Flywheel operated tool
First Claim
1. A tool including apparatus for driving a movable work performing member of said tool, said tool comprising:
- a) an outer shell, b) a housing within said shell for containing therein the operating mechanism for driving said movable member, c) a motor affixed to said housing, d) a first end cam plate affixed to said housing, e) a central shaft having a first end thereof affixed to said first end cam plate and having its opposite second end supported by said housing, f) a second end cam plate rotatably received upon said central shaft, g) caming means between said first and second end cam plates whereby rotation of said second cam causes said second end cam plate to axially separate from said first end cam plate, h) a first actuation cam plate received upon said central shaft, said first actuation cam plate being axially slidable upon, and non-rotatable about said central shaft, i) a second actuation cam plate axially slidable upon and rotatable about said central shaft, j) caming means between said first and second actuation cam plates whereby rotation of said second actuation cam plate relative to said first actuation cam plate causes said first and second actuation cam plates to axially separate, k) first compressible spring means positioned between said second end cam plate and said first actuation cam plate, l) a tool activation drum coupled to said second activation cam plate, said activation drum rotatable and axially slidable upon said central shaft, said activation drum operatively connected to said movable member, such that rotation of said drum drives said tool'"'"'s work performing member, m) a clutch plate rotatable and axially slidable upon said central shaft, said clutch plate coupled to said activation drum whereby said clutch plate, said activation drum and said second activation plate rotate about said central shaft as an assembly, n) a flywheel, drivingly connected to said motor, and rotatable about said central shaft, said flywheel positioned between said clutch and housing, o) second compressible spring means positioned between said flywheel and said clutch plate whereby said flywheel and said clutch plate are axially biased apart from one another, p) means for rotating said second end cam plate whereby axial movement of said second end cam plate away from said first end cam plate causing said clutch plate to axially translate toward and engage said flywheel thereby causing said clutch plate, said activation drum, and said second activation cam plate to rotate, as an assembly, in the direction of said flywheel rotation, thus causing said first and second activation cam plates to axially separate thereby compressing said first compression spring means whereby an additional axial force is imparted to said clutch plate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed and taught is a novel drive mechanism for a cyclic operating tool employing an energized flywheel to provide the necessary energy to perform a working cycle. The drive mechanism disclosed is particularly useful in hand tool applications such as a hand held nailing machine. The flywheel may be energized by a corded or battery powered motor. The herein disclosed mechanism teaches a novel pair of ball ramp cam plates wherein a first pair of ball ramps cause an initial engagement of a clutch with the energized flywheel whereupon rotation of the clutch causes activation of a second pair of ball ramps which affect compression of a spring which acts to increase the pressure applied to the clutch thereby assuring a slip free engagement between the clutch and he flywheel throughout the working cycle of the drive mechanism. Upon completion of the drive mechanisms working cycle, the second pair of ball ramp cam plates further act to disengage the clutch from the flywheel whereby the flywheel may dissipate the unused kinetic energy remaining within the flywheel as the drive mechanism returns to the start position.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A tool including apparatus for driving a movable work performing member of said tool, said tool comprising:
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a) an outer shell, b) a housing within said shell for containing therein the operating mechanism for driving said movable member, c) a motor affixed to said housing, d) a first end cam plate affixed to said housing, e) a central shaft having a first end thereof affixed to said first end cam plate and having its opposite second end supported by said housing, f) a second end cam plate rotatably received upon said central shaft, g) caming means between said first and second end cam plates whereby rotation of said second cam causes said second end cam plate to axially separate from said first end cam plate, h) a first actuation cam plate received upon said central shaft, said first actuation cam plate being axially slidable upon, and non-rotatable about said central shaft, i) a second actuation cam plate axially slidable upon and rotatable about said central shaft, j) caming means between said first and second actuation cam plates whereby rotation of said second actuation cam plate relative to said first actuation cam plate causes said first and second actuation cam plates to axially separate, k) first compressible spring means positioned between said second end cam plate and said first actuation cam plate, l) a tool activation drum coupled to said second activation cam plate, said activation drum rotatable and axially slidable upon said central shaft, said activation drum operatively connected to said movable member, such that rotation of said drum drives said tool'"'"'s work performing member, m) a clutch plate rotatable and axially slidable upon said central shaft, said clutch plate coupled to said activation drum whereby said clutch plate, said activation drum and said second activation plate rotate about said central shaft as an assembly, n) a flywheel, drivingly connected to said motor, and rotatable about said central shaft, said flywheel positioned between said clutch and housing, o) second compressible spring means positioned between said flywheel and said clutch plate whereby said flywheel and said clutch plate are axially biased apart from one another, p) means for rotating said second end cam plate whereby axial movement of said second end cam plate away from said first end cam plate causing said clutch plate to axially translate toward and engage said flywheel thereby causing said clutch plate, said activation drum, and said second activation cam plate to rotate, as an assembly, in the direction of said flywheel rotation, thus causing said first and second activation cam plates to axially separate thereby compressing said first compression spring means whereby an additional axial force is imparted to said clutch plate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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- 2. The tool as claimed in claim I wherein said caming means between said first and second end cam plates and between said first and second activation cam plates comprise a circumferentially oriented ball-ramp camming structure.
