Abstract:
A gas setting tool, wasting a limited amount of fuel. The tool comprises i) an internal combustion engine, with a device for injecting fuel in the chamber of the engine, comprising a check valve and an injection piston, the injection piston extending beyond the check valve, and iii) a sealing joint mounted on the injection piston of the check valve. The injection piston comprises an internal bore opened on the exterior and the check valve and its injection piston are arranged so that, in an opening position, the fuel in a container is able, outside the check valve, to only flow through the internal bore of the injection piston. Thanks to this invention, fuel waste is reduced to the best.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This invention relates to so-called gas setting tools, i.e. tools comprising an &lt;&lt;internal combustion engine&gt;&gt; operating through igniting in a combustion chamber an air-fuel mixture, the fuel being injected into the chamber by an injection device from a fuel container referred to as a gas cell. Such tools are intended to drive fastening elements into support materials for fastening parts thereto. Gas nailers are widely used nowadays. As used herein, a gas tool refers to a tool with a propulsion energy source consisting in gas or another fuel for an internal combustion engine, for example, petrol, alcohol, either in a liquid and/or a gas form. 
         [0002]    As an injection device, a solenoid valve, a piezoelectric injector could be for example used. An injection device comprises a tubular stem for intake, also referred to as a connection stem or intake stem, a gas cell, and an ejection stem, both stems being generally fitted into a sealing coupling. The ejection stem is mounted in the cell in a pusher and under the action of a move of the stem of the device, the ejection stem is pushed back against the action of a spring for releasing one fuel dose. 
         [0003]    An injection device generally comprises a check valve having its valve comprising the intake stem. 
         [0004]    It is the same for example for the injection device described in EP 2,119,535. 
         [0005]    In the device of such a prior art document, wherein the intake stem comprises an end portion extending beyond the check valve, the flow of fuel from the ejection stem of the cartridge up to the intake stem of the check valve of the device occurs, more particularly, through an annular passage arranged outside the check valve around the end portion of the valve-forming stem of the check valve. Such an arrangement requires providing significant sealing means and machining fuel flow holes in both ejection and intake stems. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, as soon as a cell is made integral with an injection device, fuel spreads between the two stems and, beyond, up to the check valve of the device. When the cell is disconnected from the device, all this volume of fuel is wasted. Now, this can amount to several doses, up to several tens, while to-day about a thousand dose cells are used. This is not negligible. This is all the more unfortunate as gas cells have been substituted for powder cartridges precisely because gas provides for a very large number of shots and wasting some of them is rather unfortunate. Thus, the cell-injection device connection should be normally ensured. 
         [0007]    The problem the invention of the present application originates from is thus reducing to the best the waste of fuel when the cell is released from the injection device. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    Thus, this invention relates to a gas setting tool comprising i) an internal combustion engine, with a combustion chamber, intended for receiving an air and fuel mixture from a fuel container, ii) a device for injecting fuel into the chamber, comprising a check valve and an injection piston slidably mounted in the check valve between a closing position and an opening position of the check valve resulting from the action of an ejection stem of the container, the injection piston extending to this end beyond the check valve, and iii) a sealing joint mounted on the injection piston of the check valve and arranged for receiving an ejection stem of the container of fuel, characterized in that the injection piston comprises an internal bore opened to the outside and the check valve and the injection piston thereof are arranged so that, in the opening position, the fuel in a container can, outside the check valve, only flow through the internal bore of the injection piston. 
         [0009]    The fuel in a container flowing inside the injection piston, and not outside as for the tool in the above mentioned prior art document, the tool is simple to manufacture and only requires in the injection device, outside the check valve, the single sealing joint wherein the injection piston is fitted. 
         [0010]    As the check valve is actuated directly by the ejection stem assembly of the container, the injection piston and the joint mounted on the piston, actually, the joint located between the piston and the stem of the container, if the container is disconnected from the injection device, the only fuel wasted is the volume of the interior of the piston portion outside the check valve and the ejection stem of the container. 
         [0011]    The injection piston could comprise an annular shoulder acting as a valve arranged so as to abut on a check valve seat under the action of a spring. 
         [0012]    As a check valve, a ball could also be provided, being pushed back against a check valve seat under the action of a spring and against the action of the above-mentioned assembly. 
         [0013]    Advantageously, the check valve is shaped as an injection stem wherein the injection piston is mounted, with a knee wherein a check valve seat is arranged and being able to cooperate with clamping jaws arranged in an adapter for fastening a fuel container to the injection device. 
