Driving device and method

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for driving a fastening element into an underlying surface, said apparatus comprising a bolt receptacle for the fastening element and a driving element that is moved between a starting position and a setting position towards the bolt receptacle, the apparatus comprising a cylindrical container which defines a cylinder axis, the driving element comprising a piston which is mounted in the cylindrical container so as to be movable along the cylinder axis such that the piston closes off a partial volume of the cylindrical container and a gas located in the closed-off partial volume of the cylindrical container forms a gas spring, the cylindrical container being moved along the cylinder axis towards the bolt receptacle in order to load the gas spring when the driving element is in the starting position.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The application relates to a device and a method for driving a fastening element into a substrate. State of the art

[0002] In such devices and methods, it is known to temporarily store mechanical energy in a mechanical energy storage device, such as a drive spring, and transfer it abruptly to a fastening element. The amount of energy transferred to the fastening element is called drive energy. Typically, an energy transfer element, for example in the form of a plunger, is used for this purpose. This element is arranged in a drive direction between the mechanical energy storage device and the fastening element and moves back and forth.

[0003] From WO 2020 / 214558 A1, a setting device is known with a first chamber and a movable piston arranged in the first chamber. The setting device for fasteners also includes a driving blade that is attached to the piston and movable with it between a ready position and a driven position. The setting device for fasteners further includes a second chamber containing pressurized gas. The second chamber is in fluid communication with the first chamber via a flow channel. The setting device for fasteners also includes a throttling mechanism configured to throttle the flow of the pressurized gas through the flow channel.

[0004] Furthermore, drive springs are known that operate on the principle of a gas spring. To tension such drive springs, the energy transfer element is pushed into a reservoir of the gas spring. In order to be driven, the energy transfer element may require a special geometry, which can impair the mechanical robustness of the energy transfer element. Description of the invention

[0005] The problem is solved by a device for driving a fastener into a substrate, comprising a bolt receptacle for the fastener and a driving element movable between a starting position and a setting position on the bolt receptacle, wherein the device has a cylindrical container which defines a cylinder axis, and wherein the driving element comprises a piston which is movably arranged along the cylinder axis in the cylindrical container, such that the piston closes off a partial volume of the cylindrical container and a gas arranged in the closed partial volume of the cylindrical container forms a gas spring. To tension the gas spring, the cylindrical container is movable along the cylinder axis onto the bolt receptacle when the driving element is in the starting position.

[0006] An advantageous embodiment is characterized by a drive that propels the cylindrical container along the cylinder axis from a relaxed position to a tensioned position towards the bolt receptacle for tensioning the gas spring. Preferably, the drive also propels the cylindrical container from the tensioned position to the relaxed position. Particularly preferably, the cylindrical container includes a driver that carries the insertion element from the insertion position to the initial position. Another advantageous embodiment is characterized by an electrical energy storage device, such as a rechargeable battery or accumulator, which supplies the drive with electrical energy.

[0007] An advantageous embodiment is characterized by a coupling device for temporarily holding the driving element in its initial position. Preferably, the coupling device comprises a locking element movable transversely to the cylinder axis, an inner sleeve aligned along the cylinder axis with a recess extending transversely to the setting axis for receiving the locking element, and an outer sleeve encompassing the inner sleeve with a support surface for supporting the locking element.

[0008] The support surface is preferably inclined at an acute angle to the cylinder axis. The coupling device also preferably includes a return spring that exerts a force on the outer sleeve in the direction of the cylinder axis. The driving element also preferably has a recess into which the locking element engages to hold the driving element in its initial position. The cylindrical container also preferably includes an actuating element that actuates the coupling device.

