Patent ID: 7185712
Filing Date: 2007-03-06
Classification: B25C

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a pneumatic fastening tool with a housing, an exhaust manifold, a cap member, a sleeve a piston assembly and a valve assembly, the housing defining a housing cavity with a rod aperture, the housing cavity including a sleeve extend chamber and a sleeve return chamber, the exhaust manifold having a first exhaust port, the cap member being coupled to the housing and the exhaust manifold, the cap member substantially closing an end of the housing cavity opposite the rod aperture, the cap member having a second exhaust port that is adapted to vent to a region outside the cap member, the sleeve having a sleeve body, the sleeve body including first and second ends and a wall, the wall defining a longitudinally extending hollow cavity and an exhaust aperture that extends through the wall proximate the second end, the piston assembly having a piston and a rod, the piston being slidingly disposed in the hollow cavity, the piston segregating the hollow cavity into a first cavity portion, which extends on a side of the piston toward the first end, and a second cavity portion, the rod being coupled to the piston such that translation of the piston within the hollow cavity causes likewise translation of the rod, the rod extending into the rod aperture, the valve assembly being coupled to the housing assembly and operable in a first condition and a second condition; operating the valve assembly in a first condition to urge the sleeve toward the cap member into a returned position, the sleeve cooperating with the cap member to inhibit fluid communication between the sleeve extend chamber and the second exhaust port but to permit fluid communication between the second cavity portion and the first and second exhaust ports; and operating the valve assembly in a second condition to urge the sleeve away from the cap member into an extended position, the sleeve cooperating with the exhaust manifold to inhibit fluid communication from the sleeve extend chamber and the second cavity portion through the first exhaust port but to permit fluid communication between the sleeve extend chamber and the second cavity portion.