Single Component Intake Exhaust Valve for Combustion Fastener Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combustion-powered fastener-driving tools have slower operational cycles due to large air intake and combustion product exhaust structures, which hinder auxiliary cooling and uniform fuel distribution, and often rely on inefficiently positioned fans that are prone to thermal and pressure issues.
Innovation Solution
A new single component intake/exhaust valve member with an annular structure allows for rapid opening and closing, combined with a fuel injection manifold and accelerator plate system or external fan system to enhance fuel distribution and mixing, and supplemental air flow for cooling and scavenging, eliminating the need for a rotary fan in the upper region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large air intake and exhaust port structures are used to achieve acceptable operational rates, then combustion efficiency is improved, but device complexity and inability to incorporate auxiliary cooling structure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the intake valve and exhaust valve into a single integrated valve member that performs both functions. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining the ability to achieve acceptable operational rates through properly sized ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve member serves multiple functions: it acts as both an intake valve and an exhaust valve, and also provides a mounting surface for auxiliary cooling structures. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by reducing complexity while maintaining productivity.
2Productivity
If longitudinally sliding combustion chamber structure is used to achieve large port structures, then combustion efficiency is improved, but operational speed decreases compared to pneumatic tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the valve operation from the longitudinal sliding movement of the combustion chamber. Instead of the combustion chamber moving to open/close valves, a separate single valve member is used that can open and close rapidly without requiring the entire combustion chamber to slide, thus increasing operational speed.
3Productivity
If single location fuel injection is used to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but fuel distribution uniformity and combustion efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fuel injection system into multiple injection locations within the combustion chamber. This allows fuel to be injected at several points simultaneously, improving distribution uniformity and combustion efficiency while keeping each individual injection point relatively simple.
4Temperature
If fan is positioned within upper region of combustion chamber to achieve air mixing and cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but component reliability deteriorates due to thermal and pressure forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the single valve member as an intermediary structure that provides a mounting surface for auxiliary cooling structures. This allows cooling functionality to be added without placing a fan directly in the harsh thermal and pressure environment of the combustion chamber upper region, thus improving reliability while maintaining cooling efficiency.
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 configuration enables faster cyclic operations, improved cooling, uniform fuel distribution, and efficient scavenging of combustion products, comparable to pneumatically-powered tools, while reducing the stress on components and enhancing combustion efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a new and improved single component intake/exhaust valve member... adapted to be axially movable within the combustion chamber... operatively cooperates with wall structure of the combustion chamber so as to define both the intake and exhaust ports
Implementation Method 2
fuel injection manifold and accelerator plate structure is incorporated within the combustion chamber of the tool so as to enhance the uniform injection and distribution of the injected fuel throughout the combustion chamber
Implementation Method 3
supplemental or auxiliary air flow components are operatively associated with the combustion chamber of the fastener-driving tool so as to enhance the cooling of the same
Implementation Method 4
the mixing of the incoming air with the fuel injected into the combustion chamber
Implementation Method 5
the scavenging of the combustion exhaust products out from the combustion chamber
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
A new and improved combustion-powered fastener-driving tool utilizes a new and improved single component intake/exhaust valve member (112) which integrally defines both the intake and exhaust valves thereon. The intake/exhaust valve member (112) is adapted to be axially movable within the combustion chamber (102), and operatively cooperates with wall, structure of the combustion chamber (102). When the intake/exhaust valve member(112) is disposed, for example, at a first upper position, both the intake and exhaust ports (126, 130) defined within the wall structure of the combustion chamber (102) are closed so as to permit the ignition and combustion phases of the tool-firing cycle to proceed, whereas, conversely, when the intake /exhaust valve member (112) is disposed, for example, at a second lower position, both the intake and exhaust ports (126, 130) defined within the wall structure of the combustion chamber (102) are open so as to permit incoming air to scavenge combustion exhaust products and to subsequently mix with injected fuel in preparation for the commencement of another tool-firing cycle.