Abstract: An explosive actuated extendable driving tool has a housing with a barrel at its front end for receiving a fastening element that is to be secured in a ceiling, wall or the like. A manually actuated reciprocatable positioner shaft is slidably received in a retainer that is mounted to the back end of the housing, the positioner shaft being biased towards the back end of the housing. A load chamber formed which is in an inner end of the barrel is configured to receive an explosive charge. A muzzle with a self-aligning spall guard and splash guard are mounted to the barrel, the splash guard being disposed about the spall guard. A noise suppression element is contained in a chamber formed between the spall guard and the splash guard. Discharge ports formed in the barrel and spall guard define exits for the discharge of combustion gases and carbon into the noise suppression element.

Abstract: A powder-actuated fastener-driving tool of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,380, modified to include a safety system for preventing accidental discharge of the tool, a fastener storage and feed assembly, and a simpler firing pin assembly. The safety system prevents discharge of a fastener from the tool except when the front of the tool is engaged with a workpiece and the cylinder assembly is urged rearwardly a selected distance into the housing of the tool. The fastener storage and feed assembly is adapted to store a strip of fasteners and to index the strip so as to position the leading fastener in the strip in position to be discharged from the tool. In the present invention, a unitized firing pin is provided for firing the cartridges used in the tool, instead of the plural-element firing actuator and pin assembly of the '380 tool.

Abstract: A poppet valve having novel seal means for use in a pneumatic fastener apparatus of the kind having a cylinder, a piston slidably mounted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder, a fastener-driving hammer attached to the cylinder, and means including the poppet valve for controlling the application of pressurized air to the piston so as to cause it to execute a work stroke. The seal means comprises an O-ring disposed in a circumferentially-extending groove formed in the outer surface of the poppet valve member and arranged to make a sealing engagement with an end edge surface of the cylinder. More than half of the cross-sectional area of the O-ring is disposed within the groove so that as the poppet valve is driven into closing relation with the cylinder, the O-ring seal is clamped between an annular circumferentially-extending surface of the poppet valve member and the annular end edge surface of the cylinder, thereby providing a secure seal along the full perimeter of the cylinder.

Abstract: An improved powder-actuated fastener-driving tool is provided which is characterized by (a) improved gas exhaust passages for venting the hot gases of combustion from the interior of the tool, (b) an improved trigger assembly which is simple and reliable in its operation and adapted to be easily disassembled, and (c) an improved cartridge advance mechanism. The invention also includes an improved pole assembly which is detachably secured to the tool and has a unique remote tool-actuating mechanism.

Abstract: An improved cartridge-holding magazine is provided for powder-actuated fastener driving tools. The magazine is in the form of a flat strip having a series of cartridge-receiving holes and grooves surrounding the holes for receiving an end extension of a chamber-defining portion of a fastener driving tool so as to properly locate the cartridges in the chamber. The grooves define sleeve portions in the strip which cooperate with the surrounding surface of the side wall of the cartridge chamber to prevent the side wall of a cartridge casing from rupturing or fracturing, especially near the rim of the cartridge, when the cartridge is fired, with the result that after ignition the gases expand axially into the chamber to propel the fastener driving striker so as to drive a fastener into a workpiece with maximum utilization of the energy of combustion.

Abstract: Novel method and means for securely attaching a liner of insulation boarding to the mold cap of a two-piece ingot mold, in order that the ingot mold will be capable of producing substantially void-free ingots.

Abstract: A pneumatic tool is disclosed for use in puncturing or hammering applications, particularly cattle stunning and the like.

Abstract: Novel method and means for securely attaching a liner of insulation boarding to the mold cap of a two-piece ingot mold, in order that the ingot mold will be capable of producing substantially void-free ingots.

Abstract: Self-centering fastening tool for quickly and easily fastening wire and paper lath to support members.

Abstract: Improved forms of pneumatic tools of the type shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,040,554, 4,098,171 and 4,122,904 are provided for driving nail-like fasteners into a workpiece. The tool may be used for attaching small articles such as washers or name tags to the workpiece, in which event the tool may be combined with a device for holding the article and positioning it so that it will be engaged and penetrated by a fastener as the latter is discharged by the tool into a workpiece. The tools are provided with novel handle means designed to make the tool convenient and safe to use where the operator cannot or should not engage or be close to the workpiece. A further novel inventive feature is an improved form of poppet valve for causing operation of the tool.