         [0014]    The injection piston could be integral with a tubular portion extending beyond the check valve, the bore of the annular portion being in communication with the interior of the check valve by at least one radial bore. 
         [0015]    The injection piston could further comprise a tubular portion extending beyond the check valve and, inside the check valve, a valve portion being able, under the action of a spring, to abut on the valve seat for plugging the check valve and being able to be released therefrom under the action of an ejection stem of the container and via the tubular portion of the injection piston. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an axial sectional view of the assembly of a first embodiment of the fuel injection device of the tool of this invention and of a fuel container, fastened to each other via an adapter, with an injection piston in an opening position of the check valve of the device; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 1 , but with the injection piston in the closing position of the check valve; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a partially axial sectional view of a second embodiment of the fuel injection device of the tool of this invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of an embodiment of a combustion driven tool having a plurality of lockout features; and 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an assembly will be described now, comprising a fuel cell  1 , here, as an injection-dosage device, a solenoid valve  2 , an adapter  3  for fastening each other. 
         [0022]    The Cell 
         [0023]    This a container  4  having an annular cup  5  bound, in periphery, by a bead  6  and, at the centre, by an island  7  for retaining an internal pusher  8  extended by an external ejection stem  9 . The ejection stem  9  is a tubular member that can thus be pushed back towards the interior of the cartridge against the action of a return spring  10 . All these members of the cartridge  1  are perfectly known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0024]    The Solenoid Valve 
         [0025]    The solenoid valve  2 , only a small part of which is shown on the figures, comprises conventionally a body with a coil, an intake tubular stem  13  and, around the base  14  of the stem  13 , a base  15  into which the stem  13 ,  14  is engaged, the base  15  being in turn engaged into a fastening skirt  38 . 
         [0026]    More particularly, the intake stem, between its base  14  and its end  17 , comprises a belly, or a knee-forming bulge  18  being arranged for providing a latching function of the solenoid valve  2  on the adapter  3 , as set forth later on. 
         [0027]    The stem  13 , in its portion comprising the knee  18  and up to the end  17 , comprises an internal bore  19  that, beyond the knee  18 , flares so as to form a check valve seat  20  extending by a widened space  21  for receiving a valve head  23 . A valve forming piston  22  is indeed slidably mounted in the stem  13  which thus forms a check valve. The piston  22  comprises a head  23  and a tubular leg  28 . The tubular leg  28  is drilled with a central bore  24  opening on the exterior of the stem, at its end  17 , and on two small radial bores  25 , in turn opening on the widened space  21 . The tubular leg  28  is connected to the piston head-valve  22  at the level of a groove for receiving an annular seal  26  intended for abutting against the check valve seat  20 . The piston head  22  here comprises an annular shoulder  27  acting as an abutment for a return spring  29  for the piston  22  in the closing position of the check valve, the seal  26  in abutment against the check valve seat  20 . 
         [0028]    For an obvious reason, to be set forth herein after, the length of the piston leg  28  is substantially larger than the length of the stem  13 , between the check valve seat  20  and the end  17 . 
         [0029]    The belly  18  of the intake stem  13  of the solenoid valve here has an external general shape looking like a somewhat ovoid ball, being wider towards the base  14  of the stem  13  than towards the end  17  of the stem. It forms a knee. 
         [0030]    The Adapter 
         [0031]    This is a tubular body  30  with a grooved external wall  31 . It is extended, on the side intended for cooperating with the cartridge  1 , by an anchoring skirt  32  in the cup  5 , through fitting the skirt  32  in the bead  6  of the cartridge. 
         [0032]    From the central bore  33  of the adapter, clamping jaws  34  for the solenoid valve extend through cooperation of such jaws, mounted so as to space apart, with the knee  18  from the intake stem  13  of the solenoid valve. The jaws  34  protrude outside the central bore through their anchoring and clamping end  35  having a concave internal surface  36 , substantially corresponding to the external shape of the knee  18 . Beyond the end  35 , the jaws are recessed so as to show an internal shoulder  37  with a shape complementary to that of the knee  18  in the widest portion thereof 
         [0033]    Between the clamping jaws  34  and the anchoring skirt  32 , a sealing coupling  40  is mounted. The coupling  40  has here an H-shaped section, with a median wall  41  which is drilled with a passage hole and provides two female sleeves  42 ,  43  for the two ejection  9  and intake  28  stems of the cartridge and of the solenoid valve. 
