Removable Contact Trip for Jam Clearing in Cordless Nailer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cordless electric nailers are not suitable for steel framing or concrete construction due to the difficulty in clearing jams, especially when using high-force fasteners, and existing pneumatic and powder-powered nailers are cumbersome, noisy, and inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

A cordless electric nailer with a battery-powered motor and a removable lower contact trip that can be easily unlatched and reattached, allowing for quick clearing of jams, featuring a latch pocket and biasing mechanism for tool-less operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a cordless electric nailer uses high-force fasteners for concrete construction, then fastening power is improved, but jam clearing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening powerVSAvoidjam clearing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The contact trip is divided into a removable lower contact trip and a fixed upper contact trip assembly. The lower contact trip can be independently removed from the barrel through the latch mechanism, allowing users to clear jams by removing and reinserting only the lower portion without disassembling the entire tool, thus maintaining high fastening power while enabling easy jam clearing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lower contact trip is extracted as a separate removable component from the barrel assembly. By providing a dedicated removal mechanism (latch and lever system), the lower contact trip can be taken out independently to clear jams, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high fastening power and enabling easy maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Power

If pneumatic nailers are used for concrete construction, then fastening power is improved, but portability and convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening powerVSAvoidportability and convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pneumatic system (air compressor and hose) is replaced with a self-contained cordless electric motor system. The electric motor directly drives the flywheel and driver mechanism, eliminating the need for external air supply equipment and hoses, thus maintaining high fastening power while dramatically improving portability and convenience for concrete construction applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Power

If powder-powered nailers are used for concrete construction, then fastening power is improved, but noise and odor increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening powerVSAvoidnoise and odor

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The powder-actuated system (which uses explosive combustion) is replaced with an electric motor-driven flywheel system. The electric motor provides rotational energy to the flywheel, which then drives the nail through mechanical engagement without combustion, eliminating noise and odor while maintaining the high fastening power required for concrete construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of repair

If the lower contact trip is made removable with a latch mechanism, then ease of maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidlatch mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latch mechanism is designed to be actuated by the user through a simple lever motion without requiring tools or specialized knowledge. The lever pivots about a pin and automatically engages or disengages the latch from the latch pocket, allowing users to perform maintenance themselves by simply moving the lever to release and reattach the lower contact trip.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables efficient and convenient operation in steel framing and concrete construction by facilitating easy removal and reassembly of the contact trip, reducing jam-clearing difficulties and improving user experience.

Implementation Method 1

A biasing member can bias the removable contact trip latch toward a latched position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring biasing: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3478454B1Cordless concrete nailer with removable lower contact trip

Publication Date: 2022.11.23 BLACK & DECKER CORP

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AI summary

A removable contact trip (460) can be received in an aperture of the barrel (414) and can be slidable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to an end of the barrel. The removable contact trip can define a muzzle aperture (500) aligned with the driver axis (134) and through which a fastener is driven by the nail driver (64). The removable contact trip can include a latch pocket (524). A removable contact trip latch (462) can be biased toward a latched position in which the removable contact trip latch extends through a window of the barrel (414) and is receivable in the latch pocket to latch the removable contact trip to the barrel. The removable contact trip latch can also be movable to an unlatched position in which the removable contact trip latch is not receivable in the latch pocket to unlatch and permit removal of the contact trip from the barrel.