[0009] The problem is also solved by a method for driving a fastener into a substrate, using a device comprising a bolt receptacle for the fastener and a driving element movable between a starting position and a setting position on the bolt receptacle, wherein the device has a cylindrical container which defines a cylinder axis, and wherein the driving element comprises a piston which is movably arranged along the cylinder axis in the cylindrical container, such that the piston closes off a partial volume of the cylindrical container and a gas arranged in the closed partial volume of the cylindrical container forms a gas spring. To tension the gas spring, the cylindrical container is moved along the cylinder axis towards the bolt receptacle while the driving element is in its starting position. Examples of implementation

[0010] The following sections describe embodiments of a device for driving a fastener into a substrate, using examples and referring to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a side view of a driving device, Fig. 2 a side view of the driving device with the housing open, Fig. 3 a schematic of a driving device, Fig. 4 a schematic of the driving device made of Fig. 3 , Fig. 5 schematically shows the driving device made of Fig. 3 , Fig. 6 schematically shows the driving device made of Fig. 3 Fig. 7 shows a driving element in a longitudinal section, Fig. 8 shows the driving element made of Fig. 7 In a top view, Fig. 9 shows a longitudinal section of a section of a driving device, Fig. 10 shows the longitudinal section of the section of the driving device. Fig. 9 , Fig. 11 the longitudinal section of the cutout of the driving device made of Fig. 9 and Fig. 12 the longitudinal section of the cutout of the driving device made of Fig. 9.

[0011] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a driving device 10 for driving a fastening element, for example a nail or bolt, into a substrate in a side view. The driving device 10 has a driving element (not shown) for transferring energy to the fastening element and a housing 20 in which the driving element and a conveying device (also not shown) for conveying the driving element are received.

[0012] The driving device 10 further comprises a handle 30, a magazine 40, and a bridge 50 connecting the handle 30 to the magazine 40. A scaffold hook 60 for suspending the driving device 10 from scaffolding or the like, and an electrical energy storage device designed as an electric battery 590, are attached to the bridge 50. A trigger 34 and a handle sensor designed as a hand switch 35 are arranged on the handle 30. The driving device 10 also has a guide channel 700 for guiding the fastening element and a pressure device 750 for detecting whether the driving device 10 is pressed against a substrate (not shown). An alignment aid 45 assists in aligning the driving device perpendicular to the substrate.

[0013] Fig. 2Figure 1 shows the insertion device 10 with its housing 20 open. A conveying device 70 for conveying an energy transfer element (hidden in the drawing) is housed in the housing 20. The conveying device 70 comprises a gas spring 200 (shown schematically) and a drive 300 for tensioning the gas spring 200, for example, by means of a spindle drive. The drive 300 includes an electric motor 800 for converting electrical energy from the battery 590 into rotational energy.

[0014] In the Figs. 3 to 6 A device 100 for driving a fastening element into a substrate is schematically shown in successive operating phases. The device 100 has a bolt receptacle 110 for fastening elements (not shown), which are designed, for example, as nails, bolts, pins, or rivets. Furthermore, the device 100 has a position between a starting position ( Figs. 4 and 5 ) and a setting position ( Figs. 3 and 6 ) a movable driving element 120 onto the bolt receptacle 110. The driving element 120 has a circumferential and circumferential recess 121 on its circumference near its end facing the bolt receptacle 110.

[0015] Furthermore, the device 100 has a cylindrical container 130, which defines a cylinder axis 135. The cylindrical container 130 has projections 131, which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of the cylinder axis 135 in the manner of a rack and pinion on an outer side of the cylindrical container 130. The driving element 120 comprises a piston (not shown), which is movably arranged along the cylinder axis 135 in the cylindrical container 130. Thus, the piston encloses a Figs. 3 to 6The upper part of the cylindrical container 130 contains a gas spring made of a gas, for example, air. The cylindrical container 130 has a double-walled construction. In embodiments not shown, the cylindrical container has a single-walled construction.

[0016] Furthermore, the device 100 comprises a drive 140 with a motor 142 and a gear 145, wherein the gear 145 is fixedly mounted on a motor shaft 143 of the motor 142. The teeth of the gear 145 engage between the projections 131 of the cylindrical container 130, so that a rotary movement of the motor shaft 143 is translated into a linear movement of the cylindrical container 130 along the cylinder axis 135 towards and / or away from the bolt receptacle 110. Guide elements 132 serve to guide the cylindrical container 130 during such a linear movement along the cylinder axis 135 between a clamping position ( Figs. 3, 5 and 6) and a relaxed position ( Fig. 4 ).

