4 -~OS2951 mand duty cycle. The problem becomes one of the time involved to get the flywheel drive motors up to speed rather than the dissipation of energy during the drive cycle which is minimal even with a small fractional horse-power motor.
The instant impact tool, when designed for use as a nailer, is readily adapted to accept commercially-available strips or belts of nails without modification. The same is true of other types of fasteners such as rivets and the like when similarly packaged. In general, such items would ~ be housed in a spring-fed magazine of conventional design.
- 10 Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an impact tool having driving fasteners comprising: a) a housing defining a drive path; b) a pair of counter-rotating flywheels; c) power means for rotating said flywheelc; d) ram means movable in said drive path;
e) feed means including a magazine containing a supply of fasteners for supplying fasteners in sequence to said drive path; f) clutch means for drivingly coupling said flywheels and ram means to propel said ram means in j a drive stroke along said drive path toward a fastener disposed in said drive .
~ path to impact the fastener; and g) control means for controlling the clutch ; means.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is pro-vided a fastener driving method comprising the steps of: counter-rotating -a pair of flywheels of equal mass about parallel axes at equal speeds, so as to cancel precession moments, and transferring energy from said flywheels to a fastener driving ram by moving one of said flywheels toward the other to pinch said ram between them.
105Z951 ~J
: In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the principle operating parts of an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tool as seen from a vantage point above and to the left of its rear end;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the tool to an enlarged scale, portions having been broken away to both conserve space and better reveal the interior construction;
.`
f .1 f -- 6 --A~ ~
.. .. , - , .
~OS2951 Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along line 4--4 of Figure 3 to a further enlarged scale;
. Figure 5 is a longitudinal section to the : same scale as Figure 4 taken along line 5--5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a section taken along line 6--6 of ., Figure 5 and to the same scale as the latter figure, portions again having been broken away to conserve space;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary section similar to Figure 6, but showing ram advanced into its fully-extended position;
Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken along line 8--8 of Figure 3 to an even further enlarged scale;
"
.. Figure 9 is a framentary perspective view to the same scale as Figure 8 and with portions broken away and shown in section to better reveal the interior construction; ~ --: Figure 10 is a fragmentary section similar to .~ Figure 5 and to the same scale as the latter showing the ` trigger actuated, but the nosepiece still extended;
~; Figure 11 is a fragmentary section like Figure 10 except that the nosepiece is shown in retracted position; and ; Figure 12 is a schematic of a representative ~
motor speed control circuit. ~-. Before turning to a detailed description of a :~ preferred nail-driving embodiment of the present invention .
, 25 that has been broadly designated by reference numeral 10, reference will be made to the schematic view of Figure 1 for the purpose of outlining the more important design features and parameters of the tool, some of which are quite critical.
~I First of all, to get an idea of the force that must be generated by the tool and the time interval within which this ~' force must be expended, a simple experiment coupled with a ., . ; ~
.. ' ' ~ :
lOS~:9S~. `
detailed mathematical analysis will be helpful.
It can be demonstrated experimentally with a simple arbor press that a 16 penny nail which is 3.25 inches long requires a peak force of about 1000 lbs. to drive it all the way up to the point where its head is flush with the ; surface of a piece of medium hard lumber. Furthermore, a ~ -graph of the force applied versus the degree of penetration shows a substantially linear relationship up to the 1000 lb.
limit above noted. Therefore, the total energy expended (Eo) can be represented mathematically as follows:
Equation (1) Eo = ~ F dL ~ 125 ft lbs.
Since, in operation, the nail exerts an equal and opposite force upon the impact tool or driver, the time required to drive the nail and the mass of the driver become important considerations. If, therefore, we assume a 10 lb.
i weight for the driver which is reasonable for a hand-held si tool, and we further assume a contact velocity of 5 ft./sec., ! the time available to insert the nail into the wood can be defined as follows where F(t) is the time varying force exerted on the tool by the nail, then, , Equation (2) F(t) = MA = ~
where M is the mass of the driver and td is time required to drive the nail. Accordingly, Equation (3) F(t) dt = dv or,expressed another way Equation (4) M ~d F(t) dt = Yf dv Where Vi is the impact velocity of the tool and Vf is its final velocity.
Having already determined that ., ,.. ~.......... . .
' lOS~951 Equation (5) F(t) = 1,000 (td~ lbs.
it follows from Equation (4~ that Equation (6) 12 td = Vf - Vi Solving for td in Equation (6) we f ind Equation (7) td = 2M ~Vf - Vi ) Now, substituting the assumed value of 5 ft./sec. for the impact velocity (Vi~, a zero terminal or final velocity (Vf) and a mass M of 10/32, we find that Equation (i) td = 2 (10/32) (5) = 003 Accordingly, using a 10 lb. tool with an initial velocity of ~ 5 ft./sec. and recoilless operation (Vf = o), three milliseconds ; of time are available to drive the nail.
The average power required during the drive . time td can be calculated as follows:
15 Equation (9) PaVe 550 x .003 = 75 hp.
~ It becomes readily apparent from the above calculations that ;~ the tool must possess a considerable energy storage capability ~
and, in addition, the ability to release said energy over a ~ .
very short period of time, namely, a few milliseconds.
Now, if a flywheel adopted as the energy storage mechanism, and we use a 3 inch diameter on and assume an angular velocity of w, a meaningful comparison can be made between the peripheral flywheel velocity and the nail insertion speed, and the flywheel energy and required energy.
Assuming a 3 inch nail is driven in .003 seconds, this is a velocity of:
Equation (lQ) 003 = 1000 in/sec.
The angular velocity of a 3 inch flywheel with 1000 in.~sec. peripheral velocity is:
:
_ g _ , . .
:, ~ . . . ; . . . .
; . , .
. . .
Equation (11) w = 15 = 666 rad./sec.
= 106 rev. sec.
= 6366 r.p.m.
This is a reasonable velocity and could be increased if necessary.
The energy of the flywheel is:
Equation (12) E - .5 I w where I is the angular inertia of the flywheel.
For a solid disc, 3 inch in diameter, the inertia is expressed as follows:
Equation (13) I = .5mr If, for example, brass is chosen for the fly-wheel and it is 1 inch thick, its mass is:
Equation (14) M = w = (535/1728) (/4) (9) (1? .0684 ft.
Thus, substituting in Equation (13), Equation (15) I = .5 (.0684~ (1.5/12)2 = 5.34 x 10 41b. ft. sec.
Using w = 666 rad./sec. the energy becomes:
Equation (16) E = .5(5.34 x 10 4) (666)2 = 118.43 ft. lb.
Having already determined that approximately 125 ft. lbs. of .:' ' 20 energy was needed to drive a 3.25 inch nail up to the head in - semihard wood, it becomes apparent that a 3 inch solid brass flywheel 1 inch thick rotating 7000 r.p.m. has ample energy i' and peripheral velocity to satisfy the needs of a high energy - nailer. ~ ;
Such a tool, however, if hand held, would likely develop significant precession moments when subject to angular rotation about axes perpendicular to the flywheel spin axis.
` The magnitude of this moments can be calculated as follows:
Equation (17~ Mp = IQw where Mp is the precession moment acting upon the nailer I is the inertia of the nailer's flywheel w is the angular velocity of the flywheel Q is the angular velocity that the operator attempts to rotate the nailer.
; 5 By way of example, assume the operator has a nailer with t~e previously-mentioned flywheel parameters and he attempts to reorient the nailer 180 in 0.1 sec., the resulting moment on the nailer due to gyroscopic precession ~'~ is calculated as follows:
Equation (18) = ~ c = 31.4 rad./sec.
Equation (19) Mp = (31.4 rad./sec.) 5.34 x 10 4 lb. ft. sec. ) ~666 rad./sec.) = 11.2 ft. lb.
~, This is a significant torque and would make it very difficult for the operator to position the nailer at any desired location.
