Device for installing explosively driven fasteners

Abstract

A spring tool for actuating explosive fasteners to drive nails into a substrate is disclosed. For the tool to work at its best, the firing pin guide should be pushed firmly against the rear of the fastener and the tip of the fastener should be pushed firmly against the substrate. The action of the operator pushing the tool forward to actuate the tool moves the trigger body forward while compressing the firing pin spring until the trigger body travels the exact distance required to release the trigger ball. A step or stop plug is added to the interior of the trigger body. The step is designed so that at the exact distance to release the trigger ball, the step contacts the rear of the firing pin guide. The firing pin guide cannot move backward. The stop allows all internal components to form a solid (contacting) stack from the tip of the needle assembly to the end cap, and the forward pressure applied by the operator when actuating the tool presses the tip of the needle assembly firmly against the substrate while the firing pin strikes the load.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to explosively driven fasteners. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for installing explosively driven fasteners. Background Art

[0002] To apply explosively driven fasteners to substrates, both the power charge and nail length are individually optimized for a given application. It is desirable to optimize the tool to match.

[0003] Purpose of the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a spring energized tool for applying explosively driven fasteners that has a positive stop and is not resilient when fully energized. Summary of the invention

[0005] A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a tool for installing an explosively driven fastener including a nail and an explosive load attached to the nail.

[0006] The tool includes an outer covering sleeve defining a bore, a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A generally tubular trigger body is fixedly located in the outer covering sleeve. The bore of the trigger body has an arcuate stop surface facing the distal end.

[0007] An end cap is located at the proximal end of the trigger body to secure the trigger body to the outer covering sleeve.

[0008] The firing pin bracket is located in the bore of the generally tubular trigger body and extends along the longitudinal axis thereof. The firing pin bracket has a proximal end and a distal end.

[0009] The firing pin spring is arranged to bias the firing pin carriage distally relative to the trigger body.

[0010] The striker is provided with a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the striker is pointed. The striker is separate from the striker holder. The proximal end of the striker is removably connected to the distal end of the striker holder.

[0011] The handpiece is configured to have a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the handpiece is configured to receive a firing pin guide, and the distal end of the handpiece is configured to receive a fastener including a nail and an explosive load, so that when the fastener is placed at the distal end of the handpiece and the firing pin holder is biased away from the outer covering sleeve by the firing pin spring, the firing pin strikes the explosive load, causing the explosive load to explode and drive the nail out of the handpiece.

[0012] A tubular reduction sleeve is provided having a distally facing inner flange and a proximally facing outer flange.

[0013] The firing pin guide is slidably carried in the reset sleeve. The firing pin guide has a distal end and a proximal end, a proximally facing outer annular flange that can abut the inner flange of the reset sleeve and an arcuate surface at its proximal end that can abut the distally facing arcuate inner stop surface in the generally tubular trigger body.

[0014] A return spring is mounted around the striker guide and abuts against an outer flange of the return sleeve. The return spring biases the return sleeve toward the distal end.

[0015] The trigger ball and the trigger ball spring are laterally mounted in the striker bracket. The trigger ball is biased radially outward from the inside of the striker bracket.

[0016] The firing pin guide has a slot extending from the proximal end and a widened area in the slot that accommodates a trigger ball.

[0017] When the tool is in the energized position, the trigger ball is placed in the widened area of ​​the groove, thereby limiting the distal movement of the firing pin, and the arcuate end surface of the firing pin guide abuts or nearly abuts the arcuate stop surface in the trigger body.

[0018] For maximum tool effectiveness, the striker guide should be pushed firmly against the rear of the fastener and the tip of the fastener should be pushed firmly against the base material.

[0019] The action of the operator pushing the tool forward to actuate the tool moves the trigger body forward, simultaneously compressing the firing pin spring, until the trigger body has traveled the exact distance necessary to release the trigger ball.

[0020] A step or stop insert is added to the inside of the trigger body. The step is designed so that at the exact distance the trigger ball is released, the step contacts the rear of the firing pin guide. The firing pin guide cannot move rearward.

[0021] This stop allows all internal components to form a solid stack where the internal elements are in contact with each other from the tip of the needle assembly to the end cap. The forward pressure applied by the operator when actuating the tool presses the tip of the needle assembly firmly against the substrate while the striker strikes the load. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the spring is in an uncharged state. The tool carries a fastener assembly including a nail and an explosive load in its head.

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A longitudinal cross-section of the tool in FIG. 1 with the spring in the energized state. From the tip of the needle assembly to the end cap, the internal components of the tool form a solid stack. Solid means that the solid components are in contact with each other.

