A fastener driving apparatus includes a vacuum piston and a drive piston, which vacuum piston, when moved (by way of a motor and linear motion converter), draws a vacuum against the drive piston, which drive piston may be held in place by retention means. An anvil is coupled to the drive piston. The
A fastener driving apparatus includes a vacuum piston and a drive piston, which vacuum piston, when moved (by way of a motor and linear motion converter), draws a vacuum against the drive piston, which drive piston may be held in place by retention means. An anvil is coupled to the drive piston. The retention means is released electrically or mechanically at or near the point of maximum vacuum volume. This drive piston and anvil assembly is then driven by atmospheric pressure and may strike as fastener to drive it into a substrate. At least one position sensor may be used. Once the fastener is driven, the apparatus may reset to an initial position. At least one valve may be included to dump the energy stored in the vacuum in the case of a jam condition, thus providing good safety profile.
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1. A fastener driving apparatus for driving a fastener into a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a power source;a control circuit, said control circuit operatively coupled to said power source;a motor, said motor operatively coupled to said power source, said motor responsive to said control circu
1. A fastener driving apparatus for driving a fastener into a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a power source;a control circuit, said control circuit operatively coupled to said power source;a motor, said motor operatively coupled to said power source, said motor responsive to said control circuit;a vacuum piston;a linear motion converter, said linear motion converter operatively coupled to said motor, said linear motion converter operatively coupled to said vacuum piston;a drive piston;an anvil, said anvil operatively coupled to said drive piston;a retention means, said retention means retaining said drive piston in a first position until a sufficient force is applied on the drive piston or until a retention force of said retention means is released; anda cylinder, said vacuum piston capable of reciprocally moving within said cylinder, said drive piston capable of reciprocally moving within said cylinder,wherein during a drive cycle said linear motion converter actuates said vacuum piston such that a vacuum is generated, which vacuum is applied on said drive piston, and when said vacuum reaches a sufficient volume, said retention means releases said drive piston and wherein said drive piston moves from a first position to a second position such that said anvil is capable of driving a fastener into a substrate. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein during a return cycle said drive piston is moved from the second position to the first position such that the apparatus is thereafter capable of repeating the drive cycle. 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retention means comprises at least one of a magnet, electromagnet, solenoid, mechanical means, pneumatic valve, and friction fit. 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a vent means, said vent means capable of venting any air in excess of a threshold amount trapped between said vacuum piston and said drive piston. 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one valve operatively connected to at least one of said cylinder and said vacuum piston. 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one bumper, said at least one bumper disposed between said vacuum piston and said drive piston, said at least one bumper absorbing at least a portion of the energy remaining within said drive piston after at least one of the drive cycle and the return cycle is completed. 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control circuit precludes the further operation of the apparatus upon the detection of a fault condition until the fault condition has been resolved. 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a mechanical element, which mechanical element is capable of releasing said drive piston from said retention means based on a position of said vacuum piston in said cylinder. 9. A fastener driving apparatus for driving a fastener into a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a power source;a control circuit, said control circuit operatively coupled to said power source;a motor, said motor operatively coupled to said power source, said motor responsive to said control circuit;a vacuum piston;a linear motion converter, said linear motion converter operatively coupled to said motor, said linear motion converter operatively coupled to said vacuum piston;a drive piston;an anvil, said anvil operatively coupled to said drive piston;at least one sensor;a retention means, said retention means retaining said drive piston in a first position until a sufficient farce is applied on the drive piston or until a retention force of said retention means is released; anda cylinder, said vacuum piston capable of reciprocally moving within said cylinder, said drive piston capable of reciprocally moving within said cylinder,wherein during a drive cycle said linear motion converter actuates said vacuum piston such that a vacuum is generated, which vacuum is applied on said drive piston, and when said vacuum reaches a sufficient volume, said retention means releases said drive piston and wherein said drive piston moves from a first position to a second position such that said anvil is capable of driving a fastener into a substrate, andwherein said at least one sensor is capable of determining a position of at least one of said vacuum piston and said drive piston and said at least one sensor is further capable of at least (i) directing said control circuit to stop operation of the apparatus based on at least one position of at least one of said vacuum piston and said drive piston or (ii) causing the retention means to release the drive piston. 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein during a return cycle said drive piston is moved from the second position to the first position such that the apparatus is thereafter capable of repeating the drive cycle. 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said retention means comprises at least one of a magnet, electromagnet, solenoid, mechanical means, pneumatic valve, and friction fit. 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said apparatus further comprises a vent means, said vent means capable of venting any air in excess of a threshold amount trapped between said vacuum piston and said drive piston. 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one valve operatively connected to at least one of said cylinder and said vacuum piston. 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one bumper, said at least one bumper disposed between said vacuum piston and said drive piston, said at least one bumper absorbing at least a portion of the energy remaining in the drive piston after at least one of the drive cycle and the return cycle is completed. 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor is capable of detecting the existence of a fault condition, said control circuit precluding the further operation of the apparatus upon the detection of a fault condition until the fault condition has been resolved. 16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said apparatus further comprises a mechanical element, which mechanical element is capable of releasing said drive piston from said retention means based on a position of said vacuum piston in said cylinder. 17. A fastener driving apparatus for driving a fastener into a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a power source;a control circuit, said control circuit operatively coupled to said power source;a motor, said motor operatively coupled to said power source, said motor responsive to said control circuit;a vacuum piston;a linear motion converter, said linear motion converter operatively coupled to said motor, said linear motion converter operatively coupled to said vacuum piston;a drive piston;an anvil, said anvil operatively coupled to said chive piston;a chamber, said chamber being formed or expanded and capable of receiving a vacuum therein;a retention means, said retention means retaining said drive piston in a first position until a sufficient force is applied on the drive piston or until a retention force of said retention means is released; anda cylinder, said vacuum piston capable of reciprocally moving within said cylinder, said drive piston capable of reciprocally moving within said cylinder,wherein during a drive cycle said linear motion converter actuates said vacuum piston such that a vacuum is generated in the chamber, which vacuum is applied on said drive piston, and when said vacuum reaches a sufficient volume, said retention means releases said drive piston and wherein said drive piston moves from a first position to a second position such that said anvil is capable of driving a fastener into a substrate and wherein during a return cycle said drive piston is moved from the second position to the first position such that the apparatus is thereafter capable of repeating the drive cycle. 18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said control circuit precludes the further operation of the apparatus upon the detection of a fault condition until the fault condition has been resolved. 19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said retention means comprises at least one of a magnet, electromagnet, solenoid, mechanical means, pneumatic valve, and friction fit. 20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said apparatus further comprises a mechanical element, which mechanical element is capable of releasing said drive piston from said retention means based on a position of said vacuum piston in said cylinder.
Wyler, Andrew R.; Armstrong, Nathan T.; Thurner, Jason D.; Thorson, Troy C.; Scott, John S.; Ebner, Jeremy R.; Garces, Daniel R.; Dedrickson, Ryan Allen; Skinner, Luke J.; Suhr, Benjamin R., Gas spring-powered fastener driver.
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