[0017] The drive 140 is supplied with electrical energy by an electrical energy storage device (not shown), such as a battery or accumulator. Furthermore, the device 100 has a coupling device 150 for temporarily holding the drive element 120 in its initial position.

[0018] A method for driving a fastener into a substrate using the device 100 comprises the following steps. First, ( Fig. 3 For example, after the device 100 has been switched on or after a driving-in process has been completed, the driving element 120 is in the set position and the cylindrical container 130 is in the clamped position. Since the driving element 120 is in the set position, the gas spring in the cylindrical container 130 is in a relaxed state.

[0019] In a first step ( Fig. 4The motor 142 drives the motor shaft 143, and thus the gear 145, counterclockwise. By engaging the gear 145 between the projections 131, the cylindrical container 130 is moved into the release position. Simultaneously, the drive element 120 is moved into its initial position by means of a driver (not shown). The coupling device 150 engages in the recess 121 on the drive element 120 to temporarily hold it in its initial position.

[0020] In a subsequent, especially immediately following step ( Fig. 5The motor 142 drives the motor shaft 143 and thus the gear 145 clockwise. By engaging the gear 145 between the projections 131, the cylindrical container 130 is moved into the clamping position, while the driving element 120 is held in its initial position by the coupling device 150. This compresses and tensions the gas spring located in the enclosed partial volume above the piston of the driving element 120. Because the driving element 120 does not move during the clamping process, it is possible to release the gas spring by reversing the movement of the cylindrical container without moving the driving element 120. This makes it possible, for example, to remove a jammed fastener from the bolt receptacle 110 without the risk of accidentally accelerating the driving element 120 towards the bolt receptacle.

[0021] In a further subsequent, and in particular immediately following, step ( Fig. 6 ) is a deduction not shown, for example the one in Fig. 1 The trigger 34 shown is pulled by a user of the device 100. This releases the coupling device 150 and the driving element 120, while the cylindrical container 130 is held in the clamping position by the gear 145. The driving element 120 is then accelerated by the releasing gas spring towards the bolt receptacle 110 to drive a fastener located therein into the substrate.

[0022] In embodiments not shown, a cam drive, a spindle drive and / or a worm gear is used instead of the gear drive with or without gearbox.

[0023] In particular, the cylindrical container itself has a thread and is driven like a spindle, for example by a ball screw nut.

[0024] In the Figs. 7 and 8 is a drive element 220 in a longitudinal section ( Fig. 7 ) or under supervision ( Fig. 8 The driving element 220 comprises a piston 225 and a piston rod 226 projecting from the piston 225 along a cylinder axis 235. A front end 227 of the piston rod 226 is designed to engage a fastening element in order to drive it into a substrate. For improved guidance of the fastening element, the front end 227 has a guide contour.

[0025] The piston 225 has two guide elements 228, each arranged in a circumferential groove, and a seal 229, also arranged in a circumferential groove. The guide elements 228 are annular and serve to guide the movement of the piston 225 within a cylindrical container (not shown). The seal 229 is also annular and serves to seal the movement of the piston 225 within the cylindrical container.

[0026] As particularly in Fig. 8As can be seen, the driving element 220 has a rotationally symmetrical shape and is more robustly constructed than a driving element with a drive contour such as a rack. In the present concept, a drive contour is located on the cylindrical container, where significantly lower forces act than on the piston. Furthermore, virtually no tilting forces act on the driving element. Overall, a long service life is achieved for the driving element.

[0027] In the Figs. 9 to 12 Figure 301 shows a further embodiment of a device 301 for driving a fastening element into a substrate in successive operating phases, partially depicted in a longitudinal section. The device 301 has a bolt receptacle 310, a position between a starting position ( Figs. 9 to 11 ) and a setting position ( Fig. 12) a drive element 320, movable onto the bolt receptacle 310, with a circumferential and circumferential recess 321, and a cylindrical container 330 with a cylinder axis 335. The drive element 320 comprises a piston 325, which is movably arranged along the cylinder axis 335 in the cylindrical container 330. Thus, the piston 325 encloses a Figs. 9 to 12 right partial volume of the cylindrical container 330 in which a gas spring 337 is formed.