[0024] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 and 2 A longitudinal cross-section of the tool after releasing the firing pin to impact the explosive load.

[0025] Figure 4 Yes Figure 1-3 A longitudinal cross-section of the tool is shown showing the nose sliding over a fastener assembly without actuation or change of mind.

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 1-4 Exploded view of the tool.

[0027] Figure 6 It is available with Figure 1-5 Illustration of optional features used with the tool.

[0028] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A diagram of some of the parts shown, illustrating in more detail how they fit together from another perspective. Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the spring is in an energized state.

[0029] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 The drawings of the parts shown illustrate other features.

[0030] Fig.10 Yes Figure 1 The tool in , but with an improved spring arrangement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the drawings, similar parts in different devices are marked with the same reference numerals.

[0032] The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a tool 2, 102 for installing an explosively driven fastener 3, which includes a nail 4 and an explosive load 6 attached to the nail.

[0033] The tool comprises an outer covering sleeve 8, 108 defining a bore, a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A generally tubular trigger body 13 is fixedly located in the outer covering sleeve. The bore of the trigger body has an arcuate stop surface 11, 111 facing the distal end, preferably a generally annular surface. An end cap 15, 115 is located at the proximal end of the trigger body to fix the trigger body to the outer covering sleeve. A firing pin bracket 18 is located in the bore of the generally tubular trigger body and extends along the longitudinal axis of the trigger body. The firing pin bracket has a proximal end and a distal end.

[0034] The firing pin spring 20 is arranged to bias the firing pin bracket distally relative to the trigger body.

[0035] A striker 22 having a proximal end and a distal end is provided. The distal end is pointed. The striker is separate from the striker holder. The proximal end of the striker is removably connected to the distal end of the striker holder.

[0036] A handpiece 24, 124 is provided having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is arranged to receive a firing pin guide 32, while the distal end is arranged to receive a fastener including a nail and an explosive load, so that when the fastener is placed at the distal end of the handpiece and the firing pin holder is biased away from the outer covering sleeve by the firing pin spring, the firing pin strikes the explosive load, causing the explosive load to explode and drive the nail out of the handpiece.

[0037] A tubular reduction sleeve 26 is provided which has a distally facing inner flange 28 and a proximally facing outer flange 30 .

[0038] The firing pin guide is slidably carried in the reset sleeve. The firing pin guide has a distal end and a proximal end, a proximally facing outer annular flange 34 that can abut the inner flange of the reset sleeve, and an arcuate surface at its proximal end that can abut the distally facing inner arcuate stop surface in the generally tubular trigger body.

[0039] A return spring 36 is mounted around the striker guide and abuts against the outer flange of the return sleeve. The return spring biases the return sleeve toward the distal end.

[0040] A trigger ball 38 and a trigger ball spring 40 are mounted transversely in the striker bracket. The trigger ball is biased radially outward from within the striker bracket.

[0041] The striker guide has a slot 50 extending from the proximal end and a widened area 52 that receives the trigger ball in the slot.

[0042] When the tool is in the energized position, the trigger ball is disposed in the widened region of the slot, thereby limiting distal movement of the firing pin, and the arcuate (preferably annular) end surface of the firing pin guide abuts or nearly abuts the arcuate (preferably annular) stop surface in the trigger body.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention ( Figure 8), an internal trigger cover plate 160 extends radially inwardly from the distally facing arcuate stop surface into a hole in the trigger body at the distal position. The cover plate can be received by a keyway to depress the trigger ball by sliding thereon. When the tool is in the firing position, the trigger cover plate depresses the trigger ball to disengage it from the engagement with the firing pin guide, thereby causing the firing pin to move distally under the action of the firing pin spring when the arcuate end surface of the firing pin guide abuts the arcuate stop surface in the trigger body. In one embodiment, the distally facing arcuate stop surface is the end surface of a tubular stop member 162 carried internally at the proximal end of the trigger body. Therefore, the stop member in the tool can be a separate part or an integrated part. If an appropriate stack height is required, the arcuate stop surface of the tubular stop member can define a recess 164 to partially accommodate the trigger cover plate. The tubular stop member can be press-fitted into the trigger body. If necessary, the overall stack length can be adjusted by placing a spacer (such as a washer) between the nose and the reset sleeve.

