Patent ID: 8205582

Claim:
An exhaust valve and piston return system for a combustion-powered tool, comprising: a cylinder housing; a piston disposed within said cylinder housing; a combustion chamber defined within said cylinder housing for combusting an air-fuel mixture so as to drive said piston through a power stroke; a main exhaust valve operatively associated with said combustion chamber for permitting exhaust gases to be exhausted from said combustion chamber; an exhaust check valve operatively associated with said main exhaust valve for permitting said exhaust gases to be vented to atmosphere as a result of passing through said main exhaust valve and then through said exhaust check valve; and a signal line fluidically connecting said cylinder housing to said main exhaust valve so as to permit said exhaust gases from said combustion chamber to be conducted toward said main exhaust valve so as to move said main exhaust valve to its open position in order to permit said exhaust gases, disposed within said combustion chamber, to be exhausted out from said combustion chamber, and through said main exhaust valve and said exhaust check valve to atmosphere, and to permit said piston to be returned from a position defined at the end of its power stroke to its original position prior to said combustion of said air-fuel mixture within said combustion chamber.