         [0034]    Operation 
         [0035]    The adapter  3  could first be mounted on the cartridge  1  or on the solenoid valve  2 . By the way, normally, it is mounted on the cell. 
         [0036]    For mounting it on the cell, the skirt  32  is slightly forcibly slid  32  from the adapter into the cup  5 , the skirt inserting inside the bead  6 , until the interior of the tubular wall of the adapter comes in abutment against the retaining island  7  and the ejection stem  9  against the median wall  41  of the sealing coupling  40 . 
         [0037]    Afterwards, the solenoid valve  2  is slid into the adapter  3 . After the end  17  of the intake stem has moved beyond the ends  35  of the jaws  34 , the knee  18  spaces apart such ends so as to slightly forcibly travel until the knee becomes seated under the shoulder  37 . Then, the end  17  of the stem  13  is inserted into the sleeve  42  in abutment against the median wall  41  and the fastening skirt  38  is fitted on the tubular body  30  of the adapter. 
         [0038]    In this relative position ( FIG. 1 ), the pusher  8  of the cartridge  1  is pushed back against the action of the spring  10 , but the stem  9  of the cell has pushed back in the other direction the piston  22  against the action of the spring  29 , the piston head  23  being then released from the check valve seat  20 . The fuel may flow from the cartridge into the solenoid valve  2  through radial holes  44  in the stem  9 , the central bore  24  of the piston  22 , the radial bores  25  and the space  21 . Outside the flared space  21  of the check valve  13 , that is, outside the check valve  13 , the fuel only flows through the central bore  24  of the injection piston  22 . 
         [0039]    It should be noticed that the move of the piston  22  through the stem  9  is possible because of the length of the piston leg  28  being larger than the length of the stem  13 , between the seat  20  and the end  17 . 
         [0040]    A solenoid valve has been described with a piston and a monobloc piston head formed integrally. There could be further contemplated ( FIG. 3 ) a tubular leg  128  of an injection piston  122 , not linked to a piston head, but cooperating with a ball  121 , in turn arranged so as to come in abutment against the seat  120  of the check valve  113  under the action of the spring  29 . 
         [0041]    As in the previous embodiment, all the other components being identical, in the operating position of the assembly, when the pusher  8  of the cell is moved against the action of the spring  10 , the stem  9  has moved in the other direction the tubular leg  128  and the ball  121  so as to allow fuel to flow from the cell  1  in the solenoid valve  2  through the central bore  124  of the leg  128 . 
         [0042]    A intake stem of the solenoid valve has been described, being a piston head or a ball check valve. But these are not limiting features of this invention. Any part or other needle arranged so as to come in abutment against the seat  20  could also be appropriate. Using a membrane, or even a sphincter check valve could also be contemplated. 
         [0043]    In the first embodiment, a return spring for the piston  22  has been provided. It should be noticed that this could be omitted, the gas pressure remaining upstream the check valve when the cell acting therefore is removed. 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of an embodiment of a combustion driven tool  200  having a plurality of lockout features configured to selectively enable or disable operation of the tool  200 . As illustrated, the tool  200  includes a control system  202  coupled to a plurality of locks  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218 ,  220 ,  222 ,  224 , and  226 . The various locks  204 - 226 , referred to collectively as locks  203 , may include a variety of mechanically actuated locking mechanisms, electrically actuated locking mechanisms, pneumatically actuated locking mechanisms, software actuated locking mechanisms, wirelessly activated locking mechanisms, optically actuated locking mechanisms, magnetically actuated locking mechanisms, or any combination thereof. For example, the locks  203  may include electrical switches, mechanical switches, or any combination thereof. Accordingly, any reference to the locks  203  (e.g., locks  204 - 226 ) in the following discussion are intended to be actuated by any of these mechanisms, among others. The illustrated locks  203  may be actuated by the control system  202  to lockout various components of the tool  200 , thereby disabling operation of the tool  200  under certain conditions. For example, the control system  202  may actuate one or more of the locks  203  to reduce waste of fuel, power, fasteners, or other resources of the tool  200 . The control system  202  also may actuate one or more of the locks  203  to prevent a combustion event and/or a discharge of a fastener while the tool  200  is not intended to be operated. In certain embodiments, the control system  202  may actuate one or more of the locks  203  to disable various components of the tool  200  when a fuel cell  230  is removed from a fuel cell mount, e.g., receptacle  232 , in the tool  200 . In particular, when the fuel cell  230  is removed from the tool  200 , the control system  202  may actuate one or more of the locks  203  to prevent a flow or leakage of fuel, a flow of air, a generation of a spark to ignite a fuel/air mixture, a combustion event, a feeding of one or more fasteners, a trigger pull, or any movement of various moving parts in the tool  200 . This lockout functionality may substantially reduce waste of electrical power and fuel, while also preventing unintended operations while the fuel cell  230  is removed from the tool  200 . 
