US3572572A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid pressure operated fastener driving device
Assignee: Stanley Bostich Inc
•
Filing: 1969-07-22
•
Granted: 1971-03-30
•
Expires: 1989-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A fastener driving device having a fluid pressure operated system for moving a fastener driving element through repeated cycles each of which includes a drive stroke during which a fastener is driven and a return stroke, the main control valve for effecting the cycle of operation being moved by pilot pressure within a pilot chamber acting on a pilot piston forming part of the main control valve, the pilot chamber being communicated with reservoir pressure through a restricted orifice and the exhaust of the pilot chamber being under the control of an auto-fire valve operable to prevent exhaust of the pilot pressure in response to the establishment of a pressure signal in the return plenum chamber at the end of the drive stroke and operable to permit exhaust of the pilot pressure in response to a low pressure signal from the return plenum chamber toward the end of the return stroke. The device also includes an interlock lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the depending stem of the actuating valve and having its ends connected respectively to the trigger member and a motion transmitting member, which, in turn, is connected through a spring to the work contacting member so as to prevent undesired movement of the actuating valve into its closed position as a result of recoil movement of the device when the fastener driving element completes its drive stroke.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter A Readyhough
- 👤 Walter G Lemos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:11
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25C; B25C1/00; B25C1/04; B25C1/041; B25C1/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
716 words
A fastener driving device comprising: a housing having means defining a pressure reservoir for receiving and containing fluid under pressure supplied thereto from a source of fluid under pressure; means defining a drive track for receiving successive fasteners to be driven from a supply of such fasteners fed thereto; fastener driving means carried by said housing for movement from a fastener receiving position through said drive track in a drive stroke into a fastener driven position and from said fastener driven position through a return stroke into said fastener receiving position; means within said housing defining a driving pressure chamber disposed in fluid communicating relation to said fastener driving means; main control valve means movable between a first position communicating said driving chamber with the atmosphere and closing communication between said driving chamber and said reservoir and a second position communicating said driving chamber with said reservoir and closing off communication of said driving chamber with the atmosphere so that said fastener driving means will be moved through said drive stroke in response to the movement of said main valve means into said second position and through said return stroke in response to the movement of said main valve means into said first position; means defining a pilot pressure chamber; a pilot pressure actuated member disposed in pressure communicating relation with said pilot chamber for movement from a first position into a first position in response to the communication of pilot pressure within said pilot chamber and from said second position into said first position in response to the exhaust of said pilot chamber to atmosphere; means operable in response to the movement of said pilot pressure actuated member into said first position for effecting movement of said main valve means into said second position and operable in response to the movement of said pilot pressure actuated member into said second position for effecting movement of said main valve means into said first position; means defining a restricted orifice continuously communicating said reservoir with said pilot chamber; means defining an exhaust outlet for said pilot chamber of a size greater than said restricted orifice; manually operable valve means mounted for movement between a normally closed position preventing communication of said pilot pressure chamber with said exhaust outlet and a manually actuated opened position communicating said pilot chamber with said exhaust outlet; auto-fire valve means arranged in series with said manually operable valve means between said pilot chamber and said exhaust outlet for controlling communication of said pilot chamber and said exhaust outlet when said manually operable valve means is disposed in said manually actuated opened position; said auto-fire valve means including a valve member mounted for movement between an opened position communicating said pilot pressure chamber with said exhaust outlet when said manually operated valve means is disposed in said manually actuated opened position and a closed position preventing communication of said pilot chamber with said exhaust outlet when said manually operated valve means is disposed in said manually actuated opened position; first pressure surface means operatively associated with said valve member and disposed in pressure communicating relation with said pilot chamber operable to bias said valve member into said opened position in response to the communication of pressure in said pilot chamber therewith; second pressure surface means operatively associated with said valve member of an effective area sufficiently greater than the effective area of said first pressure surface means to bias said valve member into said closed position in response to the communication of signal pressure therewith with a force greater than the force acting on said first pressure surface means biasing said valve member into said opened position; and means for communicating with said second pressure surface means a signal pressure, separate from said pilot pressure, established as a result of the movement of said pilot pressure actuated member into said second position, which signal pressure is dissipated as a result of the movement of said pilot pressure actuated member into said first position so that when said manually operable valve means is disposed in said manually actuated opened position said autofire valve means is operable to effect movement of said fastener driving means through continuous drive stroke and return stroke cycles until said manually operable valve means is moved into said closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
716 words
