Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25C—HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS
  • B25C7/00—Accessories for nailing or stapling tools, e.g. supports
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25C—HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS
  • B25C1/00—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices
  • B25C1/04—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices operated by fluid pressure, e.g. by air pressure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25C—HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS
  • B25C5/00—Manually operated portable stapling tools; Hand-held power-operated stapling tools; Staple feeding devices therefor
  • B25C5/10—Driving means
  • B25C5/13—Driving means operated by fluid pressure

Definitions

• the technology disclosed herein relates generally to pneumatic fastener driving tools and is particularly directed to an adapter that converts a fastener driving tool into an automatic (multiple shots per second) pneumatic fastener driving tool.
• Embodiments are specifically disclosed as an adapter that is mounted to the frame body of a pneumatic fastener driving tool, in which the adapter has a control valve that automatically moves to direct pressurized air to different passageways in the tool body in a repetitive cyclic manner. The speed of actuation can be adjusted by the user.
• Certain pneumatically-operated staplers are used for heavy duty fastener application, such as sheathing, furniture framing, roof decking, subflooring, pallets, and the like.
• An example of such a heavy-duty wire stapler is a Senco Model No. SHS51XP-N, which can drive staples that are at least 50 mm in length. This tool is a single-shot device.
• pressurized gas such as compressed air
• an adapter for use with a pneumatically-operated fastener driving tool which comprises: (a) a housing having a plurality of passageways to allow gas (such as air) to flow therethrough, including a speed control passageway, a first trigger control passageway, and a first firing valve control passageway; (b) a movable control valve that is movable within an opening in the housing; (c) at least two of the plurality of passageways being in fluidic communication with the control valve, and extending to predetermined positions along a mating surface of the housing; (d) in an initial operating state, the control valve occupies a first position which allows gas (such as air) to flow between the first trigger control passageway and the first firing valve control
• a combination adapter and pneumatically- operated fastener driving tool which comprises: (a) a pneumatically-operated fastener driving tool comprising: a user-actuated trigger; a firing valve that, when actuated, drives a fastener from the tool and into a workpiece; a second trigger control passageway, and a second firing valve control passageway; the second trigger control passageway being used to contain a trigger gas (or air) flow signal that changes state when the trigger of the tool is actuated by a user; and the second firing valve control passageway being used to contain a firing gas (or air) flow signal that changes state when the firing valve is to be actuated; (b) a adapter comprising: a housing having a plurality of passageways to allow gas (or air) flows to pass therethrough, including a speed control passageway, a first trigger control passageway, and a first firing valve control passageway; a movable control valve that is movable within an opening in
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a top (rear) portion of a pneumatic fastener driving tool with an adapter mounted thereto, as constructed according to the principles of the technology disclosed herein.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view in partial cutaway of the adapter of FIG. 1, showing details of a control valve contained therewithin.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the adapter of FIG. 1 , showing several different states of operation that make this adapter function as an automatic tool.
• FIG. 4 is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 1 , showing details of the control valve and the air passageways.
• FIG. 5 is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 1 , showing a first, initial operating state before the tool's trigger is actuated.
• FIG. 6 is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 1, showing a second operating state after the tool's trigger has been actuated, and the firing valve opens to drive a fastener.
• FIG. 7 is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 1 , showing a third operating state after the tool's firing valve has operated, the spring has been compressed, and the firing valve will close.
• FIG. 8 is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 1, showing a fourth operating state after the spring has pushed the control valve back to its nominal state; the control valve will again function to fire a fastener if the trigger remains actuated.
• FIG. 9 is a side, elevational view of the adapter of FIG. 1.
• an adapter is mounted to the top (or rear) of a conventional fastener driving tool 5.
• the adapter 10 includes a control valve 20, which converts the "single shot” fastener driving tool 5 into a “multiple shot” automatic fastener driving tool. To achieve this conversion, the end cap portion (not shown) of the conventional fastener driving tool 5 is removed, and the adapter 10 replaces that end cap portion.
• the conventional fastener driving tool 5 is a Senco Model No. SHS51XP-N heavy-duty wire stapler.
• SHS51XP-N heavy-duty wire stapler Of course, other models of single- shot fastener driving tools could also be used with this inventive adapter.
• FIG. 2 a partial cutaway of the adapter 10 is illustrated, showing details of the control valve 20. A pair of “distance bushings,” and a compression spring are also illustrated in FIG. 2, as discussed below in greater detail.
• FIG. 3 several views are provided showing the various stages of operation of the control valve 20 within the adapter 10. As the control valve moves to different positions within its cylindrical sleeve, different air flow patterns are enabled which allow the overall tool (i.e., the combination of the conventional tool 5 and the adapter 10) to operate in an automatic fire mode. Each of these states is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 4-7, which will now be described, before coming back to this FIG. 3.
• control valve 20 various portions of the control valve 20 are seen, including a center land 30, a left land 32, and a right land 34. Within the sleeve's cylindrical volume is a left air passageway 36 and a right air passageway 38. Adjacent to the control valve is a compression spring 26, and a pair of distance bushings 22 and 24. It should be noted that the cross-sectional shape of the control valve 20 (and its corresponding sleeve) does not necessarily have to be circular; however, that shape is a standard design in the technical field of fluidics for such valves and their internal openings (or sleeves).
• a speed control air passageway (into the tool body) is indicated at reference numeral 40; a trigger air passageway (into the tool body) is indicated at reference numeral 42, and a firing valve air relief passageway (into the tool body) is indicated at reference numeral 44.
• a constant source of air pressure is available (from the tool body) at the reference numeral 50.
• Air passageways within the adapter itself exist at 41, 43, 45, and 51, in which 41 is a "speed control" air passageway, 43 is a "trigger air” passageway, 45 is a "firing valve air relief passageway,” and 51 is a passageway for the constant air supply.
• These passageways 41, 43, 45, and 51 are sized and shaped to line up to the existing air passageways in the body of the conventional pneumatic tool 5, at the physical interface between the tool 5 and the adapter 10.
• FIG. 4 also illustrates certain other features of the adapter 10.
• a "control plate” (or housing) 60 provides the outer surface of the adapter. There are several mounting holes 62 in this control plate 60, which are used to hold the adapter 10 to the tool body, using mounting screws, in most designs.
• the initial state (or "first" position) of operation is illustrated, in which the trigger of the tool is not activated.
• the trigger air will flow through the control valve 20 and will press the firing valve downwards; therefore, the firing valve (not shown) will be closed.
• the control valve 20 is positioned to the right (in this view), in which the spring 26 is not being compressed.
• the center land 30 is positioned such that the left air passageway 36 is open to both the trigger air passageway 43 and the firing valve air relief passageway 45, thereby allowing an air flow therethrough, which is referred to as the "trigger air flow path" 72.
• the trigger air flow path 72 includes the air passageways 42 and
• the trigger air (at 42) will flow through the control valve 20 and will press the firing valve downwards (via the firing valve air relief passageway 44); therefore, the firing valve (not shown) will be closed.
• the trigger (not shown) of the main tool is activated. Pressurized air will then flow through the control valve onto the firing valve and is released by the trigger. The firing valve will go up and will be in firing position, and actuates to drive a fastener. There will be air flowing through the speed control air passageway 40; this is referred to as the "speed control air flow path" 70.
• This air flow is provided by the constant air source 50, and flows through the constant air source passageway 51 (illustrated as an “air source path” 74), then through the right air passageway 38, then to the speed control air passageway 40 (via the air passageway 41), which is illustrated as the "speed control air flow path” 70.
• the air coming through the speed control 40 will move the control valve 20 to the other end of the sleeve (to the left in this view, i.e., towards the spring 26, which becomes compressed), which is the control valve's second position.
• the sourced constant air at 50 will pass through the control valve (in the right air passageway 38) towards the firing valve air passageway 44, which will move downwards, and the firing valve will close.
• This air flow path is referred to as the "air relief flow path" 76, on FIG. 7.
• the control valve 20 releases the air, and the fastener driving tool will get into a non-firing position (which is a "rest" position).