Abstract: A novel device is disclosed for driving nail-like fasteners with associated washers into a workpiece. The device comprises a pneumatic driver apparatus, preferably one substantially the same as the tool disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,554, in association with a washer dispenser apparatus capable of semiautomatically deploying washers from a washer magazine so that the washers are fixed to the workpiece by the heads of the fasteners. The pneumatic driver and washer dispenser are attached together as a discrete assembly which is mounted on a hanger assembly so as to appear substantially weightless to a tool operator, and the driver and dispenser are adapted to be activated by a remotely positioned trigger device.

Abstract: A novel hot top mounting method is disclosed for use in attaching insulation to the upper interior portion of an ingot mold. The mounting method comprises (1) applying a plurality of thin steel mounting straps to the insulation and suspending the insulation in position adjacent to the upper interior surfaces of the mold, and (2) driving fasteners through the mounting straps and into the mold in order to securely fasten the insulation to the mold.

Abstract: An improved power-driven hammer driver tool is provided wherein a pneumatically- or hydraulically-operated piston mounting a cylindrical rod-shaped hammer is designed to impart a vertically-oriented impact to an indexed fastener within the tool. A face plate is mounted between the driver tool foot portion, and an attached fastener feeding magazine. The face plate defines part of the hammer bore and incorporates an inclined semi-cylindrical fastener guide groove that enables a misaligned impact-driven fastener to be oriented into alignment by a camming action imparted to the fastener tip, thereby resulting in a fastener "anti-jamming" function that assures proper entry of the previously misdirected fastener into a waiting work surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic tool is disclosed for attaching small metal members such as washers and name tags to a workpiece. The tool generally comprises a pneumatic driver apparatus for driving nail-like fasteners and a holder apparatus for holding the metal member positioned before the driver so that the member may be engaged by a fastener as it leaves the tool and thereby fastened to a workpiece.

Abstract: A new pop rivet assembly is disclosed, wherein said device is capable of forming a rivet hole in a workpiece, inserting a pop rivet into the hole and securing it in place in response to an operator's single blow using a conventional hammer, pneumatic driver or similar device.

Abstract: An improved type of pneumatic tacking tool is disclosed for use in fastening carpet tacking strips and the like to wooden or concrete floors. The tool comprises a modification of the fastener driving tool described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,554 and my U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,904, and is particularly well suited to setting fasteners close to walls without the tool contacting the walls.

Abstract: A simple and rugged three-way valve is disclosed which may be used as a trigger-operated control valve for portable pneumatic tools. The valve utilizes a novel valve member slidably disposed in a valve chamber for reciprocal movement between two valve seats and is arranged so that it cannot obstruct a side port that is located between the valve seats.

Abstract: An improved driver is provided wherein a pneumatically operated piston is slidably disposed in a cylinder which is adapted to vent to atmosphere through a port positioned adjacent the end wall of the cylinder. A piston cushion, anchored to the interior surface of the cylinder end wall, is configured to provide communication between the port and the air trapped under the piston when the latter makes contact with the cushion, as well as to avoid piston flexing when struck by the piston. The cylinder end wall is removable to provide access to the interior of the cylinder. A hammer, in the form of a shaft, is removably affixed to the piston in a manner that precludes leakage through the piston and extends through the cushion and the cylinder end wall. Sealing means which are accessible from the interior surface of the end wall provide sealing contact between the latter and the hammer.

Abstract: A novel nail clip is provided for use with power actuated drivers. Each clip comprises a plurality of impact fasteners each having a flange intermediate its ends, and a strip consisting of a plurality of serially connected fastener-supporting members each surrounding and supporting the driving or impact end of a separate fastener. The strip is formed to facilitate the shearing off of said fastener-supporting members singly in response to shearing forces produced when each member and the fastener which it supports are impacted by the hammer of a driver tool.

Abstract: A nail clip is provided for use with pneumatically or hydraulically powered nail drivers. Each clip comprises a plastic strip consisting of a plurality of serially connected sleeves and a nail carried by each sleeve with a fracture line between each pair of sleeves.