Accordingly, two functionally identical fly-wheels rotating in opposite directions about parallel axes at ~; the same speed can be used to cancel out the precession moments .~ ~
I that are most unwelcome in a hand-held tool that must be posi-j 20 tioned carefully and accurately relative to a workpiece. It has now been found in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention that there are a number of other, more or ~, less critical parameters that must be reconnected with.
One of the most significant is the fact that if 25 a ram element 12 is pinched between a pair of counterrotating flywheels 14 and 16 which drive same forwardly against a work- -~
`' piece as illustrated in the diagram of Figure 1, then no -slippage of any consequence can be tolerated if, as previously 3 noted, the entire work stroke of the ram must be completed in 30 a few milliseconds. In other words, if the tool is to be used ' to drive a 16 penny nail, it must be capa~le of transmitting a .: .
lOSZ95S
1000 lb. force to the ram in a .003 second ram engagement time.
While a driving connection between the flywheels and the ram can be accomplished in more than one way, the only practical one seems to be frictionally as it requires no synchronous engagement as would a rack and pinion and the like.
Furthermore, a clutch of some nature is necessary to bring the already spinning flywheels into instant driving engagement ~` with the ram, it being an obvious impossibility to bring the flywheels up to the required speed and drive the ram all with-in a few milliseconds, yet, such would be necessary if the flywheels stayed in driving engagement therewith.
Now, such a clutch could either operate to shift ; both flywheels toward and away from one another to engage and disengage the flywheel or, alternatively, only one need move relative to the other, the movable one engaging the ram and :~ pushing it sideways against the fixed one. Of the two, the latter approach is much to be preferred over the former for the reason that if the ram floats between two relatively movable flywheels, one will reach it ahead of the other each actuation rather than simultaneously. As this happens one flywheel of the pair will have to yield to the other in which the overbalancing force is present. It can be shown that these ram engaging forces are of the order of three times the s force necessary to drive the nail, i.e. 3000 lbs. as compared with 1000 lbs; therefore, a yieldable flywheel mounting system becomes a most difficult mechanism to properly design and engi-neer. Furthermore, one is never sure what path the ram will follow on its forward excursion or work stroke as it may be on either side of its guidewa~s depending upon which of the two flywheels has taken precedence over the other on the particular actuation. For the reasons above noted, one fly-, . .
... ~ ~ ,. ............ . ~
~ . :
wheel mounted for rotation ahout a fixed spin axis and clutch attached to the other operative upon actuation to narrow the gap therebetween is much the better way of solving the ; problem.
While it is certainly possible to shift the mov-able flywheel toward the fixed one along a line perpendicular to the direction of ram travel into its extended position, --: developing a ram-engaging force nearly three times the maximum work force developed in the ram becomes a serious problem.
It has been found, however, that ram-gripping forces of suf-ficient magnitude can easily be developed by swinging the movable flywheel arcuately into engagement about an axis of . pivotal movement lying to the rear of its spin axis. As the surface of the movable flywheel engages the adjacent ram sur-face and forces the ram over against the surface of the fixed flywheel, its direction of rotation is such as to roll it rearwardly thereby increasing the pressure it exerts against the ram. Such flywheel action upon engagement with the opposite --; ram surfaces instantly and easily develops the requisite ram-gripping forces even though they exceed the maximum driving -~
force developed in the ram by a three-fold factor.
The theoretical arcuate excursion of the movable flywheel's spin axis is back into a plane passing through ~ `~
its axis of pivotal movement that is perpendicular to the direction of ram travel into its extended position. Once the spin axis passes rearwardly beyond this plane, however, the clutch loosens its grip on the ram and the driving connection -is lost. If the system is to accommodate even minimal wear on ` the mating parts, therefore, the spin axis of the arcuately movable flywheel must be stopped short of this position. How far short presents an interesting question and one that is :.: - : . . . - , '~ 1052951 susceptible of precise, though unobvious, solution in accordance with the teaching found herein.
The force tending to propel the ram upwardly as schematically represented in Figure 1 can be expressed as follows:
Equation (20~ Fd ~ 2 F Kf where Fn is the normal force between the flywheel and ram surface, and Kf is the coefficient of friction between the y ram and flywheel.
In the same diagram, the downward force on the arcuately movable flywheel 16 is:
EquatiOn (21) Fu = FnKf From the geometry of the system, the force ~-Equation (22) Fn = u Tan ~ -where ~ is the acute angle at the intersection of a plane defined by the spin axis of the arcuately-movable ?i flywheel and its axis of pivotal movement and a second plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the ram 12 into extended position.
By substituting Equation (21) into Equation (22) ~ and simplifying, unexpectedly one finds that: ~-;~ Equation (23) Tan ~ = Kf Thus, knowing that slippage is critical and cannot be tolerated for all practical purposes, if Kf > tan ~, the flywheels will not slip once engaged with the ram. It now becomes quite ~ simple to select the angle ~ or the coefficient of friction s Kf so that the foregoing critical relationship is present.
, Note also that the flywheels are cylindrical and the engaged faces of the ram are planar so that they mate ..
lOSZ951 in tangential relation making straight-line contact with one another along a line parallel to the spin axis. Other comple-mentary surfaces are unsatisfactory and to be avoided for the reason that points thereon at different distances from the spin axis will, of necessity, have different peripheral velocities and slippage is bound to result.
A few other points are worthy of specific mention before proceeding with a detailed description of the nail-driving embodiment of the impact tool. Motor size is a con- -sideration and it depends upon the required duty cycle. As previously noted, the average power consumed is approximately 75 hp to drive a 16 penny nail so as to bury the head flush with the surface of the workpiece. Since energy is stored in the flywheels, the actual motor size required to drive them may vary from 0 - 75 hp depending upon the required duty cycle. If a duty cycle of 5 actuations/sec. is chosen and friction ignored, the required motor would be: -Equation (24~ Preq = 75 (lj = 1.125 hp In other words, a 1.125 hp motor could maintain flywheel speed even using five actuations per second. Obviously, this is an excessive duty cycle from a practical standpoint and it becomes quite obvious that a small fractional horsepower electric motor would be entirely adequate. Furthermore, the amount of energy dissipated per actuation is such that battery power would be quite adequate to power the motors in light to medium duty applications over moderate time spans of a few hours or so.
~ Excessive ram energy can be a problem and pro--~ vision may be needed for controlling same. The first of two provisions for doing so is by means of a speed control 18 for the motor or motors driving the flywheels such as that shown schematically in Figure 12 and upon which no novelty whatsoever is predicated, it being merely representative of one such speed (~
lOSZgSl control that could be used. The various positions of the control knob 20 can be indexed to positions on the scale 22 (Figure 2~ that are calibrated directly in nail sizes, for example. ~-Since enough energy must be imparted to the ram to insure completion of the work assigned thereto, a slight excess is ordinarily employed. To avoid damaging the workpiece due to the presence of this excess energy, however, means are preferably provided for dissipating some before it can cause the ram to dent, gouge, puncture, sear or otherwise damage the workpiece. An energy-absorbing cushion 24 is placed in the nosepiece 26 on the front end of the nozzle 28 of the case effective to receive and absorb some of the excess energy left in the ram as it nears completion of its work stroke.
If, however, the ram is still being positively driven by the flywheels, such a cushion is inadequate. Accordingly, the length of the ram is preferably such in relation to the location of the flywheels behind the nosepiece that the ram has moved out of positive driven engagement therewith prior to its completing its work stroke or striking the cushion 24 as shown most clearly in Figure 7. This means, of course, that the cushion is no longer required to absorb the direct energy being supplied to the ram by the flywheels at the end of its stroke, but only that energy left over due to its mass and velocity. Obviously, the lighter the ram, the less residual energy it has at the end of its stroke, all other factors being equal.