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22. A hand held nailing machine comprising:
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a) a main body shell including a hand hold handle, b) a nose piece, c) a nail supplying magazine attached to said nose piece and said handle whereby nails are supplied to said nose piece, d) a nail driving member for driving said nails from said nose piece and into a workpiece, e) a housing within said main body shell for containing therein the operating mechanism for operating said nailing machine, f) a motor affixed to said housing, g) a first end cam plate affixed to said housing, h) a central shaft having a first end thereof affixed to said first end cam plate and having its opposite second end supported by said housing, i) a second end cam plate rotatably received upon said central shaft, j) camming means between said first and second end cam plates whereby rotation of said second cam causes said second end cam plate to axially separate from said first end cam plate, said camming means comprising a circumferentially oriented ball-ramp camming structure, k) a first actuation cam plate received upon said central shaft, said first actuation cam plate being axially slidable upon, and non-rotatable about said central shaft, l) a second actuation cam plate axially slidable upon and rotatable about said central shaft, m) camming means between said first and second actuation cam plates whereby rotation of said second actuation cam plate relative to said first actuation cam plate causes said first and second actuation cam plates to axially separate, said camming means comprising a circumferentially oriented ball-ramp camming structure, n) at least one Belleville spring positioned between said second end cam plate and said first actuation cam plate, o) a machine activation drum coupled to said second activation cam plate, said activation drum rotatable and axially slidable upon said central shaft, said activation drum having a first flexible cable having a first end attached to said nail driving member whereby rotation of said activation drum causes said cable to wrap about the periphery of said drum thereby driving said nail driving member into contact with said nail and driving said nail from said nosepiece into said workpiece, p) a clutch plate rotatable and axially slidable upon said central shaft, said clutch plate coupled to said activation drum whereby said clutch plate, said activation drum and said second activation plate rotate about said central shaft as an assembly, said clutch plate having a second flexible cable having a first end attached to said nail driving member such that rotation of said clutch plate causes said cable to wrap about the periphery of said clutch plate whereby both said first and second flexible cables drive said nail driving member into contact with said nail thereby driving said nail from said nosepiece into said workpiece, q) an axially stationary flywheel, drivingly connected to said motor and rotatable about said central shaft, said flywheel positioned between said clutch plate and said housing, r) a coil spring, circumscribing said central shaft positioned between said flywheel and said clutch plate whereby said flywheel, said clutch plate, and said second activation cam plate, as an assembly, is axially biased away from from said flywheel, s) means for rotating said second end cam plate whereby axial movement of said second end cam plate away from said first end cam plate causes said first activation cam plate, said second activation plate, said activation drum and said clutch plate to axially translate toward said flywheel whereby said clutch plate engages said flywheel, thereby causing said second activation cam plate, said activation drum, and said clutch plate, as an assembly, to rotate in the direction of said flywheel, thus causing said first and second activation cam plates to axially separate thereby compressing said at least one Belleville spring whereby an additional axial force is imparted to said first activation plate, said second activation plate, said activation drum and said clutch plate, said means for rotating said second end cam plate comprising an electric solenoid having a movable plunger therein, a flexible wire cable wrapped about the periphery of said second end cam plate with its free end attached to said plunger, whereby activation of said solenoid causes retraction of said plunger, into said solenoid, thereby causing rotation of said second end cam plate about said central shaft. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification