Internal-combustion engines – Free piston – Single chamber; one piston
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-20
2004-06-29
Argenbright, Tony M. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Free piston
Single chamber; one piston
Reexamination Certificate
active
06755159
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to combustion-powered fastener-driving tools, and more particularly to new and improved valve mechanisms operatively integrated within dual combustion chamber systems incorporated within combustion-powered fastener driving tools in order to facilitate and enhance the operational efficiency attendant the introduction and mixing of air-fuel mixtures into and within the dual combustion chambers, as well as to similarly facilitate and enhance the operational efficiency attendant the scavenging and discharge of the combustion products out from the dual combustion chambers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Dual combustion chamber systems have been heretofore incorporated within fastener driving tools, and as a result of the employment of such dual combustion chamber systems within fastener-driving tools, enhanced energy or power output levels have been able to be achieved for optimizing operational characteristics or parameters of the fastener-driving tools in connection with the driving of fasteners into underlying substrates. The dual combustion chamber systems generally comprise separate first and second combustion chambers, wherein a one-way check valve is effectively interposed between the first and second combustion chambers such that fluid flow only occurs in the direction extending out from the first combustion chamber and into the second combustion chamber. In addition, the first combustion chamber usually comprises a substantially elongated tubular structure, while the second combustion chamber usually comprises a substantially shorter, more compact structure. The overall structural arrangement of such dual combustion chamber systems can in fact be rendered compact by forming or fabricating the first combustion chamber in such a manner that the first combustion chamber has a substantially spiral or spool-type structure or configuration, and wherein further, the first combustion chamber effectively surrounds the second combustion chamber. Examples of such dual combustion chamber systems, as incorporated within combustion-powered fastener-driving tools, are disclosed within U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/050,416 entitled COMBUSTION CHAMBER SYSTEM, which was filed on Jan. 16, 2002 in the name of Joseph S. Adams, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/050,836 entitled COMBUSTION CHAMBER SYSTEM WITH SPOOL-TYPE PRE-COMBUSTION CHAMBER, which was also filed on Jan. 16, 2002 in the name of Joseph S. Adams.
A practical or operational concern in connection with the efficient cyclical operation or functioning of such fastener-driving tools having the aforenoted dual combustion chamber system incorporated therein is the introduction and mixing of the air-fuel mixtures into and within the combustion chambers, as well as the scavenging or discharge of the combustion products out from the combustion chambers. Conventionally, considerable time has in fact been required in order to adequately or properly achieve and complete the aforenoted air-fuel mixture introduction and mixing stages of the fastener-driving operational cycle performed by means of the combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, as well as the achievement and completion of the aforenoted scavenging or discharging stage of the fastener-driving operational cycle performed by means of the combustion-powered fastener-driving tool.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved dual combustion chamber system for incorporation within combustion-powered fastener-driving tools wherein the efficiency of the introduction and mixing of the air-fuel mixtures into and within the combustion chambers, as well as the scavenging or discharge of the combustion products out from the combustion chambers, can be optimized.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dual combustion chamber system of a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, and new and improved valve mechanisms for incorporation within the dual combustion chamber system of the combustion-powered fastener-driving tool.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dual combustion chamber system of a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, and new and improved valve mechanisms for incorporation within the dual combustion chamber system of the combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, which effectively overcomes the various operational drawbacks and disadvantages characteristic of conventional or PRIOR ART dual combustion chamber systems.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dual combustion chamber system of a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, and new and improved valve mechanisms for incorporation within the dual combustion chamber system of the combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, wherein the efficiency of the introduction and mixing of the air-fuel mixtures into and within the combustion chambers, as well as the scavenging or discharge of the combustion products out from the combustion chambers, can be optimized.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dual combustion chamber system of a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, and new and improved valve mechanisms for incorporation within the dual combustion chamber system of the combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, wherein the efficiency of the introduction and mixing of the air-fuel mixtures into and within the combustion chambers, as well as the scavenging or discharge of the combustion products out from the combustion chambers, can be optimized, and wherein further, the valve mechanisms may comprise various operational structures, such as, for example, a rotary valve mechanism, a rotary and linear valve mechanism, or a linear valve mechanism.
A last object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dual combustion chamber system of a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, and new and improved valve mechanisms for incorporation within the dual combustion chamber system of the combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, wherein the efficiency of the introduction and mixing of the air-fuel mixtures into and within the combustion chambers, as well as the scavenging or discharge of the combustion products out from the combustion chambers, can be optimized by means of a single valve mechanism which can operatively control the ingress of atmospheric air into the combustion chambers, the egress of combustion products out from the combustion chambers, and the fluid flows between the first and second combustion chambers attendant the VENTING, MIXING, and FIRING stages of an overall combustion cycle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved dual combustion chamber system of a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, and new and improved valve mechanisms for incorporation within the dual combustion chamber system of the combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, wherein, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprising a rotary valve mechanism, there is provided a valve mechanism which is rotatably movable between three separate and distinct positions so as to fluidically inter-connect the first and second combustion chambers of the dual combustion chamber system, during three different stages of an overall combustion cycle, by passageways other than the passageway or conduit which conventionally connects the first and second combustion chambers and which is controlled either by means of the aforenoted check valve structure or by means of a suitable port or connecting orifice. More particularly, when the rotary valve mechanism is rotated to its first position, corresponding to the first VENTING stage of the combustion cycle, and disposed at such position for a predetermined period of time as a result of the completion of a previous FIRING stage of the combustion cycle and the removal of
Adams Joseph S.
Doherty James E.
Robinson James W.
Van Erden Donald L.
Ali Hyder
Argenbright Tony M.
Breh Donald S.
Croll Mark W.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
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