[0044] In one embodiment of the present invention, a handle 10 extends transversely from an outer cover sleeve between a proximal end and a distal end. A trigger 12 is pivotally connected to the outer cover sleeve and is biased distally from the handle by a trigger spring 14 located between the handle and the trigger. The trigger has an upper surface and a front portion 16 protruding from its upper surface toward the longitudinal axis of the outer cover sleeve. When the trigger is pressed toward the handle, the front portion enters the hole of the outer cover sleeve. The generally tubular trigger body defines a longitudinally extending slot 70 that accommodates the front portion of the trigger when the trigger is pressed toward the handle. When the tool is in the firing position, the front portion of the trigger depresses the trigger ball, disengaging it from engagement with the firing pin guide, thereby causing the firing pin to move distally under the action of the firing pin spring.

[0045] In one embodiment of the invention, the distally facing arcuate stop surface of the generally tubular trigger body includes an annular step in the bore of the trigger body and is integral with the trigger body.

[0046] One embodiment of the present invention further includes a blocking element 41 carried by the generally tubular trigger body for radial movement to selectively block the proximal movement of the firing pin guide and prevent the firing pin spring from being energized. A cam 42 is mounted on the outer cover sleeve, and an arm is located at one end of the cam to allow the cam to rotate approximately 90 degrees to selectively block the radial outward movement of the blocking element and prevent the firing pin guide from moving proximally enough to allow the firing pin spring to be energized. The blocking element is preferably a ball bearing in contact with the distal end of the firing pin guide.

[0047] In one embodiment of the invention, a tubular debris cup 72 is attached to the handpiece in a coaxial covering relationship. A threaded reset sleeve cover 76 is located at the distal end of the reset sleeve and holds the proximal end of the handpiece against the distal end of the reset sleeve. A handpiece spring 74 is located between the debris cup and the reset sleeve cover and is annular relative to the handpiece, urging the debris cup away from the reset sleeve cover and extending the handpiece to its entire distal position. When the handpiece spring is compressed, the tubular debris cup slides over the reset sleeve cover and the reset sleeve. When the reset sleeve spring is compressed, the outer cover sleeve slides over the reset sleeve. The compression of the handpiece spring and the reset sleeve spring causes the distal end of the striker guide to reach a position adjacent the distal end of the handpiece. See Figure 4 , which shows that the unstruck fastener assembly is ejected.

[0048] Fig.10 An alternative to the handpiece spring 74 is shown in the form of a handpiece spring 75, which is located between the distally facing annular surface of the striker guide and the proximally facing annular surface on the proximal end of the handpiece. The spring 74 or 75 urges the handpiece to the full distal position. Functionally, the handpiece spring 74 or 75 can be viewed as a biasing device for biasing the handpiece to its fully distal extended position.

[0049] These features enable the tool to accept fastener assemblies from 1 inch to 2-1 / 2 inches and to eject debris or unstruck fastener assemblies and properly reset the tool. The head is no longer threaded into the reset sleeve. Instead, the head is free to move on the striker guide and is connected to the reset sleeve via a new reset sleeve cover. The fastener assembly is inserted into the head. The operator then applies light pressure to the tool until the tip of the nail pushes against the substrate. The tip of the striker guide pushes the load to hold the nail in place. A spring (added between the edge of the striker guide and the head or between the extended debris cup and the reset spring cover) pushes the head to the fully extended position. The improved head can enter the body of the reset sleeve. During the ejection process, the head is first pushed into the reset sleeve, reducing the total space inside the head to less than 40mm, and then the striker guide is pushed forward 40mm to completely eject any plastic or debris stuck inside the head.

[0050] To pull the trigger, the firing pin moves proximally as the firing pin guide moves proximally to compress the firing pin spring until the firing pin is released from the firing pin guide.

[0051] In some embodiments, a shatter shield 80 is mounted to the distal end of the handpiece to provide greater worker safety for nailing sets in concrete.

