Abstract: A gas spring-powered fastener driver includes a cylinder, a moveable piston positioned within the cylinder, and a driver blade attached to the piston and moveable therewith from a retracted position to a driven position to drive a fastener into a workpiece. A fill valve is coupled to the cylinder and operable to selectively fill the cylinder with gas to a pressure.

Abstract: A fastener driver includes a housing, a cylinder disposed within the housing, a piston positioned and movable within the cylinder, a driver blade attached to the piston and movable with the piston, a motor for driving movement of the piston, a battery removably coupled to the housing for supplying power tot the motor, a nosepiece at least partially defining a fastener driving track through which fasteners are driven by the driver blade, and a magazine operable to supply the fasteners to the nosepiece. The magazine is removable from the nosepiece only in response to prior removal of the battery from the housing.

Abstract: A fastener driver includes a first nosepiece and a second nosepiece coupled to the first nosepiece with a fastener driving channel formed between the first nosepiece and the second nosepiece. A workpiece contact element is movable with respect to the first nosepiece and the second nosepiece between an extended position and a retracted position. A quick-release latch secures the first nosepiece and the second nosepiece together. The workpiece contact element is positioned between the quick-release latch and the first nosepiece.

Abstract: A fastener driver comprises a driver blade movable from a retracted position to a driven position and a lifter assembly for moving the driver blade from the driven position toward the retracted position. The fastener driver also includes a first sensor to detect the driver blade in the driven position, a latch which, in a locked position, maintains the lifter assembly in an engaged position, an actuator coupled to the latch for moving the latch between the locked position and a released position, in which the lifter assembly may move away from the driver blade, and a controller electrically connected with the first sensor and the actuator. In response to an absence of a signal from the first sensor after a predetermined time following initiation of a fastener driving operation, the controller triggers the actuator to move the latch from the locked position to the released position.

Abstract: A gas spring-powered fastener driver includes a cylinder, a moveable piston positioned within the cylinder, and a driver blade attached to the piston and moveable therewith from a retracted position to a driven position to drive a fastener into a workpiece. A fill valve is coupled to the cylinder and operable to selectively fill the cylinder with gas to a pressure.

Abstract: A fastener driver comprises a driver blade movable from a retracted position to an extended, driven position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a gas spring mechanism for driving the driver blade from the retracted position to the driven position, the gas spring mechanism including a storage chamber cylinder containing a pressurized gas, means for determining a pressure in the storage cylinder chamber, and an indicator activated in response to the determined pressure in the storage cylinder chamber being less than a predetermined pressure value.

Abstract: A fastener driver comprises a drive blade movable from a retracted position to an extended, driven position for driving a fastener into a workpiece and a gas spring mechanism for driving the drive blade from the retracted position to the driven position. The gas spring mechanism includes a drive cylinder and a drive piston attached to the drive blade for movement therewith. The drive piston is acted on by a driving force resulting from a pressure differential created by the gas spring mechanism. The fastener driver also includes an adjustable valve for selectively limiting a flow of gas into the drive cylinder above the drive piston, or a flow of ambient air at atmospheric pressure from the drive cylinder beneath the drive piston, thereby changing the pressure differential acting on the drive piston, as the drive piston and the drive blade move from the retracted position to the extended position.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a pneumatic fastener driver including a cylinder and a piston positioned within the cylinder. The piston is moveable between a top-dead-center position and a bottom-dead-center position. The driver also includes a magnetic latch emitting a magnetic field that magnetically attracts the piston and is capable of holding the piston in the top-dead-center position with a magnetic force. The magnetic latch is adjustable to vary the magnetic force acting on the piston for driving fasteners into a workpiece at different depths.

Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a cylinder and a drive piston within the cylinder being acted on by a driving force resulting from a pressure differential. The powered fastener further includes a drive blade coupled to the drive piston and operable to drive a fastener, and an adjustable valve for selectively introducing air from ambient atmosphere into the cylinder, thereby changing the pressure differential acting on the drive piston. By adopting a self-contained vacuum generating means as described above, the present invention does not rely on any external vacuum source and powered fastener driver can be used and carried with conveniently.

Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a cylinder and a drive piston within the cylinder being acted on by a driving force resulting from a pressure differential. The powered fastener further includes a drive blade coupled to the drive piston and operable to drive a fastener, and an adjustable valve for selectively introducing air from ambient atmosphere into the cylinder, thereby changing the pressure differential acting on the drive piston. By adopting a self-contained vacuum generating means as described above, the present invention does not rely on any external vacuum source and powered fastener driver can be used and carried with conveniently.

Abstract: A hydraulic system has a variable displacement pump that sends fluid from a tank into a supply conduit from which separate open-center control valves convey the fluid to each one of a plurality of hydraulic actuators. The control valves have open-center orifices connected in series between a bypass node and the tank, thereby forming a bypass passage. Pressure at the bypass node controls displacement of the pump. A valve arrangement is connected between an outlet of the pump and the bypass node and is responsive to an amount of fluid flow through the supply conduit to the plurality of hydraulic functions, wherein as the amount of fluid flow increases, the valve arrangement causes fluid flow to the bypass node to decrease. Thus the pressure at the bypass node varies as a function of the operation of the control valves.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a pneumatic fastener driver including a cylinder and a piston positioned within the cylinder. The piston is moveable between a top-dead-center position and a bottom-dead-center position. The driver also includes a magnetic latch emitting a magnetic field that magnetically attracts the piston and is capable of holding the piston in the top-dead-center position with a magnetic force. The magnetic latch is adjustable to vary the magnetic force acting on the piston for driving fasteners into a workpiece at different depths.

Abstract: A direct current fastening device and related control methods. The fastening device is powered by a direct current power source and includes a variety of safety and control features that allow the fastening device to be safety operated without, for example, a mechanical safety linkage or assembly between a trigger and a fastener firing portion (e.g., a nose switch) that prohibits the operation of the fastening device. Rather, the fastening device described herein employs a controller, a variety of switches, and monitoring techniques to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the fastening device. The configuration of the controller, for example, replaces the mechanical linkages and assemblies between the trigger and the fastener firing portion (e.g., a nose switch) that are ubiquitous safety features for such fastening devices.

Abstract: A hydraulic system has a variable displacement pump that sends fluid from a tank into a supply conduit from which separate open-center control valves convey the fluid to each one of a plurality of hydraulic actuators. The control valves have open-center orifices connected in series between a bypass node and the tank, thereby forming a bypass passage. Pressure at the bypass node controls displacement of the pump. A valve arrangement is connected between an outlet of the pump and the bypass node and is responsive to an amount of fluid flow through the supply conduit to the plurality of hydraulic functions, wherein as the amount of fluid flow increases, the valve arrangement causes fluid flow to the bypass node to decrease. Thus the pressure at the bypass node varies as a function of the operation of the control valves.