At the instant the ram moves forward beyond the flywheels and becomes disengaged therefrom, at least insofar as a driving connection therebetween is concerned, the clutch is free to reopen the gap between the flywheels and allow the ., , ' ' ,.
ram to complete its cycle of movement by passing back there-between under the influence of tension spring 30 connected thereto. In the particular form shown, the clutch actuating means comprises the nosepiece 26 which is mounted for re-S tractable movement relative to the nozzle 28, and a rigidlink 32 which operative connects the nosepiece to the pivoted frame 34 journalling the movable flywheel 16 for arcuate movement. As the nosepiece moves rearwardly into retracted position upon being pressed against a workpiece W in the manner shown in Figure 7, link 32 acts upon the pivoted frame 34 to swing the mova~le flywheel rearwardly into engaged ram-driving relation. Once engaged, the ram cannot be released until it leaves the flywheels even if it were possible to return the nosepiece to its extended position during the few milli-seconds it takes to complete the power stroke. Once the ram 7, has, in fact, moved out of driving engagement therewith, the clutch is free to reopen the gap between the flywheels. This is accomplished automatically by a clutch release means con-nected to normally bias the pivoted frame 34 in a direction to open the gap between the flywheels. In the particular form shown, the clutch release means takes the form of a compression spring 36 normally biasing the retractable nosepiece 26 into , extended position. Thus, before this particular clutch -` release means can function, the biasing force it exerts on the nosepiece must exceed the opposing retracting force exerted thereon by the workpiece W. As a practical matter, as soon as the ram has completed its work stroke, the operator will usually remove the nosepiece from engagement with the workpiece thus permitting the clutch release means to open the gap between the flywheels so spring 30 can retract the ram there-between.
, ~05Z951 Turning next to Figure 2 where the nail-driving embodiment 10 of the tool has been shown in perspective, reference numeral 40 has been selected to designate the case or housing in its entirety, nozzle 28 forming a part thereof.
; 5 Immediately behind the nozzle is an enlargement which will henceforth be referred to as the "flywheel cavity" 42 for lack of a better term. Within this cavity is housed the drive means in the form of a pair of identical electric motors 44, -the movable mounting 34 for one of them, and the fixed mounting 46 for the other. Extending on rearwardly of the flywheel cavity as an integral part of the housing aligned longitudinally with the nozzle is the upper limb 48 of the handle 50. Limb i 48 is hollow and adapted to receive the ram 12 in its retracted position as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In the particular form shown, speed selector switch 20 of the speed control 18 along with the scale 22 calibrated in nail sizes or the like are ,~
provided on the rearwardly-forcing wall 52 on the back of handle ; 50. The handle 50, as a whole, has the usual C-shaped config-;~ uration commonly associated with many electrically-driven hand tools. The handle 50 also carries the trigger 54 and the line cord 56 to the source of electrical power in the event a self-contained power source is not used. ~ -As illustrated, the case has a removable cover plate 58 which provides access to the interior thereof and, in addition, it is shown die cast in two halves which are bolted together. The nail gun form of the tool, of course, requires an opening 60 (Figures 7, 8 and 9) into which the nails or other fasteners 62 are fed into the path of the advancing ram 12. A magazine 64 of conventional design has been shown feeding a commercially-available belt of nails into opening 60 in the side of the nozzle.
:
. .
- -` lOSZ951 -Figures 3-7, inclusive, to which reference ~
will now be made, show the interior construction of the tool ~ -; most clearly. Resting in the bottom of flywheel cavity 42 is a fixed endplate 66 which carries a bearing 6E journalling ~5 5 the shaft 70~ of fixed motor 44F. An upstanding partition wall 72 divides the flywheel cavity into two motor compartments 74 and 76. A horizontal wall 78 formed integral with the partition wall 72 separates the motor compartments 74 and 76 from the flywheel compartment 80. The horizontal wall is shown supported on ledges 82 on the inside of the flywheel cavity.
Additional shaft bearings 68 are mounted in fixed position in one half of the flywheel compartment, one being recessed in the top of the horizontal wall while the other is recessed into the lid. Fixed flywheel 14 is mounted on the portion of motor shaft 70F pro~ecting from motor compartment 74 up into the flywheel compartment. Thus, the fixed motor 44F and its flywheel 14 are housed in one side of the flywheel cavity alongside ram 12.
-~ In the other side of the flywheel cavity, is ; 20 mounted movable motor 44M, its shaft 70M and movable flywheel ~-, 16. Fixed endplate 66 is replaced by movable endplate 84 that carries bearing 68 journalling the lower end of shaft 70M of the movable motor 44M. This endplate together with verti-cally-spaced parallel arms 86 co-operate to define the pivoted ~' 25 mounting means 34 that carries motor 44M and its flywheel for pivotal movement in a direction to vary the width of the gap q so as to engage and form a driving connection with the ram.
The lower end of pin 88 is non-rotatably fastened in an inte-grally-foxmed foot 90 provided on the underside of the movable endplate 88 which skids back and forth on the bottom of the housing. The housing is shown provided with an enlargement .
:'' . ~ ; , 105'~95~
92 to accommodate the pivot pin, the upper end of which is rotatably mounted in a socket 94 in the coverplate 58. As shown, arms 86 are joined together by a web 96 to define a unitary structure which is non-rotatably fastened to the pivot pin 88. These arms and movable endplate 84 each carry bearings 68 journalling the shaft 70 of motor 44M. An oversize aperture 98 in the horizontal wall 78 accommodates the shaft 70 of the movable motor and permits the entire pivoted mount 34 therefore to swing arcuately relative thereto between its engaged and disengaged positions. Note in Figures 1 and 3 that the axis of pivotal movement defined by the pivot pin 88 is located to the rear of the spin axis of the movable flywheel defined by movable motor shaft 70. Thus, even when fully en-gaged as shown in Figure 7, the spin axis still lies well ahead of a plane passing through the axis of pivotal movement of the mount that is perpendicular to the path followed by the ram during its excursion into extended position or work stroke. As will be seen presently, the ram is loosely fitted ;
for longitudinal slidable movement in the opposed track-forming grooves 100 of the clutch actuating means 32 so that it can move aside the fraction of an inch required to bring it into engagement with the fixed flywheel. Once thus engaged, however, the ram follows a straight-line path determined by the shoulders 102 of the track-forming grooves or guideway remote from the movable flywheel that is urging the latter thereagainst. It is for this reason that the angle ~ in Figure 1 and the normal plane have been defined in terms of the forward excursion of the ram. The return stroke of the ram, while confined to the guideway, need not follow a straight line and, in fact, can be slightly canted therein.
Directing the attention next to Figures 3-11, inclusive, it can be seen that a pair of rearwardly-extending , :~
iO52951 parallel arms 104 are attached to the rear face of the nose-piece 26 and mount same within the nozzle for limited re-ciprocating movement between its normally extended position and a retracted one. These arms perform a dual function, the first of which is that of guiding the ram between its extended and retracted position due to the track-forming grooves 100 formed in the opposed surfaces thereof. Secondly, it is these same arms that are operatively linked to the arms 86 of the pivoted mount 34 and thus co-operates with the nosepiece to define the clutch actuating means 32.
These arms, while forming the guideway for the ram, are, in themselves, guided for limited reciprocating 3 slidable movement in opposed grooves 106 formed on the under-side of the lid 58 to the housing and the bottom walls of the t 15 nozzle 28 and upper handle limb 48 into which they telescope.
A
q In contrast to the ram 12, arms 104 are closely confined within the grooves 106 in the housing so that its movement .
`~ is restricted to essentially straight-line motion.
As revealed most clearly in Figures 10 and 11, a fixed limit stop 108 provided on the underside of lid 58 ` engages a movable stop 110 carried by the upper arm 104 to limit the forward excursion of the clutch-actuating means 32.
