Abstract: An electronically controlled pneumatic fastener driving tool. The tool is of the type having a body containing a cylinder with a piston/driver assembly therein, a firing valve actuable to introduce high pressure air into the cylinder to cycle the piston/driver assembly, a manual trigger, a safety trip, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system comprises a remote solenoid valve to actuate the firing valve, a microprocessor having inputs from at least the trigger and safety trip and an output to energize the solenoid of the remote valve to cycle the tool, a battery to energize the microprocessor and a rechargeable battery to energize the solenoid of the remote valve. The microprocessor determines the mode of operation of the tool and may be designed to provide two or more modes selectable by a mode selection switch. The input from the trigger is provided with a reed switch closable by the trigger and the input from the safety trip is provided with a reed switch closable by the safety trip.

Abstract: A disposable collet adapter for attaching a workpiece to a stud welding tool. One end of the resilient collet adapter slideably mounts to one end of a workpiece and the opposed end slideably attaches to the electrode of the stud welding tool. The opposed ends of the collet adapter are individually tailored so that of the workpiece and the electrode may have distinct cross-sectional profiles. After a welding operation, the collet adapter can be discarded or reused.

Abstract: An electronically controlled pneumatic fastener driving tool. The tool is of the type having a body containing a cylinder with a piston/driver assembly therein, a firing valve actuable to introduce high pressure air into the cylinder to cycle the piston/driver assembly, a manual trigger, a safety trip, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system comprises a remote solenoid valve to actuate the firing valve, a microprocessor having inputs from at least the trigger and safety trip and an output to energize the solenoid of the remote valve to cycle the tool, a battery to energize the microprocessor and a rechargeable battery to energize the solenoid of the remote valve. The microprocessor determines the mode of operation of the tool and may be designed to provide two or more modes selectable by a mode selection switch. The input from the trigger is provided with a reed switch closable by the trigger and the input from the safety trip is provided with a reed switch closable by the safety trip.

Abstract: A combustion chamber featuring an orifice plate which promotes complete, clean, and consistent combustion of the propellant charge used in a powder actuated tool. The combustion chamber allows extended operation of a power adjustment which has improved energy variance, a higher range of power adjustment, and complete clean combustion at any power level.

Abstract: A conventional stud welding tool is substantially improved by providing the tool with an electrode with an adjustable aperture capable of grasping studs with a variety of sizes. The adjustable aperture is in the form of a chuck having a plurality of sliding fingers movable along intersecting axes and positionable along these axes to form an aperture of a desired diameter. The fingers have a threaded exterior surface, and the chuck includes a wheel having a threaded interior surface for engaging the threaded exterior surfaces of the fingers for moving the fingers along their axes in response to rotation of the wheel. The chuck is automatically closed and opened by a control circuit in response to the condition of a variety of sensors connected to the control circuit. Also, a collating strip of studs and a feed assembly is used to automatically deliver studs to the electrode under control of the control circuit.

Abstract: A staple driving tool and a method for clamping and stapling together two or more steel workpiece layers as in light gauge steel framing for residential and commercial buildings, truss assembly, and the like. The stapling tool has a guide body and a jaw assembly supporting an anvil. The jaw assembly is pivoted to a mounting bar extending along and beneath the tool magazine. The jaw is pivotable between a normal open position and a closed position wherein it clamps the steel workpiece layers to be joined between the anvil and the guide body prior to stapling. The jaw is pivotable by an air cylinder actuated toggle mechanism. An air valve normally connects the air cylinder to atmosphere. When actuated, the air valve connects the air cylinder to a source of pressurized air, shifting the jaw to clamping position. The air valve may be actuated by one of the tool safety and the tool trigger.

Abstract: A system for automatically feeding studs to the electrode of a manual stud welding tool. The system comprises a magazine associated with the tool. The magazine receives a tandem row of studs mounted in and collated by a disposable mounting and collating strip assembly. A drive assembly is associated with the magazine to advance the mounting and collating strip assembly such that each stud, when it becomes the forwardmost stud of the tandem row, is properly positioned with respect to the tool to be welded to a workpiece.

Abstract: A caseless propellant charge structure and sensitizer structure for safe ignition and cleaner gas generation. The sensitizer structure is comprised of a sensitizer material which is encapsulated in a protective binder material. The protective binder layer is broken during desired ignition in the combustion chamber. Meanwhile the propellant structure comprises an oxidizer rich layer which also contains fuel and a propellant layer. The oxidizer rich layer is adjacent the sensitizer structure in the strip assembly. The oxidizer rich layer allows ignition while foregoing the need for high concentration of oxidizer throughout the propellant structure thus reducing the mass of solids generated from the oxidizer combustion.

Abstract: A system for automatically feeding studs to the electrode of a manual stud welding tool. The system comprises a magazine associated with the tool. The magazine receives a tandem row of studs mounted in and collated by a disposable mounting and collating strip assembly. A drive assembly is associated with the magazine to advance the mounting and collating strip assembly such that each stud, when it becomes the forwardmost stud of the tandem row, is properly positioned with respect to the tool to be welded to a workpiece.

Abstract: A method for adhesively assembling milled wood products which comprises placing adjacent to the surfaces of the pieces to be joined a continuous, non-perforated metallic foil strip, which absorbs electromagnetic waves. The strip, which is contiguous with a heat activatable adhesive material, is positioned between the pieces and exposed to electromagnetic waves while the pieces are held together to form a bonded relationship between the pieces.

Abstract: A method for adhering glass products to a work surface which comprises placing adjacent to the surfaces of the pieces to be joined a continuous, non-perforated metallic foil strip, which absorbs electromagnetic waves. The strip which is contiguous with a heat activatable adhesive material, is positioned between the pieces and exposed to electromagnetic waves while the pieces are held together to form a bonded relationship between the pieces.

Abstract: A method for adhesively adhering rubber components which comprises placing adjacent to the surfaces of the pieces to be joined a continuous, non-perforated metallic foil strip, which absorbs electromagnetic waves. The strip, which is contiguous with a heat activatable adhesive material, is positioned between the pieces and exposed to electromagnetic waves while the pieces are held together to form a bonded relationship between the pieces.

Abstract: A screw feed and driver assembly which may constitute a part of a screw driving tool of the type having a prime mover, a speed and torque determining gear assembly and a clutch; which can constitute an accessory for a clutch containing manual feed power screw driver; and which, combined with a clutch, can comprise an accessory for a standard manual power drill. The screw feed and driver assembly comprises a feed housing with a slide body mounted therein and shiftable between forward and rearward positions. The slide body is biased to its forward position. The slide body receives a strip bearing screws. A contact foot is mounted on the slide body and shifts the slide body rearwardly when pressed against a workpiece. A screw driver, affixed to the clutch, extends into the slide body. The slide body contains a pawl and feed sprocket assembly. The sprocket engages notches in one edge of the screw bearing strip.

Abstract: A method for adhesively assembling plastic products which comprises placing adjacent to the surfaces of the pieces to be joined a continuous, non-perforated metallic foil strip, which absorbs electromagnetic waves. The strip, which is contiguous with a heat activatable adhesive material, is positioned between the pieces and exposed to electromagnetic waves while the pieces are held together to form a bonded relationship between the plastic pieces.

Abstract: A method for adhesively assembling cellulosic products which comprises placing adjacent to the surfaces of the pieces to be joined a continuous, non-perforated metallic foil strip, which absorbs electromagnetic waves. The strip, which is contiguous with a heat activatable adhesive material, is positioned between the pieces and exposed to electromagnetic waves while the pieces are held together to form a bonded relationship between the cellulosic pieces.