         [0045]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the tool  200  includes a housing  234  defined by a body portion  236 , a head portion  238 , a fastener portion  240 , and a handle portion  242 . Internally, the tool  200  includes the control system  202 , a fastener feeding system  244 , a fastener drive system  246 , and a combustion system  248 . The combustion system  248  also includes a fuel supply system  250 , an air supply system  252 , and an ignition system  254 . These systems  244 ,  246 , and  248  of the tool  200  are configured to feed and drive fasteners into a work piece in response to a combustion event. Accordingly, the control system  202  controls various operational parameters of these systems  244 ,  246 , and  248 , as well as various lockout features enabled by the locks  203 . 
         [0046]    The fastener portion  240  of the tool  200  includes the fastener feeding system  244 , which houses a fastener magazine  256  in a fastener feeder  258 . The fastener feeder  258  is configured to feed fasteners  260 , such as nails or staples, one after another to the head portion  238 , such that the fastener drive system  246  can drive the fasteners  260  through a fastener outlet  262 . For example, the fastener feeder  258  may include a feeding mechanism or actuator  264 , which may sequentially feed the fasteners  260  into a drive rod passage  266 . As discussed in detail below, the lock  224  may be coupled to the actuator  264  to selectively lock the feeding of the fasteners  260  to the head portion  238 , thereby blocking any fasteners  260  from a position capable of being driven by the fastener drive system  246 . 
         [0047]    The fastener drive system  246  extends from the body portion  236  to the head portion  238 , such that the fastener drive system  246  is driven by a combustion event in the combustion system  248  to drive the fasteners  260  through the fastener outlet  262  in the head portion  238 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener drive system  246  includes a drive rod  268  disposed in the drive rod passage  266 . As indicated by arrow  270 , the drive rod  268  is driven in a downstream direction toward the fastener outlet  262 , such that a tip  272  of the drive rod  268  impacts the fastener  260  and ejects the fastener  260  through the fastener outlet  262  into a workpiece. As discussed in further detail below, the fastener drive system  246  may include one or more locks  222 , which may be actuated by the control system  202  to block movement of the drive rod  268  under certain conditions. In this manner, the locked drive rod  268  is incapable of driving the fasteners  260  from the fastener outlet  262 . 
         [0048]    The combustion system  248  is disposed in the body portion  236  of the housing  234 . As illustrated, the combustion system  248  includes a piston  274  disposed in a cylinder  276 , thereby defining a combustion chamber  278 . Together, the piston  274  and the drive rod  268  form a piston rod assembly  280 . The combustion chamber  278  is configured to combust a mixture of fuel and air to generate pressurized combustion gases, which then drive the piston rod assembly  280  in the downstream direction indicated by arrow  270 . In certain embodiments, the combustion system  248  includes one or more locks  220  configured to lock movement of the piston  274  in response to input from the control system  202 . For example, the control system  202  may selectively actuate the lock  220  to block movement of the piston  274 , while also opening one or more vents to vent any unintended combustion gases and/or disabling other features to prevent a combustion event in the combustion chamber  278 . 
         [0049]    In the illustrated embodiment, the combustion system  248  includes the fuel system  250  and the air system  252  configured to provide a fuel air mixture in the combustion chamber  278 , which mixture is then ignited by the ignition system  254  to generate the combustion gases. The fuel system  250  includes the fuel cell  230  configured to mount to a suitable fuel cell mount (e.g., the receptacle  232 ), a connector  282 , an end of fuel line valve  284 , a fuel line  286 , and a metering valve  288 . The fuel cell  230  is configured to mount within the receptacle  232 , such that a fuel output  290  connects with a fuel input  292 . In certain embodiments, the fuel output  290  may connect with the fuel input  292  as described in detail above with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0050]    In the illustrated embodiment, the connector  282  is configured to enable or disable the connection between the fuel output  290  and the fuel input  292 . For example, the connector  282  may be an electrically driven or mechanically driven connection system, which includes the lock  204 , such that the control system  202  can enable or disable the connection between the fuel cell  230  and the tool  200 . 