Claims

1. A tool for installing an explosively driven fastener, the fastener comprising a nail and an explosive load attached to the nail, the tool comprising: an outer covering sleeve defining a bore, a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end; a tubular trigger body fixedly positioned in the outer covering sleeve for defining a bore, the bore of the tubular trigger body having an arcuate stop surface facing the distal end; an end cap located at a proximal end of the tubular trigger body to secure the tubular trigger body to the outer covering sleeve; a firing pin bracket disposed within the bore of the tubular trigger body and extending along a longitudinal axis of the tubular trigger body, the firing pin bracket having a proximal end and a distal end; a firing pin spring configured to bias the firing pin support distally relative to the tubular trigger body; a striker having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the striker being pointed, the striker being separate from the striker holder, the proximal end of the striker being removably connected to the distal end of the striker holder; a handpiece having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the handpiece being configured to receive a firing pin guide and the distal end of the handpiece being configured to receive the explosively driven fastener including the nail and the explosive load, such that when the explosively driven fastener is placed at the distal end of the handpiece and the firing pin holder is biased away from the outer covering sleeve by the firing pin spring, the firing pin strikes the explosive load causing the explosive load to explode and drive the nail out of the handpiece; a handpiece spring that biases the handpiece distally; a tubular reduction sleeve having a distally facing inner flange and a proximally facing outer flange; wherein the firing pin guide is slidably carried in the reset sleeve, the firing pin guide having a distal end and a proximal end, the firing pin guide having a proximally facing outer annular flange abutting the inner flange of the reset sleeve and an arcuate surface at its proximal end abutting a distally facing arcuate stop surface in the bore of the tubular trigger body; a return spring mounted around the striker guide and abutting the outer flange of the return sleeve, the return spring biasing the return sleeve distally; a trigger ball and a trigger ball spring mounted in the striker bracket, the trigger ball being biased radially outward from the interior of the striker bracket; wherein the firing pin guide has a slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end and a widened area in the slot accommodating the trigger ball; in: When the tool is in the energized position, the trigger ball is disposed in the widened region of the slot, thereby limiting distal movement of the firing pin, and the arcuate surface of the firing pin guide at the proximal end abuts or nearly abuts the distally facing arcuate stop surface in the aperture of the trigger body.

2. The tool according to claim 1, further comprising: An internal trigger cover plate extends radially inward from the distally facing arched stop surface into the hole of the trigger body, and the cover plate is received by a keyway to depress the trigger ball by sliding thereon; wherein when the tool is in the firing position, the trigger cover plate depresses the trigger ball to disengage it from the engagement with the firing pin guide, thereby under the action of the firing pin spring, when the arched surface of the firing pin guide abuts the arched stop surface in the hole of the trigger body, the firing pin is moved distally.

3. The tool according to claim 2, wherein: The distally facing arcuate stop surface is an end surface of a tubular stop carried internally at the proximal end of the trigger body.

4. The tool according to claim 3, wherein: The distally facing arcuate stop surface of the tubular stop defines a recess, and the trigger cover is partially disposed in the recess.

5. The tool of claim 1, further comprising: a handle extending laterally from said outer covering sleeve between said proximal end and said distal end; a trigger pivotally connected to the outer cover sleeve and biased distally away from the grip by a trigger spring located between the grip and the trigger, the trigger having an upper surface and a front portion projecting from the upper surface of the trigger toward the longitudinal axis of the outer cover sleeve, the front portion entering the aperture of the outer cover sleeve when the trigger is depressed toward the grip; wherein said tubular trigger body defines a longitudinally extending slot that receives said front portion of said trigger when said trigger is depressed toward said handle; as well as When the tool is in the firing position, the front of the trigger depresses the trigger ball, disengaging it from the engagement with the firing pin guide, so that the firing pin moves distally under the action of the firing pin spring.

6. The tool according to claim 5, wherein: The distally facing arcuate stop surface is integral with the trigger body.

7. The tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a blocking element carried by the tubular trigger body for radial movement to selectively block proximal movement of the firing pin guide and prevent the firing pin spring from accumulating energy; a cam mounted on the outer cover sleeve, and an arm at one end of the cam to allow the cam to rotate 90 degrees to selectively block radial outward movement of the blocking element and prevent the striker guide from moving proximally enough to cause the striker spring to be energized, Wherein, the blocking element includes a ball bearing in contact with the distal end of the striker guide.

8. The tool according to claim 5, wherein: Also included is a tubular debris cup attached to the handpiece in coaxial overlying relation; a threaded reduction sleeve cover located at the distal end of the reduction sleeve and holding the proximal end of the handpiece against the distal end of the reduction sleeve; and The handpiece spring is located between the debris cup and the reset sleeve cover, is annular relative to the handpiece, and pushes the debris cup and the handpiece away from the reset sleeve cover; When the machine head spring is compressed, the tubular debris cup slides over the reset sleeve cover and the reset sleeve.

9. The tool according to claim 8, wherein: When the return sleeve spring is compressed, the outer cover sleeve slides over the return sleeve.

10. The tool according to claim 9, wherein: Compression of the handpiece spring and the return sleeve spring causes the distal end of the striker guide to a position adjacent the distal end of the handpiece.

11. The tool according to claim 9, wherein: The striker moves proximally as the striker guide moves proximally to compress the striker spring until the striker is released from the striker guide.

12. The tool according to claim 8, characterized in that Also included is a shatterproof shield mounted on the distal end of the handpiece.

Images