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 a 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 parasitic loss seal may be provided to reduce drag force on the drive piston, and a timed dwell may be provided for the vacuum piston for operation.
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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;at least one seal operatively coupled to at least one of said vacuum piston, said drive piston and said anvil, said at least one seal capable of reducing a parasitic loss of at least one of said vacuum piston, said drive piston and said anvil during operation of the fastener driving apparatus;a retention means, said retention means retaining said drive piston in a first position until a sufficient force is applied against said retention means 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 the parasitic loss of said drive piston due to friction is reduced to less than 30% of theoretical energy by reducing one of a sealing force and a coefficient of friction. 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, mechanical restraint, 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 bumper disposed between said drive piston and said vacuum piston. 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling of said motor and said linear motion converter comprises one of a clutch and a planetary gearbox. 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein during the drive cycle said vacuum piston stops at an intermediate stoppage point prior to the release of said drive piston. 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one seal comprises an elastomeric tubular structure. 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an air adjustment means is used to restrict air at a backside of said drive piston such that a drive piston energy can be adjusted by at least 15%. 10. 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 against said retention means 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 during the movement of said drive piston from the first position to the second position thereof, said vacuum piston is held proximate to a point of retention release for a timed dwell. 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein during the drive cycle said timed dwell at either end of a path of movement of said vacuum piston is at least 0.02 seconds. 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said retention means comprises at least one of a magnet, electromagnet, solenoid, mechanical means, pneumatic valve, mechanical restraint, and friction fit. 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, 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. 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said apparatus further comprises a spring assist operatively disposed between said vacuum piston and said drive piston to increase the energy applied on said drive piston. 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said spring assist is one of an elastomeric spring, mechanical spring or air spring. 16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said coupling of said motor and said linear motion converter comprises one of a clutch and a planetary gearbox. 17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, 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. 18. 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 chamber, said chamber being formed or expanded and capable of receiving a vacuum therein;a drive piston assist spring;a retention means, said retention means retaining said drive piston in a first position until a sufficient force is applied against said retention means 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, and such that said drive piston assist spring is energized, which vacuum and drive piston assist spring 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. 19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, 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. 20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said retention means comprises at least one of a magnet, electromagnet, solenoid, mechanical means, pneumatic valve, mechanical restraint, and friction fit.
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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