A fastener driving device comprising: a housing having means defining a pressure reservoir for receiving and containing fluid under pressure supplied thereto from a source of fluid under pressure; means defining a drive track for receiving successive fasteners to be driven from a supply of such fasteners fed thereto; fastener driving means carried by said housing for movement from a fastener receiving position through said drive track in a drive stroke into a fastener driven position and from said fastener driven position through a return stroke into said fastener receiving position; means within said housing defining a driving pressure chamber disposed in fluid communicating relation to said fastener driving means; main control valve means movable between a first position communicating said driving chamber with the atmosphere and closing communication between said driving chamber and said reservoir and a second position communicating said driving chamber with said reservoir and closing off communication of said driving chamber with the atmosphere so that said fastener driving means will be moved through said drive stroke in response to the movement of said main valve means into said second position and through said return stroke in response to the movement of said main valve means into said first position; means defining a pilot pressure chamber; a pilot pressure actuated member disposed in pressure communicating relation with said pilot chamber for movement from a first position into a first position in response to the communication of pilot pressure within said pilot chamber and from said second position into said first position in response to the exhaust of said pilot chamber to atmosphere; means operable in response to the movement of said pilot pressure actuated member into said first position for effecting movement of said main valve means into said second position and operable in response to the movement of said pilot pressure actuated member into said second position for effecting movement of said main valve means into said first position; means defining a restricted orifice continuously communicating said reservoir with said pilot chamber; means defining an exhaust outlet for said pilot chamber of a size greater than said restricted orifice; manually operable valve means mounted for movement between a normally closed position preventing communication of said pilot pressure chamber with said exhaust outlet and a manually actuated opened position communicating said pilot chamber with said exhaust outlet; auto-fire valve means arranged in series with said manually operable valve means between said pilot chamber and said exhaust outlet for controlling communication of said pilot chamber and said exhaust outlet when said manually operable valve means is disposed in said manually actuated opened position; said auto-fire valve means including a valve member mounted for movement between an opened position communicating said pilot pressure chamber with said exhaust outlet when said manually operated valve means is disposed in said manually actuated opened position and a closed position preventing communication of said pilot chamber with said exhaust outlet when said manually operated valve means is disposed in said manually actuated opened position; first pressure surface means operatively associated with said valve member and disposed in pressure communicating relation with said pilot chamber operable to bias said valve member into said opened position in response to the communication of pressure in said pilot chamber therewith; second pressure surface means operatively associated with said valve member of an effective area sufficiently greater than the effective area of said first pressure surface means to bias said valve member into said closed position in response to the communication of signal pressure therewith with a force greater than the force acting on said first pressure surface means biasing said valve member into said opened position; and means for communicating with said second pressure surface means a signal pressure, separate from said pilot pressure, established as a result of the movement of said pilot pressure actuated member into said second position, which signal pressure is dissipated as a result of the movement of said pilot pressure actuated member into said first position so that when said manually operable valve means is disposed in said manually actuated opened position said autofire valve means is operable to effect movement of said fastener driving means through continuous drive stroke and return stroke cycles until said manually operable valve means is moved into said closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 1 including: means defining a return plenum chamber; means for charging said return plenum chamber with fluid under pressure when said fastener driving means has moved through its drive stroke; means for communicating the fluid pressure charge of said plenum chamber with said fastener driving means to effect the return stroke thereof in response to the movement of said main valve means into its first position; means for exhausting the fluid pressure charge of said plenum chamber when said fastener driving means has completed its return stroke; and wherein said signal pressure communicating means include means defining a passageway communicating said plenum chamber with said second pressure surface means so that the fluid pressure charge of said plenum chamber constitutes said signal pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 2 including a flow restricting member adjustably mounted within said passageway for determining the rate at which said signal pressure is communicated with and dissipated from said second pressure surface means to thereby determine the rate of the continuous drive stroke and return stroke cycles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 3 wherein said valve member comprises a flexible annular diaphragm mounted with its periphery in confined relation, one surface of said diaphragm defined by the peripheral confinement thereof constituting said second pressure surface means, a central portion of the opposite surface of said diaphragm being engageable with an annular valve seat and constituting said first pressure surface means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 1 wherein said driving chamber defining means comprises a cylinder, said housing including a main casting having a bore extending downwardly from the upper end portion thereof receiving said cylinder, and a cap assembly fixedly secured to said main casting above said cylinder, said auto-fire valve means being carried by said cap assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
225 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for effecting movement of said main valve means in response to the movement of said pilot pressure actuated member comprises an elongated member mounted within said housing with its longitudinal axis parallel with the axis of said cylinder, said elongated member having a piston portion formed integrally on the lower end thereof which constitutes said pilot pressure actuated member, the lower surface of said piston portion being in communication with said pilot chamber and the upper surface thereof being in communication with said reservoir, said main valve means including an annular inlet valve element of an effective diameter less than said piston portion carried by said elongated member in upwardly spaced concentric relation to said piston portion and having an upwardly facing annular surface for engaging an annular valve seat fixed with respect to said housing in a position between said reservoir and the upper end of said cylinder and an annular exhaust valve element of a diameter less than said inlet valve element carried by said elongated member in upwardly spaced concentric relation to said inlet valve element for engaging an annular valve seat fixed with respect to said housing in a position between the upper end of said cylinder and a portion of said cap assembly having an exhaust opening therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
