Abstract:
A driving tool with tool portion and a gas delivery system. The tool portion includes a linear pneumatic motor that is configured to propel a driver blade. The gas delivery system is configured to deliver a pressurized gas, such as compressed air or nitrogen, to the tool portion for use in operating the linear pneumatic motor. The gas delivery system includes a first inlet, which is connectable to a first source of compressed gas, such as a stationary air compressor, a second inlet, which is connectable to a second source of compressed gas, such as a tank mounted to the tool portion, and a directional valve for selecting between the first and second inlets.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/583,910, filed on Jan. 6, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth in detail herein. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a driving tool having an interchangeable power source. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
         [0004]    U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0283569 discloses an expulsion device actuated by a pressure medium. The expulsion device is configured to expel objects or liquid materials from a reservoir by means of a drive piston which is impinged upon by a pressure medium. The pressure medium can be received from a stationary pressure source, or a pressure medium container. While such device is suited for its intended purpose, it is nonetheless susceptible to improvement. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
         [0006]    In one form, the present teachings provide a driving tool having a housing, a pneumatic linear motor, a driver blade, a first inlet, a second inlet, a directional valve, a pressure limiting device, a shut-off valve and a regulator. The housing has a handle and a pressure chamber. The pneumatic linear motor is housed in the housing and has an output member. The pneumatic linear motor is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The driver blade disposed in the housing and is coupled to the output member for movement therewith along a driver axis. The first inlet is configured to be coupled to a first source of compressed gas. The second inlet is configured to be coupled to a second source of compressed gas. The directional valve is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber and is selectively operable in first and second conditions. Operation of the directional valve in the first condition establishes a first flow path in which the first inlet is coupled in fluid communication to the pressure chamber and fluid communication between the pressure chamber and the second inlet is inhibited. Operation of the directional valve in the second condition establishes a second flow path in which the second inlet is coupled in fluid communication to the pressure chamber and fluid communication between the pressure chamber and the first inlet is inhibited. The pressure limiting device is disposed between the second inlet and the directional valve. The shut-off valve is disposed between the pressure limiting device and the directional valve. The regulator is disposed in fluid communication between the shut-off valve and the directional valve. 
         [0007]    In another form, the present teachings provide a driving tool that has a housing, a pneumatic linear motor, a driver blade, a magazine and a gas feed system. The housing has a handle and a pressure chamber. The pneumatic linear motor is housed in the housing and has an output member. The pneumatic linear motor is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The driver blade is disposed in the housing and is coupled to the output member for movement therewith along a driver axis. The magazine is coupled to the housing and is configured to hold a plurality of fasteners and sequentially feed the fasteners into a position where they can be engaged by the driver blade to be driven into a workpiece. The gas feed system includes a directional valve, a tank, a pressure limiting device, a shut-off valve and a regulator. The directional valve has a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet. The outlet is coupled in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The first inlet is configured to be coupled in fluid communication to a first source of compressed gas. The tank is coupled to the housing and is coupled in fluid communication with the second inlet. The tank is configured for use as a second source of compressed gas. The pressure limiting device is disposed between the second inlet and the directional valve. The shut-off valve is disposed between the pressure limiting device and the directional valve. The regulator is disposed in fluid communication between the shut-off valve and the directional valve. 
         [0008]    In a further form, the present teachings provide a method for operating a driving tool that has a housing, a pneumatic linear motor, a driver blade and a gas feed system. The housing has a pressure chamber. The pneumatic linear motor is housed in the housing and is coupled in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The pneumatic linear motor has an output member to which the driver blade is coupled for movement therewith along a driver axis. The gas feed system includes a directional valve, a pressure limiting device, a shut-off valve and a regulator. The directional valve has a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet. The outlet is coupled in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The pressure limiting device is disposed between the second inlet and the directional valve. The shut-off valve is disposed between the pressure limiting device and the directional valve. The regulator is disposed in fluid communication between the shut-off valve and the directional valve. The method includes: coupling the first inlet to a first source of compressed gas; coupling a gas tank to the second inlet, the gas tank being a second source of compressed gas; securing the gas tank to the housing; operating the directional valve in a first condition to direct compressed gas from the first source of compressed gas to the pressure chamber; operating the directional valve in a second condition to direct compressed gas from the gas tank to the pressure chamber; and adjusting the regulator to change the pressure of the gas entering the pressure chamber when the directional valve is in the second condition. 
         [0009]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a right side elevation view of an exemplary driving tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal section view of a portion of the driving tool of  FIG. 1  illustrating a tool portion in more detail; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a portion of the pneumatic circuit of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a pneumatic circuit of the driving tool of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0015]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a driving tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . The driving tool  10  can include tool portion  12 , a magazine  14  and a gas delivery system  16 . Except as noted herein, the tool portion  12  and the magazine  14  can be generally conventional in their construction and operation. For example, the tool portion  12  and the magazine  14  can be constructed as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,646, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in detail herein. 
         [0017]    Briefly, and with additional reference to  FIG. 2 , the tool portion  12  can include a housing  20 , a pneumatic linear motor  22 , and a driver blade  24 . The housing  20  can define a handle  30  and a pressure chamber  32  that holds compressed gas that is to be delivered to the pneumatic linear motor  22  for its operation. The pneumatic linear motor  22  can include an output member  36  (e.g., a piston in the particular example provided) and can be in fluid communication with the pressure chamber  32  (i.e., the pneumatic linear motor  22  is configured to receive compressed gas from the pressure chamber  32 ). In the particular example provided, a trigger valve  38  is disposed between the pressure chamber  32  and an inlet of the pneumatic linear motor  22  to thereby permit a user of the driving tool  10  to control operation of the pneumatic linear motor  22  through operation of the trigger valve  38 . Thus, while the trigger valve  38  can interrupt the supply of compressed gas to the inlet of the pneumatic linear motor  22 , the pneumatic linear motor  22  is nevertheless configured to receive compressed gas from the pressure chamber  32 . The driver blade  24  is disposed in the housing  20  and is coupled to the output member  36  for movement therewith along a driver axis  40 . The magazine  14  is coupled to the housing  20  and is configured to hold a plurality of fasteners (not shown), such as staples, nails, or brads. The magazine  14  is further configured to sequentially feed the fasteners into a position (in the housing  20 ) where the fasteners can be engaged by the driver blade  24  to be driven into a workpiece (not shown). 
         [0018]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , the gas delivery system  16  can comprise a directional valve  50 , a first inlet  52 , a second inlet  54 , a regulator  56 , a shut-off valve  58 , a connector  60 , an initial regulation unit  62  and a tank  64 . The directional valve  50  can have a valve body  70  and a valve element  72 . The valve body  70  can have a first port  80 , a second port  82  and an outlet  84 . The first port  80  can be or be coupled to the first inlet  52 . The second port  82  can be coupled in fluid communication to an outlet side of the regulator  56 . The outlet  84  can be coupled in fluid communication with the pressure chamber  32 . The valve element  72  can be movable in the valve body  70  between a first element position, which couples the first inlet  52  to the outlet  84  in fluid communication and inhibits fluid communication between the second inlet  54  and the outlet  84 , and a second element position that couples the second inlet  54  to the outlet  84  in fluid communication and inhibits fluid communication between the first inlet  52  and the outlet  84 . The valve element  72  can be moved through a manual (user) input or through any desired electronic or pneumatic control means. In the particular example provided, the directional valve  50  is a shuttle valve and the valve element  72  is moved in the valve body  70  based on the pressure of the gas that acts on the opposite sides of the valve element  72 . 
         [0019]    The first inlet  52  is configured to be coupled in fluid communication to a first source of compressed gas, such as a stationary air compressor  88 . 
         [0020]    The regulator  56  can be coupled in fluid communication with the shut-off valve  58 . The shut-off valve  58  can be coupled in fluid communication to the connector  60 . The connector  60  can comprise any means for coupling the regulator  56  in fluid communication with the initial regulation unit  62 , such as a type of commercially-available quick connect fitting (not shown). In the particular example provided, the connector  60  comprises a set of internal threads  90  and a first valve element  92 , while the initial regulation unit  62  comprises a unit body  94  with a first set of male threads  96  and a second valve element  98 ; the first set of male threads  96  can be threaded into the set of internal threads  90  to mechanically couple the initial regulation unit  62  to the connector  60  as well as to cause engagement of the first and second valve elements  92  and  98 , which opens a valve  100  housed in the unit body  94  to permit gas to flow through the initial regulation unit  62  and into the connector  60 . The valve  100  can also be configured to limit the pressure of the gas that is input to the connector  60  to a predetermined maximum working pressure. In this regard, it will be understood that the valve  100  can be a pressure limiting device. 
         [0021]    The initial regulation unit  62  further comprises a pressure gauge  102 , a pressure relief means  104  and a fill connection  106 , while the unit body  94  further comprises a second set of male threads  108  that are threadably (and sealingly) coupled to mating threads  110  formed in the tank  64 . The pressure gauge  102  is configured to measure the gauge pressure of gas in the tank  64 . The pressure relief means  104  can be any suitable device for limiting the gas pressure in the tank  64  to a predefined maximum pressure. In the particular example provided, the pressure relief means  104  comprises a burst disk that ruptures in the event of an over-pressure situation to permit gas in the tank  64  to be expelled from the unit body  94 . The fill connection  106  can permit the tank  64  to be refilled with compressed gas without a need for decoupling the tank  64  and the initial regulation unit  62  from the remainder of the driving tool  10 . In the example provided, the fill connection  106  comprises a high-pressure male quick-connect. The initial regulation unit  62  and the tank  64  are of the type that are commonly used in HPA (High Pressure Air) and N2 (nitrogen) systems for paintball and are commercially available from various sources. 
         [0022]    While the gas delivery system  16  has been described as including an initial regulation unit  62  having a valve  100  that can be configured to limit the pressure of air entering the connector  60  to a predetermined maximum working pressure, it will be appreciated that the valve  100  could be configured as solely a shut-off valve (e.g., actuated by contact between the first and second valve elements  92  and  98 ) and that a second regulator (not shown) could be disposed between the connector  60  and the regulator  56 . In such an embodiment, the shut-off valve  58  may be omitted or may be positioned as desired, such as disposed between the regulator  56  and the second regulator or disposed between the connector  60  and the second regulator. 
         [0023]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.