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A combustion chamber system, for use within a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, comprises a dual combustion chamber system comprising a pre-combustion chamber and a final combustion chamber. The pre-combustion chamber is characterized by a high aspect ratio and has different obstacles fixedl

A combustion chamber system, for use within a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, comprises a dual combustion chamber system comprising a pre-combustion chamber and a final combustion chamber. The pre-combustion chamber is characterized by a high aspect ratio and has different obstacles fixedly incorporated therein for selectively retarding and enhancing the rate of burn and the rate of speed of the flame front propagating through the pre-combustion chamber. In addition, an obstacle, having a predetermined solid geometrical configuration is disposed within the final combustion chamber at a position immediately disposed downstream of a port fluidically interconnecting the pre-combustion chamber to the final combustion chamber so as to cause the flame front to diverge and split into multiple components which flow radially outwardly throughout the final combustion chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A combustion chamber system, for use within combustion-powered fastener-driving tools, comprising:a pre-combustion chamber having an aspect ratio, defined by means of the ratio of the length dimension of said pre-combustion chamber relative to the width dimension of said pre-combustion chamber, w

1. A combustion chamber system, for use within combustion-powered fastener-driving tools, comprising:a pre-combustion chamber having an aspect ratio, defined by means of the ratio of the length dimension of said pre-combustion chamber relative to the width dimension of said pre-combustion chamber, which is at least 2:1; means defined within an upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber for initiating combustion of an air-fuel mixture which propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to a downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber, by means of a flame front; a final combustion chamber fluidically connected by a port to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber and having a working piston operatively disposed at a downstream end portion of said final combustion chamber for driving fasteners out from the tool and into a substrate; and first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber for selectively enhancing and retarding the rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and the speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber. 2. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:second obstacle means disposed within said final combustion chamber for ensuring the rapid and complete combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said final combustion chamber such that peak energy and power can be impressed upon said working piston for driving from the tool and into a substrate. 3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second obstacle means disposed within said final combustion chamber for ensuring the rapid and complete combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said final combustion chamber comprises:a solid geometrical figure disposed within an up-stream end portion of said final combustion chamber and adjacent to said port fluidically interconnecting said pre-combustion chamber to said final combustion chamber for encountering said flame front propagating from said pre-combustion chamber into said final combustion chamber and for splitting said propagating flame front into radially divergent flame front portions for combustibly igniting all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber. 4. The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein:said solid geometrical figure comprises a cone wherein an apex portion of said cone faces said port fluidically interconnecting said pre-combustion chamber to said final combustion chamber. 5. The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein:said solid geometrical figure is selected from the group comprising a cone, a sphere, a plate, and a tear-drop. 6. The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein:said solid geometrical figure has a transverse cross-sectional configuration which is selected from the group comprising a circle, a pentagon, a rectangle, a cross, and an irregular polygon. 7. The system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:divergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber and operatively cooperating with said solid geometrical conical figure for defining annular flow channel portions within which said split radially divergent flame front portions can propagate with an enhanced rate of speed so as to achieve said combustible ignition of all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber while developing said peak energy and power for impression upon said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 8. The system as set forth in claim 5, wherein:when said solid geometrical figure comprises one of said cone, sphere, and tear-drop figures, wall portions, partially defining said final combustion chamber, have geometrical configurations which substantially correspond to the contours of side wall portions of said one of said cone, sphere, and tear-drop figures so as to operatively cooperate with said solid geometrical figure for defining annular flow channel portions within which said split radially divergent flame front portions can propagate with an enhanced rate of speed so as to achieve said combustible ignition of all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber while developing said peak energy and power for impression upon said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 9. The system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:convergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber and disposed downstream from said divergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber for deflecting combustion-generated pressure forces, power, and energy, developed within said final combustion chamber, toward said working piston so as to impact and move said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 10. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said pre-combustion chamber has a coiled configuration wherein coiled portions of said pre-combustion chamber are substantially coplanar with respect to each other; and said aspect ratio is 30:1. 11. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for enhancing said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said precombustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises obstacle means located within the vicinity of inner peripheral wall portions of said pre-combustion chamber and extending substantially from said up-stream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 12. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for enhancing said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a continuous spiral-shaped rib member formed upon an internal peripheral wall surface portion of said pre-combustion chamber and extending substantially from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 13. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for enhancing said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of annular washers disposed at axially spaced positions located along the longitudinal extent of said pre-combustion chamber which extends substantially from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 14. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for enhancing said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of semi-circular washers disposed upon diametrically opposite side wall portions of said pre-combustion chamber and at alternative axially spaced positions located along the longitudinal extent of said pre-combustion chamber which extends substantially from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 15. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises obstacle means located along the longitudinal axis of said pre-combustion chamber and extending substantially from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 16. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of pins extending transversely through side wall portions of said pre-combustion chamber so as to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the flow of said flame front through said pre-combustion chamber and disposed at axially spaced positions located along the longitudinal extent of said pre-combustion chamber extending from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 17. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of axially spaced orbs disposed along the central longitudinal axis of said pre-combustion chamber extending from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 18. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of axially spaced plates disposed along the central longitudinal axis of said pre-combustion chamber extending from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 19. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of axially spaced discs disposed along the central longitudinal axis of said pre-combustion chamber extending from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 20. A combustion-powered fastener-driving tool for driving fasteners into substrates, comprising:a working piston for driving fasteners out from said tool and into a substrate; a pre-combustion chamber having an aspect ratio, defined by means of the ratio of the length dimension of said pre-combustion chamber relative to the width dimension of said pre-combustion chamber, which is at least 2:1; means defined within an upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber for initiating combustion of an air-fuel mixture which propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to a downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber, by means of a flame front; a final combustion chamber fluidically connected by a port to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber and having said working piston operatively disposed at a downstream end portion of said final combustion chamber for driving the fasteners out from said tool and into the substrate; and first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber for selectively enhancing and retarding the rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and the speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber. 21. The tool as set forth in claim 20, wherein:said pre-combustion chamber has a coiled configuration wherein coiled portions of said pre-combustion chamber are substantially coplanar with respect to each other; and said aspect ratio is 30:1. 22. The tool as set forth in claim 20, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for enhancing said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises obstacle means located within the vicinity of inner peripheral wall portions of said pre-combustion chamber and extending substantially from said up-stream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 23. The tool as set forth in claim 22, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for enhancing said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a continuous spiral-shaped rib member formed upon an internal peripheral wall surface portion of said pre-combustion chamber and extending substantially from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 24. The tool as set forth in claim 22, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for enhancing said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of annular washers disposed at axially spaced positions located along the longitudinal extent of said pre-combustion chamber which extends substantially from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 25. The tool as set forth in claim 22, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for enhancing said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of semi-circular washers disposed upon diametrically opposite side wall portions of said pre-combustion chamber and at alternative axially spaced positions located along the longitudinal extent of said pre-combustion chamber which extends substantially from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 26. The tool as set forth in claim 20, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises obstacle means located along the longitudinal axis of said pre-combustion chamber and extending substantially from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion ion chamber. 