Abstract: The present invention teaches a unique drive mechanism for use in a hand held fastener driving tool. The driving mechanism comprises a pair of opposing cams coaxially positioned upon a common shaft. One of the cams is motor driven and rotatable about the common shaft but not axially translatable while the other cam is axially translatable but non-rotatable. Rotation of the rotatable cam by the motor causes the non-rotatable axially translatable cam to compress a compressible spring assembly, storing potential energy therein. Simultaneously, a driver activation cable, wrapped about the rotatable cam's periphery, unwraps thereby raising a fastener driver to its driving configuration. Upon release of the rotatable cam from the motor drive, the potential energy stored within the spring assembly causes reverse rotation of the rotatable cam thereby rewinding the drive cable about the rotatable cam's periphery and driving the fastener driver, whereby the driver drives a fastener into a workpiece.

Abstract: A portable hand-held screw driving tool is provided for use with collated strips of screws. A collated strip of screws enters from an upper-rear area of the tool and runs through a pathway or slot in an elongated, movable upper guide mounted at the tool's upper housing, then to a movable slide body having that receives and indexes the collated strip so a screw can be driven by the tool. The upper guide provides containment that prevents the flexible collated strip becoming substantially misaligned while moving through the guide's slot. When the tool is actuated to drive a screw into an object, the sliding guide moves longitudinally along the top of the tool, along with the tool's front-end screw-driving mechanism. Thus the flexible collated strip is always in a relatively fixed orientation as compared to the movable front end portion of the tool.

Abstract: A portable hand-held screw driving tool is provided for use with collated strips of screws. A collated strip of screws enters from the “bottom” area of the tool and runs through a fixed guide along a front area of the tool's handle, and then to a movable slide body having a rotatable sprocket that receives the collated strip, and indexes the strip so a screw can be driven by the tool. Between the slide body and the fixed guide is a flexible strap with a bracket that places tension on the collated screw strip, which prevents the flexible collated strip from becoming substantially misaligned (e.g., bunching, sagging, or becoming tangled) in the area between the fixed guide and the slide body. The collated strip is kept sufficiently taut, regardless of the orientation of the screw driving tool with respect to the ground.

Abstract: A control module advantageously reduces cost and enhances reliability, design flexibility, ease of assembly, and performance of a flywheel operated hand tool. The control module includes a thin film printed circuit with non-contact speed sensing of a flywheel to more accurately set the target speed and control transfer kinetic energy thereof to a fastener, achieving a desired depth regardless of variations in component performance and battery voltage. The printed circuit also includes long service life thin film switches for responding to trigger and safety inputs. Furthermore, the control module responds to a user speed selection and to preset speed selection ranges to reconfigure the controls as appropriate to constraints of a fastener drive assembly and to user preferences.

Abstract: A fastening device, which will facilitate the assembly of associated parts or manufactured articles, and electromagnetic energy absorptive component for absorbing electromagnetic waves and converting wave energy to heat; an expansive component, which expands upon exposure to heat emanating from the target material; matrix material, which will become adhesively active and effect the adherence of the associated parts upon exposure to heat emanating from the target material, and a stiffening component.

Abstract: An impact device (10) employing a novel direct electric propulsion system. The device operates by placing a conductive piston (23) adjacent to an electric coil (18) then rapidly releasing electrical energy stored in a capacitor (17) to energize the coil (18) and propel the piston according to the Lorentz force principal. The system can be designed for a wide range of drive energy, and offers several performance advantages over known propulsion systems. These advantages include simple construction and operation, low manufacturing costs, low drive energy variation, and the ability to adjust drive energy while over a wide range while maintaining low energy variation at reduced levels. The system is adaptable to be powered by either corded electric, or battery, or fuel cell.

Abstract: A speed controller operates a DC-powered fastener drive assembly to efficiently drive fasteners from a DC power supply, thereby achieving a fully portable hand tool. In particular, the speed controller accelerates a flywheel with a DC motor to a target speed appropriate for the type of fastener and user selection. Thereafter, the speed controller causes the kinetic energy from the flywheel to be imparted to a linearly moving fastener driver. The speed controller is responsive to the rotational speed of the flywheel to ensure a consistent depth of drive and to actuate a clutch for an appropriate amount of time to couple the flywheel to the fastener driver. Thereby, consistent drives are achievement across a range of operating conditions (e.g., battery state of charge, type of fastener, mechanical tolerances and wear, motor performance, etc.).