[0028] The gas spring 337 is preferably already under a pre-charge pressure of, for example, 80 bar in its relaxed state. In the compressed state of the gas spring, the pressure is then, for example, 150 bar. Due to the high pre-charge pressure, a compact design of the device is possible even with high insertion energy. The insertion element 320 and the cylindrical reservoir 330 preferably form a single unit that is easily interchangeable, for example, to counteract potential piston breakage, tip wear, or seal wear and the associated loss of performance, or to change the insertion energy by using different gas springs and to open up additional areas of application. Assembly and disassembly of the cylindrical reservoir and, if applicable, the insertion element, preferably take place on the side of a housing of the device facing away from the bolt receptacle.

[0029] The cylindrical container 330 has a driver 332 on its end face 336 facing the bolt receptacle 310, which carries the drive element 320 from its set position to its starting position. The driver 332 also serves as a buffer for the drive element 320 and is made of an elastic material such as an elastomer. Furthermore, the cylindrical container 330 has a guide element 333 for the drive element and vent openings 334 on its end face 336 facing the bolt receptacle 310. The end face of the cylindrical container 330 opposite the bolt receptacle 310 is closed.

[0030] The device 301 has a coupling device 350 for temporarily holding the drive element 120 in its initial position. The coupling device 350 comprises three spherical locking elements 351 movable transversely to the cylinder axis 335 and an inner sleeve 352 aligned along the cylinder axis 335 with three recesses 353 extending transversely to the cylinder axis 335. The locking elements 351 are each received in one of the recesses 353 and engage in the circumferential recess 321 of the drive element 320 to hold the drive element 320 in its initial position. The locking elements 351 are preferably evenly distributed around the cylinder axis 335. In embodiments not shown, the coupling device comprises one, two, four, or more locking elements.

[0031] The coupling device 350 further comprises an outer sleeve 354 encompassing the inner sleeve 352, with a circumferential support surface 355 for radially inwardly directed support of the locking elements 351. The support surface 355 is inclined at an acute angle to the cylinder axis 335. The coupling device 350 also includes a return spring 356 that exerts a force on the outer sleeve 354 in the direction of the cylinder axis 335. The end face 336 of the cylindrical container 330 facing the bolt receptacle 310 forms an actuating element that actuates the coupling device 350.

[0032] During a process for driving a fastening element into a substrate with the device 301, the cylindrical container 330 is first moved into the relaxation position ( Fig. 9). By means of the driver 332, the driving element 320 is simultaneously moved into its initial position. The locking elements 351 then engage in the circumferential recess 321 on the driving element 320 and hold the driving element 320 in its initial position. For this purpose, the locking elements 351 are supported against radial outward movement by the outer sleeve 354, the outer sleeve 354 in turn being held in the recess by the return spring 356. Fig. 9 The position shown is pre-loaded.

[0033] In a subsequent step ( Fig. 10The cylindrical container 330 is moved into the clamping position, while the driving element 320 is held in its initial position by the coupling device 350. This compresses and tensions the gas spring 337 located in the enclosed partial volume to the right of the piston 325. The end face 336 of the cylindrical container 330 then rests axially against the outer sleeve 354. The coupling device 350 remains in its position during this process.

[0034] In a further subsequent step ( Fig. 11Triggered by pulling a trigger (not shown) of the device 301, the cylindrical container 330 is moved a release distance of, for example, a few millimeters further towards the bolt receptacle 310. This causes the cylindrical container 330, with its end face 336 acting as an actuating element, to actuate the coupling device 350 by moving the outer sleeve 354 against a restoring force from the return spring 356 towards the bolt receptacle 310. As soon as the support surface 355, which is inclined relative to the cylinder axis 335, allows the locking elements 351 sufficient radial outward movement, the locking elements 351 release the drive element 320. In embodiments not shown, the coupling device is released mechanically by pulling the trigger.In further embodiments not shown, the coupling device comprises a latch arranged in front of an end face of the driving element facing the bolt receptacle, which is moved out of the path of movement of the driving element by pulling the trigger in order to release the driving element.

[0035] Immediately afterwards ( Fig. 12 The released driving element 320 is accelerated by the relaxing gas spring towards the bolt receptacle 310 in order to drive a fastening element located therein into the substrate. Excess kinetic energy of the driving element 320 is ultimately absorbed by the elastic driver 332.

