Pneumatic impacter

• US 4,016,873 A
• Filed: 04/01/1976
• Issued: 04/12/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otis F. Anderson
• Original Assignee: Otis F. Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Otis F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, Lawrence W.
• Application Number:
  US05/672,596
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 128/51, 128/53, 128/54, 128/55, 128/68, 128/69
• US Class Current: 601/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00

Abstract

A pneumatically actuated impact tool, for use by trained personnel in chiropractic treatment of the spine and other parts of the body, includes a resiliently tipped plunger reciprocably mounted in a cylinder having a tank, with a fitting for connection to a source of air under pressure. Air pressure is selectively communicated to the cylinder and thereby to the plunger by a valve mounted in an aperture in a wall separating the tank and the cylinder, and engaged by a valve lever which is pivoted in a handle attached to the tank and to the cylinder. A trigger is pivotally mounted on the handle and has a portion thereof engaging the valve lever, to provide a leverage to open the valve and allow the air pressure into the cylinder to drive the plunger in a single stroke against a compression spring mounted coaxially thereon to impart a desired impact to the patient.

Claims

1. A pneumatically actuated impacter for use in chiropractic therapy comprising:

a. a reservoir for containing compressed air, said reservoir having a fitting removably connectible to a source of compressed air and an adjustable pressure relief valve for regulating the pressure therein;

b. a hollow cylinder mounted on said reservoir, extending therefrom, and terminating in a front end having an axial opening therethrough, said cylinder having a cylinder annular shoulder formed in said opening at said front end facing said reservoir;

c. a plunger reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said plunger having a piston at one end, a shank portion extending through said axial opening, and an impact end remote from said piston end, said impact end having a resilient cap thereon, and said plunger having a plunger annular shoulder between said piston and said shank portion, said plunger shoulder facing said cylinder shoulder;

d. a recoil spring sleeved onto said shank portion with respective opposite ends engaging said cylinder and said plunger shoulders, said recoil spring urging said plunger toward said reservoir;

e. a channel shaped handle member having a central web extending laterally outwardly from said cylinder and reservoir, and having spaced apart, parallel flanges extending toward said cylinder front end;

f. a wall separating said reservoir from said cylinder, said wall having a flow aperture therethrough, said aperture having a valve seat formed on the reservoir side thereof;

g. a linearly translatable valve member having a head portion seatable on said valve seat and an elongated stem extending toward said front end, said stem being in close sliding contact with said flow aperture walls and having a flow passage formed thereon for communicating compressed air from said reservoir to said cylinder;

h. an elongated valve lever pivotally mounted on said handle and having one end engaging said valve stem to translate said valve from a seated position to an unseated position;

i. a trigger member pivotally mounted on said handle and having a surface engaging said valve lever to facilitate pivoting thereof; and

j. a return spring positioned between said valve lever and said handle to normally urge said valve lever to retain said valve head in a seated position.

2. A pneumatically actuated impacter for use in chiropractic therapy comprising:

a. a reservoir for containing compressed air;

b. a hollow cylinder mounted on the reservoir, extending therefrom, and terminating in a front end remote from said reservoir, said cylinder having an axial opening at said front end;

c. a wall separating said reservoir from said cylinder;

d. said wall having a flow aperture therethrough, said aperture having a valve seat formed on the reservoir side thereof;

e. a plunger reciprocably mounted in said cylinder and having a portion extending through said axial opening and terminating in an impact end;

f. resilient means in the cylinder urging said plunger toward said reservoir;

g. a handle member extending laterally outwardly from said reservoir and cylinder;

h. valve means controlling communication between said reservoir and said cylinder;

i. valve lever means on said handle operative to actuate said valve means for supplying air pressure to said cylinder to move said plunger therein and provide an impact;

j. said valve means being a linearly translatable valve member havng a head portion sealingly engageable with said valve seat; and

k. said valve head having an elongated valve stem projecting therefrom toward said cylinder front end, said stem having a recess engaged in said valve lever means for translating said valve member along the longitudinal axis of said stem.

3. The impacter as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a. said valve lever means comprises an elongated valve lever having one end engaging said valve means; and

b. said valve lever is pivotally mounted on said handle member whereby said valve means is moved between seated position and an unseated position in response to selective pivoting of said valve lever.

4. The impacter as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a. said plunger has a resilient cap on said impact end, a piston on the other end, and a shank therebetween;

b. a first annular shoulder is formed on said plunger between said piston and said shank;

c. said cylinder has a second annular shoulder formed at said front end, said first and second shoulders being in mutually facing relation;

d. said resilient means is a recoil spring sleeved onto said shank, with respective opposite ends of said recoil spring engaging said first and said second shoulders.

5. The impacter as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a. said valve stem has a peripheral surface in close sliding contact with said aperture; and

b. said valve stem peripheral surface has a flow passage formed thereinto for communicating said compressed air from said reservoir to said cylinder when said valve means is unseated.

6. A pneumatically actuated impacter for use in chiropractic therapy comprising:

a. a reservoir for containing compressed air;

b. a hollow cylinder mounted on the reservoir, extending therefrom, and terminating in a front end remote from said reservoir, said cylinder having an axial opening at said front end;

c. a plunger reciprocably mounted in said cylinder and having a portion extending through said axial opening and terminating in an impact end;

d. resilient means in the cylinder urging said plunger toward said reservoir;

e. a handle member extending laterally outward from said reservoir and cylinder;

f. valve means controlling communication between said reservoir and said cylinder;

g. valve lever means on said handle operative to actuate said valve means for supplying air pressure to said cylinder to move said plunger therein and provide an impact;

h. a trigger member pivotally mounted on said handle member, said trigger member being a lever engaging said valve lever means to facilitate actuation of said valve means;

i. said handle member being a channel shaped member having a central web extending laterally outward from said reservoir and said cylinder, and having spaced apart parallel flanges extending toward said cylinder front end; and

j. said valve lever means being pivotally mounted between said flanges.

7. The impacter as set forth in claim 6 wherein a return spring is positioned with opposite ends thereof engaging said handle member and said valve lever means for normally retaining said valve means in a seated position.

8. A pneumatically actuated impacter for use in chiropractic therapy comprising:

a. a reservoir for containing compressed air;

b. a hollow cylinder mounted on the reservoir, extending therefrom, and terminating in a front end remote from said reservoir, said cylinder having an axial opening at said front end;

c. a plunger reciprocably mounted in said cylinder and having a portion extending through said axial opening and terminating in an impact end;

d. resilient means in the cylinder urging said plunger toward said reservoir;

e. a handle member extending laterally outward from said reservoir and cylinder;

f. a flow passage communicating said reservoir with the cylinder in spaced relation to said plunger, said flow passage having a portion with a valve seat;

g. valve means having a head portion sealingly engageable with said valve seat and an elongated stem extending from said head portion, said valve means controlling communication between said reservoir and said cylinder; and

h. valve lever means pivotally mounted on said handle member and having an end portion operatively engaged with said valve means stem for moving said valve means between seated position and unseated position in response to selective pivoting of said valve lever means, said unseating of the valve means effecting a supply of air pressure to the cylinder to move said plunger therein and provide an impact.