27. The tool as set forth in claim 26, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of pins extending transversely through side wall portions of said pre-combustion chamber so as to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the flow of said flame front through said pre-combustion chamber and disposed at axially spaced positions located along the longitudinal extent of said pre-combustion chamber extending from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 28. The tool as set forth in claim 26, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of axially spaced orbs disposed along the central longitudinal axis of said pre-combustion chamber extending from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 29. The tool as set forth in claim 26, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of axially spaced plates disposed along the central longitudinal axis of said pre-combustion chamber extending from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 30. The tool as set forth in claim 26, wherein:said first obstacle means disposed within said pre-combustion chamber, for retarding said rate of burn of said air-fuel mixture within said pre-combustion chamber, and said speed at which said flame front propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, comprises a plurality of axially spaced discs disposed along the central longitudinal axis of said pre-combustion chamber extending from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber. 31. The tool as set forth in claim 20, further comprising:second obstacle means disposed within said final combustion chamber for ensuring the rapid and complete combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said final combustion chamber such that peak energy and power can be impressed upon said working piston for driving fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 32. The tool as set forth in claim 31, wherein said second obstacle means disposed within said final combustion chamber for ensuring the rapid and complete combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said final combustion chamber comprises:a solid geometrical figure disposed within an up-stream end portion of said final combustion chamber and adjacent to said port fluidically interconnecting said pre-combustion chamber to said final combustion chamber for encountering said flame front propagating from said pre-combustion chamber into said final combustion chamber and for splitting said propagating flame front into radially divergent flame front portions for combustibly igniting all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber. 33. The tool as set forth in claim 32, wherein:said solid geometrical figure comprises a cone wherein an apex portion of said cone faces said port fluidically interconnecting said pre-combustion chamber to said final combustion chamber. 34. The tool as set forth in claim 32, further comprising:divergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber and operatively cooperating with said solid geometrical figure for defining annular flow channel portions within which said split radially divergent flame front portions can propagate with an enhanced rate of speed so as to achieve said combustible ignition of all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber while developing said peak energy and power for impression upon said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 35. The tool as set forth in claim 34, further comprising:convergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber and disposed downstream from said divergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber for deflecting combustion-generated pressure forces, power, and energy, developed within said final combustion chamber, toward said working piston so as to impact and move said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 36. The tool as set forth in claim 32, wherein:said solid geometrical figure is selected from the group comprising a cone, a sphere, a plate, and a tear-drop. 37. The tool as set forth in claim 36, wherein:when said solid geometrical figure comprises one of said cone, sphere, and tear-drop figures, wall portions, partially defining said final combustion chamber, have geometrical configurations which substantially correspond to the contours of side wall portions of said one of said cone, sphere, and tear-drop figures so as to operatively cooperate with said solid geometrical figure for defining annular flow channel portions within which said split radially divergent flame front portions can propagate with an enhanced rate of speed so as to achieve said combustible ignition of all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber while developing said peak energy and power for impression upon said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 38. The tool as set forth in claim 32, wherein:said solid geometrical figure has a transverse cross-sectional configuration which is selected from the group comprising a circle, a pentagon, a rectangle, a cross, and an irregular polygon. 39. A combustion chamber system, for use within combustion-powered fastener-driving tools, comprising:a pre-combustion chamber having an aspect ratio, defined by means of the ratio of the length dimension of said pre-combustion chamber relative to the width dimension of said pre-combustion chamber, which is at least 2:1; means defined within an upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber for initiating combustion of an air-fuel mixture which propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to a downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber, by means of a flame front; a final combustion chamber fluidically connected by a port to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber and having a working piston operatively disposed at a downstream end portion of said final combustion chamber for driving fasteners out from the tool and into a substrate; and obstacle means disposed within said final combustion chamber for encountering said flame front from said pre-combustion chamber and for dispersing the same so as to en-sure the rapid and complete combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said final combustion chamber such that peak energy and power can be impressed upon said working piston for driving fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 40. The system as set forth in claim 39, wherein said obstacle means disposed within said final combustion chamber for ensuring the rapid and complete combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said final combustion chamber comprises:a solid geometrical figure disposed within an up-stream end portion of said final combustion chamber and adjacent to said port fluidically interconnecting said pre-combustion chamber to said final combustion chamber for encountering said flame front propagating from said pre-combustion chamber into said final combustion chamber and for splitting said propagating flame front into radially divergent flame front portions for combustibly igniting all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber. 41. The system as set forth in claim 40, wherein:said solid geometrical figure comprises a cone wherein an apex portion of said cone faces said port fluidically interconnecting said pre-combustion chamber to said final combustion chamber. 