         [0051]    For example, the control system  202  may actuate the lock  204  to disable or prevent the connector  282  from coupling the fuel output  290  to the fuel input  292  under certain conditions. In certain embodiments, this lockout feature may prevent an unsuitable fuel cell  230  from causing damage, degraded performance, or malfunction of the tool  200 . 
         [0052]    Similarly, the end of fuel line valve  284  may be coupled to the lock  206 , such that the control system  202  can electrically or mechanically actuate the lock  206  to enable or disable fuel flow through the valve  284 . For example, the control system  202  may lock or close the valve  284  to prevent fuel flow and leakage of fuel when the fuel cell  230  is removed from the tool  200 . In this manner, the lock  206  may substantially reduce the waste of fuel and environmental impact of the tool  200 , while also preventing the possibility of an unintended combustion event within the combustion chamber  278 . For example, the actuation of the lock  206  to close the valve  284  may prevent leakage of any fuel through the fuel line  286  from the metering valve  288  to the valve  284  adjacent the receptacle  232 . Otherwise, the fuel within the fuel line  286  may inadvertently leak through the fuel line  286  into the receptacle  232 . In addition, the metering valve  288  may be controlled by the controlled system  202  to provide a desired rate of fuel flow into the combustion chamber  278  to enable a combustion event. However, the valve  288  may be coupled to the lock  208 , which may be controlled by the control system  202  to selectively prevent flow of fuel through the fuel line  286  into the combustion chamber  278 . For example, the control system  202  may electrically or mechanically actuate the lock  208  to close the valve  288  when the fuel cell  230  is removed from the receptacle  232 . 
         [0053]    The air system  252  may include an air valve  294  and a fan  296 . For example, the air valve  294  may be controlled by the control system  202  to open during an air purge or air intake into the combustion chamber  278 , while the valve  294  may be closed in preparation for the combustion event in the chamber  278 . In certain embodiments, the valve  294  may be actuated by an actuator  298  of a workpiece contacting element  300 . For example, as the workpiece contacting element  300  engages a workpiece, the actuator  298  may mechanically or electrically actuate the valve  294  and other features (e.g., fan  296  and fuel system  250 ) of the combustion system  248  in preparation of a combustion event. In such an embodiment, the control system  202  may selectively actuate the lock  226  to disable the actuator  298 , and in turn lock the valve  294 , depending on various conditions sensed by the control system  202 . However, in the illustrated embodiment, the lock  218  is coupled to the valve  294 , such that the control system  202  can selectively enable or disable the valve  294  depending on various conditions sensed by the control system  202 . For example, the control system  202  may electrically or mechanically actuate the lock  218  to open the valve  294  (e.g., to function as a vent) when the fuel cell  230  is removed from the receptacle  232 . Similarly, the fan  296  may be coupled to the lock  216 , which may be controlled by the control system  202  to enable or disable operation of the fan  296  depending on various conditions. In the illustrated embodiment, the fan  296  includes a plurality of blades  302  coupled to a motor  303 . The motor  303  may be electrically driven by a power supply system  305 , e.g., a battery  305 , in the tool  200 . However, under certain conditions, the lock  216  may be actuated to deactivate the motor  303  in response to a control signal from the control system  202 . For example, the control system  202  may engage the lock  216  to switch off the fan  296  in response to an absence or removal of the fuel cell  230  from the receptacle  232 . Accordingly, the locks  216  and  218  may be used alone or together to lockout aspects of the air system  252  to prevent an undesired combustion event in the combustion chamber  278  in response to control signals from the control system  202 . 
         [0054]    The ignition system  254  includes an ignition module  306  and a spark source  308 , such as a spark plug. The ignition system  254  is configured to generate a spark to ignite a fuel air mixture within the combustion chamber  278 . Accordingly, the ignition system  254  may include the lock  210  coupled to the spark source  308  and the lock  212  coupled to the ignition module  306 , such that the control system  202  can selectively enable or disable the generation of a spark to combust the fuel air mixture within the chamber  278 . For example, similar to the discussion above, the locks  210  and  212  may be electrically or mechanically actuated by the control system  202  in response to various conditions, such as a sensed removal or absence of the fuel cell  230  in the receptacle  232 . 
