Gas Spring Fastener Driver With Lifter and Latch Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener drivers face power, size, and cost constraints, particularly those using compressed air or electrical energy, which limit their effectiveness and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A gas spring-powered fastener driver utilizing a cylinder, piston, and driver blade with a lifter mechanism, operated by a motor and transmission, that uses compressed gas to drive fasteners without external air pressure, featuring a planetary transmission with one-way and torque-limiting clutch mechanisms for controlled operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If compressed air or electrical energy is used to power fastener drivers, then sufficient impact energy can be achieved, but power, size, and cost constraints are imposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gas spring mechanism from the traditional compressed air system, eliminating the need for external air compressors and complex pneumatic infrastructure. The gas spring is a self-contained energy storage device that provides the necessary impact energy without requiring external power sources or complex control systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining sufficient driving power.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas spring-powered fastener driver is a self-service system that stores energy internally within the gas spring mechanism. The compressed gas spring automatically provides the necessary force to drive the fastener without requiring external power sources, control systems, or operator intervention beyond triggering the release mechanism, thus eliminating power, size, and cost constraints associated with external systems.
2Device complexity
If a gas spring-powered mechanism is used, then size and cost constraints are reduced, but the driver blade must be reliably returned to the top-dead-center position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism through the lifter assembly that continuously monitors and adjusts the driver blade position. The lifter engages with the driver blade and provides mechanical feedback to ensure it returns to and is held at the top-dead-center position, creating a self-correcting system that maintains reliability without requiring complex electronic controls or increasing device size.
3Productivity
If the driver blade is moved rapidly from bottom-dead-center to top-dead-center, then productivity is improved, but wear on the teeth and contact surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing the lifter mechanism to engage gradually with the driver blade teeth during the return stroke. The contact surfaces and teeth are engineered with cushioning features that absorb and distribute impact forces, reducing peak stresses and wear during rapid cycling. This allows high-speed operation while extending the lifespan of wear-prone components through pre-planned protective measures.
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 gas spring-powered fastener driver provides efficient and reliable fastener driving with reduced wear and prolonged lifespan, capable of driving fasteners into a workpiece with sufficient impact energy, while minimizing stress on components.
Implementation Method 1
A gas spring is operable to bias the driver blade toward the TDC position
Implementation Method 2
At least one of the drive pins includes a roller bushing positioned on the at least one drive pin and configured to engage with one of the teeth of the driver blade
Data Source
AI summary
A gas spring-powered fastener driver includes a cylinder, a moveable piston positioned within the cylinder, and a driver blade attached to the piston and movable therewith between a top-dead-center (TDC) position and a driven or bottom-dead-center (BDC) position. The driver blade defines a driving axis. The driver blade includes a body having a first side and an opposite, second side with the driving axis passing therebetween. A plurality of teeth extends from the first side of the body. A plurality of projections extends from the second side of the body. The body, the teeth, and the projections are bisected by a common plane. A lifter is operable to move the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position, and is engageable with the teeth. A latch assembly is movable between a latched state, and a released state. The latch assembly is configured to engage with the projections.