42. The system as set forth in claim 41, further comprising:divergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber and operatively cooperating with said solid geometrical conical figure for defining annular flow channel portions within which said split radially divergent flame front portions can propagate with an enhanced rate of speed so as to achieve said combustible ignition of all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber while developing said peak energy and power for impression upon said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 43. The system as set forth in claim 42, further comprising:convergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber and disposed downstream from said divergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber for deflecting combustion-generated pressure forces, power, and energy, developed within said final combustion chamber, toward said working piston so as to impact and move said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 44. The system as set forth in claim 40, wherein:said solid geometrical figure is selected from the group comprising a cone, a sphere, a plate, and a tear-drop. 45. The system as set forth in claim 44 wherein:when said solid geometrical figure comprises one of said cone, sphere, and tear-drop figures, wall portions, partially defining said final combustion chamber, have geometrical configurations which substantially correspond to the contours of side wall portions of said one of said cone, sphere, and tear-drop figures so as to operatively cooperate with said solid geometrical figure for defining annular flow channel portions within which said split radially divergent flame front portions can propagate with an enhanced rate of speed so as to achieve said combustible ignition of all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber while developing said peak energy and power for impression upon said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 46. The system as set forth in claim 40, wherein:said solid geometrical figure has a transverse cross-sectional configuration which is selected from the group comprising a circle, a pentagon, a rectangle, a cross, and an irregular polygon. 47. A combustion-powered fastener-driving tool for driving fasteners into substrates, comprising:a working piston for driving fasteners out from said tool and into a substrate; a pre-combustion chamber having an aspect ratio, defined by means of the ratio of the length dimension of said pre-combustion chamber relative to the width dimension of said pre-combustion chamber, which is at least 2:1; means defined within an upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber for initiating combustion of an air-fuel mixture which propagates through said pre-combustion chamber, from said upstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber to a downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber, by means of a flame front; a final combustion chamber fluidically connected by a port to said downstream end portion of said pre-combustion chamber and having said working piston operatively disposed at a downstream end portion of said final combustion chamber for driving the fasteners out from said tool and into the substrate; and obstacle means disposed within said final combustion chamber for encountering said flame front from said pre-combustion chamber and for dispersing the same so as to ensure the rapid and complete combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said final combustion chamber such that peak energy and power can be impressed upon said working piston for driving fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 48. The tool as set forth in claim 47, wherein said obstacle means disposed within said final combustion chamber for ensuring the rapid and complete combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said final combustion chamber comprises:a solid geometrical figure disposed within an up-stream end portion of said final combustion chamber and adjacent to said port fluidically interconnecting said pre-combustion chamber to said final combustion chamber for encountering said flame front propagating from said pre-combustion chamber into said final combustion chamber and for splitting said propagating flame front into radially divergent flame front portions for combustibly igniting all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber. 49. The tool as set forth in claim 48, wherein:said solid geometrical figure comprises a cone wherein an apex portion of said cone faces said port fluidically interconnecting said pre-combustion chamber to said final combustion chamber. 50. The tool as set forth in claim 49, further comprising:divergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber and operatively cooperating with said solid geometrical conical figure for defining annular flow channel portions within which said split radially divergent flame front portions can propagate with an enhanced rate of speed so as to achieve said combustible ignition of all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber while developing said peak energy and power for impression upon said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 51. The tool as set forth in claim 50, further comprising:convergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber and disposed downstream from said divergent wall portions partially defining said final combustion chamber for deflecting combustion-generated pressure forces, power, and energy, developed within said final combustion chamber, toward said working piston so as to impact and move said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 52. The tool as set forth in claim 48, wherein:said solid geometrical figure is selected from the group comprising a cone, a sphere, a plate, and a tear-drop. 53. The tool as set forth in claim 52, wherein:when said solid geometrical figure comprises one of said cone, sphere, and tear-drop figures, wall portions, partially defining said final combustion chamber, have geometrical configurations which substantially correspond to the contours of side wall portions of said one of said cone, sphere, and tear-drop figures so as to operatively cooperate with said solid geometrical figure for defining annular flow channel portions within which said split radially divergent flame front portions can propagate with an enhanced rate of speed so as to achieve said combustible ignition of all regions of said air-fuel mixture disposed within said final combustion chamber while developing said peak energy and power for impression upon said working piston for driving the fasteners from the tool and into a substrate. 54. The tool as set forth in claim 48, wherein:said solid geometrical figure has a transverse cross-sectional configuration which is selected from the group comprising a circle, a pentagon, a rectangle, a cross, and an irregular polygon.