The rearward movement of the latter is stopped when the nose-piece 26 engages the front end of the nozzle. One or more 9. 25 compression springs 36 positioned between the opposed faces of the nozzle and nosepiece normally bias the latter into extended position. These springs constitute a clutch release mechanism automatically operative to disengage the clutch in a manner to be explained in detail presently as soon as the clutch actuating means 32 is deactuated by permitting the nosepiece to return to its normally-extended position.
~ ~052951 Now, in ~igures 3--7 it can be seen that the ends of arms 86 of the pivoted mount 34 remote from pivot pin 88 are provided with vertically-aligned ears 112 that are re-ceived in notches 114 formed in the boss 116 provided on one side of arms 104. The connection thus formed between the clutch actuating means 32 consisting of the nosepiece 26 and arms 104 operatively links the latter to the clutch means consisting of the flywheels and pivoted mount 34. As the clutch actuating means 32 is actuated by pressing the nosepiece against a workpiece with sufficient force to overcome the bias exerted thereon by springs 36 and retract same, it will swing the mounting means 34 rearward arcuately to close the gap separating the flywheels thus engaging the clutch by gripping the ram therebetween. As previously noted, once engaged, the clutch will remain so until the ram clears the flywheels as shown in Figure 7. When this happens, the clutch can be ; disengaged and it will do so automatically under the influence of the clutch release springs 36 provided the clutch actuating means 32 has been deactuated. In other words, so long as the nosepiece remains pressed against the workpiece, ram retraction spring 30 will be pulling it back into contact with the fly-~ wheels, but they will not spread apart to allow it to pass 't therebetween. As soon as the pressure on the nosepiece is re-lieved to a point when the bias on the latter by clutch re-~' 25 lease springs 36 can extend it, the gap between the flywheels will reopen and the ram can complete its return stroke.
The flywheel engaging surfaces of the ram will ~oth be seen to include friction pads 118 formed from some tough abrasion resistant material having a reasonably high coefficient of friction when placed in contact with a metal flywheel ~uch as, for example, ordinary brake lining material.
.
lOSZ951 As ram retraction spring 30 biases the ram rearwardly, it strikes limit stop 120 shown in Figure 5.
The front end of the ram is shaped to define a nose 122 bordered both top and bottom by forwardly-facing ~ 5 shoulders 124 best seen in Figures 5, 8 and 9. The nose 122 ; passes through an aperture 126 sized to receive same in the nosepiece while the shoulders engage the shock-absorbing cushion 24 bordering the latter. Whatever energy is left in ~ the ram at the completion of its workstroke is, hopefully, - 10 dissipated in this cushion, otherwise the nose of the ram will ; impact against the workpiece itself.
.~
Particular reference will next be had to Figures
The instant impact tool, when designed for use as a nailer, is readily adapted to accept commercially-available strips or belts of nails without modification. The same is true of other types of fasteners such as rivets and the like when similarly packaged. In general, such items would ~ be housed in a spring-fed magazine of conventional design.
- 10 Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an impact tool having driving fasteners comprising: a) a housing defining a drive path; b) a pair of counter-rotating flywheels; c) power means for rotating said flywheelc; d) ram means movable in said drive path;
e) feed means including a magazine containing a supply of fasteners for supplying fasteners in sequence to said drive path; f) clutch means for drivingly coupling said flywheels and ram means to propel said ram means in j a drive stroke along said drive path toward a fastener disposed in said drive .
~ path to impact the fastener; and g) control means for controlling the clutch ; means.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is pro-vided a fastener driving method comprising the steps of: counter-rotating -a pair of flywheels of equal mass about parallel axes at equal speeds, so as to cancel precession moments, and transferring energy from said flywheels to a fastener driving ram by moving one of said flywheels toward the other to pinch said ram between them.
105Z951 ~J
: In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the principle operating parts of an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tool as seen from a vantage point above and to the left of its rear end;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the tool to an enlarged scale, portions having been broken away to both conserve space and better reveal the interior construction;
.`
f .1 f -- 6 --A~ ~
.. .. , - , .
~OS2951 Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along line 4--4 of Figure 3 to a further enlarged scale;
. Figure 5 is a longitudinal section to the : same scale as Figure 4 taken along line 5--5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a section taken along line 6--6 of ., Figure 5 and to the same scale as the latter figure, portions again having been broken away to conserve space;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary section similar to Figure 6, but showing ram advanced into its fully-extended position;
Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken along line 8--8 of Figure 3 to an even further enlarged scale;
"
.. Figure 9 is a framentary perspective view to the same scale as Figure 8 and with portions broken away and shown in section to better reveal the interior construction; ~ --: Figure 10 is a fragmentary section similar to .~ Figure 5 and to the same scale as the latter showing the ` trigger actuated, but the nosepiece still extended;
~; Figure 11 is a fragmentary section like Figure 10 except that the nosepiece is shown in retracted position; and ; Figure 12 is a schematic of a representative ~
motor speed control circuit. ~-. Before turning to a detailed description of a :~ preferred nail-driving embodiment of the present invention .
, 25 that has been broadly designated by reference numeral 10, reference will be made to the schematic view of Figure 1 for the purpose of outlining the more important design features and parameters of the tool, some of which are quite critical.
~I First of all, to get an idea of the force that must be generated by the tool and the time interval within which this ~' force must be expended, a simple experiment coupled with a ., . ; ~
.. ' ' ~ :
lOS~:9S~. `
detailed mathematical analysis will be helpful.
It can be demonstrated experimentally with a simple arbor press that a 16 penny nail which is 3.25 inches long requires a peak force of about 1000 lbs. to drive it all the way up to the point where its head is flush with the ; surface of a piece of medium hard lumber. Furthermore, a ~ -graph of the force applied versus the degree of penetration shows a substantially linear relationship up to the 1000 lb.
limit above noted. Therefore, the total energy expended (Eo) can be represented mathematically as follows:
Equation (1) Eo = ~ F dL ~ 125 ft lbs.
Since, in operation, the nail exerts an equal and opposite force upon the impact tool or driver, the time required to drive the nail and the mass of the driver become important considerations. If, therefore, we assume a 10 lb.
i weight for the driver which is reasonable for a hand-held si tool, and we further assume a contact velocity of 5 ft./sec., ! the time available to insert the nail into the wood can be defined as follows where F(t) is the time varying force exerted on the tool by the nail, then, , Equation (2) F(t) = MA = ~
where M is the mass of the driver and td is time required to drive the nail. Accordingly, Equation (3) F(t) dt = dv or,expressed another way Equation (4) M ~d F(t) dt = Yf dv Where Vi is the impact velocity of the tool and Vf is its final velocity.
Having already determined that ., ,.. ~.......... . .
' lOS~951 Equation (5) F(t) = 1,000 (td~ lbs.
it follows from Equation (4~ that Equation (6) 12 td = Vf - Vi Solving for td in Equation (6) we f ind Equation (7) td = 2M ~Vf - Vi ) Now, substituting the assumed value of 5 ft./sec. for the impact velocity (Vi~, a zero terminal or final velocity (Vf) and a mass M of 10/32, we find that Equation (i) td = 2 (10/32) (5) = 003 Accordingly, using a 10 lb. tool with an initial velocity of ~ 5 ft./sec. and recoilless operation (Vf = o), three milliseconds ; of time are available to drive the nail.
The average power required during the drive . time td can be calculated as follows:
15 Equation (9) PaVe 550 x .003 = 75 hp.
~ It becomes readily apparent from the above calculations that ;~ the tool must possess a considerable energy storage capability ~
and, in addition, the ability to release said energy over a ~ .
very short period of time, namely, a few milliseconds.
Now, if a flywheel adopted as the energy storage mechanism, and we use a 3 inch diameter on and assume an angular velocity of w, a meaningful comparison can be made between the peripheral flywheel velocity and the nail insertion speed, and the flywheel energy and required energy.
