Method for controlling the actuation of a gas-powered fixing tool and the corresponding device

• US 10,456,897 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2016
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Grandjean, Pascale, Cordeiro, Pierre, Herelier, Patrick, Nayrac, Frederic, Vettoretti, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel C
• Application Number:
  US15/378,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20170173771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 227 2, 227 4, 227 9, 227 10, 227 11, 123 46 SC
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/08 operated by combustion pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a method and an electronic ignition control device of a combustion chamber of a gas-powered fixing tool designed to optimize the quality of the shooting of fixation elements by the tool. According to the principle of the present disclosure, the triggering of the ignition of the chamber to produce the shot is commanded on the condition that the time between the moment when the user places the tool against a work surface and the moment when he pulls on an actuation trigger of the tool is greater than a predefined delay time, to ensure an optimal filling of the combustion chamber with the combustible gas. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the triggering of the ignition is enabled on the supplemental condition that a signal of medium ignition voltage is greater than a trigger threshold voltage.

Claims

1. A method for controlling electronic ignition of a gas-powered fastener-driving tool, the method comprising:

detecting a first mechanical event at a first point in time;

detecting a second mechanical event at a second point in time; and

after detecting the second mechanical event, if a time elapsed between the first and second points in time exceeds a first predetermined time period, generating a control signal to trigger ignition of a fuel/air mixture.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes measuring the time elapsed between the first and second points in time and comparing the time elapsed between the first and second points in time to the first predetermined time period.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes triggering a timeout timer having an initial value equal to the first predetermined time period responsive to detecting the first mechanical event and generating the control signal if the detection of the second event occurs after the timeout timer times out.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes generating the control signal if the time elapsed between the first and second points in time both:

(1) exceeds the first predetermined time period; and

(2) is less than a second predetermined time period.

5. The method of claim 4, which includes adjusting at least one of the first and second predetermined time periods based on a measured temperature parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, which includes:

generating a medium ignition voltage initiated responsive to detecting the first mechanical event;

comparing the medium ignition voltage to a reference trigger voltage; and

generating the control signal if both;

(1) the time elapsed between the first and second points in time exceeds the first predetermined time period; and

(2) the medium ignition voltage has an amplitude that exceeds the reference trigger voltage.

7. The method of claim 6, which includes, between generating the medium ignition voltage and comparing the medium ignition voltage to the reference trigger voltage, converting the medium ignition voltage into a voltage comparable to the reference trigger voltage.

8. The method of claim 6, which includes generating the medium ignition voltage before detecting the second mechanical event.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the first mechanical event includes detecting closure of a first switch responsive to depression of a guide tip of the tool, wherein detecting the second mechanical event includes detecting closure of a second switch responsive to an actuation of a trigger of the tool, and wherein generating the control signal includes generating the control signal by a controller.

10. A device for controlling electronic ignition of a gas-powered fixing tool, the device comprising:

a first detector configured to detect a first mechanical event associated with the tool;

a second detector configured to detect a second mechanical event associated with the tool; and

a controller operably connected to the first and second detectors and configured to, if a time elapsed between detection of the first mechanical event and detection of the second mechanical event exceeds a first predetermined time period, generate a control signal to trigger ignition of a fuel/air mixture.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to measure the time elapsed between the detection of the first mechanical event and the detection of the second mechanical event and compare the time elapsed between the detection of the first mechanical event and the detection of the second mechanical event to the first predetermined time period.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the first detector includes a first switch operably connectable to a first mechanical device of the tool, wherein the second detector includes a second switch operably connectable to a second mechanical device of the tool, and the first and second switches are connected to the controller.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to trigger a timeout timer having a value equal to the first predetermined time period responsive to detecting the first mechanical event and to generate the control signal if the detection of the second event occurs after the timer times out.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first detector includes a first switch operably connectable to a first mechanical device of the tool, wherein the second detector includes a second switch operably connectable to a second mechanical device of the tool, and wherein the controller includes a timer module coupled to a timer switch mounted in series between the first and second switches.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to generate the control signal if the time elapsed between detection of the first mechanical event and detection of the second mechanical event both:

(1) exceeds the first predetermined time period; and

(2) is less than a second predetermined time period.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the first and second predetermined time periods based on a measured temperature parameter.

17. The device of claim 10, which includes a voltage generator configured to generate a medium ignition voltage responsive to detection of the first mechanical event, wherein the controller is configured to compare the medium ignition voltage to a reference trigger voltage and to generate the control signal if both:

(1) the time elapsed between detection of the first mechanical event and detection of the second mechanical event exceeds the first predetermined time period; and

(2) an amplitude of the medium ignition voltage is greater than the reference trigger voltage.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to convert said medium ignition voltage into a voltage comparable to the reference trigger voltage.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to generate the medium ignition voltage before detection of the second mechanical event.

20. A gas-powered fastener-driving tool comprising:

a first mechanical component;

a first detector operably connected to the first mechanical component to detect actuation of the first mechanical component;

a second mechanical component;

a second detector operably connected to the second mechanical component to detect actuation of the second mechanical component; and

a controller operably connected to the first and second detectors and configured to, if a time elapsed between detection of the first mechanical event and detection of the second mechanical event exceeds a first predetermined time period, generate a control signal to trigger ignition of a fuel/air mixture.