Abstract: Disclosed and taught is a novel drive mechanism for a cyclic operating tool employing an energized flywheel to provide the necessary energy to perform a working cycle. The drive mechanism disclosed is particularly useful in hand tool applications such as a hand held nailing machine. The flywheel may be energized by a corded or battery powered motor. The herein disclosed mechanism teaches a novel pair of ball ramp cam plates wherein a first pair of ball ramps cause an initial engagement of a clutch with the energized flywheel whereupon rotation of the clutch causes activation of a second pair of ball ramps which affect compression of a spring which acts to increase the pressure applied to the clutch thereby assuring a slip free engagement between the clutch and he flywheel throughout the working cycle of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: An integrated generator, compressor and welding power supply sized to fit within a pickup bed. The lower portion of the housing is sized to fit between the wheel wells of a pickup truck bed, while an upper housing portion is sized to extend over at least one bed wall. The position of the upper housing portions may be changed either vertically or horizontally to accommodate different makes or models of trucks. The lower housing portion includes feet extending downwardly therefrom, to suspend a bottom side of the lower housing above the floor of the truck bed, and thereby permit access to the bed floor beneath the unit. The lower portion contains an internal combustion engine for generating mechanical power, an alternator, and electrically driven compressors. Ducting and baffles facilitate air flow and cooling in this portion. A fuel tank and a control panel are positioned in the upper housing portions.

Abstract: An integrated power unit for use in a bed of a pickup truck. A lower housing is sized to fit between the rear wheel wells of the pickup truck, and opposed upper housings extend over respective opposed sidewalls of the truck bed. The opposed upper housings are adjustable with respect to the lower housing, so that the integrated power unit may be used with various makes and models of pickup trucks. The lower housing contains an internal combustion engine for generating mechanical power, an alternator and electrically driven compressors. Ducting and baffles facilitate air flow and cooling in the lower housing. A fuel tank is formed by one of the upper housings, and a control panel is located in the other upper housing. Connections for electrical power and regulated and unregulated pneumatic power are available at the control panel.

Abstract: Disclosed and taught is a novel drive mechanism for a cyclic operating tool employing an energized flywheel to provide the necessary energy to perform a working cycle. The drive mechanism disclosed is particularly useful in hand tool applications such as a hand held nailing machine. The flywheel may be energized by a corded or battery powered motor. The herein disclosed mechanism teaches a novel pair of ball ramp cam plates wherein a first pair of ball ramps cause an initial engagement of a clutch with the energized flywheel whereupon rotation of the clutch causes activation of a second pair of ball ramps which affect compression of a spring which acts to increase the pressure applied to the clutch thereby assuring a slip free engagement between the clutch and he flywheel throughout the working cycle of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: The invention disclosed and taught herein relates to a powered fastener driving tool particularly suited for driving straight line fasteners, such as nails or straight line pins into a work piece. A hand held fastener driving tool as particularly described herein, may be used to drive straight line pins, nails and/or staples into a work piece. A magnet is placed within the fastener driving head that magnetically attracts the lead fastener of a soldier course strip of fasteners thereby securing the lead fastener, and trailing strip of fasteners, within the driving tool thereby preventing the possibility of the tool jamming by a fastener not aligning horizontal within the tool and/or its supply magazine.

Abstract: A fastening device, which will facilitate the assembly of associated parts or manufactured articles, and electromagnetically absorptive component for absorbing electromagnetic waves and converting wave energy to heat; an expansive component, which expands upon exposure to heat emanating from the target material; matrix material, which will become adhesively active and effect the adherence of the associated parts upon exposure to heat emanating from the target material, and a stiffening component.

Abstract: A power tool includes multiple attachments to selectively perform rotary motions, reciprocating motions, and multiple impact motions upon a work surface. For example, tool attachments may be selected to configure the power tool as a nailer, stapler, biscuit jointer, drill, hammer drill, detail sander, sheet metal nibbler, router, buffer, jig saw, chipping tool, saws all, as well as other types of power tools. A base unit provides a rotary input that is adapted to each engaged tool attachment. In particular, a power tool control system in the base unit senses an attachment type designation from the tool attachment, as well as user inputs and motor feedback, to change motor control. Examples of these adaptions include changing motor speed, changing trigger operation from on/off to variable speed, responding to or ignoring a forward/reverse control, as well as monitoring motor feedback and sensors in the tool attachment for conditions warranting motor deactivation.