Patent ID: 6786378
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: B25C

Abstract:
A metering valve assembly, for use in connection with a tool stem of a fastener-driving tool, for dispensing a predetermined metered amount of fuel from a fuel source into a combustion chamber of the fastener-driving tool, comprising:a metering valve operatively connected at an intake end thereof to a fuel source for dispensing a predetermined metered amount of fuel from the fuel source toward a tool combustion chamber; a metering valve stem fixedly mounted upon a discharge end of said metering valve and adapted to fluidically cooperate with a tool stem of a fastener-driving tool, wherein the tool stem defines a fluid flow path for delivering the predetermined metered amount of fuel from said metering valve stem, through the tool stem, and into the tool combustion chamber; and an elastomeric adaptor mounted upon said metering valve stem and adapted to be disposed in sealed engagement with the tool stem of the fastener-driving tool so as to thereby define a sealed fluid flow path leading from said metering valve and toward the tool combustion chamber regardless of relative movements that may occur between said metering valve stem and the tool stem, said elastomeric adaptor comprising a tubular body portion defined around a longitudinal axis, a counterbored region defined within said tubular body portion for housing a forward end portion of said metering valve stem and having a front end wall portion, disposed substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion, for providing an internal wall surface for abutment with a front end face of said forward end portion of said metering valve stem so as to properly seat said forward end portion of said metering valve stem internally within said counterbored region of said tubular body portion, and a frusto-conically configured, annular edge portion formed upon an external wall surface of said front end wall portion of said tubular body portion for mated engagement with a correspondingly configured end wall of the tool stem so as to provide a universal sealed interface with the tool stem of the fastener-driving tool regardless of relative movements that may occur between said metering valve stem and the tool stem.