463 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a handle portion arranged to be gripped by the hand of an operator and a nose piece defining operatively fixed surface means engageable with a workpiece when said housing is manually moved by the operator into operative relation with a workpiece; said fluid pressure operated fastener driving means includes a fastener driving element having a fastener engaging end spaced outwardly beyond said work engaging surface means when said fastener driving means is disposed in said fastener driven position; a work contacting member carried by said housing for limited movement between a normal inoperative position and an operative position, said work contacting member including work engaging surface means disposed outwardly of said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is disposed in said inoperative position a predetermined distance beyond the position of said fastener driving element when the latter is disposed in said fastener driven position and in alignment with said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is in said operative position; a motion transmitting member carried by said housing for limited movement between a normally inoperative position and an operative position; spring means operatively connected between said members for transmitting the movement of said work contacting member from said inoperative position generally through said predetermined distance to said motion transmittinG member to move the latter from said inoperative position to said operative position and for yielding during the remainder of the movement of said work contacting member into said operative position while said motion transmitting member remains immobile; a trigger carried by said housing in a normal limited inoperative position operable to be engaged by a finger of the operator when said handle portion is manually gripped for manual movement into a limited operative position; and interlock means operatively connected between said trigger and said motion transmitting member for effecting movement of said manually operable valve means into the opened position thereof in response (1) to the simultaneous movement of said motion transmitting member and said trigger into their operative position, (2) to the movement of said motion transmitting member into its operative position when said trigger is in its operative position or (3) to the movement of said trigger into its operative position when said motion transmitting member is in its operative position, the yielding movement of said spring means preventing undesired movement of said manually operable valve means into said closed position by a relative movement of said work contacting member away from its operative position as a result of a movement of the housing away from the work piece against the manual pressure of the operator on the handle portion by the action of the fastener driving element moving into said fastener driven position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 7 wherein said manually operable valve means includes an actuating member having a depending end portion and wherein said interlock means includes an elongated interlock member, means pivotally interconnecting said interlock member intermediate its ends with the depending end portion of said actuating member, means connecting one end of said interlock member with said motion transmitting member for movement thereby in response to the movement of said work contacting member from said inoperative position to said operative position, and means for connecting the other end of said interlock member with said trigger for movement in response to the movement of said trigger from said inoperative position to said operative position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
472 words
A fastener driving device comprising a housing defining a handle portion arranged to be gripped by the hand of an operator and a nose piece defining operatively fixed surface means engageable with a workpiece when said housing is manually moved by the operator into operative relation with a workpiece; fluid pressure operated fastener driving means including a fastener driving element carried by said housing for movement from a fastener receiving position through a drive stroke into a fastener driven position and from said fastener driven position through a return stroke into said fastener receiving position; manually operable valve means normally disposed in an inoperative position movable into an operative position to actuate said fluid pressure operated means; a work contacting member carried by said housing for a limited movement between a normal inoperative position and an operative position, said work contacting member including work engaging surface means disposed outwardly of said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is disposed in said inoperative position a predetermined distance beyond the position of said fastener driving element when the latter is disposed in said fastener driven position and in alignment with said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is in said operative position; a motion transmitting member carried by said housing for limited movement between a normally inoperative position and an operative position; spring means operatively connected between said members for transmitting the movement of said work contacting member from said inoperative position generally through said predetermined distance to said mOtion transmitting member to move the latter from said inoperative position to said operative position and for yielding during the remainder of the movement of said work contacting member into said inoperative position while said motion transmitting member remains immobile; a trigger carried by said housing in a normal limited inoperative position operable to be engaged by a finger of the operator when said handle portion is manually gripped for manual movement into a limited operative position; and interlock means operatively connected between said trigger and said motion transmitting member for effecting movement of said valve means into the operative position thereof in response (1) to the simultaneous movement of said motion transmitting member and said trigger into their operative positions, (2) to the movement of said motion transmitting member into its operative position when said trigger is in its operative position or (3) to the movement of said trigger into its operative position when said motion transmitting member is in its operative position, the yielding movement of said spring means preventing undesired movement of said valve means into said inoperative position by a relative movement of said work contacting member away from its operative position as a result of a movement of the housing away from the work piece against the manual pressure of the operator on the handle portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
472 words
A fastener driving device comprising a housing defining a handle portion arranged to be gripped by the hand of an operator and a nose piece defining operatively fixed surface means engageable with a workpiece when said housing is manually moved by the operator into operative relation with a workpiece; fluid pressure operated fastener driving means including a fastener driving element carried by said housing for movement from a fastener receiving position through a drive stroke into a fastener driven position and from said fastener driven position through a return stroke into said fastener receiving position; manually operable valve means normally disposed in an inoperative position movable into an operative position to actuate said fluid pressure operated means; a work contacting member carried by said housing for a limited movement between a normal inoperative position and an operative position, said work contacting member including work engaging surface means disposed outwardly of said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is disposed in said inoperative position a predetermined distance beyond the position of said fastener driving element when the latter is disposed in said fastener driven position and in alignment with said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is in said operative position; a motion transmitting member carried by said housing for limited movement between a normally inoperative position and an operative position; spring means operatively connected between said members for transmitting the movement of said work contacting member from said inoperative position generally through said predetermined distance to said mOtion transmitting member to move the latter from said inoperative position to said operative position and for yielding during the remainder of the movement of said work contacting member into said inoperative position while said motion transmitting member remains immobile; a trigger carried by said housing in a normal limited inoperative position operable to be engaged by a finger of the operator when said handle portion is manually gripped for manual movement into a limited operative position; and interlock means operatively connected between said trigger and said motion transmitting member for effecting movement of said valve means into the operative position thereof in response (1) to the simultaneous movement of said motion transmitting member and said trigger into their operative positions, (2) to the movement of said motion transmitting member into its operative position when said trigger is in its operative position or (3) to the movement of said trigger into its operative position when said motion transmitting member is in its operative position, the yielding movement of said spring means preventing undesired movement of said valve means into said inoperative position by a relative movement of said work contacting member away from its operative position as a result of a movement of the housing away from the work piece against the manual pressure of the operator on the handle portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 9 wherein said work contacting member includes a vertically extending portion mounted adjacent said nose piece, said motion transmitting member includes a vertically extending portion disposed above said work contacting member portion and said spring means comprises a coil spring and means for mounting said coil spring between the vertically extending portions of said members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 10 wherein said coil spring mounting means includes a tab bent outwardly from each vertically extending portion engaging an end of said coil spring and a guide rod extending through said tabs and said coil spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 11 including a housing plate secured to said nose piece generally enclosing said vertically extending portions, said tabs, said guide rod and said coil spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 12 wherein said motion transmitting member further includes a second portion extending laterally outwardly through said housing place, a third portion extending horizontally rearwardly from said second portion, a fourth portion extending upwardly from said second portion, a fifth portion extending laterally from said fourth portion and a sixth portion extending upwardly from said fifth portion, a second coil spring disposed in surrounding relation to said sixth portion having its ends operatively engaged with said fifth portion and said housing respectively so as to bias said motion transmitting member into its inoperative position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A fastener driving device as defined in claim 13 wherein said manually operable valve means includes an actuating member having a depending end portion and wherein said interlock means includes an elongated interlock member, means pivotally interconnecting said interlock member intermediate its ends with the depending end portion of said actuating member, a lost motion connection between one end of said interlock member and the upper end of the fifth portion of said motion transmitting member and a lost motion connection between the other end of said interlock member and said trigger.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
299 words
In a fastener driving device of the type including a housing, fluid pressure operated fastener driving means carried by said housing for movement through a fastener driving stroke and a return stroke, valve means including a depending actuating member carried by said housing for movement from a normally inoperative position into an operative position for effecting the operation of said fluId pressure operated means through said fastener driving stroke, a work contacting member carried by said housing for movement from an inoperative position to an operative position in response to the movement of said apparatus into cooperating engagement with a work piece, a trigger member carried by said housing for manual movement from an inoperative position to an operative position, and interlock means for effecting movement of said valve means into the operative position thereof in response (1) to the simultaneous movement of said work contacting and said trigger members into their operative positions, (2) to the movement of said work contacting member into its operative position when said trigger member is in its operative position or (3) to the movement of said trigger member into its operative position when said work contacting member is in its operative position, the improvement which comprises said interlock means including an elongated interlock member, means pivotally interconnecting said interlock member intermediate its ends with the depending end portion of said valve means actuating member, means connecting one end of said interlock member with said work contacting member for movement thereby in response to the movement of said work contacting member from said inoperative position to said operative position, and means for connecting the other end of said interlock member with said trigger member for movement in response to the movement of said trigger member from said inoperative position to said operative position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