[0036] In an embodiment not shown, a driving device additionally includes a spacer arranged between the cylindrical container and the coupling device. An operating element, such as an adjusting wheel, allows the axial position of the spacer relative to the coupling device to be adjusted in order to influence the clamping position of the cylindrical container and thus the compression of the gas spring.

[0037] In another embodiment not shown, a driving device has a friction brake which extracts energy from the driving element through friction in order to adjust the driving energy. By regulating the force with which the friction brake applies to the moving driving element, the driving energy can be set to a desired value.

[0038] The invention has been explained above with reference to several embodiments of a driving device. The described features are transferable from each embodiment to all other embodiments, individually or in combination, as long as they do not contradict each other. It should be noted that the device according to the invention can also be used for other purposes.

Claims

1. Apparatus (100) for driving a fastening element into a substrate, having a bolt receptacle (110) for the fastening element and a driving-in element (120) which can be moved towards the bolt receptacle (110) between a starting position and a setting position, wherein the apparatus (100) has a cylindrical container (130) which defines a cylinder axis (135), wherein the driving-in element (120) comprises a piston (225) which is arranged in the cylindrical container (130) so as to be movable along the cylinder axis (135), such that the piston (225) closes off a partial volume of the cylindrical container (130) and a gas arranged in the closed-off partial volume of the cylindrical container (130) forms a gas spring (337), characterized in that, in order to tension the gas spring (337), the cylindrical container can be moved towards the bolt receptacle (110) along the cylinder axis (135) when the driving-in element (120) is in the starting position.

2. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 1, furthermore having a drive (300) which drives the cylindrical container (130) towards the bolt receptacle (110) along the cylinder axis (135) from a relieved position into a tensioned position in order to tension the gas spring (337).

3. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 2, wherein the drive (300) drives the cylindrical container (130) from the tensioned position into the relieved position.

4. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 3, wherein the cylindrical container comprises a driver (332) which drives the driving-in element (120) from the setting position into the starting position.

5. Apparatus (100) according to any of the preceding claims, furthermore having an electrical energy store which supplies the drive (300) with electrical energy.

6. Apparatus (100) according to any of the preceding claims, furthermore having a coupling device (150) for temporarily holding the driving-in element (120) fixedly in the starting position.

7. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 6, wherein the coupling device (150) comprises a locking element (351) which can be moved transversely with respect to the cylinder axis (135), an inner sleeve (352) which is oriented along the cylinder axis (135) and has a cutout (353) which runs transversely with respect to the setting axis for receiving the locking element (351), and an outer sleeve (354) which engages around the inner sleeve (352) and has a supporting surface (355) for supporting the locking element (351).

8. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 7, wherein the supporting surface (355) is inclined by an acute angle with respect to the cylinder axis (135).

9. Apparatus (100) according to either of Claims 7 and 8, wherein the coupling device (150) furthermore comprises a restoring spring (356) which loads the outer sleeve (354) with a force in the direction of the cylinder axis (135).

10. Apparatus (100) according to any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the driving-in element (120) has a depression (121), into which the locking element (351) engages, in order to hold the driving-in element (120) fixedly in the starting position.

11. Apparatus (100) according to any of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the cylindrical container has an actuating element which actuates the coupling device (150).

12. Method for driving a fastening element into a substrate, by means of an apparatus (100) having a bolt receptacle (110) for the fastening element and a driving-in element (120) which can be moved towards the bolt receptacle (110) between a starting position and a setting position, wherein the apparatus (100) has a cylindrical container (130) which defines a cylinder axis (135), wherein the driving-in element (120) comprises a piston (225) which is arranged in the cylindrical container (130) so as to be movable along the cylinder axis (135), such that the piston (225) closes off a partial volume of the cylindrical container (130) and a gas arranged in the closed-off partial volume of the cylindrical container (130) forms a gas spring (337), characterized in that, in the method, in order to tension the gas spring (337), the cylindrical container is moved towards the bolt receptacle (110) along the cylinder axis (135) when the driving-in element (120) is in the starting position.

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