Ordnance – Cartridge feeding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-13
2002-02-05
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Ordnance
Cartridge feeding
C089S001140, C089S033100, C089S033140, C089S033200, C227S009000, C227S010000, C227S011000, C042S001120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06343535
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in the automatic advancing of a strip of charges used in a powder-actuated tool for driving a fastener into a substrate, especially a device for advancing the charges and an improved combustion-activated tool that uses the device and method.
2. State of the Art
Portable combustion-powered tools for use in driving fasteners into workpieces are known and described in the literature. Generally, such devices have the outward geometry of a pistol or gun with a combustion chamber, an explosive charge in the chamber, a fastener that is to be driven when the charge explodes, a piston separating the charge from the fastener, and a handle or grip with a trigger for actuating explosion of the charge.
Upon the pulling of a trigger switch, ignition of a charge creates gas in the combustion chamber, which pushes the piston so as to impact the positioned fastener and drive it into the workpiece. Fasteners are positioned in a nosepiece where they are held in a properly positioned orientation for receiving the impact of the piston. The piston is returned to its original or “ready” position by manually resetting the piston and chamber. The charges are typically secured or integrated onto a strip, similar to a belt of bullets for a machine gun, but stiffer. The strip with charges is advanced by a lever mechanism that engages the strip on one end and the piston (or a piston guide or similar structure) on the other end.
The mechanism for advancing the strip of charges typically includes a lever that not only pivots about a point, but often wobbles about the pivot. This wobble, or misalignment, can cause the mechanism advancing the strip to fail to advance the strip and, sometimes, actually causes the strip to move in the wrong direction, thus disposing a used charge where a fresh charge should be disposed.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, the principle object of this invention is to provide an improved device and method for advancing the strip of charges in a combustion-powered tool. More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide such an improve device and method that does not misalign and fail to advance the strip. Another object of the invention is to provide a combustion-activated tool having this improved device.
This invention provides a combustion-activated tool comprising (i) a housing having a longitudinal bore that extends to and connects with a vertical bore, (ii) a piston and piston guide disposed within the longitudinal bore and moveable axially therein, and (iii) an advance lever having a reset end and an advancing end, said lever disposed on a pivot skew to the axis of the longitudinal bore, the lever having an axis essentially parallel with the longitudinal bore, the advancing end of the lever attached on an arm of the lever angled to one side of the axis of the longitudinal bore and effective to engage teeth on the side of a strip of charges disposed in the vertical bore, the reset end of the lever being disposed on the same side of the axis of the longitudinal bore and engaging the piston guide.
In summary, the lever for advancing the strip of charges has one end that engages the piston guide and another that engages teeth or recesses on the strip of charges. The longitudinal and vertical bores are orthogonal to each other. Each of the charges on the strip is thus positioned, sequentially, at the intersection of the two bores. The advancing end of the lever is disposed to one side of the strip to engage the teeth thereon, and the reset end of the lever being disposed on the same side but at the position of the piston guide.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1040692 (1912-10-01), Kjellman
patent: 2027893 (1936-01-01), Williams
patent: 3067454 (1962-12-01), Catlin et al.
patent: 3554425 (1971-01-01), Oesterle
patent: 3565313 (1971-02-01), Seghezzi et al.
patent: 3609901 (1971-10-01), Necas
patent: 5220123 (1993-06-01), Oehry
patent: 1808703 (1970-10-01), None
patent: 1239267 (1971-07-01), None
patent: 2189012 (1987-10-01), None
Hopgood, Calimafde, Judlowe & Mondolino LLP
Jordan Charles T.
Powers Fastening, Inc.
Richardson John
LandOfFree
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