Assuming a 3 inch nail is driven in .003 seconds, this is a velocity of:
Equation (lQ) 003 = 1000 in/sec.
The angular velocity of a 3 inch flywheel with 1000 in.~sec. peripheral velocity is:
:
_ g _ , . .
:, ~ . . . ; . . . .
; . , .
. . .
Equation (11) w = 15 = 666 rad./sec.
= 106 rev. sec.
= 6366 r.p.m.
This is a reasonable velocity and could be increased if necessary.
The energy of the flywheel is:
Equation (12) E - .5 I w where I is the angular inertia of the flywheel.
For a solid disc, 3 inch in diameter, the inertia is expressed as follows:
Equation (13) I = .5mr If, for example, brass is chosen for the fly-wheel and it is 1 inch thick, its mass is:
Equation (14) M = w = (535/1728) (/4) (9) (1? .0684 ft.
Thus, substituting in Equation (13), Equation (15) I = .5 (.0684~ (1.5/12)2 = 5.34 x 10 41b. ft. sec.
Using w = 666 rad./sec. the energy becomes:
Equation (16) E = .5(5.34 x 10 4) (666)2 = 118.43 ft. lb.
Having already determined that approximately 125 ft. lbs. of .:' ' 20 energy was needed to drive a 3.25 inch nail up to the head in - semihard wood, it becomes apparent that a 3 inch solid brass flywheel 1 inch thick rotating 7000 r.p.m. has ample energy i' and peripheral velocity to satisfy the needs of a high energy - nailer. ~ ;
Such a tool, however, if hand held, would likely develop significant precession moments when subject to angular rotation about axes perpendicular to the flywheel spin axis.
` The magnitude of this moments can be calculated as follows:
Equation (17~ Mp = IQw where Mp is the precession moment acting upon the nailer I is the inertia of the nailer's flywheel w is the angular velocity of the flywheel Q is the angular velocity that the operator attempts to rotate the nailer.
; 5 By way of example, assume the operator has a nailer with t~e previously-mentioned flywheel parameters and he attempts to reorient the nailer 180 in 0.1 sec., the resulting moment on the nailer due to gyroscopic precession ~'~ is calculated as follows:
Equation (18) = ~ c = 31.4 rad./sec.
Equation (19) Mp = (31.4 rad./sec.) 5.34 x 10 4 lb. ft. sec. ) ~666 rad./sec.) = 11.2 ft. lb.
~, This is a significant torque and would make it very difficult for the operator to position the nailer at any desired location.
Accordingly, two functionally identical fly-wheels rotating in opposite directions about parallel axes at ~; the same speed can be used to cancel out the precession moments .~ ~
I that are most unwelcome in a hand-held tool that must be posi-j 20 tioned carefully and accurately relative to a workpiece. It has now been found in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention that there are a number of other, more or ~, less critical parameters that must be reconnected with.
One of the most significant is the fact that if 25 a ram element 12 is pinched between a pair of counterrotating flywheels 14 and 16 which drive same forwardly against a work- -~
`' piece as illustrated in the diagram of Figure 1, then no -slippage of any consequence can be tolerated if, as previously 3 noted, the entire work stroke of the ram must be completed in 30 a few milliseconds. In other words, if the tool is to be used ' to drive a 16 penny nail, it must be capa~le of transmitting a .: .
lOSZ95S
1000 lb. force to the ram in a .003 second ram engagement time.
While a driving connection between the flywheels and the ram can be accomplished in more than one way, the only practical one seems to be frictionally as it requires no synchronous engagement as would a rack and pinion and the like.
Furthermore, a clutch of some nature is necessary to bring the already spinning flywheels into instant driving engagement ~` with the ram, it being an obvious impossibility to bring the flywheels up to the required speed and drive the ram all with-in a few milliseconds, yet, such would be necessary if the flywheels stayed in driving engagement therewith.
Now, such a clutch could either operate to shift ; both flywheels toward and away from one another to engage and disengage the flywheel or, alternatively, only one need move relative to the other, the movable one engaging the ram and :~ pushing it sideways against the fixed one. Of the two, the latter approach is much to be preferred over the former for the reason that if the ram floats between two relatively movable flywheels, one will reach it ahead of the other each actuation rather than simultaneously. As this happens one flywheel of the pair will have to yield to the other in which the overbalancing force is present. It can be shown that these ram engaging forces are of the order of three times the s force necessary to drive the nail, i.e. 3000 lbs. as compared with 1000 lbs; therefore, a yieldable flywheel mounting system becomes a most difficult mechanism to properly design and engi-neer. Furthermore, one is never sure what path the ram will follow on its forward excursion or work stroke as it may be on either side of its guidewa~s depending upon which of the two flywheels has taken precedence over the other on the particular actuation. For the reasons above noted, one fly-, . .
... ~ ~ ,. ............ . ~
~ . :
wheel mounted for rotation ahout a fixed spin axis and clutch attached to the other operative upon actuation to narrow the gap therebetween is much the better way of solving the ; problem.
While it is certainly possible to shift the mov-able flywheel toward the fixed one along a line perpendicular to the direction of ram travel into its extended position, --: developing a ram-engaging force nearly three times the maximum work force developed in the ram becomes a serious problem.
It has been found, however, that ram-gripping forces of suf-ficient magnitude can easily be developed by swinging the movable flywheel arcuately into engagement about an axis of . pivotal movement lying to the rear of its spin axis. As the surface of the movable flywheel engages the adjacent ram sur-face and forces the ram over against the surface of the fixed flywheel, its direction of rotation is such as to roll it rearwardly thereby increasing the pressure it exerts against the ram. Such flywheel action upon engagement with the opposite --; ram surfaces instantly and easily develops the requisite ram-gripping forces even though they exceed the maximum driving -~
force developed in the ram by a three-fold factor.
The theoretical arcuate excursion of the movable flywheel's spin axis is back into a plane passing through ~ `~
its axis of pivotal movement that is perpendicular to the direction of ram travel into its extended position. Once the spin axis passes rearwardly beyond this plane, however, the clutch loosens its grip on the ram and the driving connection -is lost. If the system is to accommodate even minimal wear on ` the mating parts, therefore, the spin axis of the arcuately movable flywheel must be stopped short of this position. How far short presents an interesting question and one that is :.: - : . . . - , '~ 1052951 susceptible of precise, though unobvious, solution in accordance with the teaching found herein.
The force tending to propel the ram upwardly as schematically represented in Figure 1 can be expressed as follows:
Equation (20~ Fd ~ 2 F Kf where Fn is the normal force between the flywheel and ram surface, and Kf is the coefficient of friction between the y ram and flywheel.
In the same diagram, the downward force on the arcuately movable flywheel 16 is:
EquatiOn (21) Fu = FnKf From the geometry of the system, the force ~-Equation (22) Fn = u Tan ~ -where ~ is the acute angle at the intersection of a plane defined by the spin axis of the arcuately-movable ?i flywheel and its axis of pivotal movement and a second plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the ram 12 into extended position.
By substituting Equation (21) into Equation (22) ~ and simplifying, unexpectedly one finds that: ~-;~ Equation (23) Tan ~ = Kf Thus, knowing that slippage is critical and cannot be tolerated for all practical purposes, if Kf > tan ~, the flywheels will not slip once engaged with the ram. It now becomes quite ~ simple to select the angle ~ or the coefficient of friction s Kf so that the foregoing critical relationship is present.
, Note also that the flywheels are cylindrical and the engaged faces of the ram are planar so that they mate ..
lOSZ951 in tangential relation making straight-line contact with one another along a line parallel to the spin axis. Other comple-mentary surfaces are unsatisfactory and to be avoided for the reason that points thereon at different distances from the spin axis will, of necessity, have different peripheral velocities and slippage is bound to result.
A few other points are worthy of specific mention before proceeding with a detailed description of the nail-driving embodiment of the impact tool. Motor size is a con- -sideration and it depends upon the required duty cycle. As previously noted, the average power consumed is approximately 75 hp to drive a 16 penny nail so as to bury the head flush with the surface of the workpiece. Since energy is stored in the flywheels, the actual motor size required to drive them may vary from 0 - 75 hp depending upon the required duty cycle. If a duty cycle of 5 actuations/sec. is chosen and friction ignored, the required motor would be: -Equation (24~ Preq = 75 (lj = 1.125 hp In other words, a 1.125 hp motor could maintain flywheel speed even using five actuations per second. Obviously, this is an excessive duty cycle from a practical standpoint and it becomes quite obvious that a small fractional horsepower electric motor would be entirely adequate. Furthermore, the amount of energy dissipated per actuation is such that battery power would be quite adequate to power the motors in light to medium duty applications over moderate time spans of a few hours or so.
~ Excessive ram energy can be a problem and pro--~ vision may be needed for controlling same. The first of two provisions for doing so is by means of a speed control 18 for the motor or motors driving the flywheels such as that shown schematically in Figure 12 and upon which no novelty whatsoever is predicated, it being merely representative of one such speed (~
lOSZgSl control that could be used. The various positions of the control knob 20 can be indexed to positions on the scale 22 (Figure 2~ that are calibrated directly in nail sizes, for example. ~-Since enough energy must be imparted to the ram to insure completion of the work assigned thereto, a slight excess is ordinarily employed. To avoid damaging the workpiece due to the presence of this excess energy, however, means are preferably provided for dissipating some before it can cause the ram to dent, gouge, puncture, sear or otherwise damage the workpiece. An energy-absorbing cushion 24 is placed in the nosepiece 26 on the front end of the nozzle 28 of the case effective to receive and absorb some of the excess energy left in the ram as it nears completion of its work stroke.
If, however, the ram is still being positively driven by the flywheels, such a cushion is inadequate. Accordingly, the length of the ram is preferably such in relation to the location of the flywheels behind the nosepiece that the ram has moved out of positive driven engagement therewith prior to its completing its work stroke or striking the cushion 24 as shown most clearly in Figure 7. This means, of course, that the cushion is no longer required to absorb the direct energy being supplied to the ram by the flywheels at the end of its stroke, but only that energy left over due to its mass and velocity. Obviously, the lighter the ram, the less residual energy it has at the end of its stroke, all other factors being equal.
At the instant the ram moves forward beyond the flywheels and becomes disengaged therefrom, at least insofar as a driving connection therebetween is concerned, the clutch is free to reopen the gap between the flywheels and allow the ., , ' ' ,.
ram to complete its cycle of movement by passing back there-between under the influence of tension spring 30 connected thereto. In the particular form shown, the clutch actuating means comprises the nosepiece 26 which is mounted for re-S tractable movement relative to the nozzle 28, and a rigidlink 32 which operative connects the nosepiece to the pivoted frame 34 journalling the movable flywheel 16 for arcuate movement. As the nosepiece moves rearwardly into retracted position upon being pressed against a workpiece W in the manner shown in Figure 7, link 32 acts upon the pivoted frame 34 to swing the mova~le flywheel rearwardly into engaged ram-driving relation. Once engaged, the ram cannot be released until it leaves the flywheels even if it were possible to return the nosepiece to its extended position during the few milli-seconds it takes to complete the power stroke. Once the ram 7, has, in fact, moved out of driving engagement therewith, the clutch is free to reopen the gap between the flywheels. This is accomplished automatically by a clutch release means con-nected to normally bias the pivoted frame 34 in a direction to open the gap between the flywheels. In the particular form shown, the clutch release means takes the form of a compression spring 36 normally biasing the retractable nosepiece 26 into , extended position. Thus, before this particular clutch -` release means can function, the biasing force it exerts on the nosepiece must exceed the opposing retracting force exerted thereon by the workpiece W. As a practical matter, as soon as the ram has completed its work stroke, the operator will usually remove the nosepiece from engagement with the workpiece thus permitting the clutch release means to open the gap between the flywheels so spring 30 can retract the ram there-between.
, ~05Z951 Turning next to Figure 2 where the nail-driving embodiment 10 of the tool has been shown in perspective, reference numeral 40 has been selected to designate the case or housing in its entirety, nozzle 28 forming a part thereof.
; 5 Immediately behind the nozzle is an enlargement which will henceforth be referred to as the "flywheel cavity" 42 for lack of a better term. Within this cavity is housed the drive means in the form of a pair of identical electric motors 44, -the movable mounting 34 for one of them, and the fixed mounting 46 for the other. Extending on rearwardly of the flywheel cavity as an integral part of the housing aligned longitudinally with the nozzle is the upper limb 48 of the handle 50. Limb i 48 is hollow and adapted to receive the ram 12 in its retracted position as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In the particular form shown, speed selector switch 20 of the speed control 18 along with the scale 22 calibrated in nail sizes or the like are ,~
provided on the rearwardly-forcing wall 52 on the back of handle ; 50. The handle 50, as a whole, has the usual C-shaped config-;~ uration commonly associated with many electrically-driven hand tools. The handle 50 also carries the trigger 54 and the line cord 56 to the source of electrical power in the event a self-contained power source is not used. ~ -As illustrated, the case has a removable cover plate 58 which provides access to the interior thereof and, in addition, it is shown die cast in two halves which are bolted together. The nail gun form of the tool, of course, requires an opening 60 (Figures 7, 8 and 9) into which the nails or other fasteners 62 are fed into the path of the advancing ram 12. A magazine 64 of conventional design has been shown feeding a commercially-available belt of nails into opening 60 in the side of the nozzle.
:
. .
- -` lOSZ951 -Figures 3-7, inclusive, to which reference ~
will now be made, show the interior construction of the tool ~ -; most clearly. Resting in the bottom of flywheel cavity 42 is a fixed endplate 66 which carries a bearing 6E journalling ~5 5 the shaft 70~ of fixed motor 44F. An upstanding partition wall 72 divides the flywheel cavity into two motor compartments 74 and 76. A horizontal wall 78 formed integral with the partition wall 72 separates the motor compartments 74 and 76 from the flywheel compartment 80. The horizontal wall is shown supported on ledges 82 on the inside of the flywheel cavity.
Additional shaft bearings 68 are mounted in fixed position in one half of the flywheel compartment, one being recessed in the top of the horizontal wall while the other is recessed into the lid. Fixed flywheel 14 is mounted on the portion of motor shaft 70F pro~ecting from motor compartment 74 up into the flywheel compartment. Thus, the fixed motor 44F and its flywheel 14 are housed in one side of the flywheel cavity alongside ram 12.
-~ In the other side of the flywheel cavity, is ; 20 mounted movable motor 44M, its shaft 70M and movable flywheel ~-, 16. Fixed endplate 66 is replaced by movable endplate 84 that carries bearing 68 journalling the lower end of shaft 70M of the movable motor 44M. This endplate together with verti-cally-spaced parallel arms 86 co-operate to define the pivoted ~' 25 mounting means 34 that carries motor 44M and its flywheel for pivotal movement in a direction to vary the width of the gap q so as to engage and form a driving connection with the ram.
The lower end of pin 88 is non-rotatably fastened in an inte-grally-foxmed foot 90 provided on the underside of the movable endplate 88 which skids back and forth on the bottom of the housing. The housing is shown provided with an enlargement .