• the spring 26 will push the control valve 20 back to its nominal (first) position and the tool will again enter the second state, if the trigger remains actuated. But if the trigger is not pressed in, and with the firing valve closed, pressurized air will flow through the air flow path 72, and constant supply air is available at 74. This is the initial state, depicted in FIG. 5; the control valve 20 would remain in its first position until the tool's trigger was once again actuated. [0037] However, if the trigger is still pushed in, then the cycle will continue by automatically entering the second state, as depicted in FIG. 6. As discussed above, pressurized air will then flow through the control valve on the firing valve and is released by the trigger.
• the firing valve will go up and move to its firing position, and the tool then drives a fastener.
• the first view titled “01” depicts the initial state, which corresponds to that viewed in FIG. 5; pressurized air flows through the flow paths 72 and 74; the trigger is not pulled, and the firing valve is closed.
• the second view “02” depicts the second state, which corresponds to that viewed in FIG. 6; pressurized air flows through the flow paths 70 and 74; the trigger is pulled (or "in"), and the firing valve is open.
• the next view “03” depicts the third state, which corresponds to that viewed in FIG. 7; pressurized air flows through the flow path 76; the trigger is in, and the firing valve becomes closed.
• next view “04" depicts the fourth state, which corresponds to that viewed in FIG. 8; pressurized air flows through the flow path 74; the trigger remains in, if the user wants to continue to the next automatic firing cycle (i.e., view "02"). Otherwise, the user releases the trigger, and in that circumstance, the next view "05" depicts the next state, which is the same as the first state depicted in the view "01."
• the speed of operation for the combination tool 5 and adapter 10 is adjustable, by a slotted type head screw that affects the air flow rate through the speed control air passageway 40.
• the head screw is retained on top of the adapter 5.
• the speed control air flow affects how fast the control valve 20 operates.
• the firing valve can cycle at a maximum rate of about 12 times per second.
• the adapter is about 79 mm x 73 mm x 15 mm in size.
• the operating air pressure on the control valve 20 is about 5% of the air pressure of the fastener driving tool 5.
• the control valve is made of hardened steel, the spring is made of spring steel, and the material of the control plate 60 is PA2200.
• the adapter body i.e., the control plate 60
• any type of product described herein that has moving parts, or that performs functions should be considered a “machine,” and not merely as some inanimate apparatus.
• Such “machine” devices should automatically include power tools, printers, electronic locks, and the like, as those example devices each have certain moving parts.
• a computerized device that performs useful functions should also be considered a machine, and such terminology is often used to describe many such devices; for example, a solid-state telephone answering machine may have no moving parts, yet it is commonly called a "machine” because it performs well-known useful functions.
• proximal can have a meaning of closely positioning one physical object with a second physical object, such that the two objects are perhaps adjacent to one another, although it is not necessarily required that there be no third object positioned therebetween.
• a "male locating structure” is to be positioned “proximal” to a "female locating structure.”
• this could mean that the two male and female structures are to be physically abutting one another, or this could mean that they are "mated” to one another by way of a particular size and shape that essentially keeps one structure oriented in a predetermined direction and at an X-Y (e.g., horizontal and vertical) position with respect to one another, regardless as to whether the two male and female structures actually touch one another along a continuous surface.
• X-Y e.g., horizontal and vertical
• two structures of any size and shape may be located somewhat near one another, regardless if they physically abut one another or not; such a relationship could still be termed "proximal.”
• two or more possible locations for a particular point can be specified in relation to a precise attribute of a physical object, such as being “near” or “at” the end of a stick; all of those possible near/at locations could be deemed “proximal” to the end of that stick.
• proximal can also have a meaning that relates strictly to a single object, in which the single object may have two ends, and the “distal end” is the end that is positioned somewhat farther away from a subject point (or area) of reference, and the “proximal end” is the other end, which would be positioned somewhat closer to that same subject point (or area) of reference.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

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Publications (1)

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Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (33)

• 2017
  • 2017-09-20 US US15/709,563 patent/US11141848B2/en active Active
• 2018
  • 2018-09-18 AU AU2018336724A patent/AU2018336724B2/en active Active
  • 2018-09-18 EP EP18857851.2A patent/EP3684553A4/en active Pending
  • 2018-09-18 NZ NZ761266A patent/NZ761266A/en unknown
  • 2018-09-18 CA CA3072112A patent/CA3072112C/en active Active
  • 2018-09-18 WO PCT/US2018/051471 patent/WO2019060285A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2018-09-18 JP JP2020512037A patent/JP6959437B2/ja active Active

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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