         [0055]    The combustion system  248  may be designed to initiate the combustion event in the chamber  278  in a variety of ways. However, the tool  200  generally includes a trigger  310  coupled to a trigger switch or actuator  312 , which is configured to initiate the combustion event. For example, the trigger  310  may be pulled to engage the trigger switch  312 , which then causes the ignition system  254  to generate a spark to combust the fuel air mixture in the chamber  278 . In other embodiments, the trigger  310  may be pulled to actuate the fuel system  250  and the air system  252  to provide air and fuel into the combustion chamber  278  prior to the spark being generated by the ignition system  254 . In the illustrated embodiment, the injection of fuel and air into the combustion chamber  278  may be actuated by the actuator  298  of the workpiece contacting element  300 . For example, as the workpiece contacting element  300  engages a workpiece, the actuator  298  may be depressed to trigger the fuel system  250  to inject fuel into the combustion chamber  278  and trigger the air system  252  to close the valve  294  and engage the fan  296 . In certain embodiments, the control system  202  may be designed to interact with the actuator  298 , the fuel system  250 , the air system  252 , the ignition system  254 , and the trigger switch  312  to control the combustion of fuel and air within the combustion chamber  278 . Furthermore, the control system  202  may selectively actuate the locks  226  and  214  to lockout the actuator  298  and/or the trigger switch  312 . Accordingly, the control system  202  can selectively lockout the workpiece contacting element  300  and the trigger  310  to disable the fuel system  250 , the air system  252 , and the ignition system  254 , such that a combustion event cannot occur. The control system  202  may perform these lockouts in a variety of situations, such as the removal or absence of the fuel cell  230  from the receptacle  232 . 
         [0056]    In the illustrated embodiment, the control system  202  includes a controller  314  coupled to the battery  305  and identification reader  316 . The controller  314  is also coupled to the plurality of locks  203 , the fuel system  250 , the air system  252 , the ignition system  254 , the fastener feeding system  244 , and other elements within the tool  200 . As discussed above, the controller  314  may respond to an input to selectively actuate one or more of the locks  203  (e.g., locks  204 - 226 ) to disable one or more functional components of the tool  200  under certain circumstances. In the illustrated embodiment, the input may be derived from the identification reader  316 , which may communicate with an identification tag  318  disposed on the fuel cell  230 . For example, the identification tag  318  may include a smart tag, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a bar code, or another sort of tag having readable information about the fuel cell  230 . In certain embodiments, the RFID tag  318  may be an active RFID tag or a passive RFID tag. Furthermore, the RFID tag  318  may include an antenna and memory storing a variety of information. 
         [0057]    For example, the identification tag  318  may include information about a fuel type, fuel characteristics, a quantity of fuel, an air/fuel mixture, an ignition type, a fuel metering flow rate, an air flow rate, an identification number or code, a manufacturer, or any combination thereof. The fuel type may include an indication of gas, liquid, or solid fuel. The fuel characteristics may include a fuel composition, a heating value of the fuel, or other information impacting the performance of the fuel in the tool  200 . The quantity of fuel may include a total volume of fuel, a number of expected/remaining rounds of combustion events, or a combination thereof. The air/fuel mixture may include one or more optimal air/fuel mixture ratios based on the fuel type, fuel characteristics, tool type, and other factors. Likewise, the ignition type may include one or more optimal ignition types based on the fuel type, fuel characteristics, tool type, and other factors. The ignition types may include a number of sparks (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or more), an intensity of sparks (e.g., low, medium, or high), a timing of sparks, or any combination thereof, for each combustion event. The fuel metering flow rate may include one or more optimal fuel flow rates based on the fuel type, fuel characteristics, air/fuel mixture, tool type, and other factors. Similarly, the air flow rate may include one or more optimal air flow rates based on the fuel type, fuel characteristics, air/fuel mixture, tool type, and other factors. The identification number may include a serial number, a model number, a security code, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the identification number, and any other information on the tag  318 , may be encrypted to prevent tampering. Accordingly, the information stored on the tag  318  may be specifically used to identify and authenticate the fuel cell  230  for use with the tool  200 , while the information also may be used to enhance performance of the tool  200 . 