:'' . ~ ; , 105'~95~
92 to accommodate the pivot pin, the upper end of which is rotatably mounted in a socket 94 in the coverplate 58. As shown, arms 86 are joined together by a web 96 to define a unitary structure which is non-rotatably fastened to the pivot pin 88. These arms and movable endplate 84 each carry bearings 68 journalling the shaft 70 of motor 44M. An oversize aperture 98 in the horizontal wall 78 accommodates the shaft 70 of the movable motor and permits the entire pivoted mount 34 therefore to swing arcuately relative thereto between its engaged and disengaged positions. Note in Figures 1 and 3 that the axis of pivotal movement defined by the pivot pin 88 is located to the rear of the spin axis of the movable flywheel defined by movable motor shaft 70. Thus, even when fully en-gaged as shown in Figure 7, the spin axis still lies well ahead of a plane passing through the axis of pivotal movement of the mount that is perpendicular to the path followed by the ram during its excursion into extended position or work stroke. As will be seen presently, the ram is loosely fitted ;
for longitudinal slidable movement in the opposed track-forming grooves 100 of the clutch actuating means 32 so that it can move aside the fraction of an inch required to bring it into engagement with the fixed flywheel. Once thus engaged, however, the ram follows a straight-line path determined by the shoulders 102 of the track-forming grooves or guideway remote from the movable flywheel that is urging the latter thereagainst. It is for this reason that the angle ~ in Figure 1 and the normal plane have been defined in terms of the forward excursion of the ram. The return stroke of the ram, while confined to the guideway, need not follow a straight line and, in fact, can be slightly canted therein.
Directing the attention next to Figures 3-11, inclusive, it can be seen that a pair of rearwardly-extending , :~
iO52951 parallel arms 104 are attached to the rear face of the nose-piece 26 and mount same within the nozzle for limited re-ciprocating movement between its normally extended position and a retracted one. These arms perform a dual function, the first of which is that of guiding the ram between its extended and retracted position due to the track-forming grooves 100 formed in the opposed surfaces thereof. Secondly, it is these same arms that are operatively linked to the arms 86 of the pivoted mount 34 and thus co-operates with the nosepiece to define the clutch actuating means 32.
These arms, while forming the guideway for the ram, are, in themselves, guided for limited reciprocating 3 slidable movement in opposed grooves 106 formed on the under-side of the lid 58 to the housing and the bottom walls of the t 15 nozzle 28 and upper handle limb 48 into which they telescope.
A
q In contrast to the ram 12, arms 104 are closely confined within the grooves 106 in the housing so that its movement .
`~ is restricted to essentially straight-line motion.
As revealed most clearly in Figures 10 and 11, a fixed limit stop 108 provided on the underside of lid 58 ` engages a movable stop 110 carried by the upper arm 104 to limit the forward excursion of the clutch-actuating means 32.
The rearward movement of the latter is stopped when the nose-piece 26 engages the front end of the nozzle. One or more 9. 25 compression springs 36 positioned between the opposed faces of the nozzle and nosepiece normally bias the latter into extended position. These springs constitute a clutch release mechanism automatically operative to disengage the clutch in a manner to be explained in detail presently as soon as the clutch actuating means 32 is deactuated by permitting the nosepiece to return to its normally-extended position.
~ ~052951 Now, in ~igures 3--7 it can be seen that the ends of arms 86 of the pivoted mount 34 remote from pivot pin 88 are provided with vertically-aligned ears 112 that are re-ceived in notches 114 formed in the boss 116 provided on one side of arms 104. The connection thus formed between the clutch actuating means 32 consisting of the nosepiece 26 and arms 104 operatively links the latter to the clutch means consisting of the flywheels and pivoted mount 34. As the clutch actuating means 32 is actuated by pressing the nosepiece against a workpiece with sufficient force to overcome the bias exerted thereon by springs 36 and retract same, it will swing the mounting means 34 rearward arcuately to close the gap separating the flywheels thus engaging the clutch by gripping the ram therebetween. As previously noted, once engaged, the clutch will remain so until the ram clears the flywheels as shown in Figure 7. When this happens, the clutch can be ; disengaged and it will do so automatically under the influence of the clutch release springs 36 provided the clutch actuating means 32 has been deactuated. In other words, so long as the nosepiece remains pressed against the workpiece, ram retraction spring 30 will be pulling it back into contact with the fly-~ wheels, but they will not spread apart to allow it to pass 't therebetween. As soon as the pressure on the nosepiece is re-lieved to a point when the bias on the latter by clutch re-~' 25 lease springs 36 can extend it, the gap between the flywheels will reopen and the ram can complete its return stroke.
The flywheel engaging surfaces of the ram will ~oth be seen to include friction pads 118 formed from some tough abrasion resistant material having a reasonably high coefficient of friction when placed in contact with a metal flywheel ~uch as, for example, ordinary brake lining material.
.
lOSZ951 As ram retraction spring 30 biases the ram rearwardly, it strikes limit stop 120 shown in Figure 5.
The front end of the ram is shaped to define a nose 122 bordered both top and bottom by forwardly-facing ~ 5 shoulders 124 best seen in Figures 5, 8 and 9. The nose 122 ; passes through an aperture 126 sized to receive same in the nosepiece while the shoulders engage the shock-absorbing cushion 24 bordering the latter. Whatever energy is left in ~ the ram at the completion of its workstroke is, hopefully, - 10 dissipated in this cushion, otherwise the nose of the ram will ; impact against the workpiece itself.
.~
Particular reference will next be had to Figures
5, 6, 7, 11 and 12 for a detailed description of the trigger 54 and an important safety interlock between the latter and the clutch actuating means 32. Trîgger 54 is pivotally mounted `s within the opening in the handle in the usual manner and is normally biased forwardly by spring 128. As the trigger is ~ manually actuated into retracted position it closes the '~A normally-open on/off switch 130 in the motor speed control 3 20 circuit 18, the latter having been shown located in the lower ~ limb 132 of the handle.
$ A vertically disposed T-shaped slot 134 is formed integral with web 136 on the inside of the handle above the trigger. Mounted within this slot for limited vertically slidable movement is a limit stop 138 operatively connected ~ ;
to the trigger by link 140. As the trigger 54 is retracted into its actuated position, it acts through connecting link 140 to raise the stop 138 and move its forwardly-projecting abutment 142 from behind the lower arm 104, thus allowing the clutch actuating means 32 to move rearwardly so as to engage the clutch. With the trigger released, abutment 142 blocks - - . . . ......................... .
:- - ~ ., 7.
-lOS2951 the retraction of the nosepiece 26 which, as previously noted, is necessary to engage the clutch. Thus, if the tool is running and dropped on its nose by the operator, he will, of necessity, let go of the trigger thus interpositioning the abutment 142 and prevented the clutch from engaging which, otherwise, would have actuated the ram to discharge a nail.
In Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, the magazine 64 will be seen to be of more or less conventional design including upper and lower parallelogram-shaped plates 144 and 146 connected along the front edge by a wall 148 that co-operates therewith to produce a rearwardly-opening channel. Tracks 150 spaced to receive the shanks of the nails 62 therebetween and hold same for slidable movement in alignment with the nose ~i 122 of the ram are located just inside the opening in the rear edge. The nail heads butt up against this track and are ` advanced into position to be driven by a follower 152 which is , pulled by a coiled tension spring 154.
The nails themselves are joined together to form a belt by paper tapes 156 in the conventional way as shown. The lead nail of the chain abuts a stop 158 inside the i nozzle across from opening 60 that holds it in alignment with the nose of the ram. The second nail, on the other hand, is still held back by the track 150. Therefore, as the ram ad-i vances, it strips the lead nail from the belt and drives it on into the workpiece; whereupon, the follower moves the next nail into position to be driven as soon as the clutch actuating means is deactuated, the clutch release means opens the clutch, and the ram retraction spring pulls it back to clear the nozzle. To reload the magazine, the follower is pulled all the way out in much the same way a stapler is loaded. Since no novelty is predicated upon the magazine per se, a detailed ;
:
. . .
description of its structural features would serYe no useful purpose. The same is true of the motor speed control circuit of Figure 12 which has no details identified other than those :
components which have mechanical significance in the tool itself.
