Flywheel operated nailer

• US 6,669,072 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Senco Products Incorporated (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Senco Products Incorporated (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Leimbach, Richard L., Burke, John T., Garvis, Conrad A., Adams, Shane R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weeks, Gloria R
• Application Number:
  US10/027,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20020108994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 227/131, 227/129, 227/134, 173/122, 173/178, 173/205, 192/35, 192/54.52, 192/55.3, 192/84.7, 192/144, 192/145, 192/224
• US Class Current: 227/131
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/06 operated by electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/047 V/F converter, wherein the voltage is controlled proportionally with the frequency

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.

Claims

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, said drum including an integral clutch,

m) a flywheel, drivingly connected to said motor, and rotatable about said central shaft, said flywheel positioned between said drum and said housing,

n) second compressible spring means positioned between said flywheel and said drum whereby said flywheel and said drum are axially biased apart from one another,

o) 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 drum clutch to axially translate toward and engage said flywheel thereby causing said 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 drum.

2. The tool as claimed in claim 1 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.

3. The tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first compressible spring means comprises at least one spring.

4. The tool as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for rotating said second end cam plate includes an electronic solenoid.

5. The tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said second end cam plate comprises a flexible wire cable wrapped about the periphery of said second end cam plate with its free end attached to the plunger of said electric solenoid whereby activation of said solenoid causes retraction of said plunger thereby causing rotation of said second end cam plate about said central shaft.

6. The tool as claimed in claim 4 including an electronic microprocessor for controlling said motor and said solenoid.

7. The tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tool activation drum includes at least one flexible wire cable having a first end affixed to the periphery of said activation drum with the second end of said cable affixed to said movable work performing member whereby rotation of said activation drum, about said central shaft, wraps said cable about said activation drum periphery thereby driving said movable work performing member.

8. The tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camming means between said first and second activation plates cause rapid separation of said first and second activation plates to a predetermined distance wherein said distance is maintained throughout the work performing cycle of said work performing member whereupon said first and second activation plates rapidly close toward one another whereby said clutch plate disengages from said flywheel thereby permitting said clutch plate, said activation drum and said second activation plate, as an assembly, to return to its starting position.

9. The tool as claimed in claim 8 wherein said electrical activation of said solenoid is discontinued during the working cycle of said work performing member whereby the axial force between said second end cam plate and said first activation plate cause said second end cam plate to rotate, about said central shaft, to its start position.

10. The tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motor is drivingly connected to said flywheel by an endless belt.

11. The tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tool is a hand held fastener driving tool.

12. The tool as claimed in claim 11 wherein said tool is a hand held nailing machine.

13. The tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motor is battery powered.

14. The tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second end cam plate has a mass larger than that of said first end cam plate.

15. The tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first compressible spring means is a Belleville spring.

16. A hand held nailing machine comprising:

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) a 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 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) an axially stationary flywheel, drivingly connected to said motor by an endless belt, and rotatable about said central shaft, said flywheel positioned between said drum and said housing, said drum having an integral clutch axially opposite said second activation plate,

q) a coil spring, circumscribing said central shaft positioned between said flywheel and said drum whereby said flywheel and said drum are axially biased apart from one another,

r) 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 drum clutch to axially translate toward and engage said flywheel thereby causing said 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 drum, 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 drum about said central shaft.

17. The nailing machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein said motor is powered by a battery.

18. The nailing machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein said battery is rechargeable.

19. The nailing machine as claimed in claim 18 wherein said rechargeable battery is removable.

20. The nailing machine as claimed in claim 16 including an electronic microprocessor for controlling said motor and said electric solenoid.

21. The machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein the camming means between said first and second activation plates cause rapid separation of said first and second activation plates to a predetermined distance wherein said distance is maintained throughout the work performing cycle of said nail driving member whereupon said first and second activation plates rapidly close toward one another whereby said clutch plate disengages from said flywheel thereby permitting said clutch plate, said activation drum and said second activation plate, as an assembly, to return to its starting position.

22. The tool as claimed in claim 21 wherein said microprocessor discontinues activation of said solenoid during the working cycle of said nail driving member whereby the axial force between said second end cam plate and said first activation plate cause said second end cam plate to rotate, about central shaft, to its start position.

23. The machine as claimed in claim 16 including means for returning said activation drum and said second end cam plate to their start position.