Patent Publication Number: US-2021162573-A1

Title: Driving-in device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The application relates to an apparatus for driving a fastening element into an underlying surface. 
     PRIOR ART 
     Such apparatuses usually have a piston for transmitting energy to the fastening element. The energy required for this has to be made available in a very short time, which is why, for example in the case of what are known as spring nailers, first of all a spring is tensioned, said spring, during the driving-in operation, imparting the tensile energy to the piston in a sudden burst and accelerates the latter onto the fastening element. The energy released in a sudden burst, with which the fastening element is driven into the underlying surface, causes a recoil, which mechanically loads some components of such apparatuses. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the application relates to an apparatus for driving a fastening element into an underlying surface in a driving-in direction, having a motor, having a support structure that supports the motor, and having a damping element, by means of which the motor is held on the support structure. The damping element comprises a ring element, which fits around the motor in a plane extending preferably perpendicularly to the driving-in direction. Such an arrangement of the damping element gives the motor a large amount of freedom of movement in the driving-in direction relative to the support structure. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the motor is held on the support structure only by means of the damping element and is otherwise motionally decoupled in the driving-in direction relative to the support structure. Preferably, the motor is otherwise motionally decoupled in all directions relative to the support structure. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the ring element comprises an elastic material, preferably an elastomer, in particular PU, EPDM or FKM. Preferably, the ring element consists thereof. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the ring element is in the form of a circular ring. A further advantageous configuration is characterized in that the ring element has an elliptical, in particular circular, cross section in the circumferential direction. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the apparatus has a housing, wherein the support structure is rigidly connected to the housing or is part of the housing. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the support structure has a groove for partially receiving the ring element. Preferably, the groove extends in the circumferential direction of the ring element. A further advantageous configuration is characterized in that the motor has a channel for partially receiving the ring element. Preferably, the channel extends in the circumferential direction of the ring element. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the apparatus comprises an energy transmission element that is movable between a starting position and a setting position in order to transmit energy to the fastening element. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the apparatus has a mechanical energy store for storing mechanical energy and an energy transmission device for transmitting energy from an energy source to the mechanical energy store, wherein the energy transmission device has the motor for transmitting the energy from the energy source to the mechanical energy store. Preferably, the mechanical energy store comprises a spring. 
     A further aspect of the application relates to an apparatus for driving a fastening element into an underlying surface in a driving-in direction, having a heat source, having a fan for cooling the heat source, having a support structure that supports the fan, and having a fan damping element, by means of which the fan is held on the support structure or on the heat source. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a further damping element, by means of which the heat source is held on the support structure. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the fan has an enclosure, which is formed by the fan damping element. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the fan damping element has at least one protrusion, wherein the support structure, or the heat source, has a receptacle in which the protrusion is received. Preferably, the receptacle has an undercut, in which the protrusion engages. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the fan damping element and/or the further damping element comprises an elastic material, preferably an elastomer, in particular PU, EPDM or FKM. Preferably, the fan damping element consists thereof. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the apparatus has a housing, wherein the support structure is rigidly connected to the housing or is part of the housing. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the apparatus comprises an energy transmission element that is movable between a starting position and a setting position in order to transmit energy to the fastening element. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the heat source comprises a motor, preferably an electric motor. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the apparatus has a mechanical energy store for storing mechanical energy and an energy transmission device for transmitting energy from an energy source to the mechanical energy store, wherein the energy transmission device has the motor for transmitting the energy from the energy source to the mechanical energy store. Preferably, the mechanical energy store comprises a spring, particularly preferably a helical spring. 
     One advantageous configuration is characterized in that the energy source comprises an electric battery, which supplies the motor and the fan with electrical energy. 
    
    
     
       EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus for driving a fastening element into an underlying surface are explained in more detail in the following text by way of examples with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of a driving-in apparatus, 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of a driving-in apparatus with the housing open, 
         FIG. 3  shows a longitudinal section through an electric motor, 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an electric motor, 
         FIG. 5  shows a longitudinal section through the electric motor in  FIG. 4 , and 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of an electric motor having a fan. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of a driving-in apparatus  10  for driving a fastening element, for example a nail or bolt, into an underlying surface. The driving-in apparatus  10  has an energy transmission element (not illustrated) for transmitting energy to the fastening element, and a housing  20 , in which the energy transmission element and a drive device (likewise not illustrated) for advancing the energy transmission element are received. 
     The driving-in apparatus  10  also has a handle  30 , a magazine  40  and a bridge  50  connecting the handle  30  to the magazine  40 . The magazine is not removable. Fastened to the bridge  50  are a scaffold hook  60  for hanging the driving-in apparatus  10  on a scaffold or the like, and an electrical energy store in the form of a rechargeable battery  590 . Arranged on the handle  30  are a trigger  34  and a grip sensor in the form of a manual switch  35 . Furthermore, the driving-in apparatus  10  has a guide duct  700  for guiding the fastening element and a pressing device  750  for identifying a distance of the driving-in apparatus  10  from an underlying surface (not illustrated). Alignment of the driving-in apparatus perpendicularly to an underlying surface is assisted by an alignment aid  45 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the driving-in apparatus  10  with the housing  20  open. Received in the housing  20  is a drive device  70  for moving an energy transmission element that is concealed in the drawing. The drive device  70  comprises an electric motor (not illustrated) for converting electrical energy from the rechargeable battery  590  into rotational energy, a torque transmission device, comprising a gear mechanism  400 , for transmitting a torque of the electric motor to a motion converter in the form of a spindle drive  300 , a force transmission device, comprising a roller train  260 , for transmitting a force from the motion converter to a mechanical energy store in the form of a spring  200  and for transmitting a force from the spring to the energy transmission element. 
       FIG. 3  shows an electric motor  480  having a motor output  490  in longitudinal section. The motor  480  is in the form of a brushless DC motor and has motor coils  495  for driving the motor output  490 , which comprises a permanent magnet  491 . The motor  480  is held by a motor holder (not illustrated) and supplied with electrical energy by means of the crimp contacts  506  and controlled by means of the control line  505 . 
     A motor-side rotary element, in the form of a motor pinion  410 , is fastened to the motor output  490  so as to rotate therewith by way of a interference fit. In exemplary embodiments that are not illustrated, the rotary element is fastened in a materially bonded manner, in particular by adhesive bonding or injection-molding, or in a form-fitting manner. The motor pinion  410  is driven by the motor output  490  and for its part drives a torque transmission device (not illustrated). A holding device  450  is mounted in a rotatable manner on the motor output  490  by means of a bearing  452  and is also attached to the motor housing in a rotationally fixed manner by means of an annular mounting element  470 . Arranged between the holding device  450  and the mounting element  470  is a likewise annular sealing element  460 , which serves for sealing with respect to dust and the like. Together with the line seal  570 , the motor housing  24  is sealed off from the rest of the housing, wherein the fan  565  draws in air for cooling the motor  480  through the ventilation slots  33  and the rest of the drive device is protected from dust. 
     The holding device  450  has a solenoid  455 , which, when energized, exerts an attractive force on one or more solenoid armatures  456 . The solenoid armatures  456  extend in armature recesses  457 , in the form of apertures, in the motor pinion  410  and are thus arranged on the motor pinion  410 , and thus on the motor output  490 , so as to rotate therewith. On account of the attractive force, the solenoid armatures  456  are pushed against the holding device  450 , such that a rotary movement of the motor output  490  with respect to the motor housing is braked or prevented. 
       FIG. 4  shows a further example of a driving-in apparatus  800  having a motor  810  and a support structure  820 , which is part of a housing of the driving-in apparatus  800  and supports the motor  810 , which is held on the support structure  820  by means of two damping elements  830  in the form of ring elements. The damping elements  830  each fit around the motor  810  in a plane extending perpendicularly to the driving-in direction of the driving-in apparatus. Otherwise, the motor  810  is motionally decoupled in all directions relative to the support structure  820 . The damping elements  830  consist of an elastomer and are in the form of a circular ring. They have a circular cross section and are in the form of O-rings. 
       FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of the arrangement in  FIG. 4 . The support structure  820  has grooves  840  for partially receiving in each case one damping element  830 , wherein each groove  840  is formed in a manner extending all the way round the particular damping element  830  in the circumferential direction. Similarly, the motor  810  has two channels  850  for partially receiving in each case one damping element  830 , wherein each channel  850  is formed in a manner extending all the way round the particular damping element  830  in the circumferential direction. 
       FIG. 6  shows a further example of a driving-in apparatus  900  having a motor  910  and a support structure  920 , which is part of a housing of the driving-in apparatus  900  and supports the motor  910 , which is held on the support structure  920  by means of two damping elements  930  in the form of ring elements. The damping elements  930  each fit around the motor  910  in a plane extending perpendicularly to the driving-in direction of the driving-in apparatus. The damping elements  830  consist of an elastomer and are in the form of a circular ring. They have a circular cross section and are in the form of O-rings. 
     In order to cool the motor  910 , which represents a heat source, the driving-in apparatus  900  has a fan  960 , which is driven by the same energy source as the motor  910  and is held on the support structure  920  by means of a fan damping element  970 . In an exemplary embodiment that is not shown, the fan is held on the motor by means of the fan damping element and is thus additionally damped by means of the damping element of the motor. 
     The fan damping element  970  consists of an elastomer and forms an enclosure of the fan  960  and has a preferably T-shaped protrusion  980 , which is received in a receptacle  990  of the support structure  920 . In this case, the protrusion  980  engages in an undercut of the receptacle. 
     The invention has been described by way of a series of exemplary embodiments. The individual features of the various exemplary embodiments are applicable individually or in any desired combination with one another, provided that they are not contradictory. It should be noted that the driving-in apparatus according to the invention is also usable for other applications.