Hand-Held Setting Tool Locking Member Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held setting tools for driving fastening elements have a large number of components and lack reliable detection of fastening element strips, leading to potential misalignment and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
A setting tool design where the locking member performs both blocking and displacement functions, eliminating the need for additional components by using a pivotal lever with a spring-biased locking section and a press-on feeler to prevent axial displacement of the muzzle member when no fastening element is present, and a transportation slide for detecting empty strips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blocking member is added to prevent muzzle member displacement when no fastening element is present, then operational safety is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both the blocking member that prevents muzzle member displacement and as part of the fastening element detection mechanism. By combining these functions into a single integrated component, the patent avoids increasing the total number of components while still achieving the safety function of preventing accidental actuation when no fastening element is present.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member serves multiple purposes within the setting tool: it blocks the feeding channel to prevent fastening element strip displacement, prevents muzzle member displacement relative to the housing when no fastening element is present, and works with the press-on feeler to detect fastening element presence. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving enhanced safety without adding separate dedicated components for each function.
2Reliability
If additional components are added to detect fastening element strip presence, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member and press-on feeler are designed to serve dual purposes: they control the feeding and positioning of fastening elements while simultaneously detecting the presence or absence of fastening elements in the receiving chamber. This eliminates the need for separate detection components, maintaining simple device structure while achieving reliable detection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing mechanical components (locking member and press-on feeler) perform self-service by automatically detecting fastening element presence through their interaction with the fastening element strip during normal operation. The system uses its own operational components for detection rather than requiring separate dedicated detection devices, thereby avoiding increased complexity.
3Device complexity
If the locking member is designed to perform multiple functions, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed with features that automatically align with corresponding features on the muzzle member and housing through equipotential positioning. The locking section and blocking section are configured to engage with mating surfaces that guide their relative positions, reducing the need for high-precision manufacturing while ensuring proper alignment during assembly and operation.
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
This design reduces the number of components, ensures reliable detection of fastening element strips, and prevents accidental displacement, enhancing operational efficiency and safety by integrating blocking and locking functions within a single mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a spring for resiliently biasing the press-on feeler in a direction of its release or initial position
Implementation Method 2
The transportation slide has an adjusting profile that is brought in abutment with a counter-profile on the locking member for displacing the locking member in a position in which the locking member prevents the displacement of the muzzle member relative to the housing when no fastening element strip is located in the feeding channel
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held setting tool for driving fastening elements in a workpiece includes a muzzle member (20) axially displaceable relative to the tool housing (11) in a direction of an operational axis (A) of the setting tool (10), a feeding channel (28) for a fastening element strip (50) and arranged in the muzzle member (20) and opening into a fastening element the receiving chamber (29) provided in the muzzle member (20), and a locking member (40) arranged on the muzzle member (20) and forming a locking section (42) displaceable into the feeding channel (28), and a blocking section (41) for preventing displacement of the muzzle member relative to the housing.