299 words
In a fastener driving device of the type including a housing, fluid pressure operated fastener driving means carried by said housing for movement through a fastener driving stroke and a return stroke, valve means including a depending actuating member carried by said housing for movement from a normally inoperative position into an operative position for effecting the operation of said fluId pressure operated means through said fastener driving stroke, a work contacting member carried by said housing for movement from an inoperative position to an operative position in response to the movement of said apparatus into cooperating engagement with a work piece, a trigger member carried by said housing for manual movement from an inoperative position to an operative position, and interlock means for effecting movement of said valve means into the operative position thereof in response (1) to the simultaneous movement of said work contacting and said trigger members into their operative positions, (2) to the movement of said work contacting member into its operative position when said trigger member is in its operative position or (3) to the movement of said trigger member into its operative position when said work contacting member is in its operative position, the improvement which comprises said interlock means including an elongated interlock member, means pivotally interconnecting said interlock member intermediate its ends with the depending end portion of said valve means actuating member, means connecting one end of said interlock member with said work contacting member for movement thereby in response to the movement of said work contacting member from said inoperative position to said operative position, and means for connecting the other end of said interlock member with said trigger member for movement in response to the movement of said trigger member from said inoperative position to said operative position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
322 words
A fastener driving device comprising a housing defining a handle portion arranged to be gripped by the hand of an operator and a nose piece defining operatively fixed surface means engageable with a workpiece when said housing is manually moved by the operator into operative relation with a workpiece; fluid pressure operated fastener driving means including a fastener driving element carried by said housing for movement from a fastener receiving position through a drive stroke into a fastener driven position and from said fastener driven position through a return stroke into said fastener receiving position; manually operable valve means normally disposed in an inoperative position movable into an operative position to actuate said fluid pressure operated means; a work contacting member carried by said housing for limited movement between a normal inoperative position and an operative position, said work contacting member including work engaging surface means disposed outwardly of said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is disposed in said inoperative position a predetermined distance beyond the position of said fastener driving element when the latter is disposed in said fastener driven position and in alignment with said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is in said operative position; a motion transmitting member carried by said housing for limited movement between a normally inoperative position and an operative position; spring means operatively connected between said members for transmitting the movement of said work contacting member from said inoperative position generally through said predetermined distance to said motion transmitting member to move the latter from said inoperative position to said operative position and for yielding during the remainder of the movement of said work contacting member into said inoperative position while said motion transmitting member remains immobile; and means operatively connected with said motion transmitting member for effecting movement of said valve means into the operative position thereof when said motion transmitting member is disposed in its operative position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
322 words
A fastener driving device comprising a housing defining a handle portion arranged to be gripped by the hand of an operator and a nose piece defining operatively fixed surface means engageable with a workpiece when said housing is manually moved by the operator into operative relation with a workpiece; fluid pressure operated fastener driving means including a fastener driving element carried by said housing for movement from a fastener receiving position through a drive stroke into a fastener driven position and from said fastener driven position through a return stroke into said fastener receiving position; manually operable valve means normally disposed in an inoperative position movable into an operative position to actuate said fluid pressure operated means; a work contacting member carried by said housing for limited movement between a normal inoperative position and an operative position, said work contacting member including work engaging surface means disposed outwardly of said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is disposed in said inoperative position a predetermined distance beyond the position of said fastener driving element when the latter is disposed in said fastener driven position and in alignment with said fixed surface means when said work contacting member is in said operative position; a motion transmitting member carried by said housing for limited movement between a normally inoperative position and an operative position; spring means operatively connected between said members for transmitting the movement of said work contacting member from said inoperative position generally through said predetermined distance to said motion transmitting member to move the latter from said inoperative position to said operative position and for yielding during the remainder of the movement of said work contacting member into said inoperative position while said motion transmitting member remains immobile; and means operatively connected with said motion transmitting member for effecting movement of said valve means into the operative position thereof when said motion transmitting member is disposed in its operative position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |