Pneumatic Fastener Driver with Gravity Retraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener driving apparatuses are bulky, costly, and inefficient due to energy-consuming retracting mechanisms, limited by high reactionary force, and safety hazards, with most being non-portable and restricted to short fastener lengths.
Innovation Solution
A portable fastener driving apparatus with a pneumatically connected cylinder system, utilizing a motor, control circuit, and retention element to minimize drive energy consumption and reaction force, allowing for single-stroke fastener insertion with a vacuum-assisted retracting mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring or bungee retracting mechanism is used, then the striker mechanism can be retracted to its initial position, but drive energy is consumed and drive speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional spring or bungee retracting mechanism from the system. Instead, the striker is retracted by gravity after the fastener is driven into the workpiece, eliminating the need for energy-consuming retracting mechanisms while maintaining the ability to reset the striker to its initial position.
Solution Approach 2:
The striker mechanism utilizes gravity to automatically retract itself after firing. The weight of the striker provides the retraction force, making the system self-servicing without requiring external energy input for the retraction phase, thus conserving drive energy.
2Ease of operation
If a spring or bungee retracting mechanism is used, then the striker mechanism can be retracted to its initial position, but drive speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional spring or bungee retracting mechanism from the system. Instead, the striker is retracted by gravity after the fastener is driven into the workpiece, eliminating the need for energy-consuming retracting mechanisms while maintaining the ability to reset the striker to its initial position.
Solution Approach 2:
The striker mechanism utilizes gravity to automatically retract itself after firing. The weight of the striker provides the retraction force, making the system self-servicing without requiring external energy input for the retraction phase, thus conserving drive energy.
3Productivity
If a striker mechanism with retracting mechanism is used, then the fastener can be driven into the workpiece, but safety hazard is created due to striker bias towards workpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The striker mechanism operates in distinct phases: a powered forward stroke to drive the fastener, followed by a passive gravity-driven return stroke. This periodic operation ensures the striker only exerts force on the fastener during the powered phase, eliminating continuous bias towards the workpiece that creates safety hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The striker mechanism utilizes gravity to automatically retract itself after firing. The weight of the striker provides the retraction force, making the system self-servicing without requiring external energy input for the retraction phase, thus conserving drive energy.
4Use of energy by moving object
If electrical energy is used to operate the fastener driving apparatus, then fasteners can be driven into the workpiece, but the apparatus is limited to fasteners of relatively small lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic system with adjustable pressure parameters that can be optimized for different fastener lengths. By varying the air pressure and volume in the cylinder, the system can generate sufficient force for both short and long fasteners, overcoming the length limitations of electrical systems.
5Use of energy by moving object
If electrical energy is used to operate the fastener driving apparatus, then fasteners can be driven into the workpiece, but high reactionary force is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical motor-driven mechanism with a pneumatic cylinder system. The compressed air provides the driving force, and the pneumatic system's inherent compliance and rapid expansion characteristics reduce the reactionary force transmitted to the user compared to rigid electrical motor systems.
6Productivity
If flywheel mechanism is used to operate the fastener driving apparatus, then fasteners of longer sizes can be driven very quickly, but the apparatus becomes bulkier and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a compact pneumatic cylinder system that replaces the bulky flywheel mechanism. The pneumatic system stores energy in compressed air form, allowing rapid firing of long fasteners without requiring the large rotating mass of a flywheel, thus reducing the overall size and weight of the apparatus.
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 apparatus achieves efficient, safe, and rapid fastener insertion with reduced energy consumption and reaction force, enabling full fastener penetration in a single stroke while being portable and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
the first piston is configured to move towards a top dead center of the first cylinder thereby compressing the gas in the gas chamber to a predetermined pressure
Implementation Method 2
During the return stroke of the first piston in the first cylinder, the first piston is configured to move towards a bottom dead center of the first cylinder. The vacuum created in the first cylinder is communicated to the second cylinder and thereby causes the second piston and the anvil to retract to their retracted positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener driving apparatus includes a power source, a control circuit, a motor, a first cylinder, a first piston, a linear motion converter, a second cylinder, a second piston, an anvil, a retention element retaining a component of the apparatus, and at least one sensor. During a compression stroke, the first piston compresses gas in a first cylinder to a predetermined pressure. Compressed gas is communicated to the second cylinder and the retention force of the retention element is overcome, to release the retained component of the apparatus, thereby causing the second piston to move linearly and enabling the anvil to drive the fastener into the workpiece. During a return stroke of the first piston, a vacuum created in the first cylinder is communicated to the second cylinder, causing the second piston and the anvil to retract to their initial positions.