Degassing Power Assembly for Fastener Driving Tool Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing powered fastener driving tools, particularly combustion-powered ones, are heavy and inefficient, requiring large combustion chambers for high pressure generation, which limits their portability and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A degassing power assembly that utilizes a highly saturated media and a gas release mechanism, such as a heat release mechanism, to produce rapid bursts of high pressure gas for activating a piston and driving blade, eliminating the need for a large combustion chamber and reducing tool weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If traditional combustion chambers are used to generate high pressure gas, then sufficient power is achieved, but tool weight increases and portability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower levelVSAvoidtool weight
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the power generation system by replacing traditional combustion processes with alternative mechanisms (such as pneumatic or electromagnetic systems) that can generate high pressure gas without requiring large combustion chambers, thereby reducing tool weight while maintaining power output

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs pneumatic or hydraulic mechanisms to generate and deliver high pressure gas to the fastener driving assembly, eliminating the need for heavy combustion chambers and associated air intake/exhaust systems, thus reducing overall tool weight while maintaining sufficient power for driving fasteners

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Power

If large combustion chambers are used for high pressure generation, then power output is sufficient, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower outputVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from traditional combustion-powered tools, specifically removing large combustion chambers, complex air intake systems, exhaust systems, and associated mechanical parts, while retaining the essential function of generating high pressure gas to drive fasteners

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical combustion systems with alternative power generation mechanisms (such as pneumatic or electromagnetic systems) that can achieve the same power output with fewer moving parts and reduced mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Power

If motors and fans are included for air supply and exhaust, then combustion process is supported, but weight and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower levelVSAvoidtool weight
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes motors, fans, and associated air supply and exhaust systems from the tool design, eliminating the weight and complexity of these components while maintaining sufficient power generation through alternative mechanisms that do not require continuous air flow management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The degassing power assembly achieves high and adjustable power levels with a compact design, reducing tool weight and eliminating the need for motors and fans, while maintaining or exceeding the power levels of traditional combustion-powered tools.

Implementation Method 1

activatable by a release mechanism to cause a rapid degassing/desorption/decomposition or release of a desired amount of gas from the highly saturated media

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDegassing/Desorption/Decomposition: Desorption

Implementation Method 2

a release mechanism (such as a heat release mechanism) to cause a rapid degassing/desorption/decomposition or release of a desired amount of gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat release: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3807053B1Fastener driving tool having degassing power assembly
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP3807053B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3807053B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A powered fastener driving tool (1) comprising: a housing (2); a piston chamber (10) in the housing; a degassing power assembly in the housing and including: (i) a gas release mechanism, and (ii) an activation chamber (4) in or adjacent to the housing; a piston (12) disposed in the piston chamber; and a fastener driving blade (14) connected to the piston and configured to engage and drive a fastener upon the gas release mechanism causing a degassing of gas from a highly saturated media in the activation chamber.