In closing, it should be noted that while the , tool shown is specifically designed for driving nail-like ,. ~
fasteners, it is by no means so limited and the ram can impact directly upon an external workpiece in the manner of a stamp, punch or chisel just as well as through the medium of a fastener. It can easily be seen that a tool having the following parameters is praçtical and, in addition, will perform adequately in any of the previously mentioned , applications: -Flywheel Diameter 3" ~-s Flywheel Speed 7000 r.p.m.
,. .
Ram Speed 1000 in./sec.
, Motor Horsepower 1.125 Total Instrument Wt. 10 lb. ~`
:
.', '`` '' .
-, ' ;
$ A vertically disposed T-shaped slot 134 is formed integral with web 136 on the inside of the handle above the trigger. Mounted within this slot for limited vertically slidable movement is a limit stop 138 operatively connected ~ ;
to the trigger by link 140. As the trigger 54 is retracted into its actuated position, it acts through connecting link 140 to raise the stop 138 and move its forwardly-projecting abutment 142 from behind the lower arm 104, thus allowing the clutch actuating means 32 to move rearwardly so as to engage the clutch. With the trigger released, abutment 142 blocks - - . . . ......................... .
:- - ~ ., 7.
-lOS2951 the retraction of the nosepiece 26 which, as previously noted, is necessary to engage the clutch. Thus, if the tool is running and dropped on its nose by the operator, he will, of necessity, let go of the trigger thus interpositioning the abutment 142 and prevented the clutch from engaging which, otherwise, would have actuated the ram to discharge a nail.
In Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, the magazine 64 will be seen to be of more or less conventional design including upper and lower parallelogram-shaped plates 144 and 146 connected along the front edge by a wall 148 that co-operates therewith to produce a rearwardly-opening channel. Tracks 150 spaced to receive the shanks of the nails 62 therebetween and hold same for slidable movement in alignment with the nose ~i 122 of the ram are located just inside the opening in the rear edge. The nail heads butt up against this track and are ` advanced into position to be driven by a follower 152 which is , pulled by a coiled tension spring 154.
The nails themselves are joined together to form a belt by paper tapes 156 in the conventional way as shown. The lead nail of the chain abuts a stop 158 inside the i nozzle across from opening 60 that holds it in alignment with the nose of the ram. The second nail, on the other hand, is still held back by the track 150. Therefore, as the ram ad-i vances, it strips the lead nail from the belt and drives it on into the workpiece; whereupon, the follower moves the next nail into position to be driven as soon as the clutch actuating means is deactuated, the clutch release means opens the clutch, and the ram retraction spring pulls it back to clear the nozzle. To reload the magazine, the follower is pulled all the way out in much the same way a stapler is loaded. Since no novelty is predicated upon the magazine per se, a detailed ;
:
. . .
description of its structural features would serYe no useful purpose. The same is true of the motor speed control circuit of Figure 12 which has no details identified other than those :
components which have mechanical significance in the tool itself.
In closing, it should be noted that while the , tool shown is specifically designed for driving nail-like ,. ~
fasteners, it is by no means so limited and the ram can impact directly upon an external workpiece in the manner of a stamp, punch or chisel just as well as through the medium of a fastener. It can easily be seen that a tool having the following parameters is praçtical and, in addition, will perform adequately in any of the previously mentioned , applications: -Flywheel Diameter 3" ~-s Flywheel Speed 7000 r.p.m.
,. .
Ram Speed 1000 in./sec.
, Motor Horsepower 1.125 Total Instrument Wt. 10 lb. ~`
:
.', '`` '' .
-, ' ;
Claims (12)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An impact tool having driving fasteners comprising:
a) a housing defining a drive path;
b) a pair of counter-rotating flywheels;
c) power means for rotating said flywheels;
d) ram means movable in said drive path;
e) feed means including a magazine containing a supply of fasten-ers for supplying fasteners in sequence to said drive path;
f) clutch means for drivingly coupling said flywheels and ram means to propel said ram means in a drive stroke along said drive path toward a fastener disposed in said drive path to impact the fastener; and g) control means for controlling the clutch means.
a) a housing defining a drive path;
b) a pair of counter-rotating flywheels;
c) power means for rotating said flywheels;
d) ram means movable in said drive path;
e) feed means including a magazine containing a supply of fasten-ers for supplying fasteners in sequence to said drive path;
f) clutch means for drivingly coupling said flywheels and ram means to propel said ram means in a drive stroke along said drive path toward a fastener disposed in said drive path to impact the fastener; and g) control means for controlling the clutch means.
2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising adjustable speed control means coupled to said power means for controlling the speed of rotation of said flywheels.
3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the control means includes means responsive to disposing said housing adjacent a workpiece,
4. The tool of claim 1. wherein the control means includes manually operable means.
5. The tool of claim 1 wherein the power means includes a rotating electric motor and the control means includes a manually operable electric switch for energizing the electric motor.
6. The tool of claim 1, said pair of counterrotating flywheels flanking said ram means.
7. The tool of claim 6, said coupling means including means for moving at least one said flywheel from a first position wherein the gap distance between said flywheels exceeds the thickness of the ram means toward a second position wherein the gap distance is smaller than said thickness.
8. The tool of claim 7, said ram means including a segment of reduced thickness less than said gap distance in said second position.
9. A fastener driving method comprising the steps of: counter-rotating a pair of flywheels of equal mass about parallel axes at equal speeds, so as to cancel precession moments, and transferring energy from said flywheels to a fastener driving ram by moving one of said flywheels toward the other to pinch said ram between them.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said counter-rotating step comprises rotating one flywheel about a relatively fixed axis of rotation and rotating the other flywheel about a relatively movable axis of rotation.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said pinching step comprises pivoting said relatively movable axis of rotation about a pivot axis sub-stantially spaced from a plane including said axes of rotation.
12. The method of claim 9 including the step of adjusting the speed of rotation of the flywheels to control the energy transferred to the ram.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA210,255A CA1030701A (en) | 1973-10-04 | 1974-09-27 | Electric impact tool |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1052951A true CA1052951A (en) | 1979-04-24 |
Family
ID=4101232
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA278,966A Expired CA1052951A (en) | 1974-09-27 | 1977-05-24 | Electric impact tool |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1052951A (en) |
-
1977
- 1977-05-24 CA CA278,966A patent/CA1052951A/en not_active Expired
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4204622A (en) | Electric impact tool | |
| US4042036A (en) | Electric impact tool | |
| FI64758C (en) | SLAGVERKTYG FOER INDRIVNING AV FAESTDON | |
| US4323127A (en) | Electrically operated impact tool | |
| US4189080A (en) | Impact device | |
| KR0142018B1 (en) | Fastening Tool | |
| US6607111B2 (en) | Flywheel operated tool | |
| US7905377B2 (en) | Flywheel driven nailer with safety mechanism | |
| CA1270101A (en) | Fastener driving tool | |
| EP0119822B1 (en) | Fastener driving tool | |
| US8136606B2 (en) | Cordless nail gun | |
| US5098004A (en) | Fastener driving tool | |
| US4380312A (en) | Stapling tool | |
| EP2271464B1 (en) | Cordless framing nailer | |
| JPS6362353B2 (en) | ||
| JP2004535303A (en) | Flywheel operated nailing machine | |
| CA2500591A1 (en) | Improved nail placement device | |
| CA2282145C (en) | Fastener-driving tool having wear guard defining fastener-guiding surface | |
| EP2127815A1 (en) | Fastener driving tool | |
| US11524396B2 (en) | Fastener tool | |
| CA1052951A (en) | Electric impact tool | |
| EP2127814B1 (en) | Fastener supply assembly | |
| US3359777A (en) | Hand tool | |
| WO1983002082A1 (en) | Electrically driven impact tool and method of operating the same | |
| CA1250401A (en) | Fastener driving tool |