         [0058]    For example, each of these items of information on the identification tag  318  may be used by the controller  314  to ensure optimal performance (e.g., combustion) of the combustion system  248 , while also reducing waste of fuel, waste of electrical power, and waste of fasteners by the tool  200 . For example, the controller  314  may use the information on the tag  318  to optimize the fuel flow rate, air flow rate, air/fuel mixture, ignition type, and so forth. The information also may be used by the controller  314  to reduce the possibility of malfunctions, damage, premature wear, or other detrimental impacts on the tool  200 . For example, the controller  314  may use the information on the tag  318  to prevent certain operations having too many unknowns or uncertainties. In particular, if the controller  314  is unable to access the information (e.g., unknown fuel cell  230 , missing tag  318 , or missing information), then the controller  318  may lock down the tool  200  as a protective measure. Likewise, the information may be used by the controller  314  to reduce undesirable emissions by the tool  200 . For example, the controller  314  may use the information on the tag  318  to more efficiently use the fuel within the fuel cell  230 , thereby increasing the number of fasteners driven by the tool  200  per fuel cell  230 . For example, the controller  314  may process the information to determine a reduced fuel injection quantity per combustion event. The information on the tag  318  also may be used by the controller  314  to more efficiently use power in the battery  305  to drive the fan  296 , the ignition system  254 , and other components of the tool  200 , thereby substantially increasing the hours of use of the tool  200  per charge of the battery  305 . For example, the controller  314  may disable the power supply system, e.g., battery  305 , when the fuel cell  230  is removed from the receptacle  232  to conserve battery power, while simultaneously blocking an unintended ignition by the ignition system  254 . 
         [0059]    As appreciated, the identification reader  316  is configured to read and/or write information to the identification tag  318  on the fuel cell  230  while the fuel cell  230  is disposed in the receptacle  232  of the tool  200 . In certain embodiments, the communication between the reader  316  and the tag  318  may be used by the controller  314  to identify the presence or absence of the fuel cell  230  relative to the receptacle  332 . Accordingly, in some embodiments, the reader  316  and tag  318  may collectively define a sensing element that may be used by the controller  314  to determine when the fuel cell  230  is absent or present, thereby enabling the controller  314  to actuate the locks  203  when the fuel cell  230  is absent and disable the locks  203  when the fuel cell  230  is present in the receptacle  232 . In certain embodiments, the controller  314  may be coupled to one or more sensors  320 , which may be used to identify the presence or absence of the fuel cell  230  in the receptacle  232 . For example, the sensor  320  may be a mechanical switch, an electrical switch, an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, or any combination thereof. 
         [0060]    Regardless of the technique used to identify the presence or absence of the fuel cell  230  in the receptacle  232 , the controller  314  may respond to an absence of the fuel cell  230  by actuating one or more of the locks  203  (e.g.,  204 - 226 ) to lockout operation of one or more components of the tool  200 . Likewise, even if a fuel cell  230  is present in the receptacle  232 , the controller  314  may actuate one or more of the locks  203  (e.g.,  204 - 226 ) to lockout operation of one or more components of the tool  200  if the controller  314  is unable to authenticate the fuel cell  230  and/or the fuel cell  230  does not meet certain minimum criteria. For example, the tool  200  may require certain minimum performance standards in the fuel cell  230 . If the performance standards are not met, then the tool  200  may be subject to unexpected behaviors, such as tool damage, fuel waste, and so forth. Accordingly, the controller  314  may actuate the locks  203  if the tag  230  is not detected, the tag  230  is detected but the information is missing or invalid, or the tag  230  is detected but the information indicates that the fuel cell  230  does not meet the minimum criteria for the tool  200 . In certain embodiment, the tag  230  may store a security code, authentication key, or the like, which is conveyed by the reader  316  to the controller  314  to disable the locks  203 . If the controller  314  does not receive this security code, authentication key, or the like (e.g., missing or invalid fuel cell  230 , tag  318 , or information), then the controller  314  actuates the locks  203  to protect the tool  200 , prevent unintended operations, and conserve resources (e.g., fasteners  260 , fuel, and electrical power). Again, the controller  314  may close the valve  284  (e.g., at an end portion of the fuel line  286  near the fuel cell  230 ) to prevent fuel leakage and waste while the fuel cell  230  is removed from the receptacle  232 . Finally, the controller  314  may rely on various information stored on the tag  318  to improve the performance, efficiency, environmental friendliness, serviceability, and life of the tool. 
         [0061]    While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.