Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pressure vessel includes forming an outer cylinder including an annular wall, positioning an inner cylinder within the outer cylinder, and deforming the annular wall of the outer cylinder to engage a portion of the inner cylinder to retain the inner cylinder within the outer cylinder and form the pressure vessel.

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 method of operating a fastener driver comprises initiating a fastener driving operation by moving a driver blade from a retracted position toward a driven position, and detecting that the driver blade has become jammed in an intermediate position between the retracted position and the driven position. The method further includes moving a latch from a locked position, in which a lifter assembly is maintained in an engaged position by the latch for moving the driver blade from the driven position toward the retracted position, to a released position, in which the lifter assembly is movable away from the driver blade. The method further includes driving a motor to rotate a lifter of the lifting assembly, thereby moving the lifter assembly away from the driver blade, then, returning the lifter assembly to the engaged position, and moving the latch from the released position to the locked position.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for processing fruit seeds, such as cocoa beans or cupuacu beans without the need of microbial fermentation. Fruit seeds are treated by adding unfermented seeds to a solution of a defined concentration of ethanol in a volume sufficient to cover the seeds, and maintaining the solution at a set temperature for a certain period of time.

Abstract: A fastener driver including a cylinder, a piston positioned and moveable within the cylinder, a driver blade attached to the piston and movable with the piston, a front nosepiece at least partially defining a fastener driving track through which fasteners are driven by the driver blade, a rear nosepiece at least partially defining the fastener driving track, and a magazine attached to the rear nosepiece and operable to supply the fasteners to the fastener driving track through the rear nosepiece. The rear nosepiece and the magazine are removably coupled to the front nosepiece as a unit.

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 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 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: A method of operating a fastener driver comprises initiating a fastener driving operation by moving a driver blade from a retracted position toward a driven position, and detecting that the driver blade has become jammed in an intermediate position between the retracted position and the driven position. The method further includes moving a latch from a locked position, in which a lifter assembly is maintained in an engaged position by the latch for moving the driver blade from the driven position toward the retracted position, to a released position, in which the lifter assembly is movable away from the driver blade. The method further includes driving a motor to rotate a lifter of the lifting assembly, thereby moving the lifter assembly away from the driver blade, then, returning the lifter assembly to the engaged position, and moving the latch from the released position to the locked position.

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 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 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 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 motor module is configured to convert a manually-operable window covering assembly to a motorized window covering assembly. In one embodiment, the motor module includes output shaft that engage with couplers of the window covering assembly that receive a spring module when the assembly is in a manually-operated state. The couplers are displaceable such that the spring module and motor module may be either removed and inserted into the assembly. The motor module is made sufficiently compact to fit in the header by arranging a motor, battery, circuit board, and internal gearing system to efficiently use the space in the motor module. In another embodiment, a motorized converter module is configured to be installed on a manually-operated window covering assembly to convert the window covering assembly from a manually-operated state to a motorized stated without removing any components of the window covering assembly.

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 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 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: 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.